 Gen info
• Rotula is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. Two species are accepted by Plants of the World Online.
• Rotula aquatica is a species of flowering shrub in the Boraginaceae family.
• The plant is a mandatory component of many ayurvedic drug preparations and is an important traditional medicine for kidney and bladder stones.
(23)
Botany
• Takad is a shrub or bush that grows to a height of 2 to 3 meters. Leaves are alternate, imbricate, ovate-oblong, usually 0.8 to 1.5 centimeters in length, and short-stalked. Flowers are small and crowded, and borne on terminal inflorescences. Sepals are five, about 4.5 millimeters long, and narrow with sharp points. Corolla is purple or pink, 5 to 6 millimeters long, and five lobed. Fruit is an orange or red drupe, somewhat rounded, fleshy, about 4 millimeters in diameter, and containing four seeds.
• A shrub with many elongate, terete shoots, up to 3 m tall. Leaves alternate, crowded on numerous lateral short-shoots, simple and entire, oblanceolate to oblong, 0.6—2.5 cm x 0.2—0.9 cm, base cuneate to rounded, apex obtuse and mucronate, subcoriaceous, strigose, rarely glabrous; petiole 0.5—3 mm long; stipules absent. Inflorescence a terminal, short, few-flowered cyme, bracteate. Flowers bisexual, 5-merous, pedicellate; calyx with unequal lobes, 4—5 mm long; corolla 5—7 mm long, tube 1—2 mm long, lobes rounded, pink to purplish; stamens alternate with corolla lobes, exserted; ovary superior, 4-celled, style undivided. Fruit a subglobose drupe 3—4 mm in diameter, yellowish to brownish-red, with a strongly 4-lobed endocarp breaking up into 4 single-seeded pyrenes at an early stage. Seeds oblong, without endosperm. (28)
Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
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Grows characteristically among rocks crevices and trailing over gravel bars in stream beds at low altitudes in Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Zambales, Bulacan, and Rizal Provinces in Luzon; and in Mindoro.
- Pantropic.
- Also native to Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Borneo, Brazil Northeast, Brazil Southeast, Burkina, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Laos, Liberia, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Myanmar, New Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Thailand, Vietnam. (21)
 Constituents
- Phytochemical study yielded alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, steroids, and nutrients (amino acids and protein).
- Roots have yield allantoin and a sterol, rhabdiol.
- Methanolic extract of roots and stems yielded flavonoids, tannin, saponin, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and glycosides. (see study below) (17)
- Phytochemical screening of methanol extract showed presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, phytosterols, reducing sugars, proteins, and terpenoids.
(see study below) (25)
Properties
- Bitter, astringent, diuretic, sudorific, antilithic.
- Root considered laxative and diuretic. The diuretic action of the root is attributed to allantoin.
- Studies have suggested antiurolithiatic, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, anthelmintic, antidiabetic, antimicrobial properties.
Parts used
Stems, leaves, roots.
 Uses
Edibility
- No report found on edibility.
Folkloric
- In the Philippines and Thailand, stem decoction used as sudorific and diuretic. (28)
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Decoction of stems used as sudorific and diuretic.
- In Ayurveda, plant used for piles, diabetes, venereal diseases, kidney and bladder stones.
- Root decoction is used as diuretic and laxative.
- In Indian traditional system, used for cancer treatment.
- Root tuber is astringent, bitter and diuretic; used for treating coughs, heart problems, dysuria, blood disorders, fever, poisonings, ulcers and uterine diseases.
- In Kerala, plant is reportedly used by tribal people as a psychoactive agent. Leaves and tender stems are sliced in tiny pieces and sun dried for half an hour or warmed on hot earthen or metals pots, then mixed with bidi tobacco in 1:1 ratio, wrapped in bidi leaves and smoked. Adding a little tea powder or decaying of leaves is reported to enhance the psychoactive property. (18) Tender stems and leaves used as psychoactive agent, dried and smoked in combination with tobacco, or drunk mixed with coconut milk. Believed to provoke physical and mental stimulation and enhance thought processes. (28)
Studies
• Antilithic Effect / Crystal Dissolution Activity:
Study screened the decoction of Rotula aquatica for antilithic activity in male Wistar rats with induced-nephrolithiasis. Results showed reduction of calcium and oxalate ion concentration in urine, confirming a stone inhibitory effect. The decoction showed no toxicity over a 45-day treatment period. (3)
• Antilithic Effect: In a study of three plants, the aqueous extracts of Rotula aquatica and C wightii showed crystal dissolving activity against monosodium urate. (5)
• Polyphenols / Antioxidant / Anticancer:
Study yielded polyphenols, and polyphenols in polar extracts showed stronger antioxidant activity compared to non-polar phytoconstituents. Study suggests the herb may be used as protective measure in caner patients undergoing radiotherapy. (6)
• Antimitotic / Anticancer:
Study evaluated the antimitotic activity of R. aquatica. The mitotic index of the root tips markedly decreased with increasing concentration of the aqueous extract. Results showed extract of R. aquatica were extremely effective in the prevention of cell proliferation of the pancreatic cancer cell lines. (2)
• Anthelmintic / Roots / Bark / Leaves:
Study evaluated the anthelmintic effect of an aqueous extract on earthworm Pheretima posthuma. Results showed dose-dependent activity compared to standard drug piperazine citrate. (7) Study evaluated a methanolic extract of bark for anthelmintic activity against adult Indian earthworm Pheretima posthuma. Results showed wormicidal activity with both dose-dependent spontaneous paralysis (vermifugal) and killing of earthworms (vermicidal). (13) Study of methanolic extract of leaves of R. aquatica against adult earthworm, Pheretima posthuma, showed significant dose-dependent anthelmintic activity. Piperazine citrate was used as standard reference. (19)
• Analgesic / Antipyretic / Anti-Inflammatory:
Study of alcoholic extract of root showed significant antipyretic activity. It also showed significant activity on a carrageenin-induced paw edema model. The action was attributed to possible inhibition of lipooxygenase pathway. The tail immersion and hot plate tests revealed high analgesic activity. (8)
• Antidiarrheal:
Study evaluated the antidiarrheal activity of alcoholic extract of Rotula aquatica showed significant antidiarrheal activity in different models i.e., castor oil induced diarrhea, charcoal meal test, and PGE2 induced diarrhea. (9)
• Antiurolithiasis:
Study evaluated the antiurolithic effect of an alcoholic extract against ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in albino rats. Histopathological studies confirmed reduction of lithiasis after treatment with the extract. (10)
• Antidiabetic / Roots:
Study evaluated the antidiabetic activity of methanolic extract of roots in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Results showed significant decrease in blood glucose, with good activity at dose of 400 mg/kbw. Glibenclamide was used as standard. (11)
• Antioxidant:
Study evaluated methanolic and aqueous stem extract of Rotula aquatic for antioxidant activity. Results showed the stem extract to possess phenolic and flavonoid constituents that are responsible for antioxidant activity. (12)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Roots / Whole Plant:Study evaluated an aqueous extract of roots for anti-inflammatory potential in acute and chronic inflammatory conditions in rats. Using carrageenan-induced raw paw edema, cotton pellet-induced granuloma and crystal-induced inflammation in rats, the extract showed potentially beneficial effect in relieving inflammation. By DPPH method, the extract also showed appreciable antioxidant activity (IC50=11.07 µg/ml). (14) Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of various extracts of whole plant on acute inflammation (carrageenan-induced paw edema) and sub-acute inflammation (cotton pellet granuloma) in animal models. A petroleum ether and ethyl extracts exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in both models, which was comparable with standard drug indomethacin. (15)
• Antimicrobial / Roots and Stems: Study evaluated methanol extract roots and stems of R. aquatica for inhibitory activity against selected bacterial and fungal culture. The extract showed broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity with inhibitory activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria as well as Candida sp. MICs ranged between 62.5-250 mg/ml for pathogens tested. (see constituents above) (16)
• 3-O-Acetyl-11-Keto-ß-Boswellic Acid / Roots: Study evaluated a plant root extract for active compounds that possess antiurolithiatic activity. By docking analysis, the isolated bioactive compound 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid interacted with THP and may inhibit calcium oxalate crystallization. (17)
• Comparative Antidiabetic Activity / Roots: Study evaluated three Indian medicinal plants viz., Schrebera swietenoides roots, Barleria montana aerial parts, and Rotula aquatica roots for antidiabetic activity against streptozotocin induced diabetic model in rats. The percent reduction in blood glucose level by R. aquatica was promising and statistically significant from the 2nd hour onwards, suggesting fast acting activity. Of the three plants, Rotula aquatica showed most promising results. (20)
• Nephroprotective / Gentamicin-Induced Toxicity: Study evaluated the protective effects of ethyl acetate fraction from Rotula aquatica (EFRA) against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Treatment with EFRA at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kbw restored the antioxidant parameters. EFRA decreased the serum parameters, ROS, MDA and nitrate level, and ameliorated histological changes associated with gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity. There was also downregulation of mRNA expression of KIM-1, NF-kB, TNF-α, and IL-6. Results suggest a role of EFRA as good anti-inflammatory and nephroprotective drug. (24)
• Acute Oral Toxicity Study / Anti-Inflammatory: Study evaluated the acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory efficacy of methanolic extract of R. aquatic (MERA) in invivo models. The MERA did not show any visible signs of toxicity up to dose of 2000 mg/kbw. Results from carrageenan and dextran-induced paw edema model also showed anti-inflammatory effect of MERA in a rat model. (25)
• Inhibition of Growth and Biofilm Formation of Uropathogenic E. coli: Study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of ethyl acetate fraction of R. aquatica (EFRA) against clinically isolated uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Well-diffusion assay of EFRA showed clear ZOI of 17 mm against E. coli. EFRA MIC and MBC were 2.5 and 5 mg/ml, respectively. MTT assay and specific biofilm formation assay showed EFRA prevented the formation of biofilm. (26)
• Mitigation of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Acute Pyelonephritis: Study evaluated the efficacy of methanolic extract of R. aquatica (MERA) against inflammatory changes associated with acute pyelonephritis. Oral administration of MERA increased antioxidant enzyme status in pyelonephritis rat. Elevated levels of oxidative stress markers were ameliorated by MERA at 100 and 200 mg/kbw of rat. The mRNA level expression of major genes were restored to normal level by MERA. (27)
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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