Advance Pharmaceutical Journal 2016; 1(5): 119-125 119 Review Article A Review on Medicinal Plant Rhazya Stricta Decne Aisha Al Maharooqi, Mariya Al Hilali, Zainab Al Hinai, Dhanalekshmi Unnikrishnan* Oman Medical College (In academic partnership with West Virginia University), Muscat, Sultanate of Oman Received: 14 December 2016 Revised: 25 December 2016 Accepted: 07 January 2017 Abstract Objective: Medicinal plants with its numerous bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, etc., are nature's gift to the world. It is time to revisit our thinking towards natural remedies to find useful natural products with interdisciplinary approach. Conventional allopathic drugs prescribed for the treatment of diseases are associated with numerous side effects and so there is a need for valuable, safe and superior drugs for different ailments. Considering Rhazya stricta plant, there is a large scope for scientific evaluation based on the active principles it possess as per different scientific reports. This plant has extraordinary medicinal potential to hit upon new chemical leads for pharmaceutical use. The research work done with this plant by various scientists should be appreciated. The main aim of this article is to review most of the scientific reports available for Rhazya stricta Decne ( R. Stricta ), an arid plant available and grown a lot in Middle East countries. Conclusion: This review consolidated the main phytochemical and pharmacological activity reported on R. Stricta. Based on this review, we concluded that there is a lacuna of research on other aspects of R. stricta such as toxicology, safety and genomic studies. More intricate studies are needed for other pharmacological activity also for reaching precise conclusion. As there is a need for developing new drug, this plant may act as a potent source for promising lead molecule in support of upcoming researchers. Keywords: Rhazya stricta, phytochemicals, pharmacological, alkaloids. Introduction about a single plant in detail that helps to focus on future Nature is the world's best medicine. Most of the bioactive study about the plant with novel technology. With the advent components present in the natural plants and food may delay or of genomics, proteomics, glycomics and metabolomics and prevent the onset of many diseases such as cancers, diabetes and with major advances in techniques for analyses (e.g. arthritis etc. It has been reported since long about the medicinal surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization time-of-flight potency of herbal plants. Many herbs used for medical purposes mass spectrometry), chemical synthesis and high- come from common plants only. There are times when it might throughput screening of active compounds, there is an be smarter to use an herbal remedy than pharmaceuticals unprecedented opportunity to evaluate and explore the huge because natural medicine offers a safer alternative. We should medicine chest that is embedded in herbs. So, this review respect the power that many natural plants can have on our consolidated most of the scientific report available for health. In fact, many pharmaceutical drugs are based on the Rhazya stricta Decne ( R. Stricta ), an arid plant available and synthesized versions of naturally occurring compounds found in grown a lot in Middle East countries. plants. In recent years, interest in herbal medicine has Description of the Plant skyrocketed leading to a greater scientific interest in the The genus Rhazya comprises mainly of two species, namely medicinal use of plants. Many research studies and clinical trials Rhazya stricta Decne and Rhazya orientalis (Ali et al., have shown that plants are capable of treating disease and 2000a). Rhazya stricta Decne ( R. stricta ), commonly known improving health, often without any significant side effects. By as Harmal, Ishrik etc., is a parched plant belongs to the keeping the above mentioned points in mind, it is good to know family Apocynaceae. It is widely distributed throughout *Address for Corresponding Author: Western Asia from Yemen to Arabia throughout the Middle Dr. Dhanalekshmi Unnikrishnan East, to the North West Province of India, South Asia and Oman Medical College (In academic partnership with West Virginia abundantly found in various regions of Pakistan (Gilani et University), Muscat, Sultanate of Oman al., 2007; Imededdine et al., 2016; Nabih et al., 2010). E-Mail: [email protected] Rhazya species were called after the name of a Muslim www.apjonline.in Advance Pharmaceutical Journal 2016; 1(5): 119-125 120 scientist Abu Bakr Mohammed bin Zakariya Al-Razi, known in 1994). The R. stricta leaves have been shown to contain Europe mostly under the Latinized name of Rhazes (Batanouny flavonoids, glycosides, triterpenes, tannins, volatile bases et al., 1999). The plant is a glabrous erect shrub, about 90 cm and probably other substances (Ahmed et al., 1983; high (Jafri, 1966), with a smooth central stem and dense semi- Baeshen et al., 2010). erect branches (Western, 1989); leaves alternate, 6 to 10 × 1 to 2 Review report submitted by different groups cm, elliptic–lanceolate, thick or leathery, sessile, turning yellow with age; flowers white in short branched cymes; fruit pale Gilani et al. (2007) reviewed the phytochemical, yellow follicles; seeds shortly winged (Jafri, 1966). Some pharmacological and ethnobotanical studies of R. stricta. research proceedings mentioned R. stricta as an evergreen They reported phytochemical and pharmacological aspects poisonous shrub, has covered large hilly areas of Pakistan. R. of the species have been investigated by many research stricta like other weeds compete with the main crops for groups but pharmacological activities are evaluated only nutrients and other resources and hamper the healthy growth for a few of the isolated alkaloids from R. stricta. There is a ultimately, reducing the yield both qualitatively and particular need for ethnobotanical studies of R. Stricta in quantitatively (Khan et al., 2011). various regions of Middle Eastern countries and in South Asia where the species grows. Gilani et al. (2007) Folklore claims for medicinal use concluded that more ethnomedical and pharmacological R. stricta is a medicinal plant used in folk medicine to treat studies are recommended for R. stricta with the ultimate diseases such as diabetes mellitus, fever, sore throat, and syphilis goal of benefiting local communities in regions where this (Adam, 1998; El-Ghonemy, 1993). It's used in the treatment of plant grows. This should be accomplished by sharing diseases like boils, eruptions, red sore, infected and swollen knowledge and also through the manufacture of herbal eyes, skin rashes, colic and stomach pain etc. It is also used as a drugs from R. stricta's active chemical constituents general coolant and is famous for treating jaundice, anemia like following the World Health Organization's guidelines for symptoms in pregnant women and problems associated with safety and efficacy. child development, also effective for treatment of Khan et al. (2012) reviewed the phytochemistry, biological gastrointestinal parasites, such as round worm and flat worms. It and pharmacological activities, and ethno medicinal uses of is also used for drying up haemorrhoids (Ahmad et al., 2007). R. stricta. Appreciable pharmacological and biological Leaves and roots are useful for moth blisters, dysentery, jaundice activities are mainly due to the presence of more than 100 (Tareen et al., 2010), diabetes, general debility, chronic alkaloids and a few non alkaloids in the plant. They rheumatism and tumour (Qureshi et al., 2012). Extract of leaves reviewed that phytochemicals in the plant have been is prescribed in folkloric medicine for the treatment of various reported to exhibit ambulatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, disorders such as diabetes, sore throat, helminthiasis, antioxidant, endogenous monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and inflammatory conditions and rheumatism (Mohammed N B inhibitory and herbicidal activities. Those Baeshen et al., 2015). It is widely used in traditional medicine as phytochemicals also showed effects on arachidonic acid a reputed tonic and curative for rheumatic pain, sore throat, (AA) metabolism, blood pressure, central nervous system syphilis, diabetes, helminthiasis, inflammatory conditions, fever (CNS), immunity, smooth muscles and glucose and other diseases (Ali et al., 1995; Ali et al., 1998). homeostasis. Sarfaraz Khan et al. (2012) suggested doing Documented Phytochemicals- Brief Note more research work for exploring its medicinal importance R. stricta is an important medicinal species that is rich in due to its richness of phytochemicals. R. stricta has alkaloids containing mostly anticancer alkaloids and few non immense potential as an antimicrobial; therefore, such alkaloidal compounds (Gilani et al., 2007). Over 100 alkaloids studies are highly suggested for research activity. have been isolated from R. stricta, but the pharmacological Ali et al. (2000b) reviewed the phytochemical, activities are known for only a few of these compounds. It is an pharmacological and toxicological properties of the important medicinal species used in indigenous medicinal medicinal plant R. Stricta. Other than alkaloids they herbal drugs to cure various diseases in South Asia and the reported the presence of few flavonoids also. However, they Middle East (Gilani et al., 2007). Most of the activities of the reported that the biological activity of these compounds has plant reside in its alkaloidal fractions (Khan