INTRODUCTION:
Among the ancient civilizations, India has been known to be a rich repository of medicinal plants. The forest in India is the principal repository of large number of medicinal and aromatic plants, which are collected as raw materials for the manufacture of drugs and perfumery products. About 8000 herbal remedies have been codified in AYUSH systems in India. Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Folk (Tribal) medicines are the major systems of indigenous medicines in India.
From Rig Veda (5600 BC) period in India, medicinal plants were tremendously used to treat various diseases. Among 2,50,000 higher plants, 80000 above plants have medicinal value. Tribal peoples developed a well-defined herbal pharmacopeias based upon the collective information on the herbs1.
About 80% of the world’s population depends wholly or partially on traditional medicine for their health care needs. In the traditional system of medicines, herbal medicines have been used for major remedy and have a great contribution to human health2.
Plants have various enriched nutrients having positive physiological effects to the human body. They are coined as nutraceuticals, which play a significant role in future therapeutic development3.
Many medicinal plants were evaluated for various pharmacological studies to prove their effects. In this review article a well known plant Barleria cristata was selected to review its phytochemical and pharmacological activity inorder to explore its potency to this world for further research. This may be useful to the scientists, research scholars, health professionals and students working related to phytochemical and pharmacological activities from medicinal plants showing the importance of phytochemical constituents and the activities of Barleria cristata. This review article explained the evidence-based information regarding phytochemistry and pharmacological activities4. This review also covers the description of the plants and the ethanomedicnal uses of this plant.
Barleria cristata:
|
Botanical name |
: |
Barleria cristata Linn. |
|
Family |
: |
Acanthaceae |
|
Synonyms |
: |
Barleria alba, Barleria indica, Barleria napalensis |
|
Common name |
: |
Phillipine violet, Bluebell Barleria, Crested bluebell Barleria. |
|
Tamil name |
: |
Nilamuli, Semmuli |
|
Plant type |
: |
Perennial, herbaceous |
Acanthaceae is a family of flowering plants comprising about 220 genera and about 4000 species. Barleria is a large polymorphic wide spread genus of herbs, shrubs and rarely climbers. The genus Barleria is distinguished from other genera in Acanthaceae by the following features5.
· Honey-combed pollen.
· Presence of a four-merous calyx with two large outer sepals and two smaller inner ones.
· Presence of epidermal cells with calcium oxalate crystals as double cystoliths.
Barleria cristata is a perennial subshrub to 2 m tall. Stems are branched and leaves are covered with trichomes. Leaves have decurrent petiole, pinnate venation, lanceolate, spinescent margin and end with acute or acuminate apex. Inflorescences are axillar, pedunculate having dense short cymes, bracts absent, bracteoles variable. Corolla is a purplish blue tube which is cylindrically narrow at base and widened gradually. Ovary is oblong somewhat ellipsoidal. Style is linear, glabrous, inflated stigma and capsules containing four seeds which is sub-globose to ovoid in shape6, 7.
TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION8.
|
Domain |
: |
Eukaryote |
|
Kingdom |
: |
Plantae |
|
Phylum |
: |
Spermatophyte |
|
Subphylum |
: |
Angiospermae |
|
Class |
: |
Dicotyledonae |
|
Order |
: |
Scrophulariales |
|
Family |
: |
Acanthaceae |
|
Genus |
: |
Barleria |
|
Species |
: |
cristata |
Distribution and Habitat:
Barleria cristata Linn. is a shrub native to India and southeast Asia. It is found widely in subtropical Himalayas, Sikkim, Khasi hills, Central and Southern India at a height of 1,350 m.
Barleria cristata can be found growing along road sides, slopes, streams and xeric vegetation at elevation below 100 meters upto 2600 meters. It was also been grown as ornamental plant in gardens and can be found naturalized in ruderal sides and semi-natural habitat in dry and wet regions9,10.
Ethnomedicinal uses:
It serves the variety of traditional purpose and properties. The whole or a specific part (Leaf, Stem, Root, Bark and Flowers) have been used for the treatment of cough, ulcer, inflammation, urinary infection, glandular swellings, jaundice, fever, hepatic obstruction, stomach disorders and the paste of roots is applied to boils and glandular swellings. Whole plant juice is used for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, fever, snakebite, tuberculosis, flatulence, bronchitis, asthma, cough, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, antifungal, wounds, burns, gingivitis, nocturnal ejaculation. It is considered as a highly valued medicinal plant especially for the treatment of respiratory diseases like asthma, cough, bronchitis and tuberculosis6.
Phytochemical studies:
The phytochemical studies includes qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytoconstituents, isolation and characterization of phytochemical constituents present in the various parts of the plants11. Glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenols, saponins, flavonoids and sterols are characteristic secondary metabolities of some medicinal plants12. The phytochemicals present in a plant are responsible for medicinal properties, serving the potential source of nutraceuticals.
The phytochemical screening of Barleria.cristata revealed the presence of alkaloids, proteins, carbohydrates, flavanoids, phytosterols, tannins, terpenes, steroids, phenols and amino acids. Most of the phytochemiclas were found to be present in ethanol extract of Barleria.cristata which is more effective when compared to the aqueous extract. Estimation of total phenolic content was determined with Folin-ciocalteu reagent by the method developed by Habertson and Spayd13.
Ei-Mawla et al isolated the three important phenylethanoid glycosides, [(3’, 4’-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4’-O-caffeoyl)-D-glucoside (desrhamnosylacteoside), [(3’, 4’-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-3”, 6”-O-L-dirhamnosyl)-4”-O-caffeoyl)-D-glucoside (Poliumoside), [(3’, 4’-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-(3”, 6”-O-L-dirhamnosyl)-4”-O-caffeoyl)-D-glucoside (Acteoside)14. The structure of these compounds was studied by UV, 1D- NMR, 2D-NMR and ESIMS. The quantification of these compounds was done by HPLC methods.
Phytochemical investigation of organic solvent extracts of Barleria cristata was performed. Column chromatography was carried out using silica gel. It was eluted by different solvents in their increasing order of their polarity. TLC was performed for all collected fractions and the fractions showing similar chromatograms were combined. Purification is done by fractional crystallization. 4-hydroxy transcinnamate and a triterpene namely oleanolic acid was isolated and characterized by the spectroscopic methods15.
Two flavonoids (luetoline and 7-methoxy luetoline), two iridoidal glycosides (barlerin and schanshiside methyl ester) and two phenolic compounds (p-coumaric acid and α-tocopherol) was isolated from the leaves of Barleria cristata. The structure was established by spectral analysis16. This was the first report for the isolation of these compounds.
Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening and HPTLC analysis of various extracts of Barleria cristata leaves was performed. The preliminary screening showed the presence of phytoconstituents carbohydrates, aminoacids, steroids, saponins, flavonoids, proteins, tannins, terpenoids and phenolic compounds. HPTLC analysis showed the presence of quercetin and alkaloids17.
Pharmacological activity:
Anti Oxidant activity:
Oxidation is essential to living organisms for the production of energy to provide fuel during the biological processes. However oxygen centered free radicals and Reactive oxygen species (ROS) like superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide results in cell death and tissue damage leads to many human diseases such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, liver damage, cardiovascular disorders, neurological disorder and in the process of aging. A potent scavenger of these free radicals may serve as a possible preventive intervention of free radical-mediated diseases18. Barleria cristata was having such scavenging property.
In vivo anti oxidant study:
This study was carried out with ethanol extract of Barleria cristata tested on Wistar albino rats. The toxic group had increased the lipid peroxidation and reduced the catalase and SOD levels. But the silymarin treated standard animals increased the catalase and SOD levels along with decrease lipid peroxidation. The 250 mg/Kg and 500 mg/kg dose levels of the extracts showed significant anti-oxidant activity19.
In vitro anti oxidant study:
Vasanth et al evaluated in vitro anti oxidant activity by DPPH and ferric reducing antioxidant (FRAP). The ethanol and petroleum extracts of the leaves of Barleria cristata was subjected to this study. In the DPPH method Butylated hydroxytoluene was used as control. The maximum activity was observed in ethanol leaf extract. Ferric reducing antioxidant activity of ethanol extract was shown more ferric reducing inhibition activity when compared to petroleum ether extract of Barleria cristata20.
In vitro antioxidant study was studied by DPPH radical scavenging assay. 1 mm DPPH solution in methanol was added to various concentration of Barleria cristata extract (62.5, 125, 250, 500 and 1000µg/ml) followed by incubation in dark for 30 minutes at room temperature. The intensity of yellow colour chromophore formed was measured at 517 nm. Barleria cristata extracts changes from deep purple to yellow encountering to the effect of anti- oxidant activity and the nature of radical scavengers present21.
In vitro antioxidant study was calculated using the formula as below
(Acontrol – Asample)
% DPPH Scavenging = ––––––––––––––––––– x 100
Acontrol
Doss DVA et al studied the preliminary phytochemical screening and quantitative determination of secondary metabolites, vitamin content and in vitro anti oxidant activity. Flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and phenols was present in the ethanol and aqueous extracts of Barleria cristata22.
Anti-microbial activity:
Baskar S et al determined anti microbial activity using disk diffusion method. Barleria cristata test extracts are evaluated against five gram positive organisms, eight gram negative organisms and three fungi. The results are compared with a standard antibiotic namely ciprofloxacin. Among the extracts only the chloroform solube fraction showed the anti-microbial activity with zone of inhibition ranging from 7.0 to 26.0 mm. The highest zone of inhibition (26.0 mm) was shown against Staphylococcus aureus23.
Anti-Bacterial Activity:
Bacteria have the genetic capacity to transmit and develop resistant from drugs. The effectiveness duration of antibiotic is limited and there is a need to develop a new antibiotic against the resistant metabolites. Hence, many medicinal plants have been evaluated and proved for antibacterial activity24.
The antibacterial activity was investigated by Sulthana using the leaf extract of Barleria cristata. This study demonstrated that aqueous and methanolic extract of Barleria cristata was active against gram negative E.coli and Gram Positive Streptococcus. The values of MIC (Minimum inhibitory concentration) indicates that very small amount of the extracts was required to inhibit the growth of bacteria, thus proving the potent activity of Barleria cristata against bacteria25.
Hepato-Protective activity:
Shamin et al studied about the ethanol and water extract
of aerial parts of Barleria cristata Linn. The study has been
investigated for hepato-protective activity in acute and chronic animal test
models. Silymarin was used as reference substance. The extract showed a
significant hepatoprotection against Paracetomol, Galactosamine and carbon tetrachloride
induced hepatotoxicity. This was a safety evaluation study as no signs of
mortality and abnormality observed for 15 days after single dose. Oral 
was found to be 3000 mg/kg whereas intra-peritonial
LD50 was found to be 2530 mg/kg. This study revealed that the Hepato
protective potential of Barleria cristata as revealed maturity of the
Hepatic Parameter in experimental liver damage in Rodents13.
Anti-diabetic activity:
The two important carbohydrate hydrolyzing key enzymes α-amylase and α-glycosidase play an important role in maintaining postprandial glucose level and act as potent anti diabetic medication. The conventional inhibitors of these enzymes also produce side effects26. Hence, now a days there is a need of medication without any side effects to control blood glucose level.
The alcoholic extract of dried seeds of Barleria cristata were subjected for hypoglycemic activity in Wistar rats. Blood sugar level was determined using digital glucometer. The oral administration of seed extracts at doses of 200mg/kg for 7 days reduced the blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. This laid a traditional claim with regards to Barleria cristata seeds for its anti-diabetic activity.27.
Wound-healing activity:
The ointment obtained from crude extract of Barleria cristata significantly stimulated wound contraction, decreased the epithelisation period along with a decreased scar area, when compared to control group. Soframycin was used as a standard drug and the study was done for upto 16 days13.
Anti-inflammatory activity
For evaluating anti-inflammatory activity different models like carageenan induced paw edema, cotton pellet granuloma, grass pith granuloma were followed28.
Anthelmintic activity of leaves of drug and distilled water was used as control:
Buttle et al developed an apparatus for the measurement of rat paw volume and latter modified by Singh and Gosh. This study employed carrageenan induced hind paw edema method. Standard and test drugs are administered 1 hour prior to induction of edema. The volume of injected paw was determined by digital vernier caliper immediately after carrageenan injection and again at the interval of 0, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes and 24 hours readings of the paw volumes are noted. The results demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory properties were mediated by the inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase enzyme29.
Thrombolytic activity:
This study was performed with streptokinase as
positive control and water as negative control. This assay reported that
aqueous soluble fraction exhibited 45.0 
0.22 % of clot lysis13.
Brine –shrimp lethality assay:
This assay is a widely used method to screen bioactive compounds from medicinal plants which are aimed for cancer treatment. This assay was done according to standard protocols. For this, the brine-shrimp cysts were incubated at 28±2˚c for 48 hours under constant aeration. On the third day, 20 larvae were added into vials and marked as negative control, positive control and samples respectively. The volume was adjusted to 10 ml after addition of brine and incubated for 24 hours with doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 µg/ml of sample i.e. the extracts are dissolved in ethanol. Motility of the larvae was observed at 1hour interval upto 4 hours. After 24 hours, the final count of live larvae in each vial was taken and the percentage of inhibition was calculated by comparing the treated samples with the control. The results showed highest activity (94 % and 83%) in methanolic extract of leaf and bark respectively30. Lethality was calculated by using the following formula
(live larvae in control – live larvae in sample)
% Inhibition = –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––x 100
live larvae in control
CONCLUSION:
The present review showed the information regarding phytochemistry, pharmacology and ethanomedicinal uses of Barleria cristata. It is used in traditional and folk medicine for the treatment of cough, ulcer, inflammation, urinary infection, glandular swellings, jaundice, fever, hepatic obstruction, stomach disorders, glandular swellings, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases like asthma, cough, bronchitis and tuberculosis. This medicinal plant showed various pharmacological activities like antioxidants, antibacterial, anti diabetic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, thrombolytic, wound healing, antimicrobial and anti inflammatory. The literature search revealed the presence of phytoconsttuents like alkaloids, proteins, carbohydrates, flavanoids, phytosterols, tannins, terpenes, steroids, phenols and amino acids in different parts of the plant. The isolation of compounds showed the presence of glycosides, flavonoids and triterpenoids. These compounds exhibit pharmacological activity. This review of medicinal plant Barleria cristata may be useful to the scientists, research scholars, health professionals and students working related to phytochemical and pharmacological activities to develop scientific evidence of this plant. Hence, the scientific evidence of this plant may have a greater use and the usage can be increased globally due to the efficacy, safety and non-toxic.
REFERENCES:
1. Kumudhaveni B, Radha R. Anti-diabetic potential of a traditional polyherbal formulation – A review. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2017; 10(6):1865-9.
2. Lokhande VY, Yadav AV. In vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of supercritical fluid extract of leaves Ocimum sanctum L. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology 2018; 11 (12):5376-8.
3. Vipul S, Sangeeta M, Kumar KS. Nutraceuticals: A new golden era in health and disease. Asian Journal of Research in Chemistry 2018; 11(3):652-8.
4. Anupam M, Subash VC, Vijay G et al. Angelica archangelica L. – A phytochemical and pharmacological review. Asian Journal of Research in Chemistry. 2017; 10(6):852-6.
5. Studies on Ecbolium viride (Forssk), Alston chapter 1; Collection and documentation of medicinal properties of Acanthaceae plants.
6. Kirthikar KR, Basu BD. Indian Medicinal Plants; Jayyed Press, Delhi; 1975; 2nd edition:1870.
7. The Wealth of India – A Dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. Vol. I. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Delhi, India:1948.
8. Edward F, Gilman, Linda Landrum. Barleria cristata Fact sheet FPS-60, Environmental Horticulture Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural sciences, University of Florida, Oct 1999.
9. Pacific islands Ecosystems at risks /http://www.hear.org/pier/plants/Barleria cristata.html
10. Medicinal plants Database of Bangladesh /http://www.mpbd.info/plants/Barleriacristata.php.
11. Muthumani P, Meera R, Sundaraganapathy et al. Phytochemical investigation and determination of crude alkaloidal content (solasodine) in dried and fresh fruits of Lawsonia inermis. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology 2010; 3(3):736-9.
12. Venu S. A mini review on medicinally important plant Lippia nodiflora. Asian Journal of Research in Chemistry. 2018; 11(1):176-8.
13. Sharmin T, Ahmed S, Islam F. Biological activities of Barleria cristata. International Journal of Research in Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics. 2013; 2(2):367-71.
14. Ei-Mawla A, Ahmed AS, Ibraheim ZZ et al. Phenylethanoid glycosides from Barleria cristata L. callus cultures. Bulletin of Pharmaceutical Sciences - Assiut University.2005:28(2)199-204.
15. Chowdhury N, Hassan AAI, Tareq FS et al. Isolation of 4-hydroxy tnscinnamate derivatives and triterpenes from Barleria cristata. Dhaka University Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2013; 12(2): 143-5.
16. Hemaltha K, Hareeka N, Sunitha D. Chemical constituents isolated from leaves of Barleria cristata Linn. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences. 2012; 3(1):609-15.
17. Narmadha R, Devaki K. Barleria cristata Linn: Phytochemical screening and HPTLC analysis. International Research Journal of Pharmacy 2012; 3(7): 301-7.
18. Raj AJ, Dorairaj S.. Phytochemical screening and in-vitro antioxidant activity of Cissus quadrangularis. Asian Journal of Research in Chemistry. 2010; 3(4):876-8.
19. Finnie et al. Anti-oxidant and phytochemical properties of Barleria species. South African Journal of Botany, 2011.
20. Vasanth S, Bupesh G, Vijayakumar TS et al. Evaluation of In vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Barleria cristata leaves extracts. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research 2018; 11(4)287-90.
21. Mukul pathy et al. Comparative analysis of phytochemical, cytotoxic and anti-oxidant activity in leaf and bark extract of Barleria cristata, European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research. 2015; 2(3):586-93.
22. Doss DVA and Amutha K. In vitro anti-oxidant activity of ethanolic extract of Barleria cristata L. leaves. Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2009; 1(3):209-12.
23. Baskar S et al. Phytochemical, trace metal assessment and microbial efficiency of Barleria cristata. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research.2015; 5(10).
24. Belmaghraoui W, Manni A, Harir M et al. Phenolic compounds quantification, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of different parts of Urtica dioica and Chenopodium murale. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology 2018; 11(12):5490-6.
25. Sulthana BS. Investigation of anti-bacterial activity of different extracts of Barleria cristata leaves. International Journal of Health Sciences and Resarch. 2017; 7(9):90-5.
26. Chandrawanshi NK, Tandia DK, Jadhav SK. Determination of antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of polar solvent extracts of Daedaleopsis confragosa (Bolton) J. Schrot. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology 2018; 11(12):5623-30.
27. Ranjith singh et al. Anti diabetic activity of ethanolic extract of Barleria cristata seeds. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Oct.2012; 3(10):2044-7.
28. Chander H, Parveen K, Dheeraj R et al. Evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of bark of Neolamackia cadamba in rodents. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology 2010; 3(4):1178-84.
29. Gambhire M N et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of Barleria cristata leaves. Pharmacognosy 2009; 1:220-24.
30. Meyer B N et al. Brine shrimp lethality assay of Barleria cristata. Planta Medica. 1982; 45:31-2.
Received on 07.07.2019 Modified on 12.08.2019
Accepted on 16.09.2019 © RJPT All right reserved
Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2020; 13(2):999-1003.
DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2020.00185.7