Semecarpus Anacardium Linn.: a Review
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PHCOG REV. REVIEW ARTICLE Semecarpus anacardium Linn.: A review Mona Semalty, Ajay Semalty, Ashutosh Badola, Geeta Pant Joshi1, M. S. M. Rawat1 Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and 1Chemistry, H.N.B. Garhwal University Srinagar (Garhwal), India Submitted: 10-03-10 Revised: 07-04-10 Published: 10-07-10 ABSTRACT Semecarpus anacardium Linn. (Family: Anacardiaceae), commonly known ‘Ballataka’ or ‘Bhilwa’, has been used in various traditional system of medicines for various ailments since ancient times. Its nuts contain a variety of biologically active compounds such as bifl avonoids, phenolic compounds, bhilawanols, minerals, vitamins and amino acids, which show various medicinal properties. The fruit and nut extract shows various activities like antiatherogenic, antiinfl ammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-reproductive, CNS stimulant, hypoglycemic, anticarcinogenic and hair growth promoter. The article reviews the various activities of the plant. Key words: Antiinfl ammatory, bhilawanols, hypoglycemic, nut extract, Semecarpus anacardium INTRODUCTION nut extract preparations from this source are effective against many diseases, viz., arthritis, tumors, infections and so on. The Indian knowledge of herbal medicines is gaining widespread However, the mechanism of the pharmacological action of its acceptance globally. In Ayurveda, almost all medicinal nut can be greatly aided by the isolation of its active principle preparations are derived from plants, whether in the simple and determination of structure–function relationship. form of raw plant materials or in the refi ned form of crude extracts, mixtures and so on.[1] In other parts of the world, the The aim of this review is to further highlight recently discovered term Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is used effects and applications of S. anacardium. for various forms of traditional drugs. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) can be defi ned as any treatment used in conjugation (complementary) or in place of (alternative) TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION standard medical treatment. In alternative medicine, medicinal Kingdom: Plantae plant preparations have found widespread use particularly in the Subkingdom: Tracheobionta case of diseases not amenable to treatment by modern method.[2] Super division: Spermatophyta Semecarpus anacardium Linn. (Family: Anacardiaceae) is distributed Division: Magnoliophyta in sub-Himalayan region, tropical and central parts of India. The Class: Magnoliopsida nut is commonly known as ‘marking nut’ and in the vernacular Subclass: Rosidae as ‘Ballataka’ or ‘Bhilwa’. It has high priority and applicability in Order: Sapindales indigenous system of medicine.[3,4] Family: Anacardiaceae Genus: Semecarpus Semecarpus anacardium Linn. (Family: Anacardiaceae) is a plant Species: Anacardium well-known for its medicinal value in Ayurvedic and Siddha system of medicine. Chemical and phytochemical analyses of its BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION nut reveal the presence of bifl avonoids, phenolic compounds, bhilawanols, minerals, vitamins and amino acids. A variety of It is a moderate-sized deciduous tree found in the outer Himalayas and hotter parts of India up to 3500 ft. height. The plant is found in abundance in Assam, Bihar, Bengal and Address for correspondence: Orissa, Chittagong, central India and western peninsula of East Dr. Mona Semalty, [5] Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, H.N.B. Garhwal Archipelago, Northern Australia. University Srinagar (Garhwal), India. E-mail: [email protected] It is a medium-to-large size tree, 15–25 m in height with grey bark exfoliating in small irregular fl akes, leaves simple alternate, DOI: 10.4103/0973-7847.65328 obviate – oblong, 30–60 cm long and 12–30 cm broad, rounded at 88 Pharmacognosy Reviews | January-June 2010 | Vol 4 | Issue 7 Semalty, et al.: Semecarpus anacardium the apex coriaceous glabrous above and more or less pubescent, bifl avanone B, O-heptamethyl bichalcone B1, O-hexamethyl beneath. The fl owers are greenish white, in panicles and appear bichalcone B2, O-tetramethyl bifl avanone C., phenolics.[21] with new leaves in May and June, easily recognized by large leaves and the red blaze exuding resin, which blackens on exposure. The Figure 2 shows the chemical structures of various constituents nut is about 2.5 cm long, ovoid and smooth lustrous black [Figure of the plant. Besides this the proximate principles, minerals and 1]. It is frequently found in drier rather than damp localities. The vitamins contents in S. anacardium are given in Table 1. fruit ripens from December to March and are 2–3 cm broad. No specifi c soil affi nity. It is a moderate shade bearer, obliquely ovoid or oblong drupe, 2.5 to 3.8 cm long, compressed, shining black PHARMACOLOGY when ripe, seated on an orange-colored receptacle form of the Antiatherogenic effect disk, the base of the calyx and the extremity of the peduncle. The The imbalance between the pro-oxidants and antioxidants is the bark is grey in color and exudes an irritant secretion on incising.[6] main cause of development of atherosclerosis. To prevent such condition, antioxidant therapy is benefi cial. Semecarpus anacardium SYNONYMS (SA) shows such antioxidant property. It has capacity to scavenge the superoxide and hydroxyl radicals at low concentrations. The Common names in Sanskrit: Antahsattva, Arusharah, Aruskara process of atherogenesis initiated by peroxidation of lipids in (Arukara), Arzohita, Balla´ta (Bhallata, Ballata), Bhallataka low-density lipoproteins was also found inhibited by SA. (Bhalltaka), Bhallatakah, Viravrksa, Visasya; in English: Indian Marking Nut Tree, Marsh Nut, Oriental Cashew Nut; in Hindi: Sharma et al. demonstrated the cardiac activity of SA, as it Bhela (Bhel), Bhelwa, Bhilawa (Bhilv), Bhilwa; in Tamil: Erimugi generally reduces the tissue and serum hyperlipidemia by (Erimuki); in Telugu, Nallajeedi; in Gujarati: Bhilamu; in Russian: the inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption coupled Semekarpus Anakardii. with peripheral disposal thus possessing anti-artherosclerotic activity.[22] PHYTOCHEMISTRY It is possible that the benefi cial antiatherogenic effect may be related to its antioxidant, anticoagulant, hypolipidemic, platelet The most signifi cant components of the S. anacardium Linn. are anti-aggregation and lipoprotein lipase releasing properties. The [7,8] [9] bhilwanols, phenolic compounds, bifl avonoids, sterols and mechanism of hypotriglyceridemic effect has also been shown to [8,10] glycosides. Bhilwanol from fruits was shown to be a mixture be partly due to stimulation of lipoprotein lipase activity. of cis- and transisomers of ursuhenol; this compound consists mainly of 1,2,dihydroxy-3(pentadecadienyl 8′,11′)benzene and Antiinfl ammatory activity [11] 1,2,hydroxy-3(pentadecadienyl 8′)benzene. Other components Ramprasathet et al. investigated the antiinfl ammatory effects [12] [13] [14] isolated are, anacardoside, semecarpetin, nallafl avanone, of SA nut extract on developing and developed adjuvant [15,16] [17] [18,19] jeedifl avanone, semecarpufl avanone, gallufl avanone, arthritis. Semecarpus anacardium significantly decreased the [20] anacardufl avone mono-olefi n I, diolefi n II, bhilawanol-A, carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma. bhilawanol-B, amentoflavone tetrahydroamentoflavone These results indicate the potent antiinfl ammatory effect and semicarpol, anacardic acid, tetrahydrobustafl avone, O-trimethyl therapeutic effi cacy of SA Linn. Nut extract against all phases [21] bifl avanone A1(21), O-trimethyl bifl avanone A2, O-tetramethyl of infl ammation is comparable to that of indomethacin.[23] bifl avanone A1, O-hexamethyl bichalcone A, O-dimethyl Table 1: Proximate principles, minerals and vitamins contents in S. anacardium nuts Nutrient Nutrient composition (in 100 g2) (edible portion) Moisture, g 3.8 Energy, Kcal 587 Protein, g 26.4 Fat, g 36.4 Carbohydrate, g 28.4 Fiber, g 1.4 Ash, g 3.6 Calcium, mg 295 Iron, mg 6.1 Phosphorus, mg 836 Zinc, mg - Figure 1: Plant of semecarpus anacardium showing the nuts Pharmacognosy Reviews | January-June 2010 | Vol 4 | Issue 7 89 Semalty, et al.: Semecarpus anacardium OH MeO OMe OH OH CH 3 OH OMe O OMe O HO OH O OH MeO O O HO OH OH O HO OH MeO OH OH Butein OH O Anacardoside Nallaflavonone CH O 2 OH O HO OH OH OMe OH OH MeO O OH HO O O O OH MeO O O HO O O HO O MeO OH O OH O OH HO Galluflavone Anacarduflavanone O Jeediflavone OH OH OH OH OH O HO O O HO O OH O HO OH O HO O OH O Semecarpuflavone Tetrahydroamentoflavanone OH OH (a) OH HO (b) Figure 2: Biochemical constituents of S. anacardium. (a) and (b)) are cytotoxic compounds Salvem et al. investigated that ethyl acetate extract of SA led to Singh et al. evaluated that SA extract can inhibit proinfl ammatory the isolation of major active principle, tetrahydroamentofl avone cytokine production. Crude ethanolic extract of SA nuts was (THA), a bifl avonoid. The in vitro cyclooxygenase (COX-1)- studied for its antiinfl ammatory activities in vitro using peripheral catalyzed prostaglandin biosynthesis assay of THA gave an blood and synovial fl uid mononuclear cells of healthy individuals IC50 value of 29.5 µM (COX-1) and 40.5% inhibition at 100 g/ and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Semecarpus anacardium mL (COX-2). The in vivo carrageenan-induced paw edema assay extract inhibited the spontaneous and LPS-induced production resulted in dose-dependent antiinfl ammatory effect of THA and of proinfl ammatory cytokines IL-1beta and IL-12p40 but had the activity was comparable to that of ibuprofen.[24] no effect on TNF-alpha