Scientific name :Leptadenia pyrotechnica Forssk

Scientific name:
Leptadenia pyrotechnica Forssk. Decne
Synonym:
L. spartinum Wight
Local Name(s):
Marakh
Arabic Name(s):
Marakh, Shajarat al Nar,
Common Name(s):
Family:
Broom bush , Khip
Asclepiadaceae
Whole plant
Flowers
Herbarium Sample
Description:
Ascending, dense, leafless evergreen small shrub, 1.5-3(5) m high, stem green,
cylindrical with pale green alternating branches. leaves small deciduous, rarely found,
Linear- lanceolate. Flowers clustered in short axillary cymes, calyx fine-tomentose
with triangular lobes ⅓ the length of the corolla limb, corolla rotate, c.0.6 cm in
diameter, yellow green, with elliptical triangular acute lobes, fine tomentose, with
alternating corona.. Fruits pair of follicles, 10-15 cm long, seeds numerous, comose
with tufted hairs.
Habitat & Distribution:
The plant is widespread in tropical Africa, Asia and Mediterranean region. In UAE it
is found in sandy plains of hills and low dunes in eastern part of Abu Dhabi emirate
and northern emirates; now cultivated in forests ,farms and roads.
Parts Used:
Whole plant, seeds and flowers
Traditional & Medical Uses:
In UAE the plant used for rheumatism, joint pains, sciatica and backache as fumigant
and as anthelimintic. Other uses: flower buds are edible, stem diuretic used for kidney
stones; the wood is good supply of fibers , dried hairs of seeds were used as tinder;
pyrotechnica means fire-making.
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
Parts studied : Aerial Parts
Microscopical Description
Branches: Both main stem and branches are cylindrical in shape with round crosssections. Wher the bark readily separates from the cortex. The epidermis of the bark is
a greenish thin layer which is composed of papillose epidermal cells with shining
thick cell walls and few oval slits. The bark has bundles of very long fibres that have
thick cell walls and narrow lumens. It also bears multicellular broad-celled, uniseriate
covering trichomes each with a single basal cell and collapsed cells at its middle part.
The cortex is composed of polygonal parenchymatous cells. Its outer layer is
surrounded by a sheath of sclerenchymatous layer which is composed of compactly
packed pitted cells. The cortex is also traversed by vascular bundles which are
composed of compactly packed phloem and xylem tissues that are mainly boarded
pitted vessels. The phloem tissues contain short fibres with perforated cell walls. The
central pith consists of thick-walled small rounded parenchyma cells filled with
crystalline and amorphous masses( DPS ZCHRTM Unpub.Results).
a
b
c
(a). A portion of a sclerenchymatous layer that surrounds the outer parenchymatous
tissues of the cortex of the branch.(b). A group of adjacent bordered pitted vessels
associated with perforated vascular fibres partially masked by layers of parenchyma
cells. (c). A fragment of the outer layer of the bark showing the shining papillose cells
with their thick cell walls and few oval water pores. ( Magnifications: All x 250).
Organoleptic characteristics:
Appearance:
Solid powder
Colour:
Light green
Odour:
Aromatic
Taste:
Tasteless
Physicochemical constants:
Loss in weight on drying at 1050C (%) :
8.00-8.20
Solubilities (%)
Alcohol solubility :
Water solubility:
10% ethanolic extractive:
4.80
7.60
45.60
Ash values (%)
Total ash:
Water soluble ash:
Acid-insoluble ash:
4.80
2.20-2.40
0.20
Successive extractive (%)
Petroleum ether (60-800C):
Chloroform:
Absolute alcohol:
Distilled water:
3.80
2.40
16.9
12.00-12.90
pH values
pH of 1% solution:
pH of 10% solution:
6.26
5.67
The above results are under process of publication(DPS ZCHRTM Unpub.Results).
Chemical constituents:
Triterpenoids, taraxerol and fernenol, β- sitosterol. (Ghazanfar 1994,DPS, ZCHRTM
Unpub.Results;).
Pharmacological and Toxicological studies:
The behavioral studies in mice revealed writhing in the ethanolic extract treated group
and the chloroform extract caused decreasing body temperature. Both treated groups
showed urination (Al-Yahay et. al., l990).
Isolated guinea pig ileum, the ethanolic extract by producing contraction of the
muscle which was blocked by atropine showed cholinergic effect. However, the
chloroform did not produce any effect on the preparation per se. but potentiated the
effect of acetylecholine on the preparation. Both extracts failed to produce any effect
on the isolated frogs rectus abdominus muscle. On the isolated rabbit heart both
extracts caused a decrease in the force of contraction. However, the decrease by
ethanolic extract was moderate, whereas the chloroform extract produced a mild
decrease. The blood pressure of normotensive anesthized rabbit was significantly
lowered by the ethanolic extract. The fall in blood pressure was blocked by atropine,
corroborating the cholinomimetic activity of the extract on smooth muscle and the
heart. However, the chloroform extract also produced a fall in blood pressure, which
was not found to be significant.Chloroform extract showed increase in the serum
glucose, hemoglobin and RBC count. The chloroform extract also showed inhibitory
activity on Staphylococcus. aureus and Bacillus subtilis.The toxicity studies revealed
both extracts to be mildly toxic to the brine shrimps. . (Al-Yahay et. Al., l990).
The pharmacological and toxicological studies carried out in our laboratory and
the results in brief, on Leptadenia pyrotechnica (10% ethanolic extract) have
been given below.
The results presented without references showed unpublished data (UPD, ZCHRTM,
DBMS):
ACTIVITY
RESULTS
Anti-inflammatory activity-Rat paw
oedema
No significant anti-inflammatory activity
observed.
Antinociceptive activity-Writhing
Showed significant analgesic activity.
Anti-hypertension activity-Anesthetic
rats
Lower dose did not show any change in
BP. Higher dose showed increased BP, but
no change in HR.
Skeletal muscle relaxing activityPhrenic nerve-diaphragm
Higher dose show transient increase in
amplitude.
Effect on GIT smooth MuscleIsolated rat fundus
Produced an increase in resting tension;
Dose dependent.
Anti-epileptic activity-Guinea pig
Tracheal chain
Produced slight relaxation in histamine
contracted tracheal chain.
Gross behavioral studiesTremor/Twitches
No toxic symptoms.
Gross behavioral studies-Writhing
No writhings observed.
Gross behavioral studies-Diarrhea,
Urination
No diarrhea observed.
Mortality
No death was recorded.
Motor co-ordination (String &
Platform test)
Acute toxicity studies
Motor co-ordination not affected.
LD50 evaluation
> 6.4 g/kg.
Haematological studies
Reduced WBC, MCHC, other
haematological parameters remained
unchanged.
No toxicity observed.
Summary of the results:
The plant extract showed significant analgesic activity. No toxic signs and symptoms
were noticed in acute toxicity evaluation in mice. (LD 5 - 6.4 g/kg, p.o).
Aqueous Extract:
ACTIVITY
RESULTS
Antinociceptive activity-Tail flick
Showed higher dose showed significant
analgesic activity.
Antinociceptive activity-Writhing
Showed significant analgesic activity.
Diuretic activity-Urine output
Urine output increased.
Diuretic activity-Electrolytes
Electrolytes concentration reduced. Body
weight, consumption of food, and water not
affected.
Anti-hypertension activity Anesthetic rats
Increased blood pressure, Not consistent,
Increase in HR was also recorded.
Effect on GIT smooth MuscleIsolated rat fundus
Produced an increased in resting tension.
Gross behavioral studiesTremor/Twitches
Not toxic signs and symptoms observed.
Gross behavioral studies-Writhing
No abnormal signs.
Gross behavioral studies- Diarrhea,
Urination
No abnormal signs.
Mortality
No death recorded.
Motor co-ordination (String &
Platform test)
Motor co-ordination not affected.
Acute toxicity studies
No toxic signs observed .
LD50 evaluation
>6.4 g/kg (p.o).
Summary of the results:
The plant extract showed a significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic and diuretic
activities. The plant extract also showed no overt signs and symptoms.
References:

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Al-Yahaya, M.A. Al-Meshal, I.A., Mossa, J.S., Al-Badar, A.A. and Tariq,
M. (l990) In: Saudi plants: a phytochemical and biological Approach.
Published by General directorate of Research Grants Programme. King Abdul
Aziz City for science and Tehnology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Andrews, F.W. The Flowering Plants of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan;
(1950&1952) vol 1+II; Arbroath, Scotland.
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Department of Biomedical Sciences, Zyed Complex for Herbal Research and
Traditional Medicine, Unpublished results.
Department of Pharmacognostic Sciences, Zyed Complex for Herbal
Research and Traditional Medicine ( ZCHRTM ),unpublished results .
El-Ghonemy, A. A. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants of the United Emirates.
(1993) 1st Edition, University of UAE.
Ghazanfar S A. Handbook of Arabian Medicinal Plants. CRC Press, p.35,
1994.
Jongbloed, M.V. The Comprehensive Guide to the Wild Flowers of the united
Arab Emirates, Erwda, (2003) Emirates Printing Press, Dubai, U.A.E.
Mandaville,J.P. Flora of Eastern Saudi Arabia. (1990) Kegan Paul
International Ltd. England.
Miller A.G., Morris M. (1987) Plants of Dhofar, The southern Region of
Oman: Traditional, Economic and Medicinal Uses. Office of the Advisor for
conservation of the Environment, Sultanate of Oman.
Western, A. R. The Flora of United Arab Emirates, an introduction. (1986)
Publication of the UAE University.