INTRODUCTION:

From the earliest times, herbs have been prized for their pain relieving and healing abilities, and today we still rely on the curative properties of plants in about 75% of our medicines. Over the centuries, societies around the world have developed their own traditions to make sense of medicinal plants and their uses. Some of these traditions and medical practices may seen strange and magical, other appear rational and sensitive, but all of them are attempts to overcome illness and suffering to enhance quality of life. Currently, there is a worldwide interest in the study and use of herbal remedies because such investigations provide important new leads on novel, active molecules of therapeutic importance. For this reason traditional plant remedies are back and find increasing application as source of direct therapeutic agents. Considerable scientific data have been generated globally in this direction and there is a spurt of publications in recent years. Based on this rationale, the present study has been compiled and provides updated information on this traditional plant,

Syzygium cuminii (L) skeel belonging to the family myretacea,e therapeutic value of Syzygium cuminii (L) skeel Commonly known as ‘’Jamun’’ in the local language has been recognized in different systems of traditional medication for the treatment of different diseases and ailments of human beings¹.

Such as leaves and seed are used in treatment of Bronchitis, asthma, thirst, biliousness, dysentery, ulcers The fruit pulp is used in diabetics and also as a blood purifier. Several studies using modern techniques have authenticated its use in diabetes and its complications (nephropathy, cataract, insulin resistance)^2,3.

Previously isolated classes of constituent:

Fifteen polyphenols and two Acylated flavonal glycoside are isolated from the leaves⁴ of Syzygium cuminii (L) Skeel. Essential oil and triterpenoids are isolated from the stem and fruits⁵. From flower olinolic acid, triterpenoid, ellagic acid and flavanols are isolated in small amount⁶.The literature survive reveals that there is no substantial work has been carried out on roots of Syzygium cuminii (L) skeel. Hence effort is made to investigate for the first time the roots of Syzygium cuminii (L) skeel.

EXPERIMENTAL:

Plant material:

Eugenia jambolana (Syn.Syzygium cuminii (L) Skeel ), belonging to the Family: Myretacea Commonly known as ‘’Jamun’’ . A root were collected during the month of April 2007 from village Nalwar of Gulbarga District (Karnataka) and was identified and authenticated by Department of Botany, Gulbarga University Gulbarga, a voucher (#72) of specimen was submitted to NGSMIPS, Derlakatte.

Table-1: Quantity of residues obtained from each solvent

S. N.	Solvent used from low polar to high polar	Residue obtained in gram
1	Pet.ether	8 gm
2	Chloroform	35 gm
3	Ethyl acetate	10 gm
4	Butenol	10

Extraction and isolation:

Roots were collected during the month of April 2007. They were dried in shade. The dried roots were powdered (3 kg), extracted in succession by maceration, and the powder was soaked in a solvent and kept aside for six days (144 hour). The solvents were used according to their increasing polarity i.e pet. Ether, chloroform, Ethyl acetate, Butenol. The process of extraction with same mark was repeated for two times, the solvent layer decanted, the solvent from the total extract was distilled off and the concentrate was evaporated on a water bath to a syrupy consistency and then evaporated to dryness, the residues obtained from different solvents were kept in desiccators and the phytochemical investigation was carried out as follows

Isolation from chloroform extract:

The residue (25 g) was triturated in mortar with CHCl₃ (10 ml) and adsorbed onto silica gel (20 g). After evaporation of the solvent it was loaded onto a silica gel column (150 g) prepared in petroleum ether (60-80˚C). The column was eluted first with petroleum ether (60-80˚C), petroleum ether (60-80˚C): benzene graded mixtures (95:5, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50), then with benzene followed by graded mixtures of benzene: chloroform (95:5, 90:10, 80:20 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50), chloroform and finally chloroform: methanol (95:5, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 and (50:50). The elutions were monitored by TLC (Silica gel-G; visualization by Vanillin - Sulphuric acid reagent heated at 110ºC). 5 ml of identical elutes were collected each time. TLC monitored elutes were combined and concentrated to 5 ml and kept in a refrigerator.

· Elution carried out with Benzene graded mixture, benzene: chloroform (95:5) resulted in getting “one” component ScRex-2(1g yield), the solvent system for monitoring TLC viz., Benzene: chloroform (95:5v/v)

· Elution carried out with Benzene graded mixture, benzene: chloroform (95:5) resulted in getting “one” component ScRex-3 [(3b)-3-hydroxyolane-12-en-28-oic acid] (1g yield), the solvent system for monitoring TLC viz., Benzene: chloroform (95:5v/v)

· Elution carried out with Benzene graded mixture, benzene: chloroform (95:5) resulted in getting “one” component ScRex-4[3,4,5-tetrahydroxycyclohexane-carboxalic acid 3-(3,4-dihydroxycinnamate,-O- glycoside](1g yield), the solvent system for monitoring TLC viz., Benzene: chloroform (95:5v/v)

· Elution carried out with Benzene graded mixture, benzene: chloroform (95:5) resulted in getting “one” component ScRex-5[3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(3,4,5-trihydroxy phenyl)-4H-1-benzopyrone-4-one.5-glycosid](1.5g yield), the solvent system for monitoring TLC viz., Benzene: chloroform (95:5v/v)

· Elution carried out with Benzene graded mixture, benzene: chloroform (95:5) resulted in getting “one” component ScRex-6a[ Limonoic acid di-δ-Lactone](2g yield), the solvent system for monitoring TLC viz., Benzene: chloroform (95:5v/v)

· Elution carried out with Benzene graded mixture, benzene: chloroform (95:5) resulted in getting “one” component ScRex-6b[3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyrone-4-one.gentobios] (2.5g yield), the solvent system for monitoring TLC viz., Benzene: chloroform (95:5v/v)

The remaining solvent residue was not analyzed. However the work is going on in this laboratory to analyze the residues obtained from syzygium cuminii (L) skeel root’s extract.

Table-2. Results of Qualitative Tests for Phytoconstituents

S.No	Tests	Inference
1.	Alkaloids (a) Dragendroff’s test (b) Hager’s test (c) Wagner’s test (d) (d) Mayer’s test	- ve - ve - ve -ve
2.	Carbohydrates (a) Anthrone test (b) (b)Benedict’s test (c) Fehling’s test (e) Molisch’s test	- ve -ve - ve -ve
3.	Flavanoids (a) Shinoda’s test	+ ve
4.	Triterpenoids (a) Libermann-Burchard’s test	+ ve
5.	Resins	+ ve
6.	Saponins	+ ve
7.	Steroids (a) Libermann-Burchard’s test (b) Salkowaski reaction	+ ve + ve
8.	Tannins	- ve
9.	Starch	-ve

SUMMERY AND DISCUSSION:

Syzygium cuminii (L) skeel serves varies purposes in diabetic patient such as lowering blood glucose level, delaying diabetic complication such as neuropathy and cataract. Most of the study has been conducted using crude preparation of syzygium cuminii (L) skeel without mention of there chemical profile. Although the studies on syzygium cuminii (L) skeel proved its efficacy in several complication including the management of diabetic. The detailed research work on isolation of bioactive through clinical trails followed by standardization is seriously required on this potential plant of ayurveda .

Although many studies have claimed it for the treatment of diabetic, but in aurveda it is mentioned for several aliment like daihoria and dysentery. However most pharmacological and phytochemical work has been carried out with seed, leaves, and flower

According to literature survive it reviles that no substantial work has been carried out on roots of this plant so we have selected it for study to explore its constituent and activity.

In over preliminary study of phytochemical work we have isolated seven [ ScRex-1 (1.5g yield), ScRex-2, (1g yield), ScRex-3(1g yield), ScRex-4(1g yield), ScRex-5 (1.5g yield), ScRex-6a(2g yield), ScRex-6b(2.5g yield) ] constituent from chloroform extract.

Same residue we have used for screening of hypoglycemic activity in alloxan induced diabetic rate in our 7 day studies shows significances reduction of blood glucose level on administration of 400mg/kg body weight. Simultaneously the butanolic extract was used for screening of antioxidant activity by in vitro Techniques (Reducing power, DPPH assay) The results where compared with standard antioxidant ascorbic acid.

In our opinion the active constituent is obtained from the roots of Syzygyum cuminii (L) Skeel are highly suitable for initiating hypoglycemic as well as antioxidant activity as evidence from our study which was carried out for short period, it is possible that hypoglycemic activity will continued in a sustained manner over a longer period of time and there are innumerable possibility of incorporating the active ingredients in a suitable formulation.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

The authors sincerely thanks to Dr.Y.N Sitaram for authentification and Dr M. G. Purohit, for spectral interpretation. NGSMIPS, Mangalore for constant support and facilities provided to carry out this work My special thanks and appreciation goes to my brothers for there help for selection of this plant.

REFERENCES:

1. Sagarwat H, Mann AS and Khare MD. Pharmacological potential of Eugenia Jambolana.A review. PHCOG MAG. 2006:96-105

2. Kirtikar KR and Basu BD. Indian medicinal plant .Vol.II, Delhi. Periodical express.1975:1052-53.

3. Bhattacharejee SK. Hand book of aromatic plant. Pointer publisher; 1999:195-197.

4. Mahmoud II, Marzuk MS, Moharram FA, El-Gindi MR and Hassan AM. Acylated flavonal glycoside from Eugenia Jambolana leaves. Phytochemistry. 2001; 58(8):1239-44.

5. Nadakarni KM. Indian Mataria Medica. Vol. I. Popular book Depot Bombay. 1954:516-18.

6. Free radical (homepage on the internet). Cited 2007 June. Available from http://www.exrx.net/nutrition/antioxidants /introduction/html.

7. Free radical (homepage on the internet). Cited 2007 June. Available from http://www.healing daily.com/conditions/free radicals.html.

8. Free radical-chemistry (homepage on the internet). Cited 2007 June .Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/radical-(chemistry).

Received on 20.10.2008 Modified on 30.12.2008