Study report on

Ephedra foliata Boiss. ex C.A.Mey.

By:- Vishwanath Zunjar (P.G.DIPLOMA MEDICO BOTANY)

The Maharaja Sayajiroa Universityof Baroda, Department of Botany, Vadodara-39002, Gujarat India. INDEX

vernacular names Classification Plants description Distribution Habit and cultivation Macroscopic and microscopic studies Major chemical constituent Isolation of ephedrine Adult dosage Application Medical uses Clinical pharmacology Precautions References

3 4 5 6 7 8-10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 20

Taxonomic classification:
Based on benthan and hookers

Kingdom: Plantae Order: Gnetianales Family: Ephedraceae Genus: Ephedra Species: foliata Boiss. ex C.A.Mey. It was originally described by Pierre Edmond Boissier, later validly published by Carl Anton von Meyer in 1846.

Selected vernacular names

Kuchar Tutgantha Dewaria Somlata Alanda Suaphogro Andhokimp.

Morphological description:
Gymnosperm Shrubs, dioecious , with erect, climbing stems.

Branches jointed, photosynthetic, yellowish green to olive-green when young. Branchlets opposite or whorled, green, longitudinally grooved. Leaves opposite or in whorls of 3, scalelike, generally ephemeral, mostly not photosynthetic; resin canals absent. Seeds have two Cotyledons. Seeds 1-3 per cone, ellipsoid to globose, yellow to dark brown, smooth to scabrous or furrowed Pollen cones solitary or clustered at nodes, each composed of 2-8 decussate pairs or 3-part whorls of membranous bracts, proximal bracts empty.

Each bract subtending a male flower composed of 2 basally fused, orbicular or obovate scales (false perianth), anthers sessile or stipitate on staminal column

Perennial, small, slender, much branched pubescent twining or climbing herbs or under shrubs; sap yellowish,. found in the sub-himalayan tract from Uttar Pradesh to Meghalaya and in the central and peninsular India, ascending up to 1,260 m. Rootstock 2.5-5 cm. thick, Roots long, fleshy, with longitudinally fissured light brown, corky bark;; Leaves 6.0-10.5 x 3.8-6.0 cm, ovate-oblong to elliptic-oblong, acute to acuminate, cordate at base, thick, pubescent beneath when young, glabrous above; petioles up to 12 mm long.; Flowers minute, 1-1.5 cm across, in 2 to 3-flowered fascicles in axillary umbellate cymes.; Calyx divided nearly to the base, densely hairy outside; segments lanceolate, acute. Corolla greenishyellow or greenish-purple; lobes oblong, acute. Fruit a follicle, .up to 7 x 1 cm,; ovoid lanceolate, tapering at apex forming fine mucro, finally striate, glabrous. sSeeds 0.60.8 x 0.3-0.4 cm, broadly ovate or ovate-oblong, flat, brown, dark coloured in centre; coma 2.0-2.5 cm long.. Fl. & Fr.: August-December (Kirtikar & Basu, 1935; Chopra et al., 1956; Jagtap & Singh, 1999).

Habitat :
Found in the plains, forests, and hilly slopes and outskirts of the forest (Vita cost, 2004; Truestarhealth, 2005). Forms dense patches in the forest in moist and humid conditions in open hill slopes and narrow valleys, also

cultivated for its medicinal uses. The plant shows stunted growth in the areas with lesser rainfall. According to Nadkarni (1976), it will on a wide range of well drained soils prefers sandy localities..

Distribution:
It is indigenous to India (Aurorahealthcare, 2005). The plant inhabits up to an elevation of 1,260 m in the subHimalayan tract and in the central and peninsular India. It also Gmet with in Eastern, North-East and Central India, Bengal and, parts of South India (Nadkarni, 1976). Except throughout plains of India, it also harbor in Ceylon, Malay island and Borneo (Kirtikar & Basu, 1935).

Medicinal Importance:
It is traditionally used as a folk remedy in certain regions of India for the treatment of bronchial asthma (Bielory &

Lupoli,

1999),

inflammation

(Exoticnatural.

2005),

bronchitis, allergies, rheumatism and dermatitis (Gupta & Bal, 1956; Shivpuri et al., 1969; Dhananjayan et al., 1974; Mathew and & Shivpuri, 1974; Haranath & Shyamalakumari, 1975; Thiruvengadam et al., 1978; Gupta et al., 1979; Karnick and & Jopat, 1979; and Gore et al., 1980; Truestarhealth, 2005; Remedyfind, 2005). Apart from the above, it also seems to be a good remedy in traditional medicine as anti-psoriasis, seborrheic, anaphylactic, leucopenia and as an inhibitor of the Schultz-Dale reaction (Sarma, 1978, Sarma & Misra, 1995). The leaves and roots are used medicinally (Bhavan, 1992). It is said to have laxative, expectorant, diaphoretic and purgative properties. It has also been used for the treatment of allergies, cold, dysentery, hay fever and arthritis (CSIR, 1948-1976). It has reputation as an alterative and as a blood purifier, often used in rheumatism and syphilitic rheumatism. Root or leaf powder is used in diarrhoea, dysentery and intermittent fever. It is an expectorant and administered in respiratory affections, bronchitis and whooping cough (Nadkarni, 1976). Dried leaves are emetic diaphoretic and expectorant. It is regarded as one of the best indigenous substitute for ipecacuanha (Kirtikar & Basu, 1935), so it was considered as Indian ipecacuahna in the latter half of the 19th century (Food4less1, 2005)

The roots and leaves possess stimulant, emetic, cathartic and purgative properties (Shah and & Kapoor, 1976; Sharma and & Sharma, 1977; Vasudevan Nair et al., 1982; Nair et al., 1984 ). The roots and leaves are also reported to be used in hydrophobia. The leaves are employed to destroy vermin. The leaf extract ,acts as it is anti tumour (Chitnis et al., 1972; Stephen & Vijayammal, 2000).

Ayurvedic properties
GUNA: snigdha RASA: madhura VEERYA: sheeta VIPAKA: madhura DOSHA: kaphahara

Formulations and Dosage

Leaves powder : 400-600 mg t.i.d. Decoction of leaves (1in 10) : 15-20 ml Infusion of root bark (1in 10) : 15-20 ml Fresh leaf : one leaf to be chewed daily for 6 days

Cultivation (propagation)
The plant is propagated by portions of the old root-stalk or rhizomes, either in autumn or in spring. The plant is also propagated by the seeds or seedlings of the wild plant. The nursery is raised in July-August or April-May.

At first the nursery raised seedlings are transplanted at a spacing of 18-20 cm in rows 30 cm apart. When the seedlings are 6-8 weeks old and 10-15 cm tall , they are transplanted to their permanent sites.

Irrigation
This crop requires 2-3 irrigations during the dry period from June to September.

Weeding
Weeding is done for first three months to avoid competition. Later on ,weeding is attended to as and when required

Manures and fertilizers

It needs the application of FYM @ 10 t/ha., which is mixed in the soil well in advance. The crop responds to inorganic fertilizers as well. About 60 kg of N and 40 kg/ha. of P2O5 and K2O have to be applied for better yield. Nitrogen is given in 2 split doses for efficient utilization.

Pests and Diseases

The crop suffers from sooty mould; the fungus grows on gummy excreta of the insect deposited on the leaves and

in the advanced stage it spreads to the entire leaf and reduces the yielding capacity of the plant. Later on , the leaves dry , wither or drop off. It can be controlled by spraying, starch mixed with Nuvacrone solution on the leaves of the plant. The starch along with the fungus dries up and drops off from the leaves.

Harvesting and Yield

The first harvesting of leaves can be done after 3-4 months of planting and subsequently at 2 months interval. While harvesting, care should be taken to pluck the leaves without damaging the veins. The leaves are then spread on a clean floor for drying for 7-10 days and then packed in polythene lined bags for further marketing. An average yield of 5000 kg/ha/year of dried leaves can be obtained.

Toxic effect:
According to Gupta et al. (1979), it may produce some side effects like drowsiness or giddiness. Loss of taste for salt, mouth pain, upset stomach, temporary nausea and vomiting are some other side effects (Shivpuri et al., 1969, 1972; Bone, 1996). Tightness in throat or chest, chest pain, skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin may occur in some cases (Healthtouch, 2005).

Preliminary studies shows that extract of Tylophora is toxic only in extremely high doses; these extracts were apparently safe in the far smaller doses needed to produce a therapeutic effect (Dikshith et al., 1990).

Chemical Components:
The major constituent in this plant is alkaloid Tylophorine that is responsible for a strong anti-inflammatory action (Gopalakrishnan et al., 1979) and Tylophorininepresent. The other alkaloids include Tylophorinidine, Septicine and Isotylocrebrine. From phytochemistry point of view, Tylophora asthmatica contains 0.2-0.3 % of alkaloids. Tylophorine and tylophornine are important alkaloids encountered and the percentage is not affected by seasonal variations [3].

Pharmacology:
Test tube studies suggest that tylophorine is able to interfere with the action of mast cells, which are key components in the process of inflammation action (Gopalakrishnan et al., 1980). These actions seem to support its traditional use as an anti-asthmatic and antiallergic medication by traditional healers. According to Bone (1996), the dose should not exceed 200-400 mg dried leaf powder per day or 1 to 2 ml of tincture per day for the treatment of asthma. The plant shows inhibitory

effect on cellular immune response (Ganguly & Sainis, 2001) and antiallergic activity (Nayampalli & Sheth, 1979). Weak preliminary evidence hints that Tylophora might have anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, and antispasmodic actions (Gopalakrishnan et al., 1980; Wagner, 1989; Udupa et al., 1991; Nandi, 1999). In tests with tTylophora extract, both adrenal weight and plasma steroid levels were found increased (Vitasentials, 2005).

Clinical trials:
These historical and laboratory findings have been supported by several human clinical trials using differing preparations of Tylophora, including the crude leaf, tincture, and capsule. Clinical trial against asthma shows that Tylophora leaf chewed and swallowed daily in the early morning for six days reduces asthma symptoms (Shivpuri et al., 1969). An alcoholic extract of crude Tylophora leaves in 1 gram of glucose had comparable effects to that of chewing the crude leaf (Shivpuri et al., 1972). Another trial found similar success in reducing asthma symptoms (Thiruvengadam et al., 1978). However, the Tylophora was not as effective as a standard asthma drug combination. One double-blind trial failed to show any effect on asthma for Tylophora (Gupta et al., 1979).

One such study randomly assigned 110 bronchial asthma patients to receive one Tylophora asthmatica leaf (150 mg of the leaf by weight) or comparable placebo to be chewed and swallowed daily in the early morning for six days. At the end of one week, 62% of the patients consuming the tylophora reported experiencing moderate to complete relief of their asthma symptoms compared to 28% in the placebo group. Moreover, when patients were switched from the placebo to the active group and vice versa, similar positive trends could be seen, with 50% of the tylophora group and 11% of the placebo group reporting symptomatic relief [5]. In a follow-up study, the alcoholic extract of crude tylophora leaves in 1 gram of glucose had comparable effects to that of chewing the crude leaf, with 56% of the patients reporting moderate to complete improvement in asthmatic symptoms compared to 32% in the placebo group [6]. In another clinical trial, 30 patients with a diagnosis of bronchial asthma for at least two years were assigned at random to one of two treatment groups consisting of 15 individuals each [7]. One group received either 350 mg of tylophora leaf powder or placebo daily in the first week. In comparison, a second group of asthmatics were given a similar amount of the leaf for seven days followed by an anti-asthmatic drug combination. Overall, results of the study showed the amount of oxygen in the lung increased in those using the leaf but decreased in those using the placebo. In addition, those taking the herb had a notable nighttime reduction in their symptoms of shortness of breath.

A higher quality double-blind study that enrolled 135 individuals found no benefit from Tylophora asthmatica in asthma [9].

HPTLC Fingerprinting of different leaf extracts of Tylophora indica (Burm f.) Merill.
Title HPTLC Fingerprinting of different leaf extracts of Tylophora indica (Burm f.) Merill.

Publication Journal Article Type Year of 2010 Publication Mayank G, Mhaveer S, Mukhatr Hayat M, Authors Sayeed A Journal Pharmacognosy Journal Volume 2 Issue 11 Pagination 381385 Date August Published HPTLC fingerprinting, TLC, TOC Alerts - Phcog Keywords J, Tylophora indica, Tylophorine. Abstract Tylophora indica is very popularly used for the treatment of asthma based on its traditional use for asthma. Tylophora is perennial climbing plant native to the plains, forests, and hills of southern and eastern India. A method has been developed for different extracts of Tylophora indica for HPTLC fingerprinting analysis for identification compound. and For quantification chloroform of marker extract-

Chloroform(90): Methanol (5) : Ethyl acetate (5) v/v, Methanol Extract-Toluene(5): Chloroform(90), Ethyl acetate(5) v/v and for Petroleum ether extract-Hexane(40) : Ethyl acetate (60) v/v. The HPTLC fingerprinting profile developed for different extracts of Tylophora indica will help in proper identification URL and quantification of marker compound. http://phcogj.com/files/PJ11/PJ11_4.html

Adulterant of Tylophora indica

Tylophora dalzellii a medicinal member belongs to the tribe Marsdenieae of the family Asclepiadaceae. T. dalzellii has been used in treatment of asthma, dermatitis and rheumatism. However, it has not yet been studied pharmacognostically. T. dalzellii is a frequent climber of scrub forest. Stems are much branched and pubescent. Latex is milky-white. The leaves are most of the natural products tested for were present in the plant material except glycosides,

anthroquinones and flavonoides which were not detected in any of the tested fractions.

References:
www.google.com/tylophora indica dmapr.org.in species.wikimedia.org

6] Shivpuri DN, Singhal SC, Parkash D. Treatment of asthma with an alcoholic extract of Tylophora indica: a cross-over, double-blind study. Ann Allergy 1972; 30:40712 7] Thiruvengadam KV, Haranatii K, Sudarsan S, et al. Tylophora indica in bronchial asthma: a controlled comparison with a standard anti-asthmatic drug. J Indian Med Assoc 1978; 71:172-6. 9] Gupta S, George P, Gupta V, et al. Tylophora indica in bronchial asthma double blind study. Indian J Med Res. 1979; 69:981-989

Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic crops A A Farooqi and B S Sreeramu Selected Medicinal Plants of India- compiled by-Bhartiya Vidya Bhavans and Swami Prakashanand Ayurveda Research Centre-Bombay