INTERNATIONALE PHARMACEUTICA SCIENCIA

| Jan-March 2011 | Vol. 1 | Issue 1 |

Available online http://www.ipharmsciencia.com
2011 IPS
REVIEW ARTICLE

An update on Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

Harleen Kaur Sandhar1, Mohanjit
kaur1, Bimlesh Kumar*1, Sunil
Prasher1

ABSTRACT
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. is one of the well known medicinal plant. It is a
common wild hardy large shrub or small tree. It is native of India, distributed wild

*1Department

of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Lovely Professional
University, Phagwara, Punjab

in sub-Himalayan regions and southwards to Godavari. Different parts of this plant

are used in Indian systems of medicine for various pharmacological actions. The

Date of Submission: 03-01-2011

Date of Acceptance: 12-03-2011
Conflict of interest: Nil
Source of support: Non1

present study will give comprehensive information on the chemical constituents and
mainly pharmacological activities of this plant.
Key words: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, arbortristiside, nyctanthoside.

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn is a small sacred

Distribution:

ornamental tree known across the country for its

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn is native to India,

fragrant white flowers

[1,2].

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Linn is commonly known as Night Jasmine

[3,4]

Parijata[5].

or

distributed widely in sub-Himalayan regions and

southward to Godavari

[8]

. It is also distributed in

Bangladesh, Indo-Pak subcontinent and South-East

Sanskrit: Parijatha

Asia [9], tropical and sub-tropical South East Asia [10]. It

Bengali: Shephalika, Siuli

grows in Indo-Malayan region and distributed across

Hindi:

Terai tracts as well as Burma and Ceylon

Harashringara, Harsingar

[11].

It

Malayalam: Parijatakam

tolerates moderate shade and is often found as

Marathi: Parijathak [6]

undergrowth in dry deciduous forests [2].

Gujarati: Jayaparvati
Oriya:

Gangasiuli

Botanical description:

Kannada: Parijatha

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn is a large shrub growing

Tamil:

to 10 m tall, with flaky grey bark [12] , stiff whitish hair,

Parijata, Paghala

and rough leaves

. The flowers

Taxonomic classification:

young branches

Kingdom: Plantae

are fragrant, with a five- to eight-lobed white corolla

Division: Magnoliophyta

with an orangered centre; they are produced in clusters

Class: Magnoliopsida

of two to seven together, with individual flowers

Order: Lamiales

opening at dusk and finishing at dawn [12]. Calyx is 6-8

Family: Oleaceae

mm long, narrowly campanulate, hairy outside,

[11]

glaborous inside truncate or obscurely toothed or

Genus: Nyctanthes
Species: arbor-tristis

[6]

lobed, ciliated. Corolla glaborous and is more than 13

[6,7]

Address for correspondence

mm long; tube is 6-8 mm long, orange coloured, about

*Bimlesh Kumar, Asst. Prof.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Lovely Professional University, Ludhiana-Jalandhar
G.T. Road., Phagwara (Punjab), 144402. India
*Mob: +919872260354, +919216260354
E-mail: bimlesh.12474@lpu.co.in, bimlesh1@gmail.com

equalling the limbs; lobes are white and unequally

77

obcordate and cuneate

[6].

The leaves are opposite,

simple, 612 cm long and 26.5 cm broad, with an

entire margin. The fruit is a flat brown heart-shaped to

Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia

Jan-Mar 2011

Vol 1 Issue 1

Bimlesh Kumar, et al: An update on Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

round capsule 2 cm diameter, with two sections each

medicine for the treament of various diseases

These are long and broad,

such as sciatica, chronic fever, rheumatism,

obcordate or nearly orbicular, compressed, 2-celled.

and internal worm infections, and as a

Seeds are exalbuminous, testa are thick, outer layer of

laxative, diaphoretic and diuretic

large transparent cells is heavily vascularised [6].

are used in cough. Leaf juice is mixed in honey

Traditional uses:

and given thrice daily for the treatment of

The flowers are gathered for religious offerings and to

cough. Paste of leaves is given with honey for

make garlands. The orange heart is used for dyeing silk

the treatment of fever, high blood pressure and

and cotton, a practice that started with Buddhist

diabetes

monks whose orange robes were given their colour by

digestives, antidote to reptile venoms, mild

this flower. The Parijata is regarded in Hindu

bitter tonic, laxative, diaphoretic and diuretic.

mythology as one of the five wish-granting trees of

Leaves are also used in the enlargement of

Devaloka [13].

spleen [3, 4]. The leaf juice is used to treat loss of

Different parts of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn are

appetite,

known to possess various ailments by tribal people of

disorders, intestinal worms, chronic fever,

India esp. Orissa and Bihar along with its use in

obstinate sciatica, rheumatism and fever with

Ayurveda, Sidha and Unani systems of medicines

rigors

containing a single seed

[12].

[3, 6,

[17].

[18].

[16].

Leaves

Juice of the leaves is used as

piles,

liver

disorders,

biliary

The extracted juice of leaves acts as

14].

a cholagogue, laxative and mild bitter tonic. It

It is used in several ailments including sciatica,

is given with little sugar to children as a

rheumatism, gout and other joint diseases.

remedy for intestinal ailments. In several

1.

FLOWERS: The flowers are used as stomachic,

cases, it has been found to act efficaciously for

carminative, astringent to bowel, antibilious,

malaria fever

expectorant, hair tonic and in the treatment of

extensively used by Ayurvedic physicians for

and in the

the treatment of arthritis, obstinate sciatica,

piles and various skin diseases

[9]

treatment of ophthalmic purposes

[6].

The

[2].

The decoction of leaves is

malaria, intestinal worms and as a tonic,

[19].

The expressed

bright orange corolla tubes of the flowers

cholagogue and laxative

contain a coloring substance nyctanthin, which

juice of leaves (10ml BD X 5days) is a native

is identical with -Crocetin (C20H24O4) from

remedy for intermittent fever [13].

Saffron. The corolla tubes were formerly used

4. SEEDS: The seeds are used as anthelmintics

for dyeing silk, sometimes together with

and in alopecia. It is antibilious and an

Safflower or turmeric [2].

expectorant, and is also useful in bilious fevers

[18].

2. STEM: Traditionally the powdered stem bark

scurfy affections of scalp, piles and skin

is given in rheumatic joint pain, in treatment

of malaria and also used as an expectorant

[4].

The bark is used for the treatment of snakebite

diseases [6].
The indigenous people of Chittoor district Andhra

The stem bark pounded

Pradesh (India) widely use the whole plant for

with Zingiber officinale and Piper longum is

treatment of cancer, root for fever, sciatica, anorexia;

boiled in water and the resultant liquid is

bark as expectorant [7].

and bronchitis

[9, 15].

The powdered seeds are used to cure

taken for two days for the treatment of malaria

in Orissa. The resulting paste on mixing with

Chemical constituents:

Arjuna bark is rubbed on the body to treat

Recent

internal injury and for joint broken bones [6].

polysaccharides, iridoid glycosides, henylpropanoid

3. LEAVES: The leaves of Nyctanthes arbortristis Linn. are used extensively in Ayurvedic
Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia

Jan-Mar 2011

researches

reported

the

glycoside, -sitosterol, -amyrin,

isolation

of

hentri-acontane,

benzoic acid, glycosides, nyctanthoside-a iridoid,

Vol 1 Issue 1

78

Bimlesh Kumar, et al: An update on Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

nyctanthic acid, Friedelin and lupeol and oleanolic acid

and

6-hydroxylonganin

glucosidesarborsides

A,

and

and

C,

H3 C

iridoid
alkaloids,

HO
O

Khatune

CH2
O

OH
H 3C

Iridoid glucosides (arbortristosides-A, B, C) and

plant [20].

OH
H3 C

C 6H 4

Phlobatanins, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides.

6hydroxyloganin has also been isolated from this

HO

OCH3

H
O

OH

HO

OH

O
OH

HO

OH

Fig (iii): Arborside C [6]

Fig (iv): Arborside D [6]

et

al.,

in

2003

hexahydrobenzofuran-7-one

isolated

from

the

4-hydroxy

OCH3

HO

chloroform

HO
OH

extract of flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis. It was

H3 C

found to be antibacterial, larvicidal.

HO

OH

OH

OH

Fig (v) : 6- -hydroxyloganin [6]

O

Fig (i): 4-hydroxy hexahydrobenzofuran-7-one

HO

OH

Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of tertiary

alkaloids

mainly

HO
O

7-(alpha-anilino-p-nitrobenzyl)-8-

quinolinol and quarternary alkaloids belonging to

protoberberines and aporphines

[21, 22].

COOMe

OH

OGlc

Gadgoli et al.,

isolated carotenoid aglycone Ag-NY1 from the orange

Fig (vi)Rengyolone [16]

Fig (vii) Nyctanthoside[24]

coloured tubular calyx of flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-

Nyctantic acid, friedelin, beta-sitosterol and oleanolic

tristis, which exhibited a good membrane stabilising

acid isolated from leaves were used for antiviral

activity as compared to the corresponding glycoside

activity [2]

crocin [23].

The leaves have been found to contain tannic acid,

Three carotenoid glucosides were also isolated from

methyl salicylate, amorphous glucosides, mannitol,

the corolla tubes of the plant. A new phenylpropanoid

resin, ascorbic acid, carotene, and traces of a volatile

glycoside (nyctoside A) has been isolated from the

oil.

seeds and desrhamnosylverbascoside from the leaves.

arbortristosides-B,

Iridoid

glucosides,

arbortristosides-A,

arbortristosides-C

and

6-

Isolation of a cyclohexylethanoid, rengyolone as an

hydroxyloganin isolated from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

antimalarial principle. A new iridoid glucoside, 6-O-

[20].

trans-cinnamoyl-7-O-acetyl-6-hydroxyloganin

and

H
O

three known iridoid glucosides, arborside-C, 6O

hydroxyloganin and nyctanthoside were also isolated

from the same plant.

COOCH3

O
O

HO

CH2OH
OH

H3C

OH
O

HO

HO

O
HO

OCH3

O
OH

HO

O
OH

Fig (viii) Arbortristoside-A[6]

OH

OH

OH

HO

HO

Fig. (ii) Nyctoside A [6]

H3C
O

HO

O
HOH2C

OH

H
O

HO

OH

Fig (ix) Arbortristoside-B [6]

79

Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia

Jan-Mar 2011

Vol 1 Issue 1

Bimlesh Kumar, et al: An update on Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (NAT) leaves has been shown

O
OH

OCH3

to possess anti-arthritic properties. In addition,

decoction of the leaves of NAT has been also shown to

possess hepatoprotective, anti-leishmanial, anti-viral,
H

H 3C

and anti-fungal activities, as well as analgesic,

OH O

antipyretic, and ulcerogenic activities [20].

1.

OH

HO

Antispasmodic activity:

Ethanolic extract of fresh flowers and dried leaves,

HO

Fig (x)Arbortristoside-C [6]

stem and bark of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn was

tested for its antispasmodic activity using guinea pig
ileum. It was found to inhibit contractile response of

OH

O
HO

acetylcholine [8].

OH

HO

2. Antihelmintic activity:

HO

Ethanolic extract of fresh flowers and dried leaves,

stem and bark of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn was

OH

Fig (xi) Desrhamnosylverbascoside [6]

tested for its antihelmintic activity using piperazine

citrate as a standard. The antihelmintic activity was

H3C

studied on the basis of inhibition of contractile effect of

CH3

acetylcholine by various dilutions of this extract. It was

H3 C
H

H
CH3

O
CH3

found that ethanolic extract of seeds and flowers

H

CH3

possess more potent antihelmintic activity than that of

bark and leaves but is less than that of piperazine

CH3

citrate.

CH3

Also,

these

extracts

potentiated

the

antihelmintic activity of atropine, which might be due

Fig (xii) Friedelin [25]

to the inhibition of motility by relaxing and depressing

responsiveness to contractile action of acetylcholine [8].

Seed kernels yield 12-16% of the pale yellow brown

3. Cytotoxic evaluation:

fixed oil, consisting of fixed oil containing glucosides of

Khature et al., in 2003 showed that 4-hydroxy

linoleic, oleic, lignoceric, stearic, palmitic acid and b-

hexahydrobenzofuran-7-one isolated from chloroform

sitosterol. On keeping the oil several weeks at 0

extract of flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn is

tetracyclic triterpenoid acid named nyctanthic acid is

not carcinogenic as it inhibits EAC cell growth only by

deposited

[15, 26, 27, 28, 29].

Flowers

contain

essential

43.27 %.
oils,

coloring

matter

(nyctanthin), mannitol, tannin and glucose. Its roots

are composed of alkaloids, tannins and glucosides

[15, 26,

27, 28].

Also it was found that this compound

possesses no adverse effect on central nervous system

[31].

4. Anti-inflammatory activity:
The water soluble portion of the alcoholic extract of the
leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn was screened

Toxicological Profile

for the presence of anti-inflammatory activity. NAT

Das et al., carried out acute toxicity studies on the

inhibited the acute inflammatory oedema produced by

water soluble fraction of ethanolic extract of different

different phlogistic agents, viz. carrageenin, formalin,

parts of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn at doses of 400

histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and hyaluronidase in

mg/kg to 2000 mg/kg i.p. by staircase method [30].

the hindpaw of rats. The acute inflammatory swelling

in the knee joint of rats induced by turpentine oil was

Reported Pharmacological profile:

Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia

also significantly reduced. In subacute models, NAT

Jan-Mar 2011

Vol 1 Issue 1

80

Bimlesh Kumar, et al: An update on Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

was found to check granulation tissue formation

the ethanol extract of stem bark of Nyctanthes arbor-

significantly in the granuloma pouch and cotton pellet

tristis linn is more useful in the treatment of diabetes

test. Acute and chronic phases of formaldehyde

as it has hypolipidemic effect [4] (Suresh et al., 2010).

induced arthritis were significantly inhibited. NAT was

Ethanolic extract of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

also found to inhibit the inflammation produced by

significantly inhibited TBARS in liver. It was found to

immunological

possess antioxidant and antidiabetic effect [35].

methods,

viz.

Freund's

adjuvant

arthritis and PPD induced tuberculin reaction [32].

Administration of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn leaves

Water- soluble fraction of ethanolic extract of leaves of

and flower chloroform extracts (50, 100 and 200

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn has been screened for

mg/kg) orally for 27 days caused a significant

the anti-inflammatory activity. It was found to

reduction in LPO, SGPT, SGOT, Alk Phos, cholesterol

significantly

oedema

and triglyceride levels on extracts treated STZ diabetic

produced by carragenan, formalin, histamine, 5-

rats, compared to diabetic control rats. Further,

hydroxytryptamine and hyalouronidase in hindpaw of

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn extract treated diabetic

rats. It also reduced acute inflammatory swelling in the

rats showed significant increase in SOD and CAT

knee joint induced by turpentine oil [33].

enzymatic antioxidant activity when compared to

Das et al., in 2008 isolated arbortristoside-A isolated

diabetic control rats. The administration of the extracts

from the ethanolic extract of seeds of Nyctanthes

and glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) improved the activity of

arbor-tristis Linn. Arbortristoside-A was found to

both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and

possess

lipid profile in STZ-induced diabetic rats [20].

inhibit

significant

acute

and

inflammatory

dose-dependent

anti-

inflammatory and antinociceptive activity. It seems

7.

Hepatoprotective activity:

arbortristoside-A inhibited the histamine, serotonin

Liver diseases have become a major stumbling block to

and

its

twentieth century medicine. Capacity for regeneration

inhibiting effect on carrageenan, arachidonic acid,

of the liver is considerable and damage is usually

histamine and serotonin-induced edema suggesting its

extensive before it is evident. The effects of liver

anti-inflammatory activity may be due to the inhibiting

disease are seen when; regeneration of hepatocytes

effect of prostaglandin, histamine and serotonin. The

does

analgesic activity of arbortristoside-A may be due to

hepatocellular failure [36].

the inhibition of the action of prostaglandin [34].

Administration of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the

carrageenan-induced

edema

suggesting

5. Immuno-stimulant:

not

keep

pace

with

damage

leading

to

leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn protect the

Oral administration of ethanolic extract of Nyctanthes

liver from toxic effects of carbontetrachloride by

arbor-tristis Linn at dose of 50, 100, 150, 200 mg/kg

reducing the elevated levels of Serum glutamate

significantly enhanced circulating antibody titre when

pyruvate transaminase, Serum glutamate oxaloacetate

challenged with SRCs and heat-killed Salmonella

transaminase and serum bilirubin (total and direct).

antigens. The chronic administration significantly

Results revealed that both the alcoholic and aqueous

enhanced total WBC count and potentiated DTH

extracts showed significant hepatoprotective activity

reaction. It was concluded that the extract possesses

by reducing the elevated levels of biochemical

immune-bioactivies

[21, 22].

parameters at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight [37].

6. Antidiabetic:

Methanolic extract of leaves of Nycotanthes arbor-

The ethanol extract of stem bark of Nyctanthes arbor-

tristis Linn exhibited significant hepatoregenerative

tristis linn exhibited dose-dependent antidiabetic

potential in acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage.

property. The levels of serum cholesterol and

It acts by protecting against membrane fragility and by

triglycerides were raised in diabetic rats but which

preventing decline in glutathione levels

were lowered significantly with the treatment of stem

aqueous extracts of the leaves and seeds were proved

bark of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis linn. It indicates that

to have antihepatotoxic activity against CCl4 induced

81

Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia

Jan-Mar 2011

[36].

Vol 1 Issue 1

The

Bimlesh Kumar, et al: An update on Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

hepatotoxicity

[ 38, 39].

The ethanolic and aqueous

Nyctanthes

arbor-tristis

Linn

leaf

extracts

are

extract of leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn has

extensively used in Indian traditional medicine. The

been found to be hepatoprotective at a dose of 500

acetone-soluble fraction of its ethyl acetate extract

mg/kg [40].

showed impressive antioxidant activity as revealed by

8. Treatment of arithritis:

several in vitro experiments, e.g., DPPH, hydroxyl and

Arthritis is a disease characterized by joint pain

superoxide radicals, as well as H2O2 scavenging assays.

followed by bone and joint destruction. Cytokines play

Moreover, its preventive capacity against Fe(II)-

a major role in arthritis. Dysregulated expression of

induced lipid peroxidation of liposomes and -ray-

tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) in experimental

induced DNA damage also confirmed this. The strong

animals has been shown to cause destructive arthritis.

reducing power and high phenolics and flavonoids

The development of arthritis is markedly suppressed in

contents could be responsible for the antioxidant

interleukin-

activity [41].

(IL-1)

deficient

collagen-induced

arthritis (CIA). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene disrupted

10. Antibacterial:

mice are resistant to antigen and collagen-induced

Infectious diseases are worlds leading cause of

arthritis. These studies indicate that pro-inflammatory

premature death. Resistance to antimicrobial agents is

cytokines (TNF-, IL-1, and IL-6) play a role in

emerging in a wide variety of pathogens and multiple

arthritis and are potential targets for therapy [20].

drug resistance is becoming common in diverse

Adjuvant induced arithritis model was used to test the

organisms

efficacy of seed, leaves and fruit extract of Nyctanthes

Staphylococcus

arbor-tristis Linn. The results concluded that the mice

Salmonella paratyphi A.

receiving two doses of FCA (Freuds complete

Methanolic extract of leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-

adjuvant): one on

0th

day and other on

12th

day. Daily

such

as

Staphylococcus

epidermis,

aureus,

Salmonella

typhi,

tristis Linn exhibited significant antibacterial activity

treatment with eatracts of leaves and fruit reduced

against

TNF , IL-1 , IL-6 from 14th day; while the seed

epidermis, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A

extract was found to be ineffective. A shift in balance

with MIC value ranging between 1-8 mg/ml [42].

between

proinflammatory

and

anti-inflammatory

Staphylococcus

aureus,

Staphylococcus

11. Antimicrobial:

cytokines was observed in adjuvant-induced mice thus

The frequency of life-threatening infections caused by

favouring inflammation. The extract of leaves and fruit

pathogenic microorganisms has increased worldwide

was found to possess anti-arithritic properties

[20].

and is becoming an important cause of morbidity and

mortality

9. Antioxidant activity:

in

immune

compromised

developing

the body's normal metabolic process. Antioxidants are

microorganisms are resistant to synthetic drugs.

radical scavengers which protect the human body

The stem bark extracts of the plant were tested for

against free radicals that may cause pathological

their in vitro antimicrobial activity by cup plate

conditions such as ischemia, anemia, asthma, arthritis,

method. The test organisms were Staphylococcus

inflammation,

aureus,

Parkinson's

Micrococcus

and

many

in

In living systems, free radicals are generated as part of

neurodegeneration,

countries

patients

luteus,

infectious

Bacillus

subtilis,

diseases, mongolism, ageing process and perhaps

Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida

dementias [19].

albicans and Aspergillus niger. The zone of inhibition

Antioxidant activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the

was carried out by DPPH assay, free radical scavenging

extracts were determined and compared with the

activity, reducing power assay, total antioxidant

standard drugs ciprofloxacin and fluconazole. The

capacity. It was concluded that the plant possesses

chloroform

strong antioxidant activity [19].

antibacterial and antifungal activity whereas the

Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia

Jan-Mar 2011

extract

Vol 1 Issue 1

was

found

to

have

both

82

Bimlesh Kumar, et al: An update on Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

petroleum ether and ethanol extracts possess only

antibacterial activity

[3].

40 and 60% respectively against SFV at a daily dose of

125 mg/kg body weight [46].

12. Antileishmanial activity:

14. Prevention of lung injury:

Tandon et al., in 1991 reported that iridoid glucosides

Liver injury was induced in Swiss mice through

(arbortristosides A, B , C, and 6beta-hydroxy-loganin)

inhalation exposure to silica particles (< 5 mu) using a

isolated from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn possess

Flow Past Nose Only Inhalation Chamber at the rate of

antileishmanial activity by assessing in vitro (against

-10 mg/m3 respirable mass for 5 h. Inhalation of silica

amastigotes in macrophage cultures) and in vivo (in

increased the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha

hamsters) test systems [43].

(TNF-alpha), and of the 66 and 63 kDa peptides in the

Poddar et al., isolated calceolarioside A from the

BAL fluid in comparison to sham-treated control. Pre-

methanolic extract of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

treatment of silica exposed mice with Nyctanthes

leaves

and

arbor-tristis Linn leaf extract significantly prevented

determined its in-vitro antileishmanial study, which

the accumulation of TNF-alpha in the BAL fluid, but

(IC50) was found to be =20g/ml. Its in vivo efficacy

the 66 and 63 kDa peptides remained unchanged. The

was noted at 20 mg/kg body weight when it reduced

extract was also found to be effective in the prevention

the hepatic and splenic parasite burden by 79 and 84

of

%, respectively, in an established model of L. donovani

congestion, edema and infiltration of nucleated cells in

Ag83 infected golden hamster. This is the first report

the interstitial alveolar spaces, and thickening of

describing the isolation of compound calceolarioside A

alveolar septa in mice lungs [47].

from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. and the first

15. CNS depressant action:

by

Bioactivity-guided

fractionation

demonstration of its potent activity against visceral

leishmaniasis

[44].

silica-induced early fibrogenic

reactions like

The leaves, flowers, seeds and barks (600 mg/kg) of

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn showed significant and

Iridoid glycosides isolated from Nyctanthes arbor-

dose-dependent prolongation of onset and duration of

tristis Linn have been found to be potential source as

sleep and was found to cause decrease in dopamine

novel drugs against this disease

Iridoid glycosides from
Nyctanthes arbor-tistis

[45].

Trypanothione
Reductase inhibition

and increase serotonin level. From which it can be

Potential drug
against
Leishmaniasis

concluded that the CNS depressant activity of the

ethanol extracts of seeds, leaves and flowers may be
due to the decrease in dopamine and increase in

The chloroform extract and the isolated compound

serotonin level [30] (Das et al., 2008).

(NCS-2) from its flowers were found to have larvicidal

Additional reported activities:

activity

Prediction of weather:

against

common

filarial

vector,

Culex

quinquefasciatus. The results were also showed that

Nyctanthes

the late instar larvae were more resistant to the

traditionally by people of Tripura for the prediction of

extracts than the early instars [31].

weather. It was scientifically validated by Acharya S.

13. Antiviral activity:

arbor-tristis

Linn

has

been

used

The prediction was done based on the analysis of total

The ethanolic extracts, various fractions and two pure

number of flowers [48].(Acharya s, 2011).

compounds isolated from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Linn were tested against Encephalomyocarditis Virus

CONCLUSION

(EMCV) and Semliki Forest Virus (SFV). There was

Researches revealed that the main active constituents

pronounced in-vitro virus inhibitory activity with the

in Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

ethanolic and n-butanol fractions as well as with the

hydroxyloganin, propanoid lucosides (nyctoside-A),

pure compounds arbortristoside A and arbortristoside

iridoid glucosides (arbortristoside-A, B and C) along

C. In addition, ethanolic extracts and n-butanol

with other glucosides like arborside-C, arborside-D

fraction protected EMCV infected mice to the extent of

and isoorside-C. So far major uses have been found on

83

Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia

Jan-Mar 2011

parts are 6- -

Vol 1 Issue 1

Bimlesh Kumar, et al: An update on Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

the extracts of leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

including bitter tonic, digestive, laxative, diaphoretic,

seeds
8.
Anti-arithritic

diuretic, in spleen enlargement, to cure malarial fever,

blood dysentery, blood purifier, obstinate sciatica,

CCL4 induced
hepatotoxicity [37, 38]
Seed extract ineffective;
Leaves and fruits extracts
reduced TNF , IL-1 , IL-6.
Extract of leaves and fruit
possess anti-arithritic
properties [20]
DPPH assay, free radical
scavenging activity,
reducing power assay, total
antioxidant capacity
concluded it to strongly
possess antioxidant [19]

Seeds,
leaves
and fruits
Whole
plant

body ache, anthelmintic, expectorant, menorrhea,

ulcer even as antidote to reptile venom. This plant has

Leaves
9.

Antioxidant

also been found to be used traditionally. Powdered

Leaves

seeds have been in use to cure scurfy affection of scalp

and in piles and skin diseases. Powdered stem bark are
used traditionally in rheumatic joint pain and internal

10.

Antibacterial

Leaves

Antileishmanial

Leaves

injury. The bark is also used as expectorant along with

other adjuvants. The flowers as such are bitter,

11.

astringent, carminative, stomachic and so used in

Flowers

some of the ophthalmic purposes. The juice of the

flowers is used to prevent graying of hair and baldness.
12.

Antiviral

Table 1: Various pharmacologically reported activities

of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn.:
S.No

ACTIVITY

1.

Antispasmodic

2.

3.

Anthelmintic

Cytoprotective

Part
used
Fresh
flowers,
Dried
leaves,
stem,
bark
Fresh
flowers,
dried
leaves,
stem,
bark
Flowers

Extract

Inference

Ethanolic

Chloroform

Inhibit contractile response

of acetylcholine [8]

Seeds and flowers possess

more potent activity than
bark and leaves. Also
potentiated anthelmintic
activity of atropine [8]
No adverse effects on
central nervous system [30]
Inhibit inflammation
produced by Freund's
adjuvant arthritis and PPD
induced tuberculin reaction
[31]

4.

Antiinflammatory

Seeds

5.

Immunostimulant

Whole
plant
Stem
Bark

6.

Antidiabetic

Whole
plant
Leaves
and
flowers

7.

Hepatoprotective

Leaves

Leaves,

Prevention of
lung injury
13

Ethanolic

Ethanolic

Leaves

Whole
plant

inhibit acute inflammatory

oedema produced by
carragenan, formalin,
histamine, 5hydroxytryptamine and
Ethanolic
hyalouronidase in hindpaw
of rats. It also reduced
acute inflammatory swelling
in the knee joint induced by
turpentine oil [32]
Arbortristoside-A isolated.
arbortristoside-A inhibited
Ethanolic the histamine, serotonin and
carrageenan-induced
edema [33]
Enhanced total WBC count
Ethanolic
and DTH reaction [21, 22].
serum cholesterol and
Ethanolic
triglycerides get lowered;
Antidiabetic [4]
Inhibited TBARS;
Ethanolic
Antidiabetic + antioxidant [34]
increase in SOD and CAT
Chloroform
enzymatic antioxidant
activity; Antidiabetic [20]
significant hepatoprotective
activity by reducing the
Alcoholic,
elevated levels of
Aqueous
biochemical parameters [36]
hepatoregenerative
Methanolic potential in acetaminopheninduced hepatic damage [35]
Aqueous
Hepatoprotective against

Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia

Jan-Mar 2011

Leaf
.

Ethyl
acetate

Potent antioxidant [39]

antibacterial activity against

Staphylococcus aureus,
Methanolic Staphylococcus epidermis,
Salmonella typhi,
Salmonella paratyphi A [40]
Isolated calceolarioside A
which seemed to be potent
Methanolic
against visceral
leishmaniasis [42]
Larvicidal against Culex
Chloroform
quinquefasciatus[30]
(i)Pronounced in-vitro virus
inhibitory activity with the
ethanolic and n-butanol
fractions and pure
Ethanolic
compounds arbortristoside
extract ; nA and arbortristoside C.
butanol
(ii)ethanolic extracts and nfraction
butanol fraction protected
EMCV infected mice to the
extent of 40 and 60%
respectively against SFV [44]
(i)prevented the
accumulation of TNF-alpha
in the BAL fluid.
(ii) effective in the
prevention of silica-induced
early fibrogenic reactions
like congestion, edema and
infiltration of nucleated cells
in the interstitial alveolar
spaces, and thickening of
alveolar septa in mice lungs
[45]

14.

CNS depressant

Seeds,
leaves,
Flowers,
Bark

Ethanolic

Dose-dependent action [46]

REFERENCES:
1.

Siddique I, Anis M, Jahan AA. Rapid multiplication of

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis through in-vitro auxillary
shoot proliferation. World Journal of Agricultural
Sciences 2006; 2: 188-192.

2.

Rout GR, Mahato A, Senapati SK. Invitro clonal

propagation

of

Nyctanthes

arbortristis

Linn.-a

medicinal tree. Horticulture Sciences (Prague) 2007;

34: 84-89.
3.

Vats M, Sharma N, Sardana S. Antimicrobial activity

of stem bark extracts of Nyctanthes arbortristis Linn.
(Oleaceae) International Journal of Pharmacognosy
and Phytochemical Research 2009; 1: 12-14.

4.

Suresh V, Jaikumar S, Arunachalam G. Antidiabetic

activity of ethanolic extract of stem bark of
Nyctanthes arbortristis Linn. Research Journal of
Pharmaceutical Biological and Chemical Sciences
2010; 1: 311-317.

Vol 1 Issue 1

84

Bimlesh Kumar, et al: An update on Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

5.

Medicinal Plants and Ayurvedic Herbal Medicines.

American-Eurasian

AYURVEDA:

Agriculture 2009; 3: 238-243.k

Medicine
6.

National

Institute

URL:

Ayurvedic

http://niam.com/corp-

Journal of Biology 2005; 29: 41-47.

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

19.

jasmine) International Journal of Biological and

in

Medical Research 2010; 1: 188-192.

streptozotocin-induced

diabetic

rats.

Indian

20. Rathore B, Paul B, Chaudhary BP, Saxena AK, Sahu

4: 288-294.

AP, Gupta YK. Comparative studies of different

Das S, Sasmal D, Basu SP. Antispasmodic and

organs of Nyctanthes arbortristis in modulation of

antihelmintic activity of Nyctanthes arbortristis

cytokines in murine model of arithritis. Biomedical

Linn.

and Environmental Sciences 2007; 20: 154-159.

International

Journal

of

Pharmaceutical
21.

review of immunostimulatory plants. Journal of

Chinese Integrative Medicine 2011; 9: 117-128.
22.

(EAC) in mice. Journal of Medical Sciences 2003; 3:

Nyctanthes arbortristis (Oleaceae). African Journal

169-173.

Of Microbiology Research 2007; 1: 088-091.

Wallander E, Albert VA. Phylogeny and classification

23.

Gadgoli C, Shelke S. Crocetin from the tubular calyx

of Oleaceae based on RPS16 and TRNL-F sequence

of Nyctanthes arbortristis. Natural Product Research

data. American Journal of Botany 2000; 87: 1827-

2010; 24: 1610-1615.

24.

Jensen SR, Franzyk H, Wallander E. Chemotaxonomy

Lal JB. Constitution of the colouring matter of

of the Oleaceae: iridoids as taxonomic markers.

Nyctanthes arbortristis. Identity of Nyctanthin with

Phytochemistry 2002; 60: 213-231.

25.

Choudhary, M, Raghuwansi, A. Nyctanthes arborLinn-

Immunostimulant.

National

http://www.rdchemicals.com/chemicals.php?mode=
details&mol_id=7820

26.

Nadkarni AK. Indian Materia Medica (Dr. K.M.

Conference on Recent Advances in Herbal Drug

Nadkarnis), Vol.I, 3rd ed. (Popular Prakashan Pvt.

Technology. Organized by: Lakshmi Narain College

Ltd., 1982 pp. 857-858.

27.

Wealth of India, A Dictionary of Indian Raw Materials

www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/manekatrees

and Industrial Products, Vol.VII, (National Institute

.pdf

of Science Communication, CSIR, New Delhi, 1997)

Suresh V, Arunachalam G, Senthil KN. In-vitro

pp. 69-70.

anthelmintic activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

28. Girach RD, Aminuddin SA, Siddiqui PA, Khan SA.

bark. Journal of Pharmacy Research 2011; 4: 283-

Ethnomedicinal studies on Harsinghar (Nyctanthes

284.

arbortristis L)- A less known medicinal plant in

Kritkar, KR, Basu, BD, 1993. Indian Medicinal Plant.

Unani medicine. Hamdard Medicines 1994; 37: 60-

LM Basu Allahabad, India, 2: 1526-1528.

66.

Tuntiwachwuttiku P, Rayanil K, Taylor WC. Chemical

constituents from the flowers of

17.

Kannan M, Singh AJAR, Kumar TTA, Jegatheswari P,

Subburayalu S. Studies on immune-bioactivities of

of Pharmacy, Bhopal

16.

Kumar S, Gupta P, Sharma S, Kumar D. 2011. A

arbortristis L. on Ehrlich Ascite Carcinoma cells

tristis

15.

In-vitro

Radical scavenging activity of Nyctanthes arbortristis

-crocetin. 1936; 2: 57-61.

14.

T.

stems of Nyctanthes arbortristis L. (Night-flowering

1841.

13.

Smeera

Rathod N, Raghuveer I, Chitme HR, Chandra R. Free

benzofuran derivative isolated from Nyctanthes

12.

RT,

antioxidant studies on ethanolic extracts of leaves and

MA, Haque ME. In-vivo Cytotoxic evaluation of new

11.

Narendhirakannan

Linn. Pharmacognosy Reviews 2007; 1: 344-349.

Khatune NA, Islam ME, Rahman MAA, Mosaddik

10.

Nair R, Kalariya T, Chanda S. Antibacterial activity of

Sasmal D, Das S, Basu SP. Phytoconstituents and

Sciences and Research 2010; 1: 51-55.

9.

Sustainable

some selected Indian Medicinal Flora. Turkish

Journal Pharmaceutical Educational Research 2010;

8.

18.

of

web/mediplnt.htm
therapeutic potential of
7.

of

Journal

Nyctanthes

29.

Mathuram V, Rao RB, Halder S, Banerji A, Kundu

AB. Occurrence of Desrhamnosylverbascoside in

arbortristis. Science Asia 2003; 29: 21-30.

Nyctanthes arbortristis and NMR studies of its

Nawaz AHMM, Hossain M, Karim M, Khan M, Jahan

acetate. Indian Journal of Chemical Society 1994; 71:

R, Rahmatullah M.. An ethnobotanicals Survey of

215-217.

Jessore district in Khulna Division, Bangladesh.

30. Das S, Sasmal D, Basu SP. Evaluation of CNS

depressant activity of different parts of Nyctanthes

85

Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia

Jan-Mar 2011

Vol 1 Issue 1

Bimlesh Kumar, et al: An update on Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

arbor-tristis Linn. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical

31.

Nyctanthes arbortristis leaf extract. Food Chemistry

Khatune NA, Hoque ME, Mosaddik, MA. Laboratory

2007; 103: 1350-1357.

filarial vector, Culex quinquefasciatus say (Diptera :

and Salmonella sp. Natural Product Radiance 2007;

culicidae) Larvae. Pakistan Journal of Biological

6: 301-305.
43.

class of leishmanicidal agents from Nyctanthes

anti-inflammatory activity in leaves of Nyctanthes

arbor-tristis. Journal of Natural Products 1991; 54:

arbortristis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1984; 11:

1102-04.
44. Poddar A, Banerjee A, Ghanta S, Chattopadhyay S. In-

Singh A, Malhotra S, Subban R. Anti-inflammatory

vivo efficacy of calceolarioside A against experimental

and analgesic agents from Indian Medicinal Plants.

visceral leishmaniasis. Planta Medica. 2008; 74: 503-

International Journal of Integrative Biology 2008; 3:

508.
45.

AK,

Patra

S,

Dubey

VK.

Deciphering

molecular mechanism underlying antileishmanial

antinociceptive activity of arbortristoside-A. Journal

activity of Nyctanthes arbortristis, an Indian plant.

of Ethnopharmacology 2008; 116: 198-203.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2011;

Husain A, Tiwari U, Sharma V, Kumar A, Rais N.

46. Gupta P, Bajaj SK, Chandra K, Singh KL, Tandon JS.

Effect of Nyctanthes arbortristis Linn. Leaves against

2005. Antiviral profile of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Streptozotocin induced oxidative stress in rats.

against encephalitis causing viruses. Indian Journal

International

of Experimental Biology 2005; 43: 1156-1160.

Journal

of

Pharma

Professionals
47.

Paul BN, Prakash A, Kumar S, Yadav AK, Mani U,

Vishwanathan M, Juvekar AR. Hepatoregenerative

Saxena AK, Sahu AP, Lal K, Dutta KK. Silica induced

effects

on

early fibrogenic reaction in lung of mice ameliorated

acetaminophen induced oxidative damage in rats.

by Nyctanthes arbor-tristis. Biomed Environmental

International Journal of PharmaTech research 2010;

sciences 2002; 15: 215-222.

of

Nyctanthes

arbortristis

Linn.

2: 1291-1297.
37.

Shukla

Das S, Sasmal D, Basu SP. Anti-inflammatory and

Research 2010; 1: 10-13.

36.

Tandon JS, Srivastava V, Guru PY. Iridoids: a new

Saxena RS, Gupta B, Saxena KK, Prasad DN. Study on

57-72.

35.

Mahida Y, Mohan JSS. Screening of plants for their

potential antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus

319-330.

34.

42.

extract and its isolated compound against common

Sciences 2001; 4: 585.

33.

Rathee JS, Hassarajani SA. Antioxidant activity of

Sciences 2008; 70: 803-806.

evaluation of Nyctanthes arbortristis L, flower

32.

41.

48. Acharya S. Prediction of rainfall variation through

Hukkeri VI, Akki K, Sureban RR, Gopalakrishna B,

flowering phenology of night-flowering jasmine

Byahatti VV, Rajendra SV. Hepatoprotective activity

(Nyctanthes

of the leaves Nyctanthes arbortristis linn. Indian

Tripura. Indian Journal of Traditional knowledge

Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2006; 4: 542-

2011; 10: 96-101.

arbor-tristis L.; Verbenaceae) in

543.
38. Lucas DS, Sekhar RAR. A review of experimental
studies on antihepatoprotective acivity of certain
medicinal plants used in Ayurveda. Phytomedicine.
Supplement-II: 2000: 23.
39.

Langhate P,

Grampurohit

ND, Miranda S.

Antihepatotoxic activity of the leaves of Nyctanthes

arbortristis L. National Convention on current
Herbal Drugs and Annual Conference of Indian
Society

of

Pharmacognosy;

Herb:

The

natural

alternative, Gandhinagar 2003.

40. Mayee R, Thosar A, Kondapur A. Evaluation of
Hepatoprotective activity of leaves of Nyctanthes
arbor-tristis

Linn.

International

Journal

Of

Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research 2010; 2: 109111.

Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia

Jan-Mar 2011

Vol 1 Issue 1

86