410
anti- diabetic and anti-fungal properties. But studies on this topic are scarce. The
inhibitory effect of pterostilbene on the induction of NO synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX 2) in murine RAW 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharides has been studied (Pan et al. 2008).
17.4 Stilbenes in Traditional Medicine
Ayurveda is a traditional medicinal system. Ayurveda comprises various types of
medicines including the fermented forms, namely arishtas (fermented decoctions)
and asavas (fermented infusions). These are regarded as the valuable therapeutics in
traditional medicine because of their efficacy (Shekar and Mariappan 2008).
Although modern medicine is now well developed, the interest in traditional medicine based on herbal medicinal principles is still there. Drakshasava is a well-known
Indian herbal preparation. Its main ingredient is Vitis vinifera L. This ayurvedic
medicine is prescribed as a cardiotonic and is also given for other disorders. High
Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis of this preparation revealed the presence of resveratrol and pterostilbene (Barnard et al. 1999). The presence of stilbenes
may be the reason for its cardiotonic and health-promoting properties.
The use of orchids in traditional medicine is widely described throughout history. Traditional Chinese medicine widely utilizes orchids in medicines. Stilbeneoids
are the major component in this plant (Majumder and Ghosal 1993). Stilbenoids
isolated from this plant are reported to possess various biological properties such as
anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-platelet aggregations, cytotoxicity, spasmolytic, vasoreluctant effects and others (Gutiérrez 2010; Kovács et al.
2008; Xiao et al. 2008). Ashtavarga, a group of eight medicinal plants, is a part of
ayurvedic formulations like chyawanprash. Among them four plants belong to the
Orchidaceae family (Kalaiarasan et al. 2012). In a chemical investigation of medicinal plants, the ethanol extract of Arundina graminifolia was found to possess the
function of regulating immunity. The ethanol extract was further fractionated into
light petroleum, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol parts. Further chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate part resulted in the isolation of a novel stilbenoid designated
as
arundinan.
Its
structure
was
established
as
2-(p-hydroxybenzyl)-3-hydroxy-5-methoxybibenzyl from the following spectral
and chemical evidence.
The resin from the tree Vateria indica Linn is well known in traditional systems
of medicine (Ayurveda and Siddha) as Sarja rasa in Ayurveda and vellai kungiliyam
in siddha. The research has shown that this resin possesses resveratrols having antitumour properties (Mishima et al. 2003). It is credited with tonic, carminative and
expectorant properties and is used for the treatment of respiratory disorders like
throat troubles, chronic bronchitis, boils, piles, diarrhoea, rheumatism, etc.
Kungiliya parpam is a siddha preparation made from this resin that is very much
effective in the treatment of urinary tract disorders. Various other phytocompounds
present in the very same resin have been proved to show various healing
properties.
N. Vijayan et al.
anti- diabetic and anti-fungal properties. But studies on this topic are scarce. The
inhibitory effect of pterostilbene on the induction of NO synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX 2) in murine RAW 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharides has been studied (Pan et al. 2008).
17.4 Stilbenes in Traditional Medicine
Ayurveda is a traditional medicinal system. Ayurveda comprises various types of
medicines including the fermented forms, namely arishtas (fermented decoctions)
and asavas (fermented infusions). These are regarded as the valuable therapeutics in
traditional medicine because of their efficacy (Shekar and Mariappan 2008).
Although modern medicine is now well developed, the interest in traditional medicine based on herbal medicinal principles is still there. Drakshasava is a well-known
Indian herbal preparation. Its main ingredient is Vitis vinifera L. This ayurvedic
medicine is prescribed as a cardiotonic and is also given for other disorders. High
Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis of this preparation revealed the presence of resveratrol and pterostilbene (Barnard et al. 1999). The presence of stilbenes
may be the reason for its cardiotonic and health-promoting properties.
The use of orchids in traditional medicine is widely described throughout history. Traditional Chinese medicine widely utilizes orchids in medicines. Stilbeneoids
are the major component in this plant (Majumder and Ghosal 1993). Stilbenoids
isolated from this plant are reported to possess various biological properties such as
anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-platelet aggregations, cytotoxicity, spasmolytic, vasoreluctant effects and others (Gutiérrez 2010; Kovács et al.
2008; Xiao et al. 2008). Ashtavarga, a group of eight medicinal plants, is a part of
ayurvedic formulations like chyawanprash. Among them four plants belong to the
Orchidaceae family (Kalaiarasan et al. 2012). In a chemical investigation of medicinal plants, the ethanol extract of Arundina graminifolia was found to possess the
function of regulating immunity. The ethanol extract was further fractionated into
light petroleum, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol parts. Further chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate part resulted in the isolation of a novel stilbenoid designated
as
arundinan.
Its
structure
was
established
as
2-(p-hydroxybenzyl)-3-hydroxy-5-methoxybibenzyl from the following spectral
and chemical evidence.
The resin from the tree Vateria indica Linn is well known in traditional systems
of medicine (Ayurveda and Siddha) as Sarja rasa in Ayurveda and vellai kungiliyam
in siddha. The research has shown that this resin possesses resveratrols having antitumour properties (Mishima et al. 2003). It is credited with tonic, carminative and
expectorant properties and is used for the treatment of respiratory disorders like
throat troubles, chronic bronchitis, boils, piles, diarrhoea, rheumatism, etc.
Kungiliya parpam is a siddha preparation made from this resin that is very much
effective in the treatment of urinary tract disorders. Various other phytocompounds
present in the very same resin have been proved to show various healing
properties.
N. Vijayan et al.