Gopal C. Nanda et al / Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm. 7(2), Mar - Apr 2016 Review Article www.ijrap.net LESS KNOWN MEDICINAL PLANTS OF ASSAM AND ODISHA USED FOR TREATING DIABETES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CHARAKA Gopal C. Nanda 1*, Manajit Bora 2, Rajesh K. Tiwari 3 1Assistant Director and Incharge (Scientist –IV), National Veterinary Ayurveda Research Institute & Hospital, Indira Nagar, Sec. 25, INS 106, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India 2Research Officer (Pharmacology), National Veterinary Ayurveda Research Institute & Hospital, Indira Nagar, Sec. 25, INS 106, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India 3Research Officer (Pharmacognosy), National Veterinary Ayurveda Research Institute & Hospital, Indira Nagar, Sec. 25, INS 106, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India Received on: 23/11/15 Revised on: 22/12/15 Accepted on: 02/01/16 *Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected] DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.07249 ABSTRACT Lifestyle disorders are diseases that appear to increase in frequency as countries like India become more industrialized and people live longer. They can include Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, athirosclerosis, asthma, some kinds of cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), type II diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, chronic renal failure, osteoporosis, stroke, depression and obesity. Diabetes mellitus is one of the common metabolic disorders acquiring around 2.8% of the world's population and is anticipated to cross 5.4% by the year 2025. Its percentage is in Assam 4.2 and Odisha 4.6 of the total population of state. Since long back herbal medicines have been the highly esteemed source of medicine therefore, they have become a growing part of modern, high-tech medicine. In view of the above aspects the present paper provides profiles of ten species of antidiabetic medicinal plants of Assam and Odhisa state having their references in age old classical treatises like Charaka Samihta. The antidiabetic medicinal plants discussed are Calotropis procera, Calotropis gigantia, Cassia fistula, Hemidesmus indicus, Cleodendrum serratum, Punica granatum, Woodfodia fruticosa, Cynodon dactylon, Fagonia cretica and Gmelina arboria. Keywords: Antidiabetic, Assam, Odisha, Charaka Samhita. INTRODUCTION Therefore, the present study is carried out to collect the available data on some of the less known antidiabetic medicinal plants of In modern era, there is an increasing incidence of diseases such Assam and Odhisa state. as diabetes, hypertension, cardio vascular diseases, behavioural problems, high cholesterol, and obesity affecting even the DISCUSSION younger people. The present study is carried out to document the medicinal Diabetes mellitus is one of the oldest diseases known to plants being used by the traditional healers of different places mankind and has been known since ages and the sweetness of and steps were taken to locate for the sustainability of those diabetic urine has been mentioned in Ayurveda by Sushruta. species. Presently 2.8% of the population suffers from diabetes throughout the world and it may cross 5.4% by 2025. Diabetes In present study ten speices of antidiabetic medicinal plants mellitus is a systemic metabolic disease characterized by from Assam and Odhisa namely Calotropis procera, Calotropis hyperglycemia hyperlipedemia, hyperaminoacidemia and gigantia, Cassia fistula, Hemidesmus indicus, Cleodendrum hypoinsulinaemia it leads to decrease in both insulin secretion serratum, Punica granatum, Woodfodia fruticosa, Cynodon and insulin action. It is caused by the abnormality of dactylon, Fagonia cretica and Gmelina arboria have been carbohydrate metabolism which is linked to low blood insulin reported looking to their usein various life style disorders level or insensitivity of target organs to insulin1. The especially in diabetes. However, efforts have been taken to management of diabetes is a global problem until now and evaluate those plants with their potency/effectiveness both from successful treatment is not yet discovered. The modern clinical point of view and having references in classical texts antidiabetic drugs produce undesirable and side effects. Plant especially in Charaka Samihta. materials which are being used as traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes are considered one of the good sources for Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton a new drug or a lead to make a new drug. Plant extract or different folk plant preparations are being prescribed by the Synonym: Calotropis procera Aiton traditional practioners and also accepted by the users for Sanskrit name: Arka (Charaka) diabetes like for any other diseases in many countries especially Calotropis procera is a species of flowering plant in the family in third world countries. Now-a days more than 400 plants are Asclepiadaceae and is native to North Africa, Tropical Africa, being used in different forms for hypoglycaemic effects all the Western Asia, South Asia, and Indochina. This plant is found claims practitioners or users are neither baseless nor absolutely2. abundantly in Assam and Odihsa state of India. 23 Gopal C. Nanda et al / Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm. 7(2), Mar - Apr 2016 The plant is a very promising source of anticancerous, alloxan-induced hyperglycemia in Wistar albino rats11. ascaricidal, schizonticidal, anti-microbial, anthelmintic, Ethanolic, chloroform and n-butano fractions of C. gigantea leaf insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrhoeal, larvicidal with extract possesses significant antidiabetic and antioxidant activity many other beneficial properties. The plant contains many active in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats12. compounds like calotropin, alotropagenin, calotoxin, calactin, uscharin, amyrin, amyrin esters, uscharidin, coroglaucigenin, Cassia fistula L. frugoside, corotoxigenin, calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications. The plant is used in folk Synonym: Bactyrilobium fistula Willd.; Cassia bonplandiana medicine for the treatment of leprosy, elephantiasis, fever, DC.; Cassia excelsa Kunth; Cassia fistuloides Collad.; Cassia menorrhagia, malaria and snake bite3. rhombifolia Roxb.; Cathartocarpus excelsus G.Don.; Cathartocarpus fistula Pers.; Cathartocarpus fistuloides Antidiabetic activities (Collad.) G.Don.; Cathartocarpus rhombifolius G.Don. Dry latx of Calotropis procera had anti-hyperglycaemic effects Sanskrit name: Aragvadha (Charaka) in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats and showed antidiabetic Cassia fistula L. is known as the golden shower tree and by effects as comparable to the standard antidiabetic drug other names, is aflowering plant in the family Caesalpiniaceae. glibenclamide4. Hydroalcholic extract of the leaves of C. The species is native to the Indian subcontinent and adjacent procera (300 and 600mg/kg/day) reduced significantly the level regions of Southeast Asia, found abundantly in Assam and of blood glucose and improved metabolic status of the Odihsa state of India. In traditional medicine, the plant is used streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and ameliorated the oral for the treatment of hematemesis, pruritis, intestinal disorder, tolerance glucose test5. Petroleum ether, methanol and aqueous leucoderma, diabetes, constipation etc13. Various extracts of Calotropis procera roots at the dose of 250 mg/kg, b. phytochemicals viz. rhein, volatile oil, waxy, lupeol, β-sitosterol wt. for 15 days had anti-hyperglycemic effect in streptozotocin- and hexacosanol, fistulin, kaempferol etc. are present in the induced diabetes in Male Wister Albino rats and the activities plant14. were compared to that effect produced by a standard anti- diabetic agent, glibenclam ide 500μg/kg6. Ethanolic extract of Antidiabetic activities Calotropis procera fruits at the dose of 250 and 500mg/kg, b. Hexane extract of Cassia fistula stem bark at the doses of 0.15, wt. had antidiabetic effects in alloxan induced diabetic rats7. 0.30, 0.45g/kg body weight for 30 days suppressed the elevated blood glucose levels in Streptozotocin diabetic rats. The Calotropis Gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton hypoglycemic effect produced by the extract was better than that of standard hypoglycemic drug glibenclamide15. Daily oral Synonym: Asclepias gigantea L., Calotropis gigantea (L.) R. Br. administration of the total alcoholic extract and its ethyl acetate ex Schult., Madorius giganteus (L.) Kuntze, Periploca fraction of the bark of Cassia fistula in alloxan induced diabetic cochinchinensis Lour., Streptocaulon cochinchinense (Lour.) G. rats for 14 days exhibited significant reduction in blood glucose Don. levels and also found effective in restoring the blood lipids to Sanskrit name: Alarka (Charaka) normal levels. The activity of the extracts was found comparable Calotropis gigantea is a species of Calotropis native to with standard drug glibenclamide16. Methanolic extract of the Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Sri bark and leaves of Cassia fistula at the dose 500mg/kg body Lanka, India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, and tropical Africa. In weight exhibited significant antihyperglycemic and India the plant is found abundantly in Assam and Odihsa state. antilipidemic activity than at low dose of 250mg/kg in Calotropis gigantea is used as a traditional medicine to treat Streptozotocin-nictotinamide-induced diabetes mellitus in rats17. common disease such as fevers, rheumatism, indigestion, cough, cold, eczema, asthma, elephantiasis, nausea, vomiting and Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br. diarrhoea. According to Ayurveda, the dried whole plant is a good tonic, expectorant, depurative and anthelmintic.