The present paper deals with preliminary phytochemical evaluation of certain crude drugs used for cancer. Based on the folklore data obtained from adivasis of Rayalaseema region, Andhra Pradesh, 15 species were collected in the forests of Eastern Ghats in the region. Three species were recorded as new formulations, which are hither to not reported earlier. The preliminary phytochemical screening was conducted on the drug samples, and composition of various groups of constituents was discussed

Krishnaiah, P. Venkata

Raju, R. R. Venkata

Ratnam, K. Venkata

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Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 693-97. 2008.  Preliminary Phytochemical Evaluation of Certain Anticancer Crude Drugs Used byAdivasis of Rayalaseema Region, Andhra Pradesh, India P. Venkata Krishnaiah, K. Venkata Ratnam2 and R.R.Venkata Raju¹* ¹Department of Botany, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur – 515 0032Department of Botany, Rayalaseema University, Kurnool – 518 002 *Corresponding author: Prof. R.R.Venkata Raju, Department of Botany, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, 515 003, Andhra Pradesh, India.E- mail: rrvenkataraju@yahoo.comPhone: 918554 255726 (O); 09440289488 ( Mobile)   Issued 12 September 2008 ABSTRACT            The present paper deals with preliminary phytochemical evaluation of certain crude drugs used for cancer.Based on the folklore data obtained from adivasis of Rayalaseema region, Andhra Pradesh, 15 species were collectedin the forests of Eastern Ghats in the region. Three species were recorded as new formulations, which are hither tonot reported earlier. The preliminary phytochemical screening was conducted on the drug samples, and compositionof various groups of constituents was discussed.Key words: Cancer, Crude drugs, Secondary metabolites. INTRODUCTION                Rayalaseema region lies between 12°41'-16°21' N latitudes and 17°45' - 81°10' E longitudes. The areaaccounts 26% of the total area of the Andhra Pradesh state and consists of four districts viz., Kurnool, Anantapur,Kadapa and Chittoor.                          In every ethnic group there exists a traditional health care system, which is prevalent and popular among thecommunity. The indigenous society has always been associated with nature for their needs with respect to healthcare system. The tribal communities have given first and foremost importance to their health care. The criticalreview of literature revealed that very little attempts were noticed (Reddy, 2008) on remedies for cancer; hence thepresent paper gains importance. MATERIALS AND METHODS          The folklore information was recorded from the local tribal practitioners and from the tribal healers byconducting repeated interviews. Based on the recorded folklore information 15 species were selected as widely usedcrude drugs for cancer. The voucher specimens were prepared and identified with the help of local / regional floras(Gamble, 1915 – 35; Venkata Raju and Pullaiah, 1995) and confirmed by comparing with authenticated specimenshoused at Sri Krishnadevaraya University Herbarium (SKU), Anantapur.            The samples were collected in bulk quantities for preliminary phytochemical screening. The collectedsamples were shade dried, powdered about (100g) and successively extracted with ethanol using soxhlet apparatusfor 6 hours. The extracts were filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to dryness. The extracts weresubjected for preliminary phytochemical screening using standard procedures (Amarasingham et al., 1964, Das andBhattacharjee 1970, Gibbs, 1974 and Harborne, 1991). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION              The present paper provides information on preliminary phytochemical evaluation of certain anticancercrude drugs. The solvent extracts of the drug yielding plants were subjected for preliminary phytochemicalscreening. The positive reactions were observed for 17 different groups of secondary metabolites. The distributionand richness of different constituents were statistically analyzed (Table-1). The frequency and distribution ofdifferent chemical constituents were analyzed (Table – 2). Table 1. The distribution and richness of different constituents in crude drugs used for cancer.S.no Name of theplantPart Al An Ad  At  Au Aq C Co  F Fv Gt I P S St Tt V Total1. *AndrographispaniculataWp + - - + - - - + - + + + - + - - - 72. AnogeissuslatifoliaWP + - - - - + - - - + - - - - - + - 43. AristolochiaindicaWp + - + + - - - + - + - - - + - + + 84. BuchananialanzanWp + - - + - - - + + - - + - + + - - 75. Cassia fistula Fr + - - + - - + + - + + - + + + + - 106. CurculigoorchioidesRh + - + - - - - + + + + + + + + + + 127. Datura metel L + - + + - - - + - + - + - - - + - 78. DregeavolubilisFr + + - + - - + + - + - + - + - - + 99. EntadapursaethaSd - - - + - - - + - + - + + + + + - 810. LanneacoromandelicaWp + - - + - - + + - + + - + - - + - 8  11. PlumbagozeylanicaR + - + + - + - + - + - + - + - + - 912. *RhinacanthusnasutusWp - + - - + - - + - + - + - + + - - 713. SemecarpusanacardiumFr + - + + - - - + - + + + - - - + - 814. TerminaliachebulaFr + - + + - + - + - + + + - + - + + 1115. *TinosporacardifoliaWp - - + - - - + + - + - - - - - + - 516. Total  12 2 6 12 1 3 4 14 2 14 6 10 4 10 5 11 4 120 Al = Alkaloids;  An = Anthocyanins;  Ad = Anthocyanidins;  At = Anthracene glycosides;  Au = Aucubins;  Aq = Anthraquinones;  C = Catecholic Compounds;  Co = Coumarins;  F = Fatty Acids;  Fv = Flavonoids;  Gt = Gallic Tannins;  I = Iridoids; P = Phenols; S = Saponins; St= Steroids; Tt = Triterpenoids; V = Volatile Oils.             The preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed that, coumarins and flavonoids were recorded as mostcommon group of compounds in majority of the test samples (14 spp each, 93.3%) followed by alkaloids andanthracene glycosides (12 spp each, 80%), triterpenoids (11 spp, 73.3%), iridoides and saponins (10 spp each,66.6%) while aucubins were noticed in one species (6%) only. Flavonoides, the major group of phenolic compoundsreported for their antimicrobial (Toda et al., 1989), antiviral (Barnard et al., 1993) and spasmolytic (Amor et al.,2005), while coumarins reported for antibacterial (Fernanden et al., 1996) and antifungal (Houet and Paya, 1996)            The evaluation on the occurrence  and distribution of various phytochemical compounds revealed thatmaximum number were found in Curculigo orchioides (12) followed by Terminalia chebula (11), Cassia fistula(10), Plumbago zeylanica and Dregea volubilis (9each), Aristolochia indica, Entada pursaetha, Lanneacoromandelica and Semecarpus anacardium (8each), Andrographis paniculata, Buchanania lanzan, Datura meteland Rhinacanthus nasutus (7each), Tinospora cardifolia (5) while minimum compounds were noticed in Anogeissuslatifolia(4). Table 2.  The frequency and distribution of different chemical constituents were analyzed.S.No. Name of the compound No. of species % species1. Alkaloids 12 80.002. Anthocyanins 2 13.003. Anthocyanidins 6 40.004. Anthracene glycosides 12 80.005. Anthraquinones 3 20.006. Aucubins 1 6.007. Catecholic Compounds 4 26.008. Coumarins 14 93.309. Fatty Acids 2 13.3010. Flavonoids 14 93.3011. Gallic Tannins 6 40.0012. Iridoids 10 66.6013. Phenols 4 26.0014. Saponins 10 66.6015. Steroids 5 33.3016. Triterpenoids 11 73.3017. Volatile Oils 4 26.00             The critical analysis of the data in the light of literature (Jain, 1991; Kirtikar and Basu, 1935) resulted theformation of drugs and mode of administration for 3 drug yielding plants were recorded first time, hence indicatedwith asterisk. The comprehensive data is provided to indicate the distribution of various groups of compounds in therespective solvent extracts. The fractionation and characterization of active principle involved in healing property isbeing attempted in the laboratory.  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS                  The authors are thankful to the conservator of forests and other officials of Andhra Pradesh forestry forpermission and help during exploration trips. REFERENCES.Amarasingham, P.P., Bisset,N.G., Millard, P.H. and Woods, M.C. 1964. Phytochemical survey of Malaya part III.Alkaloids and Saponins. Economic Taxonomic Botany 18: 270 – 278. Amor, E.C, Villasenor, I.M, Ghayar, M.N, Gialni, A.H and Choudhary, M.I. 2005. Spasmolytic flavonoids fromSyzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L.M. Perr. Z.Naturforsch (C). 60: 67 – 71. Barnard, D.L., J.H. Huffman, L.R. Meyerson and R.W. Sidwell. 1993. Mode of inhibition of respiratory syncytialvirus by a plant flavonoid. Chemotherapy 39: 212 – 127. Das, A.K. and Bhattacharjee, A.K. 1970. A systematic approach to phytochemical screening. Tropical Science 12:54 – 58.        Fernandez, M.A., Garcia, M.D. and Saenz, M.T. 1996. Antibacterial activity of the phenolic acids fraction ofScrophularia frutescens and S. sambusifolia. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 53: 11 – 14. Gamble, J.S., 1915 – 35. Flora of Presidency of Madras.  Vol. I – III .  BSI.  Calcutta. Gibbs RD. 1974. Chemotaxonomy of flowering plants, I-IV. Montreal and London. Harborne, J.B.1991. Phytochemical methods. Chapman and Hall, London. Hoult, J.R.S. and Paya, M. 1996.Pharmacological and biochemical actions of simple Coumarins: natural productswith therapeutic potential. General Pharmacology 27: 713 – 722. Jain, S. K. 1991. Dictionary of Folk Medicine and Ethnobotany. Deep Publication  New Delhi. Kirtikar, K.R. and B.D.  Basu, 1935. Indian Medicinal Plants. Vol. I - IV International book distributors, DehraDun.             Reddy, K.N. 2008. Ethnobotany of Andhra Pradesh. A Review. Ethnobotanical leaf lets 12: 305 – 310. Toda, M., Okubo, S., Ohnishi, R and Shimamura, T. 1989. Antibacterial and bactericidal activity of Japanese greentea. Japanese Journal of bacteriology 45: 561 – 566. Venkata Raju, R.R. and T. Pullaiah . 1995. Flora of Kurnool. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh. Dehra Dun.        

Preliminary Phytochemical Evaluation of Certain Anticancer Crude Drugs Used by Adivasis of Rayalaseema Region, Andhra Pradesh, India

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Preliminary Phytochemical Evaluation of Certain Anticancer Crude Drugs Used by Adivasis of Rayalaseema Region, Andhra Pradesh, India

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