A REVIEW ARTICLE ON
Phytochemical and Pharmacological review on
Echinops echinatus Roxb.
Pranav Vashisth*1, Dr.Vinay Jain1, Priya Mishra
1- Department of pharmacology, S.R.C.P. Banmore, Morena, (M.P.)
Abstract
In traditional medicine most of the diseases have been treated by administration of plant or plant
product. Echinops echinatus Roxb is the useful traditional medicinal plant in India. Each part
has some medicinal property. During the last five decades, apart from the chemistry of the
Echinops echinatus Roxb compounds, considerable progress has been achieved regarding the
biological activity and medicinal applications of Echinops echinatus Roxb. It is now considered
as a valuable source of unique natural products for development of medicines against various
diseases and also for the development of industrial products. This review gives a bird’s eye view
mainly on the biological activities of the Echinops echinatus Roxb and some of their compounds
isolated, pharmacological actions of the Echinops echinatus Roxb extracts, clinical studies and
plausible medicinal applications ofEchinops echinatus Roxb along with their safety evaluation.
Keywords: Traditional medicine, Echinops echinatus Roxb., pharmacological action, biological
activity.
*Author for correspondence
Pranav vashisth
BM- 488, D.D. Nagar, Gwalior (M.P.), 474020
Mob. 8109748450 fax 07532255893
pranavtyagi87@gmail.com
Introduction:Taxonomic Classification[1]
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Subclass
Asteridae
Order
Asterales
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Echinops
Species
echinatus
Part used: Whole plants, Roots, Seeds and Leaves
Vernacular names:
 English: Indian Globe Thistle
 Gujarati: Shuliyo, Utkanto, Utkato
 Hindi: Gokhru, Uthkanta, Utakatira
 Sanskrit: Kantalu, Kantaphala, Utati, Utkantaka,
Distribution: [2-4]

Asia-temperate
Western Asia : Afghanistan

Asia-tropical
Indian Subcontinent: India - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and
Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar
Pradesh, West Bengal
Botanical description: [5]
A rigid, pubescent, annual herb up to 1-3 ft height, with branches widely spreading from the
base.
Leaves alternate, sessile, oblong, pinnatifid, covered with cottony wool beneath, the lobes
triangular and oblong, simuate and spiny, the spines often 2.5 cm long. deeply pinnatifid leaves
are 7-12 cm long.
Flower heads white or purple, compact, globose, clustered at the ends of branches; involucres
surrounded by strong white bristles resembling pappus-hairs; pappus short, yellowish, forming a
short cylindrical brush above the achene.
[6]
heads occur in solitary white spherical balls, 3-5 cm
across.
Fig:1- E. echinatus with flower
Petals of the tiny white flowers are 5 mm long.
Flowering: December-January.
Phytochemistry:-
Aerial parts of the plant contain alkaloids, echinopsine, echinopsidine and echinozolinone.
Taraxasterol acetate, Apigenin and its derivatives, echinacin and echinaticin.
2',5,7-
trihydroxy-3.6-dimethoxy flavone-7-O-b-D-galactopyranosyl-[1®4]-O-a-L-rhamnopyranoside is
reported from from the seeds of Echinops echinatus. [5]
Apigenin, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, and a new acylflavoneglucoside named echitin (I) were isolated from
Echinops echinatus flowers.
A minor alkaloid 7-hydroxyechinozolinone (I) is reported from the flowers of E. echinatus
An antiinflammatory active flavanone glycoside 5,7-dihydroxy-8,4'-dimethoxyflavanone-5-O-aL-rhamnopyranosyl-7-O-b-D-arabinopyranosyl-(1®4)-O-b-D-glucopyranoside A along with a
known compd. dihydroquercetin-4'-Me ether is also reported from the leaves of
Echinops
echinatus. A minor alkaloid 7-hydroxy echinozolinone (I) is reported from the flowers of E.
echinatus. Four phenolic compds., apigenin, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, echinacin (I), and
echinaticin (II), were are reported from E. echinatus Roxb.
Isomeric acyl flavone glycosides echinacin (I) and echinaticin (II) are reported from E.
echinatus. Chaudhuri PK26 (1997) isolated Echinozolinone,[7] an alkaloid from Echinops
echinatus. In addition to echinopsine and echinopsidine, a new alkaloid, echinozolinone, has
been identified in Echinops echinatus as 3(2-hydroxyethyl)-4(3H)-quinazolinone from its
spectral data. Beaides apigcnin ‘J-O-glucoside, a new acylated l&one has been identified in
Echinops echinatus as apigenin 7-0-~(4”-cis-pcouyl~~~e from spectral and chemical analysis. [8]
Traditional use:According to an ethnomedicinal survey carried out by Kakrani et al.[9], the rural population of
Kutch region in Gujarat state, India, uses the suspension of root bark powder in milk (100g/
250ml) for the treatment of diabetes. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh in India use this
herb in different ways both internally and externally for the treatment of sexual disorders. [10]. In
case of patients having poor sexual vitality, aqueous paste of the root bark powder is applied
externally on the male genitals one hour before intercourse. The patients suffering from
respiratory troubles, particularly asthma, are advised to inhale the fumes obtained by burning the
leaves & roots of E. echinatus in order to get quick and permanent relief [10].
The root is abortifacient aphrodisiac. The seeds are sweet and aphrodisiac (Aurveda). [11]
The plant is bitter, stomachic, antipyretic, analgesic, increases the appetite stimulates the liver,
useful in brain disease, used in ophthalmia, chronic fever, pains in the joints, inflammations, the
root is aphrodisiac (yunani). [11]
Therapeutic uses:-
Echinops echinatus is bitter, stomachic, antipyretic, analgesic, increases the appetite stimulates
the liver, useful in brain disease, Cough suppressant, used in ophthalmia, chronic fever, pains in
the joints, inflammations and Urinary disorder Roots and root bark of the plant are used in
various indigenous systems of medicine for treating different ailments. Though the plant has
been reported for many biological activities like anti-inflammatory[12], hypoglycemic and
diuretic[13], antibacterial and antifungal[14], antispasmodic[15] etc.
The whole plant is advised as antipyretic and analgesic[16] and to treat inflammations and joint
pains (Kirtikar and Basu, 1975) and Since the diuretic activity[17] of this plant has not been
scientifically Its roots have been claimed to be useful in treating hoarse cough in children and
fever (Nadkarni, 1976 )
Scientific Reports
1.Antifungal activity:
Four phenolic compounds, viz., apigenin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, echinacin, and echinaticin,
were isolated from the whole plant of Echinops echinatus Roxb.; the latter two compounds were
isolated for the first time. The two derivatives echinacin permethyl ether and apigenin-5,4′dimethyl ether were obtained by methylation of echinacin and apigenin-7-O-glucoside
permethylate, respectively. All the compounds were assayed against germination of conidia of
Alternaria tenuissima (Kunz. ex Pers.) Wiltshire, which incites leaf blight disease in pigeon pea
(Cajanus cajan.). All showed high efficacy against the pathogen at concentrations ranging from
25 to 150−1mL μg Echinacin, which was highly effective at 150−1, is considered the most
promising of these compounds and its use as a control measure against Alternaria blight of
pigeon pea under field conditions has been suggested.[18]
2. Anti-inflammatory:
Anti-inflammatory studies were conducted on an ethanol extract of Echinops echinatus whole
plant. The extract effectively inhibited the acute inflammation induced in rats by carrageenan,
formaldehyde and adjuvantand the chronic arthritis induced by formaldehyde and adjuvant. The
extract was more effective parenterally than orally. The toxicity studies showed reasonable
safety warranting further studies.[19]
3. Analgesic:The Analgesic potential of methanolic extracts of the aerial parts and roots was assessed in
albino rats using Hot plate, Tail immersion and Tail flick models. The reaction time was the
parameter of the study. Pentazocine was used as standard. The results indicate that methanolic
extracts at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight shows a significant increase in reaction time
when compared to control. Both the extracts show significant Analgesic activity. From the
present study it may be concluded that the constituents present in methanolic extracts may be
responsible for Analgesic activity.[20]
4. Diuretic
The diuretic potential of methanolic extracts of the aerial parts and roots was assessed in albino
rats using in-vivo Lipschitz test model. The volumes of urine, urinaryconcentration of sodium
and potassium ions were the parameters of the study. Frusemide was used as standard. The
results indicate that methanolic extracts at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight shows a
significant increase in the urine volume and electrolyte excretion when compared to control.
Both the extracts show significant diuretic activity. From the present study it may be concluded
that the constituents present in methanolic extracts may be responsible for diuretic activity.[21]
5. Protective effect
E. echinatus extracts attenuated the increase in the prostatic/body weight ratio induced by
testosterone. Butanolic fraction of ethanolic extract exhibited the best activity. Testosterone
levels measured weekly and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Further histological studies
have shown a considerable improvement in the prostatic histoarchitecture in the extract-treated
groups when compared with testosterone treated group. studies suggest that the use of E.
echinatusas Brahmadandi is not justifiable in light of its antiandrogenic action. E. echinatus
proved to be a promising agent for the treatment of BPH. [22]
6. Reproductive parameters of male rats:Study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of terpenoidal fraction prepared from the petroleum
ether extract of the roots of Echinops echinatus on male reproductive parameters. The studies
were carried out at two different dose levels of 30 and 60 mg/kg body weight using Wistar albino
rats. Treatment with terpenoidal fraction showed a decrease in the relative weight of the
reproductive organs without affecting the final body weight of the animals, and a significant
decrease (P < 0.01) in serum testosterone levels and cauda epididymal sperm concentration
compared with animals in the control group. [23]
Conclusion
The above collected information regarding the use of Echinops echinatus in world is matched
with available literature. Recent years, ethno-botanical and traditional uses of natural
compounds, especially of plant origin received much attention as they are well tested for their
efficacy and generally believed to be safe for human use. It is best classical approach in the
search of new molecules for management of various diseases.
Thorough screening of literature available on Echinops echinatus depicted the fact that it is a
popular remedy among the various ethnic groups, Unani, Ayurvedic and traditional Practitioners
for treatment of ailments. Researchers are exploring the therapeutic potential of this plant as it
has more therapeutic properties which are not known.
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge Dr. M.S. sharma, Dr. Sudhir Bharadwaj, for his encouragement and
suggestions.
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