Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies On Wrightia Tinctoria

WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
Ganga et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

SJIF Impact Factor 7.421
Volume 7, Issue 4, 562-585 Review Article ISSN 2278 – 4357
PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON

WRIGHTIA TINCTORIA
Battu Ganga Rao*, Dodda L. N. Rajeswari, Devarakonda Ramadevi and Battu Heera
A.U College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India.
Article Received on ABSTRACT

09 Feb. 2018, Plants are being used from so many years to treat various diseases.
Revised on 01 March 2018,
Accepted on 22 March 2018, Wrightia tinctoria is a small deciduous tree belonging to the family
DOI: 10.20959/wjpps20184-11336 Apocayanaceae. It is distributed in India, Australia, Myanmar, Nepal,
and Timor, Vietnam. Within India, it is found in most of the peninsular
*Corresponding Author and central India except northern and north-eastern states.
Battu Ganga Rao Traditionally, the plant is used to treat seizures, wounds, jaundice,
A.U College of
leukaemia, gynaecological disorders, toothache, headache, dandruff,
Pharmaceutical Sciences,
diarrhoea and skin disorders like psoriasis, eczema, scabies etc. The
Andhra University,
Visakhapatnam, India. phytochemical studies have shown that the presence of alkaloids,
triterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, lipids and carbohydrates.
W.tinctoria showed wide spectrum of pharmacological activities on anti-microbial, anti-
psoriatic, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-helminthic, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory
analgesic, anti-diabetic, diuretic, hepatoprotective and anti-ulcer properties.
KEYWORDS: Wrightia tinctoria, phytochemistry, pharmacological studies.
Abbreviations
WHO - World Health Organisation
MIC - Minimum Inhibitory Concentration
INTRODUCTION
Wrightia tinctoria is a small deciduous tree belonging to the family Apocyanaceae. It is
commonly known as pala indigo plant or dyer’s oleander plant. Wrightia tinctoria R.Br.[1]
have two subspecies. Those are Wrightia tinctoria sub species W. tinctoria and W. tinctoria
rothii. Which is distributed in India, Myanmar, Nepal, Timor, and Vietnam. Within India, it
is found in most of the peninsular and central India except the northern and north-eastern
www.wjpps.com Vol 7, Issue 4, 2018. 562

states. Nerium tinctorium hort. Ex sweet,[2] Nerium tinctorium Roxb. Wrightia lacianata
A.DC and Wrightia timorensis Miq. Are synonymous to Wrightia tinctoria sp. Tinctoria,[3],
Traditionally the plant is used to treat diarrhoea, toothache, headache, jaundice,
gynaecological disorders, piles, ringworm and other skin diseases, the germinated seed of
W.tinctoria in Chhattisgarh (India) is used to traditionally cure jaundice. In south India it is
commonly called as “jaundice alkaloids, triterpenoids, lipids, carbohydrates, steroids,
flavonoids. W. tinctoria showed that the wide hepatoprotective, anti-helminthic, anti-
diarrhoeal, anti-psoriatic, diuretic, anti-cancer, anti-ulcer, analgesic and anti-oxidant
properties. In ayurvedic system the principle of drug action of W.tinctoria is described as
titka, kashaya, rooksha, sita and katu. Traditionally, the oil obtained by soaking W.tinctoria
leaves in coconut oil is used for treating psoriasis. Leaves when chewed alone or with salt
gives relief to toothache and its young stem is used as brush.[6] During headache leaf and stem
bark pastes are applied on the forehead or administered orally.[7] Stem bark paste mixed with
half cup of water is administered twice a day for 2 days for relief from abdominal pain.[7]
W.tinctoria (leaf, bark and seed) is also reported to have aphrodisiac potential and anti-
pyretic activity.[8] The plant is traditionally used to cure breast cancer.[9]
Description of family Apocynaceae[10,11]

Apocynaceae is a family of flowering plants of the gentian order (Gentianales), which
includes more than 415 genera and about 4600 species of trees, shrubs, herbs, stem
succulents and vines. Commonly called the dogbane family.[10] after the American plant
known as the dogbane, Apocynum cannabinum.[11] Members of this family are native to
European, Asian, African, Australian, and American tropics or subtropics, with some
temperate members. The family Asclepiadaceae (not known as Asclepiadoideae) is
considered a subfamily of Apocynaceae. Many of these plants have milky latex, and many
species are poisonous if ingested. They have smooth leaf margins and flowers in clusters
(rarely solitary).[12]
Synonym
 Allamanda verticillate Desf.
 Alstonia oleandrifolia Lodd.
 Nerium Jaspedium Span. Invalid
 Cerium tinctorium Sweet Illegitimate
 Cerium tinctorium Roxb.

 Wrightia lacinata A.DC

 Wrightia timorensia Miq.
 Wrightia tinctoria subsp. tinctoria
Taxonomical classification[4]
Kingdom : Plantae, Angiosperms, Eudicots, Asterids
Order : Gentianales
Family : Apocyanaceae
Genus : Wrightia
Species : tinctoria
Vernacular names[5]
Telugu : Akupala, Amkudu, Chittankudu, Dodda pala chettu, Jedda pala chettu.
Hindi : Indrajava
Sanskrit : Svetakuja, Madhuindrajava, Hayamoraka
Marathi : Gode indrajava
Tamil : Erukkalam, Nilambalai
Kannada : Veppale
Malayalam : Ayyapala, Dantappala
Urdu : Indearjao shireen
Botanical description
Wrightia tinctoria is an ever green tree, which is a medium sized tree and it produces milky
white latex.
Wrightia tinctoria.

Leaves: Leaves are simple with opposite leaf arrangement, petiolate, glands axillary and
Glabrous ovate, obtusely acuminate and are 10-20 cm long and 5cm width. Sometimes
pubescent beneath. Leaf stalks are very short.
Bark: Bark is smooth and yellowish-brown coloured and about 10 mm thick Producing
Milky-white latex.
Inflorescence: Inflorescence is terminal and flowers are white, bisexual, actinomorphic and
hypogynous. Appear in India from March to May, peaking flowers appears flowers appear in
corymb-like cymes, 5-15 cm across, at the end of branches. Flowers have oblong petals
which are rounded at the tip, and are similar to the Flowers of frangipani.[12]
Fruits: Fruiting is in august and fruit is cylindrical, blackish-green speckled with white long
horn like and united at the tip.
Seeds:[12] The seeds are brown and flat with bunch of white hairs at chalazal end.[13] Seed
dispersal is by Wind.
Pollination:[12] Pollination is entemophilous without any direct contact of the biotic factor
With pollen or stigma.[8,10]
Fruits: Fruits are mericarpous in origin, dark green in colour and have paired Pendulous
follicles joined at the tips which may be long upto 50 cm.
Propogation: Propogation can be done by seeds and stem cuttings.[14,15] The wood of
W.tinctoria has uniformly distributed grains and is light in weight. It grows in wide range of
soil types and are found to grow as undergrowth in forest and under various plantations like
oil plantation etc.[16] The karyotype of W.tinctoria (intraspecific polyploidy, disomy) is
2n=20, 22.[17,18] They are found in India, Myanmar, Australia, Tropical Africa, Nepal and
China.[19]
Traditional uses
 Bark and seeds are used to treat flatulence.
 Root bark extract is used orally as an antidote for snakebite.
 Powder of the bark is used for treatment of kidney stones.

 The plant is used in making hair oils as it has anti-dandruff and anti-inflammatory
properties.
 Wrightia tinctoria is the best medicine for Diarrhoea and blood pressure.
 It is used to cure piles by mixing sunthi with decoction of bark of the plant.
 The bark of the plant mixed with cow’s urine and applied on skin, turns to be very
effective.
 Fresh juice of the bark is mixed with cow milk and used to cure urine problems.
 It is used in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and osteoarthritis.
 It is also a good remedy for fever, toothache, constipation and stomach ache.
 The milk of this plant is used to treat tooth gum problems.
Species of Wrightia[20]
 Wrightia angustifolia
 Wrightia annamensia
 Wrightia antidysentrica
 Wrightia arborea
 Wrightia candollei
 Wrightia coccinea
 Wrightia collettii
 Wrightia cunninghamii
 Wrightia demartiniana
 Wrightia dolichocarpa
 Wrightia dubia
 Wrightia flavirosea
 Wrightia hanleyi
 Wrightia indica
 Wrightia karaketii
 Wrightia laevis
 Wrightia lanceolata
 Wrightia lecomtei
 Wrightia natalensis
 Wrightia novobritambica
 Wrightia palawanensis

 Wrightia poomae
 Wrightia puberula
 Wrightia pubenscens
 Wrightia religiosa
 Wrightia saligna
 Wrightia siamensis
 Wrightia sikkimensis
 Wrightia siritiae
 Wrightia tinctoria
 Wrightia tokiae
 Wrightia viridifolia
Past phytochemical studies

S.no Plant part used Compounds isolated Reference
Lupeol, α- and β- amyrin, Indigotin,
Indirubin, tryptanthrin, Isatin, Rutin, β-
[61,63,66,23,24,26,40,51]
1. Leaves sitosterol, Triacontanol, Myristic acid,
Palmitoleic acid, Palmetic acid, Stearic
acid, Behenic acid, Arachidic acid.
Hexadecanoic acid, 15-methyl 2-mercapto-
[41,66,67]
2. Flowers propanoic acid, Pentadecanoic acid, 3-
methyl-3-butanoic acid, Disilanone.
[61,62,63,60,66]
3. Stem Lupeol, Stigmasterol, campesterol
[61,63,66,67]
4. Bark Lupeol, α- and β-amyrin
Lupeol, Chlorogenic acid, Dihydrocanaric
acid, Glycerol, Erythritol, Thritol, D-
galactose, D-mannose, 14 α-methyl
zymosterol, Desmosterol, Clerosterol, 24-
methylene-25-methyl cholesterol, 24-
[61, 62, 63,66, 59, 41,64]
5. Seeds dehydropollinastanol, 24-methylcholesterol,
24-methylene cholesterol, 24-ethyl
cholesterol, 24 ethyl 22 E-
dehydrocholesterol, Isofucosterol,
cholesterol, Palmetic acid, stearic acid,
Behenic acid, Arachidic acid
α- and β-amyrin, Lupeol, Ursolic acid,
Mature [61, 62, 63-66]
6. Oleanolic acid, Isoricinolic acid, β-
seedpods
sitosterol.
Immature α- and β-amyrin, Cycloartenone, [61, 62, 63,66]
7.
seedpods Cycloeucalenol, Wrightial, β-sitosterol

Some isolated compounds
Cycloartenone Cycloeucalenol
Indirubin Indigotin
α-Amyrin β-amyrin

Β-sitosterol Stigmasterol
Oleanolic acid Myristic acid
Palmetic acid Isatin

Rutin Tryptanthrin
Lupeol Wrightial
Ursolic acid Chlorogenic acid

Glycerol Erythritol
Thritol D-Galactose
D-Mannose Campesterol

Desmosterol Clerosterol
Cholesterol Triacontanol
Palmitoleic acid Stearic acid

Behenic acid Arachidic acid
Hexadecanoic acid
Phytochemistry
Extraction of W.tinctoria on Various parts of had been extracted using various solvents in
different succession. Therefore, the biochemical groups detected in the extracts. Alkaloidal
fraction of the bark was separated using TLC. The leaf extracts produced negative results for
alkaloids, fixed oils, coumarins, gums and resins.[26] In another experiment,[21] similar
phytochemical work was carried out in W.tinctoria bark where triterpenes were not identified
in ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol fractions, alkaloids were found to be present in ethanol
fraction and fixed oils reported in petroleum ether fraction. Glycoside was found to be absent
in ethanol extract of W.tinctoria bark,[27] Similar biochemical identification of the functional
groups have been carried out in different studies. The compounds identified in W.tinctoria
belongs to terpenes, flavonoids, sterols, polysaccharides and lipids. Along with the

phytocompounds, W.tinctoria is also found to contain important enzyme. Proteases are

commercially important class of enzymes and the hydrolytic property of the enzyme is
exploited in various biotechnological processes. A serine protease, Wrightin, has been
isolated from the latex of Wrightia tinctoria. The stable thermodynamic properties of
Wrightin make it an economical source of protease for commercial exploitation.[28] The plant
contains Wrightial, a triterpenoid chemical, along with Cycloartenone, Cycloeucalenol, β-
amyrin and β-sitosterol as phytocompounds.
Past pharmacological work

Anti-microbial activity
Various diseases caused by microbes are treated by available drugs. They treated the human
population by the resistance of microorganisms to the available drugs. Wrightia tinctoria is
used for skin disorders in different parts of the country.[32] The terpenoids and flavonoids of
W.tinctoria are found to have anti-microbial property against pathogenic bacteria, fungus,
virus and protozoans has been reviewed below:
Anti-bacterial activity
Activities against Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Micrococcus sp.
and E.coli have been reported. Ranjani et al (2012) showed that Methanol and ethanol
extracts of W.tinctoria leaves were found to have strong inhibitory activity against
Staphylococcus, Bacillus species.[33,34,35] Kyade and vaikos (2011)[43] showed that the anti-
bacterial activity of Wt bark extract at 100 mg/ml was not very broad. Chloroform, acetone
and methanol extracts showed moderate activity against S.typhi, B.subtilis, B.megaterium,
E.coli, P.aeruginosa and M.luteus. None of the extracts showed activity against
K.Planticola.[43] The aqueous and methanol extract of W.tinctoria leaves showed potent anti-
bacterial activity in different studies.[44,45] Ethanol extract of W.tinctoria flower also showed
potent activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria.[41]
Anti-fungal activity
Pityrosporum ovale is a fungi belonging to the family Basidiomytes, which is causing major
cosmetic problem of dandruff. The active constituents in Wrightia tinctoria have shown
significant inhibition against P.ovale and C.albiccans.[42,43] The hexane extract of W.tinctoria
leaves was found to have very good anti-dermatophytic activity against Trichophyton and
Epidermophyton species.[38,44] The chloroform extract of W.tinctoria leaves showed anti-

fungal activity against most of the dermatophytes with MIC in the range of 0.5-4 mg/ml.[44]
The ethanol extract of W.tinctoria leaves was found to inhibit a wide range of fungal genera
viz. Curvularia, Botrytis, Aspergillus was found to have highly significant inhibition against
dermatophytes with extract concentration upto 1000 ppm.[36] Methanol and aqueous extract of
W.tinctoria leaves also found to have effective against Curvularia sp.[39] indirubin is the
major phyto compound from chloroform extract of W.tinctoria leaves and was found to have
anti-fungal activity (MIC 6.25-50 µg/ml) against dermatophytes, non-dermatophytes and
yeast.[44] The aqueous extract of W.tinctoria leaves and seeds were ineffective against
Aspergillus, Mucor and dermatophytic species. Whereas methanol extract was moderately
active against Aspergillus and Mucor species.[40,45] Chloroform and methanol extract of
W.tinctoria woody stem were found to be effective against non-dermatophytic fungi.[37]
Anti-leishmanial activity/ Anti-plasmodial activity

An indole alkaloid of tryptanthrin is naturally found in W.tinctoria leaves had been found to
be active against Leishmania species and Plasmodium falsiparum.[46,47] Various tryptanthrin
derivatives are being used for the drug development against these protozoans.
Anti-viral activity
The methanol extract of the W.tinctoria leaves was found to be have anti-viral activity against
hepatitis C virus using Huh 5.2 cell line (a cell line with a persistent viral replication).[48] The
aqueous leaf extract having flavonoids, particularly isatin and its derivatives found to have
anti-HIV activity by inhibiting HIV-1 integrase enzyme during its 3’ processing and strand
tranfer with IC50 of 1.9 ± 0.5 µg/ml and 1.4 ± 0.3 µg/ml respectively.[49] Hence W.tinctoria
can also be used for the current menace, AIDS.
Anti-psoriatic activity
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder of skin that is characterized by skin redness, itching and
patchy looks. Traditionally, W.tinctoria is used to treat psoriasis, eczema, scabies etc. and
that was clinically proved.[7,53] Hydro-alcoholic extract of W.tinctoria was found to have anti-
psoriatic activity.[51,52] A formulation with trade name RegSor® contains Wrightia tinctoria
and Cocus nucifera as main components for the treatment of psoriasis.[54]
Anti-helminthic activity
Helminths are parasitic worms affecting human beings via contaminated food and water or
find their way into human body through soil. They dependent on their hosts for nutrition and

making them weak and susceptible to other diseases or affect the organ where they placed. In
one of the study when compared to the chloroform extract of W.tinctoria leaves with the
standard drug of piperazine, the chloroform extract of W.tinctoria were found to be more
potent against the Pheretimaposthuma.[55] In another study, methanol and aqueous extracts of
W.tinctoria leaves showed comparable anti-helminthic activity.[56]
Anti-diarrhoeal activity
Ethanol extract of Wrightia tinctoria bark and steroidal alkaloid fraction derived from it were
found to have anti-diarrhoeal activity by showing its effect on prostaglandin inhibition and
decreasing intestinal propulsive / spasmodic movement.[35]
Anti-oxidant activity
Oxidative stress in various diseases causing the damage of cells and tissues. Anti-oxidants are
more important to combat these free radicals in our body. Ethanol extract of W.tinctoria bark
and flowers was found to be effective in reducing Fe3+ to Fe2+ and also have
superoxidebradical scavenging activity which makes it a potential anti-oxidant agent.[41,57,58]
Dihydrocanaric acid found in W.tinctoria is a powerful anti-oxidant agent. The hydro-
alcoholic extract of W.tinctoria leaves showed very good anti-oxidant activity in DPPH, H2O2
and nitric acid scavenging assays.[52]
Anti-cancer activity
The plant used for anti-cancer activity, must have the cytotoxicity activity. Brine shrimp
lethality bioassay is considered as standard assay to evaluating the toxicological profile. It is
used to evaluate the pharmacological profile of natural compounds. The ethanol (70%) and
methanol extract of W.tinctoria leaves exhibited LC50 of 471.604 µg/ml and 517.038 µg/ml
respectively. While aqueous, petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and chloroform
extracts of leaves are non-toxic.[45]
W.tinctoria bark extracted with 90% ethyl alcohol was found to be effective against MCF-7
(human breast cancer cell line) but was only moderately active against HL-60 (human
leukemia cell). Flower extract of W.tinctoria showed toxicity by brine shrimp toxicity
bioassay where the LC50 value was found to be 3.544 µg/ml.[29] The W.tinctoria having the
active constituent of flavonoid shows the cytotoxic activity. Indirubin, (a flavonoid) is a
constituent of W.tinctoria is active against an anti-leukemia medicine in China.[47] This
W.tinctoria can be considered as a more potent anti-cancer plant.

Anti-inflammatoty / immunomodulatory activity

The use of Wrightia to treat anti-arthritic/anti-inflammatory conditions had been reported in
different reviews.
Anti-inflammatory activity in W.tinctoria bark was first reported by Tharkar et al. in 2010[49]
where the aqueous, chloroform and methanol extracts were proposed to inhibit the kinin- and
prostaglandin- like mediators, and were also involved in the suppression of the proliferative
stages of inflammation at the dose of 200 mg/kg. Though the result was found to be
statistically significant, the level of inhibition was less as compared to the standard drug,
diclofenac. The petroleum ether and methanol extracts of the W.tinctoria woody stem at the
doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg caused a significant inhibition on inflammation in the
carrageenan- and histamine- induced rat paw oedema which can be attributed to the presence
and synergistic action of flavonoids, steroids and triterpenoids.[59] The ethyl acetate and
aqueous fraction of W.tinctoria leaves showed significant anti-inflammatory activity.[30]
The bark of W.tinctoria was successively extracted with Petroleum ether, alcohol and
aqueous alcohol. The Petroleum ether and alcohol extracts showed certain
immunomodulatory activity by rat paw oedema test and macrophage clearance phagocytic
index. Whereas the aqueous alcohol extract didn’t possess any immunomodulatory
activity.[50] The W.tinctoria possess both immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity.
Therefore, W.tinctoria may be a potential for skin problems at an earlier stage of infection.
CNS Activity
The methanol extract of W.tinctoria leaves showed modulatory role in the expression level of
serotonin, nor-epinephrine and dopamine in brain, which may be particularly useful to
combat anxiety and depression.[51] W.tinctoria had been explored for CNS activity in a study
by Bigoniya and Rana[21] and they found that the 70% ethanol extract of W.tinctoria bark had
no effect on CNS up to a concentration of 1000 mg/kg in albino rats. However, Isatin, one of
the compound isolated from W.tinctoria leaves, and its derivatives are known to possess anti-
convulsant activity.[52,53] Owing to its traditional usage for treating convulsions, more work
on W.tinctoria is required to understand the pharmacological activity of this plant in
connection to Central Nervous System.

Anti-nociceptive/Anti-analgesic activity
Wrightia tinctoria bark was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing test, in which
methanol extract showed to have Anti-nociceptive activity comparable to acetyl salicyclic
acid. More work is needed to know about the active compounds responsible for the
activity.[20] The ethanol extract of bark showed Anti-nociceptive effect and moderate
analgesic effect against thermal and chemical stimuli but not mechanical stimulus, which
may be due to the presence of steroids.[21] The study also concluded that W.tinctoria didn’t
have any sedative effects. Ethyl acetate fraction of W.tinctoria leaves showed analgesic
activity and was found to be effective in inhibiting both centrally and peripherally acting pain
mechanisms.[30]
Anti-diabetic activity
Streptozotocin induced assay in albino Wister rats were used to analyze the anti-diabetic
activity of the plant. Chloroform extract of W.tinctoria leaves significantly reduced the blood
glucose level at the dose of 200 mg/kg and was comparable to the action of known drug,
glibenclamide.[45] W.tinctoria exhibited hypoglycemic activity at 250 mg/kg but the mode of
action is unknown,[54] Ashok Raj et al.[55] reported that the petroleum ether extract of
W.tinctoria leaves exhibited hypocholersterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic effects which is
possibly modulated via some unknown extra pancreatic mechanism and they concluded that
the petroleum ether leaf extract not only lowered the blood glucose level at 400 mg/kg but
also modulated the blood lipid abnormalities which is a secondary complication arising out of
diabetes thereby lowering the cardiovascular risk, thus may have significant role in
combating diabetes mellitus. Wrightia tinctoria bark was also found to possess alpha-
glycosidase inhibitory activity at 1500 µg/ml which can be further investigated for
controlling blood glucose level in diabetic patients.[43]
Diuretic activity
Aqueous and alcohol extracts of W.tinctoria leaves were found to be significantly and
comparably active in increasing the urinary water and electrolyte (Na+, Cl-, K+)
concentration when compared to standard drug furosemide, in an experiment done according
to the CPCSEA guidelines by sathianarayanan et al.[58] In another study also, the hydro-
alcohol extract of W.tinctoria bark was found to increase Na+ and Cl- ions, thus strongly
kaliuretic.[22] Therefore, W.tinctoria can be further explored for its diuretic potential for
management of hypertension, kidney disorders, heart problems etc.

Wound healing
The petroleum ether and methanol extract showed significant wound healing properties,
which probably were due to increase in the collagen and fibrin content as determined by the
tensile strength of the resutured wound. This may be due to the anti-oxidant and anti-
inflammatory activity exerted due to the presence of terpenoids, steroids and flavonoids in the
plant extract.[44] Traditionally, the latex from W.tinctoria is used to stop bleeding.
Anti-ulcer activity
Hydrochloric acid extract of W.tinctoria bark at 1000 mg/ml was found to possess significant
antiulcer activity based on evaluating the factors relating to gastric juice, acidity level, protein
and carbohydrate content in gastric mucous substances.[45] The abdominal distress caused by
ulcer due to bacterial action and food habits is an important area of concern. However, more
work in W.tinctoria is required to gain insight into its efficacy against ulcer.
Activities done on different parts of Wrightia tinctoria

S.NO Plant part used Activity done Reference
Anti-bacterial activity,
Anti-viral activity,
Anti-fungal activity,
Anti-inflammatory activity,
Anti-nociceptive activity,
Anti-psoriatic activity,
Anti-helminthic activity, [33,34,39,40,44,46,47]
1. Leaves
Anti-convulsant activity,
Anti-HIV activity,
Anti-leishmanial activity,
Anti-oxidant activity,
Anti-tumor activity,
Anti-diabetic activity,
Diuretic activity.
Anti-bacterial activity,
Anti-diabetic activity,
[31,37,38,49,52]
2. Bark Anti-diarrhoeal activity,
Anti-tumor activity,
Anti-nociceptive activity,
CNS activity,
Anti-inflammatory activity.
[41,57,58]
3. Flowers Anti-microbial activity,
Cytotoxic activity.
Anti-bacterial activity, [40,44,45]
4. Seeds
Anti-diabetic activity.

CONCLUSION
The extensive literature survey revealed that Wrightia tinctoria is an important medicinal
plant with diverse pharmacological and phytochemical spectrum. The plant shows the
presence of many chemical constituents like steroids, triterpenoids, Saponins, tannins,
phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, carbohydrates, alkaloids and polyphenols which are
responsible for the various pharmacological and medicinal properties like Anti-inflammatory
activity, Anti-microbial, Anti-oxidant, Anti-cancer, Anti-diabetic, Anti-psoriatic activity etc.
However, evaluation needs to be carried out on Wrightia tinctoria in order to explore the
concealed areas and their practical clinical applications, which can be used for the welfare of
the mankind.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are thankful to Prof. B. Ganga Rao sir and Dr. D. Ramadevi madam, Department of
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Andhra University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Visakhapatnam, for permitting this research work and kindly support to my work.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies On Wrightia Tinctoria

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WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

Ganga et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Volume 7, Issue 4, 562-585 Review Article ISSN 2278 – 4357

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON

A.U College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India.

Article Received on ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS: Wrightia tinctoria, phytochemistry, pharmacological studies.

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Description of family Apocynaceae[10,11]

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 Wrightia lacinata A.DC

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Past phytochemical studies

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Some isolated compounds

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Oleanolic acid Myristic acid

Palmetic acid Isatin

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Ursolic acid Chlorogenic acid

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Palmitoleic acid Stearic acid

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Behenic acid Arachidic acid

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phytocompounds, W.tinctoria is also found to contain important enzyme. Proteases are

Past pharmacological work

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Anti-leishmanial activity/ Anti-plasmodial activity

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Anti-inflammatoty / immunomodulatory activity

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Activities done on different parts of Wrightia tinctoria

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tinctoria R. Br., Apocynaceae in rats. Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy, 2010; 25(5):

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