Volume 155, Issue 2, 11 September 2014, Pages 1011–1028
Review
From arrow poison to herbal medicine – The ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological significance of Cissampelos (Menispermaceae)
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Cissampelos
species have a rich history of traditional use, being used for both
therapeutic and toxic properties. It is traditionally applied
therapeutically in a diverse range of conditions and diseases including
asthma, cough, fever, arthritis, obesity, dysentery, snakebite, jaundice
and heart, blood pressure and skin-related problems. Conversely, it was
traditionally included in preparations of curare applied as arrow
poison during hunting to cause death of animals by asphyxiation. This
review unites the ethnobotanical knowledge on Cissampelos with
the phytochemistry and pharmacological activity which has been explored
thus far. In addition, it identifies knowledge gaps and suggests further
research opportunities.
Methods
The available electronic literature on the genus Cissampelos was collected using database searches including Scopus, Google Scholar, Pubmed, Web of Science, etc.
The searches were limited to peer-reviewed English journals with the
exception of books and a few articles in foreign languages which were
included.
Results
The literature revealed that pharmacological activity including analgesic and antipyretic, anti-inflammatory,
anti-allergic, bronchodilator, immunomodulatory, memory-enhancing,
antidepressant, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antimalarial,
antiparasitic, anti-ulcer, anticancer, anti-oxidant, cardiovascular,
muscle-relaxant, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antidiarrhoeal,
antifertility, and antivenom activity have been confirmed in vitro and/or in vivo for various Cissampelos species. Cissampelos pareira L. and Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. are the most explored species of this genus and the smallest number of studies have been conducted on Cissampelos laxiflora Moldenke and Cissampelos tenuipes Engl. Many alkaloids isolated from Cissampelos
such as warifteine, methylwarifteine, berberine, hayatin and hayatidin
showed promising anti-allergic, immunosuppressive, antidepressant,
anticancer, vasodilatory and muscle-relaxant activities.
Conclusion
The
plants of this genus are used in traditional medicine for the treatment
of various ailments. These plants are a rich source of bioactive
bisbenzylisoquinoline and aporphine alkaloids together with other minor
constituents. Although these plants are reputable and revered in various
traditional medicine systems, many have not yet been screened
chemically or pharmacologically and so there is a vast amount of
research still to be conducted to validate their traditional use.
Graphical abstract
Abbreviations
- Ig, immunoglobulin;
- OVA, ovalbumin;
- PG, prostaglandin;
- PHF, polyherbal formulation;
- TGI, total growth inhibition;
- MIC, minimum inhibitory concentration;
- IZD, inhibition zone diameter;
- MLE, methanolic leaf extract;
- HLE, hydroalcoholic leaf extract;
- HRE, hydroalcoholic root extract;
- ELE, ethanolic leaf extract;
- ERE, ethanolic root extract;
- MRE, methanolic root extract;
- p.o., per oral;
- i.p., intra-peritoneal;
- i.v., intravenous
Keywords
- Cissampelos pareira;
- Cissampelos sympodialis;
- Antidepressant;
- Antidiabetic;
- Curare;
- Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids
- Corresponding author. Tel.:
+27 12 382 6373; fax: +27 12 382 6243.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
