Airo International Research Journal July, 2016 Volume VII ... · Ageratum conyzoidesa native of...

Airo International Research Journal July, 2016 Volume VII, ISSN: 2320-3714


PROPERTIES OF AGERATUM CONYZOIDS LINN (JUNGLIPUDINA)

AGAINST SKIN INFECTIONS

Amrita Veen

Research Scholar Bhagwant University

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ABSTRACT

Ageratum conyzoidesa native of Central and South America has now become a dominant species

in various tropical and subtropical countries including India. It is a destructive weed of agro

ecosystems and invades cuhivated fields and reduces growth and productivity of plants.

Ageratum conyzoidesis a major problem for farmers, ecologists, environmentalists, human

beings and for animal scientists, especially in north India (Kumar and Singh, 1988). It over

competes all other plant species upon, invasion resulting in adverse effects on natural vegetation

and standing crops. Its invasion in crop fields hinders preparation of fields while ploughing.The

petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Ageratum

conyzoidesLinn. (Asteraceae) were evaluated for their wound healing activity in rats using

excision (normal and infected), incision and dead space wound models respectively. Bacterial

skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are a common problem encountered in clinical practice,

with approximately 14.2 million ambulatory care visits made for SSTIs in 2005.Bacterial SSTIs

range from superficial epidermal infections to life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis. Multiple

drug resistance has developed due to indiscriminate use of commercial antimicrobial drugs

which are commonly used for the treatment of bacterial infections. Frequent use of antibiotics

are associated with various side effects including hypersensitivity, immune-suppression, allergic

reactions and also the development of resistance against pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, the

demands for new and effective antibacterial agents with broad spectrum activities from natural

sources are increasing day by day. Wide verities of broad spectrum antibiotics are available in

the markets for the treatment of skin infections. The present study will be undertaken to evaluate

and authenticate the antimicrobial and antihealing properties of Ageratum conyzoids against

etiological agents of drugs resistant skin infection like Pseudomonas aureginosa Streptococcus

pyogens, candida and Staphylococcusaureus.

KEYWORDS: Ageratum Conyzoids Linn, JungliPudina, Skin Infections, Properties, crops,

plant.


INTRODUCTION: Extensive growth and

fast spread of A. conyzoidessuggests that

some interference mechinism is involved in

its establishment. However, the cause of

such interference is not known, although a

few preliminary reports regarding

phytotoxicity of A. conyzoidesare available.

Allelopathy might play an important role in

successful colonization of alien habitats by

this weed. Aqueous root and shoot extracts

of A. conyzoidesinhibited seed germination

and seedling vigour in soybean and maize,

and growth of rice and wheat. A significant

reduction in rice yield has been observed

upon invasion by A. conyzoides(Roderet al,

1998). Singh et al, observed that A.

conyzoidesadversely affects the growth and

development of wheat, mustard and radish.

Recently, it has been reported to drastically

affect the diversity and density of the native

herbal species in the Himachal Pradesh,

India.

A number of chemical compounds

belonging to various classes have been

identified firom A. conyzoides(Sharma and

Sharma, 1995). These include flavonoids,

alkaloids, chromenes, phenolics and

essential oils (Gonzalez et al, 1991; Sharma

and Sharma, (1995). The essential oils from

flowers and leaves of the weed contain a

mixture of 6-demethoxy ageratochromene

and dimer of ageratochromene. Among

chromenes, precocene I and precocene II are

biologically very active. These compounds

act as anti-juvenile hormones and affect

insect development, and are also responsible

for its allelopathic nature.

Several studies have indicated that volatile

oil from this weed is also allelopathic in

nature. Kong et al, (1999) studied the

inhibitory effect of fresh leaves and volatile

oil of A. conyzoideson test plants and

attributed this to the presence of precocenes

and their derivatives and several

monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes (Kong et

al, 1999). Precocene I, precocene II, 3,3-

dimethyl-tert-butylindone and P-

caryophyllene are the major constituents of

volatile oils of A. conyzoides(Kong et al,

1999). Allelochemicals of A. conyzoidesact

synergistically (Kong et al, 1999) and upon

exposure to various environmental stresses,

their allelopathic potential gets intensified.

Kato-Noguchi (2001) reported that extracts

of A. conyzoidesinhibited germination and

growth of Amaranthuscaudatus,

Digilariasanguinalisand Lactuca sativa.

Both radicle and hypocotyl lengths were

severely reduced when test plants were

grovm in field soil previously infested with

A. c nnyzoides. Not only fresh parts even the


residues of the weed interfere with the

growth of plants and other vegetation (Kalia,

1998). Hu and Kong (1997) reported that

allelopathic potential of A. conyzoidesvaries

with the test plant part, developmental stage

and the habitat. Leaves were found to

exhibit more inhibitory effect than stems and

roots. Despite above preliminary reports, the

mechanism of spread of weed at the cost of

other plants still remains to be unknown.

Further, there is lack of information as

regards the changes in soil nutrient

availability upon invasion of the weed. In

order to fill this gap in knowledge, a study

was planned to understand the interference

of Ageratum conyzoideswith test plants.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:Infectious

diseases are a significant cause of morbidity

and mortality worldwide, accounting for

approximately50% of all deaths in tropical

countries and as much as 20% of deaths in

the Americas. Despite the significant

progress made in microbiology and the

control of microorganisms, sporadic

incidents of epidemics due to drug resistant

microorganisms and hitherto unknown

disease-causing microbes pose an enormous

threat to public health. These negative health

trends call for a global initiative for the

development of new strategies for the

prevention and treatment of infectious

disease.

Comprehensive Review on

Phytochemistry of Ageratum

conyzoideslinn: In the present review, an

attempt has been made to congregate the

phytochemical studies done on an important

medicinal plant, Ageratum conyzoides Linn.

(Family Asteraceae) which is widely spread

all over the world, especially in the tropical

and subtropical region. Phytochemical

investigations have revealed that many

components are bioactive due to the

presence of broad range of secondary active

metabolites such as terpenoids, flavonoids,

alkaloids, steroids, and chromene. The plant

has been examined on the basis of the

scientific in vitro, in vivo or clinical

evaluations possessing the major

pharmacological activities that includes

analgesic activity, antimicrobial activity,

anti-inflammatory activity, spasmolytic

effects, gamma radiation effects, anti-cancer

and radical scavenging activity, antimalarial

activity and others activities. The

information summarized here is intended to

serve as a reference tool to practitioners in

the fields of ethno pharmacology, natural

product chemistry and drug discovery

related research.


Since ancient times plants are used as rich

source of medicine. Scientific exploration of

traditional knowledge of use of herbs in

treatment of various ailments is one of the

thrust areas of research. Herbal medicines

are in great demand in the developed as well

as developing countries for primary

healthcare because of their wide biological

and medicinal activities, higher safety

margins and lesser costs. The genus

Ageratum is derived from the Greek words

‘a geras’ meaning non-aging which refers to

long life-time of plant and the species

epithet ‘konyz’ is the Greek name of

Inulahelenium which resembles the plant.

Ageratum conyzoides Linn.(Family

Asteraceae, Tribe Eupatoriae) is an annual

herb with a long history of traditional

medicinal use in the tropical and sub-

tropical region of the world, commonly

known as Billy goat weeds. The stems and

leaves of the plant are covered fully with

fine white hairs.

Pharmacognostic Studies on the Whole

Plants of Ageratum Conyzoides Linn: To

study detailed pharmacognostic profile of

whole plant of Ageratum ConyzoidesLinn.

(Asteraceae), known as appa grass and an

important medicinal plant in the traditional

medicinal system of India. Whole plants of

Ageratum ConyzoidesLinn. were studied by

macroscopy, pharmacognostic anatomy,

powder analysis, quantitative microscopy,

histo-chemical characters and physico-

chemical standards and other methods for

standardization were performed by WHO

and pharmacopeia recommended methods.

Macroscopically, the leaves are stalked

ovate, subacute, crenate with ciliate margins

and 4-10cm long and 1-5cm wide, the stem

are pink or greenish yellow covered with

fine white hairs and flowers are purple to

white, arranged in close terminal

inflorescences. Fruits (achene) are easily

dispersed. Roots are yellowish brown and

root base nodes and internodes. Transverse

section of leaf showed the presence of

spongy mesophyll, vascular bundles,

multicellular glandular trichomes and

diacytic stomata, pericyclicfibres and

calcium oxalate crystals in stem, Phelloderm

and granular secretion staining pink with

iodine in the Pholem parenchyma are some

of the diagnostic features noted from

anatomical study. Powder microscopy of

whole plant revealed the presence of

parenchyma with oil cells, glandular

trichome, fibres and diacytic stomata. The

investigations also included leaf surface

data, quantitative leaf microscopy and

physico chemical parameters such as ash

values, extractive values, crude fibre content


and loss on drying. The results of the study

can serve as a valuable source of

information and provide suitable standards

for identification of A.conyzoides in future

investigations and applications.

Ageratum conyzoidesLinn. (Asteraceae) is

commonly known as Appa grass and goat

weed in English, Pumpillu in Tamil and

Visadodi in Hindi. It is a polymorphic,

aromatic, annual herb native to tropical

America. It is a naturalized as a weed

throughout India and also found in the

middle Andaman. The genus Ageratum is

derived from the Greek words ‘a geras’

meaning non-aging which refers to long life-

time of plant and the species epithet ‘konyz’

is the Greek name of Inulahelenium which

resembles the plant. The plant can be

identified by its pale green and flowers are

pale blue or white, malodorous 50-80

flowered in corymbs. It flowers during Oct-

Nov.

Different parts of this plant have been used

in folkloric system of medicine to treat wide

panel of disease such as boils, sores, tetanus,

skin diseases, fever, chronic ulcer, intra-

uterine problems, eye ailments, rheumatism,

asthma, stomach disorders etc

Leaves of the plant is traditionally used as

wound healer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic,

antipyretic, antispasmodic

&gastroprotective, antimicrobial, anti-

diabetic, anticancer, antiulcer, anti-oxidant,

haematopoietic, Larvicidal and mosquito

repellants and insecticidal and anthelmintic.

Stem is traditionally used as wound-healer,

antioxidant, antitumor and antimicrobial and

anti-inflammatory. Whole plant is

traditionally used as Analgesic and anti-

inflammatory, antiulcer, anti-diabetic,

anticonvulsant, Radio protective,

brancodilatator and antimicrobial.

Macroscopic characters: Habit -Annual,

30-90 cm high; stem erect, branched, terete,

more or less hairy. Leaves – pale green,

aromatic odour, pungent taste, arranged as

opposite or the upper alternate (5-7.5 ×2.5-

5cm) broadly ovate, sub-acute, crenate and

with ciliate margins, more or less hairy on

both side with cuneate base. Petioles- 2.5-

3.2 cm long, hairy. Flowers - pale blue (or)

white, malodorous 50-80 flowered, in

corymbs. Involucres bracts are linear, very

acute, ribbed on the back, ciliolate and with

scarious margins. Pappus - serrulate base,

equaling the corolla. Achenes - 2-2.5mm

long, sharply angled, sometimes glandular,

attenuated at the base, achenes glabrous or

thinly hariy, with awntipped, serrate pappus

– scales (Figure 1).


Figure 1: The Entire Plant of Ageratum

conyzoides Linn.

Microscopic characteristics

Leaf microscopy: TS of leaf showed upper

and lower epidermis of thin polygonal cells

with wavy margin. The cells of both upper

and lower epidermis are one cell in

thickness with regular intervals. Some

epidermis cell modified into epidermal hairs,

which are having biseriate, covering, multi

cellular, glandular trichomes. Palisade layer

are well distinguished and spongy

mesophyll cells are much more

differentiated and loosely arranged and

intercellular spaces are found. The midrib

portion on leaf contains 2-3 layers of

collenchymatous layers on both epidermises.

The vascular bundle is surrounded by

parenchymatous cells, which is radiated with

xylem and phloem. Diacytic stomata are

seen in both upper and lower epidermis

(Figure 2).

UE- Upper Epidermis; PC- Polygonal Cells;

VB-Vascular Bundles; SP- Spongy

Parenchyma; MGT-Multi Cellular,

Glandular Trichome.

Figure 2: T.S of Leaves of Ageratum

Conyzoides Linn.

Microscopy: TS of stem showed epidermis

made of quadrangular parenchymatous cells

and having cuticularized stomata. Cortex is

chlorenchymatous, outer zone of radically

elongated cells and inner zone of spongy

parenchyma. Pericycle lined with lignified

pericyclic fibers. Hypodermal fibers located

below the ridges. Mesocortical fibers are

present in group manner. Calcium oxalate

crystal is present in the cortex. Vascular

bundle are collateral about 6-10 secondary

xylem forms a complete ring in old stems

(Figure 3).

Root microscopy: TS of root showed

stratified cork with 1-3 layers of small cells,

into two layers of larger cells, suberised and

layer cells are lignified. Phelloderm contains

1-2 rows of cellulosic parenchyma. Phloem

contains sieve tubes and parenchyma


alternating with medullary ray, 2-3 cells

wide. Tetrarch xylem with small vessels,

parenchyma, and fibers, large celled

medullary ray (Figure 4).

CC- Chlorenchymatous Cell; PL-

Phelloderm; X- Xylem; P- Phloem; MR-

Medullary Ray

Figure 3: T.S of Stem of Ageratum

Conyzoides Linn.

PD- Phelloderm; X- Xylem; P- Phloem;

MR- Medullary Ray

Figure 4: T.S of Root of Ageratum

conyzoides Linn.

Histochemical colour reactions:

Histochemical color reactions were carried

out on the whole plant transverse sections by

the standard methods and results were given

Fig 5-10.

Figure 5: T.S. of Root mounted in

Toludine Blue O showed the presence of

carboxylated poly saccharides-150X

Figure 6: T.S of the Stem mounted in

Nile-blue A. showed the presence of

steroid-150X


Figure 7: T.S of the Root mounted in

Lugols solution showed the presence of

Tannins

Figure 8: T.S of the Stem mounted in

caustic alkali with hydrochloride showed

the presence of calcium oxalate crystals

Figure 9: T.S of Stem mounted in Aniline

sulphate with sulphuric acid showed the

presence of Lignin

Figure 10: T.S of Root mounted in Iodine

solution with sulphuric acid shows the

presence of cellulose

Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and

pharmacology of Ageratum

conyzoidesLinn: In the present review, an

attempt has been made to congregate the

traditional, phytochemical and

pharmacological studies done on an

important medicinal plant, Ageratum

conyzoidesLinn. (Family Asteraceae) which

is widely spread all over the world,

especially in the tropical and subtropical

region. There are many reports on folk and

traditional uses that include wound dressing,

skin diseases, ophthalmic, colic, ulcers

treatment, diarrhoea, dysentery, fever,

gynecological diseases, sleeping sickness,

mouthwash, anti-inflammatory, insecticides,

etc. Phytochemical investigations have

revealed that many components are

bioactive due to the presence of broad range

of secondary active metabolites such as

terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids,

and chromene. The plant has been examined

on the basis of the scientific in vitro, in vivo

or clinical evaluations possessing the major

pharmacological activities that includes

analgesic activity, antimicrobial activity,

anti-inflammatory activity, spasmolytic

effects, gamma radiation effects, anti-cancer

and radical scavenging activity, antimalarial

activity and others activities. The

information summarized here is intended to


serve as a reference tool to practitioners in

the fields of ethnopharmacology, natural

product chemistry and drug discovery

related research.

The genus Ageratum is derived from the

Greek words ‘a geras’ meaning non-aging

which refers to long life-time of plant and

the species epithet ‘konyz’ is the Greek

name of Inulaheleniumwhich resembles the

plant. Ageratum conyzoidesLinn. (Family

Asteraceae, Tribe Eupatoriae) is an annual

herb with a long history of traditional

medicinal use in the tropical and sub-

tropical region of the world, commonly

known as Billy goat weeds. The stems and

leaves of the plant are covered fully with

fine white hairs. The leaves are ovate in

shape and grow up to 7.5 cm long. The

flowers are arranged in terminal

inflorescences which are white in colour.

The fruits are achaenes and easily dispersed

by air. The mature plant is used for its

haemostatic, anti-inflammatory,

antispasmodic, antiasthmatic, properties for

the treatment of wounds and in bacterial

infections. The essential oil found in it can

inhibit the growth and production of

toxigenic strain of Aspergillusparasiticus, a

new biological activity which indicates as a

useful tool for a better understanding of the

complex pathway of aflatoxin biosynthesis.

The plant extract is found to have

cardiovascular depressant activity, has

antispasmodic effects (Achola et al., 1998),

antioxidant activity and insecticidal

activities (Amal et al., 2010). A.

conyzoideshas larvicidal and growth

inhibitory activity exhibited in the 2nd and

4th instar larvae of the Anopheles stephensi.

The water soluble fraction (WSF)obtained

from a hydroalcohol extract of A.

conyzoides, was evaluated for possible

analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. It

was also demonstrated that WSF (20 to 50

mg/kg; i.p.) treatment reduced the articular

incapacitation induced by carrageenin (300

μg) in rats. A number of flavones have been

isolated including 8-hydroxy-5, 6, 7, 3, 4, 5-

hexamethoxy flavones. Besides these, the

genus is well known for its chromenes and

flavonoids contents. In India, ayurvedic

study has found out that the root of the plant

is useful in feverand possesses anti-

helmintic and anti-dysentric properties.

However, studies reveal that the plant

contains toxic properties and inhibits the

growth of other native plants of the invaded

area, thereby leading to declination of the

productivity. The essential oil obtains by

steam distillation has been reported to have

a powerful nauseating odour. The plant is

not eaten by humans except when taken as


medicinal purposes; however, it is used to

feed fish, domestic guinea pigs, cattle and

horses. In Manipur, India, the whole plant is

used traditionally as hair lotion known as

‘Cheng- hi’ which is prepared by boiling the

plant with rice water. The plant has also

been found to be poisonous to rabbits due to

the presence of coumarin and hydrogen

cyanide (HCN) (Abbiw, 1990). It has also

been reported that the plant might contain

allelochemicals when the acetone extract

residue of the plant inhibits the germination

and growth of the roots and shoots of other

plants. It has been said that crude extracts

from A. conyzoidesoffer the possibility of

biocontrol of plant pathogenic fungi. The

leaves of the plant are reported to have anti-

inflammatory properties, with no apparent

hepatotoxicity (Moura et al., 2005). The

released watersoluble phenolic acids

contents from the leaf debris of the plant

into the soil environment affect the early

growth of rice to a worst extent (Daisy et al.,

2009). The essential oil of A. conyzoideshas

very strong smell and has been tested for its

anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-

pyretic activities. This review is aimed to

summarize on pharmacological, biological

activities of this valuable herbs.

Antibacterial activity of ageratum

conyzoideslinn: Ageratum conyzoidesis a

noxious weed regarded as harmful allelopath

for crops. The present study was conducted

in four different solvent extracts of

Ageratum conyzoides(Linn.) (Asteraceae) to

assess the antibacterial potential against

human pathogenic bacteria under in vitro

condition. The agar well diffusion method

was used to test the antibacterial activity of

two populations of A. conyzoidescollected

from Mansa district of Punjab and Mandi

district of Himachal Pradesh against five

human pathogenic bacteria i.e gram +ve

(Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus)

and gram –ve (Escherichia coli,

Klebsiellapneumoniaeand Pseudomonas

aeruginosa). In the experimental studies, the

largest inhibition zones were recorded in

petroleum ether and acetone extract in

Mansa and Mandi populations respectively

against all five human pathogenic bacteria

that were comparable to standard antibiotic

chloramphenicol. Moderate inhibition

growth was observed in chloroform and

methanol extract treated bacteria. The results

obtained from this study indicated that A.

conyzoidesshows intraspecific variability in

their antibacterial potential which may be

due to environmental factors.

Plants can form an excellent source of

medications for countering the diseases as

they are easily accessible and the ailment


fighting compounds produced by them are

natural in origin. They are therefore

biologically more compatible for

consumption than the synthetic produced

drugs. Plants have been used for curing

various ailments since time immemorial.

Ageratum is one such plant which has long

been used in folk medicine. The medicinal

properties of plants are attributed to the

secondary metabolites synthesized in the

plants and increasing attention has been

directed towards the use of these for the

treatment of many infectious diseases. The

aim of the present study was to evaluate the

antibacterial potential of different solvent

extracts of two populations of A.

conyzoidesagainst human pathogenic

bacteria.

CONCLUSION:Ageratum conyzoidesa

native of Central and South America, has

now become a dominant species in various

tropical and subtropical coimtries including

India. It is a destructive weed of

agroecosystems and invades cultivated fields

and reduces growth and productivity of

plants. Not only can the cultivated fields, the

weed even be seen growing luxuriantly in

other ecosystems also such as wastelands,

grasslands and open unattended areas. All

these observations suggest that the weed

possesses some interference mechanism,

possibly allelopathy that provides selective

advantage to it.Although, the

pharmacological properties of A.

conyzoidesseem to have been determined,

the mechanism of these principles is still

unknown. The bioassay guided for isolation

and identification of the bioactive

components are still needed and detailed

researches are also required to reveal the

structure activity relationship of these active

constituents. Outcome of the future research

in the aforementioned areas will provide a

convincing support for the future clinical

uses of A. conyzoidesin modern

medicine.Lastly, attempt was made to

identify various allelochemicals found in A.

conyzoides., Eight phenolic acids were

found to be present in organic extracts of

different parts of A. conyzoideswhen

analyzed through High Performance Liquid

Chromatography (HPLC). These included p-

coumaric acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid,

hydroxybenzoic acid, anisic acid and

syringic acid. In green leaves, all these were

found to be present while only two p-

coumaric acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid

were present in brown leaves. However, two

remained unidentified. Their presence in

different parts of weed suggests that these

may be responsible for observed growth

inhibitory effects on test plants All these


results show that A. conyzoidesexert

inhibitory effect on plants through the

release of allelochemicals in soil from its

different parts.

REFERENCES:

1. Wiedenfeld H, Roder E (1991).

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Ageratum

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2. Sharma PD, Sharma OP (1995).

Natural products chemistry and biological

properties of the Ageratum plant.Toxicol.

Environ. Chem. 50:213.

3. Xu T, Kong C, Hu F (1999).

Allelopathy of Ageratum conyzoides III:

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Ageratum on plants under different nutrient

levels. YingyongShengtaiXuebao. 10:748-

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4. Kalia, B.D. and C.M. Singh. 1998.

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5. Achola, KJ, et.al, Bronchodilating

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conyzoides extract, Pharmaceutical Biology,

1998, 36(2), 93-96.

6. Amal MMN, Sami AK, Marcel K,

Reto B, Wai EA, Thomas JS (2010). The

antiprotozoal activity methylated flavonoids

from Ageratum conyzoides L. J.

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7. Abbiw DK (1990). Useful plants of

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8. Moura Ac, Silva EL, FragaMC,et.al,

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