Pluchea lanceolata (Rasana): Chemical and biological potential of Rasayana herb used in traditional system of medicine☆
Graphical abstract
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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Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, an eminent scientist contributed greatly in various aspects of natural products. The idea of exploring the medicinal plants as a novel source of new chemical entities (NCEs) for drug discovery programme has been executed excellently by his group. His research practices have largely been utilised by scientists to validate the folklore and traditional medicines. He is not only good teacher of organic chemistry but also visionary of spectroscopic techniques. Worldwide numbers of scholars have been benefitted by his research practices, publications and books.