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Review Article
UTILITIES OF CRATAEVA NURVALA
VANDANA KHATTAR*, ANKITA WAL
Institute of Pharmacy, Pranveer Singh Institute of Technology, Kanpur, U.P, India. Email: vandanapsit@gmail.com
Received: 30 April 2012, Revised and Accepted: 03 Jun 2012
ABSTRACT
The discovery of a novel chemical component from a medicinal plant may form the basis of development of various therapeutic agents with better
activity. More than 500 medicinal plants have been reported to possess medicinal properties. Crataeva nurvala Buch Ham, (family: Capparidaceae)
is one of the most common species among them. The whole plant posses high medicinal value and traditionally used in treating various ailments for
human beings. The plant is used internally as well as externally. Externally, the paste or its leaves or skin of bark is applied in cervical adenitis,
abscess and edematous wounds. The same paste is salutary in rheumatic joint for relief of pain. The pulp of leaves is applied on abdomen in splenic
enlargement, with great benefit. Internally, varuna is used in vast range of diseases. The decoction of leaves given along with ghee relieves flatulence
and abdominal pain. It also works well as a laxative, cholegogue, appetizer and vermicide, hence useful in anorexia, tumors, liver disorders, flatulent
dyspepsia and helminthiasis. Phytochemically the plant has been investigated for flavonoids, glucosinolates, plant sterols, including lupeol,
saponins, tannins, cardenolides, alkaloids, triterpenes and saponins. The plant has been demonstrated to possess multiple pharmacological
activities such as antiinflammatory, urolithiatic, antidiabetic, antibacterial, analgesic, antiinfertility, antidiarrhoeal, antinociceptive and
cardioprotective activity. This review highlights on the existing information particularly on the phytochemistry and various pharmacological
properties of crataeva nurvala which may provide incentive for proper evaluation of the plant as a medicinal agent.
Keywords: Crataeva nurvala, Lupeol, Anti-inflammatory, Urolithiatic, Antibacterial activity.
INTRODUCTION
In ancient times nature has been an important source of medicinal
agents and a large number of natural products have been identified
and developed from natural sources based on their use in traditional
medicine. Numerous medicinal plants are of global interest today
because of their therapeutic and economic significance. According to
the World Health Organization, approximately 80% of the world’s
population currently uses herbal medicines directly as teas, decocts or
extracts with easily accessible liquids such as water, milk, or alcohol.
Crataeva nurvala is commonly known as Varuna. Varuna is one of
the best litholytic herbs and has been used throughout the ages for
the treatment of urolithiasis and crystalluria. Varuna is mentioned in
vedic literature, its therapeutic use being known to ancient
Ayurvedic physicians, especially as a blood purifier, to maintain
homeostasis. The plant has various synonyms in Ayurvedic
scriptures delineating its peculiarities viz. triparna-trifoliate,
bilvapatra- leaves resemble to those of bilva (Aegle marmelos).
Vrttaphala – fruits, ovoid berries, asmari-ghna- litholytic, tikta-
bitter etc. Maharsi Susruta has mentioned varuna as a litholytic
agent in treating kapha and vata varieties of asmari (calculi)
1, 2
.
It is an appetizer, febrifuge, diuretic and litholytic in properties. It is
used in diseases like urinary disorders, urinary calculi, blood
disorders, worms and tumors. The bark of the tree is an important
drug for problem affecting the kidneys and bladder. In Ayurveda, the
bark of the Crataeva has been traditionally used to heal kidney stones
for more than 3,000 years. Findings of several studies undertaken by
contemporary scientists have authenticated that the herb neutralizes
the enzyme called glycolate oxidase and this particular effect of the
herb lessens the production of oxalates by the body
3
.
The purpose of the present study is to gather together the available
published information on the different vernacular names,
phytoconstituents and pharmacological activity of the plant.
Taxonomic description
The plant is classified as shown in Table.1.
Table 1: Taxonomic classification of crataeva nurvala
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Family
Capparidaceae
Genus
Crataeva
Species
Nurvala
Vernacular names
4
Sanskrit: Varun, Tiktshaak
Hindi: Baruna, Barna
Bengali: Varne, Borun
English: Three-leaved caper
Kannada: Bitusi, Holenekki, Holethumbe, Maavilanga, Mata maavu,
Naaram bele, Vitasi, Neervaala mara, Sethu bandhana, Vaayu
varuna, Nervaala
Malyalam: Nirmatalam, Nirval
Marathi: Haravarna, Karvan, Kumla, Nirvala, Ramala, Varun,
Vaayuvarna
Tamil: Mavilingam, Narvala, Varanam, Maavilangam, Maralingam
Telgu: Ulimidi, Bilvaram, Chinnavulimidi, Maagalingam, Maaredu,
Peddamaagalingam, Peddavulimidi, Thellavulimidi.
Habitat
Varuna is a small tree, often cultivated throughout India, especially
along the streams and riverbanks. It is distributed in sub-Himalayan
tracts and is indigenous to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. It is
found in abundance, in Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal and Assam.
The plant flowers mostly grow in March and fruits in June.
Botanical description
Macroscopy
Crataeva nurvala is a moderate sized deciduous tree. The mature bark
is typically 6-15 cm long and 3-10 cm wide with a thickness varying
from 5-15 mm. The outer surface of the bark is gray to grayish-brown
and rough, due to the presence of several small and rounded lenticels.
The inner surface is smooth and whitish-brown to buff colored. Leaves
are trifoliate. Flowers are white or cream colored. Fruits have multiple
seeds and ovoid berries, 2.5 cm in diameter and seeds are embedded
in the yellow, fleshy pulp of the fruits
5
.
Microscopic
Transverse section of mature stem bark shows, an outer cork
composed of thin walled, rectangular and tangentially elongated
cells, phellogen single layered, thin walled, tangentially elongated
cells followed by a wide secondary cortex, consisting of thin-walled,
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
ISSN- 0975-1491 Vol 4, Suppl 4, 2012
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Khattar et al.
Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 4, Suppl 4, 21-26
22
polygonal to tangentially elongated cells with a number of starch
grains, starch grains mostly simple, occasionally compound with 2-3
components also present, large number of stone cells in groups of
two or more, found scattered in secondary cortex, single stone cells
not very common, stone cells vary in size and shape, being circular
to rectangular or elongated with pits and striations on their walls,
stone cells distributed somewhat in concentric bands in phloem
region except in inner region of phloem which is devoid of stone
cells, secondary phloem comparatively a wide zone, consisting of
sieve tubes, companion cells, parenchyma and groups of stone cells,
alternating with medullary rays, sieve elements found compressed
forming ceratenchyma in outer phloem region, whereas in inner
region of phloem, intact, medullary rays mostly multiseriate
composed of thin-walled, radially elongated cells, tangentially
elongated towards outer periphery, a number of starch grains
similar to secondary cortex also present in phloem and ray cells, few
rhomboidal crystals of calcium oxalate also found in this region,
inner most layer is cambium
2
.
Phytoconstituents of Crataeva nurvala: Flavonoids, glucosinolates,
plant sterols, including lupeol, saponins, and tannins. The largest
group of plant secondary metabolites is the terpenes. Triterpenes are a
major subgroup of the terpene superfamily
6
.
These compounds are
low-molecular-weight metabolites that are synthesized from
mevalonate via a 30-carbon intermediate, 2, 3-oxidosqualene. The
cyclization of 2, 3-oxidosqualene by oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) to
either tetracyclic sterols, through the activity of cycloartenol synthase
or pentacyclic triterpenes, through the activity of enzymes such as β-
amyrin synthase, α-amyrin synthase and lupeol synthase represents a
critical branch point between primary and secondary metabolism
7
.
Sterols have been studied extensively and function as structural
components of membranes and as precursors of steroidal hormones in
both plants and animals, and also have important signaling functions
8
.
Part used: Stem bark, Root bark, Leaves, Fruits, Flowers
9
Plant extract: Extraction, as the term is used pharmaceutically,
involves the separation of medicinally active portions of plant or
animal tissues from the inactive or inert components by using
selective solvents in standard extraction procedures. The purposes
of standardized extraction procedures for crude drugs are to attain
the therapeutically desired portion and to eliminate the inert
material by treatment with a selective solvent known as menstrum.
The extract thus obtained may be ready for use as a medicinal agent
in the form of tinctures and fluid extracts, it may be further
processed to be incorporated in any dosage form such as tablets or
capsules, or it may be fractionated to isolate individual chemical
entities such as ajmalicine, hyoscine and vincristine, which are
modem drugs. Thus, standardization of extraction procedures
contributes significantly to the final quality of the herbal drug.
General Methods of Extraction of Medicinal Plants- Maceration,
Infusion, Digestion, Decoction, Percolation, Hot Continuous
Extraction (Soxhlet), Aqueous Alcoholic Extraction by Fermentation,
Counter-current Extraction, Ultrasound Extraction (Sonication),
Supercritical Fluid Extraction and Phytonics Process
10
.
Generally used plant extract are as- C. nurvala aqueous extract
(CNAE), C. nurvala ethanolic extract (CNEE), C. nurvala chloroform
extract (CNCE), C. nurvala petroleum ether extract (CNPEE).
PHYTOCHEMISTRY
Phytochemical studies showed that stem bark of the plant, fruits,
leaves and root bark contain different constituents as-
Stem bark of the plant contains saponins, flavonoids, sterols and
glucosilinates and ceryl alcohol, friedelin, cadabicine diacetate,
lupeol, betulinic acid and diosgenin
11
.
Fruits contain glucocapparin, beta-sitosterol, triacontane,
triacontanol, cetyl and ceryl alcohol, pentadecane, octanamide, 12-
tricosanone and friedelin
12, 13, 14, 15
.
Leaves contain L-stachydrine, dodecanoic anhydride, methyl
pentacosanoate, kaemferol-0-α-D-glucoside and quercitin-3-0-α-D-
glucoside
16
.
Root bark contains rutin, quercitin, lupeol, varunol and β-sitosterol.
Presence of alkaloids has been reported in bark and stems
17
.
ETHNOMEDICINAL USES
The stem, roots and leaves of varuna have great medicinal value. The
plant is used internally as well as externally. Externally, the paste or
its leaves or skin of bark is applied in cervical adenitis, abscess and
edematous wounds. The same paste is salutary in rheumatic joint for
relief of pain. The pulp of leaves is applied on abdomen in spleen
enlargement, with great benefit.
Internally, varuna is used in vast range of diseases. The decoction of
leaves given along with ghee relieves flatulence and abdominal pain. It
also works well as a laxative, cholegogue, appetizer and vermicide,
hence useful in anorexia, tumors, liver disorders, flatulent dyspepsia
and helminthiasis. The decoction of skin of varuna is given along with
honey in abscesses for the potent anti inflammatory action. The
decoction of skin of varuna alone is used as blood purifier in gout,
internal abscess and adenitis and to reduce body fats in obesity. The
leaves cooked as vegetables are also benevolent in obesity. Varuna has
the cardinal properties as litholytic, diuretic and urinary antiseptic.
The decoction of bark skin or roots in beneficial in urinary calculi,
dysuria and cystitis. The decoction of leaves effectively alleviates the
fever and associated delirium. The fresh juice of its leaves is useful
as a bitter tonic. Varuna is used as a cholegogue, anthelmintic and
anti- amoebic in both intestinal and hepatic infestations
18
.
Thus, the bark of C. nurvala is contraceptive and cytotoxic and is
especially useful in urinary disorders, kidney bladder stones, fever,
vomiting and gastric irritation. Root and bark are laxative and
lithontripic and increase appetite and biliary secretion
19
. Leaves are
externally rubefacient and used in rheumatism; internally they are
given as febrifuge and tonic
20, 21
. Although, a large number of
compounds have been isolated from various parts of C. nurvala, a few
of them have been studied for biological activity and the structure of
some of these bioactive compounds has been presented in Table 2.
Table 2: Structures and activities of some active compounds from crataeva nurvala.
Name
Structure
Uses
Lupeol
Responsible for antihepatotoxicity, antitumor, anti
-
inflammatory
22
, chemoprotective agents
23
, antimicrobial
24
,
antiarthritic
25
, antihyperglycemic, antioxidant,
cytotoxic,hypotensive, antiedemic, and antiperoxidant
activities
26
.
Khattar et al.
Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 4, Suppl 4, 21-26
23
β –sitosterol
Responsible for antidiabetic, antioxidant
27
, atherosclerosis,
prostate enlargement, antihypercholesterolemia,
androgenic,anticancer,antimutagenic, antifeedent,
antigonadotrophic, and antiprostatic
28
.
Betulinic
Acid
Responsible
for inhibition of
HIV
29,30,31
, antibacterial,
antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antioxidant
properties
32
and antitumor-activity selective against
human melanoma cells
33
.
Quercetin
Respo
nsible for anti
-
inflammatory
34
, antihistamine,
antioxidant
35
, anticancer
36, 37,38,39,40
, cataracts,
preprostatis
41
, antiulcereffect
42
, in heart diseases
43
and
respiratory diseases as bronchitis and asthma
44
.
Kaempferol
Responsible
for
Antiinflammatory
, antioxidant, spasm,
antiulcer, in diuretic, cough, inhibit fertility, anticancer
45
and antidepressants
46
.
Friedelin
Responsible f
or antiulcerogenic acti
vity
47
, significance
cytotoxic activity against T-lymphoblastic leukemia (CEM-
SS) cell line with the LC50 of 5, 8 μg/ml. It has the ability to
decrease the affinity of histamine on histamine H-1
receptor
48
.
PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES
Pharmacological studies have confirmed that crataeva nurvala
exhibit a broad range of biological effects. However, the crude
extract of the plant have been used as a traditional medicine for the
treatment of various diseases, some of which are very interesting for
possible future development.
Anti-fertility activity
The ethanol and aqueous extracts of the dried stem bark of the plant
Crataeva nurvala Buch-Hum have been found to possess significant
anti-fertility effects in rats. Both ethanol and aqueous extracts
exhibited partial and complete resorption of implants at 300 and
600 mg/kg dose levels, respectively. The ethanol extract is found to
be more active than the aqueous extract .However in estrogenic
activity study, both the extracts increased uterine weight and caused
opening and cornification of vagina in immature rats. This work
justifies its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy in all rats at dose
levels
49
.
Analgesic and antidiarrhoeal activity
The leaves of medicinal plant ‘Crataeva nurvala Buch. Ham’ was
extracted in ethanol to evaluate the peripherally acting analgesic
potential using acetic acid induced writhing and antidiarrhoeal
activity using intestinal motility test both in mice. The crude extract
showed significant (P<0.01) analgesic activity at oral doses of 200
and 400mg/kg body weight with an inhibition of writhing 68.4%
and 76.3% compared to 67% for the positive control. In the motility
test, the crude extract at same oral doses showed 31.16% and
35.31% inhibition of intestinal propulsion of charcoal marker where
as positive control group exhibited 36.25% inhibition of propulsion
of charcoal through the intestine
50
.
The antidiarrhoeal activity of ethanol extracts of Crataeva nurvala
stem bark was evaluated using castor oil-induced diarrhoea model
in rats. The gastrointestinal transit rate was expressed as the
percentage of the longest distance traversed by the charcoal divided
by the total length of the small intestine. The weight and volume of
intestinal content induced by castor oil were studied by
Khattar et al.
Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 4, Suppl 4, 21-26
24
enteropooling method. Like atropine (3mg/kg, i.p.) there were
significant reductions in fecal output and frequency of droppings
when the plant extracts 500 mg/kg doses were administered
intraperitoneally compared with castor oil treated rats. This dose of
the plant extracts significantly retarded the castor-oil induced
enteropooling and intestinal transit. It significantly inhibited
(P<0.001) weight and volume of intestinal content
51
.
Antiarthritic activity
Lupeol is a naturally occuring triterpene isolated from Crataeva
nurvala stem bark, and its ester lupeol linoleate was synthesized.
The effects of lupeol and lupeol linoleate on the development of
complement in adjuvant arthritis in rats were studied and compared
with those of indomethacin. The effect of lupeol linoleate in reducing
the foot-pad thickness and complement activity in arthritic rats was
even greater than that of unesterified lupeol and indomethacin.
Because complement is highly involved in inflammation, the results
suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of triterpenes may be
due to their anticomplementary activity
52
.
Cardioprotective activity
Cyclophosphamide (CP), an alkylating agent widely used in cancer
chemotherapy, causes fatal cardiotoxicity. In the present study,
lupeol, a pentacyclic triterpene, isolated from Crataeva nurvala
stem bark and its ester, lupeol linoleate were investigated for their
possible cardioprotective effects against CP-induced toxicity. Male
albino rats of Wistar strain were injected with a single dose of CP
(200 mg/kg body weight, ip). In CP-administered rats, activities of
lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase were elevated
in serum with a concomitant decline in their activities in the
cardiac tissue. Significant increases (P B < 0.001) in the levels of
lipid peroxides and a decrease (P B < 0.001) in the levels of
enzymic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase,
glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and
glutathione-s-transferase) and nonenzymic (reduced glutathione,
vitamin C and vitamin E) antioxidants in the heart were also
observed. The cardioprotective effects of lupeol (50 mg/kg body
weight for 10 days orally) and its ester, lupeol linoleate (50 mg/kg
body weight for 10 days orally) were evident from the significant
reversal of the above alterations induced by CP. These
observations highlight the antioxidant property of triterpenes and
their cytoprotective action against CP induced cardiotoxicity
53
.
Urolithic property
Despite modern techniques, the recurrence rate of Urolithiasis is
approximately 50% within 5 years. Thus, there must be some drug
that corrects the metabolic errors and prevents the formation of
stone. In Ayurveda, a detailed description of urolithiasis is
mentioned under the heading of Ashmari. This work was designed
to study the effect of Varuna (Crataeva nurvala) on the
experimental model of urolithiasis (albino rats). The study was
categorized into two groups: Group I, treated and Group II, control.
In all albino rats, stone was surgically implanted into the urinary
bladder. Estimation of the urinary and serum electrolyte done
periodically and x-rays were exposed at a regular interval. This
study suggests the decoction of Crataeva nurvala is effective in the
management of urolithiasis
54
.
Antinociceptive activity
The antinociceptive effect of crude ethanolic extracts was
evaluated by ‘acetic acid’ analgesic test method in mice. Crude
ethanolic extracts of Crataeva nurvala (250–500 mg/kg PO)
produced dose-dependent, significant (p < 0.05–0.001)
antinociceptive effect against chemically induced nociceptive pain
stimuli in mice. The results obtained in this study suggest that the
antinociceptive effect of the extracts of Crataeva nurvala are
peripherally and centrally-mediated. The findings of this
experimental animal study indicate that crude ethanolic extracts
of Crataeva nurvala possesses antinociceptive properties and thus
lend pharmacological support to folkloric, anecdotal uses of
‘borun’ in the treatment and/or management of painful, arthritic
inflammatory conditions
55
.
Antidiabetic activity
Crateva nurvala stem bark extracts have activity against in alloxan-
induced diabetic albino rats. A comparison was made between the
action of different extracts of C. nurvala and a known antidiabetic
drug glibenclamide (600 μg/kg b. wt.). An oral glucose tolerance test
(OGTT) was performed in diabetic rats: C. nurvala petroleum ether
extract (CNPEE) and ethanolic extract (CNEE) showed significant
(P<0.001) antidiabetic activities. In alloxan-induced model, blood
glucose level of these extracts on seventh day of study were CNPEE
(126.33±13.703 mg/dl) and CNEE (126.66±13.012 mg/dl) when
compared with diabetic control (413.50±4.752 mg/dl) and
chloroform extract (320.83±13.516 mg/dl). In OGGT model (glucose
loaded rats), CNPEE showed a glucose level of 178.83±3.070 mg/dl
after 30 min and 131.66±2.486 mg/dl after 90 min, whereas CNEE
showed 173.66±4.224 mg/dl after 30 min and 115.50±3.394 mg/dl
after 90 min. These extracts also prevented body weight loss in
diabetic rats
56
.
Antiinflammatory activity
Lupeol has been extensively studied for its inhibitory effects on
inflammation under in vitro and in animal models of inflammation. A
comprehensive study showed that topical application of Lupeol (0.5
and 1 mg/ear) alleviated 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA)-
induced inflammation in an ear mouse model. This study showed
that topical application of Lupeol decreases myeloperoxidase levels
[neutrophil specific marker] thus causing reduction in cell
infiltration into inflamed tissues in mice. The anti-inflammatory
potential of Lupeol could be assessed from the observation that
Lupeol pretreatment significantly reduced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)
production in A23187-stimulated macrophages
57
.
Thus, lupeol
treatment (5–9.37 mg/kg) was reported to exhibit anti-
inflammatory activity with a maximum inhibition of 57.14%
58, 59
.
Lupeol is also reported to treat or reduce inflammation in a mouse
model of arthritis, which is an inflammation associated disease
52
.
Anticancer activity
Recent studies have shown that diets rich in phytochemicals can
significantly reduce cancer risk by as much as 20%. Epidemiological
data suggest that the phytosterols content of the diet is associated
with a reduction in common cancers including cancers of the colon,
breast, and prostate
60, 61, 62
. A number of triterpenoids have shown
promise as antineoplastic agents and exhibit anti-proliferative
activity when tested against various cancer cell lines. These
triterpenoids include members belong to the cycloartane, lupane,
friedelane, dammarane, ursane, oleanane, limonoid and cucurbitacin
family. Betulinic acid and its derivative also posses anticancer
activity as have action against mouse leuckemia
63, 64, 65
.
Topical application of Lupeol [40 mg/kg/3 times a week] for 28
weeks was shown to significantly decrease tumor burden, tumor
multiplicity and increase tumor latency period in the mouse model
66
.
Lupeol [2 mg/animal] was not only found to suppress the tumor
growth, but also to impair head and neck cancer cell invasion by
targeting NFκB signaling
67
.
The chemotherapeutic potential of
Lupeol was also tested against the human hepatocellular carcinoma
cell SMMC7721 cells. Lupeol treatment was shown to inhibit the
growth and induce the apoptotic death of SMMC7721 cells. This
study showed that Lupeol-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis
is due to down-regulation of DR3 expression in SMMC7721 cells
68
.
USES
The skin, roots and leaves of varuna have great medicinal value. The
plant is used internally as well as externally. It is applied externally
on wounds, reduces inflammation, loss of appetite, abdominal pain
in liver disorders, worm infestation, dysuria, pain in urinary tract,
urinary tract infection, fever and in general weakness.
Classical ayurvedic preparations
Varunadi quath- Useful in treatment of urinary calculi and urinary
tract disorders, Burning Micturition, Pylitis, Nephritis, U.T.I,
Prostatitis, Dysurea,Prostate enlargement.
Khattar et al.
Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 4, Suppl 4, 21-26
25
Varunadya ghrta- Used in Ayurveda for reducing phlegm, fat
deposition, metabolic disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine
headaches and inflamatory conditions.
Varunadya taila- Used in treatment of renal calculus or stone.
Contraindications and Toxicology
No contraindications noted ever and no toxic effects seen.
CONCLUSION
In order to evaluate the overall implications of crataeva nurvala as
having different activities as antidiabetic, anti-fertility activity,
analgesic and antidiarrhoeal activity, antiarthritic activity,
cardioprotective activity, urolithic property, antinociceptive activity,
Antiinflammatory activity and anticancer activity due to having
different phytoconstiuents. As this plant has no contraindication and
no toxic effect, therefore it used as a valuable medicinal plant.
Thus, it is believed that detailed information presented in this
review would help the researchers to get aware of this plant and
extensive research should be undertaken on crataeva nurvala for
establishing new therapeutic drugs for mankind.
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