Review Article International Ayurvedic Medical Journal ISSN:2320 5091 A REVIEW ARTICLE ON PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROFILES OF APAMARGA (ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN) Prakash Sanjay Lecturer, Department of Dravyaguna,Govt. Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India ABSTRACT Apamarga (Achyranthes aspera Linn.) is a perennial herb occurs naturally throughout In- dia. It is commonly known as Chaff Tree, Prickly- chaff Flower, Rough-chaff Tree. As this is having Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna Guna, Katu, Tikta, Rasa, Katu Vipaka and Ushna Virya. By the virtue of above property this is Kaphavatashamaka and Kaphapittasanshodhana. Achyranthes aspera contains a number of bioactive chemicals, including tannin, glucoside and saponin. Its ash contains potash mainly. It helps to purify blood. It is an effective anti-inflammatory medicine and recommended for shirovirechana in the treatment of various diseases as mentioned in classi- cal texts of Indian medicine. The present review is therefore, an effort to give a detailed focus on its botanical details, phytochemistry, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic importance and its pharma- cological studies. Keywords: Ayurveda, Apamarga, Achyranthes aspera, Shirovirechana, Vedanasthapana INTRODUCTION Apamarga (Achyranthes saponin. The plant (whole herb) and seeds aspera Linn) Family: Amaranthaceae is an contain alkaline Substance specially potash. erect stiff, annual-perennial herb, often will The plant possesses various medicinal prop- woody base, occurs naturally throughout erties useful as pungent, laxative, anti- India. Plant is found common in waste plac- dermatosis, wound healer, blood purifier, es roadsides, hedges, gardens, fields or poison antidote and cholagogue drug, and farms, fore edges, forest clearings and other also for other activities, useful in doopsy, places. It is commonly known as Chaff Tree, piles, boils, erruptions of skin and other dis- Prickly- chaff Flower, Rough-chaff Tree. eases. (Fig. 1) It contains tannin, glucoside and Figure 1 A. aspera. (A) Roots. (B) Inflorescence. Prakash Sanjay: A Review Article On Phytochemical And Pharmacological Profiles Of Apamarga (Achyranthes Aspera Linn) History Vernacular Names On comprehensive review of Ayurvedic Sanskrit names: Pratykpuspa, Sikhari, Kha- classics it was found that Apamarga is de- ramanjari. Kitnihi, Adhahsalya, Mayuraka. scribed in Charaka Samhita, Nighantus and Hindi: Chirchita, Chichrha, Latjira, Apa- Chikitsagranthas. In Charaka Samhita, it is marg described as shirovirechana(C.Su.25), also English: Chaff Tree, Prickly- chaff Flower, used as apamargakshara taila in parsh- Rough-chaff Tree. vashula(C.Ci.13/171). Madhuka-shara and Bengali: Apang seeds of shigru or apamarga are used as Gujarati: Aghedo pressed snuff (S.Ci.18/23). In Kaiyadeva Tamil: Najurivi Nighantu, its properties and uses are de- Telugu: Apamargam scribed1. In Bhavaprakash Nighantu, its Arabian: Alkum properties and uses are described2. In Raj Persian: Kharevajgun Nighantu, its properties and uses described Pharmacodynamics as vranakanduvishaghna3. It is also men- Rasa : Katu, Tikta tioned in Chikitsa Granthas like Chakradat- Guna : Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna ta, it is described in sadyovrana(CD.44/52), Virya : Ushna vishamajvara (CD.1/229), apamargakshara Vipaka : Katu taila is used in karnavyadhi (CD.57/25). Doshakarma : Kaphavatasmaka, Bhavamishra, in his section Bhavaprakash, Kaphapittasamsodhaka madhyamakhanda mentions indication of Chemical composition apamarga in vishuchika(BP.6/110,114), Saponin A was identified as D- kushtharoga (BP.54/128), karnaroga Glucuronic Acid and saponins B was identi- (BP.64/38). Apamargataila (RM.26/7) and fied as β-Dgalactopyranosyl ester of D- apamargadalalepa in shas- Glucuronic Acid. Along with these constitu- trakshata(VM.16/120). ents certain other constituents were also iso- Botanical classification lated like oleanolic acid, amino acids and Streblus asper Lour belongs to the family hentriacontane. The seeds also contain Moraceae. chemical constituents like 10-tricosanone, Kingdom: Planate 10-octacosanone & 4 tritriacontanone4,5. The Unranked: Angiosperms studies of R.D. Rameshwar & N. Akito Unranked: Eudicots (2007) revealed three oleonolic acid glyco- Unranked: Core eudicots sides from the seeds of Achyranthes aspera Order: Caryophyllales which were identified as α-L- Family: Amaranthaceae rhamnopyranosyl-(14)-(β- Genus: Achyranthes Dglucopyranosyluronic acid)-(13)- Species: Aspera oleanolic acid, α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(14)- Part used: Whole Plant, Leaves, Spikes, (β-Dglucopyranosyluronic acid)-(13)- Roots, Seeds Doses Fresh juice 5-10 ml., oleanolic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside Decoction 10-15 ml., Seeds powder 3 gm. and α-Lrhamnopyranosyl-(14)-(β-D- glu- Specific formulations: Apamarga Ksara, copyranosyluronic acid)-(13)-oleanolic Apamarga Ksara Taila. acid-28-O-β-Dglucopyranosyl-(14)-β-D- 2902 www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 3; Issue 9; September- 2015 Prakash Sanjay: A Review Article On Phytochemical And Pharmacological Profiles Of Apamarga (Achyranthes Aspera Linn) glucopyranoside6. A.S. Chauhan et al. pounds like tetracontanol-2 (C40H82O, (2002) isolated a new cyclic chain aliphatic melting point 76-77ºC), 4- fatty acid (I) was also isolated from seeds of methoxyheptatriacont-1-en-10-ol the plant7. H.N. Khastgir et al. (1958) isolat- (C38H76O) and β-sitosterol18. A. Banerji et ed sapogenin along with oleanolic acid from al. (1971) isolated ecdysterone from the the seeds8. A. Banerji et al. (1970) isolated whole plant19. K.S.Laddha (2005) et al. re- ecdysterone from the methanolic extract of ported extraction, isolation and purification roots of Achyranthes aspera9. R. Ikan et al of 20-hydroxyecdysone from Achyranthes (1971) also isolated ecdysterone from Achy- aspera and its characterization by DSC, UV, ranthes aspera root extracts by chromatog- IR, CD, 1H and 13C NMR, MS and quanti- raphy on silica gel column, followed by elu- fication by HPLC20. N. C. Neogi et al. tion with CHCl3-MeOH (4:1)10. A. Banerji (1970) reported Achyranthine a water solu- et al. (1970) and A.K. Batta & S. ble alkaloid which possess pharmacological Rangaswami (1973) isolated ecdysone from actions like dilation of the blood vessels, the roots of Achyranthes aspera11. H.N. lowering of the blood pressure, depression Khastgir et al. (1958) isolated oleanolic acid of the heart and increase the rate and ampli- from glycosidic fraction of the roots12,13. tude of respiration21. V. K. Kapoor & H. S.K. Sharma et al. (2009) from the ethanolic Singh (1966) reported betaine (C5H11NO2) extracts of the roots isolated a new aliphatic (m.p. 292ºC) from the whole plant which is acid and identified as n-hexacos-14-enoic also a water soluble alkaloid22. The identity acid from the roots of Achyranthes aspera. of betaine was confirmed by mixed m.p. de- This compound is reported for the first time tection of the HCl-salt, oxalate and picrate from any natural and synthetic source. Cer- derivatives and compared with those of an tain other were also isolated and identified authentic sample. V. Seshadri et al. (1981) as strigmasta-5, 22-dien-3-β-ol, trans-13 do- isolated two constituents from the fruits and casenoic acid, n-hexacosanyl n-decaniate, n- were identified as Saponins C and D23,24. O. hexacos-17-enoic acid and n-hexacos-11- Kunert et al. (2000) reported three bisdes- enoic acid. Strigmasta-5, 22-dien-3-β-ol is a mosidic saponins (I-III), 20- phytosterol, was obtained as a colourless hydroxyecdysone, and quercetin-3-O-β-D- crystalline mass from petroleum ether: ben- galactoside, were isolated from the methanol zene 75:25 elute. It responded positively to extract of the aerial parts of Achyranthes Liebermann Burchard test for sterols14. Tri- aspera. Their structures were established on acontanol was also isolated by T.N. Misra et the basis of NMR spectroscopic analysis; the al. (1991) along with 36, 47- complete 1H and 13C assignments of the dihydroxyhenpentacontan-4-one15. T.G. compounds were achieved by means of 2D Misra et al. (1993) reported certain long NMR studies25. G. Michl et al. (2000) re- chain compounds from the shoots like 27- ported two new bisdesmosidic triterpenoid cyclohexylheptacosan-7-ol and 16-hydroxy- saponins were isolated, besides the three 26-methylheptacosan-2-one16. Y. Gariballa known saponins from the Methanolic extract et al. (1983) isolated an aliphatic alcohol, of the aerial parts of Achyranthes aspera. 17-pentatriacontanol from the shoots17. T.N. Their structures were elucidated as β-D- Misra et al. (1996) isolated various com- glucopyranosyl3β-[O-α-L- 2903 www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 3; Issue 9; September- 2015 Prakash Sanjay: A Review Article On Phytochemical And Pharmacological Profiles Of Apamarga (Achyranthes Aspera Linn) rhamnopyranosyl- (1→3)-O-β-D- large quantity and the same is used in treat- glucopyranuronosyloxy]machaerinate, β-D- ment of coughs and asthma. The ash is glucopyranosyl3β-[O-β-Dgalactopyranosyl-( mixed with sesamum oil (Tila taila) and 1→2)-O-α Dglucopyranu- used externally over wounds, ulcers and on ronosyloxy]machaerinate. The other sapo- warts of penis (male genital) and also other nins were identified as β- D-glucopyranosyl- parts of body. The ash of whole plant (Apa- 3β[O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-[1→3)- O-β-D- marga) is mixed and prepared with sesame glucopyranuronosyloxy]oleanolate, β-D- oil (Apamarga Ksara taila) and dropped into glucopyranosyl3-β-[O-β-D-galactopyranosyl ear as an effective remedy for ear com- (1→2)-O-β-D-glucopyranuronosyloxy] plaints. The herb is commonly used as