Boerhavia diffusa (Punarnava)
Introduction: Boerhavia diffusa is an herbaceous member of the family Nyctaginaceae. It is found growing wild all over India and other Asian countries, to an altitude of 2000m, in sandy soil and on waste ground. It has a long history of uses by indigenous and tribal people and in ayurvedic or natural herbal medicines. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that B. diffusa possesses diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antifibrinolytic, anticonvulsant, and antibacterial properties, which makes it a very useful medicinal plant. The aqueous extracts of roots are also a rich source of a basic protein, known as systemic resistance inducing protein. The aqueous solution of this protein, when applied before virus infection/inoculation, induces strong systemic resistance in several susceptible plants against commonly occurring viruses. All these properties have made this plant very interesting, and the plant has played an important role in the treatment of human and plant diseases. Major Chemical Constituents: The major chemical constituents present in the plant are rotenoids, lignans, and xanthones. Pharmacological Actions Immunomodulation:1 The alkaloidal fraction of Boerhavia diffusa was studied for its effect on cellular and humoral functions in mice. Oral administration of the fraction (25-100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited SRBC-induced delayed hypersensitivity reactions in mice. However, the inhibition was observed only during post-immunization drug treatment, while no effect during pre-immunization drug treatment was observed. A significant dose-related increase in antibody titre was observed during pre- and post-immunization treatment. It did not display any mitogenic activity. Thus, the present study has shown the in vivo immunostimulatory activity of Boerhavia diffusa alkaloidal fraction without an in vitro effect. Stress Management: 2,3 Male albino rats/mice to evaluate the effect of Boerhavia diffusa on the open field activity (OFB) emotional and aggression response (Behavioural), GABA and glutamate levels in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, brain stem and hypothalamus of rat brain (Biochemical) and gastric ulcerogenesis (pathological) in rats. The Boerhavia diffusa showed a stress protective effect by an improvement in the GABA levels and normalization of OFB upto 1 hr; protection from haemorrhagic ulcers which clearly pointed GABA nergic involvement in the anti-stress activity of the Boerhavia diffusa. Diuretic & Anti-inflammatory:4,5,6,7 Boerhavia diffusa possesses diuretic and anti-inflammatory activities. A combination of these two activities makes Boerhavia diffusa a very useful drug for the treatment of inflammatory renal diseases and common clinical problems like nephrotic syndrome. Spasmolytic: 8,9 A methanol extract of Boerhavia diffusa exhibited a significant spasmolytic activity in the guinea pig ileum, probably through a direct effect on the smooth muscle. Herb Drug interactions There are no known herb drug interactions. Safety: 10 Vomiting may be associated with large doses of the drug, on account of its emetic properties. The nature and extent of the untoward reactions following the administration of extract in graded doses up to 3 g kg-1 body weight orally, was studied in albino mice. Reference 1 Mungantiwar AA, Nair AM, Shinde UA, Dikshit VJ, Saraf MN, Thakur VS, Sainis KB., Studies on the immunomodulatory effects of Boerhavia diffusa alkaloidal fraction.  J.Ethnopharmacol 1999 May; 65(2): 125-131. 2 Sharma K, Pasha KV, Dandiya PC., Effect of Boerhavia diffusa Linn. on GABA levels of the brain  during stress.(Abstract). Conference of Pharmacology and Symposium on Herbal Drugs. March (New Delhi), 1991 p. P31, 15 3 Sharma K, Vali Pasha K, Dandiya PC., Effect of Boerhavia diffusa on behavioural biochemical and pathological manifestations of stress Proc. 24th Indian Pharmacol Soc.Conference, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, Dec. 29-31,1991, PA 3, (Eng). 4 Mudgal V. Studies on medicinal properties of Convolvulus pluricaulis and Boerhavia diffusa. Planta Med. 1975 Aug; 28(1): 62-8. 5 Mishra AS, Verma J, Kumari N 1995 Studies on medicinal properties of Convolvulus pluricaulis and Boerhaviadiffusa. Biojournal 6(1/2): 31 6 Sangameswaran B. Balakrishnan N., Bhaskar V., and Jayakar B. Anti-inflammatory and Anti-bacterial Activity of leaves of BoerhaviaDiffusa Linn. Pharmacognosy Network Worldwide 2008: 4 (15): 65-68. 7 Singh, R.H. and Udupa, K.N., Studies on the Indian indigenious drug B. diffusa. IV. Preliminiary controlled clinical trial in nephrotic syndrome, J. Res. Indian Med. 7, 28, 1972 8 Borrelli, F., et al. "Spasmolytic effects of nonprenylated rotenoid constituents of Boerhaviadiffusa roots." J. Nat. Prod. 2006; 69(6): 903-6. 9 Borrelli, F., et al. "Spasmolytic effects of nonprenylated rotenoid constituents of Boerhaviadiffusa roots." J. Nat. Prod. 2006; 69(6): 903-6. 10 Sumanth M, Mustafa SS, Antistress, Adoptogenic and Immunopotentiating Activity Roots of Boerhaviadiffusa in Mice. International journal of Pharmacology 3 (5): 416-420, 2007