Friday, January 28, 2011
phyllanthus niruri
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Phyllanthus
Species: Niruri
Synonyms: Phyllanthus carolinianus, P, sellowianus, P. fraternus, P. kirganella, P. lathyroides, P. lonphali, Nymphanthus niruri
Common Names: Chanca piedra, quebra pedra, stone-breaker, arranca-pedras, punarnava, amli, bhonya, bhoomi amalaki, bhui-amla, bhui amla, bhuianvalah, bhuimy-amali, bhuin-amla, bhumyamalaki, cane peas senna, carry-me-seed, creole senna, daun marisan, derriere-dos, deye do, erva-pombinha, elrageig, elrigeg, evatbimi, gale-wind grass, graine en bas fievre, hurricane weed, jar-amla, jar amla, kizha nelli, malva-pedra, mapatan,para-parai mi, paraparai mi, pei, phyllanto, pombinha, quinine weed, sacha foster, cane senna, creole senna, shka-nin-du, viernes santo, ya-taibai, yaa tai bai, yah-tai-bai, yerba de san pablo
Part Used: Entire plant
From The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs:
over 300 to date).
Chanca piedra has demonstrated hypotensive effects in animals and humans. People with a heart condition and/or taking prescription heart medications should consult their doctor before taking this plant. It may be contraindicated for some individuals with heart conditions and/or heart medications may need monitoring and adjusting.
Chanca piedra has been considered in herbal medicine to be abortive (at high dosages) as well as a menstrual promoter. While not studied specifically in humans or animals, animal studies do indicate it has uterine relaxant effects. It should therefore be considered contraindicated during pregnancy.
Chanca piedra has been documented with female antifertility effects in one mouse study (the effect was reversed 45 days after cessation of dosing). While this effect has not been documented in humans, the use of the plant is probably contraindicated in women seeking pregnancy or taking fertility drugs. This effect has not been substantiated sufficiently to be used as a contraceptive, however, and should not be relied on for such.
Chanca piedra has demonstrated hypoglycemic effects in animals and humans. It is contraindicated for people with hypoglycemia. Diabetics should consult their doctor before taking this plant as insulin medications may need monitoring and adjusting.
Chanca piedra has been documented in human and animal studies with diuretic effects. Chronic and acute use of this plant may be contraindicated in various other medical conditions where diuretics are not advised. Chronic long-term use of any diuretic can cause electrolyte and mineral imbalances; however, human studies with chanca piedra (for up to three months of chronic use) has not reported any side effects. Consult your doctor if you choose to use this plant chronically for longer than three months concerning possible side effects of long term diuretic use.
May potentiate insulin and antidiabetic drugs.
This plant contains a naturally-occurring phytochemical called geraniin. This chemical has been documented with negative chronotropic, negative inotropic, hypotensive and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor effects in animal studies with frogs, mice and rats. As such, this plant may potentiate antihypertensive drugs, beta-blocker drugs and other heart medications (including chronotropic and inotropic drugs)
Genus: Phyllanthus
Species: Niruri
Synonyms: Phyllanthus carolinianus, P, sellowianus, P. fraternus, P. kirganella, P. lathyroides, P. lonphali, Nymphanthus niruri
Common Names: Chanca piedra, quebra pedra, stone-breaker, arranca-pedras, punarnava, amli, bhonya, bhoomi amalaki, bhui-amla, bhui amla, bhuianvalah, bhuimy-amali, bhuin-amla, bhumyamalaki, cane peas senna, carry-me-seed, creole senna, daun marisan, derriere-dos, deye do, erva-pombinha, elrageig, elrigeg, evatbimi, gale-wind grass, graine en bas fievre, hurricane weed, jar-amla, jar amla, kizha nelli, malva-pedra, mapatan,para-parai mi, paraparai mi, pei, phyllanto, pombinha, quinine weed, sacha foster, cane senna, creole senna, shka-nin-du, viernes santo, ya-taibai, yaa tai bai, yah-tai-bai, yerba de san pablo
Part Used: Entire plant
From The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs:
CHANCA PIEDRA | ||
HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS | ||
| Main Actions | Other Actions | Standard Dosage |
| expels stones | kills bacteria | Whole herb |
| supports kidneys | treats malaria | Infusion: 1 cup 2-3 times daily |
| increases urination | prevents mutation | Fluid Extract: 2-4 ml 2-3 |
| relieves pain | reduces fever | times daily |
| protects liver | mildly laxative | Capsules: 1-2 g twice daily |
| detoxifies liver | expels worms | |
| reduces spasms | ||
| reduces inflammation | ||
| kills viruses | ||
| clears obstructions | ||
| aids digestion | ||
| reduces blood sugar | ||
| lowers blood pressure | ||
| lowers cholesterol |
over 300 to date).
Chanca piedra or phyllanthus niruri is a small, erect, annual herb that grows 30–40 cm in height. It is indigenous to the rainforests of the Amazon and other tropical areas throughout the world, including the Bahamas, southern India, and China. P. niruri is quite prevalent in the Amazon and other wet rainforests, growing and spreading freely (much like a weed). P. amarus and P. sellowianus are closely related to P. niruri in appearance, phytochemical structure, and history of use, but typically are found in the drier tropical climates of India, Brazil, and even Florida and Texas.
The Phyllanthus genus contains over 600 species of shrubs, trees, and annual or biennial herbs distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. Unfortunately, there remains a great deal of confusion among scientists regarding plant identification and, in many cases, plant misidentification makes evaluation of published information difficult. P. amarus (Thonn. & Schum) and P. sellowianus are often considered a variety of P. niruri, or no distinction is made among these three species in published clinical research. Oftentimes one name is indicated to be synonymous with another and, sometimes, both names are used interchangeably as if referring to one plant. It became so confusing that, in the 1990s, a major reorganization of the Phyllanthus genus was conducted (which classified P. amarus as a type of P. niruri).
TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES The Spanish name of the plant, chanca piedra, means “stone breaker” or “shatter stone.” It was named for its effective use to generations of Amazonian indigenous peoples in eliminating gallstones and kidney stones. In Brazil, the plant is known as quebra-pedra or arranca-pedras (which also translates to “break-stone”). In addition to kidney stones, the plant is employed in the Amazon for numerous other conditions by the indigenous peoples, including colic, diabetes, malaria, dysentery, fever, flu, tumors, jaundice, vaginitis, gonorrhea, and dyspepsia. Based on its long documented history of use in the region, the plant is generally employed to reduce pain, expel intestinal gas, to stimulate and promote digestion, to expel worms, as a mild laxative.
Chanca piedra has a long history in herbal medicine systems in every tropical country where it grows. For the most part, it is employed for similar conditions worldwide. Its main uses are for many types of biliary and urinary conditions including kidney and gallbladder stones; for hepatitis, colds, flu, tuberculosis, and other viral infections; liver diseases and disorders including anemia, jaundice and liver cancer; and for bacterial infections such as cystitis, prostatitis, venereal diseases and urinary tract infections. It is also widely employed for diabetes and hypertension as well as for its diuretic, pain-relieving, digestive stimulant, antispasmodic, fever reducing, and cellular protective properties in many other conditions.
PLANT CHEMICALS Since the mid-1960s, chanca piedra has been the subject of much phytochemical research to determine the active constituents and their pharmacological activities. It is a rich source of plant chemicals, including many which have been found only in the Phyllanthus genus. Many of the "active" constituents are attributed to biologically active lignans, glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, ellagitannins, and phenylpropanoids found in the leaf, stem, and root of the plant. Common lipids, sterols, and flavonols also occur in the plant.
The main plant chemicals in chanca piedra include alkaloids, astragalin, brevifolin, carboxylic acids, corilagin, cymene, ellagic acid, ellagitannins, gallocatechins, geraniin, hypophyllanthin, lignans, lintetralins, lupeols, methyl salicylate, niranthin, nirtetralin, niruretin, nirurin, nirurine, niruriside, norsecurinines, phyllanthin, phyllanthine, phyllanthenol, phyllochrysine, phyltetralin, repandusinic acids, quercetin, quercetol, quercitrin, rutin, saponins, triacontanal, and tricontanol.
BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLINICAL RESEARCH It is little wonder that chanca piedra is used for so many purposes in herbal medicine systems: in clinical research over the years, the plant has demonstrated liver protective, antilithic (expels stones), pain-relieving, hypotensive, antispasmodic, antiviral, antibacterial, diuretic, antimutagenic, and hypoglycemic activities. Due of the confusion among P. niruri, P. amarus, and P. sellowianus over the years (and the reclassification of the genus), the research reviewed herein will encompass that which has been reported on all three of these very similar species.
The first notable area of study has validated chanca piedra's longstanding traditional use for kidney stones. In 1990, the Paulista School of Medicine in São Paulo, Brazil, conducted studies with humans and rats with kidney stones. They were given a simple tea of chanca piedra for 1-3 months and it was reported that the tea promoted the elimination of stones. They also reported a significant increase in urine output as well as sodium and creatine excretion. Subsequently the medical school educated new doctors about the ability to treat kidney stones with this natural remedy and now it is found in many pharmacies throughout Brazil.
In a 1999 in vitro clinical study, a chanca piedra extract exhibited the ability to block the formation of calcium oxalate crystals (the building blocks of most kidney stones) which indicates that it might be a useful preventative aid for people with a history of kidney stones. In a 2002 in vivo study, researchers seeded the bladders of rats with calcium oxalate crystals and treated them for 42 days with a water extract of chanca piedra. Their results indicated that chanca piedra strongly inhibited the growth and number of stones formed over the control group. Several of the animals even passed the stones which did form. Most recently (in 2003), scientists again confirmed in vitro that chanca piedra could help prevent the formation of kidney stones stating, ". . . that it may interfere with the early stages of stone formation and may represent an alternative form of treatment and/or prevention of urolithiasis."
Previously (in the mid-1980s) the antispasmodic activity of chanca piedra was reported. This led researchers to surmise that "smooth muscle relaxation within the urinary or biliary tract probably facilitates the expulsion of kidney or bladder calculi." Researchers had already reported chanca piedra's antispasmodic properties and smooth muscle relaxant properties (including a uterine relaxant effect) in earlier studies. In 1990, Nicole Maxwell reported that Dr. Wolfram Wiemann (of Nuremburg, Germany) treated over 100 kidney stone patients with chanca piedra obtained in Peru and found it to be 94% successful in eliminating stones within a week or two.
Chanca piedra is also used in herbal medicine for gallstones and, while no research has been performed that specifically validated this use, one study does indicate that chanca piedra has an effect on gallbladder processes. In a 2002 study, Indian researchers reported that chanca piedra increased bile acid secretion in the gallbladder and significantly lowered blood cholesterol levels in rats. The beneficial effects of lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels was also confirmed by another in vivo (rat) study in 1985.
The plant's traditional use for hypertension has been explored by research as well. The hypotensive effects were first reported in a dog study in 1952 (in which a diuretic effect was noted also). The hypotensive effects were attributed to a specific phytochemical in chanca piedra called geraniin in a 1988 study. In 1995 Indian researchers gave human subjects with high blood pressure chanca piedra leaf powder in capsules and reported a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure, a significant increase in urine volume and sodium excretion. Chanca piedra's diuretic effect in humans was recorded as far back as 1929 and, in India, a tablet of chanca piedra (called Punarnava) is sold as a diuretic there.
In the above 1995 study, researchers also reported that blood sugar levels were reduced significantly in human subjects studied. Two other studies with rabbits and rats document the hypoglycemic effect of chanca piedra in diabetic animals. Yet another study documented chanca piedra with aldose reductase inhibition (ARI) properties. Aldose reductases are substances that act on nerve endings exposed to high blood sugar concentration and can lead to diabetic neuropathy and macular degeneration. Substances which inhibit these substances can prevent some of the chemical imbalances that occur and thus protect the nerve. This ARI effect of chanca piedra was attributed, in part, to a plant chemical called ellagic acid. This well-studied plant chemical has been documented with many other beneficial effects in numerous clinical studies (
Another area of research has focused on the pain-relieving effects of chanca piedra and performed at a Brazilian university. So far, they've published six studies on their findings. The first three studies reported strong and dose-dependent pain-relieving effects in mice given extracts of chanca piedra against six different laboratory-induced pain models. In 1996, they isolated and tested chanca piedra's hypotensive plant chemical geraniin and reported that it was seven times more potent as a pain-reliever than aspirin or acetaminophen. Their last two studies (published in 2000) continued to document chanca piedra's pain-relieving effects against normal pain models in mice, and, newly-tested nerve-related pain models. Again, they related this effect to the geraniin plant chemical and reported its ability to inhibit several neurotransmitter processes that relay and receive pain signals in the brain. Unlike aspirin (which can harm the mucosal lining of the stomach and cause ulcers), geraniin has been reported to have antiulcerous properties and to protect the gastric tract instead. This pain-relieving effect is probably why so many people taking chanca piedra for kidney stones (a very painful affair) report such quick relief and long before chanca piedra could actually break down and expel a stone.
The liver-protecting activity of chanca piedra is another subject which has been established with clinical research with animals and humans. These effects have been attributed to (at least) two novel plant chemicals in chanca piedra named phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin. The researchers who reported the cholesterol-lowering effects also reported that chanca piedra protected rats from liver damage induced by alcohol, and normalized a "fatty liver." One in vitro study and four in vivo studies (with rats and mice) document that extracts of chanca piedra effectively protect against liver damage from various chemical liver toxins. Two human studies reported chanca piedra's liver protective and detoxifying actions in children with hepatitis and jaundice. Indian researchers reported that chanca piedra was an effective single drug in the treatment of jaundice in children, and British researchers reported that children treated with a chanca piedra extract for acute hepatitis had liver function return to normal within five days. Researchers in China also reported liver protective actions when chanca piedra was given to adults with chronic hepatitis.
A 2000 study even documented that chanca piedra increased the life span of mice with liver cancer from thirty-tree weeks (control group without treatment) to fifty-two weeks. Another research group tried to induce liver cancer in mice that had been pre-treated with a water extract of chanca piedra. Their results indicated the chanca piedra extract dose-dependently lowered tumor incidence, levels of carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes, levels of liver cancer markers, and liver injury markers. Both studies indicate that the plant has a better ability to prevent and slow down the growth of tumors rather than a direct toxic effect or ability to kill cancer cells.
It may well be that chanca piedra's documented ability to stop cells from mutating plays an important factor in this reported anticancerous activity. In several animal studies (as well as within cell cultures), extracts of chanca piedra have stopped or inhibited cells (including liver cells) from mutating in the presence of chemical substances known to create cellular mutations and DNA strand breaks (which can lead to the creation of cancerous cells). Again, one of these studies indicated that chanca piedra inhibited several enzyme processes peculiar to cancer cells' replication and growth-rather than a direct toxic effect of killing the cancer cell (sarcoma, carcinoma, and lymphoma cells were studied). This cellular-protective quality was evidenced in other research which indicated that chanca piedra protected against chemically-induced bone marrow damage in mice, as well as against radiation-induced damage in mice.
The last area of published research (which is the most extensive and the most confusing) concerns chanca piedra's antiviral properties. Both human and animal studies indicate that chanca piedra can protect the liver, even during hepatitis infection. Chanca piedra has also been reported to have direct antiviral activity in human, animal, and test tube studies against the Hepatitis B virus. Over 20 clinical studies have been published to date about these effects, and the results have been inconsistent and confusing (unless thoroughly evaluated).
Hepatitis is enough of a worldwide concern to merit sifting through the disparate studies. Hepatitis B infection (HBV) is the leading cause of liver cancer worldwide - which is considered 100% fatal. Carriers of HBV are 200 times more likely to develop liver cancer decades after initial infection. Many people who contract HBV become chronic (and, often, asymptomatic) carriers of the disease while still being contagious to others. HBV is reported to be 100 times more infectious than HIV and, like HIV, is transmitted through blood transfusions, needles, sexual contact, and in utero (from mother to child in the womb). Statistics on HBV are staggering: one out of every 250 Americans are HBV carriers! The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 200,000 new U.S. cases of HBV infection per year are added to the current estimate of one million carriers in the U.S. (and an estimated 300 million worldwide). The CDC also reports that (in the U.S.) 3,000 - 4,000 annual deaths from cirrhosis and 1,000 deaths from liver cancer are HBV-related. So when Dr. Baruch Blumberg reported that chanca piedra could clear up the chronic carrier state of Hepatitis B in 1988, it was a big deal. Dr. Blumberg was the winner of the 1963 Nobel Prize for discovering the HBV antigen in the first place. This led to the discovery that HBV was the primary cause of liver cancer and initiated the development of HBV vaccines.
Most of Blumberg's early research was carried out in India in collaboration with an Indian research group. Their first human study reported that a water extract of Phyllanthus amarus cleared the HBV surface antigen from 22 of 37 chronic HBV patients in only 30 days (and they continued to test negative for 9 months, at which time the report was published). This same group had published several earlier in vitro studies as well as animal (woodchuck) studies. (Woodchucks respond to chronic HBV infection in much the same manner as do humans which is why they are chosen for such research). All reported similar and effective anti-HBV effects. By that time, Blumberg was employed with the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia; he, Fox Chase, and the Indian researchers filed two patents on the plant's ability to treat HBV and its antiviral properties in 1985 and 1988 (now calling the plant P. niruri). The first patent was specific to HBV; the second stated that the plant's antiviral properties were achieved in part through a strong inhibition of reverse transcriptase (chemicals necessary for many types of viruses to grow) which made it possible to treat such retroviruses as HIV and sarcoma and leukemia viruses.
It was also during this time that the group developed a new and "better" extraction process. This process involved multiple, complicated extractions in which the plant was first soaked in cold water, then the resulting fluid was extracted first in hexane, then in benzene, then in methanol, and back into water. Their documentation revealed, however, that they didn't know specifically what the active chemicals were in the final extract that were providing the antiviral effects! While it was certainly a complicated and patentable process, much of the subsequent published research by this group throughout the 1990s using this new, patented "water extract" conflicted with their earlier studies, and was not as effective in the in vivo research for HBV. This caused much confusion as to whether chanca piedra (P. niruri or P. amarus) was an effective treatment or not. To add to the confusion, in 1994, a New Zealand research group prepared a chemically-altered extract (of P. amarus) which was standardized to the geraniin chemical content (the chemical documented with analgesic and hypotensive properties). They started a double-blind HBV human trial, later discontinued it due to lack of response, and published another negative result study.
Meanwhile, a separate research group in China (where HBV is wide-spread) working with a straight water extract and/or herb powder published two positive studies showing good results with human HBV patients in 1994 and 1995. Their second study suggested that different results were obtained through different Phyllanthus species of plants used (and that yet another species - P. urinaria provided the best anti-HBV results). The Chinese published a more recent (2001) study which compared 30 chronic HBV patients taking a chanca piedra extract to 25 patients taking interferon (the leading conventional drug used for HBV) for three months. Both treatments showed an equal effectiveness of 83%, but the chanca piedra group rated significantly higher in the normalization of liver enzymes and recovery of liver function than the interferon-treated group. They published yet another study in 2003 which attributed the anti-HVB effects mainly to four chemicals in chanca piedra: niranthin, nirtetralin, hinokinin, and geraniin.
Finally, The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Research Group in Copenhagen reviewed all the HBV published research (22 randomized trials) and published an independent review of the results. It stated that treatment with "Phyllanthus herb" (they acknowledged the confusion among the various species used) had "a positive effect on clearance of serum HBsAg" (HBV surface antigen) comparable to interferon and was better than nonspecific treatment or other herbal medicines for HBV and liver enzyme normalization." They also indicated that large trials were warranted due to these documented positive effects and the lack of standardization of the research methods and plant species used in the various published studies to date.
Concerned with HIV specifically, a Japanese research group reported that a simple water extract of P. niruri inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in 1992. (Several conventional drugs used today against HIV are classified as "reverse transcriptase inhibitors.") They attributed this effect to a plant chemical in chanca piedra called repandusinic acid A. When they tested this chemical individually it demonstrated significant toxicity to HIV-1 at very small dosages (a 90% in vitro inhibition using only 2.5 mcg). Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute isolated yet another chemical in chanca piedra with anti-HIV actions-a novel compound that they named niruriside and described in a 1996 study. A German research organization published their first study on chanca piedra and its application with HIV therapy (reporting a 70-75% inhibition of virus) in 2003. In addition to these antiviral properties, the plant has also been documented other antimicrobial effects. Chanca piedra demonstrated in vitro antibacterial actions against Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, and Pasteurella bacteria as well as in vivo and in vitro antimalarial properties, which validates other traditional uses.
CURRENT PRACTICAL USES PHYLLANTHUS NIRURI is a perfect example of a highly beneficial medicinal plant which is deserving of much more research - but one which is fraught with the typical problems of working with a complicated, chemically-rich plant. Unless a major (and well-funded) pharmaceutical or research company can isolate a single, patentable chemical (or can come up with a patentable extraction process that actually works as well as a simple water extract) to justify the high cost of research, chanca piedra probably will remain in the "unproven herbal remedy" category. There just aren't enough non-profit dollars or government grant funds available to fund research on natural plant extracts that can't be patented. Since chanca piedra's many biological activities and benefits are attributed to many different chemicals (whose synergistic interactions are unclear), and most seem to be completely water soluble (no complicated and patentable manufacturing processes necessary), for-profit research dollars will probably be spent elsewhere. It is yet another perfect example that Mother Nature is infinitely a better chemist; the natural herb continues to work better than any man-made chemically altered (and patentable) extracts.
But what a natural remedy it is! With its applications for kidney stones and gallstones, cellular and liver protection, hypertension and high cholesterol, cancer prevention, and its pain-relieving and antiviral effects, it is gaining in popularity on many continents as an effective herbal remedy. It's also important to note that in all the research published over the last 20 years, no signs of toxicity or side effects have been reported in any of the human or animal studies, even in acute or chronic use.
PHYLLANTHUS NIRURI PLANT SUMMARY | |
| Main Preparation Method:Main Actions (in order): Main Uses: antilithic (prevents and eliminate kidney stones), hepatoprotective (liver protector), diuretic, antihepatotoxic (liver detoxifier), antiviral infusion to tone, balance, strengthen, detoxify and protect the liver (and to balance liver enzymes) for viruses, including hepatitis A, B, and C, herpes, and HIV to tone, balance, strengthen, detoxify and protect the kidneys and to reduce uric acid and increase urination for hypertension and high cholesterol levels Cautions: It may increase the effect of diabetic, high blood pressure, and diuretic drugs. Don't use during pregnancy. anti-inflammatory, blood cleanser, carminative, detoxifier, diaphoretic (promotes sweating), febrifuge (reduces fever), laxative, menstrual stimulant, tonic (tones, balances, strengthens overall body systems), vermifuge (expels worms) analgesic (pain-reliever), antiulcerous , antibacterial, antihepatotoxic (liver detoxifier), antilithic (prevents and eliminates kidney stones), antimalarial, antimutagenic (cellular protector), antispasmodic, antiviral, contraceptive, diuretic, gastrototonic (tones, balances, strengthens the gastric system), hepatoprotective (liver protector), hepatotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the liver), hypocholesterolemic (lowers cholesterol), hypoglycemic, hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), uterine relaxant |
Traditional Remedy:
Contraindications:Chanca piedra has been considered in herbal medicine to be abortive (at high dosages) as well as a menstrual promoter. While not studied specifically in humans or animals, animal studies do indicate it has uterine relaxant effects. It should therefore be considered contraindicated during pregnancy.
Chanca piedra has been documented with female antifertility effects in one mouse study (the effect was reversed 45 days after cessation of dosing). While this effect has not been documented in humans, the use of the plant is probably contraindicated in women seeking pregnancy or taking fertility drugs. This effect has not been substantiated sufficiently to be used as a contraceptive, however, and should not be relied on for such.
Chanca piedra has demonstrated hypoglycemic effects in animals and humans. It is contraindicated for people with hypoglycemia. Diabetics should consult their doctor before taking this plant as insulin medications may need monitoring and adjusting.
Chanca piedra has been documented in human and animal studies with diuretic effects. Chronic and acute use of this plant may be contraindicated in various other medical conditions where diuretics are not advised. Chronic long-term use of any diuretic can cause electrolyte and mineral imbalances; however, human studies with chanca piedra (for up to three months of chronic use) has not reported any side effects. Consult your doctor if you choose to use this plant chronically for longer than three months concerning possible side effects of long term diuretic use.
This plant contains a naturally-occurring phytochemical called geraniin. This chemical has been documented with negative chronotropic, negative inotropic, hypotensive and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor effects in animal studies with frogs, mice and rats. As such, this plant may potentiate antihypertensive drugs, beta-blocker drugs and other heart medications (including chronotropic and inotropic drugs)
Phyllanthus niruri by wikipedia
The annual herb Phyllanthus niruri is best known by the common names Stonebreaker(Eng.), Chanca Piedra(Sp.) and Quebra Pedra(Port.), Seed-Under-Leaf(Eng.) but has many other common names in assorted languages, including dukong anak, dukong-dukong anak, amin buah, rami buah, turi hutan, bhuiaonla, കീഴാനെല്ലി (Malayalam) and கீழாநெல்லி(Tamil).The herb is known as Nela Nelli in Kannada and "Nela Usiri" in Telugu. It is a widespread
It grows 50 to 70 centimeters tall and bears ascending herbaceous branches. The bark is smooth and light green. It bears numerous pale green flowers which are often flushed with red. The fruits are tiny, smooth capsules containing seeds.
[edit] Medicinal usespreclinical trials are anti-hepatotoxic, anti-lithic, anti-hypertensive, anti-HIV and anti-hepatitis B.[1][2] However, human trials have yet to show efficacy against Hepatitis B virus.[3]Extracts of this herb have shown promise in treating a wide range of human diseases. Some of the medicinal properties suggested by numerous
The plant has long been used in Brazil and Peru as an herbal remedy for Kidney stones. Research among sufferers of Kidney stones has shown that, while intake of Phyllanthus niruri didn't lead to a significant difference in either stone voiding or pain levels, it may reduce urinary calcium, a contributing factor to stone growth.[4] In addition, one study conducted on rats showed that an aqueous solution of Phyllanthus niruri may inhibit kidney stone growth and formation in animals who already have stones.[5]Phyllanthus niruri tropical plant commonly found in coastal areas. It is a relative of the spurges, belonging to the leafflower genus of Family Phyllanthaceae.
It grows 50 to 70 centimeters tall and bears ascending herbaceous branches. The bark is smooth and light green. It bears numerous pale green flowers which are often flushed with red. The fruits are tiny, smooth capsules containing seeds.
[edit] Medicinal usespreclinical trials are anti-hepatotoxic, anti-lithic, anti-hypertensive, anti-HIV and anti-hepatitis B.[1][2] However, human trials have yet to show efficacy against Hepatitis B virus.[3]Extracts of this herb have shown promise in treating a wide range of human diseases. Some of the medicinal properties suggested by numerous
The plant has long been used in Brazil and Peru as an herbal remedy for Kidney stones. Research among sufferers of Kidney stones has shown that, while intake of Phyllanthus niruri didn't lead to a significant difference in either stone voiding or pain levels, it may reduce urinary calcium, a contributing factor to stone growth.[4] In addition, one study conducted on rats showed that an aqueous solution of Phyllanthus niruri may inhibit kidney stone growth and formation in animals who already have stones.[5]Phyllanthus niruri tropical plant commonly found in coastal areas. It is a relative of the spurges, belonging to the leafflower genus of Family Phyllanthaceae.
Phyllanthus Niruri
The annual herb Phyllanthus niruri is best known by the common names stone-breaker, chanca piedra and quebra pedra, but has many other common names in assorted languages, including dukong anak, dukong-dukong anak, amin buah, rami buah, turi hutan, and bhuiaonla. It is a widespread tropical plant commonly found in coastal areas. It is a relative of the spurges, belonging to the leafflower genus of Family Phyllanthaceae.
The plant has long been used as an herbal remedy for urinary calculi, and has been shown in modern medical research studies to reduce the risks of stones in individuals prone to the condition. Research on the plant continues to determine if it has any other beneficial effects. It may have antiviral activity.
Its root, leaves, fruits, milky juice, and whole plants are used as medicine. According to Ayurvedic system of medicine it is considered acrid, cooling , alexipharmic and useful in thirst, bronchitis, leprosy, anemia, urinary discharge, anuria, biliousness, asthma, for hiccups, and as a diuretic. According to Unani system of medicine herb is stomachic and good for sores and useful in chronic dysentery. Fruits useful for tubercular ulcers, wounds, sores, scabies and ring worm (Agharkar 1991; Krishnamurty 1993). The fresh root is believed to be an excellent remedy for jaundice. A poultice of the leaves with salt cures scabby affection and without salt applied on bruise and wounds. The milky juice is a good application to offensive sores. The bark yields a bitter principle phyllanthin. The infusion of the root and leaves is a good tonic and diuretic when taken cold in repeated doses. In different parts of India, specially, in Chhattisgarh state, there is a rich traditional medicinal tradition concerning this weed (Caius 1986; Oudhia and Tiwari 2001). In many parts of India, it is commonly used for the treatment of snake bite. The active compounds phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin have been isolated from leaves. Recently, lignansniranthin, nirtetralin, and phyltetralin have been isolated from leaves. (Rastogi and Mehrotra, 1991) It is a major component of many popular liver tonics in India including Liv.-52. Fresh juice and powder of dried plant are used most frequently in Ayurvedic preparations (Sastry and Kavatherkar, 1991). The plant is used as a fish poison. In many parts of India specially in deserts, the roots mixed with Commiphora mukul are given to camels to cure indigestion. The decoction of leaves and stem are used for dyeing cotton black. (Singh et al. 1996).
It is one of the herbs mentioned in all ancient scriptures of Ayurveda. Bhamyamalaki is also known as tamalaki, bahupatra, bhadhatri, visnuparni, uttama etc. Maharsi Caraka has categorized it as kasahara – alleviates cough and svasahara relieves asthma. It has been cited in Ayurvedic texts that bhumyamalaki increases the appetite, is digestant, laxative and a liver stimulant. It is beneficial in cough, asthma, urinary diseases, jaundice, malaria and enlargement of liver and spleen.
During the last decade, bhumyamalaki has attracted the attention of scientists all over the world, because of its hepatprotective activity. All forms of viral hepatitis have a common pathology of acute inflammation of the entire liver. Epatic cell necrosis is associated with leaucocytic and histiocytic reaction .At present, five different varieties of viral hepatitis are known but major ones are Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. No. effective specific therapy is available for treatment of hepatitis due to these viruses. Bhumyamalaki has shown clinical efficacy in Viral Hepatitis B, with modern parameters.
Bhumyamalaki grows throughout India, more common in central and southern regions. It is an annual herb which grows 30-60 cm in height. It is quite glabrous; stem often branched at the base. The leaves resemble to those of amalaki, but are more broad and thick. They are oblong obtuse, numerous and in pairs. The flowers are yellowish, axillary and numerous. The male flowers are 1-3, whereas female flowers are solitary. The fruits are globose, depressed capsules and the seeds are pale brown in colour. There are 3-4 different varieties of phyllanthus.
The botanical name of bhumya malaki is Phyllanthus niruri and it belongs to family Euphorbiaceae. Isolation of phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin from leaves). Three new lignansniranthin, nirtetralin and phyltetralin – isolated from leaves. The seed oil contained ricinoleic acid (1.2), linoleic (21.0) and linolenic (51.4%) acids. A new flavone glycoside isolated and characterized as fisetin – 4-O- glucoside; rutin, quercetin, quercetrin and astralgin also isolated a new lignan – nirphyllin and a new neolignan – phyllnirurin – from aerial parts.
Properties
Bhumyamalaki is bitter, astringent and sweet in the post digestive effect (vipaka) and has cold potency (virya). It alleviates kapha and pitta dIt possesses light (laghu) and dry (ruksa) attributes. It is specially used as an alleviator of pitta dosa and is salutary in excessive thirst, hyperacidity, anaemia, cough and the blood disorders. (Bhavaprakasa Nighantu)
Uses
The whole plant juice is used for medicinal purpose. The paste of its leaves is applied, externally, in the skin diseases, wounds and ulcers. In fractures, the pulp of the leaves mixed with salt is applied externally, to hasten the healing. In the diseases of the eye, the root juice, mixed with sugar, is instilled into nostrils in hiccup.
Internally, it is benevolent in gastrointestinal ailments like loss of appetite, constipation, hyperacidity and excessive thirst. It also mitigates diarrhea and dysentery. The decoction of bhumyamalaki augments the liver functions and is used as a blood purifier in hepato-splenomegaly. It calms down the pitta. In women, menorrhagia and leucorrhea is effectively treated with the seeds of bhumyamalaki. The also are rewarding in urinary diseases, diabetes, diabetes and chronic fever. The fresh juice of the whole plant works well, when given with ghee, in menorrhagia. In diabetes, the mixture of powders of bhumyamalaki, cardamom, cinnamon and amalaki is beneficial. The excessive thirst due to pitta vitiation is alleviated with the decoction of the herb in milk. Bhumyamalaki can also be of help as a general tonic in debility. It has a mild diuretic activity, so is useful as an adjunct, in the treatment of dysuria.
The effect of bhumyamalaki on chronic carriers of Hepatitis – B – virus was studied clinically, In a preliminary study, carriers of Hepatitis – B – virus were treated with the preparation of the plant phyllanthus niruri for 30 days. 22 of 37 (59%) treated patients has lost Hepatitis B surface antigen when tested 15-20 days after the end of the treatment compared with only 1 of 23 (4%) placebo treated controls. Some subjects have been followed up for upto 9 months. In no case has the surface antigen returned. Clinical observation reveals few or no toxic effects. The encouraging results of this preliminary study recommend continued evaluation of the plant and the active principles isolated from it.
The plant has long been used as an herbal remedy for urinary calculi, and has been shown in modern medical research studies to reduce the risks of stones in individuals prone to the condition. Research on the plant continues to determine if it has any other beneficial effects. It may have antiviral activity.
Its root, leaves, fruits, milky juice, and whole plants are used as medicine. According to Ayurvedic system of medicine it is considered acrid, cooling , alexipharmic and useful in thirst, bronchitis, leprosy, anemia, urinary discharge, anuria, biliousness, asthma, for hiccups, and as a diuretic. According to Unani system of medicine herb is stomachic and good for sores and useful in chronic dysentery. Fruits useful for tubercular ulcers, wounds, sores, scabies and ring worm (Agharkar 1991; Krishnamurty 1993). The fresh root is believed to be an excellent remedy for jaundice. A poultice of the leaves with salt cures scabby affection and without salt applied on bruise and wounds. The milky juice is a good application to offensive sores. The bark yields a bitter principle phyllanthin. The infusion of the root and leaves is a good tonic and diuretic when taken cold in repeated doses. In different parts of India, specially, in Chhattisgarh state, there is a rich traditional medicinal tradition concerning this weed (Caius 1986; Oudhia and Tiwari 2001). In many parts of India, it is commonly used for the treatment of snake bite. The active compounds phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin have been isolated from leaves. Recently, lignansniranthin, nirtetralin, and phyltetralin have been isolated from leaves. (Rastogi and Mehrotra, 1991) It is a major component of many popular liver tonics in India including Liv.-52. Fresh juice and powder of dried plant are used most frequently in Ayurvedic preparations (Sastry and Kavatherkar, 1991). The plant is used as a fish poison. In many parts of India specially in deserts, the roots mixed with Commiphora mukul are given to camels to cure indigestion. The decoction of leaves and stem are used for dyeing cotton black. (Singh et al. 1996).
It is one of the herbs mentioned in all ancient scriptures of Ayurveda. Bhamyamalaki is also known as tamalaki, bahupatra, bhadhatri, visnuparni, uttama etc. Maharsi Caraka has categorized it as kasahara – alleviates cough and svasahara relieves asthma. It has been cited in Ayurvedic texts that bhumyamalaki increases the appetite, is digestant, laxative and a liver stimulant. It is beneficial in cough, asthma, urinary diseases, jaundice, malaria and enlargement of liver and spleen.
During the last decade, bhumyamalaki has attracted the attention of scientists all over the world, because of its hepatprotective activity. All forms of viral hepatitis have a common pathology of acute inflammation of the entire liver. Epatic cell necrosis is associated with leaucocytic and histiocytic reaction .At present, five different varieties of viral hepatitis are known but major ones are Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. No. effective specific therapy is available for treatment of hepatitis due to these viruses. Bhumyamalaki has shown clinical efficacy in Viral Hepatitis B, with modern parameters.
Bhumyamalaki grows throughout India, more common in central and southern regions. It is an annual herb which grows 30-60 cm in height. It is quite glabrous; stem often branched at the base. The leaves resemble to those of amalaki, but are more broad and thick. They are oblong obtuse, numerous and in pairs. The flowers are yellowish, axillary and numerous. The male flowers are 1-3, whereas female flowers are solitary. The fruits are globose, depressed capsules and the seeds are pale brown in colour. There are 3-4 different varieties of phyllanthus.
The botanical name of bhumya malaki is Phyllanthus niruri and it belongs to family Euphorbiaceae. Isolation of phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin from leaves). Three new lignansniranthin, nirtetralin and phyltetralin – isolated from leaves. The seed oil contained ricinoleic acid (1.2), linoleic (21.0) and linolenic (51.4%) acids. A new flavone glycoside isolated and characterized as fisetin – 4-O- glucoside; rutin, quercetin, quercetrin and astralgin also isolated a new lignan – nirphyllin and a new neolignan – phyllnirurin – from aerial parts.
Properties
Bhumyamalaki is bitter, astringent and sweet in the post digestive effect (vipaka) and has cold potency (virya). It alleviates kapha and pitta dIt possesses light (laghu) and dry (ruksa) attributes. It is specially used as an alleviator of pitta dosa and is salutary in excessive thirst, hyperacidity, anaemia, cough and the blood disorders. (Bhavaprakasa Nighantu)
Uses
The whole plant juice is used for medicinal purpose. The paste of its leaves is applied, externally, in the skin diseases, wounds and ulcers. In fractures, the pulp of the leaves mixed with salt is applied externally, to hasten the healing. In the diseases of the eye, the root juice, mixed with sugar, is instilled into nostrils in hiccup.
Internally, it is benevolent in gastrointestinal ailments like loss of appetite, constipation, hyperacidity and excessive thirst. It also mitigates diarrhea and dysentery. The decoction of bhumyamalaki augments the liver functions and is used as a blood purifier in hepato-splenomegaly. It calms down the pitta. In women, menorrhagia and leucorrhea is effectively treated with the seeds of bhumyamalaki. The also are rewarding in urinary diseases, diabetes, diabetes and chronic fever. The fresh juice of the whole plant works well, when given with ghee, in menorrhagia. In diabetes, the mixture of powders of bhumyamalaki, cardamom, cinnamon and amalaki is beneficial. The excessive thirst due to pitta vitiation is alleviated with the decoction of the herb in milk. Bhumyamalaki can also be of help as a general tonic in debility. It has a mild diuretic activity, so is useful as an adjunct, in the treatment of dysuria.
The effect of bhumyamalaki on chronic carriers of Hepatitis – B – virus was studied clinically, In a preliminary study, carriers of Hepatitis – B – virus were treated with the preparation of the plant phyllanthus niruri for 30 days. 22 of 37 (59%) treated patients has lost Hepatitis B surface antigen when tested 15-20 days after the end of the treatment compared with only 1 of 23 (4%) placebo treated controls. Some subjects have been followed up for upto 9 months. In no case has the surface antigen returned. Clinical observation reveals few or no toxic effects. The encouraging results of this preliminary study recommend continued evaluation of the plant and the active principles isolated from it.
Phyllanthus niruri, (family- Euphorbiaceae) is a herb found in many parts of the world. It is known for a variety of uses viz. hepatoprotective action, lipid lowering action, antidiabetic action, antifungal action to name a few. It holds a reputed position in both Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine.The article covers its phytochemical constituents and major pharmacological activities.
Introduction:
Phyllanthus niruri
Phyllanthus niruri
Botanical Description1 - The annual herb is 30-60 cm high, quite glabrous, stem often branched at the base.
Leaves: Numerous, sbsessile distichous often imbricating, elliptic oblong obtuse. Stipules present, very acute.
Flowers: Yellowish, very numerous, axillary. The male flowers are one to three in number while the female flowers are solitary in nature.
Capsules: 2.5mm in diameter, depressed globose, smooth scarcely lobed.
Pharmacological Uses – I.Hepatoprotective Effect – 1.Hepatitis B is one of the major diseases inflicting human population. Conventional treatment with interferon – alpha is very expensive and has many serious side effects. Alternative herbal medicine using extracts of Phyllanthus niruri and Phyllanthus urinaria have been reported to be effective against Hepatitis B and other viral infections. A study reports quantitative determination of the anti viral effect of these herbs in well-defined in vitro systems. 3
2.Phyllanthus niruri has been reported to exhibit marked antihepatitis B virus surface antigen activity in in-vivo and in-vitro studies. Infectious hepatitis is due to the inability of the bodies’ immune system to eliminate the virus from the liver cells: hence the “carrier state”. An infection with the virus is documented by detectable levels of various viral antigens in the blood, including HbaAg (the surface antigen of the virus) as well as antibodies to the core of virus (HBc antibodies). In one study, 37 patients with chronic viral hepatitis B were treated with a daily dose of 600mg of Phyllanthus niruri for 30 days. 59% of the patients lost the HBsAg two weeks after the end of the treatment. Furthermore, none of the cases followed for up to 9 months had any symptoms of HBsAg. The authors postulated that Phyllanthus niruri might inhibit proliferation of the virus by inhibiting replication of the genetic material of the virus. 4
3.Hepatoprotective effect of an ayurvedic medicine; herbal preparation HPN – 12 (containing Glycirrhiza glabr, Pichorhiza kurroa, Berberis aristata, Piper longum, Phyllanthus niruri, Solanum dulcamara, Zingiber officinale, Curculigo orchioides, Elettaria cardamomum, Tinospora cordifolia, Desmodium trifolium and Sacchrum officinarum) orally administered to male albino rats at 1ml/100g body weight was found to be effective against liver damage. 5
4.Animals with Carbon Tetrachloride induced hepatopathy were treated with catliv (contains extracts of Swertia chirata, Eclipta alba, Fumaria vaillanti, Picorrhiza kurroa, Andrographis paniculata and Phyllanthus niruri) at 25ml twice daily orally for six days starting at 48 hours after administration of Carbon tetrachloride. On basis of result obtained it was concluded that the ingredients in catliv, effectively helped in regeneration of hepatic cells and is an effective liver tonic for calves.6
5.Research in Japan and India in the 1980's has demonstrated the liver -healing properties of Phyllanthus niruri. The primary compounds responsible are phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin and triacontanal. Glycosides found in Phyllanthus niruri demonstrated Aldose reductase (AR) inhibitory activity in studies conducted by a Japanese research group in 1988 and 1989.7
II.HIV Replication Inhibition–1.Aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri is reported to have inhibitory effect on human immunodeficiency virus. The investigation examines the anti-HIV effects of the alkaloidal extract of Phyllanthus niruri in human cell lines. The inhibitory effect on HIV replication was monitored in terms of inhibition of virus induced cytopathogenecity in MT-4 cells. The alkaloidal extract of Phyllanthus niruri showed suppressing activity on strains of HIV-1 cells cultured on MT-4 cell lines. The CC50 for the extract was found to be 279.85μgmL-1 whereas the EC50 was found to be 20.98μgmL-1. Interestingly the Selectivity Index (SI) was found to be 13.34, which showed a clear selective toxicity of the extract for the viral cells. The alkaloidal extract of Phyllanthus niruri was thus found to exhibit sensitive inhibitory response on cytopathic effects induced by both the strains of human immunodeficiency virus on human MT-4 cells in the tested concentrations.8
2.Extracts of five medicinal plants: Aristolochia indica, Cassia occidentalis, Phyllanthus niruri, Withania somnifera and Tinospora cordifolia were administered to 10 HIV infected patients for a period of six months to one year. The clinical status of the patient and their CD4 cell counts were periodically monitored. The results indicate that in seven of the ten patients, their CD4 count increased and the patients remained either asymptomatic or their clinical well being improved. There was no change in the CD4 cell count in one of the patient and the other two progressed to full blown AIDS.9
III. Lipid Lowering Activity -1.Lipid lowering activity of Phyllanthus niruri alcoholic extracts in triton induced hyperlipidaemia was examined in rats. It was observed that administration of triton in rat caused increase in serum cholesterol by 3.5 fold, phospholipid 2 fold and triglyceride 1.2 fold. Administration of Phyllanthus niruri at the dose of 200mg/kg simultaneously with triton lowered the level of total cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride by 27, 25 and 24 percent respectively. In an experiment with cholesterol fed rats, Phyllanthus niruri at a dose of 100 mg/kg lowered the elevated level of low-density lipoprotein lipids in hyperlipidemic and drug fed animals.10
IV.Anti – Diabetic Activity –1.An alcoholic extract of Phyllanthus niruri was found to reduce significantly the blood sugar in normal rats and in alloxan diabetes rats. In normal rats, administration of Phyllanthus niruri 200mg/kg body weight reduced the blood sugar by 34.5 percent and to 47.4 percent at the concentration of 1000mg/kg by weight at 1 hour. However at 6th hour, values are almost similar to normal value. Continuous administration of the drug produced significant reduction in normal blood sugar in rats, which on 15th day was also found to reduce the blood sugar in alloxan diabetic rats. In short term experiment, drug was found to reduce the blood sugar at 4th hour by 6.07 percent at dose level of 200mg/kg by weight and 18.7 percent at concentration of 1000mg/kg by weight. Continuous administration of drug produced significant reduction in blood sugar in alloxan diabetic rats. On 15th day values were almost similar to normal in the group taking 1000mg/kg by weight. Plant extract did not produce any toxicity as seen from liver and kidney function test and in hematological parameters. The results indicate potential antidiabetic action of Phyllanthus niruri.11 V. Anti Malarial Activity – 1.The ethanolic, dichloromethane and lyophilized aqueous extracts of Cassia occidentalis root bark, Morinda morindoides leaves and whole plants of Phyllanthus niruri were evaluated for their antimalarial activity in vivo, in 4-day, suppressive assays against Plasmodium berghei ANKA in mice. No toxic effect or mortality was observed in mice treated, orally, with any of the extracts as a single dose, of 500 mg/kg body weight, or as the same dose given twice weekly for 4 weeks (to give a total dose of 4 g/kg). No significant lesions were observed, by eye or during histopathological examinations, in the hearts, lungs, spleens, kidneys, livers, large intestines or brains of any mouse. At doses of 200 mg/kg, all the ethanolic and dichloromethane extracts produced significant chemosuppressions of parasitaemia (of > 60% for C.occidentalis root bark and Phyllanthus niruri whole plant, and of 30% for M.morindoides leaves) when administered orally. The most active ethanolic extract, that of Phyllanthus niruri, reduced parasitaemia by 73%. The dichloromethane extracts of M.morindoides and Phyllanthus niruri produced similar reductions (74% and 72% chemosuppression, respectively), whereas that of C.occidentalis was slightly less active (60% chemosuppression). Each lyophilized aqueous extract was less active than the corresponding ethanolic extract.12
VI.Activity Against Filarial Mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) –1. 18 plants were evaluated for juvenile hormone analogue activity against Culex quinquefasciatus. Of these acetone extracts of 8 plants namely Commelina benghalensis , Ageratum conyzoides , Achyranthus aspera, Sida acuta, Euphorbia pulcherrina, Rivinia humilis, Ruellia tuberosa and Phyllanthus niruri possessed significant juvenile hormone activity. The LC50 values of 5 most active plants namely Phyllanthus niruri, Amaranthus spinosus, Antegonon leptopus, Corchorus aestuans, Corchorus benghalensis were determined to be 13,16,17,17,14ppm respectively.13
VII.Anti- spasmodic activity –1.Research done in Brazil at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in 1984 on Phyllanthus niruri revealed an alkaloid (phyllanthoside) in the leaves and stem with strong antispasmodic activity. It served as a relaxing agent for smooth muscles and they concluded that its spasmolytic action probably accounted for the efficacy of Phyllanthus niruri in expelling stones.14
VIII. Analgesic activity –1.Methanol extract of dried callus tissue at a concentration of 10mg/kg, administered intraperitonially to mice was active vs. acetic acid induced writhin and vs. formalin – induced pedal edema. The extract, at 50mg/kg was inactive vs tail flick response to radiant heat. Ethanol/ water (1:1) extract of dried entire plant at a dose of 50mg/kg, administered intragastric to male mice was active. The extract also administered intraperitonially to male mice at a dose of 0.3mg/kg was active. In both cases antinociceptive effects were demonstrated using 5 different models of nociception. 15
IX. Chromosome Aberration Inhibition –1. Water extract of dried fruit and leaves, at a dose of 685.0 mg/kg, administered to mice by gastric incubation was active vs. chromosome damage induced by lead nitrate and aluminium sulphate in bone marrow chromosomes. Dosing was for 7 days. 16 Worldwide Traditional Medicinal Uses-
BiminiHot water extract of the entire plant is administered orally, to reduce fevers, and as a laxative.17
Dominican Republic Hot water extract of leaves is administered orally as a popular fever remedy.18
Fiji Decoction of dried leaves and roots is taken orally for fever, and for good health.
Dried entire plant, grounded in buttermilk is administered orally for jaundice. Fresh leaf juice is used externally for cuts and bruises. For eye diseases the juice is mixed with castor oil and applied to the eye. Infusion of dried leaves is administered orally for dysentery and diarrhea. Infusion of green root is taken orally to treat heavy menstrual periods.19
French Guyana Hot water extract of leaves is administered orally as a cholagogue.20
Haiti Decoction of dried leaves is taken orally for or used in bath for fever, and orally for indigestion.21
Hot water extract of dried entire plant is administered orally as a spasmolytic and is also against fever.22
India Fresh plant juice is taken orally for genito urinary disorders .23
The fruit is used externally for tubercular ulcers, scabies and ringworm .24
Hot water extract of dried entire plant is administered orally for diabetes .25
For asthma in ayurvedic medicine .26
Papau-New GuineaFresh leaf juice or fresh root juice are taken orally for venereal diseases. Decoction of dried entire plant is administered orally to treat venereal diseases.27
Decoction of dried leaf when taken orally is a treatment for diarrhea. A cupful of leaf decoction is drunk daily.28
Philippines Decoction of dried entire plant is used as a bath for newborns. It is believed to remove disease-causing elements from the skin. Orally the decoction is used for coughs in infants.29
Puerto Rico Hot water extract of leaf and stem is taken orally for fevers .30
Tanzania Hot water extract of fresh entire plant is administered orally for gonorrhea .31
Thailand Hot water extract of commercial sample of the entire plant, is administered orally as an antipyretic .32
Hot water extract of dried aerial parts administered orally is used as a diuretic, as an antipyretic, and for malaria. 33
Hot water extract of dried entire plant is administered orally as an anti-inflammatory agent. 34
Virgin Islands Hot water extract of the plant is taken orally to increase the appetite.35
West Indies Hot water extract of roots together with hot water extract of Citrus aurantifolia roots is taken orally to increase appetite. Hot water extract of entire plant administered orally, is taken for malarial fever. The plant is boiled and the tea taken. Water extract of the leaves and roots is taken orally for diabetes, and as a diuretic .36
Phyllanthus niruri
In – Vitro Studies – 1.Role Of Calcium Oxalate Crystals – Alexander.H.Campos and Nestor Schor investigated the in vitro effect of an aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri L on the model of calcium oxalate crystals endocytosis by Madin-Darby canine kidney cells; the extract exhibited a potent and effective non concentration dependent inhibitory effect on the calcium oxalate crystals internalization. This response was present even at high (pathologic) calcium oxalate concentration and no Phyllanthus niruri L. –induced toxic effect could be detected. Biochemical analysis of culture media containing Phyllanthus niruri L did not provide any clues for the elucidation of the cellular pathways affected by this natural product. Although further studies are necessary for better understanding of the role of Phyllanthus niruri L. in urolithiasis, their findings show that this natural product could be an attractive alternative for the treatment of urinary stone.37
Uses Of Isolated Phytochemical Constituents-1.Bioassay – guided fractionation of boiled aqueous extracts from the whole plant of Phyllanthus niruri (Euphorbiaceae) led to the isolation of 1-o-galloyl-6-o-luteoyl-a-D-glucose (1), which IC50 values of 4.7mg/ml against Babesia gibsoni and 1.4mg/ml against Plasmodium falciparum invitro. The known compounds b glucogallin (2), quercetin 3-o-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(2 to 1)-o-b-D- xylopyranoside(3), b-sitosterol and gallic acid were isolated. Structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of their chemical and spectroscopic data.38
General Features– Comparative pharmacognostic studies of 3 Phyllanthus species –
The detailed pharmacognostic evaluation of the 3 species of Phyllanthus namely Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn or Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Linn or mixture of Phyllanthus amarus, Phyllanthus fraternus Webster and Phyllanthus maderaspatensis has been carried out with the aim to establish the identification markers of this important hepatoprotective agents (effective in Hepatitis B too). The study concluded that the 3 species can be differentiated on the micro and macroscopic characters, physicochemical values,
Chemical Constituents40–Rt – Rt culture
Pl – Plant
Lf – Leaf
Sd – Seed
Ol – Oil
Aer – Aerial plant
EO – Essential oils
1. Kaempferol-4-o-alpha-L-rhamnoside, Aer 0.9%, Rt
2. (-) Limonine, Lf EO 4.5%
3. Ascorbic acid, Lf 0.41%
4. Cymene, Lf EO 11%
5. Hypophyllanthin, Pl 0.05-0.17%
6. Geranin, Pl .23%
7. Linoleic acid, Sd Ol 21%
8. Linolenic acid, Sd Ol 51.4%
9.Ricinoleic acid, Sd Ol 1.2%
10.Phyltetralin, Pl, Lf 0.14%
11.&Phyllanthin, Lf, Aer
Following are parts of the plant
1. (-)-Nor-secrurinine, Pl
2. 4-Hydroxy-sesamin, Pl
3. Corilagin, Pl
4. Ellagic acid, Pl
5. Estradiol, Pl
6. Fisetin-41-O-beta-D-dlucoside, Pl
7. Hinokinin, Pl
8. Iso-lintetralin, Pl
9. Nirurin, Pl
10.Nirurinetin, Pl
11.Phyllanthus, Pl
12.Trans-phytol, Pl
13.Repandusinic acid A, Pl
Following are parts of the roots:
1. (+)-Catechin, Rt cult
2. (+)-Gallocatechin, Rt Cult
3. (-)-Epi-catechin, Rt Cult
4. (-)-Epi-catechin-3-gallate, Rt Cult
5. (-) Epi-gallocatechin, Rt Cult
6. Gallic acid, Rt cult
7. (-)-Epi-gallocatechin-3-O-gallate, Rt
8. Eriodictyol-7-o-alpha-L-rhamnoside, Rt
9. Fisetin-41-O-alpha-L-rhamoniside, Rt
10.Lupeol acetate, Rt
11.Lupeol, Rt
12.Nor-securinine, Rt
Following are parts of the Leaves:
1. 4-Hydroxy-lintetralin, Lf
2. 2,3-dimethoxy-iso-lintertralin, Lf
3. Astragalin, Lf
4. Beta sitosterol, Lf
5. Demethylenedioxy niranthin, Lf
6. Hydroxy niranthin, Lf
7. Hypophyllanthin, Lf Aer
8. Iso-quercitin, Lf
9. Linnanthin, Lf
10.Lintetralin, Lf
11.Niranthin, Lf
12.Quercitrin, Lf
13.Salicylic acid methyl ester, Lf EO
14.Seco-4-hydroxy-lintetralin, Lf
Following are parts of the aerial plant:
1.24- Isopropyl Cholestrol, Aer
2.Dotriacontanoic acid, Aer
3.Nirphyllin, Aer
4.Nirurine, Aer
5.Phyllanthenol, Aer
6.Phyllantheol, Aer
7.Phyllester, Aer
8.Phyllinurin, Aer
9.Phylltetrin, Aer
10.Triacontan-1-al, Aer
11.Triancontan-1-ol, Aer
Following are present in all leaf, stem, aerial plant, roots
1.Nirtetralin, Pl, Lf
2.4-Methoxy-nor-securinine, Aer, Rt, St
3.Rutin, Pl, Lf
4. Phyllanthine, Rt, Lf, St
5. Phyllochrysine, Lf, St
6. Quercetin, Lf, Pl
is used as a diuretic in dropsical affection, gonorrhoea and other troubles of genito urinary tract. Herb is bitter, astringent, diuretic and febrifuge, antiseptic. Fresh root is a remedy for jaundice. Infusion of young shoots given in dysentery. Leaves are popular remedy against fever. It can be used to increase the appetite and locally to relieve inflammations. It can also be used in case of anorexia. L., (Syn. P. fraternus Webster), Euphorbiaceae, is a common kharif (rainy season) weed found in both cultivated fields and wastelands. Recently it has attracted the attention of researchers, because of its hepatoprotective properties. No effective specific therapy is available for viral hepatitis but P. niruri has shown clinical efficacy in viral Hepatitis B .It is known for its liver healing properties so used in Chinese medicine for treatment of liver diseases. originated in India, usually occurring as a winter weed throughout the hotter parts. The Phyllanthus genus contains over 600 species of shrubs, trees and annual or biennial herbs distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical areas. Phyllanthus niruri is a herb of Euphorbiaceae family that grows upto 60 cm. Phyllanthus means “leaf and flower” because the flower, as well as the fruit, seem to become one with the leaf. HPTLC fingerprint profile and the detection of phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin as marker components. Besides, an interesting conclusion can be drawn that phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin said to protect the hepatocytes against CCl4 and galactose amine induced toxicity may not be exclusively responsible for hepatoprotective activity as these are present in Phyllanthus amarus while Phyllanthus fraternus and Phyllanthus maderaspatensis also possess significant hepatoprotective activity.39
Phyllanthus niruri
Phyllanthus niruri
Botanical Description1 - The annual herb is 30-60 cm high, quite glabrous, stem often branched at the base.
Leaves: Numerous, sbsessile distichous often imbricating, elliptic oblong obtuse. Stipules present, very acute.
Flowers: Yellowish, very numerous, axillary. The male flowers are one to three in number while the female flowers are solitary in nature.
Capsules: 2.5mm in diameter, depressed globose, smooth scarcely lobed.
Pharmacological Uses – I.Hepatoprotective Effect – 1.Hepatitis B is one of the major diseases inflicting human population. Conventional treatment with interferon – alpha is very expensive and has many serious side effects. Alternative herbal medicine using extracts of Phyllanthus niruri and Phyllanthus urinaria have been reported to be effective against Hepatitis B and other viral infections. A study reports quantitative determination of the anti viral effect of these herbs in well-defined in vitro systems. 3
2.Phyllanthus niruri has been reported to exhibit marked antihepatitis B virus surface antigen activity in in-vivo and in-vitro studies. Infectious hepatitis is due to the inability of the bodies’ immune system to eliminate the virus from the liver cells: hence the “carrier state”. An infection with the virus is documented by detectable levels of various viral antigens in the blood, including HbaAg (the surface antigen of the virus) as well as antibodies to the core of virus (HBc antibodies). In one study, 37 patients with chronic viral hepatitis B were treated with a daily dose of 600mg of Phyllanthus niruri for 30 days. 59% of the patients lost the HBsAg two weeks after the end of the treatment. Furthermore, none of the cases followed for up to 9 months had any symptoms of HBsAg. The authors postulated that Phyllanthus niruri might inhibit proliferation of the virus by inhibiting replication of the genetic material of the virus. 4
3.Hepatoprotective effect of an ayurvedic medicine; herbal preparation HPN – 12 (containing Glycirrhiza glabr, Pichorhiza kurroa, Berberis aristata, Piper longum, Phyllanthus niruri, Solanum dulcamara, Zingiber officinale, Curculigo orchioides, Elettaria cardamomum, Tinospora cordifolia, Desmodium trifolium and Sacchrum officinarum) orally administered to male albino rats at 1ml/100g body weight was found to be effective against liver damage. 5
4.Animals with Carbon Tetrachloride induced hepatopathy were treated with catliv (contains extracts of Swertia chirata, Eclipta alba, Fumaria vaillanti, Picorrhiza kurroa, Andrographis paniculata and Phyllanthus niruri) at 25ml twice daily orally for six days starting at 48 hours after administration of Carbon tetrachloride. On basis of result obtained it was concluded that the ingredients in catliv, effectively helped in regeneration of hepatic cells and is an effective liver tonic for calves.6
5.Research in Japan and India in the 1980's has demonstrated the liver -healing properties of Phyllanthus niruri. The primary compounds responsible are phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin and triacontanal. Glycosides found in Phyllanthus niruri demonstrated Aldose reductase (AR) inhibitory activity in studies conducted by a Japanese research group in 1988 and 1989.7
II.HIV Replication Inhibition–1.Aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri is reported to have inhibitory effect on human immunodeficiency virus. The investigation examines the anti-HIV effects of the alkaloidal extract of Phyllanthus niruri in human cell lines. The inhibitory effect on HIV replication was monitored in terms of inhibition of virus induced cytopathogenecity in MT-4 cells. The alkaloidal extract of Phyllanthus niruri showed suppressing activity on strains of HIV-1 cells cultured on MT-4 cell lines. The CC50 for the extract was found to be 279.85μgmL-1 whereas the EC50 was found to be 20.98μgmL-1. Interestingly the Selectivity Index (SI) was found to be 13.34, which showed a clear selective toxicity of the extract for the viral cells. The alkaloidal extract of Phyllanthus niruri was thus found to exhibit sensitive inhibitory response on cytopathic effects induced by both the strains of human immunodeficiency virus on human MT-4 cells in the tested concentrations.8
2.Extracts of five medicinal plants: Aristolochia indica, Cassia occidentalis, Phyllanthus niruri, Withania somnifera and Tinospora cordifolia were administered to 10 HIV infected patients for a period of six months to one year. The clinical status of the patient and their CD4 cell counts were periodically monitored. The results indicate that in seven of the ten patients, their CD4 count increased and the patients remained either asymptomatic or their clinical well being improved. There was no change in the CD4 cell count in one of the patient and the other two progressed to full blown AIDS.9
III. Lipid Lowering Activity -1.Lipid lowering activity of Phyllanthus niruri alcoholic extracts in triton induced hyperlipidaemia was examined in rats. It was observed that administration of triton in rat caused increase in serum cholesterol by 3.5 fold, phospholipid 2 fold and triglyceride 1.2 fold. Administration of Phyllanthus niruri at the dose of 200mg/kg simultaneously with triton lowered the level of total cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride by 27, 25 and 24 percent respectively. In an experiment with cholesterol fed rats, Phyllanthus niruri at a dose of 100 mg/kg lowered the elevated level of low-density lipoprotein lipids in hyperlipidemic and drug fed animals.10
IV.Anti – Diabetic Activity –1.An alcoholic extract of Phyllanthus niruri was found to reduce significantly the blood sugar in normal rats and in alloxan diabetes rats. In normal rats, administration of Phyllanthus niruri 200mg/kg body weight reduced the blood sugar by 34.5 percent and to 47.4 percent at the concentration of 1000mg/kg by weight at 1 hour. However at 6th hour, values are almost similar to normal value. Continuous administration of the drug produced significant reduction in normal blood sugar in rats, which on 15th day was also found to reduce the blood sugar in alloxan diabetic rats. In short term experiment, drug was found to reduce the blood sugar at 4th hour by 6.07 percent at dose level of 200mg/kg by weight and 18.7 percent at concentration of 1000mg/kg by weight. Continuous administration of drug produced significant reduction in blood sugar in alloxan diabetic rats. On 15th day values were almost similar to normal in the group taking 1000mg/kg by weight. Plant extract did not produce any toxicity as seen from liver and kidney function test and in hematological parameters. The results indicate potential antidiabetic action of Phyllanthus niruri.11 V. Anti Malarial Activity – 1.The ethanolic, dichloromethane and lyophilized aqueous extracts of Cassia occidentalis root bark, Morinda morindoides leaves and whole plants of Phyllanthus niruri were evaluated for their antimalarial activity in vivo, in 4-day, suppressive assays against Plasmodium berghei ANKA in mice. No toxic effect or mortality was observed in mice treated, orally, with any of the extracts as a single dose, of 500 mg/kg body weight, or as the same dose given twice weekly for 4 weeks (to give a total dose of 4 g/kg). No significant lesions were observed, by eye or during histopathological examinations, in the hearts, lungs, spleens, kidneys, livers, large intestines or brains of any mouse. At doses of 200 mg/kg, all the ethanolic and dichloromethane extracts produced significant chemosuppressions of parasitaemia (of > 60% for C.occidentalis root bark and Phyllanthus niruri whole plant, and of 30% for M.morindoides leaves) when administered orally. The most active ethanolic extract, that of Phyllanthus niruri, reduced parasitaemia by 73%. The dichloromethane extracts of M.morindoides and Phyllanthus niruri produced similar reductions (74% and 72% chemosuppression, respectively), whereas that of C.occidentalis was slightly less active (60% chemosuppression). Each lyophilized aqueous extract was less active than the corresponding ethanolic extract.12
VI.Activity Against Filarial Mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) –1. 18 plants were evaluated for juvenile hormone analogue activity against Culex quinquefasciatus. Of these acetone extracts of 8 plants namely Commelina benghalensis , Ageratum conyzoides , Achyranthus aspera, Sida acuta, Euphorbia pulcherrina, Rivinia humilis, Ruellia tuberosa and Phyllanthus niruri possessed significant juvenile hormone activity. The LC50 values of 5 most active plants namely Phyllanthus niruri, Amaranthus spinosus, Antegonon leptopus, Corchorus aestuans, Corchorus benghalensis were determined to be 13,16,17,17,14ppm respectively.13
VII.Anti- spasmodic activity –1.Research done in Brazil at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in 1984 on Phyllanthus niruri revealed an alkaloid (phyllanthoside) in the leaves and stem with strong antispasmodic activity. It served as a relaxing agent for smooth muscles and they concluded that its spasmolytic action probably accounted for the efficacy of Phyllanthus niruri in expelling stones.14
VIII. Analgesic activity –1.Methanol extract of dried callus tissue at a concentration of 10mg/kg, administered intraperitonially to mice was active vs. acetic acid induced writhin and vs. formalin – induced pedal edema. The extract, at 50mg/kg was inactive vs tail flick response to radiant heat. Ethanol/ water (1:1) extract of dried entire plant at a dose of 50mg/kg, administered intragastric to male mice was active. The extract also administered intraperitonially to male mice at a dose of 0.3mg/kg was active. In both cases antinociceptive effects were demonstrated using 5 different models of nociception. 15
IX. Chromosome Aberration Inhibition –1. Water extract of dried fruit and leaves, at a dose of 685.0 mg/kg, administered to mice by gastric incubation was active vs. chromosome damage induced by lead nitrate and aluminium sulphate in bone marrow chromosomes. Dosing was for 7 days. 16 Worldwide Traditional Medicinal Uses-
BiminiHot water extract of the entire plant is administered orally, to reduce fevers, and as a laxative.17
Dominican Republic Hot water extract of leaves is administered orally as a popular fever remedy.18
Fiji Decoction of dried leaves and roots is taken orally for fever, and for good health.
Dried entire plant, grounded in buttermilk is administered orally for jaundice. Fresh leaf juice is used externally for cuts and bruises. For eye diseases the juice is mixed with castor oil and applied to the eye. Infusion of dried leaves is administered orally for dysentery and diarrhea. Infusion of green root is taken orally to treat heavy menstrual periods.19
French Guyana Hot water extract of leaves is administered orally as a cholagogue.20
Haiti Decoction of dried leaves is taken orally for or used in bath for fever, and orally for indigestion.21
Hot water extract of dried entire plant is administered orally as a spasmolytic and is also against fever.22
India Fresh plant juice is taken orally for genito urinary disorders .23
The fruit is used externally for tubercular ulcers, scabies and ringworm .24
Hot water extract of dried entire plant is administered orally for diabetes .25
For asthma in ayurvedic medicine .26
Papau-New GuineaFresh leaf juice or fresh root juice are taken orally for venereal diseases. Decoction of dried entire plant is administered orally to treat venereal diseases.27
Decoction of dried leaf when taken orally is a treatment for diarrhea. A cupful of leaf decoction is drunk daily.28
Philippines Decoction of dried entire plant is used as a bath for newborns. It is believed to remove disease-causing elements from the skin. Orally the decoction is used for coughs in infants.29
Puerto Rico Hot water extract of leaf and stem is taken orally for fevers .30
Tanzania Hot water extract of fresh entire plant is administered orally for gonorrhea .31
Thailand Hot water extract of commercial sample of the entire plant, is administered orally as an antipyretic .32
Hot water extract of dried aerial parts administered orally is used as a diuretic, as an antipyretic, and for malaria. 33
Hot water extract of dried entire plant is administered orally as an anti-inflammatory agent. 34
Virgin Islands Hot water extract of the plant is taken orally to increase the appetite.35
West Indies Hot water extract of roots together with hot water extract of Citrus aurantifolia roots is taken orally to increase appetite. Hot water extract of entire plant administered orally, is taken for malarial fever. The plant is boiled and the tea taken. Water extract of the leaves and roots is taken orally for diabetes, and as a diuretic .36
Phyllanthus niruri
In – Vitro Studies – 1.Role Of Calcium Oxalate Crystals – Alexander.H.Campos and Nestor Schor investigated the in vitro effect of an aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri L on the model of calcium oxalate crystals endocytosis by Madin-Darby canine kidney cells; the extract exhibited a potent and effective non concentration dependent inhibitory effect on the calcium oxalate crystals internalization. This response was present even at high (pathologic) calcium oxalate concentration and no Phyllanthus niruri L. –induced toxic effect could be detected. Biochemical analysis of culture media containing Phyllanthus niruri L did not provide any clues for the elucidation of the cellular pathways affected by this natural product. Although further studies are necessary for better understanding of the role of Phyllanthus niruri L. in urolithiasis, their findings show that this natural product could be an attractive alternative for the treatment of urinary stone.37
Uses Of Isolated Phytochemical Constituents-1.Bioassay – guided fractionation of boiled aqueous extracts from the whole plant of Phyllanthus niruri (Euphorbiaceae) led to the isolation of 1-o-galloyl-6-o-luteoyl-a-D-glucose (1), which IC50 values of 4.7mg/ml against Babesia gibsoni and 1.4mg/ml against Plasmodium falciparum invitro. The known compounds b glucogallin (2), quercetin 3-o-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(2 to 1)-o-b-D- xylopyranoside(3), b-sitosterol and gallic acid were isolated. Structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of their chemical and spectroscopic data.38
General Features– Comparative pharmacognostic studies of 3 Phyllanthus species –
The detailed pharmacognostic evaluation of the 3 species of Phyllanthus namely Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn or Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Linn or mixture of Phyllanthus amarus, Phyllanthus fraternus Webster and Phyllanthus maderaspatensis has been carried out with the aim to establish the identification markers of this important hepatoprotective agents (effective in Hepatitis B too). The study concluded that the 3 species can be differentiated on the micro and macroscopic characters, physicochemical values,
Chemical Constituents40–Rt – Rt culture
Pl – Plant
Lf – Leaf
Sd – Seed
Ol – Oil
Aer – Aerial plant
EO – Essential oils
1. Kaempferol-4-o-alpha-L-rhamnoside, Aer 0.9%, Rt
2. (-) Limonine, Lf EO 4.5%
3. Ascorbic acid, Lf 0.41%
4. Cymene, Lf EO 11%
5. Hypophyllanthin, Pl 0.05-0.17%
6. Geranin, Pl .23%
7. Linoleic acid, Sd Ol 21%
8. Linolenic acid, Sd Ol 51.4%
9.Ricinoleic acid, Sd Ol 1.2%
10.Phyltetralin, Pl, Lf 0.14%
11.&Phyllanthin, Lf, Aer
Following are parts of the plant
1. (-)-Nor-secrurinine, Pl
2. 4-Hydroxy-sesamin, Pl
3. Corilagin, Pl
4. Ellagic acid, Pl
5. Estradiol, Pl
6. Fisetin-41-O-beta-D-dlucoside, Pl
7. Hinokinin, Pl
8. Iso-lintetralin, Pl
9. Nirurin, Pl
10.Nirurinetin, Pl
11.Phyllanthus, Pl
12.Trans-phytol, Pl
13.Repandusinic acid A, Pl
Following are parts of the roots:
1. (+)-Catechin, Rt cult
2. (+)-Gallocatechin, Rt Cult
3. (-)-Epi-catechin, Rt Cult
4. (-)-Epi-catechin-3-gallate, Rt Cult
5. (-) Epi-gallocatechin, Rt Cult
6. Gallic acid, Rt cult
7. (-)-Epi-gallocatechin-3-O-gallate, Rt
8. Eriodictyol-7-o-alpha-L-rhamnoside, Rt
9. Fisetin-41-O-alpha-L-rhamoniside, Rt
10.Lupeol acetate, Rt
11.Lupeol, Rt
12.Nor-securinine, Rt
Following are parts of the Leaves:
1. 4-Hydroxy-lintetralin, Lf
2. 2,3-dimethoxy-iso-lintertralin, Lf
3. Astragalin, Lf
4. Beta sitosterol, Lf
5. Demethylenedioxy niranthin, Lf
6. Hydroxy niranthin, Lf
7. Hypophyllanthin, Lf Aer
8. Iso-quercitin, Lf
9. Linnanthin, Lf
10.Lintetralin, Lf
11.Niranthin, Lf
12.Quercitrin, Lf
13.Salicylic acid methyl ester, Lf EO
14.Seco-4-hydroxy-lintetralin, Lf
Following are parts of the aerial plant:
1.24- Isopropyl Cholestrol, Aer
2.Dotriacontanoic acid, Aer
3.Nirphyllin, Aer
4.Nirurine, Aer
5.Phyllanthenol, Aer
6.Phyllantheol, Aer
7.Phyllester, Aer
8.Phyllinurin, Aer
9.Phylltetrin, Aer
10.Triacontan-1-al, Aer
11.Triancontan-1-ol, Aer
Following are present in all leaf, stem, aerial plant, roots
1.Nirtetralin, Pl, Lf
2.4-Methoxy-nor-securinine, Aer, Rt, St
3.Rutin, Pl, Lf
4. Phyllanthine, Rt, Lf, St
5. Phyllochrysine, Lf, St
6. Quercetin, Lf, Pl
is used as a diuretic in dropsical affection, gonorrhoea and other troubles of genito urinary tract. Herb is bitter, astringent, diuretic and febrifuge, antiseptic. Fresh root is a remedy for jaundice. Infusion of young shoots given in dysentery. Leaves are popular remedy against fever. It can be used to increase the appetite and locally to relieve inflammations. It can also be used in case of anorexia. L., (Syn. P. fraternus Webster), Euphorbiaceae, is a common kharif (rainy season) weed found in both cultivated fields and wastelands. Recently it has attracted the attention of researchers, because of its hepatoprotective properties. No effective specific therapy is available for viral hepatitis but P. niruri has shown clinical efficacy in viral Hepatitis B .It is known for its liver healing properties so used in Chinese medicine for treatment of liver diseases. originated in India, usually occurring as a winter weed throughout the hotter parts. The Phyllanthus genus contains over 600 species of shrubs, trees and annual or biennial herbs distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical areas. Phyllanthus niruri is a herb of Euphorbiaceae family that grows upto 60 cm. Phyllanthus means “leaf and flower” because the flower, as well as the fruit, seem to become one with the leaf. HPTLC fingerprint profile and the detection of phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin as marker components. Besides, an interesting conclusion can be drawn that phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin said to protect the hepatocytes against CCl4 and galactose amine induced toxicity may not be exclusively responsible for hepatoprotective activity as these are present in Phyllanthus amarus while Phyllanthus fraternus and Phyllanthus maderaspatensis also possess significant hepatoprotective activity.39
phyllanthus niruri health benefits
Phyllanthus niruri has been found to exhibit inhibitory effect on hepatitis B virus
evident by its exhaustive utility in cases of chronic jaundice. An aqueous extract of the
plant Phyllanthus niruri inhibits endogenous DNA polymerase of hepatitis B virus and
binds to the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus in vitro. Effect of Phyllanthus niruri
extracts on woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen was also observed in a study
of rats. However, till date, research studies are very limited for this claim. [2, 3]
Phyllanthus niruri extracts may have benefits of liver protection. Its protein fractions
protected liver tissues against oxidative stress by improving anti-oxidative defense in
mice. It may also benefit hepatitis B.
Researchers injected partially purified protein fraction of Phyllanthus niruri
intraperitoneally in mice either prior to (preventive) or after the induction of liver toxicity
(curative). Researchers observed a reduction of elevated glutamate pyruvate
transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lipid peroxidation levels in the
Phyllanthus niruri extract-treated mice. A restoration of enzymes superoxide
dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) to almost normal
levels also occurred. [4] Researchers also noticed similar results from another
animal study in which to liver toxicity was induced by nimesulide. [5]
Phyllanthus niruri may have lipid-lowering activities.
Phyllanthus niruri extracts demonstrate lipid-lowering activities in triton and
cholesterol fed hyperlipemic rats. [6]
Phyllanthus niruri may lower blood pressure.
Methyl brevifolincarboxylate (1) isolated from the leaves of Phyllanthus niruri L.
showed slow relaxation activity against norepinephrine (NE)-induced contractions of
rat aorta with or without endothelium. However, the compound did not affect
contractions induced by a high concentration (60 mM) of K+, whereas it inhibited
NE-induced vasocontraction in the presence of nicardipine. [7]
Phyllanthus niruri may help against Plasmodium falciparum and Babesia gibsoni.
Japanese scientists extracted 1-O-galloyl-6-O-luteoyl-alpha-d-glucose from boiled
aqueous extracts of Phyllanthus niruri and this compound shows activities against
Babesia gibsoni and Plasmodium falciparum in a vitro study. [8] Researchers from
Belgium also noticed the anti-plasmodial activities from ethonalic extracts of the
plant. [9]
Phyllanthus niruri may benefit kidney stones. Phyllanthus niruri intake interferes the
growth of calcium oxalate crystals.
In 1999, Campos AH and Schor N have already noticed such effect of aqueous
Phyllanthus niruri extracts on calcium oxalate crystal internalization. [12] A study of
rats has shown that phyllanthus niruri in the presence of a pre-formed calculus did
not prevent further calculus growth; rather, it caused an impressive modification in its
appearance and texture. Phyllanthus niruri was able to modify the shape and texture
of calculi to a smoother and probably more fragile form, which could contribute to
elimination and/or dissolution of calculi. [14]
Freitas AM and co-workers from Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo introduced
calcium oxalate seed into the bladder of rats. They then treated the rats with
phyllanthus niruri with or without calcium oxalate. At the end of the study, they found
that treatment with phyllanthus niruri strongly inhibited the growth of the matrix
calculus and reduced the number of stone satellites compared to a control group. In
the study, they concluded that phyllanthus niruri has an inhibitory effect on crystal
growth, which is independent of changes in the urinary excretion of citrate and Mg, but
might be related to the higher incorporation of glycosaminoglycans into the calculi.
[11]
Nishiura JL and co-workers from Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo evaluated the
effect of phyllanthus niruri intake on 24 h urinary biochemical parameters of 69
patients suffered from calcium stone formation. They observed a significant reduction
in the urinary calcium in hypercalciuric patients after phyllanthus niruri intake. [10] In a
study of 150 patients, regular self-administration of phyllanthus niruri after
extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for renal stones resulted in an increased
stone-free rate that appeared statistically significant for lower caliceal location. Its
efficacy and the absolute lack of side effects made this therapy suitable to improve
overall outcomes after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for lower pole stones. [13]
SIDE EFFECTS?
Limited studies have been done so far, side effects have not been reported.
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION,
PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008 ZHION
evident by its exhaustive utility in cases of chronic jaundice. An aqueous extract of the
plant Phyllanthus niruri inhibits endogenous DNA polymerase of hepatitis B virus and
binds to the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus in vitro. Effect of Phyllanthus niruri
extracts on woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen was also observed in a study
of rats. However, till date, research studies are very limited for this claim. [2, 3]
Phyllanthus niruri extracts may have benefits of liver protection. Its protein fractions
protected liver tissues against oxidative stress by improving anti-oxidative defense in
mice. It may also benefit hepatitis B.
Researchers injected partially purified protein fraction of Phyllanthus niruri
intraperitoneally in mice either prior to (preventive) or after the induction of liver toxicity
(curative). Researchers observed a reduction of elevated glutamate pyruvate
transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lipid peroxidation levels in the
Phyllanthus niruri extract-treated mice. A restoration of enzymes superoxide
dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) to almost normal
levels also occurred. [4] Researchers also noticed similar results from another
animal study in which to liver toxicity was induced by nimesulide. [5]
Phyllanthus niruri may have lipid-lowering activities.
Phyllanthus niruri extracts demonstrate lipid-lowering activities in triton and
cholesterol fed hyperlipemic rats. [6]
Phyllanthus niruri may lower blood pressure.
Methyl brevifolincarboxylate (1) isolated from the leaves of Phyllanthus niruri L.
showed slow relaxation activity against norepinephrine (NE)-induced contractions of
rat aorta with or without endothelium. However, the compound did not affect
contractions induced by a high concentration (60 mM) of K+, whereas it inhibited
NE-induced vasocontraction in the presence of nicardipine. [7]
Phyllanthus niruri may help against Plasmodium falciparum and Babesia gibsoni.
Japanese scientists extracted 1-O-galloyl-6-O-luteoyl-alpha-d-glucose from boiled
aqueous extracts of Phyllanthus niruri and this compound shows activities against
Babesia gibsoni and Plasmodium falciparum in a vitro study. [8] Researchers from
Belgium also noticed the anti-plasmodial activities from ethonalic extracts of the
plant. [9]
Phyllanthus niruri may benefit kidney stones. Phyllanthus niruri intake interferes the
growth of calcium oxalate crystals.
In 1999, Campos AH and Schor N have already noticed such effect of aqueous
Phyllanthus niruri extracts on calcium oxalate crystal internalization. [12] A study of
rats has shown that phyllanthus niruri in the presence of a pre-formed calculus did
not prevent further calculus growth; rather, it caused an impressive modification in its
appearance and texture. Phyllanthus niruri was able to modify the shape and texture
of calculi to a smoother and probably more fragile form, which could contribute to
elimination and/or dissolution of calculi. [14]
Freitas AM and co-workers from Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo introduced
calcium oxalate seed into the bladder of rats. They then treated the rats with
phyllanthus niruri with or without calcium oxalate. At the end of the study, they found
that treatment with phyllanthus niruri strongly inhibited the growth of the matrix
calculus and reduced the number of stone satellites compared to a control group. In
the study, they concluded that phyllanthus niruri has an inhibitory effect on crystal
growth, which is independent of changes in the urinary excretion of citrate and Mg, but
might be related to the higher incorporation of glycosaminoglycans into the calculi.
[11]
Nishiura JL and co-workers from Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo evaluated the
effect of phyllanthus niruri intake on 24 h urinary biochemical parameters of 69
patients suffered from calcium stone formation. They observed a significant reduction
in the urinary calcium in hypercalciuric patients after phyllanthus niruri intake. [10] In a
study of 150 patients, regular self-administration of phyllanthus niruri after
extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for renal stones resulted in an increased
stone-free rate that appeared statistically significant for lower caliceal location. Its
efficacy and the absolute lack of side effects made this therapy suitable to improve
overall outcomes after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for lower pole stones. [13]
SIDE EFFECTS?
Limited studies have been done so far, side effects have not been reported.
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION,
PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008 ZHION
Effects of an extract from Phyllanthus niruri on hepatitis B and woodchuck hepatitis viruses: in vitro and in vivo studies.
This article has been Abstract
An aqueous extract of the plant Phyllanthus niruri inhibits endogenous DNA polymerase of hepatitis B virus and binds to the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus in vitro. The extract also inhibits woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) DNA polymerase and binds to the surface antigen of WHV in vitro. The extract, nontoxic to mice, was tested for antiviral activity in woodchucks (Marmota monax). In a trial using six long-term WHV-carrier woodchucks, five treated animals showed a faster decrease in woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen titer compared to one untreated control. In animals recently infected with WHV, the extract was effective when administered i.p. in three out of four animals in reducing and within 3-6 weeks eliminating both the surface antigen titer and DNA polymerase activity in serum. The treatment was discontinued after 10 weeks, and the treated animals have remained free of detectable markers of WHV for more than 45 weeks. In contrast, three untreated controls remained positive for both markers for WHV. One of the controls died after 8 weeks; the other two controls have remained positive for WHV markers for more than 45 weeks. In a third trial with long-term carriers, test animals treated subcutaneously with the extract for 12 weeks did not respond; but on switching the mode of administration to i.p., two out of the five animals showed a significant decrease in woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen titer compared to controls.cited by other articles in PMC.
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