IJSER (ISSN 2229-5518) - Isolation, Characterization of Chemical Constituents and Validation of Herbal Potential of Folkloric Medicinal Plants Pisonia grandis R.Br. and Andrographis stenophylla C.B Clarke

Thesis Details

Author - G.POONGOTHAI

Chemistry/Phytochemistry

Country - India

Email -

adusks2@gmail.com

Department - Chemistry

University - Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women

Guide Name - SHUBASHINI KRISHNAN SRIPATHI

IJSER Edition 5/14/2021

INTRODUCTION

Two folkloric medicinal plants have been chosen for isolation and chemical characterization of their phytoconstituents, which area of work, is one major step towards chemical standardization of the plants. This being the prime focus of the study; herbal standardization strategies have also been applied to make it a wholesome record of validation of the folkloric use of the chosen plants. The plants chosen are: Plant I: Pisonia grandis R.Br. of plant family Nyctaginaceae Plant II: Andrographis stenophylla C.B Clarke of plant family Acanthaceae Both plants have been extensively used by local people and tribal folk as anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory agents. Pisonia grandis R.Br. is a flowering plant of the four O’clock family Nyctaginaceae and commonly called lettuce tree. It is native to the Seychelles as well as other tropical areas of the world, especially the Indo-pacific islands. Andrographis stenophylla C.B Clarke is a medicinal plant of the Acanthaceae family. It is a rare and little known endemic species of India. Tribes belonging to a local area named Marudhamalai call this plant “malaichiriyanagai” and claim that the leaves of this plant are potentially effective in the treatment of chronic fever, diabetes, wounds, ulcers, inflammations, cough, skin diseases and leprosy. Plants Chosen for the Study - The Rationale There are only few reports on the chemical investigation of the leaves of the plant. As early as 1990, Natarajan et al. reported the presence of bio-active metabolites β-sitosterol, α-spinosterol, dulcitol, β-sitosterol glucoside, octacosanol and quercetin from the leaves of this plant. The first report of the isolation of highly valuable molecules pinitol and allantoin from the leaves of Pisonia grandis was published in 2011 as part of preliminary studies on this plant in our laboratory (Shubashini et al., 2011a; Shubashini et al., 2011b). Post this revelation, it was evident that publications on the medicinal potential of the leaves further mushroomed. There are not many reports on the chemical investigation of the stem and roots of the plant. Only one report on the hepato protective activity of root extract and one report on isolation of C-flavones from root extract exist. Hence the plant Pisonia grandis was chosen in the present study for a thorough chemical investigation and validation as a safe medicinal plant for use in medicinal formulations. Andrographis stenophylla C.B Clarke is a medicinal plant of the Acanthaceae family. It is a rare and little known endemic species of India. Local tribes called this plant as “malai chiriyanagai”. Andrographis stenophylla is used in folk medicine as an anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory agent, and as an antidote for snake bites. Local tribes claim that the leaves of this plant are potentially effective in the treatment of chronic fever, diabetes, wounds, ulcers, inflammations, cough, skin diseases and leprosy. There is only one report on the phytochemical investigation of leaves of the plant which describes the isolation of few flavones along with the terpene lactone andrographolide - a biomarker of the Andrographis genus (Neelaveni and Gupta, 2010). There are no reports on scientific investigation of the stem, root, flower or pods of this plant. Hence the aerial part of this plant has been chosen for a thorough chemical investigation and validation of its herbal potential. The main objectives of the research study •To isolate and characterize the chemical constituents of two folkloric medicinal plants Pisonia grandis R.Br. and Andrographis stenophylla C.B Clarke •To validate the herbal potential of the chosen plants by standardization studies