isolated from A. catechu can overcome the conventional problem of generation of a
drug-resistant HIV-1 strain (Ma’rquez et al. 2005) has hence is a promising candidate in drug discovery.
6.3.2 Acorus Calamus (Family: Acoraceae)
This plant is commonly known as Sweet Flag, Calamus, found in Central Asia,
Southern Russia, Siberia and Eastern Europe. Acorus calamus shows varied
pharmacological properties including antibacterial, insecticidal, anti-ulcerative, etc.
(Pandit et al. 2011). It is a potent adaptogenic drug. The key bioactive compounds
present in A. calamus are flavonoid, monoterpene, quinone, sesquiterpene, and
phenylpropanoid. The ethanolic extract has antiproliferative and immunosuppressive properties and is found to inhibit the growth of murine and human cell lines,
inhibit mitogen-induced proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells
(PBMCs), and the generation of IL-12 and TNF-a (Mehrotra et al. 2003). The
volatile oil, petroleum ether, and alcoholic extracts of the leaves of A. calamus
enhance the phagocytic activity of neutrophils (Ravichandiran and Patil Vishal
2015). A D-galacturonic acid-containing pectic polysaccharide isolated from the
rhizomes of A. calamus at low concentrations can stimulate murine macrophages to
produce NO and IL-12 similar to those induced by LPS, thus promoting a Th1 and
suppressing the Th2 response. It also lowers serum levels of IgG1 and IgE and
induces the secretion of TNF-a secretion by human PBMCs. Thus, the polysaccharide activates the macrophages into M1 type (classically activated macrophages)
(Belska et al. 2010). The polysaccharide possibly acts via binding to certain
receptors on APCs, releasing immunoregulatory cytokines, and adhesion molecules
(Retini et al. 2001). Its properties can be used for treating oncological and allergic
diseases. A. calamus exhibited hepatoprotective activity, it restores the hepatic
enzymes in acetaminophen-induced liver damage and lowers free radical-induced
oxidative stress (Palani et al. 2011). Chronic stress can be detrimental to the
immune system. Noise can activate the pituitary-adrenal-cortical axis and the
sympathetic adrenal medullary axis thereby increasing the secretion from adrenal
glands that directly correlate to stress (Babisch 2003) and hence can have detrimental effects on the immune status of the body. Noise-induced stress diminishes
the number of CD4
+ and CD8
+ T-cells, which is reversed by A. calamus and its
active compound a-asarone. The free radical-induced oxidation of lipids is also
prevented by the extract of A. calamus and a-asarone (Dharini et al. 2012).
That the leaf extracts inhibit inflammatory reactions in HaCaT cells via various
mechanisms (Kim et al. 2009). Also, b-asarone showed a neuroprotective role. It
suppresses neuronal apoptosis by downregulating Bcl2, Bcl-w, and caspase-3 and
preventing JNK phosphorylation. It is currently under investigation as a drug in rat
models of Alzheimer (Geng et al. 2010). Lectins isolated from the roots of
A. calamus are potent mitogenic agents for human lymphocytes and murine
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V. K. Gurjar and D. Pal
drug-resistant HIV-1 strain (Ma’rquez et al. 2005) has hence is a promising candidate in drug discovery.
6.3.2 Acorus Calamus (Family: Acoraceae)
This plant is commonly known as Sweet Flag, Calamus, found in Central Asia,
Southern Russia, Siberia and Eastern Europe. Acorus calamus shows varied
pharmacological properties including antibacterial, insecticidal, anti-ulcerative, etc.
(Pandit et al. 2011). It is a potent adaptogenic drug. The key bioactive compounds
present in A. calamus are flavonoid, monoterpene, quinone, sesquiterpene, and
phenylpropanoid. The ethanolic extract has antiproliferative and immunosuppressive properties and is found to inhibit the growth of murine and human cell lines,
inhibit mitogen-induced proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells
(PBMCs), and the generation of IL-12 and TNF-a (Mehrotra et al. 2003). The
volatile oil, petroleum ether, and alcoholic extracts of the leaves of A. calamus
enhance the phagocytic activity of neutrophils (Ravichandiran and Patil Vishal
2015). A D-galacturonic acid-containing pectic polysaccharide isolated from the
rhizomes of A. calamus at low concentrations can stimulate murine macrophages to
produce NO and IL-12 similar to those induced by LPS, thus promoting a Th1 and
suppressing the Th2 response. It also lowers serum levels of IgG1 and IgE and
induces the secretion of TNF-a secretion by human PBMCs. Thus, the polysaccharide activates the macrophages into M1 type (classically activated macrophages)
(Belska et al. 2010). The polysaccharide possibly acts via binding to certain
receptors on APCs, releasing immunoregulatory cytokines, and adhesion molecules
(Retini et al. 2001). Its properties can be used for treating oncological and allergic
diseases. A. calamus exhibited hepatoprotective activity, it restores the hepatic
enzymes in acetaminophen-induced liver damage and lowers free radical-induced
oxidative stress (Palani et al. 2011). Chronic stress can be detrimental to the
immune system. Noise can activate the pituitary-adrenal-cortical axis and the
sympathetic adrenal medullary axis thereby increasing the secretion from adrenal
glands that directly correlate to stress (Babisch 2003) and hence can have detrimental effects on the immune status of the body. Noise-induced stress diminishes
the number of CD4
+ and CD8
+ T-cells, which is reversed by A. calamus and its
active compound a-asarone. The free radical-induced oxidation of lipids is also
prevented by the extract of A. calamus and a-asarone (Dharini et al. 2012).
That the leaf extracts inhibit inflammatory reactions in HaCaT cells via various
mechanisms (Kim et al. 2009). Also, b-asarone showed a neuroprotective role. It
suppresses neuronal apoptosis by downregulating Bcl2, Bcl-w, and caspase-3 and
preventing JNK phosphorylation. It is currently under investigation as a drug in rat
models of Alzheimer (Geng et al. 2010). Lectins isolated from the roots of
A. calamus are potent mitogenic agents for human lymphocytes and murine
236
V. K. Gurjar and D. Pal