IJRPC 2011, 1(2) Akhilesh Sharma et al. ISSN: 22312781 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PHARMACY AND CHEMISTRY Available online at www.ijrpc.com Review Article A REVIEW ON THAR PLANTS USED IN LIVER DISEASES Akhilesh Sharma*, Mayank Swaroop Sharma, Anurag Mishra, Sanjay Sharma, Brijesh Kumar and Anil Bhandari Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jodhpur National University, Narnadi, Boranada, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. *Corresponding Author: [email protected] ABSTRACT India is one of the richest floristic regions of the world and has been a source of plants and their products since antiquity and man uses them in different ways according to his needs, particularly as food or as medicine. The Thar desert of India is particularly important for its medicinal plant species. Generally whole plant is not used for the medicinal preparation. The parts used in the preparation are seeds, leaves, wood, rhizomes, fruits, bark, etc. Various Thar plants used to treat liver diseases are such as Phyllanthus niruri, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Aloe vera, Solanum xanthocarpum, Boerhavia diffusa, Tehrosia purpurea, Capparis deciduas, Eclipta alba, Calotropis procera, Azadirachta indica, Cynodon dactylon, Euphorbia neriifolia, Leucas aspera, Lagenaria siceraria, Tinospora cordifolia, Lawsonia intermis,Calotropis gigantia, Tecomella undulate, Curculigo orchiodes, Peganum harmala, etc. All these plants have some use in the liver diseases with fewer side effects in comparision to synthetic drugs. Keywords: Hepatotoxicity, Thar dessert, liver diseases. INTRODUCTION1-4 borne agents like Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis Liver disease is a worldwide problem. D virus and Hepatitis C virus. Conventional drugs used in the treatment of Chronic viral hepatitis- This describes liver diseases are sometimes inadequate and persistent inflammation of the liver for 6 can have serious adverse effects. Therefore, it months or more after initial exposure and/or is necessary to search for alternative drugs for initial detection of liver disease. The primary the treatment of liver disease in order to cause of chronic hepatitis is viral infection. replace currently used drugs of doubtful Drug induced hepatotoxicity- Hepatptoxicity efficacy and safety. may occur as an unexpected idiosyncratic Acute renal failure- This is a general term reaction to a medication’s therapeutic dose or applied to the rapid development of hepatic as an expected consequence of the agent’s synthetic dysfunction associated with intrinsic toxicity. Serum alanine and aspartate significant coagulopathy, usually defined by a aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase prothrombin time or factor V level less than levels may be elevated 10-100 times in acute 50% of normal. The most common cause of hepatocellular injury, while alkaline acute renal failure is drugs and viral hepatitis. phosphatise levels are usually less than 3 times Acute viral hepatitis- The agents of acute viral the upper limit of normal. The serum bilirubin hepatitis can be broadly classified into two may be elevated or within the normal range. groups: Enterically transmitted agents like Cirrhosis- The diffuse process characterized by Hepatitis A virus, Hepatitis E virus and Blood- fibrosis and the conversion of normal liver architecture into structurally abnormal 224 IJRPC 2011, 1(2) Akhilesh Sharma et al. ISSN: 22312781 nodules that lack normal lobular organization. 2. Neem Structural changes in the liver may cause Biological Source- Nimba (Leaf) consists of impairment of hepatic function manifested as dried leaf of Azadirachta indica A. Juss Syn. jaundice, ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, Melia azadirachta Linn. (Fam. Meliaceae). hepatic encephalopathy, spontaneous bacterial Vernacular names- peritonitis. Sanskrit: Aritaa, Picumarda Portal hypertension- It is defined as an Bengali : Nim, Nimgach increase in the portal venous pressure gradient English : Margosa Tree and is a function of portal venous blood flow Gujrati : Limba, Limbado, Limado, Kohumba and hepatic and portocollateral resistance. Hindi : Nim, Nimba Fatty liver and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis- Urdu : Neem Nonalocoholic fatty liver disease includes a Constituents- Triterpenoids, sterols, bitter spectrum of abnormalities from hepatic principles nimbin and nimbiol. steatosis with associated necroinflammatory Uses- Neem bark is cool, bitter, astringent, changes and varying degrees of fibrosis. acrid and refrigerant. It is useful in tiredness, Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is a clinical cough, fever, loss of appetite, worm pathological syndrome of steatosis and infestation. It heals wounds and vitiated associated hepatic necroinflammatory changes conditions of kapha, vomiting, skin diseases, that is diagnosed only by liver biopsy. excessive thirst, and diabetes. Neem leaves are Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS)- It results from reported to be beneficial for eye disorders and obstruction to hepatic venous outflow and insect poisons. It treats Vatik disorder. It is may result from either thrombotic or anti-leprotic. It’s fruits are bitter, purgative, nonthrombotic occlusion. anti-hemorrhoids and anthelmintic’. It is Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD)- It is claimed that neem provides an answer to also referred to as sinusoidal obstruction many incurable diseases. Traditionally neem syndrome. VOD is most often seen in an acute products have been used against a wide form following bone marrow transplantation; variety of diseases which include heat-rash, thought to be due to toxicity from the boils, wounds, jaundice, leprosy, skin preparative regimen of high dose disorders, stomach ulcers, chicken pox, etc cytoreductive therapy with or without hepatic irradiation. 3. Doob Biological Source- Durva consists of dried ENUMERATION fibrous roots of Cynodon dactylon Linn. fam. Plant species are enumerated here with their Poaceae). biological source, names, constituents and Vernacular names- uses5-13 Sanskrit: Satavirya Bengali : Durva 1. Bhringaraja English : Conch grass Biological Source- It consists of whole plant of Gujrati : Dhro, Lilidhro, Khadodhro Eclipta alba Hassk. (Fam. Asteraceae). Hindi : Doob Vernacular names- Constituents- Phenolic phytotoxins and Sanskrit : Kesaraja, Tekaraja, Bhrnja, Markava, flavonoids. Bhrngaja. Uses- In ethnomedicinal practices the juice of Bengali : Bheemraja, Kesuriya, Kesari. the plant Cynodon dactylon Pers. is used as Gujrati : Bhangaro, Bhangro. astringent and is applied to fresh cuts and Hindi : Bhangara, Bhangaraiya. wounds. It is used internally in the treatment English : Trailing Eclipta Plant. of chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. It is also Constituents- Alkaloids, Ecliptine and useful in the treatment of Catarrhal Nicotine ophthalmia. The leaves of Cynodon dactylon Uses- Deobstruent, antihepatotoxic, Pers. are also used in the treatment of hysteria, anticatarrhal, febrifuge. Used in hepatitis, epilepsy and insanity. The plant Cynodon spleen enlargements, chronic skin diseases. dactylon Pers. is also a folk remedy for Leaf—promotes hair growth. Its extract in oil anasarca, calculus, cancer, carbuncles, is applied to scalp before bed time in convulsions, cough, cramps, cystitis, insomnia. The herb is also used as an diarrhoea, dysentery, headache, haemorrhage, ingredient in shampoos. hypertension, kidneys, laxative, measle, 225 IJRPC 2011, 1(2) Akhilesh Sharma et al. ISSN: 22312781 rubella, sores, stones, tumours, uro-genital antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, disorders, warts and wounds. antiviral, antiparasitic, antitrypanosomal, antidermatophytic, antioxidant, antifertility, 4. Lauki tuberculostatic and anticancer properties. Biological Source- It consists of fresh fruit (devoid of stalk) of Lagenaria siceraria Syn. L. 6. Kalimusli leucantha Rusby., L. vulgaris Ser. (Fam. Biological Source- it consists of dried rhizome Cucurbitaceae). of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (Fam. Vernacular names- Amaryllidaceae) Sanskrit: Alabu, Tumbi Ishavaaku, Vernacular names- Bengali : Laus, Lokitumbi, Sanskrit: Bhumitil English : Bottle Gourd English : English- curcuglio golden eye grass. Gujrat : Dudi, Tumbadi Bengali : Talmalu, Tallur Hindi : Lauki, Ghia Gujrati : Kalirnusali Urdu : Ghiya, Lauki Hindi : Syahmusali, Kalimusli Constituents- Analysis of edible portion of the Constituents- Flavone, glycosides 5, curculigo fruit contains protein, fat (ether extract), saponins, hentria contanol, alkaloid lycorine, carbohydrates, mineral matter like calcium 2-methoxy-4-acetyl-5-methyltriacontane, and phosphorus. Glucose and fructose have behenic acid. been detected. The amino acid composition of Uses- It cures different sexual disorders in the fruit is leucines, phenylalanine, valine, men such as low sperm count, piles, blood tyrosine, alanine, threonine, glutamic acid, related disorders, skin disorders, jaundice, serine, etc. The fruit is a good source of B gonorrhoea, joint pain. The roots of this plant vitamins and a fair source of ascorbic acid. are a nice stimulant, appetizer, carminative, Bitter fruits yield of solid foam containing tonic and aphrodisiac. cucurbitacins B, D, G and H, mainly cucurbitacin B; these bitter principles are 7. Aak present in the fruit as aglycones. Biological Source- Arka consists of dried roots Uses- The plant has various pharmacological of Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. (Fam. activities like antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, Asclepiadaceae) found wild more or less antihyperlipidemic, cardio protective, throughout India. immunomodulatory effects, hepato protective, Vernacular names- in hyperthyroidism, hyperglycemia and lipid