A review on phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of Cissus quadrangularis L. TICLE R Monokesh Kumer Sen, Biplab Kumar Dash Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh A Cissus quadrangularis L. (Vitaceae) is a common perennial climber, which is distributed throughout Bangladesh. Though almost all of its parts are used in traditional systems of medicines seeds, stem, roots and shoots are the most important parts which are used medicinally. The article reveals that wide numbers of phytochemical constituents have been isolated from the plant which possesses activities like anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, gastro-protective, antioxidant, antimicrobial and various other important medicinal EVIEW properties. The stem juice of plant is used in menstrual disorders, epistaxis and leaves is used against bowel infections. For the last few decades or so, extensive research work has been done to prove its biological activities and pharmacology of its extracts. The current R review deals with the enormous amount of updated information of scientific research and reports available in different aspects of this plant involving phytochemical and pharmacology. This review also includes reports on taxonomy, morphology, monographs, distribution, tissue culture and traditional medicinal uses of the plant. Key words: Cissus quadrangularis, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological activity, traditional uses INTRODUCTION evaluated on the basis of their traditional uses. One of the many plants which are being evaluated for their The plant kingdom has been the best source of remedies therapeutic efficacies is Cissus quadrangularis which for curing a verity of disease and pain. The drug discovery is commonly known as Hadjod (Bengali) and Edible industry is equally dependent on natural products for Stemmed Vine (English). It is an annual or perennial new medicines[1] mainly because existing therapies herb, entire leaves, buff colored with greenish ting and exhibit many side effects that results in the recall of drugs, requires warm tropical climate and propagated by stem bringing huge losses to the pharmaceutical industries. cuttings in months of June and July. Although it has many Recently there has been a tremendous increase in the medicinal properties, it is particularly used to reduce use of plant based health products in developing as body weight, anthelmintic, muscular pains, asthma, well as developed countries resulting in an exponential broken bones, antiulcer, antihemorrhoidal, antimicrobial growth of herbal products globally. According to the etc., No systematic studies have been reported for its WHO more than 80% of the world’s population relies pharmacological and phytochemical study hence an on traditional herbal medicine for their primary health effort has been made to establish the pharmacological care.[2] Plants continue to serve as possible sources for as well as phytochemical study of Cissus quadrangularis. new drugs and chemicals derived from various parts of Taxonomy of Cissus Quadrangularis plants.[3] However, due to over population, urbanization Besides the usual botanical classification, medicinal and continuous exploitation of these herbal reserves, the plants can be classified according to the part used, natural resources along with their related traditional habit, habitat, therapeutic value etc., But the botanical knowledge are depleting day by day.[4] classification is the most comprehensive and scientific classification which is as following: In the present era of drug development and in discovery Kingdom Plantae – Plants of newer drug; molecules of many plant products are Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Access this article online Super division Spermatophyta – Seed plants Quick Response Code: Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Website: Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons www.greenpharmacy.info Subclass Rosidae Order Rhamnales DOI: Family Vitaceae – Grape family 10.4103/0973-8258.104924 Genus Cissus L. – Treebine Species Cissus quadrangularis L. AQ1: None of either Dr. or Prof. The Address for correspondence: Mr. Monokesh Kumer Sen, Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and corresponding author is an MSc Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia - 7003, Bangladesh. E-mail: [email protected] student, so already mentioned "Mr." Received: 14-08-2012; Accepted: 26-09-2012 is OK. 169 International Journal of Green Pharmacy | July-September 2012 | Sen and Dash: A review on Cissus quadrangularis L. Synonyms tritiacontanoic acid and 7 –Oxo onocer-8-ene-3 β 21 α diol. Cissus succulent, Cissus tetragona, Vitis quadrangularis, Vitis The chemical constituents of Cissus quadrangularis are shown succulenta in Table 1. Plant Parts Used FOLK REMEDIES AND TRADITIONAL USES The whole plant used specially leaves, roots and stem. Traditionally, the roots and stems are most useful for Monographs healing of fracture of the bones. The plant has been Bengali Names : Hadjod, Harbhanga documented in Ayurveda for the treatment of osteoarthritis, English Names : Edible Stemmed Vine rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. The stem juice of Sanskrit : Asthisamdhani plant is used to treat scurvy, menstrual disorders, otorrhoea Marathi : Kandvel and epistaxis. The herb is fed to cattle to induce flow of Tamil : Perandi milk. The stout fleshy quadrangular stem is traditionally Scientific Name : Cissus quadrangularis L. used for treatment of gastritis constipation, eye diseases, Family : Vitaceae piles and anemia. Various traditional uses of the herb are Duration : Perennial or annual mentioned in Table 2. Growth habit : Herb Bangladesh nativity : Native PHARMACOLOGY Following the folk and traditional uses of the plant, it has Morphology been investigated scientifically to validate the potential • Trees with simple leaves (entire leaves) • Leaves are simple or lobed, cordate, broadly ovate or Table 1: Chemical constituents of Cissus quadrangularis reniform, serrate, dentate, sometimes 3-foliate and Part used Constituents References glabrous Stem Calcium ions and phosphorus [6] • Stem is buff colored with greenish ting, dichotomously Stem Calcium oxalate, 31 methyl [7,8] branched, sub‑angular, glabrous, fibrous and smooth. tritiacontanoic acid, taraxeryl acetate, Drug occurs in various parts of the stem taraxerol and iso‑pentadecanoic acid Stem A and β‑amyrins, β‑sitosterol, [9] • Internode measures 4-5 cm long and 1-2 cm thick, a ketosetosterol, phenols, tannins, tendril occasionally present at nodes vitamin, carotene • Flowers are small, greenish white, bisexual, tetramerous, Stem Saponins and phenol [10] in umbellate cymes, opposite to the leaves Aerial parts 7‑Oxo‑Onocer‑8‑ene‑3 β 21 α diol [11‑13] • Petals are 4-5, imbricate. Root powder Potassium, calcium, zinc, sodium, [5,14,15] iron, lead, cadmium, copper and • Calyx is short, entire, deciduous and cup shaped. magnesium • Fruit are globose or obovoid fleshy berries, succulent, Ash of plant Sodium, potassium, magnesium and [16] very acrid, dark purple to black calcium, potassium tartrate • Roots are aerial, develop during rainy season Leaves Resveratrol, piceatanon, pallidol, [17] • Seeds are ellipsoid or pyriform, one seeded. parthenocissus, alicyclic lipids Distribution Table 2: Folk remedies and traditional uses of Cissus Cissus quadrangularis is an annual or perennial herb with quadrangularis huge medicinal properties distributed throughout the Part used Uses References tropical world. It requires warm tropical climate and Stem Broken bones [18] propagated by stem cuttings in months of June and July. Stem Muscular pains [19] It is found throughout the hotter parts of Bangladesh, Stem juice Treat scurvy, menstrual disorders, [19] Thailand, Java, Philippines also India, West Africa and otorrhoea and epistaxis [20,21] [5] Stem Asthma, burns and wounds, bites of Ceylon. poisonous insects Stem Stomachic [22] Phytochemistry Stem Wound [23] The plant contains potassium, calcium, zinc, sodium, iron, Sap with tamarind Gonorrhea [24] lead, cadmium, copper, calcium oxalate and magnesium. Ash of plant Substitute for baking powder [19] Other constituents of the plant are resveratrol, piceatannol, Shoots Anthelmintic [19] pallidol, parthenocissus, 31 methyl triacontanoic acid, Leaves Bowel infections [18] taraxeryl acetate, taraxerol, iso-pentadecanoic acid, phenol, Aerial parts Wounds, lumpy skin [25] tannin, carotene and vitamin. It also contains 31 methyl disease and as tick repellent | July-September 2012 | International Journal of Green Pharmacy 170 Sen and Dash: A review on Cissus quadrangularis L. of the plant in cure of variety of ailments. Some of the CONCLUSION reported pharmacological activities of C. quadrangularis are mentioned in Table 3. Phytochemical and pharmacological investigations carried out in the plant reveals its multidisciplinary usage. The Toxicological Study plant was found to be very useful in reduced body weight, Several study showed that the Cissus quadrangularis anti‑inflammatory, gynecological disorders like menstrual extract does not produce any toxic effect has been problems, gonorrhea etc., Antitumor potential is the exciting [60,61] reported. aspects of the plant. Several investigators have reported the plant as a valuable antibacterial, antifungal and also active Miscellaneous Activity against other plant pathogens. Proteolytic activity against cysteine protease and [56,62] molluscicidal activity has been reported.