Traditional Uses and Pharmacological Effects of Anagallis arvensis: A Review

Anagallis arvesnsis belongs to family primulacae. It is a summer annual herb distributed worldwide or with a global spread abundantly found in Egypt, Palestine, a non-tropical region of South America, Taiwan, and India (more specifically Jammu & Kashmir). Different parts of plant contain variety of active constituents; such as glycosides, saponin, flavonoid, anthraquinone, alkaloids, rutin, kaempferol, oleananetriterpenes, anagalligenin, anagalligenone, stigasetrol, arvenin I, arvenin II, cucurbitacin B, D, E, I,L& Q, nhexosamine, β-amyrin, sterols carbohydrates, lacceric acid. Anagallis arvensis has recognized medicinal values as an anti-mycotic, antimicrobial, molluscicidal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antileishmania, antiviral, cytotoxic, and spermatogenesis. The present review will highlight the traditional uses, phytoconstituents and pharmacological effects of Anagallis arvensis.


Traditional Uses
The significance of traditional plants towards mindfulness of individuals and populations cannot be ignored. The compound substance in plants has therapeutic importance and they deliver a vivid physiological activity on the human body, medicinal plants play a vital role in curing illness, because of the presence of secondary metabolites. (14) In Taiwan, the whole herb of Anagallis arvensis is used for liver complications. (24) In Italy, Anagallis arvensis was used in veterinary practices for curing mastitis, because of its powerful anti-inflammatory and emollient properties. Interestingly, Anagallis arvensis was amongst 4 plants for treating conjunctivitis. (25) Ithas a popular use for skin diseases. The plant used topically for wound healing both in humans and animals. Different types of pharmaceutical dosage forms, including ointments and infusions, where having been applied to get both local and systemic benefits from the plant. The slurry of the leaf is used for removing the leeches from cattle's nostrils. (26)(27)(28) In rural areas of Nepal, this plant is used as a piscicidal agent while the whole plant is used for the poisoning of fish, (29) Pelotaris of Bosque used ointments for healing wounds of hands after their matches. Seeds and herb used as sudorific and in rabies. (22) In India, whole plant of Anagallis arvensis L. is used as sedative, stimulant and antiasthmatic, and antiflatulent in cattle. (30) In Navarra, poultice, decoction, ointment or infusion of whole or aerial parts of Anagallis arvensis is used as an antihemorrhagic and antiseptic. (31) Anagallis arvensis (Chari saben) is enlisted in of "Plants having Antitussive and Expectorant activity". (32)

Antimycotic Activity
Dermatophytes are pathogens against keratinized structures of mammals, including humans (rarely, birds). Skin, hair, nails and subcutaneous tissues of the body are rich in keratin. (

Antimicrobial Activity
Methanolic extract of Anagallis arvensis was further evaluated for its antimicrobial properties. Antibacterial activity was determined by using standard streptomycin against four different bacteria which are Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtillis with their references ATCC 11775, ATCC 12600, ATCC 9027 and ATCC 6051 respectively. The whole protocol was performed in triplicates. The minimum inhibitory concentration of one fungus and four bacteria was calculated for all extracts individually. Growth of two bacteria E. coli and B. subtillis was inhibited by the methanolic extract of A. arvensis. Saponins seem to have a role as antimicrobial constituent as they can cause damage to cells. (36)Significant activity was recorded for the ethanolic extract of Anagallis arvensis against P. Vulgaris which is a gram-negative bacillus. (37) 3.

Molluscicidal Activity
Anagallis arvensis is considered highly active as a molluscicidal agent for schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis is a human infection that is caused by a trematode Schistosoma mansoni. This trematode Volume 4 (Issue 2) Anagallis arvensis: a review produces due to poor irrigation system. The molluscicidal ability comes primarily from its allele chemicals. A demonstration was carried out in the department of parasitology lab, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, two intermediate species of young snails were taken, one was Oncomelaniaquadrasii i.e the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum and the other was Biophalariaglabrata, intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni. Ideal standard for mulloscicide used Niclosamide, a synthetic compound was taken as a positive control. Molluscicidal constituents' i.e saponins which were separated by chromatographic technique. Two compounds deglucoanagalloside B and anagallosside B were reported as molluscicidal constituents from which deglucoangalloside was more active. (9,38) 4.

Antioxidant Activity
Aqueous extract of A. arvensis showed more prominent results. Non-linear regression method was used to calculate the free radical scavenging activity by comparing IC50 values. (36)

Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Anagallis arvensis has reported possessing antiinflammatory activity. Indomethacin, an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug was used as a standard against COX-1 and for COX-2 inhibition control was nimesulide which has selectivity against COX-2. Methanolic extract of A. arvensis showed cyclooxygenase inhibition at significant concentration and reduced the prostaglandin synthesis; however, the extract in aqueous form was only active at a concentration equal to 1mg/ml. However, indomethacin (5 µM) had the potential of minimizing the prostaglandin synthesis to the level of 42% and the same for nimesulide (200 µM) which had 47% capability of lowering the prostaglandin synthesis. Saponins and flavonoids are responsible constituents for the anti-inflammatory potential of AA. (36) 6.

Antileishmania Activity
Anagallis arvensis, alcoholic extract of whole herb is effective for anti-leishmania activity (IC50 < 0.125 μg/mL, SI > 128). The assay was confirmed by using a reference of maesabalides, at the same point both reference and plant extract showed purple spot. (39) 7. for antiviral properties and have broad spectra against many viruses including HSV 1 polioviruses. These phytoconstituents not only inhibit the cytopathogenesis in the host cell but also minimize the production of new viruses. Keratitis was induced in rabbits to study invivo antiviral activity of isolated saponins from A. arvensis against three different standard antiviral ointments, as (3% ACV) acycloguanosine, (0.24% IUdR) 5-iodo-2'deoxyuridine and (3% Ara-A or 3% Vira-A) 9-f-narabinofuranosyladenine. Daily percentage of reduction in keratitis was measured. Dose of saponins greater than 7mg/g should not be applied as it may be toxic for eye treatment. The mean reduction in infection was given as the maximum reduction percentage of acycloguanosine(81.5%) had greater reduction percentage than that of Anagallis (7 mg/g) 44.8% and Anagallis (7mg/g) had more reduction percentage than adenine arabinoside as 38.9% which was further compared with a lower reduction percentage of idoxuridine i.e. 31.4% and finally the least reduction percentage was shown by Anagallis (5 mg/g) 25.7%. (41) 8.

Cytotoxic Activity
Plant as a whole has been reported for its cytotoxic activity. Survival and cell death are estimated by MTT [3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2, 5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide] and LDH [lactate dehydrogenase] assays respectively, on cell cultures of two model cell lines DHD/K12PR and PC12, from a rat. In the presence of mitochondrial enzymes in viable cells, prognostic factor for cell survival was the change of color from yellow to a purple compound named Formazan in 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). There was a noted inverse relation i.e., PC12 cell survival was decreased as the dose of methanolic and aqueous extracts were increased. Cells of DHD / K12PROb were responsive to the methanolic form of extracts only. Cell death was checked by replacing MTT with LDH in 96 well plates for both cells. The activity of LDH for the cells that remain untreated is measured to find out the LDH spontaneously released, the methanolic extract showed far better cytotoxicity against more sensitive PC12 cells as compared to those of DHD / K12PROb cells. (27) 9.

Spermatogenetic Effects
The plant is reported for semen coagulating and spermicidal activities. (42)