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Gen info
- Biophytum sensitivum is considered one of the ten sacred plants called ""Dashapuspam" of Kerala state in India. (36)
- Biophytum is a genus of about 50 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants
in the family Oxalidaceae, found in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. (51)
Botany
Damong-bingkalat is an unbranched herb with stems up to 30
centimeters in height but usually shorter. Leaves are pinnately compound, numerous, crowded
at the apex of the stem, and 5 to 12 centimeters long, with 8 to 14 pairs of
leaflets. Leaflets gradually increase in size upward, about 1.5
centimeters long or less, oblong to oblong-obovate, often somewhat curved. Flowers are many,
crowded at the apices of the numerous peduncles. Sepals are subscale-lanceolate,
striate, about 7 millimeters long. Petals are yellow. Fruit is a capsule,
shorter than the persistent calyx.
 Distribution
- In grasslands and open
thickets at low and medium altitudes, from northern Luzon to Mindanao and Sulu.
- Pantropic.
Constituents
- Studies on aerial parts have yielded two biflavones (cupressuflavone and amentoflavone), three flavonoids (luteoline 7-methly ether, isoorientin and 3'-methoxyluteoline 7-O-glucoside), two acids (4-caffeoylquinic acid and 5-caffeoylquinic acid),3'8"-biapigenin, proanthocyanidines and some phenolic compounds. (22)
- Preliminary phytochemical analysis of various extracts of B. sensitivum yielded steroids, phenolics, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, and sterols. Maximum bioactive substances occurred in the acetone extract. Ten elements, viz. carbon, oxygen, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine, potassium and ferrous were observed in a powdered sample.
(27)
- Elemental analysis of
the leaf showed a higher concentration of Fe, Cu, Si As, and P, while the root was rich in Mg, Zn, Mn, Cl, and Pb. Ni, Se, and Co were not detected in the plant. (42)
- Phytochemical screening of ethanol extract of whole plant yielded carbohydrates, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, proteins, amino acids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, and and fixed oils. (see study below)
(44)
Properties
- Considered tonic, stimulant, stomachic, vulnerary.
-
Seeds considered vulnerary.
- Studies have shown antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, chemoprotective, radioprotective, wound healing, antiangiogenesis, immunomodulator, antidiabetic, and cardioprotective properties.
Parts used
Seeds, roots, leaves.
Uses
Folkloric
• In the Philippines, powdered seeds applied as vulnerary.
• Decoction of
roots used for gonorrhea and bladder stones.
• Bruised leaves applied to contusions.
• Plant decoction used for diabetes.
• Infusion of leaves used as expectorant.
• Powdered seeds applied to wounds and abscesses to facilitate
suppuration.
• Root decoction used for gonorrhea and lithiasis.
• Plant used for snake bites.
• In Brazil, used
as antiasthmatic; also used for scorpion bites.
• Used for tuberculosis.
• In India and Java,
used for asthma and phthisis.
• In India,
grounded leaves used as urolithiatic and diuretic. (36)
• In Nepalese folk
medicine, used for diabetes
• In Mali and some West Aftican countries, aerial parts used for wound healing and treatment of malaria.
Studies
• Anti-diabetic
/ Insulinotropic activity:
A leaf extract study of BS showed a hypoglycemic effect with serum insulin
levels showing a significant rise in treated animals. Results suggest
a pancreatic mechanism for the hypoglycemic response, mediated through
stimulation of synthesis and/or release of insulin from the beta cells
of Langerhans. (1)
• Anti-Oxidant
/ Insulinotropic Activity: BS was found to scavenge
superoxide radicals and nitric oxide. Glutathione-S transferase and
glutathione reductase increase while glutathione peroxidase decreased
after administering the BS extract. Results indicate significant antioxidant
activity in vitro and in vivo. (2)
• Anti-Tumor
/ immunomodulatory activity: Extract of BS showed
immunomodulatory and antitumor activity. (3)
• Hypocholesterolemic:
Study on the water extract of leaves of BS showed significant hypocholesterolemic
effect. (4) Study evaluated various extracts for hypocholesterolemic activity on normal and hypercholesterolemic rats. Only chloroform and methanol extracts produced a rise in HDL (p<0.001 at mg/kg) and a significant fall in cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL and LDL. (32)
• Apoptotic
/ Anti-tumor Effect: Study results suggest that regulation
of proinflammatory cytokine production by tumor cells, tumor-associated
macrophages, altered inducible NO synthase and RNA expressions by BS
methanol extract induces apoptosis in B16F-10 melanoma cells. (5)
• Anti-Inflammatory:
Study showed all the extracts except the methanol extract of aerial
parts, exhibited anti-inflammatory activity; maximum inhibition was noted
with the aqueous extracts. (6)
• Immunomodulatory:
Study of the effect of BS on cell-mediated immune response in normal
and Erlich ascites tumor bearing mice showed immunomodulatory property
of Biophytum sensitivum.
(8)
• Anti-Metastatic / Cytokine and Immunomodulatory Activity: Study showed B. sensitivum treatment could alter proinflammatory cytokine production and inhibit the activation and nuclear translocation of transcription factors in B16F-10 melanoma cells.
(9)
• Antibacterial: In a study of leaf extracts against human pathogenic bacterial strains (B subtilis, Staph aureus, Strep pneumonia, K pneumonia, S typhi, P vulgaris and E coli), all the extracts showed various levels of activity comparable with standard antibiotics. (10)
• Antidiabetic / Leaves: Study of aqueous solutions of BS leaf extract suggests a promising effect on STZ-nicotinamide-induced diabetes.
(11) Study investigated an aqueous solution of B. sensitivum leaf extract on normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats. Results showed significant reduction of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels, increase in hexokinase activity, decreased glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activities in diabetic rats. (17)
• Anti-Tumor: Study of aqueous extract of B. sensitivum against Dalton's Ascitic Lymphoma-bearing Swiss albino mice exhibited significant antitumor activity.
(12)
• Hypotensive / Calcium Antagonistic Activity: Study showed the hypotensive effect of Biophytum petersianum which may result from inhibition of calcium influx via both voltage and receptor operated channels.
(13)
• Antimetastatic Effects: Study showed B. sensitivum exhibits antimetastatic effects through inhibition of invasion and motility. Results suggest that matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), prolyl hydroxylase, lysyl oxidase, nm23, ERKs, VEGF, STAT, and proinflammatory cytokines are critical regulators of the B sensitivum-mediated antimetastatic effect.
(15)
• Hypoglycemic / Leaf Extract: Study of leaf extract showed significant hypoglycemic effect, possibly due to pancreatic beta-cell stimulating action. (18)
• Flavonoids / Antioxidant: Study of methanolic extract yielded flavonoids. Antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power ability. Results showed dose dependent reducing capabilities. (19)
• Chromosomal Aberrations in Diabetic Rats / Antioxidant: Chromosomal analysis showed that diabetic rats had significantly increased chromosomal aberrations compared to normal healthy controls. Animals treated with methanolic extracts showed significant improvements in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations, attributed to the induction of flavonoids by the methanol extracts. (20)
• Radioprotective / Immunomodulatory: Study in Swiss albino mice showed radioprotective activity probably through generation of free radical scavenging during whole-body radiation exposure and may protect mice from radiation induced hemopoietic damage through immunomodulation as well as sequential induction of IL-1ß, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IFN-y.
(22)
Study evaluated the radioprotective effect of BS methanol extract using an invivo model of mice exposed to whole body gamma irradiation (6y/animal). (37)
• Wound Healing: Study a methanolic extract for wound healing efficacy in excision wound models i n Wistar albino rats. Results showed wound healing activity with higher rate of wound contraction, increased level of hydroxyproline, hexosamine content, super dismutase, ascorbic acid and decreased lipid peroxidation. Biochemical parameters and histopathological studies showed re-epithelialization potential, improved antioxidant enzyme activity, and higher collagen cross-linker properties of the test drug.
(23)
• Antihyperglycemic: Study evaluated the antihyperglycemic activity of various extracts of B. sensitivum
in albino Wistar rats with alloxan-induced diabetes. The maximum hypoglycemic effect was only only with a dose of 200 mg/kbw of a methanol extract. Glibenclamide was used as standard drug.
(24)
• Antidiabetic Tablet Formulation / Flavonoid Content: Study in STZ induced diabetic rats evaluated an optimized tablet formulation for dried whole plant methanolic extract for antidiabetic activity on the basis of total flavonoid content.
Results suggest the potential of economical and relatively non-toxic, non-hazardous natural remedies of plant origin as adjunct to antidiabetic therapy.(25)
• Anti-Ulcer / Leaves: Study evaluated leaves of Biophytum sensitivum for anti-ulcer activity on experimental aspirin induced ulcers in Wistar albino rats. Results showed significant (p<0.01) anti-ulcer activity. Omeprazole was used as standard. LD50 cut off valuate was 5000 mg/kbw. The anti-ulcer activity was attributed to the tannin content.
(26)
• Anticonvulsant / Leaves: Study evaluated the anticonvulsant activity of an ethanolic extract of Biophytum sensitivum leaves in albino mice using MES and PTZ models. Results showed significant and dose-dependent reduction of duration of tonic hind limb extension in both experimental models and also delayed the onset of tonic-conic convulsions induced by PTZ in mice. Results suggest BS leaf extract may be beneficial in both tonic clonic ad absence seizures. (28)
• Modulating Effect on Ulcerative Colitis / Aerial Parts: Study evaluated the effect of a methanol extract of aerial parts on a murine model of ulcerative colitis. Results showed inhibition of colitis as evidenced by lowering of macroscopic score and significant reduction in LDH and MPO, together with significant reduction in mucosal content of lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide (NO). Treatment was able to inhibit the activation and translocation of transcription factors, nuclear factor (NF)-kB subunits (p65/p50). (29)
• Antioxidant / Cytotoxicity / Larvicidal: Study evaluated the antioxidant, cytotoxicity, and larvicidal potentials of B. sensitivum. A methanolic extract showed maximum extractable total phenolics (1299.84 ± 215.79 mg GAE/g), with the acetone extract showing the best free radical scavenging activity (IC50 of 30.12 µg/ml). The methanol extract showed highest larval mortality against Culex quinquefasciatus and the most effective brine shrimp mortality (90%). (30)
• Anti-Angiogenic: Study evaluated the anti-angiogenic effect of B. sensitivum in in-vivo and in-vitro models. Results showed anti-angiogenic activity probably exerted through its cytokine modulation activity and inhibitory activity against VEGF mRNA expression. (31)
• Anthelmintic / Leaves and Stems: Study evaluated various extracts of B. sensitivum leaves and stems for anthelmintic activity against Indian earthworm Pheretima posthuma. Ethyl acetate extract of leaves showed significant activity attributed to biflavonoids and tannins. (33)
• Cytotoxicity: Study of methanolic callus extracts of B. sensitivum showed significant and remarkable cytotoxic activity suggesting a potential for selection for further cell line assay or in vivo anticancer activity. (34)
• Amentoflavone / Apoptosis of B16F-10 Melanoma Cells: Study of evaluated the effect of amentoflavone, a biflavanoid isolated from B. sensitivum, on cell cycling distribution and apoptosis in B16F-10 melanoma cells. Results showed amentoflavone can induce apoptosis via inhibition of progression of cells from G0/G12 to S phase and regulating genes involved in cell cycle regulation and apoptotic intrinsic pathways. (35)
Study showed that amentoflavone stimulates apoptosis by regulating bcl-2, Caspase-3 and p64 genes in B16F- 10 melanoma cells and regulates nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines production in B16F-10 cells, TAMs and peritoneal macrophages. (43)
• Antiurolithiatic / Whole Plant: Study evaluated the antiurolithiatic and antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of whole plant of B. sensitivum on ethylene-glycol (EG)-induced urolithiasis in Wistar albino rats. Co-administration of the extract exhibited protective effect against EG-induced proteinuria, hypercalciuria, hypomagnesuria, hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. EEBS-treated rats significantly attenuated the the aberrations in antioxidant enzymes activity kidney weight, urine output and urine pH compared to toxic control animals. Results confirmed the usefulness of B. sensitivum as an antiurolithic and antioxidant agent. (36)
• Chemoprotective against Cyclophosphamaide Induced Toxicity:
Study evaluated an alcoholic extract of Biophytum sensitivum was studied against cyclophosphamide (CTX) induced toxicity intraperitoneal administered in mice. Results suggested chemopreventive effects as evidenced by significantly reversal of reduction of GSH in liver and intestinal mucosa, amelioration of of changes in serum and liver ALP, GP1 and lipid peroxidation, histopthological improvement in histological damage, , reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, among others. (38)
• Neuroprotective / MPTP-Induced Parkinsonism: Study evaluated
Biophytum sensitivum for anti-parkinsonism effects in MPTP (Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine)-induced Parkinsonism in mice. Results showed the ethanolic extract of B. sensitivum at doses of 500 mg produced significant anxiolytic effect, which was attributed to possible interaction with GABAergic transmission as diazepam. In the paradigm of short-term memory, B. sensitivum extract produces effects in passive avoidance acquisition and memory retrieval. The results of behavioral tests are comparable with other studies done on different parkinsonian animal models induced by MTTP. It is hypothesized antioxidants are neuroprotective in PD by preventing neuronal death caused by intracellular free radicals. The improvement in behavioral alterations may be due to phytochemicals like L-dopa, polyphenols and flavonoids.
Results suggest BS attenuates MTTP-induced cognitive and behavioral impairments in the mouse model of PD. (39)
• Anttiurolithiasis / Calcium Oxalate: Study evaluated the antiurolithiatic effect of
standardized methanolic extract of B. sensitivum against calcium oxalate urolithiasis in rats. Cystone was used as reference standard drug. Supplementation with the DS extract significantly prevented change in the urinary excretion of calcium oxalate, phosphate, total protein, uric acid, magnesium and citrate. The supplement prevented elevation of serum creatinine, uric acid, and BUN levels. Increased calcium, oxalate, and phosphate levels in the kidneys of lithiatic control rats were significantly reduced by MBS supplementation. The supplementation caused a significant decrease in the lipid peroxidation of kidney tissue. However, Cystone was more effective than MBS in alleviating the urolithiasis. (40)
• Antiurolithiatic / Zinc Disc Implantation Induced Urolithiasis: Study evaluated the antiurolithiatic activity of standardized methanolic extract of whole plant of B. sensitivum in rats with urolithiasis induced y surgical implantation of zinc disc in the urinary bladders. Supplementation with MBS caused significant improvement of glomerular filtration rate and protein excretion and prevented increase in levels of serum creatinine and BUN. The MBS also reduced formation of deposition around the implanted zinc disc. Higher doses were more effective. Possible mechanism of effect was attributed collectively to diuretic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant. (41)
• Nephroprotective / Antiurolithic: Study evaluated the nephroprotective and antiurolithiatic activities of ethanol extract of whole plant of B. sensitivum in various experimental models including gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity, cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and ethylene-glycol induced urolithiasis in rats. showed the whole plant of Biophytum sensitivum used alone or in combination with other herbal or synthetic drugs may have promising nephroprotective and antiurolithiatic effects.
(see constituents above (44)
• Antifungal / Antioxidant / Larvicidal / Root and Shoot: Study evaluated the aqueous and acetone extracts of root and shoot for antioxidant, antifungal and larvicidal activities. The acetone root extract exhibited significant antifungal activity against A. flavus. The shoot extract was significantly larvicidal against 3rd and 4th mosquito larval stages, and also exhibited exhibited antioxidant activity on DPPH assay. The larvicidal activity of the shoot extract presents potential for the biologic control of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases and an alternative to synthetic insecticides with pollution and toxic side effects. (45)
• Nephroprotective / Gentamicin Toxicity / : Study evaluated the nephroprotective activity of various extracts of B. sensitivum against gentamicin-induced toxicity in Wistar albino rats.
Methanol and aqueous extracts exhibited nephroprotective activity as evidenced by reduction of elevated creatinine and BUN, and restoration of histopathological changes to normal. (46)
• Quinoline / Anticancer / Liver and Cervical Cancer Receptors: Study presumes that the Quinoline compound elucidated from the Medicinal Plant Biophytum sensitivum interact with cancer receptors and demonstrated as a potent inhibitor for the liver and cervical cancer receptors. Thus the quinoline lead was proposed and prescribed as a promising drug for the liver and cervical malignancy.
(47)
• Antinociceptive Effect / Leaves: Study evaluated the antinociceptive effect of hydroalcoholic extract of B. sensitivum leaves on male rats assessed by Writhing, Tail-flick and Formalin tests. Results showed antinociceptive effects on both acute and chronic pain models. There was no significant difference between morphine and extract groups in the chronic phase of formalin. The LD50 of the plant extract was 3400 mg/kg. (49)
• Silver Nanoparticles / Antibacterial Dressing / Whole Plant: Study reports on the plant extract mediated ultra-rapid biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using whole plant of Biophytum sensitivum. The synthesized NPs were immobilized in nano-micro dual-porous calcium pectinate scaffolds for wound dressing application. Results showed excellent antibacterial property and exudate uptake capacity while being biocompatible to human cells. (50)
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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