Article Review: Cordia myxa L.: The Gift of the Nature, A Review

Cordia myxa L. is one of the medical plants that plays an important role in the treatment of many diseases. There are many studies explained that C. myxa can show anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antiparasitic, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. This review was focused on the active compounds and medical effects of C. myxa. The fatty acids contents are particularly high (9.9%). Sodium and potassium constitute the largest mineral proportion (13 ppm and 29 ppm respectively) of the fruit. However, the toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium and copper have not been found in the fruit. This gives an additional significant benefit of the medical uses of the plant. The content of alkaloids, saponin, polyphenols, and comarine were recorded and was relatively high compared to steroids, resins, glycosides, tannins, and gum that found to be in less amounts. When the mucilage was extracted, the alkaloids constitute more than 35%. By using the Folin‐Ciocalteu, C. myxa extracts have a high Phenolic content. The antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria were included in the fruit mucilage extract while the alcoholic extracts have no effect on all bacterial isolates. In addition, the mucilage extract showed anti-parasitic activity when it was tested against Leishmania infantum promastigotes. However, the highest concentration of extract significantly reduced the amounts of lymphocytes. Moreover, ethanolic extracts of C. myxa fruits give rise to leucocyte and lymphocyte count. Future research needs to be done on this kind of herbs which could show high medicinal activity.

Estimation and evaluation of medicinal efficacy of maximum inhibitory concentration of alkaloids extracted from Iraqi Cordia myxa leaves against some pathogenic bacteria

Cordia myxa is considered as one of traditional medicinal plants abundant in many countries including Iraq. Because of the healthy importance of this plant therefore the current research was established to extract the alkaloids from the its leaves with extraction percentage equal to 5.8% Preliminary qualitative detections were achieved for the alkaloids by using various chemical reagents. The medicinal efficacy of these alkaloids was determined depending on maximum inhibitory concentration (Max IC) which has value equal to 150 mg/ml and this concentration recorded inhibition zone diameters values equal to 30,22,26,25 and 30 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Proteus Sp. and klebsiella Sp. bacteria. So Cordia myxa leaves alkaloids can be used as natural chemical drug to treat the most infections and inflammatory caused by these pathogens.

Assessment of Nutritional And Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Selected Genotypes of Cordia Myxa L.: A Potential Underutilized Fruit Crop of Indian Arid Zone

Cordia myxa is one of the important underutilized fruit plants suitable for arid and semi-arid regions of India having potential for commercial exploitation in vegetable and pickle industry. Fruits of four improved genotypes of Cordia myxa were analyzed for nutritional value, total phenol content and free radical scavenging activity. Acetone extracts from dried fruit samples were prepared to determine total phenol content and free radical scavenging activity using DPPH essay. The fruits harvested at 20 or 30 days after fruit set recorded higher crude fibre and crude protein as compared to at full ripening stage. The total phenol content was found highest in fruits harvested earliest irrespective of genotypes. The correlation coefficient between total phenol content and free radical scavenging activity of fruit extract was found positive and significant. The results suggest that the fruits of Cordia myxa should be harvested at 20 to 30 days after fruit set to get maximum benefits of its anti-oxidant and other nutritional properties.

Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Cordia Myxa L.: A Review

Background: Cordia myxa L. (CM) is a valuable ethnomedicinal plant from Boraginaceae family. Traditionally, CM parts especially fruits and leaves are used in chest and urinary tract infections, diarrhoea, dysentery, tuberculosis, liver and spleen disorders, chronic fever, malaria etc. Objective: Despite of known importance and uses, CM has gained relatively less attention of researchers and concise reviews revealing the medicinal potential of CM are scanty. The present review summarizes the chemical constituents and biological activities of CM and aims to stimulate future research to develop it as a functional health food. Results: Analysis of literature on CM showed that its fruits are a rich source of nutrients and are frequently employed in wide ailments such as urinary and respiratory tract infections, chronic fever, liver disorders, asthma, used as anthelmintic, diuretic, expectorant and purgative. Scientific studies have shown the antidiabetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, hepatoprotective, hypotensive, antiulcer and antimicrobial activities of CM. More than 45 compounds belonging to carbohydrates, steroids, carotenoids, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids have been reported from various parts of CM. Conclusion: Systematic preclinical studies support the traditional claims of CM. The analysis of available literature showed that CM could be developed as a drug. Further, studies such as detailed pharmacological and toxicological evaluation, isolation of bioactive compounds, quantitative phytochemistry and structure activity relationship are scanty and thus, crucial to be addressed for uplifting the scientific value of this revered medicinal plant.