REVIEW ON BEEKHE ANJBAR (ROOT OF POLYGONUM BISTORTA L.) WITH UNANI PERSPECTIVE AND MODERN PHARMACOLOGY

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WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES Jahan et al. SJIF Impact Factor 5.210 Volume 4, Issue 07, 314-323.

1 WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES Jahan et al. SJIF Impact Factor Volume 4, Issue 07, Review Article ISSN REVIEW ON BEEKHE ANJBAR (ROOT OF POLYGONUM BISTORTA L.) WITH UNANI PERSPECTIVE AND MODERN PHARMACOLOGY Danish Jahan 1*, Wajeeha Begum 2 and Mariyam Roqaiya 1 1 PG Scholar, Dept. of Ilmul Qabalat wa Amraze Niswan National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. 2 Reader, Dept. of Ilmul Qabalat wa Amraze Niswan National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Article Received on 22 April 2015, Revised on 13 May 2015, Accepted on 04 June 2015 *Correspondence for Author Dr. Danish Jahan PG scholar, Dept. of Ilmul Qabalat wa Amraze Niswan National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. pharmacology. ABSTRACT Polygonum bistorta Linn is an incredible herb belongs to family polygonacae which comprises of 300 species spreading world widely, among these P.bistorta L is most imperative. It is commonly known as adder wort, snake root, bistort or dragon wort. Description of P.bistorta L present in Unani literature as anjbar which is well known for its haemostatic property and being used to control bleeding from any part of the body. Unani physicians were using beekhe anjbar as medicine which is the rhizome of P.bistorta L. Anjbar is cold and dry in temperament so it is astringent, although all parts of this plants are astringent but root of Anjbar is used as medicine to check bleeding. This article comprises the pharmacological properties of P.bistorta L with modern and Unani perspective. KEYWORDS: Polygonum bistorta Linn, anjbar, Unani, rhizome, INTRODUCTION The plant kingdom is the foremost source of novel natural products with potential to be used as drugs or pharmaceutical mediators. According to The World Health Organization, more than 80% of the world population in developing countries depends primarily on plants based medicines for basic healthcare needs. Polygonum bistorta Linn is a member of Polygonaceae family having 300 species which are distributed worldwide in temperate climates. [1] The rhizomes of P.bistorta L. have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat dysentery Vol 4, Issue 07,

2 with bloody stools, diarrhoea in acute gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infection with cough carbuncles, scrofula, aphthous ulcer, haematemesis, epistaxis, haemorrhoidal bleeding and venomous snake bite. [2] In Unani system of medicine P.bistorta L. is known as Anjbar which is a roman word and its root beekhe anjbar is used widely as haemostatic drug. Anjbar is the root of an herb which is about as thick as finger and having few fibres outside of it. Height of this plant is 2 feet its branches are reddish and fruits are also red. After shedding of flowers small fruits with sheath appear which are filled with small seeds. [3] Root found in depths which is rough and reddish black in colour. Root is used as medicine. [4] Anjbar is mostly much valuable and its root is an enormous drug, all parts of Anjbar are astringent and viscous, shami anjbar and tabristani Anjbar are considered finest in quality. Temperament of Anjbar is cold and dry in first degree according to some physicians it is cold and dry in third degree but according to Jalinoos anjbar is hot and dry in temperament. Due to its cold and dry temperament Anjbar is haemostatic and helpful in controlling bleeding from any part of the body which is its key action. [4,5] Bistort roots principal constituents are tannic acid, of which it contains a large quantity, some gallic acid, and much starch. Its virtues are extracted by water, and its decoction becomes inky-black on the addition of persalt of iron, and with gelatin it forms a precipitate. [6] The astringent properties of the rootstock are due to the presence of the tannin compounds. The tannin contents undergoes variation during the vegetative period of the plant, the maximum being at the time of fruit bearing. The tannin is also present in the leaves to the extent of 5-10 percent. [7] Taxonomic classification Kingdom- Plantae; order- Caryophyllales; Family- Polygonaceae; Genus- Polygonum; Species- bistorta. [7] Botanical name- Polygonum bistorta L. [6,8,9] Pharmacopoeia name- bistortae rhizoma [2] Synonymes- P.viviparum, [8] P.paleaceum, [9] polygonum aviculare L. [8] Vernaculars Sanskrit- Miromati, nisomali. English- Knot grass, [8] bistort, adderwort, dragonwort, snake root, [9] snake-weed 6 Punjabi and hindi- Kuwar, bijband, ban-natia. Kashmiri- Drop Vol 4, Issue 07,

3 Bengali- Machutie Arab- Asar-rai, anjubar Persian- Hozar, bandak Sindhi- Endraru [8] Chinese- quanshen [2] Morphological description An herbaceous perennial herb up to 60 cm high with a thick twisted root-stock. [7] cylindrical, woody, about as thick as a finger, widely creeping, much branched, ridged with leaf-scars on the outside, brownish, pale red within, giving off numerous fibrous roots, usually twisted into an s- shape, branches ending in tubers. Stem erect quite simple, 1 ½ - 2 feet. High, cylindrical, smooth, striate, slightly thickened at the nodes. Radical leaves large, on long stalks, ovate, acute, abruptly constricted at the base and then attenuated into the petiole, margin entire, somewhat undulated. Flowers arranged in pairs, each couple surrounded at the base by two scarious cuspidate bracts, stalked, articulated to the summit of the smooth slender pedicles and readily separating from them, clusters very densely crowded on the upper part of the stem, where they form a solid, cylindrical, oblong, blunt, erect inflorescence, 1-2 inches long. Fruit a small, indehiscent, triqueterous, dark- brown, shining, pointed nut, seed completely filling the fruit. [6] General description of bistort rhizome Bistort root or bistort rhizome derives its name from being commonly twice folded or twisted on itself and hence this character is one of its marked peculiarities. It has a hard firm texture, a deep reddish brown colour externally, and a reddish or flesh colour internally, it is without odour, but with a strong, pure, astringent taste. [6] The herb is used in stews and soups. It is recommended for use in silage. The root stock are reported to be eaten. The herb is wide spread in its distribution and its curled rhizome has been used under the name of snake root in medicine. It is the anjubar of western arabs. The root stocks are somewhat flattened, hard with annual thickening and traces of rootlets. [7] Habitat Polygonum bistorta L. is one of the most important herbs in the genus of polygonum which is comprised of 300 species. This herb distributes worldwide they could be find in north temperate regions such as Europe and north America where the herb is commonly known as adderwort, bistorta, or knotweed. In china it is called Quanshen and is especially abundant in the southwest region, over 120 species have already been identified and more than 80 species have reported medicinal uses. [2] This is a well known plant though scarcely common in moist or swampy meadows and on the borders of damp woods, throughout great Britain, when once Vol 4, Issue 07,

4 established it is with great difficulty eradicated, the leaves frequently forming large patches year after year without any flowering stems being sent up. The bistort has a wide range throughout the northern hemisphere, reaching from the arctic regions of Europe, asia and America to south Europe, the Himalaya and Canada. [6] Bistort is native to Europe, Asia and North America and in India it is distributed in the Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim and in the hills of Assam at the altitudes of 2,700 4,500 m. [7,10] Charachteristic feature of bistortae rhizoma Shape- compressed-cylindrical, usually curved, into a shrimp-like shape both ends obtuse or slightly narrowed. Size cm long, 8-25 mm in diameter. External colour- externally purple brown to dark brown. Surface- rough, one side protuberant and the other side flat or slight furrowed, with thick annulated striations and remnants of rootlets or root scars. Texture- hard, fracture roundish or nearly reniform, pale brown to brown, dotted vascular bundles yellowish-white, arranged interruptedly in a ring. Odour and taste- odour slight and taste bitter and astringent. [2] Part used Bistort root [3,11] Mizaj Cold (1 0 ) and dry (1 0 ) [3,4,5,11] Cold (2 0 ) and dry (2 0 ) [12] Cold (3 0 ) and dry (3 0 ) [4,5] Actions and uses in Unani system of medicine Astringent and haemostatic (habis wa qabiz), strengthens the stomach and intestine (muqawwi meda wa ama a), useful in bloody dysentery and diarrhoea(da fe zaheer wa ishal), mussakkine safra wa joshe khoon. [3,12] Vol 4, Issue 07,

5 Haemostatic property Its haemostatic action is useful in haemorrhage from all over the body. [4,5,13,14] esp. chest, lungs, [4] bleeding piles, [4,5] trachea, pleura, intestinal abrasion and liver. [4,5,13,14] It is used to stop haemorrhage of all organs of body e.g. epistaxis, haemoptysis, menorrhagia, diarrhoea and hemetemesis. [11] GIT Anjbar is gastrotonic and useful in stomach diseases. Strengthens the stomach and intestine. Due to its musakkine safra action it prevents nausea and vomiting. [5,13,14] Due to its astringency it is beneficial in diarrhoea either bloody or not, it stops diarrhoea but does not produce constipation. [4,5,13,14] Gilani has written in Sharah of Mufradate Qanoon that Anjbar is useful in intestinal abrasion and ulcers and stops bleeding through intestine. [5 It is beneficial in anorexia. Sharbate anjbar with qurse kuharba is useful in intestinal abrasion. [4] Local application Its local application in the form of paste is useful in sprain, dislocation, fracture of bones and also useful in muscle injury. [5 Powder of dried leaves of anjbar when sprinkled over wound either acute or chronic it stops bleeding and helps in healing of the wound. [4.5,13,14] Action on TB In case of tuberculosis when patient become cachexic and there is anorexia with weight loss in that condition anjbar is very beneficial. [4,5] Piles If anjbar in qty. of 3 ½ gm to 4 ½ gm boiled in water and used with sugar or other drugs is useful in bleeding piles and inflammation of anus. [5] Antidote It act as antidote. Respiratory system It prevents nazla. [4] Miqdare khoorak(dosage) 4 ½ gm 5, 4gm, 4 5-7gm 3, 3-5gm. [12,13] Vol 4, Issue 07,

6 Faile khas(main action): Da fe zaheer damwi wa ishal. [8,60] haemostatic for all organs of body. [4,5,12,13,14] Muzir: For cold temperaments, [3,4,5,12,13] and for bladder [4,5] Musleh: Sugar [4,5] pure honey, [3,13] zanjabeel 5,12,13] Mazah: Tasteless [3,14] Badal: Zarishk, bartang of same quantity or 1/4 th of gile armani, [4,5] habbul aas. [12,13] Murakkabat: Sharbate anjabar, safoofe istehaza, majoone tewaj. [3,11] Action and uses in modern medicine Expectorant, diuretic, [9] tonic, astringent, antiseptic, and antiperiodic. [8] Febrifuge, haemostatic [9] Anti inflammatory, astringent, demulcent, anticatarrhal, antidiarrhoeal, [15] Usefull in diarhhoea, enteritis, bleeding haemorrhoids, skin inflammation, stomatitis, gingivitis. [9] used for internal haemorrhages, irritable bowel, diverticulosis, urinary and uterine affections. Used as a mouth wash and gargle for ulcerated mouth and bleeding gums. [15] Mixed with gentian it is given as a decoction of the root( 1 in 10) in 1 to 2 ounces doses in malaria,( intermittent fever) [6] chronic diarrhoea and lithiasis, also used in capillary bronchitis whooping cough and other lung affections. Decoction is used in gleet and leucorrhoea as an injection and as an excellent gargle in relaxed sore throat and spongy gums and as an excellent lotion for ulcers. [6,8,16] Applied to abscesses. [16] It has been used in Chinese folk medicine to treat dysentery with bloody stools, diarrhoea in acute gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infection with cough, carbuncles, scrofula, aphthous ulcer, hematemesis, epistaxis, hemorrhoidal bleeding and venomous snake bite. [17,18,19,20] Liquid extract of the root stocks, and their decoction are used as astringent in diarrhoea, profuse menses, colitis and gingivitis. The preparations of this herb are substituted for Peruvian rhatany( krameria triandra) [7] Chemical constituent Polygonic acid, tannic acid, gallic acid, starch, calcium oxalate and essential oil 8] The astringent properties of the root stock are due to the presence of tannin compounds (15-22%, up to 36%). The tannin is of mixed type; catechol, phloroglucinol, gallic acid and phlobaphene have been identified. Methyl anthraquinone, calcium oxalate (1.1%), starch Vol 4, Issue 07,

7 (30%), albumin (10%), and traces of emodin are also reported in the root stock. It is rich in ascorbic acid; flowers contain 746.6, leaves contain and rootstock contains mg/100 gm. [7] The herb contains ferulic, sinapic, vannilic, syringic, melilotic, p-coumaric, p- hydroxybenzoic, gentisic, salicylic and ellagic acid, about 15-20% tannins mainly catechins. [15] Advance researches Hepatoprotective, antioxidant and anticancer activity Aqueous extract of the roots of Polygonum bistorta has liver protective effect against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity and possess antioxidant activities and extracts exhibited moderate anticancer activity towards cell viability at higher concentration in rats. [17] Root extract of PB (100 mg/kg)is effective against CCl4 induced damage in liver. [21] Polygonum bistorta has protective effect against acetaminophen induced liver and kidney damage. Extract (100 mg/kg) and tannic acid (25 mg/kg) reversed in varying degree the changes induced by acetaminophen. [22] Anti-inflammatory effect BuOH extract of the rhizome of Polygonum bistorta exhibited anti-inflammatory effects and a phenylpropanoid substituted catechin, cinchonain was obtained for the first time. [18] Anti inflammatory compounds from the dried rhizome of Polygonum bistorta were isolated these compounds are 5-glutinen-3-one and friedelenol. 67 Ethanolic extract of P.bistorta showed strong anti inflammatory effect. [1] Anti bacterial activity Methanolic extracts of Polygonum bistorta showed significantly different zones of inhibition against E.faecalis, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, while no activity of any dilution was detected against S. typhi. Cold water extracts showed significantly different zones of inhibition against B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, E. faecalis, S. typhi and show no activity against S.aureus. Hot water extracts showed significantly different zones of inhibition against B.subtilis and Entereococcus faecalis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and S. typhi. [20] Anticancer activity Anticancer phenolic compounds and fatty acids were identified from different fractions of methanol-water extract of Polygonum bistorta L. possessed good to strong cytotoxicity against HCCLM3 cancer cell line that demonstrated good bioactivity of this herbal plant. [23] Vol 4, Issue 07,

8 Antifungal effect Ethanolic extract of P.bistorta has good antifungal activity. [24] Analgesic effect The water extract of Bistortae rhizoma could significantly reduce continuous pain stimulus by increasing the pain threshold of mice. [2] Haemostatic action The rhizomes of Polygonum bistorta L. can be used as a natural non-toxic source of coagulant compounds in medicine and pharmacy. The flour of rhizomes of Polygonum bistorta L. has coagulant compounds. [25] Effect on rheumatoid artheritis Water and ethanol extract of P.bistorta is affective against rheumatoid arthritis. [26] Other studies In another scenario, Ye Heyang et al showed that the protective effect of extract of P.bistorta exerted acute myocardial ischemia in rat. Ethanol extract of Bistortae Rhizoma can enhance mononuclear macrophages phagocytic capacity of normal mice, promote T lymphocytes proliferation, increased serum hemolysin level and IL-2 in mice. [2] REFERENCES 1. Narsimhulu G, Reddy KK, Mohammad J. International journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical science 2014; 6(2): Feng ZZ, Quin S, Yeung CH. Qualitative evaluation and bioactivity assessment of Polygonum Bistorta. HKJP 2012; 19(4): Qasmi IA. Kitabul Mufradat. Universal book house: Aligadh; 2001: Ghani N. Khazainul Advia. New Delhi: Idarae Kitabul Shifa; YNM: 193, 275, 932, Azam M. Muhite Aazam. CCRUM: New Delhi; 2012; 376: Bentley R, Trimen H. Medicinal plants being descriptions with original figures of the principal plants employed in medicine and account of the characters, properties and uses of their parts and products of medicinal plants. Vol III. J. A. Churchill new Burlington street: London; 1880: Anonymous. The Wealth of India, Raw materials. Vol I, VIII, IX: A. New Delhi: NISCIR; 2003; 37-41, 196, Vol 4, Issue 07,

9 8. Nadkarni KM. Indian materia medica. New Delhi: Srishti Book Distributors; 2009; 9: 999, 1024, Narayan DP, Kumar U. Argo s Dictionary of Medicinal Plants. India (Jodhpur): Updesh Purohit for Agrobios; 2005; 3: 266, 278, Mehar A, Tabarak HIM. A review on Polygonum Bistorta L. with its reference to its pharmacology and phytochemistry. GJRMI 2013; 2(9): Ali SU. Unani adviya mufrada. Qaumi council baraye farogh urdu zaban: New Delhi; 1979: Uddin MR. Kanzul adviya mufrada. University publication unit sarfaraz house: aligadh; 1975: Kabeeruddin M. Makhzanul Mufradat. New Delhi: Ejaz Publication House; YNM : 82, 96, Hakeem MAH. Bustanul Mufradat. New Delhi: Idarae Kitab-ul-Shifa; 2002: 75, 82, 96, Khare CP. Indian medicinal plants. New delhi: Springer; 2007: Chopra RN, Nayar SL, Chopra IC. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. 6 th ed. New Delhi: NISCIR; 2002; 2, Mittal DK, Jena AK, Joshi D. Ameliorative effects of Polygonum bistorta and Zingiber roseum on carbon tetrachloride treated rats. World journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences 2013; 2(5): Liu X, Li W, Hua H, Li W, Chen F, Wu L. An NMR study of a phenyl propenoid substituted catechin from polygonum bistorta. Asian journal of traditional medicines 2005; I: Duwiejua M, Zeitlin IJ, Gray AI, Waterman PG. The anti inflammatory compounds of polygonum bistorta, isolation and charachterisation. Planta med 1999; 65(4): Khalid A, Waseem A, Saadullah M, Rehman U, Khiljee S, Sethi A, Asad MHH et al. Antibacterial activity analysis of extracts of various plants against gram-positive and negative bacteria. African journal of pharmacy and pharmacology 2011; 5(7): Mittal DK, Joshi D. Evaluation of DNA damage by comet and MTT-Assay in liver treated with polygonum bistorta and tannic acid. International journal of of pharma and bio science 2012; 3(1): Mittal DK, Joshi D, Shukla S. Protective effects of Polygonum Bistorta(Linn.) and its active principle against acetaminophen-induced toxicity in rats. AJEBS 2010; 1(4): Vol 4, Issue 07,

10 23. Intisar A, Zhang L, Luo Huiyang, Kiazolu JB, Zheng R, Zhang W. Anticancer constituent and cytotoxic activity of methanol water extract of polygonum bistorta L. AJTCAM 2013; 10(1): Munir N, Ijaz W, Altaf I, Naz S. Evaluation of antifungal and antioxidant potential of two medicinal plants, Aconitum Heterophyllum and polygonum bistorta. Asian pecific journal of tropical biomedicine 2014; 4(2): Partovi T, Zabihi M. Coagulant compounds from rhizomes of Polygonum Bisorta( Linn.). Global advanced research journal of engineering 2012; 1(6): Bader GN, Prince A. Treating rheumatoid arthritis with medicinal herbs- An up-to-date compilation of herbal drugs used for treating the disease. Advance research in pharmaceuticals and biological 2014; 4(II): Vol 4, Issue 07,

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