Therapeutic Properties of Trichopus zeylanicus Subsp. travancoricus, a Rare, Endangered Medicinal Plant in South India: A Review

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Therapeuc Properes of
Trichopus zeylanicus
Subsp.
travancoricus
, a Rare,
Endangered Medicinal Plant in South India: A Review
Chellappan Biju V*, Shidhi PR, Veena S Rajan, Anoop PK and Achuthsankar S Nair
Department of Computaonal Biology and, Bioinformacs University of Kerala, Kerala, India
*Corresponding author: Chellappan Biju V, Department of Computaonal Biology and Bioinformacs, University of Kerala, 689504, Kerala,
India, Tel: +918157805508; E-mail: bijuvcdd@gmail.com
Rec date: January 02, 2019; Acc date: January 21, 2019; Pub date: January 29, 2019
Citaon: Biju VC, Shidhi PR, Rajan VS, Anoop PK, Nair AS (2019) Therapeuc properes of Trichopus zeylanicus subsp. travancoricus, a Rare,
Endangered Medicinal Plant in South India: A Review. Herb Med Vol.5 No.1:2.
Abstract
Trichopus zeylanicus subsp. travancoricus, belonging to
the family Trichopodaceae, is a small herbaceous plant
exclusively present in Western Ghats of South India. The
indigenous tribal community in Western Ghats
tradionally use this plant for geng instant energy to
combat fague. Recent pharmacological studies have
revealed that besides its anfague property, this plant
possess many medicinal properes such as an-oxidant,
an-inammatory, an-stress, immunomodulatory, an-
diabec, aphrodisiac, anhyperlipidemic, antumor,
anulcer, anmicrobial and hepatoprotecve acvity.
This arcle comprehensively review the results of
pharmacological studies so far done in this plant and
emphasizes perspecves that warrant future research to
explore its full pharmacological potenal.
Keywords: India; Tradional knowledge; Trichopodaceae;
Trichopus zeylanicus; Medicinal plant; Phytochemicals;
An-fague; An-stress
Introducon
Trichopus zeylanicus (Gaertn) is a dwarf shrub belonging to
the family Trichopodaceae [1]. Three subspecies of Trichopus
zeylanicus (Gaertn) are known namely Trichopus zeylanicus
subsp. zeylanicus, T. zeylanicus subsp. angusfolius and T.
zeylanicus subsp. travancoricus. Among these sub species, the
rst two are endemic to Sri Lanka while T. zeylanicus subsp.
travancoricus is distributed to Western Ghats, Malaysia and
Thailand. So far, medicinal properes have been reported only
for Trichopus zeylanicus subsp. travancoricus (correct
nomenclature is Trichopus zeylanicus Gaertn. subsp.
travancoricus Burkill ex Narayanan subsp. nov) [2].
In India, Trichopus zeylanicus subsp. travancoricus
(hereaer called TZT) is endemic to Agastya hills, the extreme
end of Western Ghats mountain range of South India. For
centuries, TZT has been in use as an instant energy smulant
within Kani tribe, an indigenous tribal community seled in
Agastya hills.
This medicinal property of TZT is known to the scienc
world only aer a publicaon that came in 1988 where the
authors claim the instant energy property of TZT based on
their direct experience by eang the fresh seeds during their
expedion to Agastya hills [3]. Within the Kani community TZT
is known as “Arogyapacha” literally means “the greener of
health” i.e., the one that gives very good health and vitality.
The tradional knowledge from the Kani tribe about TZT as a
medicine paved the way for the scienc community to
further explore the pharmacological potenal of this plant.
A sciencally validated and standardized herbal drug
named “Jeevni” had been developed from the whole plant by
Indian sciensts and was released for commercial producon
in 1995 by a Pharmaceucal rm in India [4]. While
transferring the technology for the producon of the drug to
the pharmaceucal rm, a benet sharing agreement was
signed to a Kani trust to share 50% of the license fee and
royalty with the tribal community.
This agreement between the Kani’s and the scienc
community which was rst of its kind and is considered as a
good model for using tradional knowledge from indigenous
communies. A varied spectrum of pharmacological properes
of TZT has been reported so far from dierent parts of the
world. This review focuses on various pharmacological
properes of TZT based on the available scienc reports and
discusses the possible future research on this plant.
Methodology
The present review covers the literature available from 1989
to 2018. A systemac review was carried out in public
databases such as PubMed (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed)
and Jstor, ScienceDirect (www.sciencedirect.com) and
SciFinder (www.libnet.ulg.ac.be/en/eresources/scinder-
scholar (www.jstor.org/) using the keywords Trichopus,
Trichopus zeylanicus and Arogyapacha. This search resulted
into idencaon of 182 literatures. Among these, 38 arcles
relevant to the scope of this review were selected and crically
evaluated. The chemical structures have been revised by
consulng the open chemistry database PubChem
(pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/#collecon=compounds),
and then redrawn using the freeware version of the soware
ACD/ChemSketch (Freeware) 14.01.
Review Article
iMedPub Journals
www.imedpub.com
DOI: 10.21767/2472-0151.100040
Herbal Medicine: Open Access
ISSN 2472 0151 Vol.5 No.1:2
2019
© Copyright iMedPub | This article is available from: http://herbal-medicine.imedpub.com/ 1

Literature Review
Botanical descripon of
Trichopus zeylanicus
Trichopus zeylanicus is a small herbaceous plant usually
growing along the wet banks of streams and rivulets on hills. It
has many slender stems around 5 cm to 25 cm long arising
from its nodose rhizhome (Figure 1) [3,5]. There is one
terminal leaf on each stem. The long peole appears like a
connuaon of the stem. In general, the leaves are heart
shaped, but may vary to dierent shapes like triangular, ovate
with an obtuse apex and basally cordate with a wide sinus
(Figure 1).
Figure 1 Dierent parts of Trichopus zeylanicus subsp.
travancoricus: Upper le-whole plant, upper right-leaf,
lower le-root, lower middle-fruit, below right-seeds.
Flowers are deep purple colored small, medium bisexual,
mostly one, fascicled at the base of the leaves, extruded from
between the protecting scale leaves. Perianth dark-brown,
sub-equally 6-lobed, Stamen 6 with sub sessile anthers,
ilaments widening into broad connectives.
Ovary inferior, 3 celled with two superimposed ovules in
each cell. Stigma 3-lobed. Fruits are somewhat winged,
triangular and indehiscent (Figure 1).
The tender kernel of immature fruit is sweet to taste and
has pleasant lavor. On ripening it becomes stony and
unpalatable. Seeds are endoplasmic and its endosperms are
ruminating (and cartilaginous); these are ovate, dorsally
grooved, and rugose.
Embryo is well dierenated and straight. Single cotyledon
is present at the p of the axis and the plumule occupies the
terminal posion. Testa without phytomelan, very thin
micropyle zigzag. It possess brous root system (Figure 1).
Taxonomical posion of
TZT
Taxonomical posion of TZT is sll in debate. It was
previously assigned to family Dioscoreaceae. But based on the
morphological and cytological dissimilaries to other species
in Dioscoreaceae, T. zeylanicus was excluded from this family
and mow assigned to the family Trichopodaceae (Table 1) [1].
Class Liliopsida
Order Dioscoreales
Family Trichopodaceae
Genus Trichopus
Species zeylanicus
Phytochemicals of
TZT
Preliminary phytochemical screening of dierent extracts of
TZT revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites
such as phenolics, alkaloids, avonoids, tannins, terpenoids,
steroids glycosides, saponins etc., [6-8].
Figure 2 Compounds idened from TZT using GCMS/EIMS
analysis. A) 4,4a,5,8-tetrahydro-5,8-dimethyl-5,8-Epoxy-
3H-2-benzopyran, B) 9-Acetylphenanthrene, C) 2,13-
Octadecadien-1 ol, D) Methyl Hexadecanoate, E) 9-
Oximino-2,7-diethoxy luorene, F) Vicenin-2, G) 9-
Octadecenoicacid methyl ester, H) 16-methyl Heptadecanoic
acid methyl ester, I) 9,15-Octadecadienoic acid methyl ester,
J) 5,8-Octadecadienoic acid methyl ester, K) 2-(9-Octa-
decenyloxy) Ethanol, L) 1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3-trimethoxypropyl)
1H-Pyrazolo(3,4-b) quinoxaline, M) Methyl 10-Oxohexa-
decanoate, N) 15-methyl Heptadecanoic acid methyl ester,
O) Cis-6-Octadecenoic acid, P) E,E,Z-1,3,12-Nona-
decatriene-5,14-diol, Q) 6-acetyl, 7-hydroxy,8-methoxy-2,2-
dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyran, R) β-sitosterol, S)
Triacontanol, T) Vitexin.
So far 21 compounds were idened from TZT through GC-
MS/EI-MS analysis and are listed in Table 1 and are shown in
Figure 2.
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Division Mangoliophyta
Table 1 Taxonomic posion of Trichopus zeylanicus.

Potenal Therapeuc Properes of
TZT
Aer the rst report on the medicinal properes of TZT by
Pushapangadan et al. [3], various experiments were carried
out to explore its diverse medicinal properes and were
discussed in detail below.
Anfague property
The anfague property of TZT has been tested in
experimental rats through forced swim test, a method to
evaluate fague/depression in animals [9]. Sharma et al.,
demonstrated that experimental rats treated with aqueous
suspension of ethanol (50%) extracts of the seeds (100 mg/Kg)
showed an increase in swimming me compared to control
animals (non-administrated) in a plasc bucket lled with
water [10].
Pushpangadan et al., checked the anfague eect of TZT
extracted with dierent solvents and showed that methanol
and acetone extracts at a dose of 200 mg/Kg possess
signicant anfague eect on rats during swimming
performance [11]. They showed that water extract (200
mg/Kg) had no eect on swimming performance and
suggested that the agent that induces the anfague eect is
not extractable in water [11]. Singh et al., showed that a glyco-
pepdo-lipid fracon of ethanol extract exhibited signicant
anfague eect and muscle coordinaon in mice subjected
to swimming performance [12].
Evans et al., showed that the ethanolic extract of TZT in
mice enhanced the ulizaon of free fay acid in preference
to glucose during intense exercise implying that TZT can be
used as a potenal sports medicine [13]. To exclude the
possibility that the observed anfague property of TZT is due
to amphetamine-mimec acvity, Tharakan et al., showed that
the administraon of TZT water suspension (500 mg/kg) to 6-
hydroxydopamine lesioned rats did not show any ipsilateral
rotaon upon treatment with amphetamine, a central nervous
system smulant [14]. This results indicated that TZT combats
fague without amphetamine-mimec acvity [15]. 6-
hydroxydopamine is a neurotoxin which selecvely destroys
dopaminergic neurons. So far available evidences suggest that
TZT could be a potenal anfague drug [16].
Anoxidant property
Anoxidants are molecules that scavenge free radical and
protect body from several serious diseases [17]. Free radicals
are generally produced in human body from normal energy
metabolic process and are generally counteracted by
endogenous anoxidants [18]. But, exposure to x-rays,
cigaree smoke, polluon, pescides, and inseccides may
generate excess amount of free radical in our body that create
an imbalance between free radical acvity and endogenous
anoxidant defense system.
This free radical-anoxidant imbalance leads to condion
called oxidave stress in our body that iniates many serious
diseases of aging such as cancer, cardiovascular disease,
cataracts, immune system deciency, and brain dysfuncon
[19]. Therefore, there is a high demand for exogenous
anoxidants. Several studies have shown that plants are rich
source of anoxidant compounds.
Tharakan et al., showed that TZT is able to inhibit hydrogen
peroxide induced lipid peroxidaon in rat brain homogenate,
protect DNA from hydrogen peroxide inducing damage and
lipoxygenase acvity [14]. In another study, Velavan et al.,
claimed that TZT has signicant cardio protecve eects as
evidenced by the reducon of isoproterenol-induced lipid
peroxidaon in plasma and heart ssues of experimental rats
pre-treated with ethanol extract (500 mg/Kg) compared to
that of controls (non-treated rats) [20].
Sindhu et al., demonstrated the anoxidant property of TZT
in a 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging
assay using various parts of TZT extracted in dierent solvents
such as chloroform, methanol, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate
and water [6]. Among these extracts, the leaf methanol extract
showed highest free radical scavenging eect (IC50 is 50
µg/ml) which is comparable to that of the anoxidant property
of L ascorbic acid (IC50 is 53 µg/ml in their study), a universally
accepted anoxidant [6,21].
An-stress property
In this modern era, we are exposed to dierent kinds of
stressors every day. This connuous exposure smulates
various disease states including hypertension, diabetes, pepc
ulcer, immuno-suppression, reproducve dysfuncons, and
anxiety, disturb sleep, depression, irritability, fague and
lethargy. The plant derived drugs are gaining increasing
popularity and are being explored for remedies of a number of
disorders including stress.
To demonstrate the an-stress property of TZT, Singh et al.,
esmated the level of corcosterone in the adrenal glands of
stressed mice (constant swimming for 5 hour) treated with TZT
ethanolic extract at doses of 250 mg/Kg and 500 mg/Kg [22].
In many species corcosterone is the major stress hormone
secreted by the adrenal cortex which is involved in regulaon
of energy, immune reacons, and stress responses [23]. They
found that the drug treatment inhibited the adrenal
enlargement, a phenomenon resulng from stress, as well as a
signicant elevaon in the concentraon of corcosterone
[22].
Rishikesh et al., assayed the anxiolyc acvies of a saponin
fracon of TZT by elevated plus maze method, light-dark test,
and andepressant acvies were assayed by tail suspension
test and force swimming test on mice [24]. They found that
TZT has eecve anxiolyc acvity as evidenced by an increase
in the percentage of me spent in open arm and reduced me
in the dark chamber in light and dark model as well as reduced
me spent in closed arm in elevated plus maze. Comparably,
the saponin fracon of TZT shown signicant dose dependent
andepressant acvity in force swimming test (FST) and tail
suspension test (TST) as witnessed by the decreased me of
immobility when compared with control group [24].
Herbal Medicine: Open Access
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These observaons are conrmed by Raghu et al., using
ethanolic extract of TZT at doses of 250 mg/Kg and 500 mg/Kg
and shown that the drug treatment signicantly reduced stress
induced elevaon in plasma corcosterone levels and
hyperglycemia in rats [25]. This observaon was contradictory
to the observaon by Singh et al., where they showed that the
treatment of ethanolic extract of TZT increased the level of
corcosterone in the adrenal cortex of stressed animals [22].
Therefore, more study is needed to conrm the eect of TZT
on the corcosterone level. The An-stress property of TZT
has been demonstrated by Raghu et al. [25]. In their study,
stress was induced in experimental rats by restraining the
animals in PVC restrainers for four hours which elevated the
blood glucose and corcosterone level in stressed animal
compared to that of non-stressed animals. Increased level of
blood glucose and corcosterone are characterisc feature of
a stress response.
Hydrochloric acid extract of TZT at a dose of 500 mg/Kg
signicantly reduced the blood glucose and corcosterone
level in animals exposed to restrained stress. This an-stress
eect was comparable to that of ginseng at a concentraon of
100 mg/Kg indicated that TZT is a potent an-stress agent [25].
Moreover, the administraon of TZT extract at the dose of 500
mg/kg signicantly reduced stress induced anxiety in mice
which was evidenced by a signicant increase in the number of
crossings in the EPM and light and dark model. Overall these
evidences suggest that TZT is a potent adaptogenic agent.
An-microbial acvity
The anmicrobial properes of TZT using methanol, hexane
and chloroform extracts of leaf powder has been
demonstrated recently by Manza and Saj and oil extract by
Balasubramanian et al. [25,26]. Among these extracts, the
methanol extract showed a signicant dose dependent eect
on the following bacterial strains; Staphylococcus aureus,
Bacillus sublis, Salmonella typhii, Shigella exnori,
Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus
pneumoniae and Clostridium tetani [26]. It also showed
signicant dose dependent eect on fungal isolates;
Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp.,
Altenaria sp., Canadia albicans, Fusarium solani, Trichophyton
mentagrophytes and Helminthosporium spp [26].
The hexane extract showed moderate eects against
Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus sublis, Salmonella typhi and
Streptococcus pneumoniea [26]. The hexane extracts also
showed moderate inhibion against Alternaria sp., Fusarium
solani and Trichophyton mentagrophytes whereas Chloroform
extracts proved inhibitory eects against Alternaria sp. and
Helminthosporium spp. [26]. Moreover, fresh leaf oil of TZT
showed profound eect on gram negave bacteria such as
Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia
coli, and Klebsiella terrigena and some fungal organism such as
Candida glabrata and Candida albicans [27].
Aphrodisiac property
Aphrodisiacs are substances that increases sexual desire
when consumed. Subramoniam et al., has showed that the
administraon of ethanol extract of TZT leaf (200 mg/kg) in
male mice enhanced mounng behaviour and mang
performance compared to that of control animals [28]. The
pups of the mice treated with the extract were found to be
normal in growth, lier size and sex rao. The water as well as
n-hexane extracts of the plant leaf were found to be inacve.
More extensive invesgaon should be needed to get more
insight into this property or idenfy the actual molecule confer
this eect. In addion, the eect of the drug on female sexual
behaviour and ferlity remains to be invesgated.
Analgesic and an-inammatory property
An analgesic or painkiller is any member of the group of
drugs used to relief from pain without loss of consciousness. In
many diseases such as cancer there is a huge need for rapidly
acng, powerful “rescue” analgesic which has no other side
eect. To demonstrate the analgesic property of TZT, Sambath
et al., has showed that treatment of an alkaloid fracon of TZT
(AFTZ) in mice signicantly reduced the number of writhing
induced by 0.6% acec acid in a dose dependent manner
[8,24]. In another experiment, they used hotplate method in
which they placed the drug treated mice on a hot plate of
constant temperature of 55°C and found that the drug
treatment signicantly reduced the mean me of basal
reacons such as ick the paw or jump from the hot plate
compared to that of non-treated animals.
Inammaon is a body’s immune response to heal the
wound aer an injury by defending itself against foreign
invaders, such as viruses and bacteria and repair damaged
ssue. However, it can be problemac as it plays a major role
in many chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthris. Hence,
proper treatments are to be taken against it. Subramonium et
al. showed that Trichopus zeylanicus leaf extract has the ability
to stabilize mast cells, a type of white blood cell that contains
many granules rich in histamine and heparin [29].
To demonstrate an-inammatory property of TZT, Singh et
al., induced acute edema using 1% carrageenan in one of the
hind paws of experimental rats prior treated with a glycol-
pepdo-lipid fracon of ethanol extract of TZT at doses of 12
mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg and found that the
drug inhibited the induced edema in a dose dependent
manner [30]. The glycol-pepdo-lipid fracon of ethanol
extract of TZT was also found to be eecve against adjuvant
induced polyarthris in rats [12]. Similarly, Sambath et al.,
showed that the treatment of an alkaloid fracon of TZT
(AFTZ) signicantly inhibited paw edema induced by
carrageenan in mice in a dose dependent manner which is
comparable to that of the eect shown by diclofenac sodium,
a standard an-inammatory drug [8].
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Immunomodulatory property
Immunomodulators are drugs which either suppress or
smulate immune system. As an evidence for the
immunomodulatory property of TZT, Pushpangadan et al. had
demonstrated that the TZT whole plant powder water
suspension treatment for seven consecuve days markedly
increased the proliferaon of thymocytes, splenic
lymphocytes, total blood leucocytes and peritoneal
macrophages, the cells played a major role in cell mediated
immunity [11]. They hypothesized that the drug may act on
immunity specic cell because the drug treatment had no
eect on Haemoglobin content, liver and body weight.
Immunomodulatory acvity of alkaloid fracon of TZT was
evaluated by Rishikesh et al., in a delayed type hypersensivity
test (DTH) [31].
In their study, mice were immunized by injecng 20 µl of 0.5
× 109 Sheep Red Blood Cells (SRBC) into right foot pad to
induce foot paw edema, then treated with the alkaloid fracon
of TZT for 14 days and on the 14th day the animals were
challenged by 20 µl of 0.025 × 109 SRBC into le foot pad. They
found that the drug enhanced delayed type hypersensivity
(DTH) reacon evidenced by the signicant reducon of foot
paw edema as compared to control group. In this study they
also showed that the drug treatment signicantly increased
the essenal immune cells such as neutrophils, WBCs, RBCs,
and Hb indicang the immune modulatory eect of TZT [31].
An-tumor property
Puspangadan et al., had demonstrated the potent antumor
eect of TZT [11]. In their study, mice treated with TZT whole
plant powder water suspension (0.5 ml of 2% suspension/
mouse) for 7 consecuve days were challenged with Ehrlich
Ascic carcinoma (EAC) cells (0.5 million cells/mouse) in the
peritoneal cavity. Aer the challenge, the treatment connued
for another 20 days.
The examinaon of peritoneal cavies of mice aer the 20
days revealed that the drug treatment completely protected
60% of mice from the tumor cell growth and the number of
tumor cells were dramacally reduced in treated mice. In
tumor control mice (drug-untreated), full tumor growth was
observed in all animals. Even though the mechanism behind
the an-tumor property is not understood, they also observed
that the drug treatment dramacally increased
polymorphonuclear leucocytes and peritoneal Macrophages,
the most important phagocyc cells, as compared to total
leucocyte in drug treated mice.
Anulcer property
The eect of fresh seed ethanol extract on gastric ulceraon
induced by restraint, cold and aspirin was evaluated by Sharma
et al. [10]. They found that the drug pre-treatment in mice
signicantly reduced the incidence and severity of ulcer
induced by aforemenoned methods compared to that in
controlled mice where the incidence of ulcer was 100%.
Furthermore, Singh et al. had showed that pre-treatment
with alkaloid fracon of ethanol extract of TZT signicantly
reduced gastric ulceraon and its severity in mice subjected to
forced swim and immobilizaon, respecvely, as compared to
that in controlled animas (non-treated) [12]. In a recent study
Rishikesh et al., demonstrated that saponin fracon of TZT
showed a dose dependent eect in lowering gastric ulcer
induced by ethanol and restrained stress and pyloric ligaon
induced ulcer in rats [32].
An-hyperlipidemic property
Hyperlipidemia is abnormally elevated levels of any or all
lipids and/or lipoproteins in the blood. It is a risk factor of
coronary heart disease due to their inuence on
atherosclerosis. Recent experiments by Reddy et al., showed
that TZT possess potenal anhyperlipidemic property [33].
They showed that in high fat Diet and Triton X-100 induced
hyperlipidemic rats, the administraon of methanolic extract
of TZT at a dose of 400 mg/kg/day caused a signicant
decrease in the levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL,
VLDL and a gradual increase in the level of serum HDL
compared to untreated hyperlipidemic rats. They also
observed that the hyperlipidemic eect of TZT was
comparable to that of lovastan, an eecve
anhyperlipidemic drug, used in this study as a standard.
Hepatoprotecve acvity
Hepatoprotecon or anhepatotoxicity is the ability to
prevent damage to the liver. TZT extract has been evaluated
for its anhepatotoxic and cholerec acvies in rats by
Subramoniam et al. [34]. The plant leaf suspension (1000
mg/kg; wet weight) as well as its methanol extract showed a
remarkable hepatoprotecve acvity against paracetamol-
induced hepatotoxicity as judged from the serum marker
enzymes, liver histology and levels of lipid peroxides in liver.
The eect of the methanol extract was found to be
concentraon dependent. They also showed that the water
and hexane extracts did not showed any hepatoprotecve
acvity. Palaniswami et al. showed that TZT leaf extract has
the ability to aenuate the liver damage caused by HgCl2 in
rats [35].
Andiabec property
The andiabec property of TZT has been invesgated by
Rajan et al. in streptozotocin induced diabec rats [7]. The
treatment with TZT ethanolic extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg
for 15 days signicantly reduced blood glucose level and body
weight compared to that of control animals (non-treated). The
observed eect was comparable to that of Glibenclamide (0.5
mg/kg), an eecve oral hypoglycemic drug, used in this study
as a standard [36].
Toxicity Studies
The fruits of TZT is edible and tradionally use by Kani tribes
to combat fague. Now a days, local Kani peoples drink water
Herbal Medicine: Open Access
ISSN 2472 0151 Vol.5 No.1:2
2019
© Copyright iMedPub 5

boiled with Trichopus and no toxic eect was also been
reported (Personal communicaon). Toxicity of saponin
fracon, methanol extract and ethanol extract has been tested
in Male Swiss albino mice, Adult male wistar rats and female
wistar albino rats by administrang the test drug orally at one
dose level of 2000 mg/kg b. w. No toxicity and mortality was
reported by observing the animals periodically up to 24 hours
aer the treatment [24,32,33].
Discussion and Future Perspecves
In vitro and in vivo studies using dierent extracts had
revealed that TZT is a high valuable medicinal plant with
diverse medicinal properes (Tables 2 and 3). These evidence
based medicinal properes of TZT warrant further research on
this plant to ulize it as a potenal drug for many human
dreadful diseases. The clinical trials in humans are completely
absent and are necessary to support the present ndings and
to the development and opcal ecacy of the drug.
Even though, phytochemical screening of ethanol/methanol
extracts revealed the presence of various phytochemicals such
as alkaloids, avanoids, tannins, terpenoids, steroids,
glycosides, saponins etc., the mechanism or specic
compound that confer its medicinal properes are hitherto
unidened. So far 21 compounds were idened from TZT
using advanced analycal methods (Table 2). Further
phytochemical screening of these compounds against various
pharmacological targets will reveal more insight into the
mechanism behind the medicinal properes of this plant.
There are many limitaons in the proper pharmaceucal
exploitaon of this valuable plant. It is an endangered plant
with limited distribuon in India. Overexploitaon of this plant
for its medicinal value may lead to its exncon. Therefore,
proper biotechnological approaches should be taken for
preservaon of this plant either ex-situ or in-situ. Plant micro-
propagaon is a biotechnological approach for the
conservaon of plant species which are under exncon.
Table 2 Compounds idened from TZT through GC-MS/EI-MS.
Source Extract/Method Compound Class of Compound Reference
Fresh
leaves Oil/GC-MS
5,8-Epoxy-3H-2-benzopyran 4,4a,5,8-
tetrahydro-5,8-dimethyl Substituted Benzopyrans
Balasubramanian et
al. [27]
9-Acetylphenanthrene Substituted Phenanthrenes
2,13-Octadecadien-1-ol Unsaturated alcohol
Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester Saturated Fatty acid ester
9-Oximino-2, 7-diethoxyfluorene Substituted Fluorenes or polycylic aromatic
hydrocarbons
9-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester Unsaturated Fatty acid ester
Heptadecanoic acid 16-methyl, methyl
ester Saturated Fatty acid ester
9,15-Octadecadienoic acid methyl
ester Unsaturated Fatty acid ester
5,8-Octadecadiyonic acid, methyl
ester Unsaturated Fatty acid ester
Ethanol, 2-(9- octadecenyloxy) Unsaturated ether
18,19-Secoyohimban-19-oic acid 16-
methyl-, methyl ester, Alkaloid derivatives
1H-Pyrazolo(3,4-b) quinoxaline 1-
phenyl-3-(1,2,3-trimethoxypropyl Alkaloid derivatives
Dried
leaves Oil/GC-MS
Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester Saturated Fatty acid ester
Balasubramanian et
al. [27]
Methyl 10-Oxohexadecanoate Saturated Fatty acid ester
9-Octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, (E) Unsaturated Fatty acid ester
Heptadecanoic acid, 15-methyl,
methyl ester Saturated Fatty acid ester
6-Octadecadienoic acid,
(Z)’Petroselinic acid monounsaturated omega-12 fatty acid
E,E,Z-1,3,12-Nonadecatriene-5,14-diol Unsaturated Diol
Whole plant Hexane/EI-MS 6-acetyl-7-hydroxy,8-methoxy-2,2-
dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-l benzopyran Substituted Benzopyrans or chromenes Evans et al. [13]
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Hexane/IR spectrum Β-sitosterol Phyto sterol
Hexane/NMR spectrum triacontanol Fatty alcohol
Methanol/NMR spectrum Vicenin -2 Flavone glucoside or glucosyl flavanoid
Methanol/NMR spectrum Vitexin Flavone glucoside or glucosyl flavanoid
Table 3 Over view of in vitro and in vivo studies on TZT.
Pharmacological
Activity Reference Plant Part
Used Extract/Fraction used Method/
Analysis
Experimental animals/
organism
Significant
dose
Antifatigue
Sharma et al.
[10] Seed Ethanol extract, Fresh
seed paste suspension
Swimming
Endurance
Test
Adult male Charles-Foster
rats (100-150 g) and Swiss
albino mice (25-30 g)
100 mg/kg
Tharakan et al.
[15]
Whole
plant
dried whole plant
powder aqueous
suspension
Swimming
Endurance
Test on young
and aged
animals, test
for rotational
behaviour
Male Sprague-Dawley rats
(200-250 g), Ames dwarf
mice (old)
250 mg/kg
(young rat),
500 mg/Kg (old
mice)
Evans et al.
[13] Dried Leaf
Ethanol extract
suspended in 5% tween
80
Swimming
exercise and
blood test for
glucose, free
fatty acid
(FFA), pyruvic
acid (PA) and
lactic acid (LA)
Male Swiss albino mice
(27-30 g) 100 mg/kg
Pushpangadan
et al. [11]
Whole
plant
Methanol, ethanol and
water extracts
Swimming
Endurance
Test
Adult male Swiss albino
mice (25-30 g), Charles
Foster rats (100-150 g)
250 mg/Kg
(Methanol or
Acetone
extract
Singh et al.
[12]
Whole
plant
Glyco-peptido-lipid
fraction
Swimming
endurance test
Charles Foster rats (150-180
g) and Swiss albino mice
(25-30 g)
25 mg/kg
Antioxidant
Sindhu et al.
[6]
Dried
leaves,
root and
fruits
Plant parts extracted
using petroleum ether,
chloroform, ethyl
acetate, methanol and
water
Phytochemical
analysis and
DPPH free
radical
scavenging
assay
No animal study Dose
dependent
Tharakan et al.
[15]
Whole
plant
Aqueous suspension of
whole plant powder
DPPH and
ABTS free
radical
scavenging
assay. Test for
lipid
peroxidation
effect,
lipoxygenase
activity, DNA
protection and
divalent metal
chelation
Male Sprague-Dawley rats
(200-225 g)
Dose
dependent
Velavan et al.
[20]
Dried
leaves Ethanol extract
Test for lipid
peroxidation
effect
Male Wister albino rat 500 mg/kg
Anti-stress Ram et al. [25] Dried
leaves Ethanol extract
Evaluation for
behavioural
changes in
stressed
animals using
Elevated plus
maze model,
open field test
and Light and
dark model
Male, Swiss albino mice
(20-30 g), male Wister
albino rats
500 mg/kg
Herbal Medicine: Open Access
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2019
© Copyright iMedPub 7

Rishikesh et al.
[24]
Whole
plant Saponin fraction
Anxiolytic
activities of
Saponin
fraction of TZT
were tested by
elevated plus
maze method,
light- dark
models, and
antidepressant
activities were
evaluated by
tail suspension
model and
force
swimming test
on mice
Male Swiss albino mice
weighing 25-30 g
Dose
dependent
(maximum
dose used was
300 mg/kg)
Singh et al.
[22]
Whole
plant Ethanol extract
Swimming
endurance test,
Estimation of
adrenal
corticosterone
Male Swiss albino mice 500 mg/Kg
Antimicrobial activity
Manza et al.
[26]
Dried
leaves
Extract of Hexane,
Chloroform, Methanol
Filter paper
disc diffusion
method
Bacteria and fungi
Dose
dependent
(Maximum &
effective dose -
Methanol
extract 3 µg/ml
Balasubramani
an et al. [27]
Dried
leaves Oil extract
GC-MS
analysis
antibacterial
and antifungal
test
Bacteria and fungi 100 µg/ml
Aphrodisiac property Subramoniam
et al. [28]
Dried
leaves
Water, ethanol and
hexane extract
Test for
mounting
behaviour and
assessment of
mating
performance
Adult Swiss mice (25-35 g) Ethanol extract
200 mg/kg
Analgesic and Anti-
inflammatory property
Kumar et al. [8] Whole
plant
Alkaloid fraction
(Methanol extract)
Phytochemical
screening, Test
for analgesic
effect-Acetic
Acid Induced
Writhing
Method, Hot
plate method,
anti-
inflammatory
effect -
Carrageenan-
induced paw
edema, Cotton
pellet induced
granuloma
Male Swiss albino mice
weighing 25-75 gm, Adult
Albino rats (Wistar strain) of
either sex weighing between
120-200 gm
300 mg/kg
Singh et al.
[12]
Whole
plant
Glyco-peptido-lipid
fraction from alcoholic
extract
Hypoxia test,
carrageenan-
induced
trauma, gastric
ulceration test,
analgesic test,
test for
hypothermic
effect
Charles Foster rats (150–
180 g) and Swiss albino
mice (25–30 g)
Dose
dependent
Immunomodulatory
property
Rishikesh et al.
[32]
Whole
plant
Alkaloid fraction
(Methanol extract)
neutrophil
adhesion test,
delayed type
hypersensitivity
reaction, and
effect on
hematological
parameters
Male Swiss Albino mice
(25-30 g) 300 mg/Kg
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Pushpangadan
et al. [11]
Whole
plants
Plant powder water
suspension
Immunological
studies
Adult male swiss albino mice
(25-30 g) and Charles
Foster rats (100-150 g)
0.5 ml
Anti-tumour property Pushpangadan
et al. [11]
Whole
plants
Plant powder water
suspension
Test for anti-
tumour effect
Adult male swiss albino mice
(25-30 g) and Charles
Foster rats (100-150 g)
500 microlitre
Antiulcer
Sharma et al.
[10] Seed Ethanol extract, Fresh
seed paste suspension
Test for
antiulcer effect
on ulcer
induced by
restrain
method and
cold method
Adult male Charles-Foster
rats (100-50 g) and Swiss
albino mice (25-30 g)
100 mg/kg
Singh et al.
[12]
Whole
plant
Glyco-peptido-lipid
fraction from alcoholic
extract
gastric
ulceration test
Charles Foster rats (150-180
g) and Swiss albino mice
(25-30 g)
Dose
dependent
Rishikesh et al.
[32]
Whole
plant Saponin fraction
Anti-ulcer test
using Ethanol,
restrained,
Pyloric ligation
stress models
Wistar albino rat (120-200 g) Dose
dependent
Anti-hyperlipidaemic
property
Reddy et al.
[33]
Dried
leaves Methanol extract
High Fat Diet
model, Triton
induced
Hyperlipidaemi
c model,
Adult male wistar rats
(170-200 gms) 400 mg/kg
Antidiabetic
Rajan et al. [7] Dried
leaves Ethanol extract
Phytochemical
screening, test
for antidiabetic
effect
Wistar albino rats (200-250
mg) 400 mg/kg
Ram et al. [25] Dried
leaves Ethanol extract
Estimation of
serum glucose
level
Male, Swiss albino mice
(20-30 g), male Wister
albino rats
Dose
dependent
(maximum
dose used is
500 mg/kg
Hepatoprotective activity Subramoniam
et al. [34]
Dried
leaves Ethanol extract
Paracetamol-
induced
hepatotoxicity
Swiss albino rats (150-200
g)
There are some protocols available for the mulplicaon of
TZT using ssue culture techniques [37,38]. The eecve
ulizaon of micro propagaon techniques are indeed
necessary to avoid the over exploitaon of this valuable
medicinal plant.
Conclusion
Present literature survey revealed that several therapeuc
properes of Trichopus zeylanicus including anfague,
anoxidant, an-stress, anmicrobial, aphrodisiac, analgesic,
an-inammatory etc., have been demonstrated using various
plant extracts both in in vitro and in vivo studies. However, the
metabolic potenal of this valuable plant is not explored very
well. Recent advances in genome sequencing technologies
accelerate the sequencing of genome or transcriptome of
many medicinal plants. Such data serve as a robust tool for
gene discovery and for exploring the full metabolic potenal of
many plants. So far, no genome or transcriptome data is
available for TZT. The full genome or transcriptome sequence
of TZT is needed not only to fully explore metabolic function
but also to design molecular breeding strategies for developing
high-yielding medicinal cultivars of TZT as well as to
understand its evolution.
Acknowledgements
The authors are very grateful to Dr. PR Sudhakaran for useful
discussions.
Funding
The authors are supported by State Inter University Centre
of Excellence in Bioinformacs (SIUCEB), University of Kerala.
Authors’ Contribuons
BVC wrote the manuscript. SPR, VSR, APK collected
manuscripts from various sources and assist in wring the
manuscript. ASN assist in wring the manuscript. All authors
read and approved the nal manuscript.
Herbal Medicine: Open Access
ISSN 2472 0151 Vol.5 No.1:2
2019
© Copyright iMedPub 9

Conict of Interest
All authors declared that there is no conict of interest to
declare.
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Herbal Medicine: Open Access
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2019
© Copyright iMedPub 11