ETHANOBOTANICAL AND CURRENT ETHANOPHARMACOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF ARGEMONE MEXICANA LINN: AN OVERVIEW
HTML Full TextETHANOBOTANICAL AND CURRENT ETHANOPHARMACOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF ARGEMONE MEXICANA LINN: AN OVERVIEW
Charles Lekhya Priya and Kokati Venkata Bhaskara Rao*
Molecular and Microbiology Research Lab., Environmental Biotechnology Division, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore-632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
ABSTRACT
Argemone mexicana isan indigenous herb commonly known as Prickly poppy. It belongs to the family Papaveraceae. Argemone mexicana is noted to possess medicinal benefits in traditional system of medicine. During last few decades, there has been increasing interest in the study of medicinal properties of this plant and it is reported for Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective activity. The plant was also reported for other activities like Larvicidal activity, Wound healing activity, Cancer activity, Antihelmintic activity and Neuropharmacological studies. In light of these medicinal properties, this plant can be represented as a valuable source of medicinal compound. This study depicts the overall information about the ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of the A. mexicana.
Keywords:Argemone mexicana,
Prickly poppy, Ethnobotany, P |
hytochemistry
INTRODUCTION:India is well-known for the use of medicinal plants as a folklore medicine from ancient times. At present many compounds have been isolated from plants for treating numerous diseases. Medicinal plant research has succeeded in overwhelming the problems associated with synthetic drugs in maintaining low toxicity and less side effects. In last few decades, many plants has been reported for ethno pharmacological properties viz., Antimicrobial activity 1, Cytotoxic activity 2, Antidiabetic activity 3, Antiarthritic activity 4, Antioxidant activity 5,6 , Anti-tuberculosis activity 7 , Antiulcer activity 8, Wound healing activity9 .
Argemone mexicana is an annual herb commonly known as Mexican prickly poppy belongs to the family Papavaraceae 10. It is native of tropical America which has distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the World 11. In India, it grows in the temperate region as a weed in waste lands, cultivating fields and road sides 12. In the traditional system of medicine, whole plant of A. mexicana is extensively using in the treatment of tumors, warts, skin diseases, inflammations, rheumatism, jaundice, leprosy, piles, warm infestations and dysentery. Leaf decoction is used to cure malarial fever and ulcers. Seeds are efficient in treating leprosy, dropsy and jaundice. Juice of the plant is used as a remedy against Scorpion bite 13. In recent years, many scientific investigations were carried out on different parts of this plant which gives a hope for the researchers to isolate many compounds of pharmacological interest.
The present study is to review the overall information on the taxonomical classification, morphology, distribution, traditional uses, phytochemical constituents and recent scientific investigations of A. mexicana plant.
Taxonomy of A. mexicana plant: A.mexicana belongs to the Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Magnoliophyta, Order: Papaverales, Family: Papaveraceae, Genus: Argemone, Species: Argemone mexicana L.
Morphology of the plant: It is an erect annual spiny herb with grayish white stem secreting yellow coloured latex. It grows to a height of 0.3 to 0.12m. Leaves are exstipulate, sessile, alternate, deeply lobed, cauline with unicostate reticulate venation with thorny margins. Fruit is thorny porcidal capsule having blackish brown seeds 14. Flowers are large, complete, hypogynous, pedicillate, actinimorphic, hermaphrodite and ebracteate. Calyx has 3 sepals, polysepalous with twisted aestivation. Corolla is yellow in colour with 6 petals, polypetalous, deciduos and imbricate aestivation.
Stamens are polyandrous, indefinite with complete, introse and yellow anthers. Gynoecium has 4-6 carpels, syncarpous with unilocular superior ovary and parietal placentation 15. Roots are long and subcylindrical. Argemone mexicana contains light yellow coloured fat oil which is obtained by pressurizing the seeds. Argemone oil is raw tasted and slightly has nauseous odour which can be easily saponified 16. Morphology of the plant is shown in Figure 1.
FIGURE 1: ARGEMONE MEXICANA LINN
Traditional uses: A. mexicana is extensively used in traditional system of medicine in the treatment of numerous diseases. Various parts of the plant were extensively using in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathic medicines.
In Ayurveda: The whole plant of A. mexicana is effective in guinea-worm infestations, purgative and diuretic. Seeds of the plant are used as an antidote in snake poisoning and also acts as an emetic, expectorant, demulcent and laxative. The protein-dissolving substances containing seed extract is used to cure warts, cold sores, cutaneous infections, itches, jaundice and dropsy 17. Seeds are effective against skin infection, sores, dropsy and jaundice 18. Juice of the plant cures ophthalmic and opacity of cornea. Oil of the seed is used to treat skin diseases. Roots are antihelmentic and also used in, skin diseases, leprosy and inflammations 19.
In siddha medicine: This plant is widely used to cure venereal sores, photophobia, scorpion bite, leucorrhoea. Leaves along with black pepper are used to cure diabetes. The latex of A. mexicana used to treat boils by topical application on the site of boils. Whole plant is used to treat dental disorders20. Leaf decoction is used in the treatment of malarial fever and ulcers. Juice of the plant is applied on scorpion sting. Seeds are effective against leprosy, jaundice and dropsy 13.
In Unani medicine: A. mexicana helps in the enrichment of blood which acts as an expectorant and aphrodisiac. It is also used in treating skin diseases and leucoderma 21.
In Homeopathic medicine: The drug prepared from this plant is very effective in treating the problem caused by tape worm. The whole plant is reported to be used for the treatment of whooping cough and bronchitis 22.
Nomenclature of A. mexicana in different languages: A. mexicana is distributed widely in India and known with different names in various languages. Some of the names are reported in Table 1.
TABLE 1: NOMENCLATURE OF A. MEXICANA IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES 11, 23
Name | Language |
Mexican poppy | English |
Brahmadandi/Hemavati/Hemadugdha | Sanskrit |
Bharbhand/Biladhutura/Satyanashi | Hindi |
Brahmadandi | Telugu |
Brahmadandu, Kurukkum | Tamil |
Brahmdanti | Malayalam |
Darudi | Gujarathi |
Daruri/ Firangidhotra/Kontedhotra | Marathi |
Dhaturi | Rajasthani |
Phytochemical Constituents in A. mexicana: A. mexicana is reported to posses alkaloids 24, 25, amino acids 26, phenolics 27 and fatty acids 28 as major phytochemical groups. A series of bioactive compounds have been reported and some of them are isolated from different parts of A. mexicana.
The whole plant of A. mexicana was reported to posses isoquinoline alkaloids such as berberine, cheilanthifoline, coptisine, muramine, scoulerine, stylopine, cryptopine, thalifone, sanguinarine, protopine, optisine, chelerytherine and benzylisoquinoline alkaloids 29, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33. Alkaloids such as berberine, tetrahydroberberine, protopine and Benzophenanthridines have been isolated from the plant 34. Seed oil otherwise called as Argemone oil reported to contain sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine. It also contains palmitic, myristic, oleic and linoleic acids 35. Some of the structures of isolated compounds of this plant are shown in Figure 2 and 3.
FIGURE 2: STRUCTURE OF BERBERINE 34
FIGURE 3: STRUCTURE OF NORCHELERYTHRINE 29
FIGURE 4: PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ARGEMONE MEXICANA LINN
Recent Scientific investigations:
Antimicrobial activity: The crude methanol and aqueous extracts (hot and cold) of leaves and seeds of A.mexicana is reported to possess antimicrobial activity against multi drug resistant pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Eschericia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Antimicrobial activity was carried out by agar well diffusion method. Methanol extract showed highest zone of inhibition for the tested organisms fallowed by hot and cold aqueous extracts 36.
Antibacterial activity of different organic extracts (n-hexane, chloroform, methanol and water) of A.mexicana seed was reported against E. coli, P. aeroginosa, Enterococcus sp., Salmonella typhi, S.aureus, multi drug resistant P. aeruginosa and multidrug resistant S. aureus. Chloroform extract (500 mg/ml) showed efficient antimicrobial activity against all the test organisms whereas methanol extract (500 mg/ml) showed moderate activity against P. aeruginosa, S. typhi and S. aureus. However, n-Hexane and aqueous extract showed no activity 37.
The essential oil from aerial and root parts of A. mexicana was evaluated for antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, B. subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, Candida albicans, C. stellatoidea and C. torulopsis. It showed efficacy in inhibiting the growth ofselected bacteria and fungi among the tested organisms 38.
N-demethyloxysanguinarine isolated from chloroform extract of A. mexicana has showed antibacterial activity against K. pneumonia, S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeroginosa with Minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.5625 to 3.125 39.
The acetone, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts of leaf and stem of A. mexicana was tested for its efficacy to inhibit water borne pathogens such as E. coli, Shigella sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Salmonella sp. Petroleum ether extract of both leaf and stem showed maximum activity, Ethyl acetate showed moderate activity where as acetone extract showed no activity against these water borne pathogens 40.
Antidiabetic activity: Hypoglycemic potential of aerial parts of A. mexicana was reported in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Treatment was carried out for 11 days with ethanol and aqueous extracts at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight in diabetic rats. Treatment with aqueous extract (400 mg/kg body weight) showed significant reduction in blood glucose levels, plasma urea, creatinine, triglyceride, cholesterol values and recovery in body weight compared to diabetic control rats and the standard drug treated rats 41.
Hydro alcoholic extract (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) of aerial parts of A. mexicana reduced fasting blood glucose levels in Streptozotocin induced hyperglycemic Wistar albino rats. Metformin (300 mg/kg body wt) was used as a standard drug. The extract dosage of 400 mg/kg body weight showed an effective hypoglycemic activity in comparision with the standard 42.
Antioxidant activity: Ethanol extract of A. mexicana root is reported to possess antioxidant activity. The extract showed high DPPH radical scavenging activity (85.17%), ABTS radical scavenging activity (75.27%) and H2O2 radical scavenging activity (84.25%)at 100 µg/ml concentration. Extract showed dose dependent high free radical scavenging activity 43.
Different solvents of A. mexicana leaves were reported to possess super oxide anion scavenging activity by Nitro blue tetrazolium assay. All the extracts exhibited maximum percentage of free radical scavenging at a dosage of 200 µg/ml. The highest radical scavenging activity was exhibited by acetone extract whose IC50 value was double to that of L-ascorbic acid 44.
Wound Healing activity: Different solvents extract of A. mexicana leaves were examined for wound healing activity in Wistar albino rats. The activity was carried out by excision, incision and dead space wound models. The results revealed that the treatment with methanol extract of leaves of A. mexicana accelerated wound healing agent in rats 45.
Antihelmintic activity: The leaves of A. mexicana were extracted with alcohol and distilled water and was tested for antihelmintic activity in a dose dependent manner (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 mg/ml) against Pheretima posthuma and Ascardia galli. At 100 mg/ml concentration, both the extracts showed significant antihelmintic activity 46.
Larvicidal activity: Acetone fraction of petroleum ether extract of A. mexicana seed was reported to possess larvicidal activity against 2nd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. Extract resulted in 100% mortality of the larva with LC50 value of 13.58 and 17.43 in field and laboratory conditions respectively 47.
Hepatoprotective activity: The antihepatotoxic action of aqueous extract of A. mexicana stem was reported in CCl4 induced hepatotoxic male Albino wistar rats. Oral administration of 150 and 250 mg/kg body weight of the extract decreased serum asparate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels. Increase in the body weight of treated rats was also reported 48.
Anticancer activity: The ethanol extract of A. mexicana was reported to exhibit inhibitory activity against human cancer cell lines such as Hela-B75 (48%), HL-60 (20.15%) and PN-15 (58.11%) 49.
Neuropharmacological studies: The ethyl acetate and methanol extract of the whole plant of A. mexicana was reported for analgesic activity, locomotor activity and muscle relaxant activity using Wistar albino mice at an oral dosage of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. Both extracts showed significant activities but methanol extract at a dosage of 200 mg/kg body weight was found to be more potent for central nervous system activities such as analgesic, anxiolytic and sedative effects 50.
CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the plant A. mexicana is a valuable medicinal herb based on its numerous therapeutic properties in traditional medicinal system. Further, scientific investigations proved its pharmacological efficacy. This plant gives a hope to the pharmacologists to develop new drugs with no side effects. Moreover, steps should be undertaken for the conservation and proper utilization of A. mexicana plant.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Authors wish to express sincere gratitude to the Management and Staff of VIT University, Vellore, TN, India for supporting this study.
REFERENCES:
- Sathish Kumar SR, Priya CL and Bhaskara Rao KV: Phytochemical composition, antimicrobial and hemolytic activity of Solanum trilobatum Linn. Pharmacologyonline News letter 2010; 3: 1336-1341.
- Muhit MA, Apu AS, Islam MS and Ahmed M: Cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity of the crude extract of Abutilon Indicum. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research 2010; 2:1-4.
- Nagappa AN, Thakurdesai PA, Venkat R and Jiwan S: Antidiabetic activity of Terminalia catappa Linnfruits. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2003; 88: 45-50.
- Sarang B, Anpurna K, Beenish K and Kumar GV: Anti-arthritic activity of a biopolymeric fraction from Euphorbia tirucalli. Journal of Ethno Pharmacology 2007; 110: 92-98.
- Priya CL, Kumar G, Karthik L and Bhaskara Rao KV: Antioxidant activity of Achyranthes aspera Linn stem extracts. Pharmacologyonline 2010; 2:228-237.
- Priya CL, Kumar G, Karthik L and Bhaskara Rao KV: Phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of Achyranthes aspera Linn (Amaranthaceae) leaf extracts. Journal of Agricultural Technology 2012; 8: 143-156.
- Gupta R, Thakur B, Singh P, Singh HB, Sharma VD, Katoch VM and Chauhan SVS: Anti-tuberculosis activity of selected medicinal plants against multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates. Indian Journal of Medical Research 2010; 131:809-813.
- Kalimuthu P, Rajesh V, Kannan BR, Balamuguran TM and Chandrasekar: Antiulcer activity of Methanolic extract of Acalypha indica Linn. (Euphorbiaceae) by Pylorous Ligture and Swim Stress Induced Ulceration. Journal of Pharmacy Research 2010; 3:2779-2783.
- Reddy JS, Rao PR, Reddy MS: Wound healing effects of Heliotropium indicum, Plumbago zeylanicum and Acalypha indica in rats. Journal of Ethanopharmacology 2002; 79:249-251.
- Khare CP:Indian medicinal plants- An illustrated Dictionary. Springer science, Business media ILC, First Edition 2007.
- Siddiqui IA, Shaukat SS, Khan GH and Zaki MJ: Evaluation of Argemone mexicana for control of root-infecting fungi in potato. Journal of Phytopathology 2002; 150:321-329.
- Chopra RN, Chopra IC: Chopra’s Indegenous drugs of India, Bimal Kumar Dhur of Academic publishers, 1933.
- Alagesaboopathi C: Ethnomedicinal plants and their utilization by villagers in Kumaragiri hills of Salem district of Tamil Nadu, India. African Journal of Traditional Complementary and Alternative medicines 2009; 6:222-227.
- Pullaiah T: Medicinal plants in Andhra Pradesh, India, Regency Publications, New Delhi, 1995.
- Sambamurthy AVSS: Taxonomy of Angiosperms, I. K. International Pvt Ltd, 2005.
- Millspaugh CF: American medicinal plants, Dover Publications Inc, 1975.
- Chopra RN, Nayar SL and Chopra IC: Glossary of Indian Medicinal plants, Council of Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- Jyothi AC, Santosh JP and Ganes PB: Screening of aqueous plant extracts against Beauveria Bassiana infection to 5th instar larvae of Bombyx mori L. Journal of Medicinal plants Research 2011;5:3936-3939.
- Osho A, Adentunji T: Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Argemone mexicana Linn. Journal of Medicinal plant Research 2010; 4:19-22.
- Ganesan G: Traditional oral care medicinal plants survey of Tamil Nadu. Natural product Radiance 2008; 7:166-172.
- Chaudhari Rai HN, Pal DC and Tarafdar CR: Less Known uses of some plants from the tribal areas of Orissa. Bull botanical survey of India 1985;17:132-136.
- Kala CP: Ethnomedicinal botany of the Apatani in the Eastern Himalayan region of India. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2005; 1:11.
- Katewa BL, Chaudary and Jain A: Folk herbal medicines from tribal area of Rajasthan, India. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2004; 92:41-46.
- Hussain SF, Nakkady S, Khan L and Shamma M: Oxyhydrastinine, an isoquinoline alkaloid from the Papaveraceae. Phytochemistry 1983; 22: 319 – 320.
- Nakkady S and Shamma M: Studies on the chemical constituents of Argemone mexicana. Egypt. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 1988; 29: 53 – 61.
- Dinda B and Bandyopadhyay MJ: Free amino acids of Argemone mexicana. Journal of Indian Chemical Society 1986; 63: 934 – 936.
- Harborne JB and Williams CA: Flavonoids in the seeds of Argemone mexicana: A reappraisal. Phytochemistry 1983; 22: 1520 – 1521.
- Gunstone FD, Holliday JA and Scrimgeour CM: The long-chain oxo acids (argemonic acids) in Argemone mexicana seed oil. Chemistry and Physics of Lipids 1977; 4: 331 – 335.
- Israilov IA and Yunusov MS: Alkaloids of four species of Argemone. Chemistry of Natural compounds 1986; 22:189-192.
- Santos AC and Adkilen P: The alkaloids of Argemone mexicana. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1932; 54: 2923.
- Yu B T and Muraveva DA: Isolation and determination of the alkaloids of Argemone mexicana grown in different geographic regions. Rast Resur 1973; 9:200.
- Haisova K Y and Savik J: On the minor alkaloids from Argemone mexicana. Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications 1975; 40:1576.
- Chang YC, Chang FR, Ashraf TK, Hsieh PW and Wu YC: Cytotoxic Benzophenanthridine and Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids from Argemone Mexicana. Z. Naturforsch 2003; 58: 521 – 526.
- Kenneth W and Bentley: β - Phenylethylamines and the isoquinoline alkaloids. Natural Product Reports 2001; 18: 148–170.
- Mukherjee A and Namhata D: Medicinal plantlore of the tribals of Sundargarh District, Orissa. Ethnobotany 1990; 2:57-60.
- Bhattacharjee I, Chattarjee SK, Chattarjee K and Chandra G: Antibacterial potentiality of Argemone mexicana solvent extracts against some pathogenic bacteria. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2006;101:645-648.
- Sigh SK, Dharpandey V, Aradaha Sigh and Singh C: Antibacterial activity of seed extracts of Argemone mexicana L. on some pathogenic bacterial strains. African Journal of Biotechnology 2009; 8:7077-7081.
- Bhattacharjee I, Chattarjee SK and Chandra G: Isolation and identification of antibacterial components in seed extracts of Argemone mexicana L. (Papaveraceae), Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical medicine 2010; 3:547-551.
- Shahedur Rahman Md, Faizus salehin Md, Parvin A and Alam K: Antibacterial activity of Argemone mexicana L against water borne microbes. Research journal of medicinal plant 2011; 5:621-626.
- Nayak P, Kar DM and Maharana L: Antidiabetic activity of aerial parts of Argemone mexicana linn. in alloxan induced hyperglycaemic rats. Pharmacologyonline1 2011; 1:889-903.
- Rout SP, Kar DM and Mandal PK: Hypoglycaemic activity of aerial parts of Argemone mexicana l in experimental rat models. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical sciences 2011; 3:533-540.
- Perumal P, Sekar V, Rajesh V, Gandhimathi S, Kumar RS and Nazimudin KHS: In vitro Antioxidant Activity of Argemone mexicana Roots. International Journal of PharmTech Research 2010; 2:1477-1482.
- Bhardwaj M, Surekha and Duhan JS: Free radical-scavenging and antimutagenic potential of acetone, chloroform and methanol extracts of leaf of Argemone mexicana, International Journal of Pharma and Biosciences 2011; 2:455-464.
- Dash GK and Murthy PN: Evaluation of Argemone mexicana Linn. leaves for wound healing activity.Journal of Natural Product Plant Resources 2011; 1:46-56.
- Majeed A, Taju G, Nathiga Nambi KS and Menaka H: Anthelmintic activity of Argemone mexicana leaves extract against Pheretima prosthuma and Ascardia galli. Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences 2011; 2:773-777.
- Sakthivadivel M and Thilagavathy D: Larvicidal and chemosterilant activity of the acetone fraction of petroleum ether extract from Argemone mexicana L. seed. Bioresource Technology 2003; 89:213-216.
- Willcox ML, Graz B and Falquet J: Argemone mexicana decoction for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparummalaria. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2007; 101: 1190–1198.
- Das PK, Sethi R, Panda P and Pani SR: Hepatoprotective activity of plant Argemone mexicana (linn) against carbon tetrachloride (ccl4) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development 2009; 8:1-20.
- Gacche RN , Shaikh RU and Pund MM: In vitro evaluation of anticancer and antimicrobial activity of selected medicinal plants from Ayurveda, Asian Journal of Traditional Medicines 2011; 6:127-133.
- Amartha S and Chaudhari S: Neuropharmacological study of Argemone mexicana Linn. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2011; 1:121-126.
How to cite this article:
Priya CL and Rao KVB: Ethanobotanical and Current Ethanopharmacological Aspects of Argemone Mexicana Linn: An Overview. Int J Pharm Sci Res, 2012; Vol. 3(7): 2143-2148.
Article Information
36
2143-2148
547KB
1542
English
IJPSR
Charles Lekhya Priya and Kokati Venkata Bhaskara Rao*
Molecular and Microbiology Research Lab., Environmental Biotechnology Division, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore-632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
07 March, 2012
17 April, 2012
22 June, 2012
http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.3(7).2143-48
01 July 2012