INTRODUCTION:

Ichnocarpus frutescens (Black Sariva), an indigenous plant belongs to family Apocyanaceae. According to ayurveda, the plant is having a broad spectrum of use as in atrophy, bleeding gums, convulsions, cough, delirium, dysentery, glossitis, heamaturia, measles etc.Literature data reveals the presence of phenylpropanoids, phenolic acids, coumarines, flavanoids, sterols and pentacyclic triterpenoids and found to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidiabetic, antioxidant and antitumor spectrum of activity¹.

Common name: Indian Sarsaparilla

Vernacular names²:

Assam-Lamkandol, Paharukibandan,

Bengal-Dudhi, Syamalota,

Dehradun-Belkamu,

Hindi -Kalidudhi, Siamalata,

Kannada-Karehambu,

Malayalam –Paalvally,

Marathi-Krishnasarwa, Kantebhouri,

Oriya-Syamolota, Madhodi,

Sanskrit-Syamlata, Sariva,

Tamil –Udargodi,

Telugu-Illukatte, Nalateage

Geographical source:

Ichnocarpus frutescens R.Br. is a large, evergreen, lactiferous, woody creeper with a rusty red appearance, it is found almost throughout India, up to an altitude of 4000 ft. In the local language called as Kali Dudhi. The root of the plant is traditionally used in medicine as a substitute for Indian sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus). Roots are reported to have demulcent, tonic, diaphoretic and diuretic properties. Root powder is administered with milk used as blood purifier. Ichnocarpus frutescens leaves and roots are used as a substitute for Indian Sarasparilla (Hemidesmus indicus), so considered to be an important drug in the traditional system of medicine. Chloroform and methanolic extracts of the whole plant are reported to have the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity³.

Morphology

A large much-branched shrub; young branches finely fulvous-tomentose. Leaves 4.5-7.5 by 2-3.8cm.Elliptic–oblong, acute or acuminate. glabrous above glabrous or slightly pubescent and pale beneath ,base usually rounded; main nerves 5-7 pairs, with finely reticulate venation between; petioles 3-6mm.long. flowers greenish white, numerous, in axillary and terminal rusty-pubescent trichotomous pedunculatecymes; pediceles 3-4mm. long often three together ,rusty-pubescent. calyx fulvous hairy, divided ½ way down; lobes ovate, acute, without glands inside. corolla-tube 2.-5.3 mm long with the narrow portion below about 0.85mm. long, the middle portion of the tube much inflated (almost globular) over the stamens, the upper portion constricted below the lobes; lobes 5 mm. long, pubescent on the upper side with white hairs, broad and oblong at the base, produced at the apex in to a long falcate slender twisted acumen which is deflexed in bud and flower. Disk of 5 erect linear lobes, longer than the hairy ovary. follicles 10-15cm.by 4mm. straight or slightly curved. very slender, cylindric, rusty-pubescent at first, afterwards glabrous. seed 1.3-2cm. long, linear, black, not beaked; coma as long as the seed, scanty, white. The root is sweetish, cooling, aphrodisiac; cures “kapha”, thirst, vomiting, fever, biliousness “vata”, diseases of the blood; in other respect it behaves like the root of Hemidesmus indicus. The stalk and leaves are used in the form of decoction in fevers.⁴

Figure No. 1: Photograph showing Ichnocarpus frutescens

leaves.

Figure No. 2: Photograph showing Ichnocarpus frutescens flower

Figure No. 3: Photograph showing Ichnocarpus frutescens fruits

Phytochemical analysis:

Studies on chemical constituents of the plant reveals the presence of phenylpropanoids, phenolic acids, coumarines, flavonoids, sterols and pentacyclic triterpenoids i.e. Δ1 2-dehydrolupanyl-3β-palmitate, lupeol acetate, friedelin, friedelinol, Δ12-dehydrolupeol, oleanolic acid, nonane, 5-hydroxyoctacosan-25-one, dotriacontanoic acid, sitosterol and sitosterolpalmitate⁵.

Stem contains α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-amyrin, 6, 8, 8-trimethylpentacosan-7-one⁶, α-amyrin and its acetates, lupeol and its acetates, friedelin, epi-friedelinol and β-sitosterol⁷, n-butyl oleate, n-octyltetracontane, tetratriacontadiene, n-nonadecanyl benzoate, benzocosanyl arachidate⁸.

Leaves contain flavones viz. apigenin and luteolin, glycoflavones i.e. vitexin and isovitexin, proanthocyanidin and phenolic acids, vanillic, syringic and synapic acid, protocatechuic acid⁹. Ursolic acid acetate, kaemferol, kaemferol-3-galactoside (trifolin) and Mannitols were also identified from leaves¹⁰.

Roots reported to consist of β-sitosterol¹¹ and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde¹².

Flowers contain quercetin and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside¹³.

Traditional uses:

Whole plant is used as tribal medicine in atrophy, bleeding gums, convulsions, cough, delirium, dysentery, glossitis, heamaturia, measles, night blindness, relieves pain due to insect bites, splenomegaly and tuberculosis. Plant is also used in abdominal and glandular tumors.

Roots are used as a substitute for Indian Sarasparilla (Hemidesmus indicus) as alterative, antidysentric, antipyretic, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, hypoglycemic and tonic; beneficial in anorexia, leucorrhea, skin diseases, syphilis and urinary calculi. Warm leaves are applied by the tribes of Rajasthan, on the swelling to cure guinea worm infection. Decoction of leaves and stems is used in fever and skin eruption^14-16.

Physiochemical Parameters¹⁷:

Sl no	Quality Parameters	Result
1	Moisture content	9.15(±0.89)
2	Ash value a. Ash value b. Acid value c. Water soluble ash	7.48(±0.67) 2.02(±0.34) 4.16(±0.41)
3	Extractive value a. Methanol soluble extract b. Water soluble extract	15.83(±0.61) 14.28(±1.25)

Species of genus Ichnocarpus Frutescens¹⁸:

· The genus Ichnocarpus is in the family Apocynaceae in the major group Angiosperms (Flowering plants).

· The Plant List includes 42 scientific plant names of species rank for the genus Ichnocarpus. Of these 3 are accepted species names.

· Ichnocarpus fulvus Kerr

· Ichnocarpus uliginosus Kerr

· Ichnocarpus frutescens

Biological Activity of Ichnocarpus frutescens:

1. Anticonvulsant Activity¹⁹:

The present study, it can be concluded thatMEIF (200–400mg/kg, p.o.) showed anticonvulsant activity through modulating GABAergic system and oxidative stress in the rat’s brain which can be predicted due to the presence of different category of phytoconstituents (phenolics,terpenoids, and steroids). Therefore, roots of I. frutescens could be a potential source in the management of convulsion.

2. Antipyretic activity ²⁰:

The methanolic extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens R.Br. Root (MEIF) was evaluated by Panduranga et al for its anti-pyretic potential on normal body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia in albino rats. Yeast suspension (10 ml/kg body wt.) increased rectal temperature 19 h after subcutaneous injection. The MEIF, at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body wt., p.o., produced significant reduction in normal body temperature and yeast-provoked elevated temperature in a dose dependent manner. The effect extended up to 5 h after the drug administration. The anti-pyretic effect of MEIF was comparable to that of paracetamol (150mg/kg body wt., p.o.), a standard anti-pyretic agent

3. Anti-Inflammatory²¹:

The anti-inflammatory of topical preparation of root extracts of Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) r.br and the result has been concluded that the root extracts of Ichnocarpus fructensces (L) r.br is been scientifically proved for anti-inflammatory activity and the present study was undertaken to evaluate the topical preparation of methanolic extracts of root of Ichnocarpus frutescens and anti-inflammatory activities.

4. Analgesic activity ²²:

The effects of Ichnocarpus frutescens cream on formalin induced paw licking test are shown in The groups that received topical preparation containing 6% of the Ichnocarpus frutescens methanolic extract and the group receiving 30% Methyl salicylate ointment have showed statistically significantly inhibition of formalin induced paw licking in both early phase and late phase when compare to control group

5.Antioxidant and Membrane Stabilizing Properties of Ichrocasrpus frutescens²³:

The Antioxidant potential of the 70% methanolic extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens was assessed by the 1, 1-Diphenyl- 2–picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The Hydrogen Peroxide, the Nitric oxide, the reducing power and the lipid per oxidation inhibition (Thiobarbituric Acid – reactive substances production) and the red blood cell (RBC) membrane stabilization assays. The extract showed significant antioxidant activities in all arrays in a dose dependent manner. The extracts displayed notable activities in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Scavenging which could be attributed to the high phenolic contents of this extract. More over I. frutescens extract showed strong reducing power and an ability to suppress lipid peroxidation. Suppression of lipid peroxidation and nitric acid scavenging would be the probable mechanism of the stabilization of the rbc membrane.

6. Antitumor Activity of Poly Phenolic Extract of Ichrocarpus frutescens²⁴:

Poly phenolic extract (PPE) of leaves of Ichnocarpus frutescens was evaluated for antitumor activity in vivo. Murine enrich ascites carcinoma (EAC) model was used to assess ppe antitumor activity in vivo. Results of in vivo study showed a significant decrease in tumor volume viable tumour cell count and a significant increase of life span in the ppe treated group compared to untreated one. The life span of ppe treated animals increased by 53.41% ppe of Ichnocarpus frutescens possesses strong free radical scavenging activity and antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo.

7. Antimicrobial activities²⁵;

Preliminary studies of hexane, chloroform, and aqueous extracts of roots of H. indicus and I .frutescens on E. coli and B. pumilis revealed antimicrobial property in chloroform extract only. Therefore chloroform extracts of H. indicus and I. frutescens roots were screened for their antimicrobial activity on all the test microorganisms. The chloroform extract of both plants inhibited all the tested microorganisms. Amongst bacteria E. coli followed by B. pumilis were most sensitive and among fungi A. flavus and A. niger were most sensitive. The solvent (negative control) did not have any inhibitory activity. Chloramphenicol (positive control for bacteria) had a stronger inhibition than the extracts.

CONCLUSION:

The plant has a large number of traditional medicinal uses, including treatment for rheumatism, asthma, cholera, and fever. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that extracts of the plant inhibit tumours, protect liver cells from damage in aceteminophen overdose, and correct hyperlipidaemia in diabetic rats. It also has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, reduces fever, and lowers fasting glucose and improves glucose tolerance indiabetes.

The leaves, root of Ichnocarpus frutescens is used as an alternative tonic, diuretic and demulcent. The root powder is administered with milk for diabetes, stone in and fever. There is no doubt that this plant is a reservoir of potentially useful chemical compounds which serve as drugs, are provided newer leads and clues for modern drug design by synthesis. Due to its many medicinal properties, there is enormous scope for future research on Ichnocarpus frutescens and further clinical and pharmacological investigation should be conducted to investigate unexploited potential of this plant.

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Received on 01.12.2016 Modified on 19.12.2016

Res. J. Pharmacology & Pharmacodynamics.2017; 9(1): 31-34.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5836.2017.00006.4