Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. (Aristolochiaceae)

Abstract

A small glabrous shrub or a perennial herb, that grows in India and found in Africa, especially the Sahel region from Mali to northern Nigeria, tropical East Africa, and in Saudi Arabia. All parts of the plant are extremely bitter, purgative, emmenagogue, anthelmintic, alterative and antiperiodic. Leaves are administered with castor oil as a remedy for colic, and the juice of fresh leaves or powder of dried leaves is a favorite application for sores, obstinate itch, and to destroy maggots. Root and leaves yield a thick yellowish juice, which is mixed with boiled milk and used in cases of syphilis; and combined with opium it is used for gonorrhea with great success. The plant increases or induces uterine contractions, and hence used in difficult labor, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea. Its anthelmintic property is also doubtless, and in Africa it is mostly used in veterinary practice. It is indigenous to central Sudan, and medicinally used for its analgesic and diuretic effects, treatment of tumors, malaria and/or fevers; other uses in Sudanese folk medicine include, leaves for the treatment of malaria, and the roots as anti-inflammatory, and for scorpion stings. In Nigeria, dried leaves infusion is used as anthelmintic; freshly bruised leaves mixed with castor -oil are topically used on pimples, and roots mixed with lime juice are taken for snakebite and scorpion stings. A nauseous volatile substance, an alkaloid and a large quantity of salts especially potassium chloride have been reported from the plant. Aristolochic acid, which is a nephrotoxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic substance, has been isolated from roots and stem with yield of 0.01%. From leaves and fruits, ceryl alcohol, β-sitosterol, aristolochic acid and potassium chloride have been isolated. Ethanol extract of shade-dried leaves has been reported to have significantly increased wound healing, and levels of antioxidant enzymes, SOD and CAT, in granuloma tissue.