Plants with Analgesic Activity

1. CARDIOSPERMUM HALICACABUM L.Cardiospermum microcarpum KunthFamily: SapindaceaeBengali/vernacular name: Phutka, Lataphutiki, Kapalphutki, Noaphutki, Kanphutki, Sibjhul Tribal name: Ketha boitta shak (Chakma), Kheda batta shak (Tanchangya), Nala maiachi (Marma)English name: Baloon vine, Winter cherry, Hearts pea, Heart seed.

Description of the plant: A climber with wiry stems. Leaves 3.7-7.6 cm, deltoid, 2-ternate, ultimate segments of the leaves lanceolate, inciso-serrate. Flowers very small, white, in few-flowered axillary, umbellate cymes; peduncles slender, 3.8-10 cm long, provided with two circinate tendrils at the top. Capsules 1.25-3.7 cm wide, depressed-pyriform, trigonous, truncate at top, bladdery.

CARDIOSPERMUM HALICACABUM L.

Using information: The whole plant, rubbed up with water is applied to rheumatism and stiffness of the limb. The juice of the plant promotes the catamenial flow during the menstrual period. It is also a demulcent in gonorrhoea and in pulmonary affection. In Indo-China the plant is considered anthelmintic and anti-blenorrhagic. In Chittagong Hill Tracts, hot water extract of the plant is given to treat chiken-pox by the Chakma and pills made of the plant are given for the treatment of asthma by the Marma tribe. The plant is also used for dropsy and measles in Khagrachari. The leaves are stimulant, diuretic and rubefacient; juice cures earache. Powdered leaves are used externally for healing wounds. Leaves mixed with castor oil are employed internally in rheumatism and lumbago. The roots and leaves are given in the treatment of bleeding piles, amenorrhoea, gonorrhoea, rheumatism, erysipelas and intestinal worms. The root is considered diuretic, diaphoretic, emetic, laxative, rubefacient, aperient and emmenagogue; occasionally used for rheumatism, lumbago, fever and nervous diseases.EtOH(50%) extract of plant is spasmolytic and hypotensive. Root extract showed diuretic action in male albino mice. Alcoholic extract produced CNS depression in near lethal doses and analgesic effect in mice and rats (Asolkar et al., 1992).

Chemical constituents: The plant contains cyanogenic glycosides, saponin, flavones, sterols and essential oil. Leaves contain pinitol, glucuronides of apigenin, chrysoeriol and luteolin. Fatty acids of the seed lipid include arachidic, linoleic and stearic acids. Seed oil also contains β-sitosterol, cyanogenic glycoside and luteollin glucurinide, β-sitosterol is also present in the roots (Ghani, 2003).

Distribution: Widely cultivated throughout Bangladesh.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

2. DESMODIUM HETEROCARPON (L.) A. DC.Desmodium polycarpum (Poir.) A. DC.Family: FabeceaeBengali/vernacular name: Tribal name: English name:

Description of the plant: An erect or suberect undershrub, 0.6-1.5 m high. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets ovate-cuneate, rounded at the apex. Flowers purple, in dense axillary and terminal subsessile racemes, 2.5-7.5 cm long. Pods 12-20 mm long, indented and dehiscing along the lower suture.

DESMODIUM HETEROCARPON (L.) A. DC.

Using information: Plant is used in fainting and convulsion. Decoction of the plant is considered tonic and used in coughs (Yusuf et al. 2009). EtOH (50%) extract of the aerial parts of the plant is spasmogenic (Asolkar et al.,1992). Alcoholic extract showed significant analgesic activity, potentiation of pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis and hypotensive activity (Rastogi & Mehrotra, 1993).

Distribution: In most of the districts in fallow lands.

Research: Around 10 studies have been done so far.

3. ACANTHUS ILICIFOLIUS L.Family: Acanthaceae Bengali/vernacular name: Hargoza, Harkuch Kanta, Kotki.English name: Holy-leaved Acanthus.

Description of the plant: Erect prickly shrub, up to 1.5 m high, in clumps. Leaves 15 cm long, oblong or elliptic, pinnatifid or toothed, rigid with sharp spinous teeth on the margin. Flowers blue, in terminal interrupted spikes, 10-40.6 cm long. Capsules 3.7 by 1 cm, ovate-oblong.

ACANTHUS ILICIFOLIUS L.

Using information: Root possesses expectorant properties; used in cough and asthma. Leaves are used as fomentation in rheumatism and neuralgia. As a stimulant the decoction of plant with sugarcandy and cumin is given in dyspepsia. EtOH(50%) extract of aerial parts is diuretic; that of leaves graded analgesic in albino mice and antiinflammatory in carrageenin-induced oedema in rats (Asolkar et al., 1992). The crude extract of the root showed in vitro antihistamic activity on tracheal chain, but prevention of anaphylactic shock was partial (Ahmed et al., 2005).

Chemical constituents: Aerial parts contain the alkaloids, acanthicifoline, oleanolic acid, β-sitiosterol, lupeol, quercetin, its glucopyranoside and trigonelline. Roots contain triterpenoid, saponin and glycosides (Asolkar et al., 1992). Apigenin-7-O-glucuronide and a new flavone glycoside, methylapigenin-7-O- β-D-glucuronate has been isolated from the leaves (Ghani, 2003).

Distribution: In maritime swamps of southern Bangladesh.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

4. CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA (L.) R. Br.Asclepias gigantea L.Family: AaclepiadaceaeBengali/vernacular name: Akanda, Bara Akand. Tribal name: Angar pata (Chakma), Angorpata gaas (Tanchangya), Muru pata (Bawm), Muhurong (Rakhaing), Jijonma (Marma), Hakkon (Tripura). English name: Gigantic Swallow wort, Mudar, Swallow Tree.

Description of the plant: A tall shrub with white latex, up to 3 m high. Leaves 10-20 cm long, elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong, thick. Flowers 3.8-5 cm diam, purplish or white, in umbellate lateral cymes. Fruits, a pair of follicles, 9-10 cm long, broad, thick, tapering at both ends.

CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA (L.) R. Br.

Using information: Root bark is diaphoretic, emetic, alterative and purgative; useful in dysentery, asthma, elephantiasis and syphilis. It acts like digitalis on heart. The powder of the root promotes gastric secretion and acts as a mild stimulant and may be given with carminatives in dyspepsia. Milky juice is a violent purgative; cures leucoderma, tumours and ascites; used for criminal purposes for producing abortion or causing death of new-born infants; useful in scabies and ringworm of the scalp and piles. Leaves are used as poultice against rheumatism, chest pain due to cold, paralysed parts and in dropsy. It is also useful in piles, skin diseases, wounds and insect bits. Flowers are asrtingent, digestive, stomachic, tonic, anthelmintic and analgesic; useful in asthma, catarrh and loss of appetite. Poultice of the warm leaf is applied to relief pain.EtOH(50%) extract of the root anticancer and spasmolytic. EtOH(50%) extract of the leaves showed antiimplantation activity in albino rats (Asolkar et al., 1992).

Chemical constituents: The principal constituent of the leaves and stems is milky latex, which contains protease enzymes, calotropain FI, calotropain FII, calotropisn DI and DII and uscharine, glutathione, ascorbic acid, calotoxin, calactin and caoutchouc and also a nitrogen and sulphur containing cardiac and fish poison, gigantin. Stem and root barks α- and β- calotropeols, amyrins, taraxerols, sitosterols, triterpenes and other glycosides. Leaves contain glycolipids, phospholipids, waxes and fatty acids. Various cardiac glycosides, including calotropin, uscharin, uscharidin and calotoxin and four ursane-type triterpenoids have also been identified in the roots. Presence of a novel insect anti-feedant nonprotein amino acid, giganticine, has been reportd in the root bark (Ghani, 2003). Α-amyrin, β-amyrin, taraxasterol, ψ- taraxasterol and β-sitosterol have also been isolated from the plant (Rastogi & Mehrotra, 1990).

Distribution: Throughout the country in road side and fallow lands.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

5. CANNABIS SATIVA L.Cannabis indica Lamk.Family: CannabidaceaeBengali/vernacular name: Ganja, Bhang, Charas, Siddhi.English name:Hemp, True Hemp, Soft Hemp.

Description of the plant: A tall, erect bad smelling annual herb, usually 1-1.5 m high. Leaves, 7.5-20 cm diam., upper 1-3 and lower 5-11 partite, serrate, palmatinerved. Flowers small, axillary, dioecious; males fasicled in short pendulous panicles; females crowded under leafy convolute bracts.

CANNABIS SATIVA L.

Using information: All parts of the plant are narcotic, stomachic, antispasmodic, analgesic, stimulant, aphrodisiac and sedative. Leaves and resins are mainly used as Bhang. Leaves make a good snuff for deterging the brain; juice removes dandruff and vermin; allays earache; checks the discharge in diarrhoea and gonorrhoea. The resin called charas is used to produce sleep, prevents and cures headache, neuralgia, migraine; valuable in acute mania, whooping cough, asthma and in reliving pain in dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia and pain of phthisis. Poultice of leaves relieves inflammations, neuralgia, haemorrhoids, as an anodyne or sedative. The seeds possess tonic, alterative, emmenagogue and laxative properties. Oil of seeds is used in rheumatism.EtOH(50%) extract of plant is spasmolytic, hypotensive and CNS depressant (Asolkar et al.,1992).Chemical constituents: Cannabis yields 421 chemicals of various classes broadly divided as i) cannabinoids, ii) cannabispirans and iii) alkaloids. Principal constituent of the flowering tops of the pistillate plants, which are medicinally used and also abused, is a resin which contains more than 60 cannabinoids which are responsible for the narcotic and psychotominetic properties of Cannabis. The active compounds of Cannabis include cannnabinol, pseudocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannadidiol, cannabigerol, cannabol, cannabinin, cannin, piperidine and cannabichromene. The plant also contains volatile oil, alkaloids, choline trigonelline, spernidine and cannabisativine and flavonoid glycosides of vitexin and orientin. Roots contain steroids, triterpenes, amides, β-sitosterol, friedelin, epifriedelinol, carvone, dihydrocarvone and a basic substance. The steam distilled volatile oil of the flowering tops contains 68 components, of which monoterpens and sesquiterpens are the major ones. Seeds contain base 1-(+)- isoleucine betaine (Ghani, 2003).

Distribution: Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Faridpur, Jessore, Kushtia, Rajshahi, Rangpur.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

6. TRIANTHEMA PORTULACASTRUM L.T. monogyna L.Family: AizoaceaeBengali/vernacular name: Gadabani, Labuni, Shet Punarnava, Sabuni.

Description of the plant: A glabrous, prostrate somewhat succulent annual herb with a firm tap root; stems more or less angular. Leaves subfleshy, obliquely opposite, unequal, the upper one of the pair the larger, 2-3.8 cm long, the lower 10-13 mm long, broadly ovate, rounded or apiculate at the apex, cuneate at the base. Flowers solitary, sessile, almost concealed by the pouch of the petiole. Capsule small.

TRIANTHEMA PORTULACASTRUM L.

Using information: The plant is alexiteric, analgesic, stomachic and laxative; cures bronchitis, piles, ascites and heart diseases. Decoction of the plant is used as vermifuge and in rheumatism. Powdered root is abortifacient and cathartic; used in asthma, amenorrhoea and to remove obstruction of the liver. The leaves are diuretic and used in oedema, dropsy and ascites.

Chemical constituents: The plant contains water-soluble bases and potassium salts. Punarnavine and a new alkaloid, trianthemine and ecdysterone are present in the aerial parts. They also contain oxalic acid. 5, -dihydroxy-7-methoxy-6,8-dimethylflavone and 5,7-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethyl-chromone 2̉2̉�

(leptorumol). Roots contain saponin glycoside. Quercetin and ferulic acid have been detected in fungus-affected plants (Ghani, 2003).

Distribution: Rajshahi, Chittagong, Jessore, Kushtia, on fallow lands and roadsides.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

7. EMBELIA RIBES Burm. f.Family: MyrsinaceaeBengali/vernacular name: Biranga, Bhaibiranga.Tribal name: Long dhama shak (Chakma), Mahaka (Khumi).

Description of the plant: A large scandent shrub; branches long, slenders, flexible. Leaves coriaceous, 5-9 cm long, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, shortly and obtusely acuminate, entire. Flowers small, in lax panicled racemes, which are terminal and from the upper axils, branches 7.5-10 cm long. Fruit globose, 3-4 mm diam., black when ripe.

EMBELIA RIBES Burm. f.

Using information: Fruit is a good appetizer, alterative, carminative, stomachic, anthelmintic, alexiteric, analgesic, purgative and tonic; useful in ascites, bronchitis, jaundice, hemicrania, dyspepsia and skin diseases. It is effective against intestinal worms specially tapeworms. Roots are used as an antifertility drug. Decoction of the root is a very effective medicine against influenza and the infusion is effective against cough and diarrhoea. An infusion of the leaves is taken by Chakma of Chittagong Hill Tracts for the cure of jaundice (Yusuf et al. 2009). Aquous extract of the fruit possesses antifertility activity; powder inhibits 62% fertility in female rats; given to male bonnet monkeys, at a rate 100 mg/day for 3 months adversely affected quantity and quality of semen; also reduced tasterone level. Root powder showed 100% antifertility activity in female albino rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg (Asolkar et al., 1992).

Chemical constituents: The chief active constituent of the fruits (berries) is a hydroquinone, embelin (2,5-dihydorxy-3-lauryl-p-benzoquinone), a dimmer of embelin, vilangin. They also contain embolic acid, volatile and fixed oils, colouring matter, tannin, resin and an alkaloid, christembine (Ghani, 2003).

Distribution: Evergreen forests of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

8. RUMEX VESICARIUS L.Family: PolygonaceaeBengali/vernacular name: Takpalong, Chukapalong, Amlabetom.English name: Rosy Dock, Dock Sorrel, Bladder Dock.

Description of the plant: An annual, pale green, glabrous herb, branched from the root, rather fleshy, 15-30 cm high. Leaves 2.5-7.5 cm, elliptic, ovate or oblong, obtuse or acute, base cuneate. Racemes 2.5-3.8 cm, terminal and leaf-opposed. Flowers sometimes 2-nate and connate, valves large, orbicular, 2-lobed at each end, very membranous and reticulate without a marginal nerve. Fruit 1.3 cm diam., white or pink, valves hyaline.

RUMEX VESICARIUS L.

Using information: The plant is cooling, tonic, analgesic, laxative and stomachic; useful in heart troubles, tumours, constipation, hiccup, flatulence, asthma, bronchitis and piles. Leaf juice is astringent, cooling, aperient and a strong diuretic; relieves toothache, checks nausea and promotes appetite. Fruits are aperient and diuretic; eaten fresh against jaundice, hepatic conditions, constipation and indigestion. Roasted seeds are prescribed in dysentery (Yusuf et al. 2009).

Chemical constituents: Leaves are rich in ascorbic, citric and tartaric acids. Roots contain rumicin and lapathin, identical with chrysophanic acid. The aerial parts of this and other species of Rumex also contain anthraquinone derivatives and flavonoids like emodin, aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, chrysophanic acid, physcion; isovitexin, iso-orientin, quercetin, kaempferol and luteolin glucosides; chromone and flavone derivatives, tannins, mucilage, calcium oxalate and starch (Ghani, 2003). Cystine, glutamic acid, proline, phenylalanine and histidine have been detected in the protein extract (Rastogi & Mehrotra, 1993).

Distribution: Cultivated as a vegetable.

Research: Around 33 studies have been done so far.