Rhus

author(s) :  Abdel-Fattah M. Rizk, Husseiny A. H. Elgindi and Ibrahim A. El-Garf

description

The genus Rhus includes several species, some of which are poisonous and the others have medicinal and economic values.
The chemical nature of the poisonous principles in poison oak (Rhus diversiloba) (Hartman and Offord, 1947), as well as the medicinal and other applications, chemical constituents and bioactivities of Chinese Rhus species (Zhao et al., 2006) were reviewed.
The main constituents of these plants are phenolic compounds (flavonoids, long-chain phenols, tannins, and lignans) and triterpenes.
From the roots of Rhus javanica L. var. roxburghiana, thirty-seven compounds have been isolated and identified.
These compounds were 15 triterpenoids, 5 steroids, 2 lignans, 2 flavonoids, 9 phenolics and 4 other aromatic compounds (Lee et al., 2005). Examples of these compounds are mentioned below.

family name

ANACARDIACEAE

Species count in Egypt

represented in egypt with 4 Species

  1. Proximate Composition, Carbohydrates and Proteins
  2. Lipids
  3. Triterpenes and Sterols
  4. Volatile Constituents
  5. Long-Chain Phenols
  6. Tannins
  7. Flavonoids, Lignans, Coumarins and Other Phenolics
  8. Other Constituents

Rhus chinensis has long been used by folk medicine practioners in Asia. Leaves, roots, stem, bark, fruit and particularly the galls on the leaves are recognized to have preventive and therapeutic effects on different ailments (such as diarrhea, dysentery, rectal and intestinal cancer, diabetes mellitus, sepsis, oral diseases and inflammation) (Djakpo and Yao, 2010).
The bark and leaf of Rhus cotinus L. have been used as a gargle and mouth wash.
The fruit of Rhus dentata Thumb. is used as food by the Zulu in times of famine.
The fruit of Rhus discolor E. Mey. has been regarded as constipating.
A decoction of the root of Rhus divaricata is used for colds and influenza.
Rhus erosa Thumb. is used as a remedy for diarrhea. The root of Rhus margaretae C. E. Moss and root and leaf of Rhus natalensis Bernh are used as a gonorrhoea remedy (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962).
Rhus mysorensis is traditionally used in treatment of diabetes (Gade et al., 2010).
The root of Rhus natalensis is also used as a remedy for habitual abortion and repeated stillbirths, and as a remedy for fits in children.
The juice of the leaf is also used for treating wet dermatoses and furunculosis. An infusion of Rhus pyroides Burch. var. gracilis Burtt Davy is used as an eye lotion.
A decoction of the leaf of Rhus undulata Jacq. is a remedy for postparturient troubles and a decoction of the leaf of Rhus undulata Jacq. var. burchellii Schonl. is a remedy for chest colds.
The Zulu use a milk infusion of the leaf of Rhus viminalis Vahl. as an enema for abdominal upsets in children (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962).
The ripen fruits of Rhus javanica have a long history of traditional medicine use among the traditional healers of Naga tribal community in Manipur (India) to treat dysentery as well as other gastrointestinal disorders (Tangpu and Yadav, 2004).

The ethanolic extract (30%) of Rhus aromatica, containing mainly gallic acid and tannins, showed pronouncd antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
They also showed free radical scavenging abilities, inhibited non-enzymic peroxidation in ox brain phospholipid liposomes and also demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities.
These pharmacological properties support the traditional use of the plant as a treatment for infections and urogenital system and related inflammatory diseases (Chakraborty and Brantner, 2000).
Urshiol, isolated from Rhus verniciflua has potential a rapid therapeutic against Heloiobacter pylori infection (Suk et al., 2010).
Rhus verniciflua was reported suitable for the control of infectious disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus (Kim et al., 2011b).
The applications of rhuscholide A, isolated from Rhus chinensis, is anti-AIDS drug ..

location

egypt Placeholder
egypt
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