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Phytopharmacological Review of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.(Punarnava)

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Pharmacognosy Reviews [Phcog Rev.] -Supplement
Vol 2, Issue 4, Jul-Dec, 2008 PHCOG REV.
Page 14-22 An official Publication of Phcog.Net

PHCOG REV.: Plant Review

Phytopharmacological Review of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.(Punarnava)
Sahu A N*1, Damiki L1, Nilanjan G1, Dubey S2
1
Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Technology Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005
2
Department of Dravyaguna, Faculty of Ayurveda, IMS, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005
* Corresponding Author: Tel: 0542-6202714, Ext.-219. E-mail: alekh78@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.(F: Nyctaginaceae) a medicinal plant as a whole was commonly known to the world as “Spreading
hogweed” and in Sanskrit as “Punarnava”, is widely distributed over the tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the
world. It is traditionally used mostly in treating different ailments like asthma, urinary disorders, leucorrhea, rheumatism, and
encephalitis. In addition different solvent extract of this plant proved to have different pharmacological activities viz.
immunosuppressant, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, analgesic, hepatoprotective, anti-viral, antifungal and anti-
fibrinolytic activity. Phytochemical screening of the root of the plant revealed that it is rich in alkaloid content of nearly 2%,
moreover other constituents namely flavanoids, steroids, triterpenoids, lipids, lignins, carbohydrates, proteins, and glycoprotein
has also been evaluate from the plant and even high quantity of amino acids is found out.
KEYWORDS: Boerhaavia diffusa

INTRODUCTION
Plants have been used by the human society to combat
diseases, from the dawn of civilization. Herbal medicines are
in great demand in the developed as well as developing
countries for primary healthcare because of their wide
biological and medicinal activities, higher safety margins and
lesser costs. Boerhaavia diffusa, commonly known as
punarnava in Sanskrit, is such a plant having numerous
therapeutic uses. The whole plant or its specific parts
(leaves, stem, and roots) are known to have medicinal
properties and have a long history of use by indigenous and
tribal people in India. The medicinal value of this plant in the
treatment of a large number of human ailments is mentioned
in Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita, and Sushrita Samhita. It has
many ethnobotanical uses (the leaves are used as vegetable;
the root juice is used to cure asthma, urinary disorders,
leukorrhea, rheumatism, and encephalitis), and is medicinally
used in the traditional, Ayurvedic system. The plant was
named in honor of Hermann Boerhaave, a famous Dutch
physician of the 18th century (1). The name punarnava
(Punah punarnava bhawati iti, in Sanskrit, translates as “that
which becomes fresh again and again”) is probably derived
from the perennial habit of the plant, which remains dry and
dormant during summer and regenerates from the same old
root stock in the rainy season, or from the Sanskrit phrase
that denotes such therapeutic property (Karoti shariram
punarnavam, in Sanskrit, translates as “that which
rejuvenates the body”) (2). The genus Boerhaavia has several
species, and is distributed in the tropical, subtropical, and
temperate regions of the world (3). It is found in Australia,
China, Egypt, Pakistan, Sudan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, USA
and in several countries of the Middle East. Out of the 40
species of this genus, 6 species are found in India- B. diffusa,
B. chinensis, B. erecta, B. repens, B. rependa, and B.
rubicunda. Boerhaavia diffusa is also indigenous to India; it is
found throughout the warmer parts of the country up to an
altitude of 2000 m in the Himalayan region. It grows well on
wastelands and in fields after the rainy season. The plant is
also cultivated to some extent in West Bengal (4, 5).
Synonyms
English-Spreading hogweed; Hindi-Snathikari; Sanskrit-
Punarnava, Raktakanda; Telugu-Punernava; Bengali-
Punarnava; Tamil Mukaratee-kirei; Marathi-Tambadivasu;
Canarese Kommegida
Taxonomical classification (6)
Kingdom: Plantae
Class: Dicotyledons
Order: Thymilae
Family: Nyctaginaceae
Genus: Boerhaavia
Species: diffusa
Botanical description
Boerhaavia diffusa is a perennial creeping weed, prostrate or
ascending herb, up to 1 m long or more, having spreading
branches. The roots are stout and fusiform with a woody root
stock. The stem is prostrate, woody or succulent, cylindrical,
often purplish, hairy, and thickened at the nodes. Leaves are
simple, thick, fleshy, and hairy, arranged in unequal pairs,
green and glabrous above and usually white underneath.
Flowers are minute, subcapitate, and present in a group of 4-
10 together in small bracteolate umbels, forming axillary and
terminal panicles. These are hermaphrodite, pedicellate, and
white, pink, or pinkish-red in color. Two or three stamens are
present and are slightly exserted. The stigma is peltate. The
achene fruit is detachable, ovate, oblong, pubescent, five-
ribbed and glandular, anthocarpous, and viscid on the ribs
(7). The seeds germinate before the onset of the monsoon.
The plant grows profusely in the rainy season, and mature
seeds are formed in October–November.
PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
The Boerhaavia diffusa plant contains a large number of such
compounds as flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids,
lipids, lignins, carbohydrates, proteins, and glycoproteins.
Phytochemical screening of the roots from garden-grown in

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vivo plants of B. diffusa of different ages revealed that the
maximum alkaloid content (2%) accumulated in the roots of 3-
year old mature plants. The following are few important
chemical constituents present in plant:
Alkaloid - Punarnavine C17H22N2O (8, 9, 10),Rotenoid -
boeravinone A1, B1, C2, D, E, F (11, 12, 13), Hypoxanthine 9-
L-arabinofuranoside (14), Punarnavoside (15), Ursolic acid
(16),β-sitosterol, Lignans-Liirodendrin (17) and syringaresinol
mono-β-D-glucoside (18).
A glycoprotein having a molecular weight of 16– 20 kDa has
been isolated.
The plant contained large quantities of potassium nitrate,
besides punarnavine (19). The herb contains 15 amino acids,
including 6 essential amino acids, while the root contains 14
amino acids, including 7 essential amino acids. The chemical
structures of few phytoconstituents are:

Fig: Chemical Structures of some important phytoconstituents in B. diffusa

OH

CH 2 O H
O O C CH 2
OH

O CH 2

CH 2
OH OH

OH
Punarnavoside Ursolic Acid
OR

HO O
O

H3C

OH O

OH

3-O- β-galactopyranoside R-CH3 – Boeravinone D

R-H—Boeravinone E
O

HO O
O

H3C

OH O

OH

Boeravinone F

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Sitosterols

Hexacosanoic Acid Tetracosanoic Acid

OH OH

OMe

O
O
HO
HOH2C
O
OMe

MeO
O

CH2OH
OH O
O
OMe

OH OH

Liriodendrin

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Fig. Chemical structure of B. diffusa-I (eupalitin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside) and B. diffusa-II (eupalitin).
According to L. Jianxin et al (20) the immunosuppressive
activity of the two glycoside (flavanoid glycoside) compounds
identified as Bd I (eupalitin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside) and
Bd II (eupalitin) has been isolated from the root portion of the
plant using flash chromatography technique by employing the
solvent system of CHCl3 and methanol (19:1).
PHARMACOLOGICAL REPORTS
Although a lot of pharmacological investigations have been
carried out on the phytoconstituents but a lot more can still
be explored. A summary of the findings of these studies is
presented below.
Immunosupressive activity
Ethanol extract of Boerhaavia diffusa root, has significant
immunomodulatory potential (21). B. diffusa hexane,
chloroform and ethanol extracts, and two pure compounds
Bd-I (eupalitin-3-O-h-Dgalactopyranoside) and Bd-II (eupalitin)
were evaluated in vitro for their effect on T cell mitogen
(phytohemagglutinin;PHA) and concanavalinA stimulated
proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell
(PBMC), mixed lymphocyte culture, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
stimulated nitric oxide production by RAW 264.7(mouse
macrophage cells), PHA and LPS induced IL-2 and TNF-α
production, in human PBMCs, superoxide production in
neutrophils, human natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and
nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kB and AP-1 in PHA
stimulated PBMCs ( 22).
The chloroform and ethanol extracts inhibited PHA stimulated
proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, two-way
mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), NK cell cytotoxicity as well
as LPS induced NO production by RAW 264.7; the hexane
extract showed no activity. Bd-I purified from the ethanolic
extract at equivalent dose, inhibited PHA-stimulated
proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, two-way
MLR and NK cell cytotoxicity as well as LPS induced NO
production by RAW 264.7 equally or more effectively than the
parent ethanolic extract. Bd-I inhibited production of PHA
stimulated IL-2 at the protein and mRNA transcript levels and
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LPS stimulated TNF-α production in human PBMCs; it also
blocked the activation of DNA binding of nuclear factor-kB
and AP-1, two major transcription factors centrally involved
in expression of the IL-2 and IL-2R gene, which are necessary
for T cell activation and proliferation. The nuclear
transcription factors kB (NF-kB) and AP-1 regulate many
important functions in lymphocytes and play a crucial role in
their proliferation and expression of cytokines and their
receptors (23, 24). In the nucleus, NF-kB and AP-1 binds
directly to the IL-2 gene enhancer region and combines with
nuclear factor for activated T cell (NF-ATc) to form active
form of NF-ATn. This binding to IL-2 promoter is crucial for
the expression of the IL-2 and IL-2R gene. Their physiological
activation is essential for the coordination of innate and
adaptive immune responses and aberrant activation can
contribute to development of autoimmunity, chronic
inflammation, or lymphoid malignancy (25, 26, 27). Activation
of NF-kB occurs through the stabilization of inhibitor of the kB
(I-kB) complex, which itself is the result of a cascade of
events involving multiple kinases (28). TNF-α, is a pleiotropic
cytokine, which has a key role in regulation of inflammatory
processes and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of
inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and
Crohn’s disease (29, 30). The primary mechanism of anti-
inflammatory actions of several plant extracts and their role
in immunomodulation is through inhibition of TNF-α
production and scavenging of free radicals (31). Thus, the
ability of Bd-I to inhibit NO production and TNF-α may have
therapeutic implications for conditions where TNF-α plays a
major role in pathogenesis. The results report selective
immunosuppressive activity of B. diffusa leaf extracts and
that this activity lies in eupalitin-3-O-h-D-galactopyranoside
(Bd-I) isolated and purified from the ethanolic extract. Thus,
Bd-I could be a candidate for development as an
immunosuppressive agent.
Anti diabetic activity
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B. diffusa is claimed to be an effective treatment for
diabetes in folk lore medicine. A study was conducted to
investigate the effects of daily oral administration of aqueous
solution of Boerhaavia diffusa L. leaf extract (BLEt) (200
mg/kg) for 4 weeks on blood glucose concentration and
hepatic enzymes in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats.
A significant decrease in blood glucose and significant
increase in plasma insulin levels were observed in normal and
diabetic rats treated with BLEt. Treatment with BLEt resulted
in a significant reduction of glycosylated haemoglobin and an
increase in total haemoglobin level. The activities of the
hepatic enzymes such as hexokinase was significantly
increased and glucose-6 phosphatase, fructose-1,6-
bisphosphatase were significantly decreased by the
administration of BLEt in normal and diabetic rats (32).
The increased activity of hexokinase can cause increased
glycolysis and increased utilization of glucose for energy
production. BLEt have been observed to reduce the levels of
glucose in the blood (33). The decrease in the concentration
of blood glucose in alloxan treated rats given BLEt may be
due to increased glycolysis (increased liver hexokinase
activity). The activities of hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase and
fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase were increased significantly in
diabetic rats (34), glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-
bisphosphatase, are the regulatory enzymes in gluconeogenic
pathway. BLEt might enhance glucose utilization because it
significantly decreased the blood glucose level in glucose
loaded rats. It seems to suggest that BLEt may have a
mechanism of action similar to that of sulphonylurea. This
may be due to restoration of delayed insulin response or due
to inhibition of intestinal absorption of glucose. An oral
glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also performed in the same
groups, in which there was a significant improvement in
glucose tolerance in rats treated with BLEt. A comparison was
made between the action of BLEt and antidiabetic drug—
glibenclamide (600µg/kg). The effect of BLEt was more
prominent when compared to glibenclamide. This study thus
shows that this herb has significant potential as an
antidiabetic drug.
Anti oxidant activity
Administration of Boerhaavia diffusa leaf extract (BLEt; 200
mg/kg) for 4 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in
thiobarbutric acid reactive substances and hydroperoxides,
with a significant increase in reduced glutathione,
superoxidedismutase(SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase
and glutathione-S-transferase in liver and kidney of alloxan
induced diabetic rats. The results suggest that BLEt has
remarkable antidiabetic activity and can improve antioxidant
status in alloxan induced diabetic rats (35).
Lipid peroxidation is one of the characteristic features of
chronic diabetes. It has been observed that insulin secretion
is closely associated with lipoxygenase derived peroxides. The
reduction of two electrons from alloxan gives dialuric acid,
which undergoes oxidation and leads to generation of O2•,
H2O2and OH•. Dialuric acid has been observed to stimulate
lipid peroxidation in vitro. In this context, a marked increase
in the concentration of TBARS and hydroperoxides were
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observed in liver and kidney of diabetic rats. Increased lipid
peroxide concentration in the liver and kidney of diabetic
animals has already been reported (36). Administration of
BLEt significantly decreased the levels of TBARS and
hydroperoxides in diabetic rats. Glutathione (GSH), a
tripeptide present in all the cells is an important antioxidant.
A decreased glutathione level in diabetes has been considered
to be an indicator of increased oxidative stress (37). GSH also
functions as free radical scavenger and in the repair of radical
caused biological damage. (38). A decrease was observed in
GSH in liver and kidney during diabetes. The decrease in GSH
level represents increased utilization due to oxidative stress.
Administration of BLEt increased the content of GSH in liver
and kidney of diabetic rats. SOD is an important defense
enzyme which catalyses the dismutation of superoxide
radicals (39). Catalase is a heme protein which catalyses the
reduction of hydrogen peroxides and protects the tissues from
highly reactive hydroxyl radicals. Therefore, reduction in the
activity of these enzymes (SOD, CAT) results in a number of
deleterious effects due to the accumulation of superoxide
anion radicals and hydrogen peroxide. Administration of BLEt
increased the activities of SOD and catalase in diabetic rats.
Thus it can be concluded that the Boerhaavia extract has
significant antioxidant activity.
Anticancer effect
Recent studies indicate towards Boerhaavia having potential
as an anticancer agent. In a study administration of the
aqueous methanol (3:7) extract of B.diffusa was found to be
effective in reducing the metastases formation by B16F10
cells, a highly metastatic melanoma cell line. Prophylactic
administration of the extract (0.5mg/dose) inhibited the
metastases formation by about 95% as compared to untreated
control animals. There was 87% of inhibition in the lung
metastases formation in syngenic C57BL/6 mice, when the
extract was administered simultaneously with tumour
challenge. Biochemical parameters such as lung collagen
hydroxyproline, hexosamines and uronic acid levels were also
reduced significantly in the treated animals. Levels of serum
sialic acids and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase that are markers of
neoplastic proliferation were also reduced in the tumour plus
extract treated animals. More over treatment with the
extract enhanced the survival of the animals more than
double that of untreated control animals. When a non-toxic
concentration of the extract was treated directly to the
B16F10 cells in vitro, it inhibited the cell proliferation as
estimated by the 3H-thymidine uptake assay. From the
Zymogram analysis using culture supernatant from the extract
treated cells it became evident that the components of the
extract inhibited the expression or activity of gelatinases A
and B (MMP-2 and MMP-9). Since the Matrix metalloproteinase
(MMPs) are intimately associated with cell invasion and
angiogenesis, inhibition of these functions along with the
anti-proliferative activity (cytostatic) may be contributing to
the antimetastatic property shown by B. diffusa (40).
Glucuronic acid and hexosamines form a vital part in many
structural polysaccharides and glycosaminoglycans (GAG)
found in the ground substance of extra cellular matrix (ECM).
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Tumour cells can induce the host stromal cells to supplement
the matrix components necessary for the growing tumour
(41). Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a GAG made of repeated
disaccharide units of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl D-
glucosamine (42, 43). It is a well-known promoter of
metastasis and elevated level is seen in several types of
tumour regardless of tumour grade (44) and promotes
metastasis by opening up spaces for tumour cells to migrate
through ECM, by interacting with cell surface receptors for HA
(45). The degradation of HA by HAase (Hyaluronidase)
liberates disaccharide units that are good promoters of
angiogenesis as well by modulating the proliferation, adhesion
and migration of endothelial cells (46). An elevated level of
the structural monosaccharides of HA is seen in the
metastasis induced control animals, positively contributing to
the elevation of HA in the tumour microenvironment. This in
turn will enhance the possibility of metastasis and tumour
directed angiogenesis. But the treatment of Boerhaavia
diffusa extract reduced the levels of these structural
monosaccharides significantly thereby indicating a decrease in
the metastatic potential of B16F10 melanoma. The reduction
of these sugars along with the inhibition of gelatinase activity
will also negatively contribute to tumour angiogenesis, which
is essential for the tumour to grow beyond a maximum size.
Analgesic activity
The decoction or juice of leaves of Boerhaavia diffusa is used
in folk medicine for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory
properties. The antinociceptive potential of the crude extract
obtained from a lyophilized decoction (DE) and from the juice
(JE) of fresh leaves were studied. The DE and JE of B. diffusa
were assessed in standard rodent models of analgesia and
inflammation. We investigated the antinociceptive effect of
DE and JE in chemical (acetic acid) and thermal (hot plate)
models of hyperalgesia in mice. Dipyrone sodium (200 mg:kg),
JE (1000 mg:kg) and DE at the same dose (p.o.), produced a
significant inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal
writhing in mice (100, 50 and 47% inhibition, respectively)
when compared with the negative control (PB0.001). In the
hot-plate test in mice, morphine and JE produced a
significant increase in latency during the observation time.
The DE, however, only raised the pain thresholds during the
first period (30 min) of observation (PB0.05). The extracts of
B. diffusa were also investigated for their anti-edematogenic
effect on carrageenan-induced edema in mice. However,
neither extract inhibited the paw edema induced in mice
(P\0.05). In the acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing in
mice, pre-treatment of the animals with naloxone (5 mg:kg,
i.p.) significantly reversed the analgesic effect of morphine
and JE but not that of DE. These data show that the active
antinociceptive principle of B. diffusa is present mainly in the
juice of fresh leaves and has a significant antinociceptive
effect when assessed in these pain models. The mechanism
underlying this analgesic effect of fresh leaves of B. diffusa
remains unknown, but seems to be related to interaction with
the opioid system. Further work is required to fractionate,
purify and identify the structure of the active principle(s)
present in the extract, as well as to isolate enough pure
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substance(s) in order to determine their mechanism of action
(47).
Hepatoprotective activity
The roots of Boerhaavia diffusa are used by a large number of
tribes in India for the treatment of various hepatic disorders.
In a study the effect of seasons, thickness of roots and form
of dose (either aqueous or powder) were studied for their
hepatoprotective action to prove the claims made by the
different tribes of India. The hepatoprotective activity of an
aqueous extract (2 ml/kg) of roots of different diameters
collected in three seasons, rainy, summer and winter, was
examined in thioacetamide intoxicated rats. The percentage
of protection is higher in the aqueous form than in the
powdered form, irrespective of the thickness of the roots
suggesting that the aqueous form of drug administration is the
best for the most desirable results. This is probably due to the
better absorption of the liquid form of the drug from the
intestinal tract. The increased levels of serum GOT, GPT and
ALP were markedly reduced by the thin root extract
(aqueous) of B. diffusa L. as compared to thick roots
suggesting that the drug derived from the thin roots has more
hepatoprotection. This may be due to the presence of more
biologically active metabolites in the thin root as compared to
the thicker woody roots. Furthermore, the hepatoprotective
activity also varies in different seasons. It is also observed
that the protection of the majority of the serum enzymes
(GOT, GPT, ACP, ALP) is greater in the month of May, i.e.
summer, as compared to the other seasons, suggesting that
this is the proper time for collection of the herb. However, no
significant protection was observed in the case of glutamate
dehydrogenase and bilirubin. The present studies revealed
that the roots of B. diffusa possessed marked
hepatoprotective activity against thioacetamide-induced
hepatotoxicity (48).
The mechanism by which thioacetamide damages the liver is
by causing changes in the cell permeability and to create
ionic imbalance resulting in increased intracellular calcium
concentration. Consequently, mitochondrial activity is
inhibited, leading to death of liver cells (49). Protection of
the mitochondria is well supported by the protection in the
levels of glutamate dehydrogenase, a specific marker enzyme
for mitochondrial damage. The restored levels of ACP indicate
stabilization of lysosomal membranes. Moreover, lysosomal
hydrolysis causes extensive damage to intracellular organelles
and thus hastens the death of parenchymatous cells which
causes the appearance of GOT and GPT in the serum. The
membrane stabilizing effects of the extract are supported by
good protection in the levels of SGOT and SGPT. Maintenance
of parenchymatous cells finally results in protection of
bilirubin levels. This study thus supports the claims made by
the different tribes of India for the use of B. diffusa root in
hepatic ailments and also suggests the proper collection time
and the type of roots for the best hepatoprotective activity.
Antiviral activity
In view of the pharmacological, clinical, and medicinal
potential of this plant, the root, leaf, stem, flower, and seed
samples (collected at different stages of plant growth and
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from different locations, both fresh and dried) of Boerhaavia
diffusa were screened for their antiviral activity against a
number of isometric as well as anisometric phytopathogenic
viruses, in various host/virus combinations both in vitro and
in vivo (50).The plant has shown promising antiviral activity
against plant viruses. Maximum antiviral activity, in each
case, was recorded with the aqueous extract of dried root
powder applied before virus inoculation. The active principle
was purified and isolated (51). The roots of B. diffusa are a
rich source of a basic protein, which is used for inducing
systemic resistance in many susceptible crops against
commonly occurring viruses (52). This protein or antiviral
agent was active against tobacco mosaic virus in Nicotiana
glutinosa, Datura metel, Chenopodium amaranticolor, and
Nicotiana tabacum; sunnhemp rosette virus in Cyamopsis
tetragonoloba, Vigna unguiculata, and Crotalaria juncea; and
gomphrena mosaic virus in Chenopodium amaranticolor,
Vigna unguiculata, and Gomphrena globosa when applied a
few hours (2–24 h) before inoculation by the respective
inocula of viruses (53). The aqueous crude extract from the
dried roots was also found significantly active against a
number of viruses –mung bean yellow mosaic virus ; bean
common mosaic virus; water melon mosaic virus ; bottle
gourd mosaic virus in muskmelon (Cucumis melo), ridged
gourd (Luffa acutangula), and bottle gourd (Lagenaria
siceraria) ; cucumber mosaic virus in cucumber (Cucumis
sativus) and muskmelon and water melon mosaic virus in
watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) ; and mung bean yellow
mosaic virus in mung bean (Vigna radiata). In treated plants,
the antiviral agent from B. diffusa not only decreased disease
symptom severity but also protected the plants against
infection by viruses.
Antifungal activity
Various extracts petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate
and ethyl alcohol of aerial and root parts of Boerhaavia
diffusa was screened for antifungal activity (inhibition in
sporulation) against dermatophytic fungi Microsporum
gypseum, M. fulvum and M. canis by using broth dilution
method. Extracts of aerial part not show any noticeable
antifungal activity. Ethyl acetate extract of root part of the
plant was found to be most effective of against target fungal
species. The maximum inhibition of mycelial growth was
observed for M. gypseum (78.83%) followed by M. fulvum
(62.33%) and M. canis (42.30%) of ethyl acetate in the test
concentration of 1000 µg/ml 24 hours of incubation. The
sporulation of target fungal species decreases with increasing
supplementation of phytoextract, confirming the presence of
some antifungal phytochemical moiety in roots of the plant
(54).
Antifibrinolytic activity
A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of
antifibrinolytic agents (epsilon-aminocaproic acid, tranexamic
acid), anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethacin, ibuprofen,
naproxen) and root extract of Boerhaavia diffusa on
menstrual cycle length (MCL), duration of menstrual flow
(DMF), menstrual iron loss (MIL) and activity of uterine tissue
plasminogen activator (tPA) in IUD-fitted monkeys. Premature
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onset of menstruation was observed in IUD-fitted monkeys as
compared to controls. No noteworthy change was observed in
the MCL of drug treated monkeys as compared to IUD-fitted
monkeys. An increase of 155%, 123.2%, and 288% was
observed in the DMF, MIL and tPA activity after IUD insertion
as compared to controls. Antifibrinolytic agents reduced the
DMF, MIL and activity of tPA in IUD-fitted monkeys up to
117.4%, 116.4%, and 254%, whereas anti-inflammatory drugs
caused a decrease only up to 69%, 95.1%, and 138%,
respectively. Conclusively, root extract of B. diffusa treated
IUD-fitted monkeys showed noticeable reduction in their DMF
(124%), MIL (120.8%) and tPA activity (272%) confirming its
antifibrinolytic activity (55).
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