Elsevier

Fitoterapia

Volume 83, Issue 8, December 2012, Pages 1371-1385
Fitoterapia

Pluchea lanceolata (Rasana): Chemical and biological potential of Rasayana herb used in traditional system of medicine

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2012.07.008Get rights and content

Abstract

Pluchea lanceolata (DC.) Oliv. & Hiern, (Family: Asteraceae) is a rapidly spreading perennial herb, considered valuable for the management of anti-inflammatory disease. Scientific reports dealing with phytochemical and pharmacological research and its traditional have been reviewed. Reports have also suggested that its prominent constituents viz. triterpenoids, sterols, flavonoids and lactones originate from this plant arbitrate their effects by modulating several therapeutic targets.Out of about 80 species of Pluchea, some of them are on extinct and only 16 have traditional uses in several countries of Asian, Middle East and North American region. The present review covers the period 1935–2011.

Introduction

Rasana (Pluchea lanceolata) is a Sanskrit word means ‘a plant having tongue (Rasana) shaped leaves’ or the plant which increases ‘Rasa’ i.e. all nutritive tissues [1]. It occurs gregariously in vast areas in dried tracks forming thickets and is considered a troublesome weed in agricultural practices. In Asian systems of medicines i.e., Ayurveda Siddha and Unani, it is an important medicinal plant. Indian indigenous system of medicine i.e. Ayurveda, it is considered as ‘Vata-samanam’ (diseases involving nervous system) ‘Rasayana’ (herb for rejuvenation). Its use has been described as an antipyretic, analgesic, laxative, nervine tonic and uterine relaxant [2], [3], [4]. It is recommended for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis allied disorders, diseases of the abdomen, dyspepsia and bronchitis [5], [6]. In this review, existing information of 76 years (1935–2011) on the phytochemicals, biological and pharmacological activities attributed to P. lanceolata, including anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritis, anticancer, muscle relaxant, CNS stimulant, anti-implantation, as well as immunosuppressant, contraceptive, and toxicological effects and their use in traditional system are critically evaluated.

Section snippets

Pluchea genus — an overview

The genus Pluchea in the Asteraceae is composed of about eighty species distributed worldwide some of them are on extinct. Only sixteen species have traditional uses in several countries of Asian, Middle East and North American region. Among them, only P. lanceolata is extensively used in traditional system of India. Other than P. lanceolata four species namely P. indica, P. sagittalis, P. carolinensis and P. odorata are also being used in folklore medicines. Further, research on these species

Classification of P. lanceolata based on Ayurvedic principles

According to principles of Ayurveda, P. lanceolata have the following properties:

Rasa (taste):Tikta (bitter)
Guna (characteristics):Guru (heavy)
Veerya (potency):Ushna (warm)
Vipaka (post digestion effect):Katu (pungent)
Prabhava (therapeutic action):Vishaghna (very good anti toxic herb)

Folklore/ethnic uses of P. lanceolata

The plant is succulent when young, with sufficient foliage, and on this account, it has been tried as possible cattle fodder. Though it has fairly high percentage of protein and a much greater feeding value than wheat straw or sorghum stalks. However, cattle avoid it when grazing, because of its peculiar disagreeable bitter taste. The decoction of whole plant has been used to prevent swelling of joints in arthritis [73]. A multi herbo-mineral formulation developed by saint named Suryaprabha

Pharmacological studies on extracts

Initially P. lanceolata was mentioned as antiarthritic, anti-inflammatory drug [76], but further studies also showed that it also possesses good analgesic, laxative and anti-pyretic activities [72]. Different pharmacological actions and their effects are summarized in Table 3.

Phytoconstituents isolated from P. lanceolata and their pharmacological activities

Many useful phytoconstituents have been isolated from P. lanceolata in which triterpenoids are mainly responsible for anti-inflammatory properties (Table 4).

Gap in the current knowledge on P. lanceolata

The present study reveals that a comprehensive investigation on phytochemical profile and pharmacological action of P. lanceolata have been done, which shows the utility of this plant in ancient and traditional medicine system of India. Several pharmacological activities have been reported. Limited efforts were done, to characterize phytomolecules responsible for specific biological activity yet to be assigned. In holistic approach, if we consider that in herbal medicine biological activity

Conclusion

Traditional usage in Indian system of medicine and ethnopharmacological point of view, P. lanceolata would be worthwhile to investigate the biochemical and physiological mechanisms involved in the different biological properties particularly, inflammation and arthritis. Neither plant specific chemical marker for quality assurance nor biological activity specific compounds for bio-efficacy of this plant is reported so far. This may be the reason for non-availability of information on secondary

Acknowledgement

One of the authors (PS) is thankful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi for providing Senior Research Fellowship. The authors are grateful to Professor Ram Rajasekharan, Director, CIMAP, and Dr. MM Gupta, Head, Analytical Chemistry Department for their helpful discussions and kind support.

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