PHCOG REV.

REVIEW ARTICLE

Aerva lanata: A review on phytochemistry and

pharmacological aspects
Manoj Goyal, Anil Pareek, B. P. Nagori, D. Sasmal1
Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology, Pharmacy Wing, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, BIT Mesra,
Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

Submitted: 15-03-2011 Revised: 22-08-2011 Published: 23-12-2011

ABSTRACT
Aerva lanata (L.) A. L. Juss. ex Schultes. (Amaranthaceae) locally known as ‘bui’ is an erect or prostrate undershrub with a long
tap-root and many wolly-tomentose branches, found in the wild, throughout India. In traditional medicine the plant is used in
cough, strangury (slow to be and painful discharge of urine), headache and urolithiasis. The photochemical constituents present
in the plant include alkaloids (ervine, methylervine, ervoside, aervine, methylaervine, aervoside, ervolanine, and aervolanine),
flavanoids (kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, persinol, persinosides A and B), methyl grevillate, lupeol, lupeol acetate
benzoic acid, β-sitosteryl acetate and tannic acid. Pharmacological studies reported diuretic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic,
anti-diabetic, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, hepoprotective, anti-urolithiasis, antiasthmatic, antifertility and hypolipidemic
properties of Aerva lanata. This review article includes the detailed exploration of the morphology, phytochemistry, and
pharmacological aspects of Aerva lanata in an attempt to provide a direction for further research.
Key words: Aerva lanata, ervine, ervoside, methylervine

INTRODUCTION Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
Aerva lanata Juss. (Amaranthaceae) locally known as ‘bui’ is an Sub-kingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
erect, prostrate undershrub and occurs throughout India as a Division: Magnoliophyta (Angiospermes, flowering plants)
common weed in fields and waste places. The plant is diuretic, Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotylédones)
used in lithiasis. The root is demulcent, diuretic, useful in Subclass: Caryophyllidae
Order: Caryophyllales
strangury (slow to be and painful discharge of urine). The roots
Family: Amaranthaceae
are used in the treatment of headache. The plant is regarded as
Genus: Aerva
a demulcent on the Malabar Coast.[1,2] It is valued for cough in Species: Aerva lanata (L.) A. L. Juss. ex Schultes
Ceylon; also as a vermifuge for children. The Meena tribals of
the Sawaimadhopur district of Rajasthan give orally the juice of Common name
the roots to patients of liver congestion, jaundice, biliousness Ayurvedic: Paashaanabheda, Gorakshaganjaa, Aadaanpaaki,
and dyspepsia. They also give decoction of the whole plant to Shatkabhedi
cure pneumonia, typhoid and other prolonged fevers.[3] Bengali: Chaya
Rajasthani: Bhui
Address for correspondence: Sindhi: Bhui, Jari
Mr. Manoj Goyal,
Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology, Punjabi: Bui-kaltan
Pharmacy Wing, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Hindi: Gorkhabundi, Kapurijadi
E-mail: [email protected] Marathi: Kapurmadhura, Kapurimadhuri, Kapurphuti, Kumra

Access this article online Morphology

Quick Response Code: Herb, erect or prostrate with a long tap-root, branched from near
Website: the base; branches many, pubescent or wolly- tomentose, striate.
www.phcogrev.com

Leaves alternate, 2-2 x 1-1.6 cm on the main stem, 6-10 x 5-6 mm

DOI: on the branches, elliptic or obovate, or subotbicular, obtuse or
10.4103/0973-7847.91120 acute, entire, pubescent above, more or less white with cottony
hairs beneath; petioles 3-6 mm long, often obscure.

Pharmacognosy Reviews | July-December 2011 | Vol 5 | Issue 10 195

 Goyal, et al.: A review on Aerva lanata

Flowers greenish white, very small, sessile, often bisexual, in small Antiparasitic
dense subsessile axillary heads or spikes 6-13 mm long, often The antiparasitic activity of the seed and leaf extracts of Aerva
closely crowded and forming globose clusters; bracteoles 1.25 mm, lanata were tested against a tapeworm and an earthworm,
long, membranous, broadly ovate, concave, apiculate. Perianth particularly the ethanolic extract proved to be better against
1.5-1.25 mm long; sepals oblong, obtuse, sometimes apiculate, tapeworms and earthworms than the Albendazole, which is used
silky-hairy on the back. Utricle broadly ovoid, acute; stigmas two, for treating parasite infections.[12]
seed 0.85 mm in diameter, smooth and polished, black.[1]
Diuretic and anti-urolithiasis
The alcoholic extract of Aerva lanata was tested for diuretic
PHYTOCHEMISTRY activity. The study indicated that the alcoholic extract at a dose
of 800 mg/kg acted as a diuretic, with respect to control. Aerva
Alkaloids: Plant contains biological active canthin-6-one alkaloids
lanata aqueous suspension (2 g/kg body wt/dose/day for 28
such as 10-methoxy-canthin-6-one, 10-hydroxy-canthin-6-one,
days) to CaO2 urolithic rats had reduced the oxalate-synthesizing
10-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxycanthin-6-one, 10-hydroxycanthin-
enzymes, and diminished the markers of crystal deposition in
6-one (ervine), 10-methoxycanthine-6-one (methylervine),
the kidney. The results of the study confirmed that Aerva lanata
10-β-D-glucopyranosyloxycanthin-6-one (ervoside), aervine
can be used as a curative agent for urolithiasis.[13,14]
(10-hydroxycanthin-6-one), methylaervine (10-methoxycanthin-
6-one) and aervoside (10-β-D-glucopyranosyloxycanthin-6-one).
Acute renal failure
Plant also contains alkaloids like β-carboline-1 -propionic acid,
The ethanol extract of the entire plant of Aerva lanata was studied
6-methoxy-β-carboline-1-propionic acid, 6-methoxy-β-carbolin-
for its nephroprotective activity in cisplatin- and gentamicin-
l-ylpropionic acid (ervolanine), and aervolanine (3-(6-methyoxy-
induced acute renal injury in albino rats of either sex. In the
β-carbolin-1-yl) propionic acid).[4-6]
curative regimen, the extract at dose levels of 75, 150 and 300
mg/kg showed dose-dependent reduction in the elevated blood
Flavanoids
urea and serum creatinine and normalized the histopathological
Aerva lanata is a rich source of flavanoids such as kaempferol,
changes. In the gentamicin model the rats in the preventive
quercetin, isorhamnetin, isorhamnetin 3-O-β-[4-p-coumaroyl-α-
regimen also showed good response to the ethanol extract at
rhamnosyl(1→6) galactoside and flavanone glucoside persinol,
300 mg/kg. The findings suggest that the ethanol extract of
persinosides A and B, 5, 4'-hydroxy-3, 6, 7-trimethoxyflavone,
Aerva lanata possesses marked nephroprotective activity with
5-hydroxy-3, 6, 7, 4-tetramethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy 2',
minimal toxicity and could offer a promising role in the treatment
3,5',6,7-pentamethoxyl flavone, 3,3',5,7-trihydroxy-4'-
of acute renal injury caused by nephrotoxins like cisplatin and
methoxyflavone, apigenin 7-O-β-D- glucoside and 7-O-β-D-
gentamicin.[15]
glucopyranoside.[7-9]
Antiasthmatic
Miscellaneous phytoconstituents
The ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Aerva lanata showed
Aerva lanata also contains methyl grevillate, lupeol, lupeol acetate
antiasthematic at 100 μg/ml in the isolated goat tracheal chain
benzoic acid, β-sitosteryl acetate and tannic acid.[10]
preparation. When administered orally 30 and 60 mg/kg of
Nutritive content extract demonstrated antiastmatic activity against clonidine
Leaves of Aerva lanata were found to be high in carbohydrate -induced catalepsy and it also inhibits mast cell degranulation
(26.6 g/100g), crude protein (22.6 g/100g) and ash (31.2 g/100g). in mice.[16]
Mineral composition (mg/100g) revealed that the leaves were high
Antifertility activity
in PO4 (187), and moderately high in other minerals such as K
The ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Aerva lanata were
(47.9), K (Poatssium) (39.4), Ca (Calcium) (51.7), Mg (Magnesium)
evaluated for antifertility activity using anti-implantation,
(41.5), Zn (Zinc) (44.7), Fe (Ferrous) (11.0) and low in Mn
abortificient, and motility of rat spermatozoa (in vitro) models.
(Manganese) (1.04).[[10]
The anti-implantation effect seems to be dependent on the
dose as well as the initiation of treatment on specific days of
PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES pregnancy. Aerva lanata has shown pre-implantation loss of 20%
and 30% against control at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg b/w,
Antimicrobial respectively. Percentage pregnancy failure among the treated
Aerva lanata whole plant ethyl acetate and methanol extracts groups was 30% and 40% at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg
showed interesting antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis, b/w, respectively. Aerva lanata at a concentration of 10% showed
Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, no motility of rat spermatozoa within 60 sec.[17]
Shigella shiga, Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneriae, Shigella boydii, Klebsiella,
Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Hensinela Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-diabetic
californica and Rhizopus oligosporum and petroleum ether, ethyl acetate In the oral glucose tolerance test, Aerva lanata (400 mg/kg)
and methanol extracts showed significant cytotoxic properties.[11] increased the glucose threshold at 60 min after the administration

196 Pharmacognosy Reviews | July-December 2011 | Vol 5 | Issue 10

 Goyal, et al.: A review on Aerva lanata

of glucose. The alcoholic extract of Aerva lanata was found to CONCLUSION

reduce the increased blood sugar level of alloxan-induced diabetic
rats (42% at 375 mg/kg and 48% at 500 mg/kg body weight). Aerva lanata has been ethnomedicinally used as a therapeutic
Aerva lanata (400 mg/kg) treatment prevented a diabetic mice agent for a variety of diseases. [25-28] Moreover, numerous
weight loss in. In the subacute study, repeated administration research works have proven its uses beyond the ethnomedicinal
(once a day for 28 days) of glyburide and Aerva lanata caused a ones in experimental animals.[29] Alkaloids and flavonoids
significant reduction in the serum glucose level as compared to which were isolated from this plant may be responsible for its
the vehicle-treated group.[18,19] pharmacological activities. The road ahead is to establish specific
bioactive molecules, which might be responsible for these actions.
Hypolipidemic Therefore the cultivation, collection, and further pharmacological
The hypolipidemic activity of Aerva lanata was assessed on exploration of Aerva lanata are essential.
ethylene glycol-induced calcium oxalate urolithic rats. Total
lipids, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly
increased in the serum, liver and kidney of calcium oxalate REFERNCES
urolithic rats. Besides, phospholipids (PL), high-density
1. Kirtikar KP, Basu BD, Mahaskar C. Indian Medicinal Plants. 2nd
lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and very ed. Allahabad: International Book Distributors; 1987. p. 2051.
low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) levels were altered in calcium 2. Anonymous, The Wealth of India: A Dictionary of Indian Raw
oxalate urolithic rats. On supplementation of Aerva lanata Materials and Industrial Products, Vol. 1A. New Delhi: CSIR
aqueous suspension, the above changes were reverted to near Publications; 1959. p. 91.
normal. These results indicate that the Aerva lanata aqueous 3. Singh V, Pandey RP. Ethnobotany of Rajasthan, Jodhpur:
suspension acts as a hypolipidemic agent in calcium oxalate Scientific Publishers; 1998. p. 38.
urolithiasis.[20] 4. Zapesochnaya G, Kurkin V, Okhanov V, Miroshnikov A. Canthin-
6-one and β-carboline alkaloids from Aerva lanata. Planta Med
1992;58:192-6.
Hepatoprotective
5. Zapesochnaya GG, Kurkin VA, Okhanov VV, Perzykh LN,
Petroleum ether extractable fraction of the whole plant Aerva Miroshnilov AI. Structure of the alkaloids of Aerva lanata. Chem
lanata was evaluated for the protective effect against liver Nat Compd 1991;27:725-8.
damage induced by carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) in Sprague 6. Zapesochnaya GG, Pervykh LN, Kurkin VA. A study of the herb
Dawley rats. Aerva lanata administration significantly reversed Aerva lanata. III. Alkaloids. Chem Nat Compd 1991;27:336-40.
the histopathological changes, reduced hepatic lipid peroxidation 7. Saleh NA, Mansour RM, Markham KR. An acylated isorhamnetin
glycoside from Aerva javanica. Phytochemistry 1990;29:1344-5.
and increased the serum total protein and albumin/globulin
(A/G) ratio.[21] 8. Ahmed E, Imran M, Malik A, Ashraf M. Antioxidant activity with
flavonoidal constituents from Aerva persica. Arch Pharm Res
2006;29:343-7.
Immunomodulatory and antitumor 9. Pervykh LN, Karasartov BS, Zapesochnaya GG. A study of the
Petroleum ether extract of Aerva lanata showed significant herb Aerva lanata IV. Flavonoid glycosides. Chem Nat Compd
cytotoxicity against Daltons lymphoma ascites (DLA) tumor cell 1992;28:509-10.
lines in vitro and stimulated lymphocyte proliferation in in vitro and 10. Omoyeni OA, Adeyeye EI. Chemical composition, calcium, zinc
in vivo conditions. DLA-bearing animals when treated with A. and phytate interrelationships in Aerva lanata (Linn) Juss. ex
schult leaves. Orient J Chem 2009;25:485-8.
lanata showed increase in lifespan compared to control animals.
11. Chowdhury D, Sayeed A, Islam A, Shah Alam Bhuiyan M, Astaq
Partially purified fraction was also found to be hepatoprotective Mohal Khan GR. Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of Aerva
as evidenced from the normal levels of liver marker enzymes lanata. Fitoterapia 2002;73:92-4.
compared to the elevated levels of these enzymes in DLA alone 12. Anantha D, Israiel Kumar T, Santosh Kumar M, Manohar Reddy
inoculated animals. A, Mukharjee NS, Lakshmana Rao A. In vitro anti helmentic
activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Aerva lanata seeds
and leaves. J Pharm Sci Res 2010;2:317-21.
The partially thin layer chromatography-purified fraction of the
petroleum ether extract of Aerva lanata proved to be cytotoxic 13. Vetrichelvan T, Jegadeesan M, Senthil Palaniappan M, Murali
NP, Sasikumar K. Diuretic and antiinflammatory activities of
to DLA, Ehrlich ascites (EA) and B16F10 cell lines in vitro. Since aerva Ianata in rats. Indian J Pharm Sci 2000;62:300-2.
partially TLC-purified fraction was found to be more cytotoxic 14. Soundararajan P, Mahesh R, Ramesh T, Begum VH. Effect of
to DLA cell lines, it was used to study the pharmacological effect Aerva lanata on calcium oxalate urolithiasis in rats. Indian J Exp
and its potential to reduce solid tumor induced by DLA cell lines Biol 2006;44:981-6.
in mice.[22,23] 15. Shirwaikar A, Issac D, Malini S. Effect of Aerva lanata on cisplatin
and gentamicin models of acute renal failure. J Ethnopharmacol
2004;90:81-6.
Anti-diarrheal
16. Kumar D, Prasad DN, Parkash J, Bhatnagar SP.
Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Aerva lanata and A. javanica Antiasthmatic activity of ethanolic extract of Aerva lanata Linn.
were screened for anti-diarrheal activity. All the extracts showed Pharmacologyonline 2009;2:1075-81.
significant anti-diarrheal activity in charcoal meal test. reduction 17. Savadi R, Alagawadi K. Antifertility activity of ethanolic extracts
of the intestinal transit is suggested as mechanism of action.[24] of plumbago indica and Aerva lanata on albino rats. Int J Green

Pharmacognosy Reviews | July-December 2011 | Vol 5 | Issue 10 197

 Goyal, et al.: A review on Aerva lanata

Pharm 2009;3:230-3. 25. Tabuti JR, Lye KA, Dhillion SS. Traditional herbal drugs
18. Deshmukh TA, Yadav BV, Badole SL, Bodhankar SL, of Bulamogi, Uganda: Plants, use and administration. J
Dhaneshwar SR. Antihyperglycaemic activity of alcoholic extract Ethnopharmacol 2003;88:19-44.
of Aerva lanata (L.) A.L. Juss. ex J.A. Schultes leaves in alloxan 26. Ssegawa P, Kasenene JM. Medicinal plant diversity and uses
induced diabetic mice. J Appl Biomed 2008;6:81-7. in the Sango bay area, Southern Uganda. J Ethnopharmacol
19. Vetrichelvan T, Jegadeesan M. Anti-diabetic activity of alcoholic 2007;113:521-40.
extract of Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schultes in rats. J 27. Samy RP, Thwin MM, Gopalakrishnakone P, Ignacimuthu
Ethnopharmacol 2002;80:103-7. S. Ethnobotanical survey of folk plants for the treatment
of snakebites in Southern part of Tamilnadu, India. J
20. Soundararajan P, Mahesh R, Ramesh T, Begum VH.
Ethnopharmacol 2008;115:302-12.
Hypolipidemic activity of Aerva lanata on ethylene glycol
induced calcium oxalate urolithiasis in rats. Pharmacologyonline 28. Rahman MA, Mossa JS, Al-Said MS, Al-Yahya MA. Medicinal
2007;1:557-63. plant diversity in the flora of Saudi Arabia 1: A report on seven
plant families. Fitoterapia 2004;75:149-61.
21. Nevin KG, Vijayammal PL. Effect of Aerva lanata against
hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride in rats. Environ Toxicol 29. Sharma A, Sharma SC, Vaghela JS. Phytopharmacological
Pharmacol 2005;20:471-7. Investigation of Aerva Lanata Flowers with Special Emphasis on
Diuretic Activity. Pharmacogn J 2010;2:59-62.
22. Nevin KG, Vijayammal PL. Pharmacological and
immunomodulatory effects of Aerva lanata in daltons lymphoma
ascites-bearing mice. Pharm Biol 2005;43:640-6. How to cite this Article: Goyal M, Pareek A, Nagori BP, Sasmal
23. Nevin KG, Vijayammal PL. Effect of Aerva lanata on solid tumor D. Aerva lanata: A review on phytochemistry and pharmacological
induced by DLA cells in mice. Fitoterapia 2003;74:578-82. aspects. Phcog Rev 2011;5:195-8.
24. Joanofarc J, Vamsadhara C. Evaluation of antidiarrhoeal activity Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared
of Aerva species. Nat Prod Sci 2003;9:177-9.

AUTHOR INSTITUTION MAP FOR THIS ISSUE

Map will be added after issue gets online****

Please note that not all the institutions may get mapped due to non-availability of requisite information in Google Map. For AIM of other issues, please check
Archives/Back Issues page on the journal’s website.

198 Pharmacognosy Reviews | July-December 2011 | Vol 5 | Issue 10