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Submitted by :

VIKRAM SINGH

VINOD Kr. SINGH

VISHWAJEET CHAURASIA

B.Pharm VI Semester

PROJECT ON PLANT MAJITH

(Rubia cordifolia)

Submitted to:

Mrs SHUBHINI A. SARAF

Director, Pharmacy

Under Supervision of:

Mrs MANAVI

Lecturer, Pharmacognosy

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INTRODUCTION

Rubia cordifolia, often known as Common Madder or Indian Madder, is a species of

flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It has been cultivated for a red pigment

derived from roots.

Manjistha is considered to be one of the most valuable herbs in Ayurvedic medicine and has

been largely used by physicians since ancient times. Charaka has categorized it as varnya

(improving the complexion), jvarahara (febrifuge), visaghna (detoxifier) and purisa sangra

haniya (gives from to the feaces). Sushruta has mentioned it as pittasamsamana – pacifies

the pitta doshas. It is also a well known rasayana – a rejuvenative

The roots contain resinous and extractive matter, gum, sugar, coloring matter, - the salt of

the pigment being a red crystalline principle purpurine. The yellow glucoside manjistin and a

xanthine are also present, besides garancin and orange red alizarin. Anthroquinones

pentacyclic triterpenes, quinines, cyclic hexapeptides and diethylesters are also reported.

Other compounds isolated are xantho-purpurin, glucose, sucrose and ruberythric acid.

Alizarin, purpurin, purpurin carbohydrate, quinizarine and christofin isolated from roots.

Antitumor cyclic hexapeptides – RA-V and RA-VII – isolated from roots.

Common names of this plant include Manjistha in Sanskrit, Marathi, Kannada and Bengali,

Majith in Hindi and Gujarati, Tamaralli in Telugu, Manditti in Tamil.

DESCRIPTION

It can grow to 1.5 m in height. The evergreen leaves are 5–10 cm long and 2–3 cm

broad, produced in whorls of 4-7 starlike around the central stem. It climbs with tiny

hooks at the leaves and stems. The flowers are small (3–5 mm across), with five pale

yellow petals, in dense racemes, and appear from June to August, followed by small (4–

6 mm diameter) red to black berries. The roots can be over 1 m long, up to 12 mm thick.

It prefers loamy soils with a constant level of moisture. Madders are used as food plants

for the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Hummingbird hawk moth

The plant grows throughout India, in hilly districts upto 3500 meters height. It is a perennial,

herbaceous climber. The stems are often long, rough and grooved, with woody base. The

leaves often in whorls of four. They are 5-10 cm long, variable, cordate – ovate to cordate-

lanceolate, rough above and smooth beneath. The flowers, 0.3-2.5 cm long, blackish or

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greenish black, in terminal panicled glabrous cymes. The fruits are globose, fleshy, smooth,

purplish black when ripe and shining. The roots are 4-8 cm long, reddish, cylindrical,

flexuous, with a thin red bark.

PROPERTIES

Manjistha is bitter, astringent and sweet in taste, pungent in the post digestive effect and

has hot potency. It alleviates all the three doshas. It possesses dry and heavy (to digest

attributes. It is a potent blood purifier and anti diarrhoeal.

USES

Rubia cordifolia was an economically important source of a red pigment in many regions of

Asia, Europe and Africa. It was extensively cultivated from antiquity until the mid nineteenth

century. The plant's roots contain a organic compound called Alizarin, that gives its red

colour to a textile dye known as Rose madder

Figure 1 Alizarin

It was also used as a colourant , especially for paint, that is referred to as Madder lake. The

substance was also derived other species; Rubia tinctorum, also widely cultivated, and the

Asiatic species Rubia argyi (H. Léveillé & Vaniot) H. Hara ex Lauener (synonym = Rubia akane

Nakai[1]

, based on the Japanese Aka (アカ or あか) = red, and ne (ネ or ね) = root). The

invention of a synthesized duplicate, an anthracene compound called alizarin, greatly

reduced demand for the natural derivative.[2]

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The roots of Rubia cordifolia are also the source of a medicine used in Ayurveda, this is commonly

known in Ayurvedic Sanskrit as Manjistha (or Manjista or Manjishta) and the commercial product in

Hindi as Manjith

ABSTRACTS

1. Rubia cordifolia Linn. (Manjistha) – Controversial Identity

S.K. Mitra and R. Kannan, R&D Center, The Himalaya Drug Company,Bangalore-562123.

India.

Abstract

In indigenous systems of medicine, Rubia cordifolia Linn. is the accepted source for

Manjistha. A recent research found that market samples of R. cordifolia from south India

were derived from R. tinctorium. However, R. tinctorium is not a south Indian plant. A plant,

which is not found in south India, might not be a source of the adulterant. Polymorphism

and geographical variations were reported in R. cordifolia. We concluded that the south

Indian sources of R. cordifolia might be derived from a different subspecies or geographical

type or plants with different polymorphism and never be from R. tinctorium.

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2. Comparative Studies of Rubia cordifolia L. and its Commercial Samples

S. Pathania, R. Daman, S. Bhandari, B. Singh and Brij Lal*,Institute of Himalayan Bioresource

Technology (CSIR),Palampur-176 061(H.P.), India

Abstract

Rubia cordifolia L. (Family - Rubiaceae), is a common medicinal plant used in the

preparation of different formulations in Ayurveda. The root of the plant is commonly

known as Manjistha and its dried samples are sold in the market under the name

Manjith. The present study was carried out to compare the authentic sample from

its commercial samples keeping in mind the pharmacopoeial standards of Ayurveda.

The quantitative phytochemical studies of the drug samples were carried out by

studying the percentage of ash, extractive values and qualitative screening was

carried out by Thin Layer Chromatography and different biochemical tests. Thus, the

present work aims in forming certain parameters for identification of drug with the

help of various phytochemical observations.

3. Modulatory role of alizarin from Rubia cordifolia L. against genotoxicity

of mutagens

Prabhjit Kaur, Madhu Chandel, Subodh Kumar, Neeraj Kumar, Bikram Singh, Satwinderjeet

Kaur,Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar,

Punjab 143005, India.

Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial

Biological Research Association.

Abstract

Rubia cordifolia L. (Rubiaceae) is an important medicinal plant used in the Ayurvedic

medicinal system. Its use as a traditional therapeutic has been related to the treatment of

skin disorders and cancer. Besides its medicinal value, anthraquinones from this plant are

used as natural food colourants and as natural hair dyes. Dyes derived from natural sources

have emerged as important alternatives to synthetic dyes. Alizarin (1,2-

dihydroxyanthraquinone) was isolated and characterized from R. cordifolia L. and evaluated

for its antigenotoxic potential against a battery of mutagens viz. 4-nitro-o-

phenylenediamine (NPD) and 2-aminofluorene (2-AF) in Ames assay using TA98 tester strain

of Salmonella typhimurium; hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide

(4NQO) in SOS chromotest using PQ37 strain of Escherichia coli and in Comet assay using

human blood lymphocytes. Our results showed that alizarin possessed significant

modulatory role against the genotoxicity of mutagen

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4. Potent antitumor activity of Rubia cordifolia

Parag R. Patel1*, Bhuvan P. Raval2, Hamsraj A. Karanth1, Vishal R. Patel3

International Journal of Phytomedicine

Abstract

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death. Rubia cordifolia is a traditional ayurvedic

medicine being used as a remedy for various ailments.

Results: Dichloromethane fraction of Rubia cordifolia extract exhibited potent inhibition of

human leukaemia cell line and human histolytic lymphoma cell line while was found to be

lesser active against normal human kidney cells displaying safety for normal cells.

Conclusion: Rubia cordifolia can be a source of potent pharmacophore for treatment of

disease like cancer.

5. A Comprehensive Review of Rubia cordifolia Linn.

Nilambari Deshkar *, Shrikant Tilloo, Vipinchandra Pande

Gurunanak College of Pharmacy, Khasra No.81/1, Mauza Nari, Behind C.P. Foundry, Near

Dixit Nagar, Kamptee

Road, Nagpur 440026 Maharashtra

, Pharmacognosy Reviews

Vol 2, Issue 3, Jan-Jun, 2008

Abstract

Rubia cordifolia Linn. (manjishtha) is popularly known as ‘Indian Madder’. Roots are

traditionally used as anti-inflammatory, astringent, tonic, antiseptic, deobstruent,

antidysenteric, blood purifier. It is an important ingredient of many ayurvedic preparations.

The roots are natural red dye and are very effective in purifying blood. Various chemical

constituents like anthraquinones, iridoid glycoside, naphthoic acid esters, bicyclic

hexapeptides, and triterpenes have been isolated and identified from Rubia cordifolia Linn.

The present review article is focused on phytochemical, pharmacological and other

important aspects of manjishtha

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MARKETED PREPERATIONS

Vicco Herbal Tooth Paste is used in hardening of gums and teeth , cleansing and healing of wounds ,

tooth caries and inflammation of gums . It is also used on toothache and in the treatment of

disorders of gums and teeth

Kamadhenu , ABlood purifier

Anti-Stress Massage Oil relieves stress

and fatigue, relaxes the body.

Improves skin texture and keeps it

healthy.

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Saryadyasava is a Blood Purifier

Name of the Product: Ayurvita Manjistha tablets

Description:

Manjistha roots are beneficial in skin conditions. They show anti-inflammatory, anodyne,

antiseptic and diuretic effect. It is a potent blood purifier. It is also known to be useful in the

conditions of obstruction of lymph channels

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Ubton provides a natural radiant glow

Herbal soothing body lotion (for dry skin)

An antibacterial, anti-inflammatory , which maintains a good complexion.

Rishi Stress Relief Cooling Oil helps relieve stress and also rejuvenates the

skin.

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Rumalaya tablet possesses analgesic and anti-arthritic properties. By regulating the

mediators of inflammation, Rumalaya tablet exerts a significant anti-inflammatory activity.

. Nefrotec Disintegrates urinary calculi and prevents recurrence

Inhibits precipitation of calcium biphosphate and oxalate crystals and prevents super-saturation of

urine

Phal grihtam is indicated in Vaginal diseases , uterine diseases , stimulates the

generative function in women and man, (useful in infertility), pregnancy and other after delivery

complications.

Antagonizes the effect of inflammatory mediators

Checks inflammatory process

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formulation for extra dry skin

This oil is good for joints and swelling. It help relieve arthritis, gout,

rheumatic diseases, inflammation, and heat. It is an excellent oil for Pitta doshas

REFERENCES

• www.himalayahealthcare.com

• www.herbalcureindia.com

• Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology(CSIR)

• en.wikipedia.org

• www.phcogrev.com

• www.vedantikaherbals.com

• www.ayurvitaindia.com

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• www.healthbyayurveda.in

• International Journal of Phytomedicine

• www.britannica.com

• www.arjournals.org

• www.iitk.ac.in

• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

• www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_medline