 Gen info
- Brachypterum is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, and includes 11 species.
- Etymology: Specific epithet scandens is Latin meaning "climbing",
referring to the plant's climbing shrub habit.
Botany
• Large climbing shrub; branchlets brown, lenticellate. Leaflets 5-11, 2-5 x 1-2.5 cm, elliptic, lanceolate or ovate-oblong, base rounded to cuneate, apex obtuse, acute, sometimes emarginate, subcoriaceous; lateral nerves 7-9 pairs, slender. Racemes axillary, 8-25 cm long, with flowers clustered on brown-pubescent rachis. Flowers 7-9 mm long; pedicels c. 4 mm long, slender. Calyx 2.5-3 mm long, shortly adpressed tomentose, lobes obscure. Petals pink or white; standard 7-8 mm long; ovate-orbicular. Stamens 10, alternate ones short. Pods 2.5-6.5 x 1-1.4 cm, oblong, narrowly winged on the upper suture, minutely adpressed tomentose, 2-4-seeded. Seeds c. 8 mm long, reniform, compressed, dark brown. (5)
 Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Also native to Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China South-Central, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, New South Wales, Nicobar Is., Queensland, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam, West Himalaya. (1)
- In light forests and brushwood; in various types of vegetation; open and disturbed or abandoned cultivated areas, shruberry, agricultural areas, rice field edges, beach and mangrove forests; at elevations up to 750 meters. (3)
Constituents
- Phytochemical screening
revealed presence of different flavanoids, predominantly isoflavones, and coumarins like robustic acid, warangalone (scandenone), chandalone, nallanin, lonchocarpic acid (Chandanin), scandenin, lonchocarpenin, scandinone, osajin, and 3-aryl coumarins, along with 192 flavonoids, presence of pterocarpene derivatives, terpenes, steroids, benzoic acid derivatives and benzyl acid derivatives also reported.
(7)
- Qualitative phytochemical screening of ethanol (E), ethyl acetate (EA) and hexane (H) extracts of Brachypterum scandens revealed alkaloids (E), flavonoids (E, EA, H), steroids (E, EA, H), terpenoids (E, EA, H),
tannins (E), carbohydrate (EA, H), oils and resins (H), with absence of anthroquinones and saponins. Quantitative analysis yielded alkaloids (E13%), flavonoids (E18.50%, EA15.70%, H10.80%), phenols (E35.70%, EA24.40%). (10)
- Elemental analysis of bark revealed presence of Na (0.6 µg/ml), K (10.9 µg/ml), Fe (1.156 µg/ml), Mg (2.2156 µg/ml), Ca (13.0 µg/ml), As (<5ng/ml), V (<2ng/ml), Cr (7 ng/ml), Mn (167 ng/ml), Ni (6 ng/ml), Co (<2 ng/ml),
Cu (31ng/ml), and Pb (12ng/nl). Phytochemical screening of bark water extract revealed glycosides, saponin, alkaloid, terpenoid, steroid, phenol, and tannin. (14)
- Study of EtOH extracts of stems yielded six diprenylisoflavones, named derrisisoflavones A-F, along with six known isoflavones viz. lupalbigenin, scandinone, erysenegalensein E, lupinisol A, lupinisoflavone G and 5, 7,4′trihydroxy-6, 8-diprenyl-isoflavone.
(15)
- Study of seeds isolated two new flavonoids, (2S)-3',4',5'-trimethoxyflavanone (1) and 2'-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxy-4'-O-[(E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl]chalcone (2), together with a known pterocarpene, flemichapparin B (3), and a known rotenoid, dehydrodeguelin (4). (16)
Properties
- Stems considered diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, and laxative.
- Studies have suggest anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, thrombolytic, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, wound healing, anticancer, antilipid peroxidation, antidermatophytic properties.
Parts used
Whole plant, stems, roots.
 Uses
Edibility
- No reports found on edibility.
Folkloric
- Stems and roots used for treatment of osteoarthritis. Roots crushed in water or root juice drunk to increase milk secretion after childbirth. Stems used for treatment of common colds and backache. (3)
- In Thailand, dry stem powder and ethanolic extract recommended for musculoskeletal pain treatment. (2) Among Skaw Karen in Thailand, whole plant decoction drunk for treatment of muscle pain. (6)
- In Thai folk medicine, used as antidysenteric, antitussive, diuretic, expectorant, and against cachexia and muscular pain. In India and Sri Lanka, traditionally used as antidote against snake venom, and for treatment of bleeding wounds and skin infections.
- In Sri Lanka, used for reptile associated poisoning, bleeding of wounds, and stomach infections. (12)
- Poultice of mashed stems topically applied to soothe muscular pains or spasms, pulled ligaments, and tendinitis.
Others
- Fiber: Bark use to make a coarse cordage fiber.
- Fish poison: In Sri Lanka, used as fish poison. The plant contains rotenone and has been traditionally used as fish poison. The rotenone kills or stuns the fish making it easy to catch, but the fish is said to remain edible for humans.
- Insecticide: Again, rotenone. It is extremely toxic to many insects—hence, its use as an insecticide —and aquatic life.
Hazards
- Rotenone: Rotenone is classified by the WHO as moderately hazardous. It is mildly toxic to humans and other mammals. The higher toxicity in fish and insects is due to the lipophilic rotenone being easily taken up through the gills or trachea, but not easily through the skin or the gastrointestinal tract. The lowest lethal dose for a child is 143 mg/kg, but human deaths from rotenone poisoning are rare because of its irritating action that causes vomiting. Deliberate ingestion, however, can be fatal. The compound decomposes on exposure to sunlight, with an average activity of six days in the environment. (3)
Studies
• Anti-Inflammatory / Review: Study evaluated the effect and safety of D. scandens on musculoskeletal pain. A review of 42 articles, 4 studies, and a total of 414 patients were included in the analysis. Effect of oral D. scandens on reducing pain score were similar to those of NSAIDs. Adverse events were no different with NSAIDs. Major adverse events were gastrointestinal symptoms. Study suggests D. scandens may be considered an alternative for musculoskeletal pain reduction. (2)
• Silver Nanoparticles / Antimicrobial / Roots: Study reports on the green synthesis of AgNPs using fresh root samples of B. scandens homogenized into a fine powder. The AgNPs showed antibacterial activity against E. coli, B. subtilis, S. aureus, K. pneumonia, and E. faecalis. Antibacterial activity was greater when compared with AgNO3 and untreated extracts. (4)
• DZSS Formula / Herbal Mixture / Anti-Inflammatory: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of DZSS, a mixure of four medicinal plants i.e. Derris scandens, Zingiber cassumunar, Suregada multiflora, and Siphonodon celastrineus, an oral formulation for treatment of muscle pain. Ethanolic extracts of the formula (50 and 95%) were analyzed using HPLC for its inhibitory effect against nitric oxide (NO) production in raw 264.7 cells macrophage. Cytotoxic effect was measured by MTT assay. The 95% ethanolic extract showed more potent effect than the 50% extract and showed no cytotoxicity. The 95% EE showed higher yield of genistein. Data suggest the 95% EE of the DZSS formula possessed significant anti-inflammatory activity, and suggest further invivo and clinical studies. (8)
• Antioxidant / Cytotoxicity / Thrombolytic / Stems: Study of crude methanol extract of stems and fractions identified two flavonoids, scandenone and lupalbigenin. Fractions were evaluated for antioxidant, cytotoxic, and thrombolytic activities. The ethyl acetate and chloroform soluble fractions showed hied DPPH free radical scavenging activity, while chloroform soluble fraction demonstrated significant lethality in brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Petroleum ether soluble fraction exhibited substantial thrombolytic activity. (9)
• Wound Healing: Study evaluated the cytotoxicity and wound healing properties of ethanolic extracts (50% and absolute ethanol) of Derris scandens using human skin fibroblast cells. Genistein and lupeol compounds were selected as chemical markers. Extracts showed no cytotoxic effects on examined cells, and 1 mg/mL of both ethanolic extracts was effective for wound closure in a scratch assay. Phytochemicals genistein and lupeol were found to be 0.0332% and 0.0588% (w/w) in the 50% EE, respectively, and 0.0309% and 0,3472% (w/w) in the absolute ethanol extract. Results demonstrated in vitro wound healing activity containing the compounds. (11)
• Effect on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line: Study evaluated the cytotoxicity of D. scandens ethanolic extract on a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line (HCC-S102) using MTT assay. Results showed cytotoxicity against HCC-S102 cells, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 36.0, 29.6, and 22.6 µg/ml at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Apoptotic cells were induced following treatment with D. scandens. The anticancer activity was shown to affect cell proliferation of HCC-S102 via an apoptotic pathway. (12)
• Anti-Inflammatory Flavonoids / Antioxidant / Stems: Fractionation of aqueous extract of D. scandens stems extract using test for eicosanoid inhibition resulted in the isolation of three isoflavonoids, genistein, its 7-O-α-rhamnol(1-->6)-ß-glucosyl glycoside, a new compound, and two known isoprenyl derivatives 3'-γ,γ-dimethylallyweighteone and scandenin. The isoprenylated compounds showed high inhibitory effect on eicosanoid production in vitro. Genistein and its glycoside showed comparable activity to standard antioxidants. Genistein and its glycoside demonstrated no cytotoxicity in the MTT test but the prenylated compounds showed some toxicity and increased LDH release from PMNs, at concentrations much greater than would be encountered in an aqueous extract of D. scandens. (13)
• Antidermatophytic Activity / Diprenylisoflavones / Stems: Study of EtOH extracts of stems yielded six diprenylisoflavones, named derrisisoflavones A-F, along with six known isoflavones viz. lupalbigenin, scandinone, erysenegalensein E, lupinisol A, lupinisoflavone G and 5, 7,4′trihydroxy-6, 8-diprenyl-isoflavone. The six new and six known isoflavones were evaluated for antidermatophytic activity. (15)
• Antioxidant / Antilipid Peroxidation: Study evaluated phytochemical contents, antioxidant properties, and toxicity of D. scandens extracts in invitro models. Genistein and gallic acid were rich in the ethanolic (EE) and chloroform (CE) extract. CE showed highest DPPH radical scavenging activity with SC50 of 0.81 mg/mL. All extracts strongly inhibited lipid peroxidation. EE and CE were more toxic than EAC (ethyl acetate) extract on Caco-2 cells with IC50s of 26.45 and 36.36 µg/mL, respectively. At high doses, all fractions were not toxic to human PBMCs, but slightly induced RBC hemolysis by 3-6 %. Results showed antioxidant properties, toxicity to Caco-2 cells, with no toxicity to normal cells. Study suggests further safety assessments in animals and humans to determine the safety dose of DS. (17)
• Induction of Human Oral Squamous Carcinoma Apoptosis: Derris scandens and Elephantopus scaber contain flavonoids and phenolic acids, which have antitumor activity in various cancer cell lines. Study evaluated ethanolic extracts of the plants for cytotoxicity on oral human squamous carcinoma cell line (HSC-2) and their mechanisms of action. Both extracts showed cytotoxicity against HSC-2 dell in a dose dependent manner. Cancer apoptosis was accompanied by changes in expression of procaspase 3. Derris scandens-mediated apoptosis in HSC-2 cell was potentiated by protein kinase B (Akt) and
B-cell lymphoma -2 (Bcl-2). Further study into targets for apoptosis induction by the plant extracts may have potential in oral cancer therapy. (18)
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Seeds in the cybermarket. |
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