 Gen info
- The genus Buddleja comprises over 140 species, native to the tropics of Asia, USA, and Africa. The more well-known species are Buddleja asiatica, B. crispa, B. davidii, and B. lindleyana.
- The genus name Buddleja was bestowed by Linnaeus and posthumously honored Adan Buddle (1662-1715), an English botanist and rector.
- Nomenclatural confusion: In modern practice of botanical Latin, the generic name from Buddle would be Buddleia, but Linnaeus in his Species Plantarus of 1753 spelled it as Buddleja.
(36)
- Buddleja asiatica, dogtail, is a species of flowering plants in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae.
Botany
• Malasambung is an erect, branched shrub growing 1 to 2 meters high. Branches and lower surfaces of the leaves are densely hairy, soft and smooth to the touch on account of the small, numerous, grayish or brownish hairs. Leaves are lanceolate, 5 to 15 centimeters long, pointed at the base, tapering to a sharp and pointed tip, and toothed at the margins. Flowers are white, sweetly scented, 3.5 to 4 millimeters long, hairy and borne in large numbers on ample panicles which grow up to 15 centimeters long. Fruit is a reflexed capsule, oblong, and about as long as the flower.
 • A shrub or small tree up to 7 m tall; branches terete, densely appressed or woolly stellate-hairy when young. Leaves opposite, simple, narrowly lanceolate to oblong- or ovate-lanceolate, 3—30 cm x 0.5—7 cm, cuneate at base, long-acuminate at apex, margin remotely serrate-dentate to entire, densely hairy beneath, pinnately veined; petiole 2—15 mm long; stipules absent, but 2 opposite petioles connected by a stipular line. Inflorescence a terminal and/or axillary spike-like thyrse up to 25 cm long, composed of 1—3-flowered cymes in the axils of linear bracts, densely tomentose. Flowers bisexual, 4-merous, occasionally a few 5-merous, sessile or subsessile; calyx campanulate, 1.5—4.5 mm long, with triangular-oblong lobes; corolla 3—6 mm long, lobes distinctly shorter than tube, outside stellate-hairy, white, sometimes pale violet or greenish; stamens inserted on the corolla tube, filaments extremely short; ovary superior, 2-celled, style short, stigma club-shaped. Fruit an ovoid or oblong, flattened capsule 3—5 mm long, 2-valved, glabrous, brown, many-seeded. Seeds ellipsoid, small, with a short wing at both sides, endosperm fleshy. (30)
Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
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In thickets and recently cleared places at medium altitudes, sometimes at sea level and up to 2,000 meters, from northern Luzon to Palawan and Mindanao.
- Also native to Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Marianas, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Pakistan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalaya. (20)
- In many places, considered an invasive species.
- Highly invasive in Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. (37)
 Constituents
- Study yielded free sugars (mannitol and sucrose), steroids (beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, stigmasterol-O-glucosdie, beta-sitosterol-O-glucoside), iridoid glucosides (methyl catalpol, catalpol, aucubin), phenylpropanoids (isoacteoside and aceoside), a triterpene saponin (mimengoside A), flavonoids (linarin and disomin).
- Studies have yielded terpenoids, flavonoids, iridoids, phenylethanoids, and saponins.
- Study of chloroform soluble fraction of B. asiatica yielded 7 compounds:dihydrobuddledin-A, buddledone-B, ursolic acid, 2-phenylethyl-β-D-glucoside, 7-deoxy-8-epiloganic acid (6) and scutellarin-7-O- β-D-glucopyranoside. (see study below) .
- Study of ethanolic extract of flowers yielded four flavonoidal compounds viz., apigenin, acacetin, 7-O-ß-D-glucoside, linarin, and a phenyl ethanoid glycoside, verbascoside.
- Major constituents of essential oil from aerial parts were n-tridecane (55.87%), 5-methylundecane (10.62%), n-dodecane (2.84%) and n-hexadecanol (2.76%). (11)
- Phytochemical screening of methanolic extract of leaves and flowers yielded triterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, and saponins.
(See study below) (12)
- Aerial parts yielded two new oleanane-type triterpenoids, 13,28-epoxy-23-hydroxy-11-oleanene-3-one (1) and 13,28- epoxy-21β ,23-dihydroxy-11-oleanene-3-one (2), along with seven known compounds.
(14)
- Study of ethyl acetate soluble fraction of B. asiatica isolated a new sterol, Buddlejol, along with stigmasterol, lignoceric acid, taraxerol, and α-amyrin. (see study below) (16)
- Phytochemistry studies have yielded more than 80 compounds including phenyl propanoids, flavonoids, phenyl ethanoid glycosides, phenylpropanoid esters, non-phenolic compounds, triterpene saponins, iridoid glucosides, benzoates, triterpenoids, monoterpenes, acetogenins, steroids, shikimates, and other trace elements. (23)
- Fragrant flowers yielded many flavonoids including apigenin, acacetin-87-O-ß-D-glucoside, diosmin, rutin, etc. Leaves are rich in essential oil with main constituents of tridecane, ß-caryophyllene oxide, anethole, and phytol. (23)
- Essential oil of leaves yielded 17 constituents 14 of which were identified as four monoterpene hydrocarbons, four oxygenated monoterpenes, one hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes and five oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Major constituents was 1,8-cineole (38.1%); others were ß-sinensal 1,10-secxo-1-hydroxy-calamenen-10-one and α-phellandrene at 11.8%, 10.2%, and 5.8%, respectively. (see study below) (25)
- Study of methanol extract of aerial parts isolated a new iridoid glycoside, buddlejasiasidee A (1) along with 11 known compounds,
6-O -[α-L-(4-isoferuloyl)-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol (2), specioside (3), verminoside (4), minecoside (5), 6-O -(p -hydroxybenzoyl)-ajugol (6), 6-O -caffeoyl ajugol (7), litanthosalin 8), eurostoside (9), 10-O -caffeoylaucubin (10), phlorizin (11), and garashangin (12). (see study below) (29)
Properties
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Study have suggested antihepatotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic, calcium antagonistic, antioxidant, hypotensive, chymotrypsin inhibitory, antinociceptive, muscle relaxant, anticholinesterase, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, antidiarrheal properties.
Parts used
Roots, leaves, bark, aerial parts.
 Uses
Edibility
- In Meghalaya, India, flowers reportedly cooked as vegetable. (17)
- Flowers also used for flavoring.
Folkloric
- In the Philippines, plant used to induce abortion.
- Also used for various skin diseases.
- Used as cure for weight loss.
- In Pakistan used as abortifacient and contraceptive.
- Used for skin complains.
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Paste of roots mixed with rice water used as tonic.
- Roots and leaves used to treat tumor-like growths.
- Concentrated infusion of roots used to treat malaria.
- In Bangladesh leaf paste applied to forehead for treatment of fever. For high fever in children, root extract is taken, and warm root extract is rubbed onto the whole body. Roots also used in skin diseases. (19)
- In Uttaranchal, India, used for pimples and itching.
- In Vietnam, leaves are used in inhalation to treat headache, to treat skin diseases, and combined with other drugs, after childbirth. In China, dried roots used for treatment of malaria; in Burma, used as tonic.
- In Nepal, decoction of leaves used as abortifacient.
Others
- Wood: Moderately hard, used for making walking sticks. Also used as firewood.
- Beer: Leaves and twigs are ingredients in the making of Judima, an indigenous alcohol of the Dimasa tribe in India. (18)
- Rituals: In Nepal, leaves used in cultural and religious events. Flowers worn as necklaces during wedding ceremonies. Leaves and flowers used as offerings to their gods and goddesses. (33)
- Fishing:
Dayak Kenyah people in East Kalimantan used leaves for stupefying fish.
- Fodder: In Nepal, leaves used as fodder.
- Fermenter: Rai and Limbu communities in Nepal and Monpa and Lhoba ethnic groups of Xizang, China, used leaves of B. asiatica to create a fermentation starter culture for making local rice wine. (33) Dried and powdered root use for preparation of fermented liquor. (34)
- Food coloring: Yellow liquid obtained from boiling flowers used as coloring for rice.
- Scent: Essential oil from plant, with its sweet freesia-like fragrance, used in perfumery. (34)
Studies
• Buddlin: Study isolated a new compound, buddlin, from the whole plant of B asiatica. (1)
• Asiatisides: Study yielded four new phenylpropanoid esters of rhamnose, asiatisides A-D, with the known compounds, buergeriside C1, p-methoxycinnamic acid, ferulic acid, and O-methylferulic acid, from the aerial parts of B asiatica. (2)
• Antihepatotoxic: Study isolated a new natural compound, 6-O-(3",4"-dimethoxycinnamoyl) catalpol, from the defatted alcoholic extract of the flowering parts of B asiatica. The flowering parts and roots showed substantial antihepatotoxic activity comparable to the lignan silymarin. (3)
• Non-Phenolic Antioxidants: Study of methanol extract of leaves of B asiatica showed antioxidant activity towards well known in vitro antioxidant tests. Four non-phenolic compounds were isolated and identified. (4)
• Antibacterial / Antifungal / Antispasmodic / Calcium Antagonist: Study showed a crude extract and fractions exhibited significant antibacterial and antifungal activities and concentration-dependent relaxation of spontaneous and high K+-induced contractions. Results indicated antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic and Ca++ antagonist potential. (6)
• Antimicrobial Constituents: Study of chloroform soluble fraction of B. asiatica yielded 7 compounds. Compounds 5 -7 (2-phenylethyl-β-D-glucoside, 7-deoxy-8-epiloganic acid (6) and scutellarin-7-O- β-D-glucopyranoside) showed significant antimicrobial activity against P vulgaris, S. typhi E. coli, Trichophyton longifusus, C. albicans, M. canis, Candida glabrata, Fusarium solani and Aspergillus flavus. (7)
• Pb Phytoremediation Potential: Study showed both Buddleja asiatica and B. paniculata are suitable for use in the phytoremediation of lead-contaminated soil. (8)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Analgesic / Antipyretic / Antioxidant / Antimicrobial: Study of ethanol and aqueous extracts of leaves and flowers of B. asiatica and B. madagascariensis exhibited marked anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, and antioxidant activities. The extracts also showed antimicrobial activities against some of the tested organisms. (9)
• Essential Oil from Leaves / Antifungal / Antibacterial / Anthelmintic: Study of essential oil from shade-dried leaves of the plant yielded 18 compounds, including monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids. Oil was found rich in ß-caryophyllene oxide, citroneliol, and ß-caryophyllene. The oil showed in vitro antifungal, antibacterial and anthelmintic activities. (11)
• Antimicrobial / Flowers and Leaves: Study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of a methanol extract of B. asiatica flowers and leaves against 6 bacteria and 2 fungi. Results showed the flower extract exhibited good antimicrobial activity compared to the leaves extract. (12)
• Antioxidant / Flowers: Fresh flowers of B. asiatica were found to contain hesperitin and its glycoside hesperitin-7-O-rutinoside. The glycoside is a strong antioxidant property that can inhibit lipid peroxidation. (13)
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors: Study of ethyl acetate soluble fraction of Buddleja asiatica whole plant yielded two new benzoates, asiatoate A and asiatoate B. Both showed significant inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butylcholinesterase (BChE) in a dose dependent manner. (15)
• Buddlejol / α-Chymotrypsin Inhibitor: Study of ethyl acetate soluble fraction of B. asiatica isolated a new sterol, Buddlejol, along with stigmasterol, lignoceric acid, taraxerol, and α-amyrin. Budddlejol showed to be a competitive inhibitor of chymotrypsin with the Ki value of 10.60 µM. The other compounds showed less inhibitory potential. (16)
• Hypotensive / Leaves: Study showed an alcoholic extract of leaves produced persistent and prolonged fall of blood pressure in pentobarbitone-anesthetized dogs and cats. (21)
•
Toxicological Study / Cytotoxicity / Analgesic / Bark and Leaves: Study evaluated B. asiatica for cytotoxic and phytotoxic activities. Toxicological studies showed the plant was safe for human consumption. A leaf extract showed significant cytotoxic effect with LD50 of 469.63 µg/ml while a bark extract showed non-significant cytotoxic effect. Lemna minor phytotoxicity assay of both extracts showed non-significant phytotoxic effect. Both extracts showed dose dependent analgesic effect in mice. (22)
• Antinociceptive / Muscle Relaxant / Leaf and Bark: Study evaluated the antinociceptive and skeleton relaxant effect of ethanolic extract of leaves and barks of B. asiatica in animal models. Extracts showed marked dose dependent antinociceptive effect. In chimney test and traction test, the extracts evoked muscle relaxant effects. (24)
• Antimicrobial / Anti-Cholinesterase / Essential Oil: Essential oil exhibited (66%) strong antibacterial activity against Shigella boydii and significant inhibition (79%) against Aspergillus flavus on fungicidal assay. The essential oil showed outstanding anticholinesterase (IC50 5.2µM) and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory effect (IC50 27.9 µM). (25)
• Flower Odorants: Study of volatile compounds collected from air over clusters of butterfly bush flowers yielded the consistent presence of nine chemicals: benzaldehyde, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, hexyl acetate, 4-oxoiso- phorone, (E,E)-α-farnesene, (Z)-cinnamaldehyde, dihydrooxoisophorone, β-cyclocitral, and oxoisophorone oxide. Some of the compounds may be attractants or co-attractants for moths and may play a role in locating flowers as nectar sources. (26)
• Cytotoxicity Against HepG2 Cell Line / Leaves: Study of B. asiatica leaves isolated a new compound, 3,4 dihydroxy phenylethyl alcohol 8-O[(4'-O-feruoyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1''→3') –β-D-glucopyranosyl- (1'''→6')]- β-D-glucopyranoside (1), along with 5 known metabolites, E-acteoside, E-iso acteoside, rutin, ajugol and luteolin. The methanol extract and compounds 1-4 showed significant cytotoxicity against a HepG2 cell line. (27)
• Cardioprotective in Isoproterenol Induced Damage: Study evaluated the cardioprotective efficacy of B. asiatica against isoproterenol induced cardiac damage in rats. Results indicated the methanol extract showed myocardial salvage by restoring cardiac marker enzymes and lessened the level of plasma lipid profiles along with an increase in HDL. There was also an increase in level of myocardial antioxidants along with reduction in content of malondialdehyde. Histopathological findings showed a decrease in degree of necrosis and inflammation. (28)
• Iridoid Glycosides and Phenolic Glycosides / Anti-Inflammatory / Cytoprotective / Aerial Parts: Study of methanol extract of aerial parts isolated a new iridoid glycoside, buddlejasiasidee A (1) along with 11 known compounds,
6-O -[α-L-(4-isoferuloyl)-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol (2), specioside (3), verminoside (4), minecoside (5), 6-O -(p -hydroxybenzoyl)-ajugol (6), 6-O -caffeoyl ajugol (7), litanthosalin 8), eurostoside (9), 10-O -caffeoylaucubin (10), phlorizin (11), and garashangin (12). Compounds 1, 2, and 8-10 showed modest inhibitory effects against nitrite production in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia, with IC50 values ranging from 43.5-79.6 µM. Compounds 6, 7, and 11 protected hippocampal cells from glutamate-induced cell death, with EC50 of38.9, 14.4, and 27.1 µM, respectively. (29)
•Antibacterial / Antifungal / Aerial Parts: Study evaluated methanol, chloroform, and aqueous extracts of B. asiatica aerial parts for antimicrobial activity against six bacteria and two fungi. Of the three extracts, CHCl extract showed significant activity against P. aeruginosa and B. mycoides and best antifungal activity against A. niger. Activity was even higher than chloramphenical (25 µg/disc diameter 3 mm) against P. aeruginosa and fluconazole (25µg/ml) against A. niger. (30)
• Antidiarrheal / Lignoceric Acid: Extracts of B. asiatica have been reported to treat diarrhea. One of the causes is infection by Campylobacter jejuni. Study sought to identify the phytochemical constituent of B. asiatica capable of curing diarrhea. Molecular docking study identified Lignoceric acid, which can effectively deactivate the transferase enzyme thereby interrupting the life cycle of the organism. (31)
• Antioxidant / Antibacterial / Analgesic / Aerial Part: Study evaluated methanolic extract of aerial parts of B. asiatic for antibacterial, antioxidant, and analgesic activities. Phytochemical screening yielded reducing sugars, tannin, phenol, alkaloid, glycoside, and flavonoids. Zone of inhibition of 19 mm against S. aureus demonstrated antibacterial efficacy. Extract showed DPPH free radical scavenging with IC50 of 123.68 µg/mL. At 600, 800, and 1000 mg/kg, acetic acid-induced writhing method showed significant (p<0.05) analgesic effect. The tail flick method for pain reaction time showed similar results. (32)
• Lignoceric Acid Against Staph Causing Skin Diseases: Phytochemicals from B. asiatica plant extract are traditionally used to cure skin diseases, which is usually cause by S. aureus. Molecular docking study suggested lignoceric acid can effectively deactivate the L-lactate dehydrogenase enzyne thereby interrupting the life cycle of the organism. (35)
Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Extract powder and plants in the cybermarket.
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