Plants with Analgesic Activity

1. CARDIOSPERMUM HALICACABUM L.
Cardiospermum microcarpum Kunth
Family: Sapindaceae
Bengali/vernacular name: Phutka, Lataphutiki, Kapalphutki, Noaphutki, Kanphutki, Sibjhul
Tribal name: Ketha boitta shak (Chakma), Kheda batta shak (Tanchangya), Nala maiachi (Marma)
English name: Baloon vine, Winter cherry, Hearts pea, Heart seed.

Description of the plant: A climber with wiry stems. Leaves 3.7-7.6 cm, deltoid, 2-ternate, ultimate
segments of the leaves lanceolate, inciso-serrate. Flowers very small, white, in few-flowered axillary,
umbellate cymes; peduncles slender, 3.8-10 cm long, provided with two circinate tendrils at the top.
Capsules 1.25-3.7 cm wide, depressed-pyriform, trigonous, truncate at top, bladdery.

CARDIOSPERMUM HALICACABUM L.
Using information: The whole plant, rubbed up with water is applied to rheumatism and stiffness of the
limb. The juice of the plant promotes the catamenial flow during the menstrual period. It is also a
demulcent in gonorrhoea and in pulmonary affection. In Indo-China the plant is considered anthelmintic
and anti-blenorrhagic. In Chittagong Hill Tracts, hot water extract of the plant is given to treat chiken-
pox by the Chakma and pills made of the plant are given for the treatment of asthma by the Marma
tribe. The plant is also used for dropsy and measles in Khagrachari. The leaves are stimulant, diuretic and
rubefacient; juice cures earache. Powdered leaves are used externally for healing wounds. Leaves mixed
with castor oil are employed internally in rheumatism and lumbago. The roots and leaves are given in
the treatment of bleeding piles, amenorrhoea, gonorrhoea, rheumatism, erysipelas and intestinal
worms. The root is considered diuretic, diaphoretic, emetic, laxative, rubefacient, aperient and
emmenagogue; occasionally used for rheumatism, lumbago, fever and nervous diseases.
EtOH(50%) extract of plant is spasmolytic and hypotensive. Root extract showed diuretic action in male
albino mice. Alcoholic extract produced CNS depression in near lethal doses and analgesic effect in mice
and rats (Asolkar et al., 1992).

Chemical constituents: The plant contains cyanogenic glycosides, saponin, flavones, sterols and
essential oil. Leaves contain pinitol, glucuronides of apigenin, chrysoeriol and luteolin. Fatty acids of the
seed lipid include arachidic, linoleic and stearic acids. Seed oil also contains β-sitosterol, cyanogenic
glycoside and luteollin glucurinide, β-sitosterol is also present in the roots (Ghani, 2003).

Distribution: Widely cultivated throughout Bangladesh.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

2. DESMODIUM HETEROCARPON (L.) A. DC.

Desmodium polycarpum (Poir.) A. DC.
Family: Fabeceae
Bengali/vernacular name:
Tribal name:
English name:

Description of the plant: An erect or suberect undershrub, 0.6-1.5 m high. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets
ovate-cuneate, rounded at the apex. Flowers purple, in dense axillary and terminal subsessile racemes,
2.5-7.5 cm long. Pods 12-20 mm long, indented and dehiscing along the lower suture.
 DESMODIUM HETEROCARPON (L.) A. DC.

Using information: Plant is used in fainting and convulsion. Decoction of the plant is considered tonic
and used in coughs (Yusuf et al. 2009).
EtOH (50%) extract of the aerial parts of the plant is spasmogenic (Asolkar et al.,1992). Alcoholic extract
showed significant analgesic activity, potentiation of pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis and hypotensive
activity (Rastogi & Mehrotra, 1993).

Distribution: In most of the districts in fallow lands.

Research: Around 10 studies have been done so far.

3. ACANTHUS ILICIFOLIUS L.
Family: Acanthaceae
Bengali/vernacular name: Hargoza, Harkuch Kanta, Kotki.
English name: Holy-leaved Acanthus.

Description of the plant: Erect prickly shrub, up to 1.5 m high, in clumps. Leaves 15 cm long, oblong or
elliptic, pinnatifid or toothed, rigid with sharp spinous teeth on the margin. Flowers blue, in terminal
interrupted spikes, 10-40.6 cm long. Capsules 3.7 by 1 cm, ovate-oblong.
 ACANTHUS ILICIFOLIUS L.

Using information: Root possesses expectorant properties; used in cough and asthma. Leaves are used
as fomentation in rheumatism and neuralgia. As a stimulant the decoction of plant with sugarcandy and
cumin is given in dyspepsia.
EtOH(50%) extract of aerial parts is diuretic; that of leaves graded analgesic in albino mice and
antiinflammatory in carrageenin-induced oedema in rats (Asolkar et al., 1992). The crude extract of the
root showed in vitro antihistamic activity on tracheal chain, but prevention of anaphylactic shock was
partial (Ahmed et al., 2005).

Chemical constituents: Aerial parts contain the alkaloids, acanthicifoline, oleanolic acid, β-sitiosterol,
lupeol, quercetin, its glucopyranoside and trigonelline. Roots contain triterpenoid, saponin and
glycosides (Asolkar et al., 1992). Apigenin-7-O-glucuronide and a new flavone glycoside, methylapigenin-
7-O- β-D-glucuronate has been isolated from the leaves (Ghani, 2003).

Distribution: In maritime swamps of southern Bangladesh.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

 4. CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA (L.) R. Br.
Asclepias gigantea L.
Family: Aaclepiadaceae
Bengali/vernacular name: Akanda, Bara Akand.
Tribal name: Angar pata (Chakma), Angorpata gaas (Tanchangya), Muru pata (Bawm), Muhurong
(Rakhaing), Jijonma (Marma), Hakkon (Tripura).
English name: Gigantic Swallow wort, Mudar, Swallow Tree.

Description of the plant: A tall shrub with white latex, up to 3 m high. Leaves 10-20 cm long, elliptic-
oblong or ovate-oblong, thick. Flowers 3.8-5 cm diam, purplish or white, in umbellate lateral cymes.
Fruits, a pair of follicles, 9-10 cm long, broad, thick, tapering at both ends.

CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA (L.) R. Br.

Using information: Root bark is diaphoretic, emetic, alterative and purgative; useful in dysentery,
asthma, elephantiasis and syphilis. It acts like digitalis on heart. The powder of the root promotes gastric
secretion and acts as a mild stimulant and may be given with carminatives in dyspepsia. Milky juice is a
violent purgative; cures leucoderma, tumours and ascites; used for criminal purposes for producing
abortion or causing death of new-born infants; useful in scabies and ringworm of the scalp and piles.
Leaves are used as poultice against rheumatism, chest pain due to cold, paralysed parts and in dropsy. It
is also useful in piles, skin diseases, wounds and insect bits. Flowers are asrtingent, digestive, stomachic,
tonic, anthelmintic and analgesic; useful in asthma, catarrh and loss of appetite. Poultice of the warm
leaf is applied to relief pain.
EtOH(50%) extract of the root anticancer and spasmolytic. EtOH(50%) extract of the leaves showed
antiimplantation activity in albino rats (Asolkar et al., 1992).

Chemical constituents: The principal constituent of the leaves and stems is milky latex, which contains
protease enzymes, calotropain FI, calotropain FII, calotropisn DI and DII and uscharine, glutathione,
ascorbic acid, calotoxin, calactin and caoutchouc and also a nitrogen and sulphur containing cardiac and
fish poison, gigantin. Stem and root barks α- and β- calotropeols, amyrins, taraxerols, sitosterols,
triterpenes and other glycosides. Leaves contain glycolipids, phospholipids, waxes and fatty acids.
Various cardiac glycosides, including calotropin, uscharin, uscharidin and calotoxin and four ursane-type
triterpenoids have also been identified in the roots. Presence of a novel insect anti-feedant nonprotein
amino acid, giganticine, has been reportd in the root bark (Ghani, 2003). Α-amyrin, β-amyrin,
taraxasterol, ψ- taraxasterol and β-sitosterol have also been isolated from the plant (Rastogi &
Mehrotra, 1990).

Distribution: Throughout the country in road side and fallow lands.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

5. CANNABIS SATIVA L.
Cannabis indica Lamk.
Family: Cannabidaceae
Bengali/vernacular name: Ganja, Bhang, Charas, Siddhi.
English name:Hemp, True Hemp, Soft Hemp.

Description of the plant: A tall, erect bad smelling annual herb, usually 1-1.5 m high. Leaves, 7.5-20 cm
diam., upper 1-3 and lower 5-11 partite, serrate, palmatinerved. Flowers small, axillary, dioecious; males
fasicled in short pendulous panicles; females crowded under leafy convolute bracts.
 CANNABIS SATIVA L.

Using information: All parts of the plant are narcotic, stomachic, antispasmodic, analgesic, stimulant,
aphrodisiac and sedative. Leaves and resins are mainly used as Bhang. Leaves make a good snuff for
deterging the brain; juice removes dandruff and vermin; allays earache; checks the discharge in
diarrhoea and gonorrhoea. The resin called charas is used to produce sleep, prevents and cures
headache, neuralgia, migraine; valuable in acute mania, whooping cough, asthma and in reliving pain in
dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia and pain of phthisis.  Poultice of leaves relieves inflammations, neuralgia,
haemorrhoids, as an anodyne or sedative. The seeds possess tonic, alterative, emmenagogue and
laxative properties. Oil of seeds is used in rheumatism.
EtOH(50%) extract of plant is spasmolytic, hypotensive and CNS depressant (Asolkar et al.,1992).
Chemical constituents: Cannabis yields 421 chemicals of various classes broadly divided as i)
cannabinoids, ii) cannabispirans and iii) alkaloids. Principal constituent of the flowering tops of the
pistillate plants, which are medicinally used and also abused, is a resin which contains more than 60
cannabinoids which are responsible for the narcotic and psychotominetic properties of Cannabis. The
active compounds of Cannabis include cannnabinol, pseudocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinol,
cannadidiol, cannabigerol, cannabol, cannabinin, cannin, piperidine and cannabichromene. The plant
also contains volatile oil, alkaloids, choline trigonelline, spernidine and cannabisativine and flavonoid
glycosides of vitexin and orientin. Roots contain steroids, triterpenes, amides, β-sitosterol, friedelin,
epifriedelinol, carvone, dihydrocarvone and a basic substance. The steam distilled volatile oil of the
flowering tops contains 68 components, of which monoterpens and sesquiterpens are the major ones.
Seeds contain base 1-(+)- isoleucine betaine (Ghani, 2003).

Distribution: Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Faridpur, Jessore, Kushtia, Rajshahi,
Rangpur.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

 6. TRIANTHEMA PORTULACASTRUM L.
T. monogyna L.
Family: Aizoaceae
Bengali/vernacular name: Gadabani, Labuni, Shet Punarnava, Sabuni.

Description of the plant: A glabrous, prostrate somewhat succulent annual herb with a firm tap root;
stems more or less angular. Leaves subfleshy, obliquely opposite, unequal, the upper one of the pair the
larger, 2-3.8 cm long, the lower 10-13 mm long, broadly ovate, rounded or apiculate at the apex,
cuneate at the base. Flowers solitary, sessile, almost concealed by the pouch of the petiole. Capsule
small.

TRIANTHEMA PORTULACASTRUM L.

Using information: The plant is alexiteric, analgesic, stomachic and laxative; cures bronchitis, piles,
ascites and heart diseases. Decoction of the plant is used as vermifuge and in rheumatism. Powdered
root is abortifacient and cathartic; used in asthma, amenorrhoea and to remove obstruction of the liver.
The leaves are diuretic and used in oedema, dropsy and ascites.

Chemical constituents: The plant contains water-soluble bases and potassium salts. Punarnavine and a
new alkaloid, trianthemine and ecdysterone are present in the aerial parts. They also contain oxalic acid.
5,2̉-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-6,8-dimethylflavone and 5,7-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethyl-chromone (leptorumol).
Roots contain saponin glycoside. Quercetin and ferulic acid have been detected in fungus-affected
plants (Ghani, 2003).

Distribution: Rajshahi, Chittagong, Jessore, Kushtia, on fallow lands and roadsides.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

 7. EMBELIA RIBES Burm. f.
Family: Myrsinaceae
Bengali/vernacular name: Biranga, Bhaibiranga.
Tribal name: Long dhama shak (Chakma), Mahaka (Khumi).

Description of the plant: A large scandent shrub; branches long, slenders, flexible. Leaves coriaceous, 5-
9 cm long, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, shortly and obtusely acuminate, entire. Flowers small, in lax
panicled racemes, which are terminal and from the upper axils, branches 7.5-10 cm long. Fruit globose,
3-4 mm diam., black when ripe.

EMBELIA RIBES Burm. f.

Using information: Fruit is a good appetizer, alterative, carminative, stomachic, anthelmintic, alexiteric,
analgesic, purgative and tonic; useful in ascites, bronchitis, jaundice, hemicrania, dyspepsia and skin
diseases. It is effective against intestinal worms specially tapeworms. Roots are used as an antifertility
drug. Decoction of the root is a very effective medicine against influenza and the infusion is effective
against cough and diarrhoea. An infusion of the leaves is taken by Chakma of Chittagong Hill Tracts for
the cure of jaundice (Yusuf et al. 2009).
Aquous extract of the fruit possesses antifertility activity; powder inhibits 62% fertility in female rats;
given to male bonnet monkeys, at a rate 100 mg/day for 3 months adversely affected quantity and
quality of semen; also reduced tasterone level. Root powder showed 100% antifertility activity in female
albino rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg (Asolkar et al., 1992).

Chemical constituents: The chief active constituent of the fruits (berries) is a hydroquinone, embelin
(2,5-dihydorxy-3-lauryl-p-benzoquinone), a dimmer of embelin, vilangin. They also contain embolic acid,
volatile and fixed oils, colouring matter, tannin, resin and an alkaloid, christembine (Ghani, 2003).

Distribution: Evergreen forests of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet.

Research: Plenty of researches have been done so far.

 8. RUMEX VESICARIUS L.
Family: Polygonaceae
Bengali/vernacular name: Takpalong, Chukapalong, Amlabetom.
English name: Rosy Dock, Dock Sorrel, Bladder Dock.

Description of the plant: An annual, pale green, glabrous herb, branched from the root, rather fleshy,
15-30 cm high. Leaves 2.5-7.5 cm, elliptic, ovate or oblong, obtuse or acute, base cuneate. Racemes 2.5-
3.8 cm, terminal and leaf-opposed. Flowers sometimes 2-nate and connate, valves large, orbicular, 2-
lobed at each end, very membranous and reticulate without a marginal nerve. Fruit 1.3 cm diam., white
or pink, valves hyaline.

RUMEX VESICARIUS L.

Using information: The plant is cooling, tonic, analgesic, laxative and stomachic; useful in heart troubles,
tumours, constipation, hiccup, flatulence, asthma, bronchitis and piles. Leaf juice is astringent, cooling,
aperient and a strong diuretic; relieves toothache, checks nausea and promotes appetite. Fruits are
aperient and diuretic; eaten fresh against jaundice, hepatic conditions, constipation and indigestion.
Roasted seeds are prescribed in dysentery (Yusuf et al. 2009).

Chemical constituents: Leaves are rich in ascorbic, citric and tartaric acids. Roots contain rumicin and
lapathin, identical with chrysophanic acid. The aerial parts of this and other species of Rumex also
contain anthraquinone derivatives and flavonoids like emodin, aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, chrysophanic
acid, physcion; isovitexin, iso-orientin, quercetin, kaempferol and luteolin glucosides; chromone and
flavone derivatives, tannins, mucilage, calcium oxalate and starch (Ghani, 2003). Cystine, glutamic acid,
proline, phenylalanine and histidine have been detected in the protein extract (Rastogi & Mehrotra,
1993).

Distribution: Cultivated as a vegetable.

Research: Around 33 studies have been done so far.