Download Scientific Name: Ammi visnaga (L

Scientific Name: Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam.Fl. Fl. Franc.
Synonym:
Daucus visnaga L.
Local Name:
Khilla
Common Name: ToothpickPlant,Bishop’sWeed
Arabic name:
Khilla Baladi; Bizr Alkhilla,Kulla,Khilal,Sowak Alnabi,Saq
Alaroos
Family:
Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Ammi visnaga Flowers
Whole Plant
Herbarium Sample
Description:
Annual herb, 30-150 cm high, slightly aromatic stems erect, robust, much branching,
cylindrical, furrowed, densely leafy. Leaves alternate , with special odor, with broad
leaf sheath, lower leaves pinnate, with narrowly- liner lobes; middle and upper leaves
2-3 pinnate, with filiform lobes. Inflorescence dense umbel with numerous rays( to
120 or more) slender in flower, thickened and stiff in fruit, hence used as toothpick
.Bracts pinnatisect, as long as or longer than the rays; bracteoles small, flowers white,
pedicels erect, rigid in fruit, fruit cremocarp about 2 mm long, glabrous with thick
ribs, separated into two mericarps, mericarp 1mm c.x 2mml., greenish brown.
Habitat & Distribution:
Widespread in the Mediterranean and western Asia, found also in North & South
America and Europe. In U.A.E it is cultivated in private farms.
Part(s) Used:
Seeds, rays of umbel
Traditional & Medicinal Uses:
Seeds are diuretic, carminative, stimulant, antispasmodic, vasodialator. Seeds used to
treat congestion of prostrate gland, urinary diseases and renal stones, asthma remedy,
respiratory problems, circulatory herb used to relax the coronary arteries, and helps to
improve blood supply to the heart muscle and thereby eases angina, and also for
dental care. The dry umbel rays used as toothpicks.
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
Parts studied: Fruits
Microscopical Description :
A transverse section of the mericarp is an almost regular pentagon with one of its
sides slightly longer which is the commissural surface at which the two mericarps are
attached. The epicarp is composed of a layer of indistinct colourless, polygonal,
papillose, thin-walled parenchyma covered with faintly striated cuticle. The mesocarp
encloses vascular strands on the outer side of which is found a large space (lacuna)
just below the epidermis of each primary ridge. Below the epidermal part of the
secondary ridges are a group of radiating club-shaped parenchyma cells that are
associated with the secretroy canals known as vittae which are filled with dense
brown contents. The endocarp is composed of elongated thin-walled cells which are
surrounding the seed testa. The testa is composed of one or two layers of thin-walled
cells that contain brown pigments. The endosperm of the seed consists of almost
rounded parenchyma cells having intercellar spaces. The cells contain aleurone grains
and microrosette crystals of calcium oxalate ( DPS,ZCHRTM Unpub.Results).
a
b
c
(a). TS of the one-seeded khella fruit (mericarp) showing its characteristic features
including the pentagon shape brownish seed coat, large endosperm, vascular tissues,
vittae, lacunae, and here is showing a cotyledon. (b). Section of the one-seed fruit
showing the ctyledons surrounded by the endospermic parenchyma cells. (c).
Longitudinal section of the fruit (mericarp) near its tip showing the vascular tissues
(dark grey) and the vittae (oil canals, violet brown). (Magnifications: x 100, x 400 and
x 100, repectively).
Organoleptic characteristics
Appearance:
Colour:
Odour:
Taste:
Solid powder
Brown
Aromatic
Bitter
Physico-chemical constants:
Loss in weight on drying at 1050C(%):
4.60
Solubilities (% )
Alcohol solubility:
Water solubility:
10%ethanolic extractive:
16.8-18.40
34 .4-35.04
32 – 34
Ash values (%)
Total ash:
Acid insoluble ash:
Water soluble ash:
9.4
0.6
2.9
Successive extractives (%)
Petroleum ether:
Chloroform (60-800C):
Absolute ethanol:
10% ethanolic water extract:
3.40
6.10
11.10
19.50
pH values
pH value of 1% solution:
pH value of 10% solution:
5.92
5.64
The above results areunder process of publication(DPS ZCHRTM unpub.Results).
Chemical Constituents:
The major constituents are -pyrones (furanochromone) derivates, 2-4%) with the
principle compounds being khellin (0.3-1.2%) and visnagin (0.05-0.3%) other pyrones of significance are khellinol, amiol, khellol and its glucoside khellenin (0.31.0%). A second group of major constituents are the coumarins (0.2-0.5%), the
principle of which is the pyranocoumarin, visudin. Essential oil contains camphor, terpinol, linatool.( DPS, ZCHRTM Unpub. results ; Dic. Nat. Prod.,Buckingham
1994).
Pharmacological and Toxicological studies:
Visnagin, an active principle extracted from the fruits of Ammi visnaga, exhibits
peripheral and coronary vasodilator activities and has been used for the treatment of
angina pectoris (Durate et. al., 1995). Khellin and visnagin, both inhibited the spasms,
indicating an involvement of a calcium channel-blocking mode of action for visnagin
(Rauwald and Odenthal, 1994). Khellin was found to increase HDL-cholesterol in
normolipaemic subjects (Harvengt et. al., l983). Visnagin caused non-specific
inhibition of vascular smooth muscle contractility (Durate at. al., l995).
Ammi visnaga seeds were studied on experimentally induced kidney stones in male
Wistar albino rats. Uremia and hyperbilirubinaemia observed in glycolic acid control
group were found to be ameliorated by Ammi visnaga seed extract treatment (Khan
et. al., 2001). Ammi visnaga extract was reported to be good for expulsion of urinary
crystals (Westendorf, et. al., l981) The plant was found to possess hypoglycemic
activity (Yaniv et. al., l987).
The pharmacological and toxicological studies carried out in our laboratory and
the results in brief, on Ammi visnaga ( 10% ethanolic extract) have been given
below.The results presented without references showed unpublished data (ZCHRTM,
DBMS Unpub.Results).
ACTIVITY
RESULTS
Antinociceptive activity-Writhing
Not found effective.
Anti-hypertension activityAnaesthetic rats
Not effective at the dose studied.
Vasorelaxant activity-Isolated
aortic strip
Produced relaxation.
Vasorelaxant activity-Isolated rat
mesenteric bed
Vosorelaxant.
Cardiovascular studies
Produced hypotension (Zakaria et. Al.,
2000c)
Effect on uterine muscle-Isolated
rat uterus
Shifted DRC (Dose response curve).
Anti-coagulant activity
Increased prothrombin time.
Effect on GIT smooth muscleIsolated rabbit jejunum
Reduced amplitude.
Effect on GIT smooth muscleIsolated rat fundus
Reduced resting tension.
Gross behavioral studiesTremor/Twitches
Produced tremors.
Gross behavioral studiesRespiration rate
Respiration increased initially.
Gross behavioral studiesDiarrhea, Urination
Not effective.
Mortality
Mortality at higher dose recorded.
Motor co-ordination (String &
Platform test)
Not effective.
Anti-asthmatic activity-Guinea
pig tracheal chain
Bronchorelaxant.
Anti-asthmatic activity-In vivo
studies in Guinea pig
Increased onset time.
Anti-tiussive activity-SO2 induced
Reduced recovery time.
Acute toxicity studies
Produced symptoms.
LD50 evaluation oral
>6.4 g/kg.
LD50 evaluation i.p.
Between 1.6-3.2 g/kg.
Summary of the results:
Ammi spp. is strong vasorelaxant. The extract is found brochio-relaxant.
References:
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Batanouny,K.H. et al, Wild Medicinal Plants in Egypt: an Inventory to
Support Conservation and Sustainable Use. (1999) Palm Press, Egypt, ISBN
977 5089 24 7.
Boulos, L., El Hadidi, M.N., The Weed flora of Egypt. (1994 ) Revised
Edition. The American University in Cairo Press, Egypt. ISBN 977 424 323 4.
Buckingham, J.(edit.),(1994).Dictionary of Natural Products.Chapman&
Hall.Vol.7.London,UK.p400
Chevallier ,A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. (1996) Dorling
Kindersley Limited, London. ISBN 0 7513 03143.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Zyed Complex for Herbal Research and
Traditional Medicine, Unpublished results.
Department of Pharmacognostic Sciences, Zyed Complex for Herbal Research
and Traditional Medicine (ZCHRTM ),unpublished results.
Duarte J, Perez-Vizcaino F, Torres AI, Zarzuelo A, Jimenez J, Tamargo J.
(1995) Vasodilator effects of visnagin in isolated rat vascular smooth muscle.
Eur J Pharmacol. 14;286(2):115-22.
Durate J, Vallejo I, Perez-Vizcaino F, Jimenez R, Zarzuelo A, Tamargo
(19970 J.Effects of visnadine on rat isolated vascular smooth muscles. Planta
Med. 63(3):233-6.
Harvengt C, Desager JP., (1983) HDL-cholesterol increase in normolipaemic
subjects on khellin: a pilot study. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 3(5):363-6.
Khan ZA, Assiri AM, Al-Afghani HM, Maghrabi TM., (2001) Inhibition of
oxalate nephrolithiasis with Ammi visnaga (AI-Khillah). Int Urol Nephrol.
33(4):605-8.
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Kotb, T. F. Medicinal Plants in Libya. Arab Encyclopedia House. (1985)
Tripoli-Libya.
Radhakrishnan,R..,Zakaria, M.N.M.,Islam,M.W.Ismail,A.7Al Attas A,(2000)
Relaxant effects of Ammi visnaga& Ruta chapalensis on guinea pig
tracheal smooth muscle.J.Pharm Pharmacol 52 (suppl)227.
Rauwald HW, Brehm O, Odenthal KP. (1994)The involvement of a Ca2+
channel blocking mode of action in the pharmacology of Ammi visnaga fruits.
Planta Med. 60(2):101-5.
Weiss, R.F., Fintelman,V. Herbal Medicine. (2000) Second Edition; Thieme,
Stuttgart. New York.
Westendorf J, Vahlensieck W., (1981) Spasmolytic and contractile effects of a
combination product from plants on the smooth muscle of the guinea pigs,
Arzneimittelforschung. 31(1):40-3.
Yaniv Z, Dafni A, Friedman J, Palevitch D. (1987) Plants used for the
treatment of diabetes in Israel. J Ethnopharmacol. 19(2):145-51.
Zakaria, M.N.M., Islam, M.W., Radhakrishnan, R., Liu, X.M., Chen, H.B.,
Chan, K. & Al Attas, A. (2000a). Hypotensive effects of Ammi visnaga and
Ruta chalepensis extract in DOCA-salt treated rats. J. Pharm Pharmacol 52
(Suppl.) 268.
Zakaria, M.N.M., Islam, M.W., Rdhakrishnan, R., Chen, H.B., Liu,
X.M., Chan, K., & Attas, A., (2000b). Cardiovascular effects of Ammi
visnaga extracts rats. J. Pharm Pharmacol 52 (Suppl.) 267.
.‫( دار اﻟﺠﺒﻞ –ﺑﯿﺮوت‬1987 ) .‫ ﻣﻌﺠﻢ اﻟﻨﺒﺎﺗﺎت اﻟﻄﺒﯿﺔ‬.‫ ودﯾﻊ‬،‫ﺟﺒﺮ‬
‫ اﻟﻄﺒﻌﺔ‬-‫( اﻟﺠﺰء اﻷول‬1988)،‫ ﺟﻮرج ﻟﺤﺎم اﻟﻨﺒﺎﺗﺎت اﻟﻄﺒﯿﺔ واﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎﻻﺗﮭﺎ‬،‫ﻣﺤﻤﺪ اﻟﻌﻮدات‬
.‫ ﺳﻮرﯾﺎ‬،‫اﻷھﺎﻟﻲ‬.‫اﻟﺜﺎﻧﯿﺔ‬
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