Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa)

Recent Research on Lodhra (Savara Lodhra – S. racemosa)

• The present study aims to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of ethanol extract of Symplocos racemose (EESR) bark on carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)- induced hepatic damage in rats. It was therefore concluded that BESR bark is an effective hepatoprotective agent in CCl4- induced hepatic damage and has potential clinical applications for the treatment of liver diseases. Wakchaure D, Jain D, Singhai AK, Somani R. Hepatoprotective activity of Symplocos racemosa bark on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in rats. J Ayurveda Integer Med. 2011 Jul; 2 (3): 137- 43. doi 10. 4103/ 0975- 9476. 85552. In this study, the in vivo effect of aqueous extracts of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. (Fam. Symplocaceae) on serum FSH and LH levels in immature female Sprague-Dawley rats under basal conditions are reported. 
• Bhutani. KK, Jadhav AN, Kalia V. Effect of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. on gonadotropin release in immature female rats and ovarian histology. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Sep; 94 (1): 197- 200.
• One new phenolic glycoside named benzoylsalireposide (1) along with one known phenolic glycoside named salireposide (2) have been isolated from Symplocos racemosa. Four other known compounds i.e., beta-amyrin (3), oleanolic acid (4), beta-sitosterol (5), and beta-sitosterol glycoside (6) were also isolated from this plant. Ahmad VU, Abbasi MA, Hussain H, Akhtar MN, Farooq U, Fatima N, Choudhary MI. Phenolic glycosides from Symplocos racemosa: natural inhibitors of phosphodiesterase I. Phytochemistry. 2003 May; 63 (2): 217- 20.
• The phytochemical investigation of the n-butanol soluble fraction of the bark of the stem of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. yielded two new phenolic glycosides of salirepin series, symplocuronic acid (1) and sympocemoside (2), while salirepin (3) was isolated for the first time from this plant. Ahmad VU, Rashid MA, Abbasi MA, Rasool N, Zubair M. New salirepin derivatives from Symplocos racemosa. J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2007 Apr-Aug; 9 (3- 5): 209- 15. Phytochemical investigation of Symplocos racemosa resulted in the isolation of a new ethyl-substituted glycoside, 1-ethyl brachiose- 3 – acetate (1) along with four known compounds ketochaulmoogric acid (2), nonaeicosanol (3), triacontyl palmitate (4) and methyl triacontanoate (5).
• Abbasi MA, Ahmad VU, Zubair M, Nawaz SA, Lodhi MA, Farooq U, Choudhary MI. Lipoxygenase inhibiting ethyl substituted glycoside from Symplocos racemosa. Nat Prod Res. 2005 Jul; 19 (5): 509- 15.
• Vijayabaskaran, M & K R, Yuvaraja & Babu, Gopu & Sivakumar, Pravind & Perumal, Perumal & Jayakar, Balasundaram. (2010). Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Symplocos racemosa bark extract on DMBA induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. International Journal of Current Trends in Science & Technology. 1. This study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of Symplocos racemosa (EESR) in acute experimental liver injury induced by administration of 7, 12-dimethyl benzene anthracene (DMBA) (25 mg/ kg, b. wt.) orally. After 90 days of the tumor development period, the treatment was started with EESR at the doses of 100 mg/ kg and 200 mg/ kg, for 60 days, and biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), creatinine (CEA) and total proteins with enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant level were recorded. EESR at both doses prevented the increase in body weight when compared to the hepatotoxin-treated group. The higher dose (200 mg/ kg) of EESR was found to be more effective than the lower dose (100 mg/ kg) in DMBA-induced liver damage, in which it produced a significant (p< 0.001) hepatoprotective effect by decreasing the activity of serum enzymes such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, TB, DB and lipid peroxidation (LPO), while it significantly (p< 0.001) increased the levels of total proteins, reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in a dose-dependent manner. The activity of EESR was compared with the normal group and was concluded that EESR possesses good hepatoprotective activity probably by its antioxidative potential on hepatocytes. Key Words: Symplocos racemosa, DMBA, hepatoprotective, antioxidant.
• Wakchaure, Dhananjay & Jain, D. & Singhai, Abhay & Somani, Rahul. (2011). Hepatoprotective activity of Symplocos racemosa bark on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in rats. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. 2. 137- 43. 10. 4103/ 0975-9476. 85552. The present study aims to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of ethanol extract of Symplocos racemosa (EESR) bark on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)- induced hepatic damage in rats. CCl4 with olive oil (1: 1) (0.2 ml/ kg, i.p.) was administered for ten days to induce hepatotoxicity. EESR (200 and 400 mg/ kg, p.o.) and silymarin (100 mg/ kg p.o.) were administered concomitantly for fourteen days. The degree of hepatoprotection was measured using serum transaminases (AST and ALT), alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin, and total protein levels. The metabolic function of the liver was evaluated by thiopentone-induced sleeping time. Antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring liver malondialdehyde, glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase levels. Histopathological changes in liver samples were also observed. Significant hepatotoxicity was induced by CCl4 in experimental animals. EESR treatment showed significant dose-dependent restoration of serum enzymes, bilirubin, albumin, total proteins, and antioxidant levels. Improvements in hepatoprotection and morphological and histopathological changes were also observed in the EESR-treated rats. It was therefore concluded that EESR bark is an effective hepatoprotective agent in CCl4- induced hepatic damage and has potential clinical applications for the treatment of liver diseases.
• Niyati, Acharya & Shah, U.R. & Shah, R.G. & Acharya, Sanjeev & Hingorani, Lal. (2015). Evaluation of in vitro anticancer activity of Symplocos racemosa bark against hepatocellular carcinoma. 7. 384-385. Objective: To investigate in vitro anticancer activity of different extracts of bark of Symplocos racemosa against hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Different successive extracts of Symplocos racemosa bark were prepared using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water and were tested in vitro for cytotoxicity using (3-4, 5- dimethylthiazol- 2- yl)- 2, 5- diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay in rat normal liver cells (BRL- 3A) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B) cells. Results: Ethyl acetate and chloroform extract of Symplocos racemosa exhibited cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma ( ) cells in vitro with IC50 value (μg/ ml) of 63.45 and 75.55 respectively and not affected the normal liver (BRL-3A) cells. Conclusion: Symplocos racemosa bark extracts showed potential cytotoxic effects on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The anticancer activity exhibited by ethyl acetate and chloroform extract might be due to the presence of phenolics and flavonoid constituents present in the bark. Ethyl acetate extract can further be explored for possible cytotoxic activity using in vivo models of liver cancer.
• Bhutani, Kamlesh & Jadhav, Atul & Kalia, Vandana. (2004). Effect of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. on gonadotropin release in immature female rats and ovarian histology. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 94. 197- 200. 10. 1016/ j. jep. 2004. 04. 022. In the present study we are reporting the in vivo effect of aqueous extracts of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. (Fam. Symplocaceae) on serum FSH and LH levels in immature female Sprague-Dawley rats under basal conditions. Symplocos racemosa is used in the Indian System of Medicine (ISM) for various female disorders. Aqueous extract on oral administration significantly stimulated serum FSH level (P < 0.016) along with the rise in serum LH level (P < 0.001). Moreover, histopathological studies revealed enhanced folliculogenesis, the presence of mature follicles, and detached oocytes, which are the result of increased FSH and LH levels. Further, an increase in the ovary weight of treated animals was found due to the observed FSH surge. These results are in concordance with the traditional use of the drug for female disorders.
• Ahmad, Viqar & Abbasi, Muhammad & Hussain, Hidayat & Akhtar, Muhammad & Farooq, Umar & Fatima, Naheed & Choudhary, Muhammad. (2003). Phenolic glycosides from Symplocos racemosa: Natural inhibitors of phosphodiesterase I. Phytochemistry. 63. 217–220. 10. 1016/ S0031- 9422 (03) 00075- X. One new phenolic glycoside named benzoylsalireposide (1) along with one known phenolic glycoside named salidroside (2) have been isolated from Symplocos racemosa. Four other known compounds i.e., b- amyrin (3), oleonolic acid (4), b- sitosterol (5), and b-sitosterol glycoside (6) were also isolated from this plant. The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was based primarily on 1D- and 2D- NMR analysis, including COSY, HMQC, and HMBC correlations. Compounds 1 and 2 showed inhibitory activity against snake venom phosphodiesterase I.
• Symposide and (-) epifzelechin showed antifibrinolytic activity (Ind. J. Chem., 28 B, 982, 1989).
• Glycosides from S. spicate showed spasmolytic activity and curare-like activity (Rao Y.V. et al., “Preliminary Pharmacological Studies On Glycosides of Symplocos Spicata Roxb. Ind. J. Pharmacology, 15: p. 349- 352, 1983).
• Alpha- spinasterol isolated from the stembark of S. spicata showed significant activity against acute inflammation induced by carrageenin in rats was more potent than phenylbutazone but less potent than betamethasone (frotan M.H. et al., “Pharmacological Investigation on Alpha- Spinasterol Isolated from Symplocos Spicata” Ind. J. Pharmacology, 3: p. 1- 3, 1983).
• Spinasterol obtained from S. spicata at a dose of 25 mg/ kg exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity (J. Res. Ay. & Siddha, 7: 146, 1986)
• S. racemosa and Piper cubeba together administer to patients suffering from spermatorrhoea (N= 30) have shown significant improvement in a clinical study (Kabiraj T.K., 1989).
• Jadhav, Mamata & Menon, Sasikumar & Shailajan, Sunita. (2015). Anti-androgenic effect of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. against letrozole-induced polycystic ovary using a rat model. Journal of Coastal Life Medicine. 1. 10. 12980/ JCLM. 1. 2013C79. Objective: To investigate the anti-androgenic properties of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. (S. racemosa) in the treatment of hyperandrogenemia-associated polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in a letrozole-induced PCOS rat model. Methods: The testosterone levels were used to evaluate the anti-androgenic effect of S. racemose in letrozole-induced PCOS rats for 21 d. The low (250 mg/ kg), mid (500 mg/ kg), and high dose (1000 mg/  kg) of S. racemosa was given to the PCOS-induced rats for 15 d post letrozole induction to determine the effective dose of S. racemosa in the treatment of hyperandrogenemia associated. PCOS. The hormones such as estrogen and progesterone were also assayed along with testosterone to determine the fluctuations in sex steroid levels in PCOS rats induced by letrozole. Results: S. racemosa treatment significantly decreased testosterone levels which were found to be elevated in PCOS rats induced by letrozole. S. racemosa significantly restored other blood biochemical parameters such as estrogen, progesterone, and cholesterol levels. It also restored the histology of ovarian tissue. The ovarian weights and uterine weights were also significantly recovered after the S. racemosa treatment. Conclusions: The mid dose (500 mg/ kg) and high dose (1000 mg/ kg) of S. racemosa were found to be effective in the treatment of hyperandrogenemia in PCOS. This effect of S. racemosa was found to be comparable with clomiphene citrate. Clomiphene citrate, which was being used as the major medicine in the treatment of PCOS, could now be replaced with S. racemosa in the management of PCOS.
• Sood, Henna & Kumar, Yashwant & Gupta, Vipan & Arora, Daljit Singh. (2020). Bioprospecting the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antiproliferative activity of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. Bark phytoconstituents along with their biosafety evaluation and detection of antimicrobial components by GC- MS. BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology. 21. 10. 1186/ s40360- 020- 00453- y. 
• The best organic extractant and major groups of phytoconstituents were tested for their antimicrobial activity against reference microbial strains and drug-resistant clinical isolates. The anti-proliferative potential of the most active group of phytoconstituents was evaluated against cancerous cell lines. The in vitro biosafety of phytoconstituents was evaluated by Ames and MTT assay, while in vivo biosafety of the most active phytoconstituents, i.e., flavonoids, was determined by acute oral toxicity. Further, the probable antimicrobial components in the flavonoids were detected by TLC and GC-MS.
• Ethyl acetate extract was the most effective among various organic extracts, whereas phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, triterpenes, and phytosterols were the major groups present, with flavonoids being the most potent antimicrobials. The phytoconstituents displayed a significant antibiofilm potential, as exhibited by inhibition of initial cell attachment, disruption of the pre-formed biofilms, and reduced metabolic activity of biofilms. The phytoconstituents were significantly active against the drug-resistant strains of E. coli, MRSA, and Salmonella spp. Further, flavonoids showed significant cytotoxic effects against the cancerous cell lines but were non-cytotoxic against the Vero (normal) cell line. All the test preparations were safe, as depicted by the Ames test and MTT assay. Also, flavonoids did not induce any abnormality in body weight, clinical signs, biochemical parameters, and organ histopathology of the Swiss albino mice during in vivo acute oral toxicity studies. The flavonoids were resolved into 4 bands (S1-S4), where S3 was the most active and its GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several compounds, where Bicyclo [2. 2. 1] heptane-2-one, 1, 7, 7- trimethyl, (1S)- was the most abundant. These findings suggest that the phytoconstituents from Symplocos racemosa bark could act as a potential source of antimicrobial as well as antiproliferative metabolites.
• Vijayabaskaran, M. & Badkhal, A.K. & Babu, Gopu & Sivakumar, Pravind & Perumal, Perumal & Sivakumar, T. & Sampathkumar, R. & Jayakar, Balasundaram. (2010). Antitumor activity and antioxidant status of Symplocos racemosa Roxb against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in Swiss albino mice. Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences. 1. 306- 314. The antitumor and antioxidant status of ethanol extract (100 and 200 mg/ kg) of Symplocos racemosa (EESR) was evaluated against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) bearing Swiss albino mice. Acute and short-term toxicity studies were performed initially to ascertain the safety of EESR. After 24 h of tumor inoculation, the extract was administered daily for 14 days intraperitoneally. After administration of the last dose followed by 18 h fasting, the mice were sacrificed for observation of antitumor activity. The effect of EESR on the growth of the transplantable murine tumor, the life span of EAC-bearing mice, the hematological profile, and liver biochemical parameters (lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes) were estimated. Treatment with EESR decreased the tumor volume and viable cell count thereby increasing the lifespan of EAC-bearing mice and bringing back the hematological parameter to a more or less normal level. The effect of EESR also decreases the level of lipid peroxidation and increases the levels of catalase (CAT). The present work indicates that the ethanol extract of Symplocos racemosa exhibited an antitumor effect by modulating lipid peroxidation and augmenting the antioxidant defense system in EAC-bearing mice.
• Vijayabaskaran, M & K R, Yuvaraja & Babu, Gopu & Perumal, Perumal & Jayakar, Balasundaram. (2010). Isolation and Characterization of Phenolic Glycoside from the Bark of Symplocos Racemosa Roxb. E-Journal of Chemistry. 7. S255- S260. 10. 1155/ 2010/ 570736. A new phenolic glycoside, 3, 5 – dihydroxy – 2- (hydroxyl methyl) – 6- (3, 4, 5- tri methoxy phenoxy) tetrahydro- 2H- pyran- 4- yl, 4- hydroxy- 3- methoxy benzoate have been isolated from the dried bark of Symplocos racemosa. The structure was identified by extensive spectral analysis, especially FT- IR, GC- MS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR techniques. The method of isolation was simple, cost-effective, and efficient. The preliminary bioactivity of the compound was also evaluated. The ethanolic extract of Symplocos racemosa (EESR) was investigated for its anti-pyretic activity against brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia. The antipyretic effect of EESR (measured as a % reduction in body temperature) was compared with paracetamol (100 mg/ kg, orally). EESR in the dose of 200 mg/kg caused a significant decrease in the body temperature of rats. This study has established the antipyretic activity of Symplocos racemosa and thus, justifies the ethnic uses of the plant.
• Bhuvan, Raval & Jignesh, Patel & Bhavik, Patel & Ganure, Ashok. (2009). POTENT IN VITRO ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF SYMPLOCOS RACEMOSA BARK. Objective. Assessment of antitumor activity of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. (Symplococaceae) plant extracts. Methods: Plant bark was procured, identified, and verified. Chloroform, butanol, and ethyl acetate extracts were prepared, and their cytotoxic activity was determined using the XTT salt-based cytotoxicity assay in 96-microplate format against one leukemia and one cervical cancer cell line. Cyclophosphamide was used as a positive control. Absorbance was measured after 48 h at 450 nm. Results. Total 3 extracts evaluated, butanol and ethyl acetate extracts demonstrated strong cytotoxic potential overall. Cell proliferation assay showed dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth. Butanolic extract was found cytotoxic against HL 60 (Human leukemia cell line, IC 50 = 27183 ng/ ml), HeLa (Human cervix cancer cell line, IC 50 = 22861 ng/ ml), Ethyl acetate extract was found to be less cytotoxic against HL 60 (IC 50 = 117084 ng/ ml), HeLa (IC 50 = 137151 ng/ ml). Chloroform extract displayed no cytotoxicity against both cell lines. Conclusion: S. racemosa shows potential anticancer activity.
• Christudas, Sunil & Ignacimuthu, Savarimuthu & Agastian, Paul. (2010). Antidiabetic effect of Symplocos cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. Moore. in type 2 diabetic rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 134. 298- 304. 10. 1016/ j. jep. 2010. 12. 018. Symplocos cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. Moore. is used in the Indian system of traditional medicine to treat diabetes mellitus. The present study aims to investigate the antidiabetic efficacy of the hexane extract of Symplocos cochinchinensis leaves in high-fat diet-low streptozotocin (STZ) induced type 2 diabetic rats. The doses for the study were fixed based on the Irwin test. The hypoglycemic effect of the hexane extract of Symplocos cochinchinensis leaves was studied in normal rats. Oral glucose and insulin tolerance tests were carried out. The antihyperglycemic effect of the hexane extract at 250 and 500 mg/ kg was studied in a high-fat diet of low STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rats for 28 days. The extracts showed no adverse effects up to 5 g/kg concentration. In the hypoglycemic study, after treatment with hexane extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg the blood glucose was mildly reduced. In the oral glucose tolerance test, the treatment with the hexane extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg showed a highly significant reduction of 12.07% and 23.58% in plasma glucose levels, respectively 30 min after glucose load. The insulin tolerance test also showed improved insulin sensitivity after 60 min of insulin treatment. In high-fat diet- low STZ induced type 2 diabetic rats, after 28 days of treatment with the hexane extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg reduced the plasma glucose level by 17.04% and 42.10%, respectively. A significant reduction in plasma insulin, plasma and hepatic total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and free fatty acids (FFA) and a significant increase in liver glycogen were observed in treated diabetic rats. This study demonstrated the potential antidiabetic property of hexane extract of Symplocos cochinchinensis leaves on type 2 diabetes mellitus, thus justifying its traditional usage.