The Journal of Phytopharmacology 2023; 12(6):392-398 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2023.12605

Review Article

Botanical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of Trema orientalis: A Review

Niranjan D¹ , Shridhar NB² , Vinuta MH³ , Manjunatha SS⁴ , Sunilchandra U⁵ , Pradeep BS⁶ , Manju GU⁷ , Patel Suresh Revanna⁸

Niranjan D,Shridhar NB,Vinuta MH,Manjunatha SS,Sunilchandra U,Pradeep BS,Manju GU,Patel Suresh Revanna

1. Assistant Professor (Contractual), Animal Husbandry Polytechnic, Konehalli, KVAFSU, Karnataka, India
2. Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary College Shivamogga, KVAFSU, Karnataka, India
3. Senior MVSc Scholar, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary College Shivamogga, KVAFSU, Karnataka, India
4. Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary College Shivamogga, KVAFSU, Karnataka, India
5. Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary College Shivamogga, KVAFSU, Karnataka, India
6. Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary College, Shivamogga, KVAFSU, Karnataka, India
7. Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary College, Gadag, KVAFSU, Karnataka, India
8. Associate Professor (I/C), Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, Shivamogga, KVAFSU, Karnataka, India

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 24th October, 2023 / Accepted: 19th December, 2023 / Published : 30th December, 2023

Abstract

The plants were the primary source of primitive medicines which used to cure human ailments in past centuries. In modern medicine also many drugs are being discovered from plants. Trema orientalis is a tropical small to medium-sized tree also called Indian charcoal tree was native to South Africa, tropical Asia and Australia. It is widely distributed all over the world. It was used traditionally to treat infections and fevers. The leaves are simple, alternating, stipulated with short grey hairs below and serrated edges all around drooping branches. The fruits are tiny, oblong and meaty, when ripened, it turns glossy black. It has one dull-black seed embedded in bright-green flesh. The alkaloids, steroids and flavonoids were found to be abundant in T. orientalis, while tannins, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides and carbohydrates were present in moderate quantity. The crude methanolic extract of T. orientalis had antibacterial activity against various bacteria. It has also proven analgesic efficacy in acetic acid-induced writhing experiments in lab animals. In certain investigations, the stem bark extract of T. orientalis drastically lowered blood glucose in diabetic rats created through streptozotocin. One of the researchers demonstrated dose-dependent reduction in body temperature in rats with pyrexia using ethanolic extract of T. orientalis. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts of different parts of T. orientalis plant showed antidepressant, anxiolytic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, diuretic activity, anti-oxidant, anti-malarial and anti-ulcer activity. The clinicopathological alterations were induced by treatment of Jamnapari crossbred goats orally with Trema orientalis ethanolic leaf extract (ELETO). The gross and histological alterations in major vital organs, as well as the clinical symptoms were considered as indicators of the toxicity in a study. Another investigation revealed that T. orientalis was non-toxic and had a sizable haematopoietic effect. Thus further more research is required to extrapolate traditional uses of this plant to use it as medicine along with precaution regarding toxic dose.