International Journal of Scientific Research and Review ISSN NO: 2279-543X Traditional uses, Chemistry and Pharmacological activities of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb:A Compendious Review Afshan Khan1, Aisha Siddiqui2*, Anwar Jamal3 1 PG Scholar, 2Assistant Professor, 3 Research Officer 1, 2 Department of Ilmul Advia,School of Unani Medical Education and Research; Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. India. 3 Research Officer (Unani)-SL-ΙΙΙ, RRIUM, Bhadrak, Odisha-756100. Abstract In Traditional system of medicine Aftimoon (Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.) is also known as Akashbel, Amarbel and dodder plant. The plant is dispersed all through India, Srilanka, Iran, Australia, Ceylon and Malaya. It is an evergreen, perennial, rootless, leafless climbing parasitic plant of Convolvulaceae family, used for various medicinal purposes as Jaundice, Rheumatism, Gout, Constipation, Flatulence, Chronic fever and hiccough etc. The Cuscuta reflexa is investigated for antitumor, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, haemodynamic, muscle relaxant, psychopharmacological, cardiotonic and anticonvulsant activities etc. Many chemical constituents have been secluded from Cuscuta reflexa such as amarbelin, cuscutin, myricetin, beta-sterol, luteolin, qurecetin, stigmasterol, cuscutamine, luteolin etc. This review presents a critique of the literature on pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, traditional and biological medicinal uses of Cuscuta reflexa. Key words: Cuscuta reflexa, Parasitic plant, Phytochemistry, Ethnomedicine. *Corresponding Author- Dr. Aisha Siddiqui Assistant Professor Department of Ilmul Advia,School of Unani Medical Education and Research;Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. India. Volume 7, Issue 10, 2018 Page No: 685 International Journal of Scientific Research and Review ISSN NO: 2279-543X INTRODUCTION The application of plants as medicines dates back to prehistoric period. Plants are more effective healers because they endorse the repair mechanisms in the natural way. Medicinal plants provide about 80% drugs world wide. Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (Family: Convolvulaceae) is usually known as “Akashabela, Amarabela, dodder plant, devil’s hair etc. It is a perennial, parasitic, rootless, chlorophyll free parasite fully depends on a host plant for support and food supply. It is usually found in India and Ceylon upto an altitude of 2348m, also found in plains of Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand and Afghanistan etc [1]. In India, the plant is traditionally used for various medicinal purposes. The seeds are emmenagogue, sedative, diuretic, useful in disease of the spleen and liver, chronic fevers and hiccough, also purify the blood and clean the bowel [3]. Its stem is used as a purgative. Juice of the plant was given in combination with other purgative decoction [4] and also inhaled for treating jaundice, paste of the plant is applied in gout, rheumatism and for relieving headache [5]. Cuscuta reflexa is investigated for Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic, Antitumor, Anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic, Antiviral, Antihypertensive, Hair growth promoting and Spasmolytic activities etc. It contains Glycosides, Flavanoids, Alkaloids, Cuscutin, Cuscutalin and Amarvel etc. It also indicates the presence of astragallin [6], myricetin, benzopyrones [7]. A new compound reflexin [5- hyroxy – 7 methoxy – 6 (2, 3 epoxy-3 methyl butyl)-Flavanone] has been isolated [8].This review article presents a critique of the literature on pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, traditional and biological medicinal uses of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Fig 1:- Cuscuta reflexa Roxb Flowers Fig2:- Cuscuta reflexa Roxb grows on other plants Volume 7, Issue 10, 2018 Page No: 686 International Journal of Scientific Research and Review ISSN NO: 2279-543X BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION OF Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.[9,10] Kingdom ………….Plantae Subkingdom……….Tracheobionta Superdivision………Spermatophyta Division……………Angiospermes Class……………….Eudicots Subclass……………Asterids Order…….……...…Solanales Family………….….Cuscutaceae Alternate…………..Convolvulaceae Genus……………...Cuscuta Species…………….reflexa SYNONYMS: Amarvallari, Khavalli, Akashvalli, Asprsha, Aakashbel, Aaloklata, Vyomvallika, Amarbel [9]. VERNACULAR NAMES: [9,11] Hindi - Amarbel Bengali - Swarnlata Malyali - Nirmuli Gujrati - Akasbel Telugu - Nulutega Tamil - Erumaikkottan Persian - Aftimoon Assamese- Akakhilata English – Dodder HABITAT: Cuscuta reflexa plant usually climbs over the trees and shrubs. It is found in the temperate and tropical regions of the world with tremendous species assortment in tropical and subtropical regions. It is usually found in India, Afghanistan, Sri-lanka, Malaysia, Thailand and Nepal [12]. Volume 7, Issue 10, 2018 Page No: 687 International Journal of Scientific Research and Review ISSN NO: 2279-543X BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: Cuscuta reflexa is perennial parasitic herb. Stems are filiform twining, much–branched, often forming a tangled mass. Flowers solitary or in shortly pedunculate cyme, pedicles short, bracts ovate, 1.25mm long divided rather less than half way down, lobes deltoid ovate subobtuse often with a tubercular keel on the back. Corolla 2.5mm long, lobes about equalling the tubes, ovate- oblong, subobtuse, scales at the base of the filaments fimbriate. Filaments 0.8mm long style 2, distinct, 1mm long capsules hardly 2.5mm diameter, globose, hyaline, divided into 2 lobes by a deep furrow on top, seeds 1.6mm long usually four.Seeds 2-4, large, black and glabrous [13, 14]. MORPHOLOGY: Macroscopic: The drug constitute a dense tuft of intertwine, much branched, very thin almost thread like light brown stem mass, Portions of host plant with the stem twined on it are also present. Stem is coarse to touch, glabrous, bears no leaves and breaks very easily.At places, fruits are borne on stem, 5-8 in number in a single cyme and light brown in colour. It has no odour but has a slightly bitter taste. Fruit is an indehicent capsule, 3-5mm in diameter globes in shape borne on pedicle. It has persistant calyx and almost transparent wall through which dark brown seeds are clearly visible. At the top it has a small pore while some bear reminiscent of style, still attached. It has four seeds, these are three sided, the one along its length is convex on one side. One side is slightly concave while the third is almost plane. The seeds are smooth, 1 to 1.5mm in diameter while the length is 1.5mm to 2mm. It has no odour but bitter in taste [13,14,15]. Microscopic: Transverse section of the stem shows a circular but a wavy outline. The outermost layer is a single row of epidermis, lined externally by a cuticle. Epidermal cells are not uniform in shape. A 4-6 layered zone of cortex which has thin walled cells of various sizes and shapes. Endodermal layer is non distinguishable. The cells towards the innermost layer of cortex become smaller and surround the vascular bundles, forming a sheath. Vascular bundles are collateral, 5-7 in number and not situated on the same radious. The xylem is not well developed and consists of thin vessels; few in number, in a single group. Phloem are scarcely distinguishable except that some large cells with small companion cells are seen outside the metaxylem.A large zone of pith consisting of thin walled cells present in the centre. The pith cells have a brown colour pigment. Some prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate are visible in isolated cells [13,14,16]. ETHNOMEDICINAL USES OF Cuscuta reflexa Roxb Cuscuta reflexa plant is conventionally used for various medicinal purposes. Its juice is used as an inhalant for treating jaundice and its paste is used in the treatment of rheumatism, gout and headache [17]. Stem is used in the treatment of bilious disorder, flatulence, constipation and other liver complaints, internally used in treating fevers and externally in the treatment of body pain. Fruits of C. reflexa are used in treating cough and fever. Seeds are used in diseases Volume 7, Issue 10, 2018 Page No: 688 International Journal of Scientific Research and Review ISSN NO: 2279-543X of Liver and spleen, chronic fever and hiccough [19]. It is also used as a hair growth promoter [20].The whole plant of Cuscuta reflexa is useful in curing the disease of bile as well as mental diseases such as melancholy and insanity. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Dulcitol, Luteolin,Quercetin, a Glycoside or lutcolin [39]. Organic: Alkaloid, protein, flavanoids, resin, tannin, glycosides and carbohydrates. Inorganic: Aluminium, iron, calcium, sodium and potassium [14]. Seeds contain amarbelin and kaempferol.Stem contains cuscutin, cuscutatin, beta-sitosterol, luteolin, bergenin and kaempferol [20]. Lupeol is a pharmacologically active tri-terpenoid, it has complex pharmacology in human possess anti-protozoal, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, chemo preventive properties. A new compound reflexin is isolated. Isorhamnetin 3-0-Neohes pheridosideviolaxanthin, lutein. Lycopene, carotene, α-cryptoxanthin are reported. Swarnalin and cis-swarnalin are two tetrahydrofuran derivatives with free radical scavenging activity from the aerial parts of cuscuta reflexa have been reported [20, 21]. Part Used: Whole plant [39] Stem & seeds [14] Temperament (Mizaj): Hot 2º Dry 2º [22, 39] Hot 3º Dry 2º [14] Hot 3º Dry 1º [24] Hot 3º Dry 3º [23] Dose (Miqdar khurak): 3-5g [39] 3.5-7g [23] 4-6g [14] 7-14g [22] Toxicity or Adverse effect (Muzir asrat): Harmful for lungs and people of hot temperament, causes dryness, syncope, nausea and vomiting [22, 23] Correctives (Musleh): Zafran (Crocus sativa), Raughan Badam (Almond oil), Samagh Arbi (Acacia arabica)