Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Chonemorpha Grandiflora, an Endangered Medicinal Plant

Chonemorpha grandiflora, (Roth) M.R. and S.M. Almeida syn C. fragrans (Moon), Alston (Apocynaceae) has been included in the list of an endangered medicinal plants. It is used in medicinal preparations like kumaryasavam and sudarsanasavum used as tonic. Entire plant, roots and root bark are used for fever and stomach disorders. The plant is useful in treatment of skin diseases and inflammations. Phytochemical investigations were carried out using in vivo and in vitro plant material of C. grandiflora collected from Dandeli, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka state. Percentage of total alkaloids was found to be more in stem with bark as compared to the leaves whereas percentage of total alkaloids in callus was found to be more as compared to in vitro plantlets. TLC studies revealed different alkaloid profile in callus as compared to in vitro plantlets. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of camptothecin, an important anticancer compound in the ethanolic extracts of stem with bark of Chonemorpha grandiflora from Thrissur district, Kerala state (Kulkarni et al, 2010). The presence of camptothecin in the ethanolic extracts of stem with bark of Chonemorpha grandiflora from Dandeli, Karnataka state has been confirmed during the present studies. The amount of camptothecin calculated for stem with bark was 0.012 mg/g and 0.007 mg/g for the leaves. Ethanolic extracts of stem with bark and callus were tested for their antimicrobial activity. Callus extracts exhibited good antimicrobial activity against gram positive organism comparable with that of cephotaxime, the standard antibiotic. INTRODUCTION: Chonemorpha. grandiflora (Roth) M.R. and S. M. Almeida syn. C. fragrans syn. C. macrophylla is a medicinal plant 1, 2 used in Indian medicinal systems. Entire plant, roots and the root bark are used for fever and stomach disorders. The trade is mainly confined to Kerala state under the name Perumkurumba and the dried roots are sold commercially . In Mizoram, the plant is used for treatment of gynaecological disorders 4 . C. grandiflora, has been included in the list of threatened medicinal plants . It is known to possess muscle relaxant and antiparasitic properties 6, . Phytochemical analysis of C. grandiflora has revealed the presence of steroidal alkaloids, like chonemorphine and funtumafrine 8, . Camptothecin, a well known anticancer compound has been reported by us from the ethanolic extracts of the stem bark of C. grandiflora collected from Kerala state and also in the callus cultures of C. grandiflora . So far, there are no reports on antimicrobial activity and there are scanty reports on secondary metabolite