Cissus quadrangularis
Encyclopedia
Cissus quadrangularis is a perennial plant of the grape family
. It is commonly known as Veldt Grape or Devil's Backbone.
or Sri Lanka
, but is also found in Africa
, Arabia, and Southeast Asia
. It has been imported to Brazil
and the southern United States
. It is very commonly known as asthisamharaka. As per Dr Jyotiraditya Agarwal (Chief Ayurvedic Consultant of Nidanam Clinic), Cissus has been used in various ayurvedic classical medicines to heal broken bones and injured ligaments and tendons.
s of small white, yellowish, or greenish flowers; globular berries are red when ripe.
it is considered a tonic and analgesic
, and is believed to help heal broken bones, thus its name asthisamharaka (that which prevents the destruction of bones).
It is said to have antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anthelmintic, antihemorrhoidal and analgesic activities. It contains a rich source of carotenoid
s, triterpenoid
s and ascorbic acid
. In a study in Cameroon
, high doses of the extracts have been shown to have beneficial effects against obesity and associated oxidative stress. Its bactericidal effects on Helicobacter pylori
hold promise as a potential treatment of gastric ulcers in conjunction with NSAID therapy. A weight loss supplement containing Cissus quadrangularis and other ingredients including green tea, soy, selenium, chromium, and B vitamins was evaluated in an 8-week trial. The supplement helped reduce body weight by 4-8% ( placebo 2.4%) a clinically significant weight loss.
Linn (CQ) on the healing process of experimentally fractured radius
-ulna
of dog
. CQ treated
animals revealed faster initiation of healing process than the control animals on radiological
and histopathological examinations. The treated group also revealed a decrease in serum
calcium level to a greater extent than the control group. Healing was almost complete on 21 st
day of fracture in the treated animals and remained incomplete in the control animals. No
significant alteration of serum calcium level was observed on 21 st day of fracture
in both the groups.
Vitaceae
Vitaceae are a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants including the grapevine and Virginia creeper. The family name is derived from the genus Vitis...
. It is commonly known as Veldt Grape or Devil's Backbone.
Distribution
It is probably native to IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
or Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, but is also found in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Arabia, and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. It has been imported to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and the southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is very commonly known as asthisamharaka. As per Dr Jyotiraditya Agarwal (Chief Ayurvedic Consultant of Nidanam Clinic), Cissus has been used in various ayurvedic classical medicines to heal broken bones and injured ligaments and tendons.
Description
Cissus quadrangularis reaches a height of 1.5 m and has quadrangular-sectioned branches with internodes 8 to 10 cm long and 1.2 to 1.5 cm wide. Along each angle is a leathery edge. Toothed trilobe leaves 2 to 5 cm wide appear at the nodes. Each has a tendril emerging from the opposite side of the node. RacemeRaceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
s of small white, yellowish, or greenish flowers; globular berries are red when ripe.
Use
Cissus quadrangularis has been used as a medicinal plant since antiquity. In siddha medicineSiddha medicine
The Siddha medicine is one of the oldest medical systems known to mankind. This system of medicine originated from south Indian Tamil traditional medicine, as part of the trio Indian medicines - ayurveda, siddha and unani. This system was very popular in ancient India...
it is considered a tonic and analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
, and is believed to help heal broken bones, thus its name asthisamharaka (that which prevents the destruction of bones).
It is said to have antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anthelmintic, antihemorrhoidal and analgesic activities. It contains a rich source of carotenoid
Carotenoid
Carotenoids are tetraterpenoid organic pigments that are naturally occurring in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some bacteria, and some types of fungus. Carotenoids can be synthesized fats and other basic organic metabolic building...
s, triterpenoid
Triterpenoid
Triterpenoids are terpenoid derviatives of triterpene molecules.They may have useful anti-cancer properties.Notable examples*Betulinic acid, possible anti-cancer drug*Bardoxolone methyl, inflammation modulator*Triterpenoid saponins...
s and ascorbic acid
Ascorbic acid
Ascorbic acid is a naturally occurring organic compound with antioxidant properties. It is a white solid, but impure samples can appear yellowish. It dissolves well in water to give mildly acidic solutions. Ascorbic acid is one form of vitamin C. The name is derived from a- and scorbutus , the...
. In a study in Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, high doses of the extracts have been shown to have beneficial effects against obesity and associated oxidative stress. Its bactericidal effects on Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori , previously named Campylobacter pyloridis, is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium found in the stomach. It was identified in 1982 by Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, who found that it was present in patients with chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers, conditions that were...
hold promise as a potential treatment of gastric ulcers in conjunction with NSAID therapy. A weight loss supplement containing Cissus quadrangularis and other ingredients including green tea, soy, selenium, chromium, and B vitamins was evaluated in an 8-week trial. The supplement helped reduce body weight by 4-8% ( placebo 2.4%) a clinically significant weight loss.
Experimental studies on CQ
A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Cissus quadrangularisLinn (CQ) on the healing process of experimentally fractured radius
Radius
In classical geometry, a radius of a circle or sphere is any line segment from its center to its perimeter. By extension, the radius of a circle or sphere is the length of any such segment, which is half the diameter. If the object does not have an obvious center, the term may refer to its...
-ulna
Ulna
The ulna is one of the two long bones in the forearm, the other being the radius. It is prismatic in form and runs parallel to the radius, which is shorter and smaller. In anatomical position The ulna is one of the two long bones in the forearm, the other being the radius. It is prismatic in form...
of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
. CQ treated
animals revealed faster initiation of healing process than the control animals on radiological
and histopathological examinations. The treated group also revealed a decrease in serum
Serum
Serum may refer to:*Blood serum, a component of blood which is collected after coagulation.**Antiserum, blood serum with specific antibodies for passive immunity*Serous fluid, any clear bodily fluid*any drug derived from an animal's blood or serous fluid...
calcium level to a greater extent than the control group. Healing was almost complete on 21 st
day of fracture in the treated animals and remained incomplete in the control animals. No
significant alteration of serum calcium level was observed on 21 st day of fracture
Fracture
A fracture is the separation of an object or material into two, or more, pieces under the action of stress.The word fracture is often applied to bones of living creatures , or to crystals or crystalline materials, such as gemstones or metal...
in both the groups.
Synonyms
- Cissus succulenta (Galpin) Burtt Davy
- Cissus tetragona Harv.
- Vitis quadrangularis (L.) Wall. ex WightWightWight is a Middle English word, from Old English wiht, and used to describe a creature or living sentient being. It is akin to Old High German wiht, meaning a creature or thing.In its original usage the word wight described a living human being...
& Arn. - Vitis succulenta Galpin