Ventilago (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Ventilago Gaertner
- Protologue: Fruct. sem. pl. 1(1): 223, t. 49 (1788).
- Family: Rhamnaceae
- Chromosome number: x= unknown
Origin and geographic distribution
Ventilago consists of some 40 species, and occurs from Africa and Madagascar throughout tropical Asia to tropical Australia.
Uses
Ventilago is only little used in traditional South-East Asian folk medicine. In Peninsular Malaysia leaves of a Ventilago species were used to make a poultice all over the body to treat cholera. Root bark of Ventilago mixed with oil is applied externally to treat certain skin affections. In India root bark of V. madraspatana is credited with stomachic, tonic and stimulant activities, and it is used to dye clothes reddish. In Taiwan stems of V. leiocarpa Bunge have been employed in the treatment of numerous affections, e.g. cough, hepatitis, rheumatism and contusions.
Properties
The root bark of V. madraspatana contains as major pigment ventigalin, a reddish-brown resinous product, and as principal drug compound the anthraquinone emodin. In addition numerous naphthalene derivatives, naphthoquinones and anthraquinones have been isolated.
The anthraquinone derivative emodin is a well-known laxative. Emodin isolated from V. leiocarpa stems exhibited hepatoprotective effects on CCl4as well as Dgalactosamineinduced liver damage in rats. Histopathological examination showed that emodin reduced lymphocyte cells, Kupffer cells, ballooning degeneration, cell necrosis and hyaline degeneration. Emodin also exhibited antiinflammatory effect on carrageenaninduced oedema in rats. Two xanthone derivatives with cytotoxic activity against K 562 cells have also been isolated from V. leiocarpa . Quinones isolated from V. madraspatana roots showed significant antifeedant activity against adult beetles of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata and 4th instar larvae of the moth Spodoptera litura .
Botany
Lianas or scandent shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, petiolate; stipules minute. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal panicle or umbellate cyme. Flowers bisexual, 5-merous; calyx tube obconical or flat and saucer-like, lobes acute, puberulous outside; petals free, small, clawed at base; stamens opposite the petals; disk filling the calyx tube; ovary hemi-inferior, sunk in the disk, 2-celled, style very short. Fruit a samaroid, 1(-2)-seeded globose nut, prolonged above by a linear or linear-oblong, coriaceous wing, at the base encircled by the calyx tube or not. Seed globose to subglobose, without albumen; cotyledons thick, fleshy.
Ecology
Ventilago can be found in lowland rain forest and thickets, but also in mountain regions with a more or less dry climate.
Genetic resources
Ventilago species such as V. madraspatana are relatively widespread, usually common, and cannot be considered threatened. However, some species are restricted in their distribution, and may be threatened with continued habitat degradation.
Prospects
Anthraquinone derivatives such as emodin, also present in many other plant resources (e.g. Aloe , Rheum and Senna ), have shown interesting pharmacological activities. However, they may lead to serious problems in daily and prolonged internal use, and Ventilago root bark is therefore recommended for external use only, e.g. for its anti-inflammatory activity and in the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis.
Literature
139, 316, 509, 552, 769, 782.
Selection of species
Authors
A.M. Aguinaldo