International Journal of Drug Development and Research

Introduction

Ayurvedic medicine also known as Ayurveda, originated in India several thousand years ago. The term "Ayurveda" combines the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and Veda (science or knowledge) thus; Ayurveda means "the science of life. Sesbania grandiflora (also known as agati, syn. Aeschynomene grandiflora) or hummingbird tree / scarlet wisteria is a small tree in the genus Sesbania. commonly it is known as caturay, katurai(Chamorro), corkwood tree, scarlet wisteria, sesban, vegetable hummingbird(English), agati a grandes fleurs (French), katurai( Palauan), agathi, agati (Tamil), hadga (hindi, marathi).Sesbania grandiflora (Linn) belonging to family Leguminosae contains plenty of sterols, saponins and tannins which are responsible for its various pharmacological properties and has been widely used in Ayurveda for processing of various formulations in Rasashastra1. Parts used are Root, Bark, Leaf, Flower and fruit .Sesbania grandiflora is a loosely branching tree up to 15 m tall. Its leaves are pinnately compound up to 30 cm long with 20-50 leaflets in pairs, dimensions 12-44 x 5-15 mm, oblong to elliptical in shape. Flowers are large, white, yellowish, rose pink or red with a calyx 15-22 mm . Pods are long (20-60 cm) and thin (6-9 mm) with broad sutures containing 15- 50 seeds. The active ingredients of Sesbania grandiflora are leucocyanidin and cyanidin present in seeds, oleanolic acid and its methyl ester and kaemferol-3-rutinoside which are present in flower. The bark contains tannins and gum. Saponin and Sesbanimide isolated from seeds.Ayurvedic Medicinal Properties are Rasa (taste) : Tikta ,Guna (property) : Lakhu, Rooksha, Virya (Potency ) : Seeta. According to Ayurvedic literature ,the plant pacifies vitiated vata, rheumatism, arthritis and scabies. Hadga is used as an ayurvedic remedy for treating fever, sinus, bruises, and venereal diseases etc.It is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin A. fruits are used for anemia, bronchitis, fever, tumors. They are laxative, and posess intellectually stimulating properties. It is also prescribed for the pain and thirst. In Ayurvedic medicine ,the leaves are utilized for the treatment of epileptic fits. The juice of the leaves is considered to be anthelmintic and tonic and is used to treat worm infections, biliousness, fever , itchiness and nyctalopia.

Traditionally ,In folk medicine Hadga is used as an aperient, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, laxative, and tonic.2and as a remedy for bruises, catarrh, dysentery, eye infections, headaches, smallpox, sores, sore throat, and stomatitis, it is also used in the treatment of anemia, bronchitis, headache, nasal, inflammation, leprosy, gout and rheumatism.

I have read a published manuscript titled Anti bacterial activities of Sesbania grandiflora extracts with a great interest. In that study ,Siriporn Okonogi 3concluded that Sesbania grandiflora leaf extract does not show significant zone of inhibition against E.coli and staphylococcus aureus. but a study conducted by us revealed that Sesbania grandiflora ethanolic and aqueous extract showed the significant zone of inhibition against E.coli and staphylococcus aureus. the ethanolic leaf extract is found to be more active than the aqueous extract4.Hence,I conclude that Sesbania grandiflora leaf extract possess good antibacterial activity against the organisms tested.moreover ,the result may be positive to us because it is an refined extract .not a crude extract. since ,crude extract may contain few ingredients in it which may be responsible for showing absence of zone of inhibition when tested against E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Hence, with all this evidenced based diverse pharmacological actions and scientific studies, Hadga (Sesbania grandiflora ) is proved be a good Ayurvedic plant to treat various infections and further studies are also hoped to be conducted in root extract of Sesbania grandiflora to prove its Antibacterial ,Antimycotic and Antioxidant activity.

Tables at a glance

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References

1. Pramod Yadav1, CR Harisha2, PK Prajapati1 Pharmacognostical and physicochemical evaluationofAgasti leaf International journal of ayurvedic research Year : 2010 Volume : 1 Issue : 4 Page : 231-236
2. Pimporn Anantaworasakul1, Srikanjana Klayraung2, Siriporn Okonogi1,*Antibacterial activities of Sesbaniagrandifloraextracts,Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics. 2011; 5(1):12-17.
3. Lakshmi.T, Geetha R.V ,Anitha Roy “In vitro Evaluation of Antibacterial activity of Ethanolic and Aqueous leaf extracts of Sesbaniagrandiflora (Linn) against Clinical Pathogens”.International journal of drug development and research 2011,vol.3 issue 3 July-sep (in press )