INTRODUCTION:

By manipulating the medicinal qualities of various plants, herbal medications support bodily healing and balance. India is a very good source of therapeutic herbs. Different kinds of herbal plants are utilized to make various herbal medications. Approximately 8000 species of plants are known to have medicinal properties. For centuries, traditional medical systems like ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine have employed herbal medicines. Several varieties of herbal plants are used in India to make herbal medications. Herbal medications are a type of healthcare that derives their therapeutic benefits from plants and plant extracts. Some of the compounds found in herbal plants include flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and terpenoids. A wide range of illnesses, including those relating to the heart, digestive tract, skin, and respiratory systems, can be treated with herbal medications.^1,3

Known by many names Strobilanthes kunthiana is a shrub primarily found in India's Western Ghats. One blooming cycle, Flowers are occurring in every 12 years is the main characteristic of Strobilanthes kunthiana. Plants of the genus Strobilanthes, which are in the family Acanthaceae. Originating from the Greek words "strobilus," which means cone, and "anthos," which means flower. Purplish flowers are what give the Nilgiri hills their other name, called "Blue Mountain.^2,5

Strobilanthes kunthiana possesses a wide range of therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoarthritic, analgesic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-fungal, anti-giardia, anti-microbial and UV protection qualities.⁴

Plants that flower only once in their lifetime, known as monocarpic or semelparous species eventually die. Strobilanthes kunthiana is pollinated by butterflies and honey bees. It is discovered that the nectar that honey bees gather from these flowers is highly flavorful, nutrient-rich, and medicinal. The soft texture of the plant's elliptical leaves is attributed to their fine hair covering,^2,4

The striking diversity of Strobilanthes species in Asia-more than 200 species totals, with more than 150 of those species found in India mostly in the Nilgiris and Western Ghats. Neelakurinji or Strobilanthes kunthiana is a plant that grows up to 180 cm tall in ideal conditions and can withstand elevations of 1300 to 2400 meters. Finding out about the genus's chemo-taxonomical relationship and the diverse biological activities such as antioxidant qualities-connected to Strobilanthes plants is fascinating. Strobilanthes species grow wild in the Nilgiri ranges at elevations ranging from 6000 to 7000 feet.⁵

TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION:⁶

Botanical name : Strobilanthes kunthiana

Synonym : Neelakurinji.

Kingdom : Plantae.

Class : Magnoliopsida

Order : Lamiales.

Family : Acanthaceae.

Genus : Strobilanthes.

Species : Strobilanthes kunthiana.

VERNACULAR NAMES:⁷

English : Strobilanthes kunthiana.

Kannada : Neelakurinji

Tamil : Neelakurinji

Malayalam : Karimkurunni.

Hindi : Kurinji

Bengali : Bengali kurinji

MORPHOLOGY:⁸

Plants: A small shrub; stems and branches terete or sub quadrangular, often fimbriate at the nodes.

Leaves: Leaves are 10-18 by 2.5-5cm., lanceolate, acuminate, lincolate, glabrous or nearly so, serrate, base attenuated into the petiole; main nerves 6-7 pairs; petioles 1.3-3.8cm. long and sometimes obscure.

Flowers: Flowers are in axillary slender, glabrous, spikes 2.5-7.5cm. long; peduncles long. slender, glabrous, jointed and bracteates below the middle and there deflexed; bracts 6 mm. long, ovate, subacute, glabrous, lineolate, the margins often obscurely toothed; bracteoles 4 mm. long, shorter than the calyx, linear, subobtuse, mucronulate, lineolate, glabrous. Calyx 6 mm. long, glabrous or nearly so; tube about 1.25mm. long; segments subequal, linear, subobtuse. Corolla white, 13-16mm. long; tube narrow in the lower part, campanulately swollen in the upper half; lobes 3mm. long, oblong, rounded at the apex, spotted with lilac at the base. Stamens 4, exserted, filaments of the longer stamens bearded; anthers purple. Ovary glabrous; style glabrous. Capsules not seen.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:

The aerial parts of the plant Strobilanthes kunthiana contains bioactive phytochemicals constituents such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, glycosides. saponins, tannins, terpenoids, phytosterols, alkaloids, fixed oils and carbohydrates.

MEDICINAL USES:

The plant Strobilanthes kunthiana has used in the treatment of febrifuge, diaphoretic, depurative, expectorant, whooping cough, fever, bronchitis, dropsy, leucoderma, leprosy, pruritus, diabetic, inflammations, scrofula and fever.

TRADITIONAL USES:

Strobilanthes kunthiana has used to treat the leprosy, to control blood sugar, urinal problems, jaundice, excess menses, skin inflammations and allergy.⁹

STROBILANTHES SPECIES:

Strobilanthes scabra, Strobilanthes reptans, Strobilanthes apoensis, Strobilanthes auriculata, Strobilanthes dyeriana, Strobilanthes atropurpurea, Strobilanthe ssessilis, Strobilanthes ixiocephala, Strobilanthes caudata, Strobilanthes tubiflos, Strobilanthes hirta, Strobilanthes andamanensis, Strobilanthes larium, Strobilanthes orientalis, Strobilanthes carnatica.

PHYTOCHEMICAL:

The aerial parts of the plant Strobilanthes kunthiana contains bioactive phytochemical constituents such as carbohydrates, proteins, saponins, triterpenoids, flavonoids, steroids glycoside, alkaloids and tannins,

TOXICOLOGICAL STUDY:¹⁰

Rats were used in an acute oral toxicity test in accordance with OECD-423 criteria. The extracts were given orally to various groups of rats in each group, with a maximum dose of 2000 mg/kg (b.w). Over the course of 15 days, the animals were routinely checked for mortality, clinical symptoms, and weight changes. At the conclusion of the study period, all of the animals had a gross necropsy.

Fig No 1: Leaf of Strobilanthes kunthiana

Fig No 2: Strobilanthes kunthiana plants

Fig No 3: Flower of Strobilanthes kunthiana

PHARMACOLOGY ACTIVITES:

1. Quantitative estimation of total phenolic, flavonoids, tannins and chlorophyll content of leaves.

Total phenolic, flavonoid, tannins are present in the ethyl alcohol and aqueous extracts of Strobilanthes kunthiana leaves were quantitatively evaluated. According to reports, total phenolic, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, carbohydrates, terpenoids, and steroids have been found in ethyl alcohol and an aqueous extract of Strobilanthes kunthiana leaves.¹¹

2. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities:

Strobilanthes kunthiana flower extract in crude methanolic extract possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. It belongs to the Acanthaceae family. Gaining additional knowledge about the pharmacognostic nature, pharmacological activity, and different identification tests associated with the plant Neelakurinji is the primary goal of this review. inflammatory effects on rats. According to their research Strobilanthes kunthiana crude methanolic flower extract has been demonstrated notable analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential benefits in rats.¹²

3. Anti-oxidant activities:

The anti-oxidant activity of ethanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and petroleum ether extracts of leaves of Strobilanthes kunthiana in superoxide radical scavenging activity, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, Fe2+ chelating activity, ABTS radical depolarization assays. It has been reported that ethanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and petroleum ether extract of leaves of Strobilanthes kunthiana has been shown the superoxide radical scavenging activity, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, Fe2+ chelating activity, ABTS radical decolourization assay.¹³

4. Anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activity:

The anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activity of methanol, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate extracts of leaves, stem and root of Strobilanthes kunthiana in rats. It has been revealed that methanol, petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of leaves of Strobilanthes kunthiana has been shown the significant anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory potential effect in rats.¹⁴

5. Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity:

The hepatoprotective and anti-oxidant activity of methanolic extract of flowers of Strobilanthes kunthiana in rats. It has been reported that methanolic extract of flower of Strobilanthes kunthiana has been shown the maximum hepatoprotective and anti-oxidant potential effect in rats.¹⁵

6. Antiulcer activity:

Strobilanthes kunthiana leaf extract clearly has a potent antiulcer effect based on animal’s studies. It has significantly more protective and stomach. anti-secretory qualities when compared to the reference medication, omeprazole. The extract is safe even at relatively high concentration. The anti-ulcer activity is probably caused by the presence of flavonoids.¹⁶

7. Antidiabetic activity:

Rats with diabetes induced by alloxan: antidiabetic activity extraction. The isolated compounds were then tested in vitro to see if they might block the α-amylase enzyme, which is linked to diabetes.^17,18

8. Antifungal activity:

In three different types of fungi- Aspergillus niger, Penicillium species, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae-the antifungal qualities of the leaf and stem extracts of Strobilanthes integrifolius, Strobilanthes sessilis var. ritchiei, Strobilanthes ciliatus, and Strobilanthes ixiocephalus were studied. By employing the agar well diffusion method, it was discovered that the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of all four species exhibited greater antifungal activity in comparison to the water extract. Furthermore, total inhibition of fungal growth was shown by the chloroform extract^19,20,21

9. Anticancer activity:

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women, and current treatments include drawbacks such as drug resistance and toxicity. Other treatments, such as hormone therapy, surgery, radiation, and immunological therapy, have disadvantages such as bioavailability issues and non-selectivity. To overcome these issues, scientists are looking into novel chemicals that are less hazardous and more successful at treating cancer. The Strobilanthes Kunthiana plant is one possible option, as it has showed promise in cancer treatment with fewer side effects. Docking studies are being conducted in an attempt to assess its receptor binding. It's critical to realize that the aromatase enzyme's ability to convert testosterone to oestrogen can have an impact on breast cancer.^22,23

10. Analgesic Activities:

The building blocks of membrane phospholipids are fatty acids. They are essential for producing lipid mediators and preserving the equilibrium of phospholipids in membranes. Phospholipase A2 inhibitors are drugs that can be used to treat disorders that are associated with increased platelet generation and aggregation, such as peripheral vascular disease. By preventing the PLA2 enzyme from breaking down membrane phospholipids into platelet-activating factor, these inhibitors function. Phytochemicals found in Strobilanthes kunthiana have the ability to inhibit the PLA2 enzyme. Numerous physiological processes, including as phospholipid digestion, metabolism, host defence, and signal transduction, are aided by phospholipase A2. Furthermore, eicosanoids which are essential for inducing immunological responses, inflaming the body, and reducing inflammation-are produced from arachidonic acid by enzymes like COX and LOX.^24,25,26

CONCLUSION:

Numerous medicinal active ingredients with distinct chemical components have been found in the review study conducted on S. kunthiana. It contains alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic chemicals, and tannin. Which phytochemical study indicates can be used further in the development of traditional remedies. To confirm the identification and standardize the plant, pharmacognostic analysis of the several plant sections of S. kunthianus was conducted. The study focused on the different microscopical characteristics of leaves, flowers, stems, and roots. Comprehending and defining the therapeutic attributes of herbal plants can facilitate the creation of novel chemicals and improved methods for isolation.

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Received on 09.11.2024 Revised on 13.12.2024

Accepted on 09.01.2025 Published on 08.03.2025

Available online from March 12, 2025

Res.J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics.2025;17(1):75-78.

DOI: 10.52711/2321-5836.2025.00012

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