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International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science Research

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ISSN: 2249-0337 Review Article A REVIEW ON PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND BIOLOGICAL ASSAYS OF AVERRHOA BILIMBI.
K. Ashok Kumar, SK. Gousia, Anupama, M. And J. Naveena Lavanya Latha.* Department of Biotechnology, Krishna University, Machilipatnam-520001, A.P. India. Received 22 August 2013; accepted 19 September 2013 Abstract Averrhoa bilimbi is a multipurpose, long-lived tropical plant commonly known as Bilimbi, Cucumber Tree belonging to family Oxalidaceae. The plant has an enormous fiscal value since most of the parts like leaves, bark, flowers, fruits, seeds, roots or the whole plant are used as alternative medicine to treat a variety of diseases especially diabetes. In the present review, we tried to give the existing information on photochemical constituents, conventional medicinal uses and antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cyto- toxic activities, anti-oxidant activity, antifertility, and antibacterial activities and other biological activities of Averrhoa bilimbi..The extract of various parts of Averrhoa bilimbi is medicinally used as a folk remedy for many symptoms and showed significant pharmacological activities so it is necessary to perform further investigation to isolate such pharmacological active compounds which can be used in production of novel drugs for various diseases. Overall, this paper gives an overview on covering the biology, and various commercial and therapeutic applications. 2013 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved Keywords : Averrhoa bilimbi , phytochemical constituents., Pharmacological, Therapeutic applications. INTRODUCTION From ancient times plants have provided a source of inspiration for novel drug compounds, as plant derived medicines have made large contributions to human health and well being. (1) Many Indian Plants are used therapeutically for their antidiabetic effect and antibacterial activities. (2) Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) is medicinally used as a folk remedy for many symptoms. It is used for the treatment of fever, mumps, pimples, inflammation of the rectum and diabetes, itches, boils, rheumatism, syphilis, bilious colic, whooping cough, hypertension, stomach ache, ulcer and as a cooling drink.(3). Classification of Averrhoa bilimbi, L Kingdom: Plantae Plants Subkingdom: Tracheobionta- Vascular plants Superdivision: Spermatophyta- Seed plants Division; MagnoliophytaFlowering plants Class: Dicotyledonae Subclass: Rosidae Order: Oxalidales Family: Oxalidaceae Genus: Averrhoa Species: blimbi L. The bilimbi, Averrhoa bilimbi, L., (Oxalidaceae), is closely allied to the carambola but quite different in appearance, manner of fruiting, flavor and uses. The only strictly English names are "cucumber tree" and "tree sorrel", bestowed by the British in colonial times. "Bilimbi" is the common name in India and has become widely used. Other names: Averrhoa obtusangula stokes, Belimbing asam, Belimbing buluh, Belimbing wuluh, Kamias, kalamias, Iba, kolonanas, Ta-ling-pring Common names: Creole: bimbling plum, blimblin English: bilimbi, cucumber tree, tree sorrel Filipino: kamias French: blimblim, blinblin, carambolier bilimbi, cornichon des Indes, zibeline, zibeline blonde Indonesian: belimbing asam, belimbing wuluh Khmer: tralong tong Malay: belimbing asam, belimbing buloh, billingbilling, Spanish: grosella china, mimbro, pepino de Indias, tiriguro, vinagrillo Thai: kaling pring, taling pling (4) Origin and Distribution Perhaps a native of the Moluccas, the bilimbi is cultivated throughout Indonesia; is cultivated and semi-wild everywhere in the Philippines; is much grown in Ceylon and Burma. It is very common in Thailand, Malaya and Singapore; frequent in gardens across the plains of India, and has run wild in all the warmest areas of that country. In 1793, the bilimbi was carried from the island of Timor to Jamaica and, after some years, was planted in Cuba and

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Puerto Rico, Trinidad, the lowlands of Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Surinam, Guyana and Brazil, and even in northern Argentina, and it is very

popular among the Asiatic residents of those countries as it must be in Hawaii. Still it is grown only as an occasional curiosity in southern Florida (5).

flowers of A.bilimbi. Description The tree is attractive, long-lived, reaches 16 to 33 ft (5-10 m) in height; has a short trunk soon dividing into a number of upright branches. The leaves, very similar to those of the Otaheite gooseberry and mainly clustered at the branch tips, are alternate, imparipirmate; 12 to 24 in (30-60 cm) long, with 11 to 37 alternate or subopposite leaflets, ovate or oblong, with rounded base and pointed tip; downy; medium-green on the upper surface, pale on the underside; 3/4 to 4 in (2-10 cm) long, 1/2 to11/8in (1.2-1.25 cm) wide. Small, fragrant, 5-petalled flowers, yellowish-green or purplish marked with dark-purple, are borne in small, hairy panicles emerging directly from the trunk and oldest, thickest branches and some twigs, as do the clusters of curious fruits. The bilimbi is ellipsoid, obovoid or nearly cylindrical, faintly 5-sided, 1 1/2 to 4 in (4-10 cm) long; capped by a thin, star-shaped calyx at the stem-end and tipped with 5 hair-like floral remnants at the apex. The fruit is crisp when unripe, turns from bright-green to yellowishgreen, ivory or nearly white when ripe and falls to the ground. The outer skin is glossy, very thin, soft and tender, and the flesh green, jelly-like, juicy and extremely acid. There may be a few (perhaps 6 or 7) flattened, disc-like seeds about 1/4 in (6 mm) wide, smooth and brown (6). Natural Habitat A. bilimbi is a tropical tree, more sensitive to cold especially when very young. It prefers direct sunlightand seasonally humid climates, with evenly distributed rainfall throughout most of the year but there should be a 2-3 month dry season (7). Varieties:- Bilimbis are all much the same wherever they are grown, but P.J. Wester reported that a form with sweet fruits had been discovered in the Philippines. Climate:- The bilimbi is a tropical species, more sensitive to cold. The tree makes slow growth in shady or semishady situations. It should be in full sun. Soil: - While the bilimbi does best in rich, moist, but welldrained soil, it grows and fruits quite well on sand or limestone. Propagation:-Most efforts at grafting and budding have not been rewarding, Air-layering has been practiced in Indonesia for many years. However, the tree is more widely grown from seed. Bilimbi trees are vigorous and receive no special horticultural attention. (8) Parts used: Leaves, Flower, Fruits The fruit conserve is administered as a treatment for coughs, beri-beri and biliousness. Syrup prepared from the fruit is taken as a cure for fever and inflammation and to stop rectal bleeding and alleviate internal hemorrhoids. The leaves are applied as a paste or poulticed on itches, swellings of mumps and rheumatism, and on skin eruption. They are applied on bites of poisonous creatures. Malaysians take the leaves fresh or fermented as a treatment for venereal disease. A leaf infusion is a remedy for coughs and is taken after childbirth as a tonic. A leaf decoction is taken to relieve rectal inflammation. A flower infusion is said to be effective against coughs and thrush. In Java, the fruits combined with pepper are eaten to cause sweating when people are feeling "under the weather". A paste of pickled bilimbi is smeared all over the body to hasten recovery after a fever. In some villages in India, the fruit of the bilimbi was used in folk medicine to control obesity. This led to further studies on its Antihyperlipidemic properties (9). Phytochemical constituents The fruit extracts contain flavonoids, saponins and triterpenoid. The chemical constituents of A. bilimbi include Amino acids, citric acid, cyanidin3OhDglucoside, phenolics, potassium ion, sugars ,

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vitamin A. The Bark extracts contains - Alkolids, saponins, flavonoids.(10) Nutrition in Bilimbi :Bilimbi is a nutrition-packed, starchy fruit that grows mostly on the trunk of tall trees. It is a rich source of VitaminC.Otherthanthe vitamins and minerals,the fruit also consists offibre,ash,protein and moisture aswellas minerals. Nutritional value for 100 g of edible portion0 g Vitamin B1 (thiamine) 0.010 mg Ascorbic Acid 15.6 mg Vitamin A 0.036 mg Moisture94.2-94.7g Protein--0.61g Fiber--0.6g Ash--0.31-0.40g Calcium--3.4g Phosphorus--11.1mg Iron--1.01mg Caroten--e0.035mg Thiamine--0.010mg Riboflavin--0.302mg Niacin--0.302mg Ascorbic Acid--15.5mg (11) Pharmacological profile of Averrhoa bilimbi Various extracts of fruit and leaves of Averrhoa bilimbi have antidiabetic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic activities, anti-oxidant activity, antifertility, and antibacterial activities. These properties of Averrhoa bilimbi fruit have been accredited to its saponins, tannins and Flavonoids. Anti-diabetic activity:Ethanolic leaf extract of Averrhoa bilimbi and its semi purified fractions possesses hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties in Type I diabetic rats when administered intraperiton eally as well as orally. The semi purified fractions of the ethanolic extract of Aver rhoa bilimbi leaves such as AF (Aqueous Fraction) and BuF (Butanol Fraction) have potent hypoglycemic and hypotriglyceridemic properties in HFDSTZdiabetic rats. AF (125 mg/kg BW) caused a significant hypoglycemic effect at 30 min, 60 min, 120min and 180 min when compared with vehicle control. The body weight food and water intakes of the rats did not differ significantly in AF and BuFtreated diabetic rats.The semipurified fractions of the ethanolic extract of Averrhoa bilimbi leaves such as AF and BuF ameliorated diabetes in HFDSTZdiabetic rats. Moreover, AF is more potent than BuF in the amelioration of hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia. However, the chemical nature of potential antihyperglycemic component (s) of AF and BuF remains to be elucidated. (12) Antimicrobial Activity Antibacterial activity of aqueous and chloroform extracts of the leaves and fruits of Averrhoa bilimbi L. using the standard disc diffusion test the crude dried extracts, which were prepared in the different concentrations prior to the antibacterial assay. The results obtained demonstrated the potential of A. bilimbi extracts against some of the Grampositive and-negative bacteria. The 100 mg mL-1 aqueous

extract of A. bilimbis leaves and fruits showed positive antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive S. aureus, S. epidermis B. cereus, C. diphteriae with the latter also gave positive effect against K. rhizophila. Both extracts also exhibited positive antibacterial activity against the Gramnegative S. typhi, C. fuendii and A. hydrophila. On the other hand, the 100 mg mL 1 chloroform extracts of A. bilimbis leaves and fruits demonstrated antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive S. aureus, S. epidermis, B. cereus, K. rhizophila and C. diphteriae and Gramnegative S. typhi, C. fuendii, A. hydrophila and P. vulgaris. In conclusion, the A. bilimbi leaves and fruits possess potential antibacterial activity (13). Cytotoxic activity Methanolic extract of Averrhoa bilimbi fruits and its different fractions were assessed for cytotoxic potential using brine shrimp lethality bioassay which is a wellaccepted assay for the primary screening of plant extracts. In methanolic extract and its four fractions showed significant cytotoxic potential demonstrating that samples are biologically active, The LC50 values of crude methanolic extract, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, petether and aqueous soluble fractions of Averrhoa bilimbi fruits were found to be 0.005, 5.691, 1.198, 0.781 and 6.123g/ml, respectively. Therefore, the obtained result tends to suggest that plant extract of Averrhoa bilimbi fruits may be candidate for anticancer therapy. In light of the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the plant extract and its fractions possesses cytotoxic potential. Positive result of methanolic extract and its different organic solvent soluble fractions led us to the inference that the plant extract may contain bioactive compounds (14). Antithrombotic& antioxidant activities Antithrombotic and antioxidant activities of Averrhoa bilimbi Linn in normal and diabetic rats.(15) different methanol/water extracts, and their total phenolic content (TPC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) compared. The TAC was evaluated using established in vitro models such as 1,1,diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging activity, 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) scavenging assay, total reducing power, phosphor molybdenum assay and metal chelating activity. All the extracts of the dried fruit showed lower TPC compared to the fresh bilimbi extracts by 23-88%, TAC of which corresponded accordingly. The investigation revealed that A. bilimbi was a good source of antioxidants (16). Toxicity studies The preliminary general toxicity of A. bilimbi fruit in mice it was conducted by Savithri et al has studied Oral administration of the fruit homogenate daily for 15 days did not result in any toxic symptoms up to a dose of 1 g/kg (17). Thrombolytic activity Natural sources the extractives of Averrhoa bilimbi were assessed for thrombolytic activity and the resulted ad, Addition of 100l SK, a positive control (30,000 I.U.), to the clots and subsequent incubation for 90 minutes at 37C, showed 92.81% lysis of clot. At the same time, distilled water was treated as negative control which exhibited negligible lysis of clot (1.32%). In this study, the

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chloroform soluble fraction (CSF) exhibited highest thrombolytic activity (8.13%), these are used for the discovery of cardio-protective drugs (18). Antifertility Study in mice showed the kamias fruit as a potential source of antifertility drug. A butanol fraction of the ethanol extract exhibited a higher reduction in fertility rate. The activity may be due to either or both of the steroidal glucosides and potassium oxalate constituents. Conclusion Plants are the major source for bio-active compounds they are meant for several biological activities in human and animals. As the prevalence of obesity and Diabetes mellitus are very common in our society, research on plants with antidiabetic and antibacterial properties as evidenced by the current research on the various plant parts. For optimum effect in patients, the components responsible should be isolated, purified and further clinical trials has to be conducted. By using the fruit of A.bilimbi many pharmacological works are done but pharmacological potential of other parts of the plant is required to be worked out and fractions or purified compounds for potential anticancer and antitumor activity, which may aid ongoing anticancer drug discovery. Hence, further studies are recommended to be undertaken to isolate the exact compound(s) and to better recognize the mechanism of such actions scientifically. Acknowledgement: The authors are grateful to the authors/editors of all those articles, journals and books from where the data for this article has been reviewed and discussed. REFERENCES 1) Aiyelaagbe, O.O., E.K. Adesogan, O. Ekundayand B.A. Adeniyi, 2000. The antimicro bial activity of roots of Jateopha podagrica Hook. Phytother. Res., 14: 60-62. 2) Patel et al,Polyherbal ayurvedic formulation and Diabetic rats, Indian Journal of Experimental Biology,Vol.47,July 2009, pp 564- 570 3) A. Saravana Kumar, S. Kavimani, K.N. Jayaveera a review on medicinal plants with potential antidiabetic activity , International Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2(2), 2011, 53-60.

4) Averrhoea bilimbi available at http://www. crcnetbase. com/doi/abs/10.1201/97802 03025901.ch15 http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/bilimbi. 5) Morton, J. 1987. Bilimbi. p. 128 129 In: Fruits of warm climates. Julia F. Morton, Miami, FL. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Averrhoa_bilimbi 6) http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org 7) Anitha Roy, Geetha RV, Lakshmi T, Averrhoa bilimbi LinnNatures Drug Store- A Pharmacological Review, International Journal of Drug Development & Research, July-September 2011, Vol. 3, Issue 3, ISSN 0975-9344 /. 8) Kamrul Islam Siddique1 et al.., Phytochemical screenings, thrombolytic activity and antimicrobial properties of the bark extracts of Averrhoa bilimbi, Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science Vol. 3 (03), pp. 094-096, March, 2013, ISSN 2231-3354 9) http://www.fruitsinfo.com/bilimbi-tropicalfruit. php fruits- Whole fruits Bilimbi 10) Saravana Kumar A. et al International Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2(2), 2011, 53-60 11) Z.A. Zakaria, H. Zaiton, E.F.P. Henie, A.M. Mat Jais and E.N.H. Engku Zainuddin, 2007. In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Averrhoa bilimbi L. Leaves and Fruits Extracts. International Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2: 96-100. 12) Ali et al., Preliminary cytotoxic activity of different extracts of Averrhoa bilimbi (fruits) International CurrentPharmaceuticalJournalFebruary2013,2(3): 83-84 http:// www.icpjonline.com/ documents/ Vol2Issue3/09. 13) Center of Animal & Plant Biotechnology, Head of Research Centers, Assoc. Prof. Dr Hjh. Harita Hashim 14) Jyoti Bala Chauhan* and Wethroe Kapfo- EFFECT OF TRADITIONAL SUN-DRYING ON PHENOLIC ANTIOXIDANTS OF AVERRHOA BILIMBI L. International Journal of Applied Biology and Pharmaceutical Technology, ISSN:0976-4550 15) Savithri et al Studies on the Antihyperlipidemic Properties of Averrhoa bilimbi Fruit in Rats, Planta Med 2009; 75(1) 55-58 16) Siddique et al. / Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 3 (03); 2013: 095

Source of support: Nil; Conflict of interest: None declared

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International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science Research 2013; 3(4): 136-139