INTRODUCTION:

Sterculia foetida is a large, straight umbrella shaped spreading decidious tree belonging to the family Sterculiaceae. It is also called as Java olive, Poon tree, Wild almond, Hazel Sterculia and Sterculia nut. In India it is known as Jangli badam (Hindhi), Gorapu badam (Tamil). It was first described in the year 1753 by Carolus Linnaeus. The origin of the name Sterculia genus comes from the Roman God, Sterquilinus, who was the God of fertilizer or manure. Sterculia foetida seeds can be eaten raw or roasted, so their usage is not harmful to human and other animals.

TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION²

Kingdom :Plantae

Sub Kingdom :Tracheophyta

Division :Mangoliophyta

Class :Magnoliopsida

Sub class :Dilleniidae

Order :Malvales

Family :Sterculiaceae

Genus :Sterculia

Species :foetida

Common names:

Java Olive, Peon, Poon tree, Wild Indian Almond, Sterculia nut.

Vernacular names:³

Bengali-Jungli Badam, Hindhi-Jangli Badam, Kannada-Bhatala Penari, Konkani-Kuvem ruk, Malayalam-Pinar, Marathi-Punava, Tamil-Kutiraippitukkan, Telugu-Adavibadamu, Sanskrit-Putidaru.

Habit and Habitat:

It is a large, straight, decidious tree, growing to 40m height, it is abundant in low lands, dry wood lands, throughout East Asia-India, Sri-Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. It is found at elevations up to 1500m.

Morphology:^3,4

Leaves:

Leaves are crowded at the ends of branchlets, digitate, with 7-9 leaflets, leaflets are elliptical lanceolate, acuminate, 10-17cm long, petioluled, with unpleasant smell, petiole 12.5-23cm long. Leaves consists of glucuronyl derivatvies of procyanidin, scutellarein and luteolin and also consists of taraxerol, n-otacosanol and beta-sitosterol

Fig. No. 1

Fig. No. 2

Flowers:

Flowers are numerous pannicles, subterminal, 10-15cm long, yellow, unisexual, with male and female flowers on separate trees, calyx are dull, orange coloured, 1-1.3cm long.

Fig. No. 3

Seed:

Seeds are numerous ovoid-oblong, black with a small yellow rudimentary at the base. It consists of cyclopropene fatty acids such as Sterculic acid and Malvalic acids shows effective against carcinogenic and co-carcinogenic activities.

Fig. No. 4

Fig. No. 5

Bark:

The bark of young is smooth and grey and the old bark is dark brown and rough. Bark has brown spot and faintly ridged. Thickness of the bark is about 25-30mm ( 2.5-3cm ). Bark is more fibrous in nature.

Fig. No. 6

Root:

Roots are thick, strong in nature and appears brown in colour. It consists of leucoanthocyanidin-3-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, quercetin and rhamnoside.

Traditional Uses:^{5, 6}

Traditionally Sterculia foetida Linn. is found to have important medicinal values. Mostly all the parts of the plant is useful for treating various disease.

Leaves-Decoction of leaves is used for difficult labour, as aperient, diuretic, abortifacient and used to treat suppuratives cutaneous eruptions. Fresh leaf juice is used as insect repellent.

Fruit- Decoction of fruit is mucilaginous and used as astringent, in the treatment of gonorrhea and diarrhea.

Bark-Decoction of bark is used in the treatment of dropsy and rheumatism, as aperient, diaphoretic and diuretic.

Seed and Seed oil-Kernels (seed) which are edible when roasted and when eaten raw it shows laxative effect. Seed oil is used internally and externally for the skin disease. The wood is boiled with seed oil, used externally in rheumatism.

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL REVIEW:

Taxonomic Significance of Petiole Anatomy of Sterculiaceous Species:⁷

Transverse section of petioles of Sterculia foetida showed collateral and open vascular bundle. The shape of vascular bundles are circular in shape. It consists of 10-11 vascular bundles and are circularly arranged. The two accessory are present at the proximal part, 2-3 accessory vascular bundles are present towards periphery of pith or at the centre, sclerenchymatous patches of bundle sheath are present, mucilage cavities are present in few, random, within pith and cortex. Uniform arrangement of xylem and phloem are present.

Microscopy of petiole

Fig. No. 7

Shoot Regeneration from Shoot tip Explants of Sterculia foetida Linn:⁸

Shoot tip regeneration were derived from the seedlings of Sterculia foetida using MS medium with supplementation of various growth regulators and its combinations. Some of the growth regulators are cytokinins like N⁶-benzylaminopurine (BAP), Kinetin (KN), thidiazuron (TDZ) and auxins like indole acetic acid (IAA), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and indole butyric acid (IBA). Seedlings were raised like shoot tip, epicotyl and hypocotyl. For shoot elongation of regenerated shoots were placed on another MS medium containing IAA or IBA or NAA. The regenerated shoots were isolated and placed on root inducing medium for the formations of roots from the basal end of the micro shoots. Then the plants are acclimatized and planted in the fields.

PHYTOCHEMICAL REVIEW:

The different active phytochemical constituents have been found to possess a wide range of activities, which may help in the protection against incurable diseases. The recent research on the leaves reported the presence of flavonoids, fatty acids, phenols and triterpenoids.

1. Fatty acids:^{9, 10}

Fatty acids are isolated from the seeds and seed oil of Sterculia foetida Linn. This fatty acids have found to possess antioxidant activity, antibiotic activity, anti-fungal, insecticide and anti-tumour activity. The fatty acids found in the oil were Tetradecanonic acid (1.65%), Hexadecanoic acid (11.87%), Octanoic acid (Sterculic acid) (6.76%), 9-10-methylene-heptadec-9-enoate (Malvalic acid).

Structure of compounds:

2. Flavonoids:¹¹

From the leaves of Sterculia foetida Linn. flavonoids such as 5,7,8-tetrahydroxy-4-methoxy flavone-8-O-beta-D-glucoside, 5,7,8-tetrahydroxy-4-methoxyflavone-7-O-beta-D-glucoside, puerarin and 5,7,8-tetrahydroxy-4-methoxyflavone have been isolated.

3. GC-MS Analysis of Sterculia foetida Linn., seed oil:¹²

Analysis of fatty acid composition in fixed oil extracted from the Sterculia foetida Linn. seed was done with help of GC-MS. The oil consists of 8 fatty acids whose carbon chain length, degree and position of unsaturation were determined by characteristic ionisation and fragmentation of FAME from GC-MS modes.

GC-MS Analysis. Table No. 1

S.NO	NAME OF THE COMPOUND	PERCENTAGE
1.	Tetradecanoic acid (myristic acid)	1.646%
2.	Hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid)	11.86%
3.	Hexanedioic acid	8.56%
4.	9-octadecanoic acid (oleic acid)	20.50%
5.	7,10-0ctadecanoic acid (linoleic acid)	12.86%
6.	1-Azuleneethanol	4.22%
7.	Heptadecanoic acid (malvalic acid)	2.28%
8.	8-(2-Octacyclopropen-1-yl) 0ctanoic acid (Sterculic acid)	6.76%

PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES:

1. Antidiabetic activity:¹³

The antidiabetic activity and antihyperlipidemic activity have been evaluated in the methanolic extract of leaves of Sterculia foetida Wistar albino rats. Glibenclamide used as standard. The extract was found to lower the blood glucose level, cholesterol and triglycerides levels. Hence it is reported that leaf extract of Sterculia foetida showed significant antidiabetic activity and antihyperlipidemic activity which was comparable with that of the standard.

2. Anticonvulsant effect:¹⁴

The ethanolic extract of Sterculia foetida leaves was reported to possess the anticonvulsant activity in pentylenetetrazole and maximal electric shock induced convulsions in albino rats. It exhibited significant anti-convulsant effect with high dose of 500mg/kg, decreases the duration of tonic clonic seizures, recovery time (131.2-5.02) and increases the percentage of inhibition of convulsions (68.09%).

3. Antidermatophytic Activity:¹⁵

The in vitro antidermatophytic activity of petroleum ether and methanolic extract of seeds of Sterculia foetida were evaluated by Agar well diffusion method. The maximum antidermatophytic activity was found in methanolic extract when compared with petroleum ether extract against C. albicans, T. rubrum, M. gypseum, and T. tonsurans. It exhibited maximum antibacterial activity against E. coli and B. subtilis with streptomycin as standard. Hence, Sterculia foetida Linn., seed extract was found to possess antidermatophytic and antibacterial activity.

4. Antioxidant Activity:¹⁶

The in vitro antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of leaves of Sterculia foetida was evaluated by free radical scavenging, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide radical inhibition, the inhibition of oxidation of beta-carotene, superoxide anion radical scavenging inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity methods. Sterculia foetida was found to act as a primary and secondary antioxidants. It scavenges free radicals and inhibit lipid peroxidation and have the beneficial effect on prevention of disease. The methanolic extract showed significant antioxidant activity when compared to the standard drug.

5. Antimicrobial Activity:¹⁷

The fruit extract of Sterculia foetida Linn. was developed in to silver nanoparticles and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. Silver nanoparticles showed antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida and Klebsiella pneumonia.

6. CNS Depressant /Anti-Inflammatory Activity:¹⁸

Alcoholic extract of leaves of Sterculia foetida showed significant anti-inflammatory activity on various animal models. The extract exhibit significant anti-inflammatory activity in the acute carrageenan induced rat paw edema and the chronic granuloma pouch models. It potentiate the barbital sodium and pentobarbitone induced sleeping time. Hence, the extract was found to possess CNS depressant and anti-inflammatory activity.

7. Anti-Obesity Activity:¹⁹

The oil extracted from the seeds of Sterculia foetida reduces belly fat and protected against obesity-related problems. The oil contains fatty acids which inhibit the action of an enzyme associated with insulin resistance, which indirectly reduce fats in the belly. It was reported to be potential herb for developing a natural nutritional supplement.

8. Toxic and Anti-feedant activity:²⁰

Acetone extract of seeds of Sterculia foetida Linn. was studied for anti-feedant activity. Evaluation of anti-feedant and toxicity activity of crude extract of Sterculia foetida Linn. against the Achaea janata L., Spathodea litura F., caterpillar and semilooper was carried out. The results were reported that the seed extract of Sterculia foetida Linn. acts as a potential insecticide to the S. litura F. and A. janata L.

9. Anti-fertility activity:²¹

Delay of sexual maturity of the female rat is treated by Sterculia foetida oil. The oil contains sterculic acid which improves the delayed opening of vagina and regularize the estrous cycle by degeneration of the membrane covering the vagina and by lengthening of estrous cycle according to the vaginal smear. Sterculia foetida oil was reported to good Anti-fertility activity.

10. Bronchodilator activity:²²

Aqueous extract of stem bark of Sterculia foetida Linn., having the bronchial smooth muscles relaxant property. Preliminary studies of stem bark extract of Sterculia foetida reported that it stimulates the bronchial smooth muscles beta adrenoceptor, with an inhibitory effect on bronchoconstrictor like histamine, etc. It was found that stem bark extract has antiasthmatic effect.

11. Mitogenic activity:²³

Sterculic acid was isolated from Sterculia foetida oil, it was found to have mitogenic effect on the pancreas of male Sprauge Dawely rats. This mitogenic effect was due to the presence of cyclopropenoid fatty acids of Sterculia foetida Linn.

PHARMACEUTICAL REVIEW:

1. Bio-disel:²⁴

From Sterculia foetida oil a biodisel was prepared by using sodium hydroxide as catalyst and it is evaluated for physico-chemical properties. The properties were confirmed with other oils and reported to Sterculia foetida Linn., is one of the non-edible feed stocks for biodisel production.

2. Sterculia foetida Linn. Gum as Natural Mucoadhesive Polymer:²⁵

A new in-situ mucoadhesive nasal gel formulation had developed using a natural mucoadhesive polymer obtained from bark of Sterculia foetida Linn. The reported successfully to use as a mucoadhesive natural polymer was developed from Sterculia foetida gum. It is also used for the treatment or management of migraine for long period of time by sustaining the drug release.

3. Evaluation of Gum as Controlled Release Excipient:²⁶

Sterculia foetida gum (SFG) is obtained from the gummy exudates of stem bark of Sterculia foetida Linn. Various experimental parameters were evaluated such as characterization of SFG, compression of tablets, swelling studies, effect of SFG particle size, effect of SFG concentrations, effect of fillers, In vitro release testing, effect of pH of dissolution media, effect of rotational speed, differential scabbing calorimetry (DSC), kinetic treatment, comparison of SFG with HPMC K15M. Reported to has greater influence on release rate of drug from SFG matrix due to higher concentrations of gum and rotational speed. It also proved to be better than HPMC K15 polymer in controlling the drug release.

4. Herbal Siddha Formulation:²⁷

Anticancer and antioxidant potentials of Sengathari Thylum (SKT) a siddha poly herbal formulation which was found to contain, Sterculia foetida Linn., as one of the plant was evaluated by employing MTT assay using SK.MEL 28 cell lines and DPPH free radical scavenging assay. It was significantly found to decreases the tumour cell viability (68.71%, 55.82%) in SK-MEL-28 cells which was treated with 500 and 1000 ug/ml of thylum and having significant antioxidant activity.

CONCLUSION:

In recent years, ethnobotanical and traditional uses of phytoconstituents from plant origin received much attention as they are very effective and safe for human use. Sterculia foetida is a important and widely available plant found throughout India has been used to treat various diseases. Sterculia foetida possessing wide range of phytochemicals almost in every part. It has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory activity, CNS depressant, antifertility activity, mitogenic activity, antimicrobial activity, anti-feedant activity, anti-obesity, antioxidant activity and antidiabetic activity. This review reports the various pharmacological potentials which are explored by various researchers; more biological potentials are still untapped. Hence, further more evaluation needs to be carried out on Sterculia foetida in order to uses for welfare of the mankind.

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Received on 27.09.2015 Modified on 10.10.2015

Res. J. Pharmacognosy & Phytochem. 7(4): Oct-Dec. 2015; Page 239-244

DOI: 10.5958/0975-4385.2015.00037.0