Ethnobotanical Characteristics

Description

Fleshy, reddish, club-shaped leafless perennial herb, to c. 30 cm high, parasitic on the roots of desert shrubs or trees and visible above ground only during its spring flowering period. Stem simple, erect, cylindrical, succulent, c. 2cm in diameter, covered below with overlapping scales imbricate below, distant and deciduous above. Inflorescence spadix, terminal thicker than the stem, 10-20 cm long, 3-6 cm wide, with flat-topped pelate bracts scattered over the surface; maroon in color with monoecious or dioecious flowers or mixed in the same plant; flowers c. 5mm long, densely packed over the surface of the obtuse spadix, perianth segments 1-5, ribbon or spathulate shape, with a single anther in the staminate and bisexual flowers. The spadix is mildly fetid and appears to attract flies, which may act as agents of pollination. Fruit nut- like.

Habitat & Distribution

Found in alkaline soils throughout Mediterranean and South West Asia; in UAE it is found in sandy habitats with moderate salinity or sabkhas; in roadsides and under plantations; it is parasitic on e.g. Prosopis, Haloxylon, Phoenix, Zygophyllum etc.

Part(s) used

 Aerial parts

Traditional & Medicinal Uses

Aphrodisiac, laxative, tonic, astringent, spermatopoietic, used to treat constipation, dysentery, bleeding during pregnancy, impotence in men. In U.A.E the aerial parts grilled and eaten fresh as a tonic and nutritive.

Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Parts Studied

Stem

Microscopic Description

Transverse section of the stem shows a number of layers of collapsed cells some of which represent a part of the cortex. The cells are filled extensively with reddish-brown to dark brown pigments. The inner layers of the cortex consist of a little curved rectangular cells filled with light reddish-brown pigments. There is no definite endodermis but the pith is very wide and it consists of large parenchyma cells with various shapes having slightly wavy cell walls and they are compactly packed together. Generally they have a light brown colour. The middle part of the pith encloses scattered vascular tissues that consist of phloem and xylem tissues with their longitudinal parenchyma cells. Vessels which are gray in colour are annularly thickened and they are heavily lignified. The central part of the pith consists of light coloured parenchyma cells. No calcium oxalate crystals or starch granules are detected (DPS ZCHRTM unpublished results).

• (a). TS of the stem showing the outer (dark coloured) and the inner (red and orange colured) layers of cortex.
• (b). Compactly packed parenchyma cells of the pith, oblong to rounded with slightly wavy cell walls containing light brown pigment material.
• (c). Isolated cells of the stem; some containing resinous matter (top right) and others containing colouring matter. ( Magnifications: x 100, x 100 and x 400, respectively).

Organoleptic characteristics

Appearance:            Solid powder
Colour:                     Pinkish brown
Odour :                    Odorless
Taste:                      Tasteless

Physicochemical constants

Loss in weight on drying at 105 °C(%):                         8.20-8.40

Solubilities (%)

Alcohol solubility:                                                        2.40-3.20
Water solubility:                                                          14.80-15.20
10% ethanolic extractive:                                            45.60

Ash values (%)

Total ash:                                                                   12.40-12.80
Water soluble ash:                                                     0.20-0.40
Acid-insoluble ash:                                                    1.60-2.0

Successive extractive (%)

Petroleum ether (60-80 °C)                                      1.70
Chloroform                                                                0.60
Absolute alcohol                                                        5.80
Distilled water Not done

pH values

pH of 1% solution                                                    6.08
pH of 10% solution                                                  5.58

The above results are under process of publication(DPS ZCHRTM unpublished results).

Chemical constituents

Triterpenoid saponins. No chemical analysis is reported in literature.(Shahina, 1994; DPS, ZCHRTM unpublished results).

Pharmacological and Toxicological studies

The effect of lyophilized aqueous extract of Cynomorium coccineum and Withania somnifera on testicular development and on serum levels of testosterone, ICSH and FSH Were studied in immature male Wistar rats. Extracts of both plants have a direct spermatogenic influence on the seminiferous tubules of immature rats presumably by exerting a testosterone-like effect (Abdel Magied et. al., 2001). The effects of water extracts of Cynomorium coccineum and Withania somnifera on ovarian follicular development elicited significant changes in gonadotrophin levels coupled with a significant increase in ovarian weight and profound folliculogenesis (Qarawi et. al., 2000).
An aqueous extract of Cynomorium coccineum was administered by stomach tube to ten mature male Wistar rats, at a dose of 47mg/100 kg body weight/day for 14 consecutive days. Showed increased spermatogenesis and somniferous tubules full of sperm in the treated group compared with the controls (Abdel Rehman et. al., 1991). The Iranian plant Cynomorium coccineum was investigated and found to possess significant blood pressure lowering activity in the dogs (Ikram and Fakouhi, 1978). The pharmacological and toxicological studies carried out in our laboratory and the results in brief, on Cynomorium coccineum (70% ethanolic extract) have been given below.
The results presented without references showed unpublished data (unpublished results, ZCHRTM, DBMS)

1.)  Ethanolic Extract 70%

Summary of the results

Cynomorium coccineum (70% ethanolic extract) showed gastroprotective and anti histamine activity. No abnormal signs and symptoms were recorded on acute administration of the extract. LD50 6.4 g/kg, p.o.).

2.) Aqueous Extract

Summary of the results

Cynomorium (Aqueous extract) did not show significant activity against the parameters (Anti-inflammatory activity, antinociceptive activity, anti-hypertension activity) studied. 
No toxicity was observed on acute administration.

References

• Abd El-Rahman HA, El-Badry AA, Mahmoud OM, Harraz FA., (1991) The effect of the aqueous extract of Cynomorium coccineum on the epididymal sperm pattern of the rat. Phytother Res. 13(3): 248-50.
• Abdel-Magied EM, Abdel-Rahman HA, Harraz FM. (2001) The effect of aqueous extracts of Cynomorium coccineum and Withania somnifera on testicular development in immature Wistar rats. J., Ethnopharmacol. 75(1): 1-4. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Zayed Complex for Herbal Research and Traditional Medicine, Unpublished results.
• Department of Pharmacognostic Sciences, Zayed Complex for Herbal Research and Traditional Medicine ( ZCHRTM ), unpublished results.
• El-Ghonemy, A. A. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants of the United Arab Emirates. (1993) 1st Edition, University of UAE.
• Ghazanfar S A. Handbook of Arabian Medicinal Plants. , CRC Press, p.51, 1994.
• Ikram M, Dar MS, Fakouhi T. (1978) Hypotensive agent from Cynomorium coccineum. Pahlavi Med J. 9(2): 167-81.
• Jongbloed, M.V. The Comprehensive Guide to the Wild Flowers of the united Arab Emirates, Erwda, (2003) Emirates Printing Press, Dubai, U.A.E.
• Kotb, T. F. Medicinal Plants in Libya.(1985) Arab Encyclopedia House. Tripoli- Libya.
• Mandaville,J.P. Flora of Eastern Saudi Arabia. (1990) Kegan Paul International Ltd. England.
• Qarawi AA, Abdel-Rahman HA, El-Badry AA, Harraz F, Razig NA, Abdel- Magied EM., (2000) The effect of extracts of Cynomorium coccineum and Withania somnifera on gonadotrophins and ovarian follicles of immature Wistar rats. Phytother Res. 14(4): 288-90.
• Western, A. R. The Flora of United Arab Emirates, an introduction. (1986) Publication of the UAE University.