A CONTEMPORARY LITERARY REVIEW OF PTEROSPERMUM ACERIFOLIUM (KANAK CHAMPA) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO IT’S PHARMACOLOGICAL AND MEDICINAL ASPECTS

A CONTEMPORARY LITERARY REVIEW OF PTEROSPERMUM ACERIFOLIUM (KANAK CHAMPA) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO IT’S PHARMACOLOGICAL AND MEDICINAL ASPECTS

Ramandeep Kaur and Neetu Deshwal

Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CT University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.

ABSTRACT: Pterospermum acerifolium belonging to Sterculiaceae family, commonly known as Bayur Tree, Dinner-plate tree is well distributed in India, particularly in the sub-Himalayan zone and outer Himalayan valleys. It is commonly known as Kanakchampa or Muchukunda. Different parts of the tree have been used to treat many diseases for thousands of years in traditional medicine. Mainly it is used for earache, smallpox, leprosy, inflammation, ulcers, diabetes syndrome, constipation, ascites, abdominal pain, urinary discharge, wound healing, immunosuppressive, hepatoprotective, antihelmintic, antimitotic, anticancer activity. The descriptions of morphology, vernacular names, taxonomy, pharmacological activities, chemical constituents, ethnobotanical use, therapeutic use are richly found in Ayurvedic and contemporary literature. The review article will help the researchers to explore more about the said plant for the larger benefit of society.

Keywords: Pterospermum acerifolium, ethnobotanical uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities

INTRODUCTION: Medicinal plants are local heritage with global importance. Among millions of plants and their different species, Muchakunda has therapeutic predominance in certain disease conditions like kindisease, inflammation, bleeding disorder, gout, arthritis, psoriasis, bleeding piles, and uterine bleeding ¹. Pterospermum acerifolium (L) Willd belonging to the family Sterculiaceae, is a tall tree having high medicinal value. It is an angiosperm indigenous to Southeast Asia, from India to Burma.

The geographical distribution of the plant extends from North East India to Bangladesh (Chittagong), Burma and Malayasia; cultivated in Pakistan and North America ². Reviewing the biological activity of the plant, It was reported that flowers are the organ used as a tonic, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, laxative and to cure abdominal pain, ascites, ulcers, leprosy, urinary discharges, and tumors. Also, flowers and bark are charred, mixed with (kamala), and applied in suppurating smallpox ^3-4.

Concerning the anti-diabetic activity, two studies were found; the first one investigated the action of the methanolic extract of the barks of P. acerifolium towards non-diabetic, type-1, and type-2 diabetic models rats. In addition to the effect of the chloroformic extract of the leaves on diabetic type-1 rats ⁵.

The second study investigated the acute and chronic effects of the ethanolic extract of the bark of P. acerifolium on glycemic and lipidemic status of type-2 diabetic model rats ⁶. Many triterpenes and flavonoids were isolated from the different organs of P. acerifolium. Leaves and bark were found to contain taraxerol, friedelin, friedelin-3-one, β-sitosterol, and β-sitosterol glucoside ⁷.

β-amyrin, 24β-ethylcholest -5-en-β-O- cellobioside were isolated from petroleum ether extract of the flowers ⁸. Kaempferol, kaempferide-7-O-β-D gluco-pyranoside ⁹, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-galacto-pyranoside, luteolin and luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside were isolated from the flowers. Leaves were reported to contain the same glycosides in addition to luteolin-7-O-β-glucuronide ¹⁰.

The chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions obtained from the ethanolic extract of the powdered fruits of Pterospermum acerifolium Willd, afforded three phenolic acid derivatives (methyl ester of protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid), in addition to β-sitosterol-3-O-β–D-glucoside ¹¹.

Reviewing the literature about protocatechuic acid, it was shown that it has antioxidant ¹², anticancer ^13-15, and hepato-protective activities ^16-17. Vanillic acid and methyl protocatechuate also showed antioxidant activities ^18-19.

Morphology: Pterospermum acerifolium, commonly known as Bayur Tree, a Dinner-plate tree, is a tree of Indian origin, which reaches a height of 50-70 ft. The bark of the tree is grey in color and fairly soft. Small twigs and new growth seem feathery and are commonly more of a rusty-brown color.

Leaves have grown in alternate insertion arrangements. Leaf shape can range from Oblong, broadly Obviate, to ovate. Leaf edges are commonly dentate (toothed) or irregularly lobed. Many leaves tend to droop downward, giving the tree the appearance that it is wilting.

The top side of the leaves is a dark green color. The leaves are rough and rubbery to limit the loss of moisture in a hot climate. Stipules linear; petiole robust, striate; leaf blade nearly Orbicular or Oblong, sometimes leathery.

Base cordate margin entire. It has large fragrant nocturnal white flowers occurring in axillary fascicles.

Sepals linear-oblong, petals white, linear-oblong, slightly shorter than sepals. Ovary oblong, 5-angular; ovules many.

Fruit is a capsule woody, angled, furfuraceous, cylindrical, reddish-brown velutinous, glabrescent, base tapering, and apex rounded. Seeds many per locule, obliquely ovate, flat, wing large and thin, brown, smooth ^{20, 21}.

Vernacular Names: ²²

TABLE 1: TAXONOMY OF PTEROSPERMUM ACERIFOLIUM

Ethno-Botanical uses: The Pterospermum acerifolium is beneficial in the following conditions: Antiseptic, Depurative, Eruption, Fever, Fumitory, Inflammation, Leprosy, Menorrhagia, Puerperium, Repellant (insect), Smallpox, Sore tonic, Tumor, Laxative, Anthelmintic, Stomachache, Blood disorders, Ulcers ²³.

Other uses: The wood of this plant has been used in traditional fabric dyeing. In Malaysia, it is used specifically for dyeing. Orange-red is the most typical color produced by this species.

TABLE 2: PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Pharmacological Activities: Following the folk and traditional uses of the plant, it has been investigated scientifically to validate the potential of plant in cure of a variety of ailments. The pharmacological activities of Pterospermum acerifolium are described below:

Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Activity: The role of ethanolic extract of Pterospermum acerifolium bark extract on different anti inflammatory and analgesic models. The extract demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan-induced, mediators induced and arachidonic acid-induced rat paw oedema, significant inhibition of acetic acid induce writhing and tail clip induced analgesia were observed to occur with the extract. On the basis of finding, it may be inferred that P. acerifoiimum is an anti‐inflammatory analgesic agent that blocks histamine and serotonin pathways ²⁷.

Antiulcer Activity: The role of an alcoholic fraction of Pterospermum acerifolium bark extract on oxidative damages in the gastric tissue during alcohol-induced ulceration was investigated. The extract showed ²⁹ of tissue lipid peroxidation, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione were observed to occur with the extract ²⁸.

Antioxidant Activity: In the case of screening of antioxidant activity, the dichloromethane (DCM) extract of bark showed the highest free radical scavenging activity with IC₅₀ value 26.50 µg/ml in comparison with the positive control (BHT). At the same time, the aqueous soluble partitioned of methanolic extract (AQ) also exhibited strong antioxidant potential having an IC₅₀ value of 39.0 µg/ml. The highest phenolic content was found in dichloromethane and aqueous soluble partitionate of methanolic extract, having TPC values of 28.30 and 17.23 mg of GAE/gm of extractive. Besides, the carbon tetrachloride (CTC) showed moderated antioxidant activity having IC₅₀ value of 62.50 39.0 µg/ml with total phenolic content of 13.76 mg of GAE/gm of extractives. Therefore a positive correlation was seen between the total phenolic content and anti-oxidant activity ²⁹.

Wound Healing Activity: Pterospermum acerifolium, a well-known plant in Indian medicine, possesses various therapeutic properties, including healing properties and cytokine induction. Wound healing activity of ethanolic extract of P. acerifolium flower and its effect on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was assessed using an excision model of wound repair in Wistar albino rats. After application of the P. acerifolium extract, the rate of epithelization with an increase in wound contraction was observed. Animals were topically treated with 10% P. acerifolium extract in petroleum jelly, the wound healing process was observed faster than the control group treated with petroleum jelly alone. A significantly accelerated healing was noticed in animals which additionally preferred with 250 mg/kg body weight of ethanolic P. acerifolium extract daily for 20 consecutive days along with the topical application 10% P. acerifolium extract. During the wound healing phase, TNF-α level was found to be up-regulated by P. acerifolium treatment. Early wound healing may be pronounced due to P. acerifolium extract elevating TNF−α production ³⁰.

Anthelmintic Activity: Anthelmintic Activity of crude extracts and fractions were investigated against earthworms (Pheretima posthuma), roundworms (Ascardia galli) and tapeworms (Raillietina spiralis) using Albendazole and Piperazine citrate as reference standards. The results of anthelmintic activity revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction of all the parts was most potent, which were well comparable with both standard drugs followed by n-butanol fractions of those parts, but at higher doses. After fractionations of those three parts of the plant, all other fractions, petroleum extracts, and remaining crude extract were endowed with minute anthelmintic properties, which was not up to standards. The present study proves the potential usefulness of Pterospermum acerifolium as a good anthelmintic agent ³¹.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Potential Activity: Leaves of Pterospermum acerifolium L. (Sterculiaceae) are used in India for reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities to justify the use of the plant in folkloric medicine. Antioxidant activity of different fractions were evaluated by using in-vitro antioxidant assays models like determination of total phenolics, DPPH radical scavenging assay, nitric oxide scavenging assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, and superoxide anion scavenging assay. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan-induced inflammation and thermally induced protein denaturation. Ethyl acetate fraction of P. acerifolium (EAF) showed highest free radical scavenging activity in all the models. EAF also produced significant anti-inflammatory activity in both in-vivo and in-vitro model. The results obtained in this study showed that the leaves of Pterospermum acerifolium L. have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which provide a basis for the traditional use of the plant³².

Antimitotic and Anticancer Activity: Pterospermum acerifolium is traditionally used in the management of tumors. Ethanol and Water extracts showed good antimitotic activity against meristematic cell growth.

Both extracts also showed good inhibition of yeast cell growth with IC₅₀ 47.88 mg/ml and 39.15 mg/ml, respectively. The mode of action of both extracts with anti-proliferative activity is due to the fragmentation effect on DNA ³³.

Hepatoprotective Activity: The hepatoprotective activity of the ethanol extract of the leaf of Ptrospermum acerifolium was investigated in rats for carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity. Hepatotoxicity was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (0.1 ml/kg/d p.o. for 14 d). Ethanol extract of P. acerifolium leaves was administered to the experimental rats (25 mg/kg/d p.o. for 14d) ³⁴. The petroleum ether and hydroalcoholic extracts of Pterospermum acerifolium belonging to the Sterculiaceae family were studied for hepato-protective activity against albino rats with liver damage induced by paracetamol. The petroleum ether extract at 50 mg/kg had the best activity as it decreased the mean level of bilirubin from 2.3645 ± 0.07 to 0.2975 ± 0.13. The petroleum ether extract was found to be highly protective at both the dose of 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg for ALP, SGOT, and SGPT. For LPO level, SOD, and Catalase level, both extracts had significant protection at 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg dose ³⁵.

Analgesic, Antipyretic, Antihyperglycemic, and Anti-inflammatory Activities: The extracts of the fruits have analgesic, antipyretic and anti-hyper-glycemic activities. It is compared to be less than half the potency of standard drugs. However, the alcoholic extract of the fruits showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect at a dose (100 mg/kg b.wt.), when compared to that of indomethacin (20mg/kg b. wt.). It showed 37.9% inhibition in carrageenan induced rat paw oedema with regards to that of indomethacin 62.6%. This reflects that the potency of the alcoholic extract of fruits represents 61% of the indomethacin potency ¹¹.

Immunosuppressive Activity: The hexane and ethanolic extracts prepared from the seeds of plant Pterospermum acerifolium were evaluated for their immunomodulatory activities by exploiting their effects on the humoral and cellular immune arms of BALB/c mice after oral administration for 14 consecutive days at different log doses. Various immune parameters viz. lymphoproliferative index, oxidative burst in peritoneal macrophages, modulation in T/B cell population and regulation of Th1/Tcytokines in mice were monitored to assess the immunomodulatory characteristics of the plant at 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg doses. Both the extracts exerted a remarkable dose-dependent immune-suppressive effect with down-regulation of all the immune markers studied ³⁶.

TABLE 3: PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF PLANT PARTS

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Literary Review of Pterospermum acerifolium with special reference to its Medicinal aspects highlights different therapeutic uses of it. In this review article the morphology, taxonomy, phytochemical constituents of the plant are given in ethno-botanical way. The emerging importance of biologically active medicinal plants and their constituents as possible therapeutic measures has become active scientific investigation. Safe and effective medicines will likely be developed from medicinal plants to treat various degenerative diseases in the future. Different used parts of the muchakunda along with its suitable dosage form, are also mentioned in many literatures. In recent years, ethnobotanical and traditional uses of natural compounds, especially of plant origin, received much attention as they are well tested for their efficacy and generally believed to be safe for human use. They obviously deserve scrutiny on modern scientific lines such as physiochemical characterization, biological evaluation, toxicity studies, investigation of the molecular mechanism of action(s) of isolated phytoprinciple, and their clinical trials. These are necessary classical approaches in search of the new lead molecule for the management of various diseases. Pterospermum acerifolium is important among such anti-diabetic medicinal plants; it can also be used to treat inflammation, pain, ulcer, and antihyperglycemic agent. Flowers are also used as a general tonic. Overall, this literary work may help herbal researchers explore more medicinal effects of the said drug in validated experimental and clinical models.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Nil

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Nil

REFERENCES:

1. Agnivesha A and Samhita C: Vidyotini Commentary by Kashinath Pandey, Sutra Sthan. Reprint, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi 2015; 492.
2. Chandel KPS, Shukla G and Sharma N: Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus 1996.
3. Chopra RN, Nayar SL and ChopraI C: Glossary of Indian medicinal plants.New Delhi, 1956; 206-7.
4. Mehrotra S and Shome U: Pharmacognostic studies on the flowers of Pterospermum acerifolium Feddes Reportium 1990; 101(1-2): 69-78.
5. Mamun MIR, Rokeya B, Chowdhury NS, Muniruzzaman M, Nahar N, Ahmed MU, Mosihuzzaman M, Ali L, Azad KhanAK and Khan SH: Anti-hyperglycemic effect of Pterospermum acerifolium and Pterospermum semisagittatum Ham. Diabetes Research 2001; 35, 163-70.
6. Murshed S, Rokeya B, Ali L, Nahar N, Azad Khan AK and Mosihuzzaman M: Chronic effect of Pterospermum acerifolium bark on glycemic and lipidemic status of type 2 diabetic model rats. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 2000; 50(1): 224.
7. Mamun MIR, Nahar N, MosihuzzamanM and Rolf A: Constituents of Pterospermum acerifolium leaves and bark. Journal of Bangladesh Chemical Society 2002; 15(1): 91-5.through chemical abstract, 2003; 139: 312081.
8. Rizvi SAI, Sultana T: Phytochemical studies of the flowers of Pterospermum acerifolium, Phytochemistry 1972; 11(2), 856-58.
9. Varshney SC, Rizvi SAI and Gupta PC: Chemical examination of flowers of Pterospermum acerifolium. Planta Med. 1972; 21(4), 358-63.
10. Gunasegaran R and Subramanian SS: Flavonoids of three Pterospermum species. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 1979; 41(2): 72-73.
11. Selim MA, El-askary HI, Sanad OA, Ahmed MN and Sleem AA: Phytochemical and Pharmacological Study of Pterospermum acerifolium Growing in Egypt. Research Gatepublication 2006; 265601291.
12. LeeMJ, Chou FP, Tseng TH, Hsieh MH, Lin MC and Wang CJ: Hibiscus protocatechuic acid or escultin can inhibit oxidative LDL induced by either copper ion or nitric oxide donor. J Agric Food Chem 2002; 50: 2130-36.
13. Nakamura H, Nishikawa A, Furukawa F, Kasahara KI, Miyauchi M Son HY and Hirose M: Inhibitory effects of protocatechuic acid on the post initiation phase of hamster pancreatic carcinogensis induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl) amine. Anticancer Research 2000; 20(5B): 3423-28.
14. Ohnishi M, Yoshimi N, Kawamori T, Ino N, Hirose Y, Tanaka T, Yamahara J, Miyata H and Mori H: Inhibitor effects of dietary protocatechuic acid and costunolide on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthacene-induced hamster cheek pouch carcinognesis. Jap J of Can Re 1997; 88(2): 111-19.
15. Tanaka T, Kojima T, Kawamori T and Mori H: Chemprevention of digestive organs carcinogensis by natural product protocatechuic acid. Cancer-(Philadelphia) 1995; 75(6): 1433-39.
16. Hur JM, Park JG, Yang K, Park JC, Park JR, Chun SS, Choi JS and Choi JW: Effect of methanol extract of Zanthoxylum piperitum leaves and of its compound protocatechuic acid on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes and lipid peroxidation in rats. Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry 2003; 67(5): 945-50.
17. Lin WL, Hsieh YJ, Chou FP, Wang CJ, Cheng MT and Tseng TH: Hibiscus protocatechuic acid inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced rat hepatic damage. Archives of Toxicology 2003; 77(1): 42-47.
18. Sang S, Lapsley K, Jeong W, Lachance PA, Ho C and Rosen RT: Antioxidative phenolic compounds isolated from almond skins (Prunus amygdalus Batsch). J. Agric. Food Chem. 2002; 50(8): 2459-63.
19. Kawabata J, Okamoto Y, Kodama A, Makimoto T and Kasai T: Oxidative dimers produced from protocatechuic and gallic esters in the DPPH radical scavenging reaction. J Agric Food Chem 2002; 50(19): 5468-71.
20. Agarwal SS and Paridhavi M: Herbal Drug Technology. University Press, Hydrabad, 1^st Edition 2007; 340-60.
21. Hamdy R and Shamso E: Pollen Morphology of Sterculiaceae in Egypt and its Taxonomic Significance, Egypt J Bot. 2010; 50: 103-17.
22. Sastry JLN: Dravya Guna Vijanana. Choukambha Orientalia Varanasi, Edition III 2008; 632.
23. Duke and James A: Handbook of biologically active Phytochemicals and their activities. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press 1992.
24. Roomi MW and Hopkins CY: Some reactions of sterculic and malvalic acids. A new source of malvalic acid. Can J Biochem. 1970; 48(7):759-569.
25. Dixit P and Chand K: Phytoceramides and acylated phytosterol glucosides from Pterospermum acerifolium seed coat and their osteogenic activity Phytochemistry 2012; 81: 117-25.
26. Bishnoi P and Gupta PC: Structure of a new Acid-polysaccharide from thebark of Pterospermum acerifolium. J of Chem Soci Perkin Tran 1979; 1: 1680-83.
27. Manna AK and Jena J: Anti Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity of Bark Extract of Pterospermum acerifolium. International Journal of Current Pharmaceutical Research 2009; 1(1): 32-37.
28. Manna AK, Jena J, Behera AK, Roy D, Manna S, Karmakar S and Subrat K: Effect of Pterospermum acerifolium bark extract on oxidative damages in the gastric tissue during alcohol induced ulceration, International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2009; 1(1): 51-58.
29. Muhit MA, Khanam SS, Islam MS, Rahman MS and Begum B: Phytochemical and Biological Investigations of Pterospermum acerifolium Wild Bark. J Pharm Res 2010; 3: 2643- 46.
30. Senapati AK,Giri RK, Panda DS and Satyanarayan S: Wound healing potential of Pterospermum acerifolium With induction of tumor necrosis factor – α. Journal of Basic and Clinical Pharmacy 2011; 2(4): 204-08.
31. Parida S, Patro VJ, Mishra US, Mohapatra L and Sannigrahi S: Anthelmintic potential of crude extracts and its various fractions of different parts of Pterospermum acerifoliumlinn. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research 2010; 1(2): 107-11.
32. Parida SSS, Patro VJ, Mishra US and Pathak A: Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory potential of Pterospermum acerifolium. Internal J of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research 2010; 2(1): 1-5.
33. Saboo S, Deore SL, Khadabadi SS and Deokate UA: Evaluation of Antimitotic and Anticancer activity of the crude extracts of Pterospermum acerifolium willd leaves, Nig J Nat Prod and Med 2007; 11: 75-78.
34. Kharpate S, Vadnerkar G, Jain D and Jain S: Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of ethanol extract of Ptrospermum acerifolium International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2007; 69(6): 850-52.
35. George M, Joseph L, Deshwal N and Joseph J: Hepatoprotective activity of different extracts of Pterospermum acerifolium against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. The Pharma Inno J 2016; 5(3): 32-36.
36. Bano PM, Dixit N, Soni P, Kumar V, Maurya P,Misra R, Bhattacharya SM: Immunosuppressive activity of hexane and ethanolic extracts of Pterospermum acerifolium seeds in BALB/c mice. Med Chem Res 2011; 20(9): 1667.
    

    ---

    How to cite this article:

    Kaur R and Deshwal N: A contemporary literary review of Pterospermum acerifolium (kanak champa) with special reference to its pharmacological and medicinal aspects. Int J Pharmacognosy 2020; 8(7):305-10. doi link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232. IJP.8(7).305-10.

    ---

    This Journal licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.