Balbas Pusa

Balbas Pusa

Scientific Name:  Orthosiphon aristatus(3)

Synonyms: Orthosiphon stamineus; Orthosiphon spiralis(7)

Family name: Lamiacea(7)

Common Name: Cat’s Whiskers; Java Tea;  Kabling Gubat(2)

Description:

The Orthosiphon aristatus is a perennial herb measuring from 20 to 60 cm tall and grows in Asia, particularly on the island of Java, where his name.Leaves in distant pairs, narrowed into the stalk,ovate, 5 to 10 centimeters long, pointed at both ends, coarsely toothed at the margins.(11)

Flowers are borne in very lax racemes. Calyx is bell-shaped, with a naked throat and two slender lower teeth. Corolla is 2.5 centimeters long, smooth, white or purplish, very slender in the tube, and thrice as long as the calyx.(8)

Active Constituents:

-Leaves contain a high percentage of potassium salts (0.738 gm in 100 grams of fresh leaves).(8)

-From dried leaves, a small amount of volatile oil and a bitter alkaloid, orthosiphonin.(8)

- Studies yielded flavonoids, carbohydrates, tannins, saponins, phenols and terpenoids.(8)

-Earlier studies reported bioactive pentacyclic triterpenes betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and β-sitosterol from the leaves of this plant.(5)

-Twenty phenolic compounds were isolated from this plant including lipophilic flavones, flavonol glycosides and caffeic acid derivatives such as rosmarinic acid and 2, 3-dicaffeoyltartaric acid, were identified and quantified by HPLC.(5)

Traditional Use:

The diuretic effects of leaves of O. aristatus had been recognized in the South-east Asian community for a very long time. To this end, many had recommended its use in the treatment of various kidney diseases from infection to renal calculi. Urinary tract infection be it bladder or higher up is treated with a decoction of fresh leaves to be taken twice a day. The dried leaves decoction is used to treat cases of strangury and dysuria. To treat kidney stones the traditional medical practitioners prescribe the whole plant whether fresh or dried.(4)

Its ability to excrete uric acid had been recognized in the 19^th century such than one British doctor used it to treat gout. The Filipinos takes a decoction of the leaves to relieve gout. Amongst the Kenyah people of Sarawak, the young twigs and leaves are made into tea for treatment of backache.(4)

Pharmacological Activity:

Antioxidant/Anti-Inflammatory: A study results showed the ethanolic extract and its bioactive compound, ursolic acid, suppress LPS- induced NO and PGE2 production by inhibiting ROS generation, along with reducing expression of iNOS and COX-2 in RAW 264.7 cells.(6)(8)

Diuretic: As a diuretic, cat’s whisker is used to treat kidney disease, gallstones, and gout. It decreases the levels of uric acid and lowers cholesterol in the blood, and is said to be a tonic for kidneys.(2)

Anti-inflammatory: Study of leaf extracts showed anti -inflammatory activity. The flavonoid rich chloroform extract fraction containing sinensetin, eupatorin, and 3'-hydroxy-5,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone, significantly reduced rat hind paw edema, NO, and decreased dye leakage. Results suggest the ant-inflammatory effects may be due to the presence of flavonoid compounds affecting the NO pathway.(9)

Antimicrobial and Anti-oxidant: Recently, several researchers reported the antimicrobial against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Streptococcus mutans, and anti-oxidant activities of o. stamineus. Several different extracts of the O. stamineus were tested for antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activities against selected food-borne bacteria in vitro. Whole O. satmineus plants (powdered) were extracted using various concentrations ( 0%, 25%,50%, 75%,and 100%) of methanol. O.stamineus  extracted with 50% methanol, 75 % methanol and fraction 5 of 50% methanolic extract demonstrated inhibitory activity against Vibrio parahaemolytics.(5)

Antipyretic: A recent study reported another remarkable property of O. stamineus. Researchers chemically induced body temperature in experimental rodents then treated them with O. stamineus. The extract significantly lowered hyperthermia. The effect was observed within 4h of the treatment. The fever-reducing efficacy of O. stamineus was comparable with that of standard drug acetaminophen.(5)

Antioxidant/ Toxicity Study: Study evaluated the antioxidant activity and potential toxicity of a 50% methanolic extract of leaves after acute and subchronic administration in rats. Results showed good superoxide radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, ferrous ion chelating and anti-lipid peroxidationj activities. No mortality or any signs of toxicity was detected in the acute and subchronic toxicity studies.(10)

Antiapoptic and Antioxidant: Antiapoptic and antioxidant of a aqueous-methanolic extract(CAME) of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth (OS), and its hexane (HF), chloroform(CF), n-butanol(NBF), ethyl acetate(EAF) and water(WF) fractions were investigated. Antioxidant properties were evaluated using the assays of Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminium trichloride, beta- carotene bleaching and DPPH. The role of OS against hydrogen peroxide induced apoptosis on MDA-M23 epithelial cells was examined using MTT assay, phase contracting microscope, colorimetric assay of caspase-3, western blot and quantitative realtime PCR. Results showed that EAF showed the highest total phenolic content followed by CAME, NBF, WF, CF and HF, respectively.(1)(8)

Toxicity:

Chronic Toxicity Test: A study on the chronic toxicity of water extract of Orthosiphon aristatus on Wistar rats showed that high doses of the extract caused a reduction of serum sodium levels in all extract-treated groups and increase alkaline phosphatase level and incidence of hydrocalyx in male rats, therefore advising that the prolong dose of OA should be avoided.(8)

References:

1. Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwab, Syam Mohan,et.al. 2011. Antiapoptotic and Antioxidant Properties of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth (Cat's Whiskers): Intervention in the Bcl-2-Mediated Apoptotic Pathway. Date retrieved: July 20, 2014; http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/156765/

2. PA Batugal, J. Kanniah, Lee Sy and JT Oliver (eds.). 2004. Medicinal Plants Research in Asia Volume 1: The Framework and Project Workplans.

3. Monica Feria. 2007. Library Health News. Date retrieved: July 23, 2014; http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/2012-05-23-07-46-36/2012-05-24-00-03-06/713-10-medicinal-plants

4. Globinmed. 2010-2011. Orthosiphon stamineus. Date retrieved: July 23, 2014; http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79215:orthosiphon-stamineus&catid=199&Itemid=139

5. Bajaj Himani, et.al. 2013. Misai Kuching: A Glimpse of Maestro. Date retrieved: July 23, 2014; http://globalresearchonline.net/journalcontents/v22-2/11.pdf

6. Chin- Lin Hsu, Bo- Han Hong, Yu- Shan Yu and Gow- Chin Yen. 2010. Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Orthosiphon aristatus and Its Bioactive Compounds. Date retrieved: July 23, 2014; http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf903557c

7. C. Pierce Salguero. 2010. A Thai Herbal: Traditional Recipes for Health and Harmony.

8. Dr. Godofredo Stuart. 2014. Kabling- Gubat. Date retrieved: July 20, 2014; http://www.stuartxchange.com/KablingGubat.html

9. Mun Fei Yam, Vuanghao Lim, et.al. 2010. HPLC and Anti-Inflammatory Studies of the Flavonoid Rich Chloroform Extract Fraction of Orthosiphon Stamineus Leaves. Date retrieved: July 23,2014;

 https://docs.google.com/viewera=v&q=cache:kaoIetUMTd4J:www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/6/4452/pdf+orthosiphon+aristatus+study

10. Mun Fei Yam, Chung Pin Lim, Lee Fung Ang, et.al. 2013. Antioxidant and Toxicity Studies of 50% Methanolic Extract of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. Date retrieved: July 23, 2014; http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2013/351602/

11.Orthosiphon aristatus.http://www.exporthailand.net/en/the-health-of-the-women-3/orthosiphon-aristatus-33.html Date retrieved: July 23, 2014

 Compiled by:

Rheene Rose D. Bajon