An overview on ethanomedicinal plant Gymnosporia montana of Celestraceae Family

Ethanomedicinal plant like Gymnosporia montana belonging to the family Celeastraceae commonly known as Vikalo in Gujarat. Ethanomedicinally fresh leaves of Vikalo are chewed in trible regions of Gujarat to cure jaundice. The present review includes ethnomedicinal, pharmacognostical, phytochemical and pharmacological activity of Gymnosporia Montana.


Introduction
The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases is as old as human civilization and has obtained a worldwide significance in the primary healthcare system. In spite of their structural complexicity and many unknown chemical constituents, they have been frequently prescribed because of their use and efficacy, contributing to the disclosure of their therapeutic properties. The Celestraceae family, commonly known as the bittersweet family, consists of around 100 genera and 1300 species, mainly in tropical regions. This family contains several ones described to be useful in folk medicine. Many characteristic bioactive compounds have been reported from this family. Polyester sesquiterpene and pyridine-sesquiterpene alkaloids with insect antifeedant or insecticidal properties have been isolated from some species and recently sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids with immunosuppressive or antitumor activities have also been described. Diterpene triepoxides with potent antileukemic and immunosuppressive activities and triterpenoid quinonemethides named as "Celastroloids" with antibiotic and cytostatic activities have been isolated from species of the Celesteraceae family [1] . Family Celastraceae contain about 90-100 genera and 1,300 species of vines, shrubs, usually of 1-9 m height with axillary or terminating short branches, glabrous, without latex. The great majority of the genera are tropical, with only Celastrus (the stuff vines), Euonymus (the spindles) and Maytenus widespread in temperate climates [2] . Leaves are alternate or opposite, simple and generally stipulate, flowers are bisexual and normally cymose, and fruit are 1-3 seeded, capsule or berry in Celastraceae family.  [2] Ecology and propagation of G. montana

Taxonomy of Gymnosporia montana
The plant grows at elevations from near sea level, on the coastal sand, at forest margins, hillsides and on sea cliffs. The plant grows in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun with midday shade. Long, hot summers are needed for production of flowers and fruits. Flowers appear in October to January, fruiting during January -February and fruit ripens in March to April [3] .

Pharmacognosy of G. montana Stem and leaf of G. montana
A much-branched, spine scent shrub or a small tree, occurring throughout the dried parts of India. The wood is reddish brown, hard, heavy, fine-grained and durable. Stems are purplish brown in colour, hard; straight, pointed and hard spines, which are modified branches with single node from which leaf originates. Bark contains fine longitudinal wrinkles on the outer surface and creamy white inner surface [2,4] . Leaves are simple, alternate or clustered, found in the axils of spines, on the spines or on small branches; sub-sessile, glabrous and exhibit a vast degree of polymorphism in their shape. Leaves variable in size and shape i.e., polymorphic.
Leaves are obovate, oblanceolate, elliptic or orbicular with range of 2.5 -8 cm long and 1.5-4 cm wide. The leaves are usually rounded or emerginate at apex, margins entire or crenulate base rounded petiole 0.3-1 cm long [5] .

Flower of G. montana
Flowers are small and white in colour. They are axillary cymes. The length of petiole is 0.3 cm and produce flowers throughout the year. Flowering season is October and December and fruiting between January and April in India. Calyx lobes are broadly elliptic-oblong, rounded to the apex, clliate petals are 3 mm long. starch grain and crystals of calcium oxalate, a band of yellowish colour matter, broken ring of pericyclic fiber, phloem region associated with dark colouring matter and uniseriate medullary rays, composed with phloem parenchyma, and pith showed parenchymatous cells containing starch grain, dark colour matter [5] .

Phytochemical analysis of G. montana
Several sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids like emarginatine A, B, E, F, G and a sesquiterpene ester, celahin B, have been reported from the family Celastraceae [3,6,7,8] . Numbers of compounds, with varied chemical nature, have been reported by several workers from different parts of G. montana. The phytochemical screening of petroleum ether, 70% methanolic and aqueous extracts of G. montana stem and leaf showed the presence of sterols and triterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic and caretenoids. 70% Methanolic extract of G. montana showed the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids. Aqueous extract of G. montana was positive for saponins. In G. montana aqueous extracts saponins formed persistent and abundant foam. This is due to a lipophilic portion in its chemical structure, called aglycone or sapogenin, and a hydrophilic portion, formed by one or more sugars which provide the detergent like properties [9,10] . Phytochemical screening of stem and leaf of G. montana showed the presence of phytoconstituents like phenol, flavonoids, alkaloids carbohydrates, proteins and saponins [11] .

Therapeutical uses of G. montana
In several Ayurvedic literatures like Nighantu Adarsh [12] , Vanaspati Shashtra [13] , Aryabhishek [14] , Vasundhrani vanaspatio [15] , the plant has been mentioned for the various uses. It is claimed to be use for cureing jaundice [2,12] , inflammation and rheumatic pain [2,12,14] , corneal opacity [12,13,14] , ulcers, gastrointestinal disorders, dysentery, toothache and also as a vermifuge [2,4,16,17] According to Thakar, 1998 (Vanaspati shashtra) it is used in jaundice, inflammation and to cure blood disorders. Nighantu Adarsh mentions its use in kamla (jaundice). In Vanaspati Srusti the use of ripe fruit of G. montana has been mentioned as blood purifier and as an anti-inflammatory agent. Bark of G. montana is used to kill lice and other infections on the head [4] . The use of leaf juice in eye diseases particularly in opacity of cornea, inflammation and burning sensation has been mentioned in Aryabhishek. Kirtikar and Basu mentioned the fruit of G. montana as appetizing and digestive and its use in treating jaundice and enlarged spleen. Ground seeds with turmeric are recommended to be rubbed all over the body to prevent rheumatic pain from exposure to damp winds. The external application of dry powdered leaves with a little mustered oil has shown encouraging result in rickets [13] . According to Indian Materia Medica [18] bark of G. montana is applied to destroy pediculi.

Pharmacology of Gymnosporia species
Number of bioactive compounds with varied pharmacological activity have been reported from different species of the Celastraceae family, e.g. diterpene triepoxides with potent antileukemic and immunosupressive activities, triterpenoid quinonemethides (known as celastroloids) with antibiotic and cytostatic activities and sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids with immunosuppressive or antitumor activities. Presence of two anticancer compounds namely diterpenoid epoxide triptolide and quinine triterpene celastrol have been reported [19] . An anticancerous principle has also been isolated from this plant which, in addition to exhibiting good anticancer activities, prolongs the "S" phase of cell cycle [20,21] . In Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India, the leaf juice is well known for curing jaundice [22] . Extract of leaves of G. montana mixed with cow milk is taken in the morning for 3 days by the local people of Bhadra (Karnataka, India) for curing jaundice [23] . The bark of root of G. montana is reported to be useful in dysentery.
It reported the significant anti-inflammatory activity and analgesic activity of methanolic extract of leaf of G. montana in experimental animals [11] . The antibacterial activity of petroleum ether, 70% methanol and aqueous extracts of G. montana leaf and stem were studied and leaf aqueous extract showed maximum activity against E coli [11] . G. montana showed significant antioxidant activity in hydroalcoholic extract of leaf and stem 24 . Recently it reported that scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment was reversed or prevented by administration of G. montana in rats [25] .

Conclusion
Hence, it can be concluded that, the present review is about the one of the ethanomedicinal plant, G. montana belonging to the family, Celeastraceae. This review provides the phytoconstituents isolated from various parts of plant G. montana which may be helpful in bioinformatics to design novel drug against various diseases. So, there is good scope to investigate and characterize active phytocostituents, their mode of action and the effective dose of plant extracts for development of polyherbal formulation. Therefore, the information summarized in this review is intended to serve as reference to many researchers. There is enormous scope for the future research to be carried G. montana on considering its wide pharmacological profile.