African Journal of Plant Science Vol. 4(12), pp. 503-505, December 2010 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.

org/ajps ISSN 1996-0824 2010 Academic Journals

Short Communication

Monograph of Embelia ribes Burm. f.

M. Ibrahim Khan3, Afzal Ahmed3, M. Akram1*, E. Mohiuddin2, Khan Usmanghani3, Sultan Ayaz3, S. M. Ali Shah4, M. Asif4, Ghazala Shaheen4, Khalil Ahmed4 and Riaz Ur Rehman4
1

Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi, Madinat-al-Hikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi -74600, Pakistan. 2 Department of Surgery and Allied Sciences, Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi, Madinat-alHikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi -74600, Pakistan. 3 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi, Madinat-al-Hikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi -74600, Pakistan. 4 College of Conventional Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy and Alternative Medicine, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Accepted 18 November, 2010

Embelia ribes has been used in Unani medicine as anti-inflammatory and to treat rheumatism besides other ailments. The description, active constituents, pharmacological activity, medical uses and adverse effects of E. ribes are described herewith. Key words: Embelia ribes, chemical constituents, medical uses. INTRODUCTION Nomenclature of Embelia ribes Burm. f. Latin name: English name: Botanical name: Hindi name: Family: Part used: Description E. ribes Burm (Myrsinaceae), commonly known as Baobarang, is a large woody climbing shrub and is widely distributed throughout Pakistan and India. It is highly esteemed in Unani system of medicine as a powerful anthelmintic. E. ribes is also reported to have antifertility action. Embelin and its derivatives have analgesic property. The plant is used as an anti-inflammatory drug to relieve rheumatism and fever (Figure 1). The fruit Embelia ribes False Pepper, False Black Pepper Embelia ribesBurm.f. Baberang, Vayvidang Myrsinaceae Berries, Leaves and Root-bar cures tumors, ascites, bronchitis, jaundice and mental disorders (Figure 2). Bhandari et al. (2007) have reported the antidiabetic, antidyslipidemic and antioxidant activity of E. ribes Burm in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats, using gliclazide as the positive control drug. Recently, Bhandari et al. (2007) have reported the cardioprotective activity of the aqueous extract of E. ribes in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in albino rats (Hordegen et al., 2006; Gupta et al., 1989). Active constituents Embelin, 2,5-dihydroxy-3-undecyl-p-benzoquinone, (Figure 3) is the bioactive molecule in the berries of E. ribes and its various pharmacological and medicinal properties have been investigated. The plant contains quercitol and fatty ingredients; an alkaloid, christembine, a resinoid, tannins and minute quantities of a volatile oil. Embelin occurs in golden yellow needles insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol, chloroform and benzene. It is reported to be effective against tapeworm but not against roundworm or hookworm. Embelin dyes silk and wool from an alcoholic solution. The dark colored fatty oil is reported to be similar to linseed and rapeseed oil in its

*Corresponding author. E-mail: makram_0451@hotmail.com. Tel: 92-021-6440083. Fax: 92-021-6440079.

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properties (Zutshi et al., 1989). Pharmacological actions Clinical studies were conducted with the alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the berries of E. ribes, obtained by percolation method, on 40 children infected by ascarides. The alcoholic extract was found very effective in the treatment of 80% of the cases while the aqueous extract cured 55% cases, rendering the stools free from ova. The worms were expelled from the stools. No purging was required. No evidence of toxicity was observed during and after the treatment. It is a wonderful herb in worms infestation. It has the anti bacterial and antiprotozoal properties (Kapoor et al., 1983). Pancreatic -cells protection by E. ribes In experimental diabetes, E. ribes displays its antioxidant potential and protection of pancreatic -cells. Total glutathione activity was reduced by 69.13% in pancreatic tissue of diabetic rats as compared to normal control animals. The levels were significantly (P < 0.01) increased with ethanolic extract of E. ribes (in a dose of 200 mg/kg) (Bhandari et al., 2007). Wound healing activity of embelin isolated from the ethanol extract of leaves of E. ribes Burm. Ethanol extract of the leaves of Embelia ribes Burm. and its isolated quinone compound embelin were screened for wound healing activity by excision, incision and dead space wound models on Swiss Albino Rats. Significant wound healing activity was observed in both ethanol crude extract (30 mg/ml) and the constituent treated groups (Xu et al., 2005). Medical uses E. ribes is recommended as having anthelmintic, alterative, tonic, carminative, stomachic and anthelmintic properties. It is useful in intestinal worms, dyspepsia, and skin diseases. E. ribes has numerous traditional medicinal uses. Some of its many uses are: as an anthelmintic, as a diuretic, as a carminative and as a contraceptive. Studies on this plant can be described under three areas - its antifertility effect, antioestrogenic action and as an anthelmintic agent. The powdered fruit administered orally to female rats in different doses prolonged the oestrus phase of the oestrous cycle and inhibited the fertility in 60% animals. Petroleum and methanol extracts prevented pregnancy by influencing the oestrous cycle in 75% of the test females. Benzene extract had a 51%

Figure 1. Embelia ribes fruit.

Figure 2. Embelia ribes plant.

Figure 3. Structure of Embelin.

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antifertility efficacy and chloroform extract 37%. Purified embelin, isolated from the plant showed no anti-fertility effect. Anti-implantation effect was seen 100% in albino rats given 10 mg/kg embelin, and also in rabbits. Its antioestrogenic effect has been suggested experimentally. Experimental study on its anthelmintic action traditionally postulated, is reported. Alcoholic extract was stated to be effective in 80% infestation by Ascaris lumbricoides. It is used mainly in helminthiasis, and antifungal agent in ringworm, and in other chronic dermatoses. The compound has been reported to induce sterility in mice, rats and dogs. It is a potential male antifertility agent. Spermatogenesis is impaired and sperm count reduced to the level of infertility. The antispermatogenic changes are found to be reversible without any toxic side effects. Significant normalization of all these processes is achieved after cessation of drug treatment. Embelin and its 2,5-isobutylmine salts have been reported to possess anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma formation (Kumara et al., 2007). Adverse effect Visual deficits and retinotoxicity caused by the naturally occurring anthelmintics, E. ribes The naturally occurring anthelmintics, E. ribes have been reported to possibly cause optic atrophy among the Ethiopian population. In this study, we found retinal pathology and defects in visual behavior in chicks treated with E. ribes or embelin, a crystalline extract of E. ribes (Kumara et al., 2007).

REFERENCES Bhandari U, Jain N, Pillai KK (2007). Further studies on antioxidant potential and protection of pancreatic -cells by Embelia ribes in Experimental diabetes. Exp. Diab. Res.1-6. Gupta S, Sanyal SN, Kanwar U (1989). Antispermatogenic effect of embelin, a plant enzoquinone, on male albino rats in vivo and in vitro. Contraception, 39: 307-320. Hordegen P, Cabaret J, Hertzberg H, Langhans W, Maurer V (2006). In vitro screening of six anthelmintic plant products against larval Haemonchus contortus with a modified methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium reduction assay. J. Ethnopharmacol., 108: 85-89. Kapoor VK, Chawla AS, Kumar M, Kumar P (1983). Anti-inflammatory agent in Indian Laboratories. Indian Drugs. 30:481-488. Kumara SHM, Krishna V, Shankarmurthy K, Abdul RB, Mankani KL, Mahadevan KM, Harish BG, Raja NH (2007). Wound healing activity of embelin isolated from the ethanol extract of leaves of Embelia ribes Burm. J. Ethnopharmacol., 7: 529-534. Xu M, Gui J, Fu H, Proksch P, Lin W, Li M (2005). Embelin derivatives and their anticancer activity through microtubule disassembly. Planta Med., 71: 944-948. Zutshi U, Johri RK, Atal CK (1989). Possible interaction of potassium embelate: A putative analgesic agent, with opiate receptors. Indian J. Exp. Biol., 27: 656-657.