Cissus quadrangularis

Cissus quadrangularis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Vitales
Family:	Vitaceae
Genus:	Cissus
Species:	C. quadrangularis
Binomial name
Cissus quadrangularis L.
Synonyms
Cissus quadrangula Vitis quadrangularis

Cissus quadrangularis is a perennial plant of the grape family. It is commonly known as Veldt Grape or Devil's Backbone.

Distribution

It is probably native to India or Sri Lanka, but is also found in Africa, Arabia, and Southeast Asia. It has been imported to Brazil and the southern United States. It is very commonly known as asthisamharaka. As per Dr Jyotiraditya Agarwal (Chief Ayurvedic Consultant of Nidanam Clinic), Cissus has been used in various ayurvedic classical medicines to heal broken bones and injured ligaments and tendons.

Description

Cissus quadrangularis reaches a height of 1.5 m and has quadrangular-sectioned branches with internodes 8 to 10 cm long and 1.2 to 1.5 cm wide. Along each angle is a leathery edge. Toothed trilobe leaves 2 to 5 cm wide appear at the nodes. Each has a tendril emerging from the opposite side of the node. Racemes of small white, yellowish, or greenish flowers; globular berries are red when ripe.

• 

  in Rangareddy district of Andhra Pradesh, India.

• 

  in Rangareddy district of Andhra Pradesh, India.

• 

  in Rangareddy district of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Use

Cissus quadrangularis' has been used as a medicinal plant since antiquity. In siddha medicine it is considered a tonic and analgesic, and is believed to help heal broken bones, thus its name asthisamharaka (that which prevents the destruction of bones). It is said to have antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anthelmintic, antihemorrhoidal and analgesic activities.^[1] It contains a rich source of carotenoids, triterpenoids and ascorbic acid.^{[citation needed]} In a study in Cameroon, high doses of the extracts have been shown to have beneficial effects against obesity and associated oxidative stress.^[2] Its bactericidal effects on Helicobacter pylori hold promise as a potential treatment of gastric ulcers in conjunction with NSAID therapy.^[3] A weight loss supplement containing Cissus quadrangularis and other ingredients including green tea, soy, selenium, chromium, and B vitamins was evaluated in an 8-week trial. The supplement helped reduce body weight by 4-8% ( placebo 2.4%) a clinically significant weight loss.^[4]

Experimental studies on CQ

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Cissus quadrangularis Linn (CQ) on the healing process of experimentally fractured radius-ulna of dog. CQ treated animals revealed faster initiation of healing process than the control animals on radiological and histopathological examinations. The treated group also revealed a decrease in serum calcium level to a greater extent than the control group. Healing was almost complete on 21 st day of fracture in the treated animals and remained incomplete in the control animals. No significant alteration of serum calcium level was observed on 21 st day of fracture in both the groups.^{[5] [6]}

Synonyms

• Cissus succulenta (Galpin) Burtt Davy
• Cissus tetragona Harv.
• Vitis quadrangularis (L.) Wall. ex Wight & Arn.
• Vitis succulenta Galpin^[7]

References

1. ^ Pharmacological and therapeutic activity of Cissus quadrangularis: An overview Mishra G., Srivastava S., Nagori B.P. International Journal of PharmTech Research 2010 2:2 (1298-1310)
2. ^ Jaw, FS; Yu, SN; Lee, JC; Tsao, HW; Yu, HJ; Yen, CT (1991). "Interactive program for spectral and area analysis of compound action potentials of A-fiber and C-fiber". Journal of neuroscience methods 40 (2–3): 121–6. PMID 1800848. 
3. ^ Protective effect of Cissus quadrangularis on neutrophil mediated tissue injury induced by aspirin in rats
4. ^ Greenway, FL; Bray, GA (2010). "Combination drugs for treating obesity". Current diabetes reports 10 (2): 108–15. doi:10.1007/s11892-010-0096-4. PMID 20425569. 
5. ^ Indian Journal of Pharmacology 1994; 26: 44 - 45
6. ^ D.K. DEKA, L.C. LAHON, J. SAIKIA** A. MUKIT***Departments of Pharmacology_and Toxicology, Surgery and Radiology and Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati - 781 022
7. ^ Sinónimos en Tropicos

• Austin, A. Jegadeesan, M. Gowrishankar, R. (2004) "Helicobactericidal Activity of Cissus quadrangularis L. Variant I"; Natural Product Sciences 10 (5): 217-219. Korean Society of Pharmacognosy.
• Chopra SS, Patel MR, Awadhiya RP. (1976) "Studies of Cissus quadrangularis in experimental fracture repair: a histopathological study"; Indian Journal of Medical Researches 64(9): 1365-1368.
• Jainu, Mallika and Shyamala Devi (2003) "Tent antiulcerogenic activity of methanolic extract of Cissus quadrangularis by antioxidative mechanism"; ournal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 34; 43-47.
• Kashikar ND, George Indu (2006) "Antibacterial activity of Cissus quadrangularis Linn"; Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 68 (2): 245-247.
• Oben, Julius; Damaris Mandob Enyegue; Gilles I Fomekong; Yves B Soukontoua and Gabriel A Agbor (2007) "The effect of Cissus quadrangularis (CQR-300) and a Cissus formulation (CORE) on obesity and obesity-induced oxidative stress"; Lipids in Health and Diseases 6: 4.
• Sahelian, Ray (2006) "The use of a Cissus quadrangularis formulation in the management of weight loss and metabolic syndrome"; Lipids in Health and Diseases 5: 24.
• Analysis of the effect of Asthishrinkhla Kandaswarasa [stem juice of Cissus quadrangularis] in fracture healing in a rat model 'Dr. Deepanshu K. Mishra, Prof. Sanjeev Sharma, R.G.G.P.G. Ayu. College - Paprola' Prof. V.K. Gupta, Dr. G.C. Negi College of Vet. and Animal sciences - Palampur - Dec. 2010.

External links

• Cissus quadrangularis in West African plants - A Photo Guide.