| Introduction: |
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The name asthisanhari (Cissus quadrangularis) is derived from its use in healing bone fractures. The plant grows commonly in the hotter and drier regions of India, including the Deccan peninsula, extending west to the lower eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and south to Travencore. It is also wide spread in the drier parts of Africa and Arabia. Cissus is known to be an ancient medical plant, with optimal healing in white tissue areas of the body (tendons, ligaments, etc). Extract of Cissus quadrangularis is known to help increase the delivery of nutrients to soft tissue. It also helps heal fractures by increases in new bone growth, and has been shown to relieve arthritis and osteoarthritis when used topically as a balm. The entire plant is considered to be an alterative, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac and useful in gastrointestinal disorders. |
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| Major Chemical Constituents: |
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| The major components of Cissus quadrangularis are triterpenoids, steroids, stilbenes, flavonoids, and lipids. |
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| Pharmacological Actions |
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Bone healing activity & Improvement of Joint movement:1,2,3,4,5
Modern research has shed light on Cissus' ability to speed bone healing by showing it acts as a glucocorticoid antagonist. Since anabolic/androgenic compounds are well known to act as antagonists to the glucocorticoid receptor as well as promote bone growth and fracture healing, it has been postulated that Cissus possesses anabolic and/or androgenic properties. While the increased rate of bone healing may be of great significance to persons suffering from chronic diseases like osteoporosis. Another study showed that it enhanced the rate of healing of the fractured bones by influencing the early regeneration process of connective tissue and mineralization. |
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Increase in Bone mineral density: 6,7,8
Ethanol extract of Cissus quadrangularis was evaluated for its anti-osteoporotic activity in ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis at different dose levels. Results of a study showed that the ethanol extract of the plant had a definite antiosteoporotic effect and it acts by stimulation of metabolism and increased uptake of the minerals calcium, sulfur and strontium by the osteoblasts in fracture healing. |
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| Herb Drug interactions: |
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There are no known herb drug intereactions. |
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| Safety: 9 |
| The fresh juice of the plant can irritate the skin and cause itching. The LD50 of Cissus quadrangularis was 681 mg/kg body wight which was administered by IP in mice. |
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| Reference |
| 1 |
Chopra SS, Patel MR, Awadhiya RP. Studies of Cissus quadrangularis in experimental fracture repair: a histopathological study Indian J Med Res. 1976 Sep;64(9):1365-8 |
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| 2 |
Chopra SS, Patel MR, Gupta LP, Datta IC. Studies on Cissus quadrangularis in experimental fracture repair: effect on chemical parameters in blood Indian J Med Res. 1975 Jun;63(6):824-8. |
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| 3 |
Prasad GC, Udupa KN. Effect of Cisss quadrangularis on the healing of cortisone treated fractures. Indian J Med Res. 1963 Jul;51:667-76. |
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| 4 |
Shirwaikar A, Khan S, Malini S. Antiosteoporotic effect of ethanol extract of Cissus quadrangularis Linn. on ovariectomized rat. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Dec;89(2-3):245-50 |
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| 5 |
Udupa KN, Parsad G, Sen SP 1965 The effect of phytogenic anabolic steroids of Cissus quadrangularis in the acceleration of fracture repair. Life Science 4(3):317 |
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| 6 |
Shirwaikar A, Khan S, Malini S, Antiosteoporotic effect of ethanol extract of Cissus quadrangularis Linn. on ovariectomized rat. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 89 (2003) 245–250 |
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| 7 |
Udupa, K.N., Prasad, G., 1964a. 10 Further studies on the effect of Cissus quadrangularis in accelerating fracture healing. Indian Journal of Medical Research 52, 26. |
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| 8 |
Udupa, K.N., Prasad, G., 1964b. Biochemical and Ca45 studies on the effect of Cissus quadrangularis in fracture healing. Indian Journal of Medical Research 52, 480–487. |
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| 9 |
Dhawan BN, Dubey MP, Mehrotra BN, Rastogi RP, Tandon JS 1980 Screening of Indian medicinal plants for biological activity: Part IX. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 18:594 |
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