A Critical Review on Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Investigations of Martynia annua Linn.

Martynia annua Linn (Martyniaceae) is an important herbaceous annual medicinal herb found as a wild plant throughout India. In spite of the fact that the majority of its parts are utilized as a part of folklore and it is known as kakanasika in Ayurved, fruits, seeds, roots and Leaves are the most vital parts which are utilized therapeutically. The present article gives an account of updated complete information on its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. The review shows that large numbers of phytochemical constituents have been isolated from the Martynia annua Linn plant which possesses actions like Antioxidant, Anthelmintic, Analgesic and Antipyretic, Antibacterial, Anti-convulsant,  Antinociceptive  and, Antifertility, Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant, Wound Healing, Antidiabetic, Gastroprotective, Antifungal, Cytotoxic  Activity and various other important medicinal properties. In folk medicine, Decoction of whole plant is used in pneumonia and cold fever. Leaves are eaten in times of scarcity and also given in epilepsy and its juice is gargled for sore throat. The fruits are used for the treatment of asthma; the seeds are also applied locally for itching and eczema. The Roots are boiled with milk and taken as a tonic and roots made into a poultice and applied in snake bite. For the last few decades or so, extensive research work has been done to prove its biological activities and pharmacology of its extracts. The aim of this review article was to summarize the information associated to Pharmacognostical, ethnobotanical, traditional, Phytochemical and pharmacological activity of the Martynia annua Linn plant. 
 


Introduction
Martynia annua Linn (Family: Martyniaceae) is a folklore medicinal plant used to heal wounds and treat cancer, rheumatism, epilepsy, inflammation, sore throat, burns, itching, respiratory tract and skin diseases . It is commonly found in dense clumps on roadsides, degraded moist and dry deciduous forest, waste lands and over-grazed pasture. It is a weedy alien species native to tropical and sub-tropical region of Mexico, Central America, Burma, West Pakistan and naturalized throughout India. Its excellent dispersal mechanism has helped it extend throughout the tropical world as a wild plant.(1) The plant is commonly known as the Cat's claw or Devil's claw because of the 2-hooked form of their seed pods. In A yurveda, the plant is known as Kakanasika and it is also important ingredient of Chyavanprasha avaleha & Tryushnadi Ghrita. (2) Materia medica of India gives bunches of data on the folklore practices and conventional aspects of therapeutically important natural products. The evaluation of these drugs is mostly based on Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Pharmacological investigation.(3)

Aim and objective
The aim of this review is to summarize the information and knowledge about the Martynia annua Linn and updating available research data on the aspects of botany, Pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, ethno pharmacology and Pharmacological studies.

Materials and methods
Information obtained about Martynia annua Linn from classical textbooks as well as Research papers published on Martynia annua Linn were collected from internet.

Raj Nighantu
This is one of the most authentic texts of Dravyaguna written in 17th century A.D. In this text author has categorised this plant in Guduchiyadi V arga. It is constituted by Madhur(Sweet) Rasa, has Sheet Virya. It is used in Pittaj disorders, Greying of Hairs and It is used as Rasayana(Rejuvenation) and Root, Whole plant and Fruit are the useful parts of Martynia annua Linn. (13)

Adarsha Nighantu:
This is an A yurvedic text in which the content of Dravyaguna has been discussed at large. In this text author has categorised this plant in Arkadi V arga. The different synonyms and regional names have been told. According to Acharya V apalal V aidya Kakanasa is controversial drug and Fruit of Kakanasa Should be resemblance with Beak of crow and due to this Pentatropis microphylla should be considered as original Kakanasa And Martynia annua Linn has Trikantak (3 hooks) in shape and Trikantak is synonym given to Gokshur in ayurvedic literature so according to him due to its shape it should be considered as original Gokshura. (14) Botanical descriptions of Martynia annua Linn (15-

18)
Martynia annua Linn is herbaceous, solid, erect, expanded, soggy pubescent, annual plant creating to a height of 0.25-1 m, secured with thick glandular sticky hairs. The Stems are erect and typically woody at base.
Flowers are bell shaped,, purplish white, with dim purple markings and sick noticing having raceme inflorescence. Pedicels 1-2 cm long, thickening and recurved in natural product. Calyx is around 15-20 mm long. Corolla is around 55-65 mm in general, tube around 35-45 mm long. Corolla is pipe shape campanulate, spotted on the inward surface, the spots yellow, pink or purple. Stamens are two.
Fruits are hard, bi-lobed, and woody with 2 sharp recurved snares Seeds are brown to black, 2 to each pod.
Morphological characters of Martynia annua Linn as shown in fig.1. Transverse section of leaf is charactering by presence of multicellular covering trichome on upper and lower epidermis, palisade cell, spongy parenchyma, vascular bundle and collenchyma as below the upper epidermis and above lower epidermis. Transverse section of stem of Martynia annua Linn is charactering by existence of trichome, parenchymatous cortex, endodermis, vascular bundles and centralize pith and transverse section of root of Martynia annua Linn is charactering by existence of epidermis, parenchymatous cortex, endodermis and vascular bundles (4,19).

Powder Microscopy
Powder microscopy of plant is characterizing by the presence of spiral vessel, stomata, trichome and breaded epidermis (20) Physicochemical parameters of Martynia annua Linn. (21) Physicochemical constraint includes moisture content, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, water and alcohol soluble extractive. Table 1 provides a summary focusing on the values for physicochemical parameter.

Propagation
It is propagated by seed propagation method which remains inside the pod and attaches itself by its spines to vehicles, machinery, animals and humans. Flowering and fruiting season of plant is Aug.-Sept.

Properties And Actions of Martynia annua Linn(1)
Martynia annua Linn is considered as Kaknasika in Ayurved and it has Madhura Rasa, Madhura Vipaka, Sheeta Virya and Pittaghna, rejuvenating properties and important formulations are Chyavanprasha Avaleha and Tryushanadi ghrita and it is used in Palita and therapeutic Dose of drug is 2-5 gm in powder form.

Traditional and Ethnobotanical information of Martynia annua Linn.
Plant is used in Indian traditional medicine and in folklore for curing various diseases and each part of the plant is being used to treat many diseases. Plant is being used in Indian traditional medicines for epilepsy, inflammation and tuberculosis.(2) the leaves of the plant are eaten in times of scarcity and also used as antiepileptic and antiseptic, applied locally to tuberculous glands of the neck, leaves juice used as a gargle for treating sore throat and leaf paste for curing wounds of domestic animals. (22,23) The fruits of Martynia annua Linn used as local sedative and also used as antidote to scorpion stings to venomous bites and stings. The fruit is considered alexiteric and useful in inflammations while ash of fruit mixed with coconut oil applied on burns.(2) Seed oil applied on abscesses and for treating itching and skin affections. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India suggested the uses of Martynia annua Linn seed in graying of hair. (20) The fruits of Martynia annua Linn used as local sedative and also used as antidote to scorpion stings to venomous bites and stings. Whole plant is also used by santal tribals for fever, hair loss, scabies, sore and carbuncles on the back. It has been used from ancient time in traditional medicine of India. In folk medicine, the fruits are used for the treatment of asthma; the seeds are applied locally for itching and eczema. The leaves are given in epilepsy and its juice is gargled for sore throat. Decoction of whole plant is given in pneumonia and cold fever. The roots made into a poultice and applied in snake bite.  Table 2.

Phytoconstituents of M. annua
Qualitative phyto-chemical screening of entire plant extracts of Martynia annua Linn demonstrates the existence of carbohydrates, glycosides, phenols, tannins, flavonoids and anthocyanins. GC-MS studied on aqueous and alcoholic extract of M. annua showed the existence of 28 compounds in which oleic acid present in the high amount. Other main organic compounds contain p-hydroxy benzoic acid, cyanidin-3-galactoside, pelargonidin-3-5diglucoside, gentisic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, arachidic acid, stearic acid, apigenin, apigenin-7-oglucuronide. MEMA (methanolic extract of Martynia annua Linn) leaves exhibits the existence of higher amount of glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoid, tannins steroids, and saponins and moderate quantity of cardiac glycosides, anthroquinones and phenols While, it doesn't exhibits the existence of flavonoids and resins. The leaves mainly contain chlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid and fatty acids such as palmitic acid and stearic acid. The flowers of the plant mainly contain cyanidin-3-galactoside and pelargonidin-3, 5-diglucoside while gentisic acids are there in fruits. The seeds show the existence of arachidic acid, cyclopropenoid, linoleic acid, malvalic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid.(1) Table 3 provides a summary focusing on the phytoconstituents present in different parts of the plant.

Pharmacological Activities
The plant has Analgesic and Antipyretic, Anthelmintic, Antibacterial, Anti-convulsant Antinociceptive and Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant, Antifertility, Antioxidant, Wound Healing, Antidiabetic, Gastroprotective, Antifungal and Cytotoxic Activity. The use of Martynia annua Linn as medicine is fairly large. A detailed view of the Pharmacological potentials of the plant is given in Table 4.  (34)

Roots
The antifertility effect on male rates by 50% ethanol extract of Martynia annua L root at dose of 50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight were studied. The result revealed significant decreases in the weights of testes, epididymitis, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate on male rats. Moreover, the antifertility effect was found to be dose dependent without changing general body metabolism (Mali et al., 2002). 7

Leaves
The antioxidant activity of methanol and aqueous extract of Martynia annua L. leaves were studied by in vitro methods, namely, reducing power assay, DPPH radical-scavenging activity, nitric oxide scavenging activity, H 2 O 2 radical scavenging activity, superoxide radical scavenging assay, hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity, and total antioxidant capacity. The higher antioxidant activity was found in methanolic extract compared to aqueous extract (Nagda et al., 2009).
Fruit oil Rameshroo et al. reported in vitro antioxidant activity of M. annua from its fruit oil. Superoxide radical and DPPH radical methods were used for assessing antioxidant effect where IC 50 being 87.56 μg/ml and 106.80 μg/ ml correspondingly. Fruit oil exhebits 87.25 ± 1.13 mg per 100 grams of total polyphenol substance. As per the study report it is a prospective source of natural antioxidants.
Fruit extracts The fruit extracts shows antioxidant potential which indicated that it can help to inhance immune system. Antioxident activities deliberated by various methods like DPPH free radical scavaning, ferric reducing power and oxidative stress mechanism by lipid peroxidative assays. The ethanolic fraction revealed maximum extent but in water these activities were also significant. The phenolic compounds and flavonoids are responsible of antioxidant activities. In this study ascorbic acid, flavonoid, tannin and phenol content of different parts of M. annua using spectrophotometric methods were studied. The result of this study revealed that the leaf and stem of M. annua have significant amount of flavonoids, phenols, tannins and ascorbic acids compared to endocarp with seed. Study revealed that M. annua is a potential source of natural antioxidants. (38) 9 Wound Healing activity

Leaves
The wound healing effect was studied by methanol fraction of ethanolic extract of Martynia annua L. leaves which shows significant by stimulating of wound contraction as well as epithelialization. Moreover the phytochemical studies was tested and evaluated that the methanol fraction mainly contains flavonoid, luteolin which were responsible for enhancement of wound healing process due to the free radical scavenging mechanism (Lodhi and Singhai, 2011; Dhingra et al., 2013). The comparative antioxidant potential and radical scavenging activities were studied using different antioxidant assays such as ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) scavenging, total phenolic contents (TPC) and total antioxidant activity by phosphomolybdenum complex method. The study results revealed that n-butanol soluble fraction of stem showed highest % scavenging of DPPH (83.62 ± 0.38 % at concentration of 250 µg/mL) as compared to other studied fractions. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction of leaves also displayed good activity (82.88 ± 0.34 %) nearly equal to it.
Gastroprotective Activity Leaves Jain and Bhandarkar reported gastroprotective activity of MEMA leaves in rats with 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weight on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer. Results were observed by calculating ulcer index based on lesion index and pH which showed significant inhibition on the ulcer lesion index in rats hence effect of ethanol extract with 300 mg/kg dose significantly (p<0.05) change the gastric volume, ulcer index, and pH.
Antifungal Activity

Whole plant
The antifungal activity of Martynia annua L along with thirteen coastal sand dune plants (CSDPs) belonging to nine families were studied from Arnala and Kalamb beach. The results obtained and suggest that, 90% colonization were

Conclusion
Though Martynia annua Linn. is an invasive obnoxious weed, the literature survey reveals the therapeutic efficiency of the plant. The phytochemicals isolated from this medicinal plant has been effectively using in many health problems since a long time. The present review work provides a wide area of interest for planning and conducting research on this wonderful plant for the development of novel drug for the future.