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Journal of Herbal Medicine and Toxicology 2 (2) 9-13 (2008)ISSN : 0973-4643 Review Article

MEDICINAL POTENTIALS OF SEMECARPUS ANACARDIUMNUT- A REVIEW

Majumdar, S.H.1 , Chakraborthy, G.S., Kulkarni, K.S.

SVKM’S NMIMS SchooL of Pharmacy And Technology Management, Shirpur, Maharashtra.Corresponding author E-mail : majumdarshiv@gmail.com

Received: 12 May, 2008; Revised: 17 June, 2008; Accepted: 22 June, 2008

Abstract : Many herbal remedies individually or in combination have beenrecommended in various medical treatises for the cure of different diseases.Semecarpus anacardium (SA) linn (Family: Anacardiaceae), is a plant well-knownfor its medicinal value in ayurvedic and siddha system of medicine. Chemical andphytochemical analyses of Semecarpus anacardium nut reveal the presence ofbiflavonoids, phenolic compounds, bhilawanols, minerals, vitamins and amino acids.A variety of nut extract preparations from this source are effective against manydiseases viz- arthritis, tumours, infections etc. However the mechanism of thepharmacological action of S.anacardium nut can be greatly aided by the isolation ofits active principle f and determination of structure-function relationship. Also thetherapeutic effectiveness of S. anacardium needs to be verified by controlled clinicalstudies.

Key words - Semecarpus anacardium, Ballataka, Marking nut, Alternative medicine.

INTRODUCTIONFor thousands of years, cultures around the worldhave used herbs and plants to treat illness and maintainhealth. Many drugs prescribed today in modernmedicinal system are derived from plants. Herbs andplants are valuable not only for their active ingredientsbut also for their minerals, vitamins, volatile oils,glycosides, alkaloids, acids, alcohols, esters etc., [1].Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) canbe defined as any treatment used in conjugation(complementary) or in place of (alternative) standardmedical treatment. In alternative medicine, medicinalplant preparations have found widespread useparticularly in the case of diseases not amenable totreatment by modern method [2]. Semecarpusanacardium (SA) linn (Family: Anacardiaceae) isdistributed in sub-Himalayan region, tropical andcentral parts of India. The nut is commonly known as‘marking nut’ and in the vernacular as ‘Ballataka’ or‘Bhilwa’. It has high priority and applicability inindigenous system of medicineemecarpus[3,4].

Active Principles: Nut shells contain thebiflavonoids: biflavones A, C, A1, A2,tetrahydrorobustaflavone, B(tetrahydromentoflavone)[5], jeediflavone, [6,7], semecarpuflavone[8,9] andgulluflavone [10,11]. Oil from nuts, bhilavinol, containsa mixture of phenolic compounds mainly of 1,2-dihydroxy-3 (pentadecadienyl-8, 11) benzene and 1,2-dihydroxy-3 (pentadecadienyl-8', 11’)- benzene[12].

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Classical UseDetoxified nut of Bhallaataka (SA) were incorporatedin prescriptions for toxic conditions, obstinate skindiseases, tumors, malignant growths, fevers,haemoptysis, excessive menstruation, vaginaldischarge, deficient lactation, constipation, intestinalparasites. (Charaka, Sushruta) [3], Bhallaataka (SA),Hartaki (Terminalia chebula) and Jiraka (Cuminumcyminum), mixed with jaggery and made into a sweetbolus, were administered in splengomegaly.(Vrindamaadhava). [4]. A decoction of bruised fruit(1 to 8) in a dose of 25 ml was given for asthma. Adecoction with milk and purified butter, in graduallyincreasing doses, was given in peripheral neuritis,sciatica, facial paralysis, hemiplegia. Bhallaataka-vardhamanna (Vrindamaadhava) was used as anervine tonic. Nuts boiled with 1.25 l milk were givenas aphrodiasic. (Ashtaanga Sangraha).

Bhallaataka Rasaayana of Charaka was prescribedas a potent rejuvenating tonic. Purified butter, cookedwith the paste and decoction of nut, mixed with sugar,was administered for treating tumors (Chakradatta).Bhallaataka nut pounded and mixed with eliminatingguinea worm. Bhallaataka oil, mixed with vidanga(Embelia ribes), was also used. (Ashtaanga Hridaya,Gadanigraha, Siddha-bheshaja-manimaala). Juices ofthe pericarp and the oil of Bhallaataka are powerfulescharotics; used in Indian medicine in small doses(0.03-0.06 cc diluted with clarified butter, cream orhoney ten times its volume). The oil of Bhallaataka,mitigated with butter, or mustard oil in which the fruitsof Bhallaataka are fried, is fried, is used internally.Ripe fruits, boiled with a solution of cow-dung, areused internally. Nuts are used only after curing undermedical supervision [7].

SA as a constituent in drugs : Ayurvedicpreparations with Bhallaataka as one of theingredients are Narasimha Ghrita (AshtaangaHridaya), Bhallataka Vati (Bhaishaya Ratnaavali) areused as blood purifiers and haematinic tonics;Kalaanka kshara (Ashtaanga Hridaya) forgastrointestinal disorder; and sanjivani vati(Shaarangadhava Samhitaa) for fevers[7].Bhallaataka enters into many formulations of the south-Guggulu-tikta Ghritam, Nimbaamritaasavam,Naarsimha-Rasaayanam, Varnaadi Kashayam,Mahaaraaja-Prasaami Tailam[3]. In Unani medicine,majoon-e-Asal-e-Balaadur is prescribed for

neurasthenia; Majoon-e-Balaadur for dementia,amnesia; Raughan-e-Balaadur externally in paralysis,hemiplegia, Bells palsy. Angaruya-e-Kabir is alsoprescribed for neurological affection[4].

Therapeutic Activity: A variety of nut extractpreparations from this source are effective againstmany diseases, viz. arthritis, tumours, infections etc.and non-toxic even at high dose of 2000 mg/kg[13].The detailed exact pharmacology of activity is yet toclear, although many studies have been done tounderstand and prove the mechanism of thepharmacological action of Semecarpus anacardium.Few such reported activities have been discussed inthe following sections.

Anti-Cancer Activity: In traditional medicine, thenut is highly valued for the treatment of tumours andmalignant growth. Studies have been also done inproving the anticancer and hepatoprotective activityof Semecarpus anacardiumnut milk extract againstaflatoxin B1 (AFB1)- induced hepatocarcinoma in ratsand establishing its protective role on deranged cellmembrane in AFB1 induced hepatocarcinoma[14,15].The biochemical basis of anticarcinogenic potencyof Semecarpus anacardium nut was studied usinghepatocellular carcinoma as cancer model in rats[16-18]. Extensive analysis to study its effect againstbiochemical abnormalities during cancer shows thatthe drug modulates the abnormalities of all biochemicalpathways including carbohydrate, lipid, cytochromeP-450 mediated microsomal drug metabolism, cancermarkers and membrane proteins during cancerprogression[19-22]. Recent studies carried out on anAyurveda marking nut preparation have also shown

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Majumdar, S. H. et al.

promising results in the treatment of cancers of theoesophagus, urinary bladder, liver and leukemia[22,24].The dramatic reduction in alpha-feroprotein level, aspecific marker of hepatocellular carcinoma [23-26],and the histopathological studies had confirmedanticancer efficacy of the drug [27-31].

Anti-inflammatory Activity: Semecarpusanacardium has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity [32,33]. Phytochemical studiesof the milk extract have shown flavonoids, phenolsand carbohydrates among its contents and the drugwas found to be effective in different inflammatoryconditions[34,35]. Pillai reported the presence ofphenolic compounds like semicarpol and bhilawanolin the nuts found to inhibit acute tuberculin reaction insensitized rats and also the primary phase of adjuvantarthritis[36]. In rheumatoid arthritis, pharmacologicalactivities have been attributed to some flavonoidspresents in the drug, particularly those related to theiranti-inflammatory properties[37]. The probablemechanism of action of anti-inflammatory effect isdue to inhibition of the release of early mediators(histamine and serotonin) in first phase and in phaseby inhibitions of cyclo-oxygenase. Further, it alsoinhibits monocyte infiltration and fibroblast proliferation[33-39]. The drug also shows effect immunomodularyeffect during inflammation. The drug shows effecton plaque forming cells (PFC) and antibody titre inarthritis [34]. The increase in both plaque formingcells and antibody titre found in arthritic animals weresignificantly (p < 0.005) reverted back onadministration of the drug Semecarpus anacardium.NO is a highly fat soluble free radicals which is greatlyamplified amplified during inflammation[40].Semecarpus anacardium have shown remarkablereduction in nitrate/nitrite level, which can be attributedto the antioxidant property [41].TNF-á is a pleiotropiccytokine; it facilitates inflammatory cell infiltration bypromoting the adhesion of neutrophills andlymphocytes to endothelial cells[342-44]. Semecarpusanacardium blocks the TNF- á thus severity ofinflammation is reduced.

Neuroprotective Activity: Semecarpusanacardium is shown to be neuroprotective especiallyto the hippocampal region in stress-inducedneurodegenereation like Alzheimer’s disease (AD)[37]. [45]. Dysfunction of cholinergicneurotransmission in the brain contributes to the

salient cognitive decline in AD. Loss of cholinergiccells, particularly in the basal forebrain isaccompanied by the loss of neurotransmitter Ach. Oneof the most accepted strategies in AD treatment isthe use of cholinesterase (AchE) inhibitors. TheSemecarpus anacardium is effective in prolongingthe half-life of acetylcholine through inhibition of AchE.Hence Semecarpus anacardium known to be usefulin treating cognitive decline, improving memory orrelated CNS activity[46].

Reproductive Function (Antispermatogenic effect):Semecarpus anacardium extract feeding causedantispermatogenic effect evidenced by reduction innumbers of spermatogenic cells and spermatozoa.Reduction in sperm density in cauda epididymides maybe due to changes in the androgen metabolism. Theprincipal cells of epididymis synthesize proteins, whichhave important role in maturation of spermatozoa.Alterations in the secretion and function of theseproteins impaired sperm maturation. Semecarpusanacardium fruit extract feeding caused impairmentof Leydig cell function, which was evidenced byreduced Leydig cell area and nuclear dimensions andfewer number of mature Leydig cells. The atrophicstate of Leydig cells in the testes of treated animalsmay be due to declined LH secretion. Differentiationof primordial germ cells into spermatogonia andsubsequent appearance of spermatogenic cycle areunder the control of gonadotropin and testosterone,such control being possibly mediated by Sertoli cells,which regulate cell cycle kinetics and influence bothspermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes. Thereduction in number of secondary spermatocytes andspermatids reflected non-availability of ABP fromSertoli cells. ABP is required to maintain intra-testicular androgen concentration and transformationof advance stages of germ cells. Meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells were highly sensitive to androgenconcentration and the alteration in androgen level intestes may affect the transformation of spermatocytesto spermatids. The blood parameters remained withinthe normal range after Seme-carpus anacardiumadministration indicating non-toxic nature of theplant[47].

Antiatherogenic effect: The imbalance between theprooxidants and antioxidants is the main cause ofdevelopment of atherosclerosis. To prevent suchcondition, antioxidant therapy is beneficial.

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Semecarpus anacardium shows such antioxidantproperty. It has capacity to scavenge the superoxideand hydroxyl radicals at low concentrations. Theprocess of atherogenesis is initiated by peroxidationof lipids in low-density lipoproteins, was also foundinhibited by Semecarpus anacardium [48].

It is possible that the beneficial antiatherogenic effectmay be related to its antioxidant, anticoagulant,hypolipidaemic, platelet antiaggregation and lipoproteinlipase releasing properties. The mechanism ofhypotriglyceridaemic effect has also been shown tobe partly due to stimulation of lipoprotein lipase activity.

Hypoglycemic and antiglycemic effect: The effectof ethanolic extract of dried nuts of Semecarpusanacardium on blood glucose was investigated in bothnormal (hypoglycemic) and streptozotocin and alloxan-induced diabetic (antihyperglycemic) rats. The bloodglucose levels were measured at 0, 1, 2 and 3 hoursafter the treatment. The ethanolic extract of S.anacardium (100 mg/kg) reduced the blood glucoseof normal rat from 84 +/- 1.4 to 67 +/- 1.7 mg/dl, 3hours after oral administration of the extract (P < 0.05).It also significantly lowered blood glucose level inalloxan induced diabetic rat from 325 +/- 2.2 to 144+/- 1.4 mg/dl, 3 hours after oral administration of theextract (P < 0.05). The antihyperglycemic activity ofS. anacardium was compared with tolbutamide, anoral hypoglycemic agent. The exact mechanism isyet to clear but the flavonoid containing constituentssuppose to decrease the blood glucose level[49,50].

Fungi static activity: Alcoholic extract of dry nutsof S. anacardium showed dose dependent antifungalactivity in vitro against Aspergillus fumigatus andCandida albicans. At 400-mg/ml concentrations,growth of both the fungi was inhibited and considerablereduction in size of cells and hyphae was observed.Sporulation also decreased. The flavonoid present inS. anacardium shows antifungal activity[51].

Summary and Conclusion: In alternative medicine,medicinal plant preparations have found widespreaduse particularly in the case of diseases not amenableto treatment by modern methods. Chemical andphytochemical analyses of Semecarpus anacardiumnut reveal the presence of biflavonoids, phenoliccompounds, bhilawanols, minerals, vitamins and aminoacids. A variety of nut extract preparations from thissource are effective against variety of diseases, and

non-toxic even at high dose of 2000 mg/kg. Howeverunderstanding of the mechanism of thepharmacological action of S. anacardium nut can begreatly aided by the isolation of its active principlefrom the nut and determination of the structure-function relationship. Also, the potent curative effectsof S. anacardium nut extract against human ailmentsneed to be verified by controlled clinical studies.

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