Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Phytomedicinal Importance of Saraca asoca (Ashoka): An Exciting Past, an Emerging Present and a Promising Future


Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, India
 

Since the dawn of civilization, natural resources have remained the mainstay of various remedial approaches of humans vis-à-vis a large number of illnesses. Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde (or Saraca indica L.) belonging to family Caesalpiniaceae has been regarded as a universal panacea in old Indian Ayurvedic texts and has especially been used to manage gynaecological complications and infections besides treating haemmorhagic dysentery, uterine pain, bacterial infections, skin problems, tumours, worm infestations, cardiac and circulatory problems. Almost all parts of the plant are considered pharmacologically valuable. Extensive folkloric practices and ethnobotanical applications of this plant have even lead to the availability of several commercial S. asoca formulations recommended for different indications; however, though adulteration of these remains a pressing concern. Though a wealth of knowledge on this plant is available in both the classical and modern literature, extensive research on its phytomedicinal worth using state-of-the-art tools and methodologies is lacking. Recent reports on bioprospecting of S. asoca endophytic fungi for industrial bioproducts and useful pharmacologically relevant metabolites provide a silver lining to uncover single molecular bio-effectors from its endophytes. Here, we describe socio-ethno-botanical usage, present the current pharmacological status and discuss potential bottlenecks in harnessing the proclaimed phytomedicinal worth of this prescribed Ayurvedic medicinal plant. Finally, we also look into the possible future of the drug discovery and pharmaceutical R&D efforts directed at exploring its pharma legacy.

Keywords

Drug Discovery, Herbal Medicine, Saraca asoca, Natural Products, Plant Extracts.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Raskin, I. et al., Plants and human health in the twenty-first century. Trends Biotechnol., 2002, 12, 522–531.

  • Koehn, F. E. and Carter, G. T., The evolving role of natural products in drug discovery. Nature Rev. Drug Discov., 2005, 4, 206–220.

  • Kusari, S., Singh, S. and Jayabaskaran, C., Rethinking production of Taxol® (paclitaxel) using endophyte biotechnology. Trends Biotechnol., 2014, 32, 304–311.

  • Chakravarthi, B. V. S. K., Das, P., Surendranath, K., Karande, A. A. and Jayabaskaran, C., Production of paclitaxel by Fusarium solani isolated from Taxus celebica. J. Biosci., 2008, 33, 259–267.

  • Oberlies, N. H. and Kroll, D. J., Camptothecin and taxol: historic achievements in natural products research. J. Nat. Prod., 2004, 67, 129–135.

  • Patwardhan, B., Vaidya, A. D. B. and Chorghade, M., Ayurveda and natural products drug discovery. Curr. Sci., 86, 789–799.

  • Pandey, M., Rastogi, S. and Rawat, A., Indian herbal drug for general healthcare: an overview. Internet J. Altern. Med., 2007, 6.

  • Kamboj, V. P., Herbal medicine. Curr. Sci., 2000, 78, 35–39.

  • Murthy, S. M., Mamatha, B. and Shivananda, T. N., Saraca asoca – an endangered plant. Biomedicine, 2008, 3, 224–228.

  • Mollik, M. A. H., Hossan, M. S., Paul, A. K., Taufiq-Ur-Rahman, Jahan, R. and Rahmatullah, M., A comparative analysis of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal healers in three districts of Bangladesh and inquiry as to mode of selection of medicinal plants. Ethnobotany Res. Appl., 2010, 8, 195–218.

  • Saha, J., Mitra, T., Gupta, K. and Mukherjee, S., Phytoconstituents and HPTLC analysis in Saraca asoca (roxb.) Wilde. Int. J. Pharm. Pharm. Sci., 2012, 4, 96–99.

  • De Wilde, W. J. J. O., Saraca tubiflora, a new species from west-central Sumatra (Caesalpinioideae). Blumea, 1985, 30, 425–428.

  • Beena, C. and Radhakrishnan, V. V., Quality assessment evaluation of the market samples of important ayurvedic drug Asoka bark. Ann. Phytomed., 2012, 1, 95–98.

  • Pradhan, P., Joseph, L., Gupta, V., Chulet, R., Arya, H., Verma, R. and Bajpai, A., Saraca asoca (Ashoka): a review. J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2009, 1, 62–71.

  • Shukla, R., Chakravarty, M. and Gautam, M. P., Indigenous medicine used for treatment of gynaecological disorders by tribal of Chhattisgarh. Indian J. Med. Plant Res., 2008, 2, 356–360.

  • Biswas, T. K. and Debnath, P., Asoka (Saraca indica Linn) – a cultural and scientific evaluation. Indian J. Hist. Sci., 1972, 7, 99–114.

  • Middelkoop, T. B. and Labadie, R. P., Int. J. Crude Drug Rec., 1986, 24, 41–44.

  • Bhandary, M. J., Chandrasekhar, K. R. and Kaveriappa, K. M., Medical ethnobotany of the Siddis of Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka, India. J. Ethnopharmacol., 1995, 47, 149–158.

  • Kumar, Y., Haridasan, K. and Rao, R. R., Ethnobotanical notes on certain medicinal plants among some Garo people around Balphakram Sanctuary in Meghalaya. Bull. Bot. Surv. India, 1980, 22, 161–165.

  • Middelkoop, T. B. and Labadie, R. P., The action of Saraca asoca Roxb. de Wilde bark on the PGH2 synthetase enzyme complex of the sheep vesicular gland. Z. Naturforsch. C, 1985, 40, 523–526.

  • Mishra, A., Kumar, A., Rajbhar, N. and Kumar, A., Phytochemical and pharmacological importance of Saraca indica. Int. J. Pharm. Chem. Sci., 2013, 2, 1009–1013.

  • Saha, J. C., Savini, E. C. and Kasinathan, S., Ecbolic properties of Indian medicinal plants, part I. Indian J. Med. Res., 1961, 49, 130–151.

  • Karnick, C. R., Acta Phytother., 1970, 17, 181.

  • Khan, M. A., Khan, T. and Ahmad, Z., Barks used as source of medicine in Madhya Pradesh, India. Fitoterapia, 1994, 65, 444–446.

  • John, D., One hundred useful raw drugs of the Kani tribes of Trivandrum Forest Division, Kerala, India. Int. J. Crude Drug Res., 1984, 22(1), 17–39.

  • Pal, S. C., Maiti, A. P., Chatterjee, B. P. and Nandy, A., Antibacterial activity of flowers and flower buds of Saraca indica Linn. Indian J. Med. Rec., 1985, 82, 188–189.

  • Jain, S. R. and Sharma, S. N., Hypoglycaemic drugs of Indian indigenous origin. Planta Med., 1967, 15, 439–442.

  • Singh, A., Singh, S., Sarma, B. K., Singh, U. P., Srivastava, R. and Singh, K. P., Internet J. Altern. Med., 2009, 6, 1–20.

  • Rajan, S., Johnson, J. and Selvichristy, J., Antibacterial activity and preliminary screening of the extracts of the bark of Saraca asoca. J. Sci. Trans. Environ., 2008, 1, 149–151.

  • Annapurna, J., Bhalerao, U. T. and Iyengar, D. S., Antimicrobial activity of Saraca asoca leaves. Fitoterapia, 1999, 70, 80–82.

  • Seetharam, N., Sujeeth, H., Jyothishwaran, G., Barad, A., Sharanabasappa, G. and Shabana, P., Antibacterial activity of Saraca asoca bark. Indian J. Plant Sci., 2003, 65, 658–659.

  • Mathew, N., Anitha, M. G., Bala, T. S. L., Sivakumar, S. M., Narmadha, R. and Kalyanasundaram, M., Larvicidal activity of Saraca indica, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, and Clitoria ternatea extracts against three mosquito vector species. Parasitol. Res., 2009, 104, 1017–1025.

  • Preeti, B., Bharti, A., Sharma, A. and Vishwabhan, S., A review on Saraca indica plant. Int. Res. J. Pharm., 2012, 3, 80–84.

  • Sarojini, N., Manjari, S. A. and Chandrakanti, C., Correlation between phytochemical screening and some biological activity using plant extracts. Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm., 2011, 4, 1343–1348.

  • Pal, S. C., Maiti, A. P., Chatterjee, B. P. and Nandy, A., Antibacterial activity of flowers and flower buds of Saraca indica. Ind. J. Med. Res., 1985, 82, 188–189.

  • Sainath, R. S., Prathiba, J. and Malathi, R., Antimicrobial activity of the stem bark of Saraca indica. Eur. Rev. Med. Pharm. Sci., 2009, 13, 371–374.

  • Nayak, S., Sahoo, A. M., Chakraborti, C. K. and Haque, M. N., Antibacterial activity study of Saraca indica leaves. Int. J. Pharm. Res. Dev., 2011, 3, 160–163.

  • Saha, J., Mukherjee, S., Gupta, K. and Gupta, B., Highperformance thin-layer chromatographic analysis of antioxidants present in different parts of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde. J. Pharm. Res., 2013, 1–6.

  • Gomashe, A. V., Gulhane, P. A., Junghare, M. P. and Dhakate, N. A., Antimicrobial activity of Indian medicinal plants: Moringa oleifera and Saraca indica. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. Appl. Sci., 2014, 3, 161–169.

  • Cibin, T. R., Devi, D. G. and Abraham, A., Chemoprevention of two-stage skin cancer in vivo by Saraca asoca. Integr. Cancer. Ther., 2012, 11, 279–286.

  • Preethi, F. and Krishnakumar, K., Anti-inflammatory activity of the barks of Saraca indica Linn. Pharmacology Online, 2011, 2, 657–662.

  • Saravanan, S., Babu, N. P., Pandikumar, P. and Ignacimuthu, S., Therapeutic effect of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Wilde on lysosomal enzymes and collagen metabolism in adjuvant induced arthritis. Inflammopharmacol., 2011, 19, 317–325.

  • Saha, J., Mitra, T., Gupta, K. and Mukherjee, S., Phytoconstituents and HPTLC analysis in Saraca asoca (roxb.) Wilde. Int. J. Pharm. Pharm. Sci., 2012, 4, 96–99.

  • Lakshmi, K. N. V. C., Madhuri, M., Anwar, S., Ali, L., Bhimavarapu, P. and Shaik, A., Evaluation of antiulcerogenic activity of various extracts of Saraca indica bark on aspirin induced gastric ulcers in albino rats. Int. J. Res. Pharm. Chem., 2013, 3, 753–758.

  • Ahmed, C. Y., A study on the antiarthritic and antiulcer activities of Saraca indica Bark in rats and mice. Department of Pharmacology, V. L. College of Pharmacy, Raichur, Karnataka, India. Abstr., 2011, page xiv. Discussion; pp. 147–148.

  • Jain, A., Jasmine, Sharma, S. and Saini, V., Hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and antioxidant potential of Saraca asoca ethnolic leaves extract in streptozotocin induced-experimental diabetes. Int. J. Pharm. Pharm. Sciences, 2013, 5, 302–305.

  • Samee, W. and Vorarat, S., Simultaneous determination of gallic acid, catechin, rutin, ellagic acid and quercetin in flower extracts of Michelia alba, Caesalpinia pulcherrima and Nelumbo nucifera by HPLC. Thai Pharm. Health Sci. J., 2007, 2, 131–137.

  • Panchawat, S. and Sisodia, S. S., In vitro antioxidant activity of Saraca asoca Roxb. de Wilde stem bark extracts from various extraction processes. Asian J. Pharm. Clin. Res., 2010, 3, 231–233.

  • Pandey, A. K., Ojha, V., Yadav, S. and Sahu, S. K., Phytochemical evaluation and radical scavenging activity of Bauhinia variegata, Saraca asoca and Terminalia arjuna barks. Res. J. Phytochem., 2011, 5, 89–97.

  • Sadhu, S. K., Khatun, A., Phattanawasin, P., Ohtsuki, T. and Ishibashi, M., Lignan glycosides and flavonoids from Saracaasoca with antioxidant activity. J. Nat. Med., 2007, 61, 480–482.

  • Pal, T. K., Bhattacharyya, S. and Dey, A., Evaluation of antioxidant activities of flower extract (fresh and dried) of Saraca indica grown in West Bengal. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. Appl. Sci., 2014, 3, 251–259.

  • Mir, M. A., Sawhney, S. S. and Kumar, S., Comparative study upon the antioxidant potential of Saraca indica and Pterospermum acerifolium. J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2012, 4, 4716–4720.

  • Prathapan, A., Nampoothiri, S. V., Mini, S. and Raghu, K. G., Antioxidant, antiglycation and inhibitory potential of Saraca asoca flowers against the enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes and LDL oxidation. Eur. Rev. Med. Pharmacol. Sci., 2012, 16, 57–65.

  • Katiyar, S., Patidar, D., Gupta, S., Singh, R. K. and Singh, P., Some Indian traditional medicinal plants with antioxidant activity: a review. Int. J. Innovat. Res. Sci. Eng. Technol., 2013, 2, 7303–7314.

  • Kumar, S., Narwal, S., Kumar, D., Singh, G., Narwal, S. and Arya, R., Evaluation of antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activities of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wild leaves in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice. Asian Pac. J. Trop. Med., 2012, 1, 170–176.

  • Verma, A., Jana, G. K., Chakraborty, R., Sen, S., Sachan, S. and Mishra, A., Analgesic activity of various leaf extracts of Saraca indica Linn. Der Pharm. Let., 2010, 2, 352–357.

  • Kapoor, L. D., Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants, 2001, 1st edn, p. 298.

  • Nag, D., Ghosh, M. and Mukherjee, A., Antimutagenic and genoprotective effects of Saraca asoca bark extract. Toxicol. Indian Health, 2013.

  • Mukherjee, T., Chowdhury, S., Kumar, A., Majumder, H. K., Jaisankar, P. and Mukhopadhyay, S., Saracoside: a new lignan glycoside from Saraca indica, a potential inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase IB. Nat. Prod. Commun., 2012, 7, 767–769.

  • Mukhopadhyay, M. K. and Nath, D., Phytochemical screening and toxicity study of Saraca asoca Bark. Int. J. Phytomed., 2011, 3, 498–505.

  • Shirolkar, A., Gahlaut, A., Chhillar, A. K. and Dabur, R., Quantitative analysis of catechins in Saracaasoca and correlation with antimicrobial activity. J. Pharm. Anal., 2013, 3, 421–428.

  • Begum, S. N., Ravikumar, K. and Ved, D. K., ‘Asoka’ – an important medicinal plant, its market scenario and conservation measures in India. Curr. Sci., 2014, 107, 26–28.

  • Mitra, S. K., Gopumadhavan, S., Venkataranganna, M. V., Sarma, D. N. K. and Anturlikar, S. D., Uterine tonic activity of U-3107 (EveCare), a herbal preparation in rats. Indian J. Pharm., 1999, 31, 200–203.

  • Satyavati, G. V., Prasad, D. N., Sen, S. P. and Das, P. K., Oxytocic activity of a pure phenolic glycoside (P2) from Saraca indica Linn (Ashoka): a short communication. Indian J. Med. Res., 1970, 58, 660–663.

  • Dabur, R., Gupta, A., Mandal, T. K., Singh, D. D., Bajpai, V., Gurav, A. M. and Lavekar, G. S., Antimicrobial activity of some Indian medicinal plants. Afr. J. Trad. CAM, 2007, 4, 313–318.

  • Kaur, J. D. and Misra, K., Biological and pharmacological activity of Saraca asoca: anticancer activity. J. Indian Chem. Soc., 1980, 57(12), 1243.

  • Yadav, N. K. et al., Saraca indica bark extract shows in vitro antioxidant, antibreast cancer activity and does not exhibit toxicological effects. Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev., 2015, doi: 10.1155/ 2015/205360.

  • Ghosh, S., Majumder, M., Majumder, S., Ganguly, N. K. and Chatterjee, B. P., Saracin: a lectin from Saraca indica seed integument induces apoptosis in human T-lymphocytes. Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 1999, 371, 163–168.

  • Shelar, D. B., Shirote, P. J. and Naikwade, N. S., Antiinflammatory activity and brine shrimps lethality test of Saraca indica (Linn.) leaves extract. J. Pharm. Res., 2010, 3, 2004–2006.

  • Swamy, A. H. M. V., Patel, U. M., Koti, B. C., Gadad, P. C., Patel, N. L. and Thippeswamy, A. H. M., Cardioprotective effect of Saraca indica against cyclophosphamide induced cardiotoxicity in rats: a biochemical, electrocardiographic and histopathological study. Indian J. Pharmacol., 2013, 45, 44–48.

  • Maruthappan, V. and Sakthi Shree, K.,. Antiulcer activity of aqueous suspension of Saraca indica flower against gastric ulcers in albino rats. J. Pharm. Res., 2010, 3(1), 17.

  • Gahlaut, A., Shirolkar, A., Hooda, V. and Dabur, R., β-sitosterol in different parts of Saraca asoca and herbal drug ashokarista: quali-quantitative analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. J. Adv. Pharm. Technol. Res., 2013, 4, 146–150.

  • Khatoon, S., Singh, N., Kumar, S., Srivastava, N., Rathi, A. and Mehrotra, S., Authentication and quality evaluation of an important Ayurvedic drug – Ashoka bark. J. Sci. Ind. Res., 2009, 68, 393–400.

  • Godara, D., Kaushik, V., Sharma, G. and Saini, V., A method of isolation of Capparisterol from Capparis decidua and antinephrolithiasis activity. Am. J. Adv. Drug. Del., 2015, 3, 86–94.

  • Verma, A., Jana, G. K., Sen, S., Chakraborty, R., Sachan, S. and Mishra, A., Pharmacological evaluation of Saraca indica leaves for central nervous system depressant activity in mice. J. Pharm. Sci. Res., 2010, 2(6), 338–343.

  • Yadav, G., Garg, V. K., Thakur, N. and Khare, P., Locomotor Activity of methanolic extract of Saraca indica bark. Adv. Biol. Res., 2013, 7, 1–3.

  • Sarojini, N., Manjari, S. A. and Kanti, C. C., Phytochemical screening and anti-helminthic activity study of Saraca indica leaves extract. Int. Res. J. Pharm., 2011, 2, 194–197.

  • Nadakarni, K. M., The Indian Materia Medica, 1957, 3rd edn, p. 1075.

  • Varaprasad, N. et al., Antipyretic activity of methanolic extract of Saraca asoca (roxb.) de Wild leaves. Int. J. Pharm. Res. Dev., 2011, 3, 202–207.

  • Sasmal, S., Majumdar, S., Gupta, M., Mukherjee, A. and Mukherjee, P. K., Pharmacognostical, phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation for the antipyretic effect of the seeds of Saraca asoca Roxb. Asian Pac. J. Trop. Biomed., 2012, 2, 782–786.

  • Kalakotla, S., Mohan, G. K., Rani, M. S., Divya, L. and Pravallika, P. L., Screening of Saraca indica (Linn.) medicinal plant for antidiabetic and antioxidant activity. Der. Pharm. Lett., 2014, 6, 227–233.

  • Ahmad, F., Misra, L., Tewari, R., Gupta, P., Mishra, P. and Shukla, R., Anti-inflammatory flavonol glycosides from Saraca asoca bark. Nat. Prod. Res., 2015, 23, 1–4.

  • Somani, G. and Sathaye, S., Bioactive fraction of Saraca indica prevents diabetes induced cataractogenesis: an aldose reductase inhibitory activity. Pharmacogn. Mag., 2015, 11, 102–110.

  • Gupta, M., Sasmal, S. and Mukherjee, A., Therapeutic effects of acetone extract of Saraca asoca seeds on rats with adjuvantinduced arthritis via attenuating inflammatory responses. ISRN Rheumatol., 2014, pp 1–12.

  • Pradhan, P., Joseph, L., George, M., Kaushik, N. and Chulet, R., Pharmacognostic, phytochemical and quantitative investigation of Saraca asoca leaves. J. Pharm. Res., 2010, 3, 776–780.

  • Sarojini, N., Manjari, S. A. and Kanti, C. C., Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity study of Saracaindica leaves extract. Int. Res. J. Pharm., 2011, 2, 176–179.

  • Mittal, A., Kadyan, P., Gahlaut, A. and Dabur, R., Nontargeted identification of the phenolic and other compounds of Saraca asoca by high performance liquid chromatography–positive electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. ISRN Pharm., 2013, 1–10.

  • Rodriguez, R. J., White, Jr. J. F., Arnold, A. E. and Redman, R. S., Fungal endophytes: diversity and functional roles. New Phytol., 2009, 182, 314–330.

  • Jansen, R. and Murali, T. S., Fungal endophytes and bioprospecting. Fungal Biol. Rev., 2009, 23, 9–19.

  • Kuriakose, G. C., Singh, S., Rajvanshi, P. K., Surin, W. R. and Jayabaskaran, C., In Vitro cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction in human cancer cells by culture extract of an endophytic Fusarium solani strain isolated from Datura metel L. Pharm. Anal. Acta, 2014, 5, 1–8.

  • Strobel, G., Daisy, B. and Castillo, U., The biological promise of microbial endophytes and natural products. Plant Pathol. J., 2005, 4, 161–176.

  • Aly, A. H., Abdessamad, D., Julia, K. and Peter, P., Fungal endophytes from higher plants: a prolific source of phytochemicals and other bioactive natural products. Fungal Divers., 2010, 41, 1–16.

  • Suryanarayanan, T. S., Thirunavukkarasu, N., Govindarajulu, M. B., Sasse, F., Jansen, R. and Murali, T. S., Fungal endophytes and bioprospecting: an appeal for a concerted effort. Fungal Biol. Rev., 23, 1–19.

  • Jain, P., Aggarwal, V., Sharma, A. and Pundir, R. K., Isolation, production and partial purification of protease from an endophytic Acremonium sp. J. Agric. Tech., 2012, 8, 1979–1989.

  • Jain, P., Aggarwal, V., Sharma, A. and Pundir, R. K., Screening of endophytic fungus Acremonium sp. for amylase production. J. Agric. Tech., 2012, 8, 1353–1364.

  • Jinu, M. V., Gini, C. K. and Jayabaskaran, C., In vitro antioxidant activity of cholestanol glucoside from an endophytic fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from Saraca asoca. J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2015, 7, 952–962.

  • Jinu, M. V., Gini, C. K. and Jayabaskaran, C., Modulating the biosynthesis of a bioactive steroidal saponin, cholestanol glucoside by Lasiodiplodia theobromae using abiotic stress factors. Int. J. Pharm. Pharm. Sci., 2015, 7(7), 114–117.

  • Jinu, M. V. and Jayabaskaran, C., Media optimization for the production of a bioactive steroidal saponin, cholestanol glucoside by Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Eur. J. Exp. Biol., 2015, 5(4), 28– 36.

  • Jinu, M. V. and Jayabaskaran, C., Diversity and anticancer activity of endophytic fungi associated with the medicinal plant Saraca asoca. Curr. Res. Env. Appl. Mycol., 5(3), 169–179.

  • Kusari, S., Singh, S. and Jayabaskaran, C., Biotechnological potential of plant-associated endophytic fungi: hope versus hype. Trends Biotechnol., 2014, 32, 297–303.

  • Beena, C. and Radhakrishnan, V. V., Quality assessment evaluation of the market samples of important ayurvedic drug asoka bark. Ann. Phytomed., 2012, 1(1), 95–98.

  • Mathew, S., Mathew, G., Joy, P. P., Skaria, B. P. and Joseph, T. S., Differentiation of Saracaasoca crude drug from its adulterant. Ancient Sci. Life, 2005, XXIV(4), 174–178.

  • Pavarini, D. P., Pavarini, S. P., Niehues, M. and Lopes, N. P., Exogenous influences on plant secondary metabolite levels. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 2012, 176(1–4), 5–16.

  • Ramakrishna, A. and Ravishankar, G. A., Influence of abiotic stress signals on secondary metabolites in plants. Plant Signal Behav., 2011, 6(11), 1720–1731.

  • Achakzai, A. K. K., Palwasha, A., Masood, A., Kayani, S. A. and Tareen, R. B., Response of plant parts and age on the distribution of secondary metabolites on plants found in Quetta. Pak. J. Bot., 2009, 41(5), 2129–2135.

  • Saha, J., Gupta, K. and Gupta, B., Phylogenetic analyses and evolutionary relationships of Saraca asoca with their allied taxa (Tribe-Detarieae) based on the chloroplast matK gene. J. Plant Biochem. Biotechnol., 2013, doi: 10.1007/s13562-013-0237-3.

  • Sumangala, R. C., Shaanker, R. U., Dayanandan, S., Vasudeva, R. and Ravikanth, G., Identification of novel microsatellite markers for Saraca asoca, a medicinally important tree species in India. J. Genet., 2013, 92, 93–95.

  • Dev, S., Prime Ayurvedic Plant Drugs, 2012, 2nd edn, p. 464.

  • Behari, M., Andhiwal, C. K. and Streibl, M., Hydrocarbons, esters and free alcohols in the bark of Saraca indica L. Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun., 1977, 42, 1385–1388.


Abstract Views: 806

PDF Views: 184




  • Phytomedicinal Importance of Saraca asoca (Ashoka): An Exciting Past, an Emerging Present and a Promising Future

Abstract Views: 806  |  PDF Views: 184

Authors

Satpal Singh
Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, India
T. H. Anantha Krishna
Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, India
Subban Kamalraj
Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, India
Gini C. Kuriakose
Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, India
Jinu Mathew Valayil
Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, India
Chelliah Jayabaskaran
Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, India

Abstract


Since the dawn of civilization, natural resources have remained the mainstay of various remedial approaches of humans vis-à-vis a large number of illnesses. Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde (or Saraca indica L.) belonging to family Caesalpiniaceae has been regarded as a universal panacea in old Indian Ayurvedic texts and has especially been used to manage gynaecological complications and infections besides treating haemmorhagic dysentery, uterine pain, bacterial infections, skin problems, tumours, worm infestations, cardiac and circulatory problems. Almost all parts of the plant are considered pharmacologically valuable. Extensive folkloric practices and ethnobotanical applications of this plant have even lead to the availability of several commercial S. asoca formulations recommended for different indications; however, though adulteration of these remains a pressing concern. Though a wealth of knowledge on this plant is available in both the classical and modern literature, extensive research on its phytomedicinal worth using state-of-the-art tools and methodologies is lacking. Recent reports on bioprospecting of S. asoca endophytic fungi for industrial bioproducts and useful pharmacologically relevant metabolites provide a silver lining to uncover single molecular bio-effectors from its endophytes. Here, we describe socio-ethno-botanical usage, present the current pharmacological status and discuss potential bottlenecks in harnessing the proclaimed phytomedicinal worth of this prescribed Ayurvedic medicinal plant. Finally, we also look into the possible future of the drug discovery and pharmaceutical R&D efforts directed at exploring its pharma legacy.

Keywords


Drug Discovery, Herbal Medicine, Saraca asoca, Natural Products, Plant Extracts.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv109%2Fi10%2F1790-1801