Review Article
SpatulaDD.2015;5(3):133-138
Bio-efficacy and Phyto-Pharmacological Activities of
Aristolochia Indica
Aristolochia Indica’nın biyoetkinliği ve fitofarmakolojik
aktivitesi
Sandeep V. Binorkar1, Gajanan R. Parlikar2, Anand B. Kulkarni3
1
Dept. of Agadatantra, Govt. Ayurveda College, Vazirabad, Nanded, Maharashtra state, India
2
Ayurveda Extension Officer, Zilla Parishad, Sangli, India
3
Dept. of Agadatantra, Bharatiya Sanskriti Darshan Trust’s Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya & Research Centre,
Vishwa shanti dham, Wagholi, Tal. Haveli
ABSTRACT
Aristolochia indica is a plant genus of the family Aristolochiaceae. The therapeutic value of A. indica has been recognized in different
system of traditional medicine including Ayurveda for the treatment of various ailments. A number of Aristolochia species have been used
in herbal medicines throughout the world as anti-inflammatory agents for gout, Scorpion stings, arthritis, rheumatism and chronic
inflammatory skin diseases. It is also known for the treatment of snakebites. Present article represents the systematic review which was
conducted with an objective to search, explore & compile various studies conducted on bio-active compounds isolated from the plant A.
indica in respect to its taxonomy, morphology, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Published literature on recent development in researches
related to A. indica by scholars in Central Database of Pubmed, various national & international indexed journals including Monographs &
Pharmacopeia were reviewed. A. indica one of the most important medicinal herbs used in medication of complementary & alternative
medicines because of having a number of pharmacological & Therapeutic properties.
Keywords:Aristolochia indica; Ayurveda; Aristolochic acid.
ÖZET
Aristolochia indica,Aristolochiaceae ailesine ait bir bitki türüdür.Ayurveda dahil geleneksel tıbbın bir çok alanında çeşitli rahatsızlıkların
tedavisinde kullanılmaktadır.Aristolochia türlerinin bir kısmı antiinflamatuar ajan olarak gut, akrep sokması, artrit, romatizmal hastalıklar
ve kronik inflamatuar deri hastalıklarında bitkisel tedavi edici ajan olarak kullanılmaktadır. Ayrıca, yılan ısırmalarındada kullanılmaktadır.
Bu makale, bitkiden izole edilen biyoaktif ajanların kullanıldığı çeşitli çalışmaların incelendiği sistematik bir derlemedir. A. indica’nın
sınıflandırılması, morfolojisi, kimyası ve farmakolojisi incelendi. Central Database of Pubmed’te yayınlanan A.indica ile ilgili yazılar ve
Monographs & Pharmacopeia gibi ulusal ve uluslararası indekslere giren dergiler bu derlemede kullanılmak üzere tarandı. A. indica çok
sayıda farmakolojik ve terapötik özelliklerinden dolayı tamamlayıcı&alternatif tıpta kullanılan çok önemli bir bitkisel ajandır.
Anahtar kelimeler:Aristolochia indica; Ayurveda; Aristolochic acid
CorrespondingAuthor:
Sandeep V Binorkar,
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Agadatantra, Govt. Ayurveda College,
Vazirabad, Nanded, Maharashtra state, India, Contact No. +91
8888622682
[email protected]
INTRODUCTION
Nature has bestowed humans and animals with
several plants containing number of alkaloids and
active principles which cure diseases & promote
health. Such medicinal plants are also rich sources to
develop potential secondary metabolites. This use of
medicinal plant to cure various ailments has been
raised from ancient times and transformed from
Spatula DD
ReceivedOctober 02, 2015; AcceptedNovember 24, 2015
DOI 10.5455/spatula.20151124064158
Published online in ScopeMed (www.scopemed.org).
Spatula DD..
generations to generation. In the past decades there is
increased attention and interest in use of herbal
medicines globally. [1] World Health Organization
has enumerated 21,000 plant species utilized around
the world for medicinal purpose. [2] In India about
2,500 plants species belongs to more than 1000
genera are being used in the indigenous system of
medicine. [3] It as accepted by World Health
Organization that 80% of the world population relies
133
Xxx
chiefly on traditional medicines involving the use of
plant extracts or their active constituents. [4] It has
been estimated that in developed countries like US,
plant drugs comprises as much as 25% of the total
drugs utilized by healthcare sector, while in fast
developing countries such as China and India, the
contribution is more than 80%. [5] Most of these
traditional, ethno-medicinal herbs are utilized without
any scientific validations. Therefore such treatments
require
thorough
scientific
investigations.
Aristolochia indica a one of such shrubs, perennial
herbs,
twining,
belongs
to
the
family
Aristolochiaceae. The Aristolochiales are a group of
paleoherbs, basal group flowering plants.[6] It is one
of the 500 species from the family, documented in
Ayurveda and Unani system of medicine as to possess
medicinal properties and is used to treat different
ailments including snake bites, scorpion stings and
envenomation by other poisonous insects. [7,8] It is
distributed throughout the tropical, subtropical and
Mediterranean countries. In India, plant is found in
low hills and planes of south india, west Bengal and
some part of north east. It is also available in Nepal,
Bangladesh and coromondal coast [9]
DISTRIBUTION
The species Aristolochia indica is widely
distributed in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
It is found all over the plains and low hilly part of
India especially in tropical and subtropical regions in
the low country part from west Bengal, Bihar, Orrisa,
Puri, Konkan and majority of districts of south India.
It is reported to be endangered species in northern part
of India including Gujarat and Rajasthan. [10]
MORPHOLOGY
It is a slender perennial twinning herb. It is semiwoody having swollen nodes on the stem.[13]
Leaves- Variable in size ranging from 3.5 to 1012.5 cm long, simple, alternate, linear oblong to
obovate –oblong or sub-panduri form. Undulate
margins, base cuneata, rounded, subtruncate or
subcordate in shape.[14]
Flowers: Flowering and fruiting of this climber
are found from the month of December to
February.[15] It is few-flowered axillary racemes;
bracts are small, ovate, acuminate, opposite the
pedicels; 4 cm long having a glabrum pale green
inflated [16] thickened above perianth greenish white,
Anthers 6 style 6- lobed, capsule 3.8 to 5cm long,
bent at a right angle and narrowed into a cylindric
tube.[17]
Seeds: Deltoid-ovate in shape, acute and flat [3]
Roots:Dried root of Aristolochia indica Lin is
about 10-25cm long and 1.5–6 cm in diameter,
cylindrical, tapers. Externaly it is grayish brown,
rough and longitudinally wrinkled and can be easily
broken. Inside are starchy, exhibiting alternately
greyish brown and whitish radial lines. It is extremely
bitter in taste.[18] Transverse section (T.S) of the root
showed circular outline with interrupted peripheral
cork cells, margin appearing irregular. It is
dicotyledonous structure with considerable secondary
growth. Cork possessed 7-9 layers of thin walled
cells. The vessels were found to be solitary, radially
aligned in the centre of the xylem strip. The outer
cortex was having 2-3 layers of thick-walled
parenchymatous cells consisting reddish brown
content.[18]
Table 1. Vernacular Name of Aristolochia indica [11,12]
Sr.
Language
No
1 Arabic
Name
Zaravande
2
Bengali
Isarmul
3
English
Indian Birthwort
4
Gujarati
5
Hindi
6
Kannada
Arkmula, Ruhimula
Isharmul, Hooka bel, Isharmul-ki-jar,
Isvarmul, Kiramar
Isvaberusa, Ishvari balli, Ishwari beru,
Gopala putti Thoppalu, Isaraber,
Kadula, Kodula, Nanjina baeru,
Sapshi, Thoppalu
Fig-1. Distribution of Aristolochia indica
134
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Binorkar, et al.
7
Malayalam:
8
Marathi
9
Persian
Eswaramullu, Garalavegam,
Iswaramuli, Perumarunna,
Garudakkoti, Careloe-vegon,
Carelvevegm, Ishvaramulla,
Garalavegam, Garudakkoti,
Ishvaramuri, Isvaramurri,
Kadalivegam, Karalakam, Karalayam,
Karalvekam, Karukappullu,
Katalivegam, Perumarunna,
Perunkilannu, Perunkilanu,
Perunkizhannu
Sapasan, Sampsun, Sapsanda, Sapus
13 Tibetan
Zaravande
Ahigandha, Arkamula, Ishvara,
Nakuli, Sunanda, Ahigandha,
Gandhanakuli, Garalika, Garudi, Hari,
Ishwari, Jovari, Karaleka,
Nakuleshtha, Rudrajata, Sunanda,
Sunandahari
Adagam, Isadesatti, Isura, Isuraver,
Karudakkodi, Perumarindu,
Adutheendapalai, Adagam,
Amutakkoti, Arumaruntu,
Arumaruntukkoti, Atakakkoti,
Atakam, Chakatikkoti,
Chalamiyakkoti, Chalamiyam,
Kutuvalli, Ikali, Ikkuramulli,
Isadesatti, Isura, Vallikkoti, Vallimoti,
Dulagovela, Eswaramulli,
Ettakalabanda, Govila, Isvaraveru,
Dulagovela, Errakalabanda, Govila,
Isvara ven, Nalla Ishwari, Nella
Ishvari
Na ku li dri z im po
14 Tulu
Isaraberu
10 Sanskrit
11 Tamil
12 Telugu
Chemical Constituents –
The major active principle of the root of
Aristolochia indica is aristolochic acid. [19] It also
contains essential oil having phenanthrene derivatives
like aritolic acid, alkaloid I- curine (aristolochine),
sesquiterpenoids
like
ishwarene,
ishwarone,
aristolochene,
ishwarol,
naphthoquinone
aristolindiquinone, steriods like Beta-sitosterol, sterol
glucoside and others like p-coumaric acid, d-camphor,
fixed oil having glycerides and sitosterol. It is having
12-nonacosinoic acid.[13,20] A new sesquiterpene
hydrocarbon (I) isolated and characterized as 5β-H,
7β, 10α-selina-4(14), II-diene [21]
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Fig-2. Parts of Aristolochia indica
Fig-3. Leaves and fruits of Aristolochia indica
135
Xxx
Fig-8. Aristolochic acid
Fig-4. Flowers of Aristolochia indica
Fig-9. Aristolactone
Fig-5. Seeds of Aristolochia ind
Fig-10. Ishwarol
Fig-6 & 7. T.S. of Root Portion [18]
136
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Binorkar, et al.
Fig-11.Ishwarane
Chemical constituent of stem oil of the plant
analysed by gas chromatography and gas
chromatography/mass spectroscopy helped to identify
total 15 compounds, the major constituents were
trans-pinocarveol (24.2%), a-pinene (16.4%) and
pinocarvone (14.2%) [9] Aristololactam N-β- Dglucoside (a phenanthrene derivative) and 3βhydroxy-stigmast-5-en-7-one
and
6β-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one (steroids) have been isolated.[22]
The roots also contain aristolindiquinone, aristolide,
2-hydroxy-1-methoxy-4Hdibenzo
quinolone-4,5(6H)-dione,
cephradione,
aristolactam
IIa,
stigmastenones II and III, methylaristolate, βsitosterol-β-D-glucoside aristolactam glycoside I,
ishwarol,
ishwarone,
methylaristolate
and
aristolochene. [3,23,24] Other components found in
A. indica include 12-nonacosenoic acid methyl ester,
aristolic acid, (12S)-7,12-secoishwaran-12-ol, (+)ledol, ishwarone, methyl aristolate, para-coumaric
acid, 5βH,7β,10α-selina-4(14),11-diene, isoishwarane,
aristolochic acids I, IVa, aristolochic acid IVa methyl
ether lactam and aristolactam β-D-glucoside. [25,26]
Ethnomedicinal Uses
Root is a tonic, stimulant and emmenagogue. It is
also used as an anti-arthritic. [27] Prescribed in pain
in abdomen and related bowel troubles of children. A.
indica is used as an abortifacient. [3] The root, stem
and leaves are the drug of choice for the treatment of
snake bite and scorpion- stings. [28][29][30][31][32]
Powdered root mixed with honey is used in the
treatment of cough, leprosy and ulcers. Powdered root
is consumed with water to alleviate fever. Crushed
seeds are mixed with water and applied locally to
reduce inflammation. Paste prepared from the leaves
is also utilized for purpose of alleviating scabies.[33]
Juice extracted from the whole plant is used to control
diarrhoea. Dried leaves consumed with lukewarm
water helps to treat anaemic patient. It also helps in
respiratory disorders. [34] The roots & stems of the
plant is reported to be used in pains, rheumatism.[35]
The plant is also used as an appetiser and aphrodisiac
and Tonic.[36][37][38][39] Leaf is antigonorrhoeic,
larvicidal and used in eczema on children’s leg and
ulcers. The plant is oxytocic. [40]
Antimicrobial activity of alcoholic extract of A.
indica Linn against various human pathogens
including Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis,
Staphylococcus aureus and fungal strains like
Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans etc have been
also reported. [41]
Toxicological Concerns
LD50 of A. indica is found to be 14.32 mg/kg in
mice for Aristolochic acid Methyl ester derivatives.
Where as in rats, the oral LD50 of aqueous solutions
of aristolochic acids is 203.4 mg/kg bw in males and
183.9 mg/kg bw in females. [42] Intravenous
administration is reported to be having LD50 as 82.5
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mg/kg bw and 74.0 mg/kg bw respectively.
Aristolochic acids are severely nephrotoxic in
humans. [14][43][44] It is also been shown to exert
potent mutagenic effects in bacterial and mammalian
cell systems and persuasive carcinogens in rats and
mice at low dose levels. [42][45]
DISCUSSION
Medicinal herbs are exhibiting a crucial role in
treating various disorders since time immemorial.
Several existing medicines are directly or indirectly
derived from higher plants. Therefore plant derived
drugs have an important place in both traditional and
modern medicine. A. indica is widely distributed all
over India and possesses extreme medicinal values in
Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and other traditional and
complementary medicines. Literature review shows
that the plan is having potential antimicrobial,
antifungal, anti ophidian, cytoprotective and wound
healing activity. Ayurveda comprises the holistic
approach where as reviewed experimental studies
focused on efficacy of isolated individual phytoconstituents. The plant has been used in morbidity of
Vata, Pitta & Kapha. It is used as an appetizer,
aphrodisiac & anthelmentic. [46] Though A. indica
has a number of pharmacologically active
components, very few works has been done so far
evaluating its efficacy on isolated compounds.
Despite of recorded nephrotoxic, anti-fertility and
anti-spermatogenic agent, the plant is also used as
anti-septic, anti-inflammatory, abortifacient and antiophdian drug. It is also found that Aristolochia indica
produce uricosuric effect. [47] Bioassay-guided
research including authentic clinical trials could be
able to reveal renewable and more persuasive
compounds and its efficacy in several ailments from
this species.
CONCLUSION
Even after remarkable advances in synthetic drugs
and contemporary medicine, a large number of
populations of the world are still using herbal drugs.
A. indica is one of the most important medicinal herbs
used in medication of complementary & alternative
medicines because of having a number of
pharmacological properties. The data obtained must
be subjected to further investigation for the validation
in support with auxiliary researches.
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