Paulownia as a Medicinal Tree: Traditional Uses and Current Advances
Journal Title: European Journal of Medicinal Plants - Year 2016, Vol 14, Issue 1
Abstract
Paulownia is one of the most useful and sought after trees, in China and elsewhere, due to its multipurpose status. Though not regarded as a regular medicinal plant species, various plant parts (leaves, flowers, fruits, wood, bark, roots and seeds) of Paulownia have been used for treating a variety of ailments and diseases. Each of these parts has been shown to contain one or more bioactive components, such as ursolic acid and matteucinol in the leaves; paulownin and d-sesamin in the wood/xylem; syringin and catalpinoside in the bark. The fruits contain fatty oils, alkaloids, flavonones as well as flavonoids with antioxidant properties. The flavonoid contents and TROLOX Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) value in fresh and dry leaf extracts of Paulownia elongata suggest that this species has potential for advanced medicinal use. In vitro grown Paulownia fortunei Hemsl. seedlings, inoculated with Agrobacterium rhizogenes have a potential to produce hairy roots and synthesize bioactive compounds such as acteosides (verbascosides). With various new studies describing isolation of therapeutic compounds and their probable application in human health, it is an opportune moment to revisit medicinal potential of this tree. In this review, the usage of Paulownia in traditional medicine has been revisited and current advances in various fields of research in the genus Paulownia are summarized.
Authors and Affiliations
Ting He, Brajesh N. Vaidya, Zachary D. Perry, Prahlad Parajuli, Nirmal Joshee
Phramacotherapeutic Evaluation of Parmentiera cereifera Seem. (Family Bignoniaceae) Cultivated in Egypt on Albino Rats
Aims: The current study evaluates different biological activities viz., anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic and gastroprotective of methanolic extracts (MEs) of different parts viz., [mixture of leaves & stems (1:3) (M...
Preliminary Phytochemical Screening, Analgesic and Anti Inflammatory Activity of Ficus glomerata Fruit Extract
Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the preliminary phytochemicals, analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential of the ethanolic extract of Ficus glomerata Roxb. (Moraceae) fruits on Swiss albino mice. St...
Microbiological Contamination and Anti-bacterial Traits of Common Oral Herbal Medicinal Products within Dhaka Metropolis
Aims: Present study endeavored to examine the growth and survival of microorganisms within 6 categories of oral herbal medicines commonly used by the community within Dhaka metropolis. Methodology: Samples were analyzed...
An Evaluation of the Preventive Effect of the Methanol Extract of Thai Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) on Ethanol-induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats
Aim: The present study was investigated the preventive effect of methanol extract of Ocimum bacilicum (MOEB) on ethanol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Study Design: Male Wistar rats weighing 200–250 g were divided into...
Bioactivities of Pachypodium lamerei Drake, Family Apocynaceae, Cultivated in Egypt
Aims: The current study estimated the anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, gastroprotective and anti-hyperglycemic activities in various rat models of total methanol extracts (TMEs) of different plant parts; mixture of leave...