Glycosmis pentaphylla
What's the taxonomical classification of Glycosmis pentaphylla?
Glycosmis pentaphyllla belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta. Following its taxonomic progression, it is situated in the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. This plant is further categorized under the order Sapindales and the family Rutaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Glycosmis, and its species designation, pentaphyllla.
| Taxonomic Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Sapindales |
| Family | Rutaceae |
| Genus | Glycosmis |
| Species | pentaphylla |
What are the morphological characteristics of this plant?
Glycosmis pentaphyllla has a woody shrub or small tree morphology characterized by simple, alternate, coriaceous leaves that typically occur in clusters of five at the branch tips. The leaves are elliptic to oblong in shape, featuring an entire margin and an acute to acuminate apex. Its stems are often slightly angular and can exhibit a reddish tint when young. Small, fragrant, white flowers emerge from the axils, leading to the production of small, fleshy berries that transition from green to red or black upon maturity. This plant's structure allows it to thrive in forest understories and scrublands.
What is the geographical distribution of this plant?
This plant is native to tropical and subtropical regions across South and Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It typically thrives in lowland forests and coastal areas where the climate remains warm and humid throughout the year. Its distribution is often concentrated in moist deciduous forests and scrublands. The species can also be found in various island territories throughout the Indo-Malayan botanical realm. Such widespread presence across diverse archipelagos highlights its adaptability to maritime and continental tropical environments.
How is this plant cultivated?
This plant is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions by planting small woody shrubs in well-drained, loamy soils that receive consistent moisture and bright, filtered sunlight.
Growers typically propagate the species through stem cuttings or seeds to establish new plants in garden settings or medicinal nurseries. Regular pruning is necessary to maintain a compact shape and encourage the development of dense, glossy foliage. Because it thrives in warm climates, it requires protection from frost to ensure its survival.
Periodic fertilization during the growing season supports vigorous health and the production of small white flowers.
What parts of this plant are used medicinally?
This plant Glycosmis pentaphylla provides medicinal value through its leaves, roots, stems, and fruits. The leaves are frequently utilized in traditional remedies to treat various ailments including skin issues and digestive disturbances. Extracts from the roots and stems are often processed to address inflammatory conditions or to act as tonic agents. Additionally, the fruit is used for its specific bioactive properties in local healing practices. These diverse components ensure that the entire structure of the plant serves a therapeutic purpose.
According to a study published by "Journal of chromatography. A", the medicinal plant Glycosmis pentaphyllas contains diverse alkaloids across its various parts. In the root methanolic extract, des-N-methylacronycine was measured at 17.24 mg/g, while it was found at 3.46 mg/g in the stem methanolic extract. Noracronycine concentrations were recorded at 3.6 mg/g in the root hexane extract and 5.89 mg/g in the stem hexane extract. Within the fruit extracts, kokusaginine was the most abundant compound in the methanolic extract at 36.23 mg/g, whereas 3-O-methoxyglycocitrine II was the most abundant in the hexane extract at 19.25 mg/g. The study utilized an HPLC-PDA method to simultaneously quantify eight key alkaloids.
The parts of this plant that are ued medicinally are shown in the list below.
- fruit
- leaf
- root
- stem
What traditional systems uses this plant?
This plant, Glycosmis pentaphyllia, is utilized in Indian traditional medicine to treat various ailments including digestive issues, skin diseases, and respiratory infections. Practitioners often employ the roots and leaves of the shrub to prepare decoctions for their therapeutic properties. In many local folk traditions, specific parts of the plant are crushed to create topical applications for wound healing. Its chemical constituents are frequently studied to understand how they support these historical medicinal practices. This long-standing usage reflects the plant's significant role in regional ethnobotanical knowledge.
According to a study published by "Journal of ethnopharmacology", Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) Correa is used in Indian traditional medicine against jaundice and other liver disorders. The ethanol extract of Glycosmis pentaphylla was more effective than other extracts in reducing the proliferation of Hep3 B cells. The active extract induced apoptosis on the Hep3 B cell line in a concentration and time dependent manner. This process occurred with an increase in the Bax/Bcl2 gene expression ratio. The study identified that the major active component in the ethanol extract of Glycosmis pentaphylla is a flavonoid.
The hystorical systems that uses this plant are shown in the list below.
- Indian traditional medicine
What are the pharmacological activities of Glycosmis pentaphylla?
This plant has demonstrated significant pharmacological potential through its documented anti-cancer, antimicrobial, and antimutagenic activities. Research indicates that its extracts exhibit notable cytotoxicity against various malignant cell lines. These bioactive compounds function by triggering apoptosis inducing mechanisms to facilitate programmed cell death in cancerous cells. Furthermore, the plant provides defense against harmful pathogens due to its potent antimicrobial properties. Its ability to prevent genetic damage further supports its classification as an effective antimutagenic agent.
According to a study published by "Journal of ethnopharmacology", Glycosmis pentaphyllas (Retz.) DC is traditionally used for the treatment of rheumatism, anaemia, jaundice, skin diseases, and bronchitis. This plant is traditionally considered an anti-cancer medicine and is used by healers of Bangladesh to treat all types of cancers. The plant possesses an inherent anti-inflammatory property and its leaf fractions were studied for cytotoxicity in MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and Vero cell lines. Research showed that selected fractions of the plant possess cell cycle inhibitory and apoptosis inducing effects on both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. This apoptotic effect may occur through the mitochondrial pathway by the activation of caspase-3/7. Active fractions of the plant contain components such as lupeol, chrysin, quercetin, β-sitosterol, and kaempferol, with lupeol and chrysin being reported in this plant for the first time.
The primary pharmacological activities of this plant are shown in the list below.
- anti-cancer
- antimicrobial
- antimutagenic
- apoptosis inducing
- cytotoxic
What medicinal compounds this plant contains?
This plant contains the medicinal alkaloids 3-O-methoxyglycocitrine II, 5-hydroxynoracronycine, noracronycine, des-N-methylacronycine, and glycoborinine. These specific chemical constituents are primarily categorized as indole alkaloids found within the Rutaceae family. Research into these compounds focuses on their potential biological activities and pharmacological properties. The presence of such diverse nitrogenous bases contributes to the plant's traditional use in various medicinal practices. Scientists continue to isolate these molecules to better understand their therapeutic implications.
According to a study published by "Journal of chromatography. A", Glycosmis pentaphyllas contains eight key alkaloids that were quantified using an HPLC-PDA method. In the root methanolic extract, des-N-methylacronycine was present at 17.24 mg/g, while it was found at 3.46 mg/g in the stem methanolic extract. Noracronycine was measured at 3.6 mg/g in the root hexane extract and 5.89 mg/g in the stem hexane extract. Within the fruit extracts, kokusaginiine was the most abundant compound in the methanolic extract at 36.23 mg/g, and 3-O-methoxyglycocitrine II was most abundant in the hexane extract at 19.25 mg/g. Additionally, protein-protein interaction analysis identified 24 hub genes associated with these alkaloids. Finally, 5-hydroxynoracronycine was highlighted as a potential anticancer lead compound.
The primary medicinal compounds of this plant are shown in the list below.
- 3-O-methoxyglycocitrine II
- 5-hydroxynoracronycine
- Noracronycine
- des-N-methylacronycine
- glycoborinine
What health conditions is this plant used for?
This plant is used for treating cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic injury, jaundice, and various liver disorders. Its medicinal properties are frequently studied for their potential to protect the liver from chemical damage and oxidative stress. Researchers have investigated its bioactive compounds to determine how they might inhibit the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Additionally, the plant is traditionally applied to alleviate symptoms of jaundice and manage systemic liver disorders. These applications highlight its significant pharmacological importance in managing complex hepatic conditions.
According to a study published by "Journal of ethnopharmacology", Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) DC is traditionally used for the treatment of rheumatism, anaemia, jaundice, skin diseases, and bronchitis. It is considered an anti-cancer medicine and is used by healers in Bangladesh to treat all types of cancers. The study specifically evaluated the effects of various leaf fractions on breast cancer cells, specifically the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Research showed that the plant's fractions possess cell cycle inhibitory and apoptosis inducing effects on both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. This apoptotic effect may occur through the activation of caspase-3/7.
The main health conditions this plant is used for are shown in the list below.
- liver disorders
- hepatocellular carcinoma
- hepatic injury
- jaundice
- cancer
What are the herbal preparations of this plant?
This plant is used to create various medicinal herbal preparations, most notably an alcoholic extract derived from its leaves or roots. These preparations are frequently utilized in traditional medicine to treat conditions such as inflammation, digestive issues, and skin ailments. The extraction process often involves soaking the plant material in spirits to concentrate its bioactive alkaloids and glycosides. Practitioners may also use decoctions or infusions made from the dried plant parts for similar therapeutic purposes. Such diverse formulations allow for the targeted delivery of the plant's phytochemical properties to the body.
According to a study published by "Natural product research", chemical investigation of the root bark of Glycosmis pentaphyllas led to the isolation of three carbazole alkaloids named glycozoline, glycozolidine and methyl carbazole 3-carboxylate. The methanol extract of Glycosmis pentaphyllas was evaluated by Ames test against known positive mutagenic compounds including 2-aminofluorine, 4-nitro-O-phenylenediamine and sodium azide. This evaluation used Salmonella typhimucium TA 98 and TA 100 bacterial strains both in the presence and absence of S9. The extracts were found to be non-mutagenic in nature. Additionally, the extracts of Glycosmis pentaphyllas exhibited significant antimutagenic activity against NPD and sodium azide for the TA98 and TA100 strains.
The main herbal preparations of this plant are shown in the list below.
- alcoholic extract
What side effects this plant can have?
This plant can cause adverse health reactions such as gastrointestinal distress, skin irritation, and potential toxicity if consumed in incorrect dosages. While certain parts are used in traditional medicine, the chemical constituents may trigger allergic dermatitis when applied topically. Ingesting concentrated extracts can lead to nausea, vomiting, or abdominal cramping in sensitive individuals. There is also limited data regarding its long-term effects on internal organ function. Therefore, caution is necessary when using this species for medicinal purposes.
The main side effects this plant can have are shown in the list below.
What herbs are paired with Glycosmis pentaphylla?
This plant Glycosmis pentaphyllia is most frequently paired with ginger, turmeric, and honey to enhance its medicinal properties in traditional formulations.
The warming nature of ginger helps to balance the specific energetic profile of the leaves when treating digestive ailments. Turmeric is often added to create a synergistic effect that boosts the plant's anti-inflammatory potential during decoction. Honey serves as a natural vehicle to improve the palatability of the bitter extracts while soothing the throat.
These specific combinations are utilized in various regional folk medicines to address systemic inflammation and stomach discomfort.