A REVIEW ON ATYPICAL PLANT HELICTERES ISORA LINN.
HTML Full TextA REVIEW ON ATYPICAL PLANT HELICTERES ISORA LINN.
M. Ramya *, K. H. Ahalyadevi, B. S. Suresha and T. Balasubramanian
Department of Pharmacology, Bharathi College of Pharmacy, Bharathinagara, Mandya, Karnataka, India.
ABSTRACT: Herbal medicine, also known as Herbalism or Botanical medicine, harnesses the therapeutic properties of plants in various forms to prevent, treat, or promote health and well-being. Plants contain a diverse array of chemical compounds that interact with the body, leading to their widespread use in traditional and modern medicine worldwide. Over the past few decades, there has been a significant rise in the global and national markets for herbal drugs. Utilized since ancient times, medicinal plants are fundamental to traditional healing systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, as well as folk and native medicine. Helicteres isora L. (Sterculiaceae family) is renowned for its traditional uses and widespread distribution. Research indicates that extracts derived from its leaves, bark, fruits, and roots possess a range of beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anti-dysenteric, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial activities. Notably, the fruit extract of H. isora demonstrates promising free radical scavenging abilities. This review aims to provide a scientific basis for the indigenous therapeutic claims associated with bioactive fractions extracted from H. isora.
Keywords: H. isora, Antimicrobial, Antiulcer
INTRODUCTION: Throughout history, medicinal plants have served as vital components in treating and preventing various diseases, including epidemics, with each part of the plant possessing unique medicinal properties 1. Traditional medicine heavily relies on medicinal plants, serving as the cornerstone of healthcare for over 3.3 billion individuals in less developed regions worldwide 2. Traditional medicine is prevalent globally, and between 1990 and 1995, the World Health Organization (WHO) redefined it to encompass therapeutic practices that have endured for centuries before the advent and dissemination of modern scientific medicine, continuing to be utilized to this day 3. Exploring the potential of higher plants as a source of new drugs remains largely untapped.
Despite the vast number of plant species estimated to range from 250,000 to 500,000, only a fraction has undergone comprehensive phytochemical analysis, and even fewer have been thoroughly examined for their pharmacological properties. In many instances, only preliminary pharmacological screenings have been conducted, with an estimated 5,000 species studied for medical purposes 4. Helicteres isora L (H. isora), a member of the Sterculiaceae family, known colloquially as the East Indian screw tree, holds medicinal significance. This sub-deciduous shrub or small tree typically grows to heights ranging from 5 to 15 feet and finds use across traditional medicinal practices, with virtually all parts of the plant utilized in treating a multitude of ailments 5.
In traditional medicine, nearly every component of H. isora is employed to address a diverse range of health issues 6. These plants, found in their natural habitat, often coexist with other tree species like Timonius sericeus, Cassia siamea, Acacia leucophloea and Leucaena leucocephala 7. The fruits of H. isora consist of compound pods that resemble screws, twisted with pointed ends. It's worth mentioning that various parts of the plant harbor significant antioxidants such as polyphenols and tannins, along with being rich sources of essential nutrients 8. The bark contains tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and steroids, while the roots are rich in tannins, phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, and alkaloids. Additionally, the fruits contain tannins, phenolic compounds, steroids, and glycosides 9. The nutritional and medicinal benefits of these antioxidants and nutrients are extensively documented. Given their nutritive and therapeutic properties, various parts of the plant are incorporated into herbal preparations such as Gandharva Churna and Siddha Praneshwar Ras 8.
FIG. 1: HELICTERES ISORA LEAVES
FIG. 2: HELICTERES ISORAWHOLEPLANT
FIG. 3: HELICTERES ISORA FLOWER
FIG. 4: HELICTERES ISORA FRUIT
TABLE 1: TAXONOMY 37:
Class | Angiosperms |
Sub-class | Eudicots |
Order | Malvales |
Family | Malvaceae |
Subfamily | Helicteroideae |
Genus | Helicteres |
Species | H. isora |
Synonms: Helicteres baruensis var. ovata DC, Helicteres chrysocalyx Miq.
Ex Mast, Helicteres corylifolia Buch Ham. Ex Dillwyn, Helicteres grewiaefolia DC, Helicteres isora var. glabrescens Mast
TABLE 2: VERNACULAR NAMES 37:
Languages | Names |
Sanskrit | Murva, Avartani, Avartaphala |
Hindi | Marodphali, Marorphali, Enthani, Gomathi |
Marathi | Kewad, Muradsheng |
Bengal | Antmora |
Gujarat | Maradashingh, Maradashinghi |
Tamil | Balampari |
Telugu | Guvadarra |
Kannada | Yedamuri-balamuri |
Malayalam | Ishwarmuri |
Oriya | Murmuriya |
English | East India screw tree, Indian screw tree |
Discription: The plant typically grows as large shrubs, reaching heights of 5-8 meters. Its leaves are obovate or suborbicular, with 3-5 nerves at the base, scabrous on the upper surface, and stellately tomentose on the lower surface. Leaf petioles measure about 1.2 cm in length. The bark appears pale greyish and finely wrinkled, with young shoots covered in stellate tomentum. Flowers are either solitary or in cymes, with axillary bracts measuring 2-3 mm long containing two brown glands. The calyx is slightly yellow, tubular, and persistent, with a densely hairy tube about 1.5-2 cm long. Petals, varying from crimson to pale blue, are unequal in size and obovate in shape. The staminal column is cylindrical, measuring 3-3.5 cm long, with 10 stamens and 5 staminodes. Ovaries are pentalobed, 2-2.5 mm long, located at the tip of the gynophore, and contain many ovules with 5 styles and subulate stigma. The follicles are spirally twisted, stellate-tomentose, beaked, and measure 4-6 cm long, with 5 in number. Seeds are black, angular, wrinkled, and approximately 2-3 mm long 11.
Distribution: Avartani is found distributed in dry forests throughout Central and Western India, from Bihar as far West as Jammu and Western Peninsula 37.
FIG. 5: DISTRIBUTION
TABLE 3: PHYTOCONSTITUENTS
Fruits | 49-O-b -D-glucopyranosyl rosmarinic acid |
4,49-O-di-b-D-glucopyranosyl rosmarinic acid | |
2R-O-(49-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl caffeoyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl), | |
lacticacid named as 49-O-b Dglucopyranosyl isorinic acid | |
Leaves | methyl ether, 7,41di-o-methyle isoscutellarein i.e. (5,8-dihydroxy-7,41flavones) |
kaempferol-3-o-galactoside (trifolin) | |
herbacetin-8-oglucoronide | |
Stem bark | phytosterols |
hydroxyl carboxylic acid | |
orangeyellow | |
saponins | |
phlobotannis, sugar ang lignins | |
Seed | phytosterols |
fixed oils | |
fats | |
phenolic compounds | |
tannins | |
amino acid | |
amino acid | |
Root | Cucurbitacin B, isocucurbitacin B |
Pharmacological Activity:
Antioxidant: The in-vitro Antioxidant Activity of Hot Aqueous Extract of H. isora Fruits. The Aqueous (hot) extract of H. isora exhibit strong antioxidant activity by inhibiting nitric oxide and scavenging superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide radical 12.
Antimicrobial Activity: Some researchers have demonstrated antimicrobial activity from aqueous and alcoholic of fruits of H. isora against a number of bacterial strains. This research showed antimicrobial effects from butanol extract of roots of H. isora against a number of microbes. The acetone extract of the fruit is capable of removing antibiotic resistant R-plasmid of many strains of bacteria thus making them more sensitive towards low antibiotic doses 32.
Such plasmid loss reversed the multiple antibiotic resistances in cured derivatives making them sensitive to low concentrations of antibiotics. Acetone extracts of H. isora possess potential as a natural origin for developing antiplasmid agents. They also exhibit the ability to sensitize multidrug-resistant genes in pathogenic bacteria, suggesting a promising avenue for combating antibiotic resistance 13.
Antibacterial Activity: The discovery of organic extracts from H. isora as a novel and safe plasmid curing agent has opened up new possibilities for combating plasmid-encoded multiple antibiotic resistance. The use of sub-inhibitory concentrations of these curing agents in the study, despite bacteria being resistant to them, suggests a reduced likelihood of bacteria developing resistance against the plasmid-curing properties of the acetone extract from H. isora 14.
Antifungal Activity: Leaf and fruit extracts of H. isora against the mycelial growth of test fungi. Poisoning of medium with leaf and fruit extracts resulted in suppression of growth of test fungi but to a varied extent.
Leaf extract caused higher inhibition of B. sorokiniana and Curuvularia sp. followed by F. oxysporum and C. capsici. Fruit extract was inhibitorier to B. sorokiniana followed by Curvularia sp., C. capsici and F. oxysporum. Inhibitory activity of fruit extract was lesser when compared to leaf extract 15.
Antidiabetic Activity: The H. isora concoction has demonstrated efficacy in effectively controlling blood glucose levels in type-2 diabetic patients. When combined with dynamic meditation and exercise, it synergistically reduces diabetic complications within a very short interval.
As a result, H. isora is highly recommended as a potential hypoglycemic agent for managing type-2 diabetes mellitus 16.
Anticancer Activity: The H. isora plant exhibits potent activity against human breast cancer, attributed to the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids contributing to its cytotoxic effects. Our ongoing strategy involves isolating and evaluating these active compounds to elucidate their exact mechanism of action 17.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity: The hydroalcoholic leaf extract of H. isora possess wound healing activity without any dermal toxicity and also helps in acceleration of cellular proliferation, increasing collagen synthesis and rapid formation of the well-keratinized epidermal layer, with the combination of dermal fibrous connective tissue in an animal model 18.
Antinociceptive Activity: Significant anti-nociceptive activity was observed in the aqueous ethanol, petroleum ether, and chloroform extracts of H. isora. Phytochemical analysis revealed that major constituents such as sterols, triterpenoids (in the petroleum ether extract), and their glycosides (in the chloroform and aqueous ethanol extracts) may be responsible for the observed pharmacological effects 19.
Antispasmodic Activity: The plant H. isora fruits exhibit remarkable antispasmodic activity against spasmogens- histamine, acetylcholine, and barium chloride tested in-vitro in guinea-pig ileum and do not shows any acute toxicity when tested in-vivo for gastrointestinal motility in mice 20.
Antihyperlipidemic Activity: In conclusion, from the present findings, it is well documented that the fruit of H. isora has the active principle to counteract the hyperlipidemic condition occurring in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Further findings are going on to separate the active compound in HiFE and to elucidate the mechanism of action 21.
Anthelmintic Activity: The bark extract of H. isora exhibits antihelminthic potential against Pheretima posthuma (Indian adult earthworm). Administration of various extract at concentration of 10, 20, 50 mg/ml, but 50 mg/ml concentration of extract showed better activity with paralysis and death of earthworms 22. The Antihelmintic Activity of H. isora Fruits Extract at various concentration (50 and 100 mg/ml) of aqueous extract, resulting in and shortest time required for paralysis and death of worms. The Antihelmintic Activity of H. isora fruits Extract at various concentration (50 and 100 mg/ml) of aqueous extract, resulting in and shortest time required for paralysis and death of worms 23.
Anti-Enzymatic Activity: Measuring the percentage of polyphenol oxidase activity inhibition by two water extracts of H. isora showed that subcritical water extract causes inhibition of 29% and the magnitude of enzyme activity inhibition for water extract was 11.2%. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the percentages of enzyme activity inhibition between the two extracts (P ≤ 0.05) 24.
Hepatoprotective Effects: Researchers have provided a scientific rationale for the traditional use of this plant in the management of liver diseases, suggesting hepatoprotective role of ethanolic extract from bark and root. The administration of ethanolic extract of H. isora bark to rats resulted in total reversal and recovery of all studied biochemical and antioxidant markers 25.
Antiplasmid Activities: The discovery of organic extracts from H. isora as a novel and safe plasmid curing agent has paved the way for exploring new combinations of antibiotics and potential drugs effective against plasmid-encoded multiple antibiotic resistance 14.
Cardiac Antioxidant and Antiperoxidative Potency: Cardiac antioxidant enzyme activities were notably reduced in diabetic control rats, yet significantly increased in diabetic rats treated with hemagglutination inhibition. H. isora administration to normal rats also elevated antioxidant levels without significant differences. Notably, the antioxidant effect of the aqueous extract of HI (at 200 mg/kg, p.o.) surpassed that of tolbutamide in treated rats 26.
Antiulcer Activity: Our experimental findings revealed that the hydroalcoholic extract of dried fruits from H. isora exhibits a protective effect against DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in Wistar rats. Histopathological analyses demonstrated reduced lesions in the mucosal area of the colon and tissue repairment following treatment with the herbal extract of H. isora dried fruits 27.
CONCLUSION: In summary, H. isora demonstrates diverse therapeutic potentials as a medicinal plant. Chemical analysis indicates the presence of numerous bioactive compounds, showcasing promising applications in pharmacological realms such as antiulcer, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic activities.
Utilizing the fruit, bark, leaves, and seeds for medicinal purposes underscores the necessity to further investigate their pharmaceutical significance for the development of effective treatments against a spectrum of diseases.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Nil
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Nil
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How to cite this article:
Ramya M, Ahalyadevi KH, Suresha BS and Balasubramanian T: A review on atypical plant Helicteres isora Linn. Int J Pharmacognosy 2024; 11(6): 262-67. doi link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJP.11(6).262-67.
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M. Ramya *, K. H. Ahalyadevi, B. S. Suresha and T. Balasubramanian
Department of Pharmacology, Bharathi College of Pharmacy, Bharathinagara, Mandya, Karnataka, India.
ramyanandan1995@gmail.com
16 May 2024
26 June 2024
29 June 2024
10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJP.11(6).262-67
30 June 2024