S.Sangeetha et al. / Journal of Pharmacy Research 2012,5(3),1694-1695 Review Article Available online through ISSN: 0974-6943 http://jprsolutions.info corylifolia linn. (seeds): A Review

S.Sangeetha and D.V.L.Sarada* Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur- 603203, India. Received on:10-12-2011; Revised on: 15-01-2012; Accepted on:12-02-2012

ABSTRACT There is a growing trend all over the globe to shift from synthetic to natural products motivated the scientific research in the medicinal because of their potential application in medicine and disease control. The antifungal protein and many secondary metabolites which were extracted from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia proved its importance in the agriculture industry for the plant disease control. This review gives a overall view of the present in the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia which can be used as biological products in the field of medicine as well as agriculture .

KEY WORDS: Psoralea corylifolia, Bakuchiol, Psoralen, , phytochemicals

1. INTRODUCTION The plant, Psoralea corylifolia L., is a medicinal plant widely Isovabachalcone, 4'-O-methylbavachalcone, isobavachromene, corylifolin, distributed in India, China and Southeastern Asian countries. The purple and bavachinin have inhibitory potencies towards monophenolase activity seed pods contain dark elongated seeds. Psoralea seeds, which are har- of mushroom tyrosinase. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of vested in the fall when they have ripened, should be large, solid, and black compounds for monophenolase activity were determined to be 12.3, 48.8, and they are pungent and bitter [6]. 15.8, 23.6, and 143.9 µM, respectively [5].

2.ETHANOPHARMACOLOGY 3.2. Coumarins Psoralea corylifolia has traditionally been used for the treatment of leuco- is 5,6-benzo-2-pyrone and it along with its various derivatives derma and other skin diseases, pollakiuria, nephritis, asthma,osteoporosis, occurs abundantly in plant families such as Umbelliferae, Rutaceae, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The active fraction isolated from Leguminaceae, Otchidaceae, Asteraceae, Guttiferae, Melastomaceae, fruits, seeds and roots possesses antibacterial, antioxidative and Thymelaceae and Solanaceae. The name coumarine is derived from the Car- immunomodulatory properties [3]. Seeds possess greater anthelmintic, di- ibbean word “Coumarou” for the tonka tree from which coumarin with the uretic, stomachic, used in leprosy, febrile condition, skin diseases and scor- characteristic aroma of new-mown hay was isolated. Unsubstituted cou- pion or snake bite. Seeds also yield essential oil [6]. marin is widespread in nature. Most of these naturally occurring lactones are oxygenated at C-7position and hence 7-hydroxy coumarin, umbelliferone 3. PHYTOCHEMISTRY & PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES is regarded as the parent compound. Psoralen (also called Psoralene) present in P.corylifolia L (seeds) is the parent compound in a family of natural 3.1. Flavonoids products known as furocoumarins. It is structurally related to coumarin by Corylifolean, corylifolin, corylifolinin, bakuchicin, psoralidin, isopsoralidin, the addition of a fused furan ring, and may be considered as a derivative of bavachin, isobavachin, bavachinin, bavachalcone, isobavachalcone, 7-O-me- umbelliferone. Psoralen and angelicin ( Figure 1) also show antibacterial thyl bavachin, bavachromanol, corylin, corylidin, corylinal, 4-O-methyl and phototherapeutic activities [1]. bavachalcone, neobavaisoflavone, bavachromene, neobavachalcone are flavanoids isolated from the seeds of the P. corylifolia [3, 7].Flavonoids are characterized by a phenylbenzopyran chemical structure.In plants, these compounds occur in nearly all species, usually as a result of their UV screening properties, thus constituting a protection for the plant [2].

Neobavaisoflavone (7-hydroxy-3[4-hydroxy-3(3-methylbut-2-enyl) phe- nyl] -chromen-4-one belongs to the isoflavones, a subclass of the flavonoids was first isolated from the seeds of P.corylifolia. Neobavaisoflavone signifi- cantly inhibited the production of ROS, RNS, and cytokines: IL-1ß,IL-6, Psoralen Isopsoralen IL-12p40, IL-12p70, TNF-a in activated RAW264.7 macrophages, demon- Fig.1. Structure of Psoralen and isopsoralen strating the anti-inflammatory activity of this compound [3].

Psoralen and isopsoralen, (Figure 1) were subjected to bioactive assay and presented a dose-dependent anticancer activity in four cancer cell lines *Corresponding author. (KB, KBv200, K562 and K562/ADM). Apoptosis of tumor cell signifi- cantly increased after treated with psoralen and isopsoralen. Induction of D.V.L. Sarada apoptotic activity was confirmed by flow cytometry after staining with Department of Biotechnology, School of Annexin V/PI. These results suggested psoralen and isopsoralen contribute Bioengineering , SRM University, to anticancer effect of P. corylifolia L [12]. Kattankulathur-603203, India 3.3. Meroterpenes Bakuchiol and 3-hydroxybakuchiol is a natural phenol and a meroterpene (a

Journal of Pharmacy Research Vol.5 Issue 3.March 2012 1694-1695 S.Sangeetha et al. / Journal of Pharmacy Research 2012,5(3),1694-1695 chemical compound having a partial terpenoid structure) found in confirmed by the inhibition on trypsin. Psc-AFP at 10 mM inhibited the Psoralea corylifolia .Bakuchiol has shown activity against numerous mycelial growth of Alternari brassicae, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium Grampositive and Gram-negative oral pathogens. It was able to inhibit the oxysporum and Rhizoctonia cerealis, suggesting that Psc-AFP has a role in growth of Streptococcus mutans under a range of sucrose concentrations, the defense against pathogens [10]. pH values and in the presence of organic acids in a temperature-dependent manner [4]. 5.CONCLUSIONS The pharmacologic studies reported in the present review confirms the Bakuchiol has broad-spectrum antioxidant activity and effectively quenches therapeutic value of P. corylifolia. It is an important source of various superoxide-, hydroxy-, peroxy-, peroxynitrile radicals and singlet oxygen types of compounds with diverse chemical structures and phytochemical non-radicals in addition to inhibiting lipid peroxidation, bakuchiol effec- properties. Several pressures has accelerated for the search of more envi- tively reduce lipid peroxidation, protect mitochondria from NADPH-de- ronmentally and toxicologically safe and more selective and efficacious pendant and ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation, and protect mitochon- pesticides. The increasing incidence of antibiotic and pesticides resistance drial respiratory enzyme activities against both NADPH-dependant and is also fueling the need to search for new antibiotics and pesticides. Pres- dihydroxyfumarate-induced peroxidation injury. Squalene is particularly ence of such a wide range of chemical compounds in P. corylifolia indicates prone to photooxidation during sun exposure, and bakuchiol protects that the plant can be used for the development of novel antimicrobial agents squalene and other skin lipids from oxidation due its excellent lipid in the field of pharmacy as well as agriculture. peroxidation inhibitory activity [10]. REFERENCES 3.4. Coumestan [1] Chwan-fwu lin, Yu-ling huang, Mei-yin chien, Shuenn-jyi sheu and Two new coumestans-bavacoumestans A and B along with sophora Chien -chih chen. Analysis of Bakuchiol, Psoralen and Angelicin in coumestan A and 6-(-3-methylbut2-enyl)-6 -7-dihydroxy coumestan were Crude Drugs and Commercial Concentrated Products of Fructus isolated from the seeds of P. corylifolia . The compound 6-(-3-methylbut-2- Psoraleae. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis 2007; 15(4): 433- enyl)-6-7- dihydroxycoumestan can used as effective botanical insecticides 437. against Tribolium. Infestation of stored products by insects presents a [2] David M. Pereira , Patrícia Valentão , José A. Pereira and Paula B. Andrade. Phenolics: From Chemistry to Biology. Molecules 2009; serious problem. A large number of synthetic insecticides have been used 14: 2202-2211. against these pests. Unfortunately, these insecticides impart health haz- [3] Ewelina Szliszka, Dariusz Skaba, Zenon P.Czuba and Wojciech ards. Therefore, the use of hazard free insecticides is the foremost prereq- Krol.Inhibition of Inflammatory Mediators by Neobavaisoflavone uisite for protection of stored products [9]. in Activated RA W264.7 Macrophages. Molecules 2011; 16:3701- 3712. 3.5. Essential oil and other phytocomponents [4] Harumi Katsura, Ryo-Ichi Tsukiyama, Akiko Suzuki, and Makio Kobayashi .In Vitro Antimicrobial Activities of Bakuchiol against The essential oil of P. corylifolia seed contains limonene, a-elemene, g- Oral Microorganisms . Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 2001; elemene, 4-terpineol,ß-caryophylenoxide, linalool and geranylacetate. Es- 45(11):3009–3013. sential oil has a distinct stimulatory action on voluntary muscles in high [5] Jun Young Kim, Kyeong Yeol Oh, Ji Young Kim, Hyung Won dilutions (1 in 100,000). The seeds also contain , a non-volatile terpenoid Ryu,Tae-Sook Jeong, and Ki Hun Park Polyphenols Displaying oil, a dark brown resin (8.6%), and traces of alkaloidal substance. Resin Tyrosinase Inhibition from the Seed of Psoralea corylifolia. J. Ko- rean Soc. Appl. Biol. Chem 2010; 53(4): 427-432. acids (21.5%) along with glycerides of oleic, stearic, palmitic, myristic, [6] Khalid Hussain, Mumtaz Hussain, Abdul Majeed, Khalid Nawaz, myristolic, linoleic, and linolenic acids are also extracted from the petro- Farrukh Nisar, M. and Shahid Afghan. Morphochemical Response leum ether extract of the seeds [7]. of Scurf Pea (Psoralea corylifolia L.) to Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) and Nitrogen (N). World Applied Sciences Journal 2010; 8 (10): 4. PSORALEA CORYLIFOLIA IN AGRICULTURE USE 1220-1225. [7] Khushboo, PS , Jadhav VM, Kadam VJ, Sathe NS,Psoralea corilifolia Linn.-“Kushtanashini”.Phcog Rev 2010;4:69-76. 4.1.Phytochemicals against Fusarium sp. [8] Kiran B, Lalitha. V. and Raveesha. KA. In vitro evaluation of anti- Post harvest loss of grains is a significant factor in the worlds food supply. fungal activity of Psoralea corylifolia L.(seeds) and its different Estimates of total losses as high as 50% have been reported by some fractions on seed borne fungi of maize.Journal of Chemical and countries. In India 30% of agriculture production almost 15000 cores is lost Pharmaceutical Research 2011; 3(4): 542-550. due to storage diseases. Petroleum ether extract of P. corylifolia (seeds) [9] N.A. Khatune, M.E. Islam, M.A.A. Rahman, 1M.A. Baki, G. Sadik and M.E. Haque.Pesticidal Activity of a Novel Coumestan Deriva- showed a significant antifungal activity against five Fusarium sp. tested at tive Isolated from Psoralea corylifolia Linn. Against Tribolium 250, 500 and 700ppm concentration [8]. casteneum Herbst, Adults and Larvae (Coleptera:Tenebrionidae ) .Pakistan Journal of Agronomy 2002 ;1(4): 112-115. 4.2.Antifungal Protein [10] Ratan K. Chaudhuri and Francois Marchio . Bakuchiol in the Man- An antifungal protein designated as Psc-AFP, with an apparent molecular agement of Acne-affected Skin . Cosmetics & Toiletries® magazine mass of 18 kDa, was isolated from Psoralea corylifolia L. The protein was 2011; 126 (7): 502-510. [11] Xingyong Yang , Jun Li , Xiaowen Wang, Weiguo Fang , Michael J. extracted using cation exchange chromatography on CM FF, gel filtration Bidochka, Rong She , Yuehua Xiao and Yan Pei . Psc-AFP, an chromatography on Superdex 75 and reversed-phase high performance liq- antifungal protein with trypsin inhibitor activity from Psoralea uid chromatography on SOURCE 5RPC column. Automated Edman degra- corylifolia seeds. Peptides 2006; 27: 1726-1731. dation determined the partial N-terminal sequence of Psc-AFP to be NH2- [12] Yi Wang, Chengtao Hong, Chenguang Zhou, Dongmei Xu, and Hai- EWEPVQNGGSSYYMVPRIWA , which displayed homology with plant bin Qu .Screening Antitumor Compounds Psoralen and Isopsoralen from Psoralea corylifolia L. Seeds.Evidence-Based Complemen- trypsin inhibitors. The protease inhibitor activity of Psc-AFP was then tary and Alternative Medicine 2011; 1-7.

Source of support: Nil, Conflict of interest: None Declared

Journal of Pharmacy Research Vol.5 Issue 3.March 2012 1694-1695