ISSN 2249‐3875

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Erudition

Review Article

Chonemorpha Fragrans, An Endangered Medicinal : A Review

CHANDRA AMRISH 1, RAJPUT REKHA *2

1. Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida 2. Anand college of Pharmacy, Keetham, Agra

In the present review, an attempt has been made to congregate the botanical, morphological phytochemical, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological information on fragrans(Moon)Alston, a medicinal herb used in the indigenous system of medicine. It has been adored in almost all ancient ayurvedic texts for its extraordinary medicinal properties. It is sweet and astringent in taste. The roots of chonemorpha possess several medicinal properties. Ayurvedic texts categorise chonemorpha is used as carminative, anthelmintic and digestive. While alleviating kapha and vata, it aggravates pitta. (Moon)Alston has a variety of biological / pharmacological activities such as antiamoebic, antipyretic, antidiabetic, anti parasitic, anthelmentic, anticancer, HIV disorder, skeletal muscle relaxant and gynaecological disorder . This review will definitely help for the researchers as well as clinicians dealing with chonemorpha fragran to know its proper usage as this herb is seemed to be highly valuable, possessing many pharmacological / medicinal properties. Keywords: Medicinal properties, Ayurved, chonemorpha fragran, herb, Pharmacological activities INTRODUCTION:

Chonemorpha fragrans (Moon), Alston MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTER:

() syn Chonemorpha Chonemorpha fragrans is a stout grandiflora, (Roth) M.R. and S.M. spreading laticiferous shrub with soft Almeida has been included in the list of greyish to rusty-brown bark which yields 1 an endangered medicinal . fibre of good quality; leaves simple,

Part of plants used in medicine: Entire opposite, large, orbicular, fulvous plant, roots and root bark are used for tomentose beneath, prominently veined; fever and stomach disorders. The plant is flowers large, whitish to cream-yellow, useful in treatment of skin diseases and fragrant, in terminal or pseudo-axillary inflammations. 1 cymose panicle; fruits long, straight, woody, parallel, follicular mericarps; seeds *Address for correspondence many, flat, shortly beaked with long white [email protected] silky coma.2

SYNONYMS2

Sanskrit : Murva,Morata www.pharmaerudition.org Nov. 2011, 1(3), 10-16 10 | Page ISSN 2249‐3875

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Hindi : Garbhedaro diseases, leprosy, scabies, dyspepsia ,colic, constipation hyperacidity ,cardiac debility, : Manjinaru diabetes, jaundice, cough, bronchitis and Telgu : Chaga intermittent fevers. Murva is used in diseases like anaemia : Perunkurumpa (pandu), fever (jwara), diabetes SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION OF (prameha), stomach disorders (udara 3 CHONEMORPHA FRAGRANS: roga), typhoid (visama jwara), urinary 5 Kingdom : Plantae infections (asmari) and cough (ksaya) . It is also used in the treatment of diarrhea, Phylum : Division polyuria, , leprosy, eye diseases, Class : Angiospermae vomiting and poisoning.6 ETHANOPHARMACOLOGY: Order : Chonemorpha fragrans is a medicinal Family : Apocynaceae plant found in the western ghats of Maharashtra. The leaves, roots, bark-stem Genus : Chonemorpha are used in Ayurvedic system of Species :Chonemorpha fragrans medicines. Leaves are used in the form of churna /extract or in combination with the It is commonly known as “Garbhedaro” in other plant materials in their formulation. , and “Murva&Morata” in .2 It is administered orally. Metal analysis of It is medicinal plants, which has been leaves shows a high percentage of metals assigned endangered in the Kerala states. It like, calcium, iron, copper and manganese is used in different preparation along with the other metals. These results sudarsansavam, kumaryasavam used in may help in development of new drug Kerala ayurvedic system.4 formulations.7 TRADITIONAL USES: The plants are propagated by the seeds, The roots are are sweet, bitter, astringent, which are produced abundantly. It is laxative, thermogenic, depurative, suitable for cultivation in the open on a carminative, anthelmintic, digestive, long trllisn trees.The powdered root and antiscorbutic, anodyne, expectorant and stem are credited with laxative anti-bilious febrifuge. They are useful in vitiated properties and given for stomach disorder, conditions of vata and kapha, skin chest disease and rheumatism.8 www.pharmaerudition.org Nov. 2011, 1(3), 10-16 11 | Page ISSN 2249‐3875

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PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS: steroids -Japindine and N- The rootbark contain 3.03 % of total formylchonemorphine isolated from root alkaloids present are japindine,N-formyl- bark and characterized; their structure chonemorphin,N-methyl chonemorphin. confirmed by synthesis(Indian J Chonemorphin dihydrochloride is an anti- Chem.1973,11,1056;ibid1978,16B,346);B amoebic principal and show in vitro auerenol acetate and β-sitosterol from activity against parasites entamoeba leaves(Indian J. Chem.1978,16B,346).10 histolytica (25µg/ml) trichomonas vaginalis (200µg/ml)and in vitro activity against hepatic amoebiasis in golden hamster and intestinal amoebiasis in wealing wistar rats. Presence of fats, octacosanol, ceryl alcohol, β -sitosterol and taraxasterol is reported. The leaves and twig contain baurenolacetate and β- A steroidal alkaloids-Chonemorphine, mp sitosterol. The stem yields latex. It is 144 –from roots characterized by spectral purgative. Analysis of dried latex from and chemical studies (Chem.Ind. Assam gave: 1960,290;ibdi1959,1445;Indian J Chem. Moisture: 19.8 1967,5,146).11 Protein: 0.83 Rubber: 77.1 Resin: 1.4 Ash: 0.5% The rubber obtain is tough, elastic and of good quality. The bark yields a fiber, resistance to fresh and salt water and used fishing nets and ropes (Mattews, 8 343:Uphof,127:Misra,loc.cit.). Root bark contained lipids (0.54%) as In , it is used as an emetic (Med glycerides of lauric(11.9), stearic(13.3), 9 Arom Plant Abstr.,1996,18,1148) . arachidic(17.0),myristic(20.2),palmitic(10.

Funtamafrine C,mp1680 from roots 4),oleic(9.6),linolenic(11.8)and ricineoleic identical with deaminochonemorphinone acids(5.2%),octacosanol:ceryl alcohol,β- (Indian J. Chem. 1972,10,1197);Two new sitosterol and taraxasterol also isolated (J. www.pharmaerudition.org Nov. 2011, 1(3), 10-16 12 | Page ISSN 2249‐3875

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Inst.Chemists,Calcutta 1984,56,140;Chem pancreas alloxan induced diabetic rats Abstr. 1984,101,147840m).12 inflammatory changes were detected in pancreatic islets results from selectively destroy of insulin producing β-cells. These changes are dose-dependently inhibited by CF.alc.extract and gliclazide. 14 Antiamoebic activity: In a bioassay-directed screening programme of plants for the identification

of active constituents the steroid A lignan derivative (I) Isolated from stem “Chonemorphine” was isolated and (Jpn.5, 194,464(1991) Sep. 25; Chem. identified as the antiamoebic and anti- Abstr. 1993,119,167720x).13 trichomonad principle of Chonemorpha fragrans. 15

Antipyretic activity: Murva is one of the controversial drugs used in Ayurvedic medicine. In the present study two botanical sources of Murva, viz. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY: Wattakaka volubilis and Maerua Antidiabetic activity: oblongifolia, were tested for antipyretic Alcoholic extract of Chonemorpha activity by yeast-induced pyrexia in Wistar fragrans root (CF.alc.extract)showed albino rats.Alcohol and aqueous extracts antidiabetic activity when administered of both species significantly reduced the orally at dose 100 mg/kg and 200mg/kg in elevated rectal temperature in febrile rats different condition such as normal, glucose within 30 min of their administration. The over loaded in normal rats, and alloxan results of these studies support the induced diabetic rats. At dose 200 mg/kg traditional use of these two botanical per oral (p.o.) was produce significantly sources of the drug Murva in the treatment reduce blood glucose level in fasted of fever.16 normal rat and against glucose over loaded Anti-parasitic agent: rats and alloxan induced diabetic rats at Chonemorphines, a steroidal single dose as well as twelve day isolated from Chonemorpha fragrans treatment. Histopathology studies on Moon (Apocyanaceae) was identified as an www.pharmaerudition.org Nov. 2011, 1(3), 10-16 13 | Page ISSN 2249‐3875

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Erudition antimoebic principle during the course of a abdominis and electrically stimulated screening programme for novel contractions of rat phrenic nerve antiparasitic agents from plant sources. At diaphragm in a dose-dependent manner. In a dosage of 100 mg/kg x 4 chonemorphine unanaesthetized chicks, it produced spastic led to a 100% cure of experimental hepatic type of paralysis with extension of the infection in golden hamsters and cleared neck and limbs. The effects were similar to 90% of the intestinal infection in weanling the effects of succinylcholine but different Wistar rats at 200 mg/kg (x4) dosages. The from those of gallamine. The alcoholic discovery of chonemorphine as an extract of CM possesses skeletal muscle antiamoebic agent is an addition to the few relaxant property. It produces depolarizing known plant amoebicides such as emetine type of muscle paralysis similar to that and conessine.17 produced by succinylcholine.18

Skeletal muscle relaxant: Anthelmintic activity: Skeletal muscle relaxant property of Roots of Chonemorpha fragrans belonging Chonemorpha macrophylla (CM). The to family Apocynaceae showed the 19 skeletal muscle relaxant effect of the anthelmintic activity. alcoholic extract of CM was studied on Anticancer activity: isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle, Camptothecins are one of the most isolated rat phrenic nerve diaphragm important anticancer alkaloids of the 21st muscle preparation and in intact young century because of their clinical 20 21 chicks. The parameter studied in the applications against cancer , HIV. isolated muscle or isolated nerve muscle Gynaecological disorder: preparations was the extent of inhibition of In Mizoram, the plant is used for treatment 22 acetylcholine or electrically-induced of gynaecological disorders . C. contraction of skeletal muscles. In intact grandiflora, has been included in the list 23 chicks, the drug was administered i.v. in of threatened medicinal plants. wing veins and the onset, duration and REFERENCE: nature of paralysis were recorded. In all 1. Kulkarni AV, Patwardhan AA, Upadhye AS and Malpathak NP, the experiments, the effect of the drug was compared with that of gallamine and Pharmacognostic evaluation of succinylcholine. The alcoholic extract of chonemorpha grandiflora, an endangered CM reduced the acetylcholine-induced medicinal plant , International Journal of contraction of isolated frog rectus Pharmaceutical Science and www.pharmaerudition.org Nov. 2011, 1(3), 10-16 14 | Page ISSN 2249‐3875

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Research,2011;2(10):2690-2693. Directorate, Council of Scientific and 1. Arya Vaidya Sala, Indian Industrial Research ,New Dehli,India-1992 Medicinal Plants a Compendium of 500 :486 species, Orient Longman ,Volume-II, 8. The Wealth of India, A Dictionary Orient Longman Ltd.,Madras,1995- of Indian Raw Material and Industrial 1997:67-9 Products, second Supplement Series (Raw 2. Classification of Species: Materials),Volume-I:A-F, National Chonemorpha fragrans, National Institute of Science Communication and Biodiversity Centre: National Biodiversity Information Resources, Council of Centre Plinian Core Resource Scientific and Industrial Research ,New 3. Kulkarni AV,Patwardhan AA,Lele Dehli,India-1976-2009 :174 U, Malpathak NP, Production of 9. Ram P. Rastogi and B. N. camptothecin in cultures of chonemorpha Mehrotra, Compendium of Indian grandiflora,Pharmacognosy Medicinal Plants, Volume-II, National Research,September 2010;2(5):296-299. Institute of Science Communication and 4. Kolammal M. ,Pharmacognosy of Information Resources, Council of Ayurvedic Drugs Series-1. Trivandrum: Scientific and Industrial Research, New Ayurveda Research Institute, 1978: 1. Dehli,India-1970-1979:178 5. Yoganarasimhan SN. ,Medicinal 10. Ram P. Rastogi and B. N. Plants of India, Vol 2,Tamil Nadu. Mehrotra, Compendium of Indian Bangalore: Cybermedia, 2000: 346. Medicinal Plants, Volume-I, National 6. Chandrachood, P. S., Kamble, G. Institute of Science Communication and S.,Manik Kulkarni, Deshpande, N. Information Resources, Council of R.,Kashalkar, R. V.,Identification of Scientific and Industrial Research, New metals found in the leaves of Dehli,India-1960-1969:99 Chonemorpha fragrance. , Biosciences, 11. Ram P. Rastogi and B.N. Mehrotra, Biotechnology Research Asia ,2009 ; 6 ( Compendium of Indian Medicinal Plants, 2): 811-815 Volume-III, National Institute of Science 7. The Wealth of India ,A dictionary Communication and Information of Indian raw materials and industrial Resources, Council of Scientific and products, the wealth of india, raw Industrial Research, New Dehli,India- materials Volume-3: Ca-Ci, Revised 1980-1984:166 Edition, Publication and Information 12. Ram P. Rastogi and B.N. Mehrotra, www.pharmaerudition.org Nov. 2011, 1(3), 10-16 15 | Page ISSN 2249‐3875

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