Research article
Physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical studies on the fruits of “Shivalingi” [Diplocyclos palmatus (Linn.) Jeffrey]
Venkateshwarlu G*, Shantha T R1, Shiddamallayya N1, Ramarao V1, Kishore K R1, S K Giri1 Sridhar B.N1, Pavankumar Sangu2
*Address for correspondence: Assistant Director (Ayurveda),
National Ayurveda Dietetics Research
Institute (CCRAS, Dept.of AYUSH, M/o. H & F.W,
Govt. of India),
Jayanagar, Bangalore-560011. Email ID: drvenkatg@gmail.com
1. National Ayurveda Dietetics
Research Institute (CCRAS), Dept.of AYUSH, M/o.
H&FW, Govt.of India), Jayanagar, Bangalore-560011, Email ID: nadribengaluru@gmail.com
2. Senior Research
Fellow (Ayurveda), NIIHM (CCRAS),, Hyderabad.
Abstract
Shivalingi (Diplocyclos palmatus Linn.) is a lesser heard medicinal plant of Ayurveda with the fruits having important
use in the area of reproductive medicine (female infertility, aphrodisiac,
tonic, leucorrhoea etc.,). The plant especially the
fruits have immense folklore usage even today. It has been described in
Ayurvedic classical texts like Rajanighantu and Nighantu ratnakara. So
far no study reports are available on chemical analysis on the dried
fruits of shivalingi. Hence, the
present attempt was undertaken with an objective to investigate the
physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical studies. The methodology of the
study also involved Thin Layer chromatography and fluorescence parameters. The results
of the analyses showed the presence of organic constituents like alkaloids,
triterpinoids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and proteins in the dried fruit. This provides impetus to
conduct advanced research on this fruit to uncover its vast medicinal
potential.
Keywords: Diplocyclos
palmatus,
Physicochemical studies, phytochemical constituents, Ayurveda,
Shivalingi, TLC
1. Introduction
Shivalingi (Diplocyclos palmatus (Linn.), syn.Bryonia laciniosa) belongs to family Cucurbitaceae.
It is an annual scandent herb, a slender much
branched tendril climber, from a
thick permanent root stock, tendrils bifid; leaves simple, alternate, membranous,
10-15 cm long, green and scabrid above, paler and
smooth beneath, 5 lobed, deeply cordate base, lobes
oblong lanceolate, margins sinuate denticulate.
Flowers yellow, unisexual, males in small fascicles of 3-6, female flowers
solitary or few; Fruits subsessile globose, smooth berry, brick-red when ripe with white
vertical lines, seeds yellowish brown, similar to baccate, sub
sessile, globose, smooth, bluish green, streaked with
broad vertical lines (1). Seeds are yellowish brown, and resemble with that of Shivlinga (Phallus of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology).
The plant is commonly found throughout India, on
edges and bushes up to 1200m elevation and is naturally propagated by seeds(2). Locally the fruits
of Diplocyclos palmatus are known as Lingatondikai in Kannada, Shivalingakkaya
in Malayalam, Shivalingakkay
in Tamil, Lingadonda
in Telugu and Shivalingi in Gujarathi & Marathi and in
English it is known as Lollipop climber(2). The
shivalingi has got many synonyms like
lingini, bahuputra, syadeeshwari, saivamallika, lingi, citraphala, shivaja, sivavalli (Rajanighantu) and has ascribed the synonyms as mentioned
which depict different characteristics of utmost important for facilitating
its identification.
The plant has a foetid smell (durgandha), acrid(katu rasa), thermogenic
(Ushna), anti
inflammatory(vrana ropana),
alterative, depurative and tonic & rejuvenative (rasayani) properties,
and is useful in vitiated conditions of vata & pitta
doshas, cough, flatulence, skin diseases, inflammations and general
debility and also useful in sidhma kushta (psoriasis)(2).
The fruit is bitter, aperient and is considered to have tonic properties (3).
The leaves of the plant are used as an ingredient
along with Bengal gram flour in a special dietary preparation of the tribal Chhattisgarh
as a tonic (4). Diplocyclos palmatus is a known ayurvedic drug described in Rajanighantu and Nighantu ratnakara. The fruit is used as an aphrodisiac, tonic and as an antipyretic in
Ayurveda whereas in Siddha system of
medicine entire plant is used as a laxative.
1.1. Indian Folklore Use
The
leaves of the plant are generally applied as an antiinflammatory
paste. Women take the seeds in combination with other medicinal herbs for
helping conception and prevent miscarriage. Traditional healers of Gulgul village,
Chhattisgarh recommend the use of 3-4 seeds once daily by women, in empty
stomach for 1 to 2 months to beget a male child (4). Gond and Bharia tribes of Patalkot valley
worship this plant and they consider that, this herb is boon for the childless
parents. Traditional healers of Gaildubba suggest a mixture
of Shivalingi seeds with Tulsi (Ocimum
basilicum) leaves and Jaggery
in female infertility (5).
The seeds of Shivalingi are
potentially contraceptive when used in combinaton
with ginger (dry), pepper, Putrajivi Root bark of vata (Ficus bengalensis) and
milk (6). Besides, abortificient
action of shivalingi
seeds has also been reported when it is combined with equal quantity ashwagandha roots and consumed with sugar and
milk (7) (Bhawda Janya Sarkya,Amalad).
Increased
spermatogenesis and a significant increase in sperm count in epididymis of the male albino rats
with concurrent increase in serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone have
been reported with the use of shivalingi seeds. The above studies clearly reflect androgenic activity and its effects on
hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis (8).
2. Materials and methods:
2.1. Sample
Fresh fruits of Shivalingi were collected from Hassan district forest range of
Karnataka (13) and identified as Diplocyclos palmatus (Linn.),
syn.Bryonia laciniosa(L.)
(Fig. 1). They were dried and powdered. This powder was
used as a sample for analyses.
The total amount of extracts in all solvents is an approximate
measure of the constituents of the sample. The amount of sample soluble in a
given solvent is an index of its purity. These values indicate the nature of
the constituents present in the crude sample. Physicochemical
studies and preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out (10). Thin
Layer chromatography studies of the petroleum
ether at 600-800C, chloroform and ethanol, aqueous
extracts were carried out in various solvents at 300C using precoated silica gel GF254 plate as adsorbent(11). The extraction with all solvents except water was
carried out by Soxhlet’s method, while cold
maceration was adopted for hydro-extraction. The process of extraction was
performed until the solvents turned colorless. The behavior of the sample treated with
different chemical reagents and fluorescence characters were observed under ordinary
and ultraviolet light (12).
2.2. Physicochemical analysis (10)
Ash values are helpful in
determining the quality and purity of crude drugs in powdered form. The total
ash method is designed to measure the total amount of material remaining after
ignition. The different ash values like total ash, acid
insoluble ash, water soluble ash was
carried out. Extractive values are useful for evaluation of crude drugs and
give an idea about the nature of chemical constituents present in them.
Petroleum ether extract at 600-800C, 95% ethanol soluble
extractive, chloroform soluble extractive and water soluble extractive values
were determined. Solubility and pH values were also determined using standard
procedures.
2.3. Thin Layer
Chromatography and Fluorescence Studies (11)
The concentrated petroleum
ether chloroform, ethanol and aqueous extract of the fruit were
subjected to TLC studies. Equal amounts of these extracts were loaded on the
TLC plates. The best separation was achieved using Benzene, Toluene: Ethyl
acetate (93:7) and BAW (Butanol: Acetic acid: Water)
as a mobile phase. After developing, the plates were viewed under U-V light
showed the presence of spots. The Rf
values were calculated and given in the Table 3. Fruit powder was moistened
with different solutions to study fluorescence and viewed under ordinary light
and U-V light having wave length of 365
nm and 254nm.
2.4. Preliminary phytochemical analysis (12)
The dried powder of the material was
initially defatted with petroleum ether (600-800C)
in a soxhlet apparatus and successively extracted
with chloroform, ethanol and water. The extracts were filtered while hot and
solvent removed by distillation. The percentage of yield of the extract was
calculated (Table 3).
3. Results
It was observed that water soluble ash was
found more in comparison to total ash in the crude sample. Solubility in ethanol was more when compared to cold water (Table
1). The sample was alkaline (pH: 8.04).
(Table 1). Phytochemical analyses revealed that the
percentage yield of petroleum ether extract was found to be more than when
compared to other extracts. The qualitative investigation tests were performed
in the extracts and revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids,
Triterpinoids saponins, steroids and proteins (Table 2). The findings of TLC
and fluorescence studies are given in Tables 3 & 4.
4. Summary
and Conclusion
The different plant parts
of the medicinal herb Shivalingi have a long history of traditional usage in
various parts of India since times immemorial. The principal usage of the
fruits has been in the areas of female infertility, pregnancy facilitation,
aphrodisiac and tonic. The medicinal use of the plant has been conspicuously
mentioned in Ayurveda also. But, Shivalingi fruit has not been much
investigated or used medicinally in mainstream Ayurveda industry. The fruit
might play a very important role in the above areas which are extremely
challenging in the light of modern lifestyle induced stress and its effects on
reproductive system. With this in mind a preliminary study was undertaken to
identify and report the physicochemical and phytochemical analyses. The results
were highly encouraging with the identification of constituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, Triterpinoids saponins, steroids and proteins which, are known modulators in a biological organism to
produce such beneficial effects. There have been very few studies on shivalingi.
The seeds have been reported to contain 12% oil, 40% protein,
iodine value of 171.5 (seed oil), saponification
value of 208.3, peroxide value of 0.3 and acid value of 2.9 (9) .
This report is therefore the beginning of a series of studies that
could be undertaken with advanced parameters like HPLC, pharmacology, animal
and clinical trials to put forward a very important contribution from Ayurveda
and India in the area of reproductive medicine.
Acknowledgements
The authors are very grateful to
the Director General, CCRAS, New Delhi and the Asstt.
Director in charge, NADRI, Bangalore for funding and providing required facilities. We
express our sincere gratitude to Smt. Indira Ammal M.J, Ex Asstt. Research
Officer (Chem.) for the technical support and sri, Shekara, lab
attendant, DSRU for the needful assistance.
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5.
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