Skimmia anquetilia N.P. Taylor and Airy Shaw (Rutaceae): A Critical Appriasal of its Ethnobotanical and Pharmacological Activities

Abstract

Skimmia anquetilia N.P. Taylor and Airy Shaw (Rutaceae) is a perennial, aromatic, gregarious wild ornamental shrub native to the Western Himalaya. The plant is used in the traditional medicinal system to treat copious health conditions like rheumatism, fever, inflammation, headache, influenza, body-ache, clearing of the nose, diabetes, lowering the body temperature, smallpox, wounds, burns, snake, and scorpion bites. Phytochemical and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis of S. anquetilia showed the presence of alkanes, alkenes, carboxylic acids, fatty acids, and their esters, simple coumarins, terpenes, phenylpropanoid, and so on. These active principles exhibit a wide array of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancerous, anti-feedant, and antibacterial properties. Most pharmacological studies were based on the essential oil and the crude extracts of the plant and the bioactive compounds responsible for the bioefficacy have not been well-identified. Further investigations are required to transform the experience-based claims on the use of S. anquetilia in traditional medicine practices into evidence-based information. Detailed in-vitro and in-vivo studies on the mechanisms of action of pure bioactive compounds and more elaborate toxicity studies to ensure plant safety for human use should be conducted. This review recapitulates the current status of its use in the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities. It also offers a critical assessment of the plant’s existing information which would help to recuperate its potential as a source for drug development of lead molecules.

Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of Skimmia anquetilia N.P. Taylor and Airy Shaw: A first study from Kashmir Himalaya

“…Traditionally the leaf of the plant has been used in the treatment of headache, smallpox, fever, and also as an anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic agent, etc. S. anquetilia is used to treat paralysis, pneumonia, lung cancer, as an insect and pest repellent and as alexipharmic against snake and scorpion poisons (Nabi et al, 2022b). The powdered bark of the plant is used to cure wounds and burn injuries.…”

Antioxidant Properties Mediate Nephroprotective and Hepatoprotective Activity of Essential Oil and Hydro-Alcoholic Extract of the High-Altitude Plant Skimmia anquetilia

“…Conventionally, SA leaves have been used for the treatment of various diseases such as headache, smallpox, fever, paralysis, pneumonia, and cancer, as an insect (especially snake and scorpion) poison, and as an anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic agent. Hence, our study was designed to accomplish phytochemical testing such as the LC-MS techniques of a hydro-alcoholic extract for the identification of a number of bioactive constituents in SA leaves, which has shown antioxidant and anti-haemolytic activity against CCL 4 intoxication [ 58 ]. Overall, flavonoids and amino acids were the most predominant constituent found in SAE.…”

“…This is probably due to the presence of hydroxyl groups in phenolic compounds that can be used as electron donors. Therefore, antioxidants in SA are considered to reduce and inactivate oxidants [ 58 ].…”

An updated review on phytochemistry and molecular targets of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha)

“…The isolation and characterization of secondary plant metabolites are important for the development of new therapeutics to address various health conditions ( Nabi et al, 2022 ). A large number of phytochemicals have been isolated and identified from W. somnifera using various chromatographic and spectroscopic analytical techniques such as column chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and X-Ray diffraction studies ( Tong et al, 2011 ; Paul et al, 2021 ; Tewari et al, 2022 ).…”