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Review Article
Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences.
Vol.36 B (Botany), No.2. Jul-Dec 2017: P.91-104
Print version ISSN 0970 4612
Online version ISSN 2320 3196
DOI 10.5958/2320-3196.2017.00013.1
A REVIEW ON THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL AND
PHYTOCHEMISTRY OF TEPHROSIA PURPUREA
Neelesh Babu1*, Ajeet Singh1, Ramveer Singh1, Navneet1
Author’s Affiliation
1Department of Botany and Microbiology,
Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar -
249404, Uttarakhand, India.
*Corresponding Author:
Neelesh Babu
Department of Botany and Microbiology,
Gurukul Kangri University,
Haridwar -249404
Uttarakhand, India.
Email:
sonkarneil@gmail.com
Received on 21.10.2017,
Accepted on 29.12.2017
INTRODUCTION
The plants are employed in large scale as a medicine to treat several kinds of diseases for the
human welfare from long time. Tephrosia purpurea belongs to family fabaceae and used
traditionally as a folk medicine. According to Ayurveda it is called as “Sarwa wran vishapah”
which means the ability to cure all kinds of wounds (Deshpandey et al., 2003). It is being used
as folk medicine because of its several properties such as anticancer, antipyretic, antidiabetic,
antiviral, anti-inflammatory etc. It is one of the most effective folk medicine for the treatment
of inflammation as well as enlargement of liver and spleen. Due to this property it is also
known as plihari or plihasathru where plihari denotes spleen (Shivrajan and Balachandran
1993). This plant has also been used for the treatment of several gastrointestinal disorders and
has ability to cure disorders related to bowel, kidney, liver and spleen (Zafar et al., 2004;
Rahman et al., 1985). It is widely distributed among India, Australia, China, and Sri Lanka up
to 400 m to 1300 m altitude. It occurs naturally in the waste places along the road sides and it
prefers to grow in dry, gravelly or rocky and sandy soil (Orwa et al., 2009). This plant has a
number of chemical compounds which are medically important. These compounds include
Abstract
Tephrosia purpurea is a wild herb belongs to the family fabaceae and commonly known
as sharpunkha. It is distributed among India, Australia, China, Sri Lanka up to 400 m
to 1300 m altitude. It occurs naturally in the waste places along the road sides and it
prefers to grow in dry, gravelly or rocky and sandy soil. It is being used as folk
medicine because of its several properties such as anticancer, antipyretic, antidiabetic,
antiviral etc. Pharmacologically it is one of the most important herb because of its
chemical constituents and various applications.
Keywords: Tephrosia purpurea, Phytochemistry, Wound healing, Antimicrobial,
Antioxidant.
Neelesh Babu et. al. / A Review on Therapeutic Potential and Phytochemistry of Tephrosia
Purpurea
~ 92 ~
tephrosin, isotephrosin, rotenone, tannins, purpurin, phytosterols etc. are present in different
parts of plant.
Taxonomy
Kingdom - Plantae
Subkingdom - Tracheobionta
Division - Magnoliophyta
Class - Magnoliopsida
Subclass - Rosidae
Order - Fabales
Family - Fabaceae
Genus - Tephrosia
Species – purpurea
Vernacular names
Sanskrit - Sharpunkha
Hindi - Sarponkh
Rajasthani - Masa
Gujrati - Unhali
Urdu -Satawar
English - Wilde indigo, Fish poison
French - Indigo sauvage
Hawaiian - Auhuhu
Botanical description
T. purpurea is an annual or short lived, spreading or erect herb about 40 cm to 80 cm tall,
rarely exceeding 1.5 m in length. Stem of this plant is slender, erect and decumbent at base.
Leaves are imparipinnate having narrowly triangular stipules with size 1.5 - 09mm x 0.1 - 1.5
mm. Its rachis are up to 14.5 cm in length with petiole of 1 cm. Petiolule are 1 - 3 mm long
having 5 - 25 leaflets which are obovate to narrowly elliptical. The terminal leaflet is of 7 - 28
mm x 2 -11mm in size where as lateral leaflets are having size of 5 - 30 mm x 2 -11 mm which
are acute at base and has rounded to emarginated apex. Venation of leaves is distinct on both
the sides. Its inflorescence is an axillary or leaf opposed pseudo- raceme with length (1.5-) 10-
15(-25) cm long sometimes having basal leaf like bracts. Flowers of this plant are in fascicles
of 4 - 6 with 2-6 mm long pedicle. Length of flower is 4-8.5 mm long having colour purplish
to white. It has campanulate persistent calyx having cup size of 1.4-2.3 mm x 1.5-3.2 mm
which is unequally 4-toothed inside pubescent teeth, standard broadly ovate, 3.5-7.3 mm x 5-
10 mm, clawed; wings 2.5-6 mm x 1.5-3.8 mm, auricled on vexillary side, clawed; keel 2.2- 4.5
mm x 2-3 mm, auricled on vexillary side, clawed; stamens 10, staminal tube 4-6 mm long,
filaments alternately longer and shorter, free part up to 3.5 mm long, vexillary filament free at
base, connate halfway, 5-8 mm long; style up to 4.5 mm long, upper half glabrous, stigma
penicillate at base. T. purpurea having linear, flat pod of size up to 2 - 4.5 cm x 3 -5 mm with
up curved ending which is convex around the seed, flattened between, thickened margins
and dehiscent with twisted valves having 2 -8 seeds. Seeds of T. purpurea are dark brown to
black coloured, rectangular to transversely ellipsoid with size of 2.5mm x 1.8 mm (Orwa et.
al., 2009).
Folk uses
As in Ayurveda system it is called as “Sarwa wran vishapah” which reveals that it has the
ability to heal any type of wound (Deshpandey et al., 2003). It is being used as a home remedy
for healing wounds. Several ethno botanical articles revealed this plant as a folk medicine and
is being used for the treatment of cuts and wounds in broad spectrum. It is one of the
effective folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation as well as enlargement of liver and
spleen. Because of this property it is also known as plihari or plihasathru where plihari
denotes spleen (Shivrajan and Balachandran, 1993). This plant has also been used for the
treatment of several gastrointestinal disorders and has ability to cure disorder related to
Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences/ Vol.36-B –Botany (No.2)/ July-December 2017
~ 93 ~
bowel, kidney liver spleen (Zafar et al., 2004; Rahman et al., 1985). Its dried parts can be used
effectively for the treatment of boils, bleeding piles, bronchitis etc. It also has diuretic
property (Ashokkumar et al., 2012). Its roots decoction is useful in enlargement and damage
of liver. It can be used as mouthwash and very helpful against gingivitis (Bhavamisra, 1949).
Its roots are able to cure several skin disorders, can be used in elephantiasis, flatulence,
asthma, anemia, chronic fever. Moreover, roots and seeds of this herb can be used as
insecticide as well as pesticide. Its roots being used as herbal fish poison by many hunters in
Gunia. Its seeds oil has anthelmintic properties and also used in scabies and leucoderma.
Leaves of this herb can be used in syphilis, gonorrhea, pectoral diseases etc. (Singh et al., 2002)
PHYTOCHEMISTRY
T. purpurea has been studied for its chemical constituents and pharmacological activities.
Phytochemicals isolated from T. purpurea includes flavonoids, estres, neoflavonoids, sterols,
acids etc. (Table 1).
Roots:
Roots of this plant contains several important phytochemicals such as tephrosin, deguelin,
isotephrosin, rotenone, tannins, purpurin sterols, glycosides which has been frequently used
for the treatment of wounds, boils, pimples, liver and spleen diseases, useful for the treatment
of asthma, chronic diarrhoea, helpful in enrichment of blood (Akansha et al., 2014).
Seeds:
Seeds contain tephrosin, deguelin, quercetin which is helpful for the treatment of poisoning
due to bite of rat (Akansha et al., 2014).
Leaves:
Similar to roots and seed leaves are also have several important phytochemicals which are
useful. Leaves contain osyritin, glycosides, rutin, rotenone, tephrosin, pongamol, semiglabrin.
These are useful for the treatment of lungs diseases, piles, syphilis, and gonorrhea. These are
also helpful for improvement of appetite (Akansha et al., 2014).
Whole plant:
As listed above this plant contains the number of phytochemicals which are having several
ethnopharmacological applications. This plant as a whole has lots of applications. It is
anthelmintic, purifies blood, useful for the treatment of heart, liver and spleen diseases,
useful for the treatment of leprosy, bronchitis, ulcers (Akansha et al., 2014).
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
T. purpurea has several pharmacological activities which are given below:
Antioxidant activity
Due to presence of several biologically active compounds T. purpurea has great antioxidant
activity. Ethanolic extract of this plant showed potential against lipid peroxidative effect as
well as enhanced antioxidant potential in DMBA (7,12-dimethyl benz(a)anthracene) painted
animals (Kavitha et al., 2006). Leaves of T. purpurea has antioxidant potential. Its ethanolic
extract and ethyl acetate extract were studied for CCl4 (Carbon tetrachloride) induced lipid
and superoxide generation among which ethyl acetate has improved antioxidant activity
(Palbad et al., 2014). Roots extract of T. purpurea showed free radical scavenging activity with
oxidative stress and xanthine oxidase activity (Nile et al., 2011). The aqueous extract of whole
plant has potential of free radical scavenging activity in DPPH free radical assay (De Smet,
1998).
Neelesh Babu et. al. / A Review on Therapeutic Potential and Phytochemistry of Tephrosia
Purpurea
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Table 1: Chemical constituents of T. purpurea
S.
No.
Name of the compound and class References
Flavones
1 Tephroglabrin Pelter et al., 1981
2 Tepurindiol Pelter et al., 1981
3 Apolline Khalafalah et al.,2010
4 Terpurin flavones Juma et al., 2011
5 Isoglabratephrin Hegazy et al., 2009
6 Tephropurpurin A Hegazy et al., 2009
Flavans
7 (+)- tephrosin A Chang et al., 2000
8 (+)- tephrosin B Chang et al., 2000
9 7,4'-dihydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxy isoflavone chang et al., 1997
10 O-methyl pongamol Pelter et al., 1981
11 (+)-tephrosone Chang et al., 2000
12 (+)-tephropurpurin chang et al., 1997
Chalcones
13 Purpuritenin Sinha et al., 1982
14 6'-demethoxypraecansone B Rao and Raju., 1984
Other Flavonoids
15 Purpureamethied Sinha et al., 1982
16 quercetin-3-O-rhamnoglucoside Pandey et al., 2015
17 Rotenone Akansha et al., 2014
18 Deguelin Akansha et al., 2014
Sesquiterpenes
19 Linkitriol Khalafalah et al., 2010
Neoflavonoids glycoside
20 serratin 7-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-
β-D-galoctopyranoside Saxena and Choubey., 1997
Sterol
21 β-sitosterol Chang et al., 1997;
Parmar et al., 1989
22 spinasterol-α Chang et al., 1997;
Parmar et al., 1989
Acid
23 Ursolic acid Chang et al., 1997;
Parmar et al., 1989
Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences/ Vol.36-B –Botany (No.2)/ July-December 2017
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Figure1: Some important phytochemicals of Tephrosia purpurea
Purpurin Tephrosin
Rotenone Quercetin
Deguelin β- Sitosterol
Neelesh Babu et. al. / A Review on Therapeutic Potential and Phytochemistry of Tephrosia
Purpurea
~ 96 ~
Figure 2: Tephrosia purpurea.
Antimicrobial activity
Screening of antibacterial activity of T. purpurea ethanolic root extract showed considerable
inhibition of three Pseudomonas isolates i.e. P. aeruginosa [NCTC 10662] Pseudomonas strain 1,
Pseudomonas strain 2 and two E. coli strains i.e. E. coli strain 6 and E. coli strain 9 (Rangama et
al., 2009). In another study methanolic extract of roots of T. purpurea inhibit the growth of
gram positive (S. aureus, M. luteus and B. subtilis) as well as gram negative bacteria (P.
aeruginosa and S. typhimurium) (Soni et al., 2006). Antimicrobial activity of ethanolic and
methanolic extract of T. purpurea was tested against several gram positive, gram negative and
fungal species. Both of the extracts gives moderate antimicrobial activity, antimicrobial
activity increases with increase in the concentration of the extract from 25 to 100 mg/ml.
Methanol extract at the concentration of 100 mg/ml showed highest activity followed by
ethanol (Laishram et al., 2013). Alcoholic extract of aerial parts of T. purpurea showed activity
against E. coli, Serratia marcesens and S. epidermidis (Nivedithadevi et al., 2012). Pelter et al.,
(2006) reported that gram positive bacteria are more susceptible to extract in comparison with
gram negative. According to Kumar et al., (2007) this plant has potential antimicrobial
property against the bacteria which induces acne. Singh et al., (2002) reported that T. purpurea
has antimicrobial property due to presence of flavonoids. Chinniah et al., (2009) reported T.
purpurea as anti – Helicobacter pylori agent. They found that methanolic extract of T. purpurea
has more potential than aqueous extract of T. purpurea. Among different fractions of
methanolic extract TPME- Fr-H and TPME- Fr-C were found active against metronidazole
resistance as well as sensitive strains.
Wound healing potential
Akkol et al., (2009) reported that T. purpurea has potential of prohealing and able to improve
collagen maturation by cross linking. Its antioxidants help to prevent the damage caused by
free radicals by quenching superoxide radicals. Lodhi et al., (2006) also reported that ethanolic
extract of T. purpurea have effective wound healing capacity because of increased fibroblast
and collagen fibers promoting angiogenesis in wound. Ethanolic extract of this plant
potentially stimulate wound contraction by increasing tensile strength (Akkol et al., 2009).
Antidiabetic properties
Vijayakumar et al., (2014) reported that hydroalcoholic extract of T. purpurea leaf powder
significantly decrease the level of glucose in hyperglycemic animals. The aqueous extract of
leaves of this plant is capable of controlling diabetes mellitus similar to that of glibenclamide
in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Similarly oral dose of ethanolic seeds extract of this
Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences/ Vol.36-B –Botany (No.2)/ July-December 2017
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plant significantly showed antihyperglycemic as well as antilipid peroxidative effects (Gupta
et al., 2008). Seed extract of T. purpurea resulted in increasing hexokinase and decreasing
glucose – 6 – phosphatase activity in diabetic rats (Amor et al., 2008).
Anticarcinogenic activity
Leaf extracts of T. purpurea in different solvents have good cytotoxic activity against MCF-7
human breast cancer cell line because of its flavonoids and phenolic compounds (Gulecha
and Shivakumar 2011). Gnanarajan and Prakash, (2014) reported that methanolic extract of
this plant showed great potential against n,n-diethylnitrosamine induced hepatocellular
carcinoma in swiss albino. Kavita and Manoharan, (2012) found that ethanolic root extract of
T. purpurea has potent chemopreventive efficacy and anti lipid peroxidative effect in DBMA
induced oral carcinogens. According to Muralidhar et al., (2014) aqueous and ethanolic
extracts of roots of this plant showed potential anticancer activit against Ehrlich ascites
carcinoma cells in swiss albino mice. Ethanolic extract of T. purpurea able to reduce TBARS
(Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) level and also enhances the antioxidants status in the
circulation of 1, 2 - dimethylbenz -(a)- anthracenes painted hamsters (Duraipandiyan and
Ignacimuthu, 2007).
Antiinflammatory activity
Ethanolic extract of whole plant (roots as well as aerial parts) gives dose related inhibition of
both acute as well as chronic phase inflammation (Khatri et al., 2009). Oral administration of
ethanolic extract of T. purpurea shows significant anti inflammatory effect in subcutaneous
inflammation (Smita et al., 2010). Anbarsi and Vidya, (2015) reported that anti inflammatory
activity of T. purpurea seeds extract is due to presence of several bioactive compounds such as
flavonoids and triterpenoids. Ethanolic root extract of T. purpurea at dose of 200 and 400
mg/kg have significant effect in the management of inflammation and pain. It reduces the
carrageenan induced paw edema volume in rats (Batini et al., 2012). Gangwar and Ghosh
(2016) reported that administration of 40 mg/ kg methanolic extract of T. purpurea stem
showed effective inhibition in edema volume in carrageenan induced model because of high
concentration of compound which inhibits prostaglandin synthesis.
Antileishmanial activity
N - butanol extract of T. purpurea showed antileishmanial activity against Leishmania donovani
infection in hamster at the rate of 50 mg/kg for 5 days through oral route results were further
confirmed in Indian Langoor monkeys (Presbytis entellus) (Sharma et al., 2003). Byadgi, (2011)
reported that among fractions of n-Hexane and n-butanol, n-butanol showed 80.72%
inhibition at 50 mg/ kg p.o. X 5 dose as compared to sodium stibogluconate which gives 95%
to 99% inhibition.
Immunomodulatory activity
The flavonoid fraction from aerial parts of T. purpurea (FFTP) was studied by Damre et al.,
(2003) for its effect on humoral and cellular functions and on macrophage phagocytosis in
mice at the rate of 10 - 40 mg/kg. It potentially inhibited sheep red blood cells (SRBC) -
induced delayed type hypersensitivity reaction when given by oral route. It also decreased
erythrocytes specific haemagglutinin antibody titre in sheep. Although, it failed to show any
change in macrophage phagocytic activity. Vinay et al., (2010) reported that methanolic
extract of aerial parts of T. purpurea showed significant immunomodulatory effect which was
evaluated by carbon clearance and WBC count method in the group of animals.
Neelesh Babu et. al. / A Review on Therapeutic Potential and Phytochemistry of Tephrosia
Purpurea
~ 98 ~
Antiulcer activity
Deshpandey et al., (2003) studied the effect of extract of T. purpurea on different types of
ulcers. They found significant results in all the tests which were performed by them. Aqueous
extract of T. purpurea significantly affects ethanol induced gastric ulcers at the dose of 1- 20
mg/kg. Whereas 10 and 20mg/kg give appropriate result on 0.6 M HCl induced gastric
ulcers. On indomethacin induced gastric ulcer they required only 5-20 mg/kg. Similarly on
cysteamine – induced duodenal ulcer 5- 20mg/kg is sufficient. For the pylorus ligands rats 5-
10 mg/kg dose is beneficial for the significant reduction in gastric ulcer and total acid output
as compared to control group.
Spasmolytic activity
Soni et al., (2004) performed the experiment for spasmolytic activity from leaves on isolated
tracheal tissue of guinea pig. The effect of alcoholic and water extract of T. purpurea was dose
dependent and the action was prolonged with increase in dose. Similarly, Janbaz et al., (2013)
also tested spasmolytic effect of crude methanolic extract of whole plant of T. purpurea on
isolated jejunum of rabbit for possible presence of spasmogenic and/or spasmolytic activity.
The extract exhibited inhibitory effect on spontaneous contractions of isolated rabbit’s
jejunum preparations and was dose dependent.
Diuretic activity
Ashokkumar et al., (2012) studied the diuretic effect of T. purpurea on male albino rats
weighing 150 – 180 g and divided them into five different groups. Group I was served as
control and was fed with normal saline. On other hand group II and III received osmotic
diuretic urea (1 g/kg b.w.), high – ceiling diuretic and furosemide. Whereas group IV and V
received the different concentration of METP (methanol extract of T. purpurea) (200 mg/kg
and 400 mg / kg b.w.). All the test animals were placed at room temperature 25̊ ± 0.5̊ C
without food and water for 24 hours. After 24 hours urine sample was collected and analyzed
by flame photometer. They found that T. purpurea significantly increased the flow rate of
urine, electrolyte excretion and maintains the pH as compared to control and similar drugs.
SEASONAL VARIATION
Pandey et al., (2015) found that T. purpurea showed huge variation in the phytochemicals of
the plant material collected in different seasons due to seasonal impact. They reported that
total phenolic content as well as total flavonoid content of the plant were high in 95%
ethanolic extract of the material collected in August contrary lowest in 50% hydroethanolic
extract of plant material collected in December. They also found that most abundant
flavonoid glycoside was quercetin-3-O-rhamnoglucoside in all the seasons. T. purpurea
collected in summer (April), rainy (August) and winter (December) seasons were quite
similar; however they showed marked differences in the quantitative content of the 3 major
glycoside flavonoid quercetin-3-Orhamnoglucoside, biochanin A-7-Orhamnoglucoside and
kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoglucoside. Total concentration of all three flavonoid glycosides were
maximum in the 95% ethanolic extract of rainy (August) sample, followed by the 95%
ethanolic extract of summer (April) sample and least in 50% hydro-alcoholic extract of winter
(December).
Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences/ Vol.36-B –Botany (No.2)/ July-December 2017
~ 99 ~
Table 2: Summarized pharamacological activity of T. purpurea.
S. No.
Pharmacological activity
Part used
References
1
Antiulcer activity
Roots
Deshpande
et al.,
2003
2
Anticarcinigenic activity
Roots
Kavitha
et al.,
2006
3
Antimicrobial
Roots
Kumar
et al.,
2007
4
Antiinflammatory
Roots
Gopalakrishnan
etal.,
2010
5
Antioxidant
Roots, Leaves
,
Seeds
Shah
et al.,
2010;
Patel et al., 2010;
Soni et al., 2006
6
Ameliorates carbon tetra chloride
induced hepatic
injury
Roots
Sangeetha
et al.,
2010
7
CNS depressant and analgesic
activity
Roots
Valli
et al.,
2011
8
Ameliorates benzoyl peroxide
induced cutaneous
Toxicity
Leaves
Saleem
et al.,
1999
9
Alleviates phorbol ester induced
tumour
promotion
Leaves
Saleem
et al.,
2001
10
Spasmolytic activity
Leaves
Soni
et al.,
2004
11
Anti hyperglycemic and anti lipid
peroxidative activity
Leaves
Pavana
et al.,
2007
12
Anti Pyretic
Leaves
Kumar
et al.,
2011
13
Anti hyperlipidemic activity
Leaves
Mustak
et al.,
2012
14
Anthelminticactivity
Leaves
Manjula
et al.,
2013
15
Ameliorates diethylnitrosamie and
pot.bromate
mediated renal oxidative stress
Whole plant
Khan
et al.,
2001
16
Anti leishminal activity
Whole plant
Sharma
et al.,
2003
17
Anti epileptic activity
Whole
plant
Asuntha
et al.,
2010
18
Anti carcinogenic and
anti hypercholesterolemic
Whole plant
Kishore
et al.,
2011
19
Anxiolytic activity
Whole plant
Kumar
et al.,
2011
20
Diuretic activity
Whole plant
Kumar
et al.,
2012
21
Anti diarrheal
Whole plant
Janbaz
et al.,
2013
22
Hepato protective activity
Aerial part
Khatria
et al.,
2009
23
Anti cholestic activity
Aerial part
Mitra
et al.,
1999
24
Inhibition of mast cell degranulation
and haemolysis
Aerial part
Gokhale
et al.,
2000
25
Immunomodulatory
activity
Aerial part
Damre
et al.,
2003
26
Anti asthmatic activity
Aerial part
Lallubhai
et al.,
2011
27
Wound healing activity
Aerial part
Chaudhari
et al.,
2012
28
Antitumor activity
Seeds
Saleem
et al.,
2001
29
Anti hyperglycemic and anti oxidant
activity
Seeds
Pavana
et al.,
2009
30
Antiviral activity
Flowers
Parmar
et al.,
2010
Neelesh Babu et. al. / A Review on Therapeutic Potential and Phytochemistry of Tephrosia
Purpurea
~ 100 ~
BIOGENIC SYNTHESIS OF NANOPARTICLES
Metal nanoparticles are extensively exploited because of their unique physical properties,
chemical reactivity and potential applications in various research areas such as antibacterial,
antiviral, diagnostics, anticancer and targeted drug delivery (Bhumkar et al., 2007; Jain et al.,
2009). Biogenic synthesized nanoparticle in which biological material such as plants, fungi,
bacteria are more frequently used. In this scenario green synthesis of metal nanoparticles by
T. purpurea are also reported. Ajitha et al., (2014) reported that green synthesized silver
nanoparticles by extract of T. purpurea showed potential antimicrobial activity towards
Pseudomonas spp. and Penicillium spp. compared to other test pathogens using standard
Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion assay. In another study gold nanoparticles was synthesized by
using leaf extract of T. purpurea which was rapid synthesis. Within few hrs gold ion makes
contact with the leaf extract of T. purpurea and reduces AUCL4 in to fine gold nanoparticles.
These nanoparticles potentially inhibit the growth of test organisms which were Escherichia
coli, E. faecalis, S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. The gold nanoparticle conjugated with the
Tetracycline antibiotics shows the high zone of inhibition in all the test organisms (Jisha et al.,
2012).
TOXICITY
Hussain et al., (2012) performed acute toxicity test in swiss albino mice at the oral dose of 50,
300, and 2000 mg/kg and their behavioral changes and mortality was observed. For
subcutaneous toxicity they took Wistar rats of either sex which were administrated with two
doses 200 and 400 mg/kg and were observed for 28 days. They found that T. purpurea was
well tolerated up to dose of 2000 mg/kg.
CONCLUSION
Main motto of this paper is to explore and provide information about the importance, recent
advances and its therapeutic potential. As much as possible most of the information is
provided over here. Due to its amazing chemical constituents it has several therapeutic as
well as clinical applications such as antimicrobial, wound healing, antioxidant, anticancer etc.
Biologically synthesized metal nanoparticles also drew attention towards them because of
their cost effectiveness and therapeutic properties. Therefore T. purpurea is the plant of choice
for future as its name given in Ayurveda ‘’Sarwa wran vishapah’’.
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