Bala et al Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics. 2022; 12(4):221-226
ISSN: 2250-1177 [221] CODEN (USA): JDDTAO
Available online on 18.07.2022 at http://jddtonline.info
Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics
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Open Access Full Text Article Review Article
Holarrhena antidysenterica in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a potential
review
Kiran Bala , Indu Melkani , Ajeet Pal Singh, Amar Pal Singh, Jaspreet Kaur* ,
St. Soldier Institute of Pharmacy, Lidhran Campus behind NIT (R.E.C.), Jalandhar-Amritsar bypass NH-1 Jalandhar-144011, Punjab, India
Article Info:
_______________________________________________
Article History:
Received 14 May 2022
Reviewed 02 July 2022
Accepted 13 July 2022
Published 18 July 2022
_______________________________________________
Cite this article as:
Bala K, Melkani I, Singh AP, Singh AP, Kaur J,
Holarrhena antidysenterica in Inflammatory Bowel
Disease: a potential review, Journal of Drug Delivery
and Therapeutics. 2022; 12(4):221-226
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v12i4.5458
_______________________________________________
*Address for Correspondence:
Kiran Bala, St. Soldier Institute of Pharmacy, Lidhran
Campus behind NIT (R.E.C.), Jalandhar-Amritsar
bypass NH-1 Jalandhar-144011, Punjab, India
Abstract
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Holarrhena antidysenterica belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is generally known as kurchi in
Hindi. It is a small deciduous tree found in arid woods throughout the world including India. H.
Antidysenterica is commonly used in Indian traditional medicine to treat Inflammatory Bowel
disease, dysentery, diarrhoea and worms in the intestines. Plant parts like bark are useful in
antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatments, amoebiasis, chronic bronchitis, boils,
and ulcers. The Phytoconstituents found in the plant ergosterol, flavonoids, phenolic acids, resins,
saponins, steroidal alkaloids, coumarins, tannins and triterpenoids. Anti-amnesic, anti-diabetic,
antibacterial action, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrhoeal, antioxidant/free radical activity , radical
scavenging, diuretic, anti-amoebic, anthelmintic and anti-microbial effects are found as
pharmacological properties of Holarrhena antidysenterica. H. antidysenterica bark contains
alkaloids the most important of which is the steroidal alkaloid conessine which is the major
therapeutic constituent. Conarrhimine, Conimine, Conamine, Conessidine, Isoconessimine, Dimethyl
Conkurchine and Holarrhimine are among the various alkaloids studied. The bark also includes
gum, resin, tannin, lupeol and the digitenol glycoside Holadysone in addition to alkaloids. Bark of
Holarrhena antidysenterica is used to treat malaria, chest infections, asthma, bronchopneumonia,
stomach disorders, dyspepsia, diarrhoea and dysentery.
Keywords: HA- Holarrhena antidysenterica, IBD- Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Collitus
1 Introduction:
Holarrhena antidysenterica (Family - Apocynaceae, Common
Name: Kutaza, Bitter Oleander, Kurchi) is a large tree, 9-10
feet tall, abundant in sub Himalayan tract and mountainous
areas. The seeds are linear or oblong concave with a long coma
shape, light brown in color and showing epigeal germination.
The Unani and Ayurvedic medicine system uses this excellent
drug against many infectious diseases caused by helminthes,
Staphylococcus aureus, Entamoeba histolytica, and
Escherichia coli infections. The bark and seeds of HA used in
diarrehoea, ashthma,piles , amoebic dysentery
1
. H.
antidysenterica produces gastrointestinal tract activation by
activating histamine receptors and relaxes the gastrointestinal
tract by blocking the Ca ++ channel, which provides a basic
reason for its usefulness in gastrointestinal disorders such as
constipation and diarrhea
2
. Alkaloids are the major elements
in HA and are responsible for a variety of actions. Alkaloids are
usually insoluble in water however the HA plant contains
conessine an alkaloid that is soluble in water and has a variety
of therapeutic effects. Other alkaloids that are found in nature
and have a variety of pharmacological effects
3
.
According to Charaka, the pods have stanyasodhana (a
lactodepurant), the indrayava (seed) contains ama and
asthapanopaga (includes enema) and the plant contains
vamaka and arsoghna, which have symptoms of bleeding and
anti-haemorrhoidal respectively. For no Ayurveda, a plant
recommended for the treatment of obesity, asthma,
bronchopneumonia, hepatosplenomegaly and rheumatism. H.
antidysenterica is a major ingredient in a few Ayurvedic
remedies arrangements such as Kutajghan Vati, Kutajarista
and Kutaja churna, used to treat diarrhea, diarrhea, fever and
bacterial infections. This plant is mentioned in Susruta
Samhita as antiseptic, vermifuge, febrifuge, detoxicant
4
. In
Indian Ayurvedic medicine H. antidysenterica is used to cure
Atisara (diarrhoea and dysentery). The pods include
stanyasodhana (a lactodepurant) the indrayava (seeds)
contain ama and asthapanopaga (enema adjuncts) and the
plant contains vamaka and arsoghna which have emetic and
anti-haemorrhoidal qualities respectively according to
Charaka. Susruta attributes diuretic properties of seeds and
sukrasodhana to the plant in general (sperm-purifier). The
herbs is characterized as antiseptic, vermifuge, febrifuge and
detoxicant in the Susruta Samhita and is thought to cure
malignant ulcers, leprosy, diarrhoea and other severe skin
illnesses. The herb is used to treat obesity, asthma,
bronchopneumonia, hepatosplenomegaly and rheumatism in
modern Ayurveda
4
.The administration of an aqueous extract
of H. antidysenterica seed to diabetic mice resulted in a
considerable increase in antioxidant enzyme activity as well as
a reduction in free radical levels. The results of the above
stated biomarkers showed that extract of H. antidysenterica
seed reduces oxidative stress in diabetic animals by inhibiting
ROS formation and reducing high blood glucose levels
5
.