Karkata: A Saviour of Life

 

Life on Earth is intricately connected with plants, our selfless green companions in this world. They are the silent guardians of life of humans and thousands of other species. Every breath we take in, the foods we eat and the traditional medicines we need to stay healthy are a reminder of our dependence on green life, that produces oxygen for the survival of all life in this world, accumulate biomass to feed humans and other animals and synthesise secondary metabolites to heal. One such saviour plant is Karkatshringi, an important traditional medicine for cough, asthma, diarrhoea and fever. Botanically known as Pistacia chinensis subsp. integerrima (J.L. Stewart) Rech.f. (synonym: Pistacia integerrima J.L. Stewart ex Brandis), it belongs to the Cashew family (Anacardiaceae). Leaves of this plant are frequently infested by some aphid species and gets transformed into horn-like galls known as Karkatshringi. These galls find their use in traditional herbal medicine in India and China. 

 

NAMES IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

English: Zebrawood plant, Crab’s claw tree Ayurvedic:  Karkata, Karkatashringi, Karkatashringikaa, Karkataakhya, Kulirashringaaya, Kuliravishaanikaa, Vishaani Bengali: Kankihasringi, Kakrashingi, Kandashringi, and Kakra Hindi: Kakkar, Kakra, Kakadshingi, Kakra-singi, Kareran, Kakare, Kakarongi Sanskrit: Karkata, Chakra, Chakrangi, Chandraspada, Ghosha, Karkataka, Karkataki, Kakah shringah, Karhatahvaya Punjabi: Kakar, Tanbari, Kakala, Karkarshingi, Shne, Gurgu, Kakkeran, Tungu, Kakkrangehe Pahari: Kakkar, Kakkad, Kakkre, Kakkde, Kakdaya, Kakru Assam: Kakiasrngi Gujarati: Kakadasingi, Kakarshingi, Kakra Kannada: Chakrangi, Kaakada shringi, Karkaataka shringi Kashmiri: Kamaladina Malayalam: Kaarakkaadusharam, Naattinuruv, Karkktakasingi, Karkatasringi Marathi: Kakarsingi, Kaakad shingee, Kakra, Kaakada, Karkadasringi Oriya: Kakadashringi, Kakadashrungi Siddha:   Karkatagasingi Tamil: Kakkatashingi, Karkata, Karukkāṭcirangi Telugu: Kakara shingi, Kakarasimga, Kakatakashrungi Unani   Kaakraasingi, Kakar Urdu: Kakra, Kakrasinghi, Mastagi desi

 

 DISTRBUTION

India (Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Uttrakhand), Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan up to 2400m.

 

MORPHOLOGY

Karkata is a medium-sized dioecious and deciduous tree growing up to 17 m tall. Bark is rough and grey. Leaves are imparipinnately compound, 15-25 cm long. Leaflets are opposite or subopposite, subsessile, 7-9 in number, 9-12 x 2-3 cm, lanceolate, acuminate and glabrous. Unisexual flowers, which appear during March-May, are arranged in panicles in both male and female plants. Male panicles are shorter and drooping, while the females are longer and erect. Flowers are bracteate, bracts lanceolate with pubescent apex. Each male flower has 4 sepals and 5 reddish stamens. Female flowers have 4 sepals and 3-parted styles having recurved stigmas. Fruit is a drupe; 5-6 mm broad, smooth and greyish brown in colour. Galls, which develop from leafstalks after infestation by aphids, are variously shaped and horn-like and give it its name ‘shringi’ which translates into horn.  

PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Karkata contains a large number of phytochemicals in its different parts. Galls are the main part used as medicine. It is reported to contain triterpenes (Pistagremic acid), essential oils (α-pinene, terpinene-4-ol, β-pinene, Δ3-carene, limonene, γ-terpinene, α-terpineol), flavonoids (naringenin), flavonoid glycosides (Pistacides A and B), alkaloids, fatty acids, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, saponins, tannins and oligosaccharides (acylated oligosaccharides integrisides A and B). Pistagremic acid is a major bioactive biomolecule attributed to most of the medicinal properties of Karkatashringi.

 

MEDICINAL USES

1.     Remedy for Respiratory Problems

Karkatashringi is considered one of the best remedies for curing respiratory problems such as cough, dyspnea and asthma. It is reported to be an excellent expectorant that helps in clearance of mucus from the lungs. Some reports also consider Karkatashringi effective in the treatment of tuberculosis.

 2.     Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Karkatashringi is valued for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is quite beneficial in managing inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and joint pain.

 3.     Antioxidant activity

Karkata leaf galls are reported to have antioxidant activity and thus stabilise the cell membrane low-density lipoprotein (LDL).  Its antioxidant activity can be attributed to the presence of higher total phenolics and flavonoid content in leaf galls.

 4.     Anti-Bacterial Activity

Anti-bacterial activity of Karkatashringi has been reported against many strains of pathogenic bacteria in many experimental studies.

 5.     Antifungal Activity

Karkatashringi extract has exhibited effective antifungal activity in many experimental studies against Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Fusarium solani, Microsporum canis and Trichoderma longibrachiatum. This activity is attributed to the presence of flavonoids in this plant.

 6.     Hepatoprotective Activity

The fruit extract of Karkata has been reported to possess hepatoprotective activity in experimental animals by decreasing the levels of serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids is reported for the hepatoprotective activity of Karkata fruits.

 7.     Antiproliferative Activity

Cancer is a second leading cause of deaths globally after Ischaemic Heart Disease accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths (1 in 6 deaths in 2018). Karkatashringi extracts have been reported to exhibit anticancer effect against many human cell lines (Hep G2 (liver), A-498 (kidney), NCI−H226 (lung), and 2780AD (ovary)). In most of the experimental studies, Pistagremic acid has been found to be the major bioactive phytochemical. Computational studies on molecular mechanisms of control of cancers are also partially in line with experimental data.

 8.     Anti- Alzheimer’s Activity

The most common cause of dementia in human beings is Alzheimer's disease. The molecular mechanism of this disease is the accumulation of specific amyloid proteins in the brain, followed by plaques and shrinkage and death of brain cells. Pistagremic acid present in Karkatashringi is reported to have anti-Alzheimer’s activity based on a hitherto unknown mechanism through interference with the amyloidogenic pathway.

 9.     Anti-Diarrhoea Activity

Flavonoids (such as quercetin and kaempferol) and phenolic acids (such as gallic acid and ellagic acid) are useful in maintaining gastrointestinal health.  Karkatashringi is reported to have anti-diarrhoeal activity due to presence of these phytochemicals in its various parts.

 10.  Analgesic Properties

Karkatashringi is valued for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, making it beneficial in managing conditions such as arthritis, joint pain, and inflammation-related disorders.

 11. Anti-Diabetic Activity

Karkatashringi has been traditionally used in the management of diabetes. Flavonoids possess antihyperglycemic action through inhibition of α-glucosidase. Pistagremic acid bind to α-amylase and inhibits the breakdown of starch into simple sugars, thus reducing the carbohydrate assimilation in the body.

 12. Anticonvulsant

Experimental studies have shown that Karkatashringi has anticonvulsant activity against pentylenetetrazole induced epilepsy in zebrafish and mice animal models. 

 AYURVEDIC PREPARATIONS

Karkatashringi  is one of the ingredients in some Ayurvedic medicines such as Dasamoolarist, Guduchyadi tailam, Kantakari avaleha, Rheumallin tablet, Ashtangavaleha, Devdarvadi Kashaya, Balchaturbhadra churna, etc.

 

 TOXICITY

Some toxicological studies in animal models have suggested a toxic dose of above 1,500 mg kg−1 body weight.