Medicinal Plants as Source of Antiemetic Agents: A Review

Asian J. Pharm. Tech. 2011; Vol. 1: Issue 2, Pg 25-27
[AJPTech.]
ISSN- 2231–5705 (Print)
www.asianpharmaonline.org
ISSN- 2231–5713 (Online) 0974-3618
REVIEW ARTICLE
Medicinal Plants as Source of Antiemetic Agents: A Review
Yogesh Shivhare*
Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, RKDF College of Pharmacy, Bhopal (M.P.), India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: yogesh_aot@rediffmail.com
ABSTRACT:
There is a renewed global interest in traditional medicines and the plants are one of the most important sources of these
medicines. This review highlights the use of medicinal plants for the prevention and treatment of emesis and presents
the author’s approach to the scientific assessment of medicinal plants as potential source of antiemetic agents.
KEYWORDS:
INTRODUCTION:
There is a renewed global interest in traditional medicines
and the plants are one of the most important sources of
these medicines. The important advantages claimed for
therapeutic uses of medicinal plants in various ailments are
their safety besides being economical, effective and their
easy availability. 1,2 Because of these advantages the
medicinal plants have been widely used by the traditional
medical practitioners in their day to day practice.
Emesis is defined as the vigorous expulsion of the contents
of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the
nose. It may result from many causes, ranging from gastritis
or poisoning to brain tumors, or elevated intracranial
pressure. Vomiting can be dangerous if the gastric content
gets into the respiratory tract. Under normal circumstances
the gag reflex and coughing will prevent this from
occurring, however these protective reflexes are
compromised in persons under the influences of certain
substances such as alcohol or anesthesia. The individual
may choke and asphyxiate or suffer aspiration pneumonia.
The drugs which are used for the treatment and prevention
of emesis are known as anti-emetics. 3, 4 In the present work,
the data on several Ethanomedicinal plants have been
collected from various sources of literature, which are
enumerated in Table 1. These plants are still used
traditionally as herbal drugs for the prevention and
treatment of emesis.
NOTEWORTHY CONTRIBUTIONS IN ANTI-
EMETIC ACTIVITY OF NATURAL CONSTITUENTS:
Flavonoids isolated from Alpinia officinarum showed
antiemetic activity in a copper sulfate induced emesis assay
in young chicks. 8
Two novel diarylheptanoids named katsumadain A and
katsumadain B were isolated from the seeds of Alpinia
katsumadai, and their structures were determined by
spectroscopic analysis. Both katsumadains A and B showed
anti-emetic activities on copper sulfate-induced emesis in
young chicks. 9
Aqueous and methanolic extract of G. lasiodiscus root and
its fractions have anti-emetic properties, which provide for
the first time the rationale for its application in traditional
medicine especially in the management of emesis. 10
Marijuana was reported as antiemetic drug by Richard and
Co-workers. 11
CHEMICAL STRUCTURES OF PLANT
CONSTITUENTS
Received on 31.05.2011 Accepted on 21.06.2011
© Asian Pharma Press All Right Reserved
Asian J. Pharm. Tech. 1(2): April-June 2011; Page 25-27
Stigmasterol
Eugenol
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Asian J. Pharm. Tech. 2011; Vol. 1: Issue 2, Pg 25-27
[AJPTech.]
Chlorogenic acid Glutathione Mangiferin Protopin
TABLE 1. MEDICINAL PLANTS HAVING ANTIEMETIC ACTIVITY 5-7
S. Botanical Name With Vernacular Family Part used Chemical Constituents
N. Name
1 Abutilon. Indicum (Kanghi) Malvaceae Bark Abutillin
2 Achillea millefolium (Biranjasipha) Compositae Herb Achillein and achilleic acid
3 Allium tuberosum (Lahasun) Amaryllidaceae Bulb Trihydroxyspirostane
4 Amomum krervanh (Krishna Jeera) Zingiberaceae Fruits Catechin - DPPH - epicatechin
5 Annona. Squamosa.linn (Sharifa) Annonaceae Fruit Chloroplatinate, Anonaine Alkaloid
6 Arundo phragmites (Cotton whitefly) Poaceae Stem Tricin flavone C-glycosides
7 Atractylodes japonica (Anjani) Compositae Rhizome Hydroquinones
8 Atractylodes lancea (Gurmar) Asteraceae Root 5-Lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase-1
9 Averrhoa.carambola (Kamrakh) Oxalidaceae Fruit Volatile oils
10 Ballota nigra (Shalmali) Lamiaceae Whole Polyphenols, Phenylpropanoid, Mangiferin,
plant
11 Bixa.orellana.linn (Sinduriya) Bixaceae Plant Z-E Farnenyl Acetate, Occidentalo Acetate,
12 Blighia sapida (Ackee) Sapindaceae Leaf, bark Hypoglycin A and B
13 Brassica.compestris. (Sarson) Cruciferae Seed Arabinan, Rhamnogalacturonan
14 Calendula officinalis (Zergul) Asteraceae Florets Taraxasterol
15 Carum carvi (Syahjeera) Apiaceae Seed Menthol
16 Cetraria islandica (Charila) Parmeliaceae Fruit Alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone
17 Cinnamomum verum (Dalchini) Lauraceae Fruit Eugenol, benzyl benzoate
18 Citrus aurantifolia (Kagaji) Rutaceae Fruit Curcumin, acetoxychavicol acetate
19 Citrus reticulata (Santara) Rutaceae Fruit 5, 4-dihydroxy-6, 7, 8, 3-tetramethoxy flavone
20 Curcuma petiolata (Tavakhira) Zingiberaceae Rhizome Germacrone
21 Eruca.sativa.gars (Arugula) Cruciferae Seed Carboxylase, Taramira,
22 Fagonia.cretica.linn (Zarnab) Zygophyllaceae Leaves Cytosolic Copper
23 Ferronia.elephantum (Kaitha) Rutaceae Fruit Carboxy Methylated (1-4)Polygala-Cturonan
24 Hemerocallis fulva (Orange Daylily) Hemerocallidaceae Flower Kwanzoquinones, 2-hydroxychrysophanol
25 Hibiscus.abelurosclua (Musk plant) Malvaceae Seed Glutathione, tannins
26 Mesua.ferrea (Nagapushpa) Guttiferae Leaves 1-5,Dihydroxy Xanthone, B-Sitosterol
27 Murraya.koenigii (Mitha nim) Rutaceae Leaves Carbazoles & Carbazoleguiaones,
28 Ocimum gratissimum (Ram tulsi) Lamiaceae Whole Ocimum oil
plant
29 Ouratea.angustifolia (Vahl) Ochhaceae Root Gallocatechin
30 Panax quinquefolium (Gurmar) Araliaceae Root Ginsenosides, polyacetylenic alcohols
31 Pavonia.ododrata (Sugandhabala) Malvaceae All parts Sodium L. Malate
32 Phragmites australis (Narkhat) Poaceae Stem Iso butyarate , propionate
33 Phyllostachys nigra (Pecha) Poaceae Bark Chlorogenic acid, Caffeic acid,
34 Pinellia ternata (Crow-dipper) Araceae Root Adenosine, guanosine, phenylalanine
35 Portulaca.oleracea (Lunia) Portulacaceae Leaves Fructase, Oleracein, Lesperidin, Caffeic Acid
36 Prunella vulgaris ( Ustakhadus) Lamiaceae Plant Stigmasterol
37 Pueraria thunbergiana (Barali kund) Fabaceae Plant -hydroxy--methylglutaryl
38 Sanguinaria canadensis (Arusa) Papaveraceae Root Sanguinarine, Chelerythrine and Protopine
TABLE 2. HERBAL MARKETED PREPARATIONS CLAIMING ANTIEMETICS 12
S.N. Brand Names Ingredients Mfd./Mkt. by
1 Cordig
(Tablet)
Panchalavan 30mg, Triphala 30mg, Trikatu 20mg, Jeeraka 20mg, Sharapunkha 20mg,
Pippalimoola 10mg, Vidanga 10mg, Bhringaraja 10mg, Ela 10mg, Talisapatra 10mg,
Ajmera
2 Vomiteb
(Tablet/ Syrup)
Tejpatra 10mg, Shankha bhasma 10mg, Nimboo satwa 0.5mg
Karpura twak 720mg, Mala 80mg, Chandana 40mg, Nimbu twak 40mg, Pippali 10mg, Teja
10mg, Ela 10mg, Karpura 225mg, Suta Shekhara rasa 25mg, Lavanga 5mg
Charak
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[AJPTech.]
CONCLUSION:
It can be concluded that present work is precious to find out
natural products that may serve as lead for the improvement
of new pharmaceuticals addressing the major therapeutic
needs for the treatment of emesis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Yogesh Shivhare, the author, thankfully acknowledges to
Mr. Rakesh Punekar, Head and Vice-Principal, RKDF
College of Pharmacy, Bhopal (M.P.), in preparation of this
manuscript.
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