1111

12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2

Harrisonia R. Brown ex A.H.L. Juss.

Mém. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. Paris 12: 517 (1825).

SIMAROUBACEAE

x = unknown

Major species Harrisonia perforata (Blanco) Merr., Harrisonia brownii A.H.L. Juss.

Harrisonia comprises 3—4 species distributed in the Old World, two of them in Malesia.

In Indonesia, young shoots of Harrisonia perforata are considered a remedy against diarrhoea. In the Philippines, a decoction of the root bark is recommended in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery as well as against cholera. In Indo-China, ashes of the roasted leaves mixed with oil or simply crushed leaves are applied to relieve itch. In Thailand, the dried root is considered antipyretic and anti-inflammatory; it is used in wound healing and in the treatment of diarrhoea. The stems are also employed in the treatment of diarrhoea. In the Central Province, Papua New Guinea, the bitter decoction of the leaves of Harrisonia brownii is used, with caution, in the treatment of diarrhoea, malaria, coughs and asthma.

Phytochemical investigations of Harrisonia perforata revealed the presence of seven chromones, perforatins A—G, from the wood. Furthermore, the closely related tetranotriterpenoids (limonoids), perforatinolone and perforatin, were isolated from its leaves. As a result of preliminary chemical analysis using general screening reactions steroids, flavonoids and alkaloids have also been found. However, the actual isolation and identification of an alkaloid has not yet been recorded.
Stem bark extracts of Harrisonia perforata have a strong antibacterial action against Shigella shigae, a weak action against Vibrio eltor but are inactive against other Salmonella, Shigella and Vibrio species. A MeOH extract of Harrisonia perforata showed potent inhibitory activity in the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase model with 68% inhibition at 200 µg/ml.
Two keto-steroids stigmasta-3,5,22-trien-7-one and campesta-3,5-dien-7-one were isolated from the stem bark of the African Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv., of which the chloroform extract exhibited a broad antifungal activity. Furthermore, the roots showed antibacterial action against 12 strains of Helicobacter pylori with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC₅₀) of about 250 µg/ml. Finally, good molluscicidal properties were also found for Harrisonia abyssinica extracts, and the isolated compound 12-'BETA'-acetoxyharrison is an antifeedant against armyworms.

Scandent to erect prickly shrubs or small trees up to 12 m tall; branches with thorns. Leaves spirally arranged, imparipinnate, sometimes trifoliolate, petiolate, stipulate; leaflets subentire to lobed, rachis narrowly winged. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal cyme or thyrse. Flowers bisexual, 4—5-merous, pedicellate; calyx small, lobes triangular, about as long as the tube; petals much longer than the sepals, slightly imbricate in bud; stamens twice as many as the petals, attached at the base of the disk, filaments with an adnate 2-lobed or emarginate hairy ligule; ovary, superior, 4—5-celled, 1 ovule per cell, styles 4—5, connate or sometimes free at the very base. Fruit a berry. Seed with a thin testa, endosperm present, cotyledons horseshoe-shaped, radicle pointing upwards.

The inclusion of Harrisonia in Simaroubaceae as followed here is subject to some controversy. Contrary to other simarouboid genera, it has fused rather than free carpels, stipular thorns and pellucid dots in the leaves (Harrisonia perforata), and isodiametric secretory cavities in the mesocarp. Molecular and phytochemical evidence points to a close affinity with Cneorum. Whereas quassinoids are typical in simarouboids, in Harrisonia and Cneorum limonoids are present and alkaloids are absent. Limonoids occur in combination with chromones, a very rare combination.

Both Malesian Harrisonia species prefer dry, open localities such as light secondary forest, thickets and forest edges, often on limestone rocks; less common in monsoon forest. They prefer distinctly seasonal conditions from sea-level up to 700(—900) m altitude.

Their widespread distribution and ability to grow in disturbed and open habitats means that the two Malesian species are unlikely to be in danger of genetic erosion.

The good molluscicidal properties of the African Harrisonia abyssinica may be of value in the control of schistosomiasis. This together with the antifungal properties merits further research, also in other Harrisonia species.

Baldé, A.M., Aspers, S., de Bruyne, T., Van den Heuvel, H., Claeys, M., Vlietinck, A. & Pieters, L., 1999. New ketosteroids from Harrisonia abyssinica. Poster presentation at the congres 2000 years of Natural Products Research: Past, Present and Future, July 26—30, 1999 Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Fabry, W., Okemo, P. & Ansorg, R., 1996. Activity of East African medicinal plants against Helicobacter pylori. Chemotherapy (Basel) 42(5): 315—317.
Fernando, E.S. Gadek, P.A. & Quinn, C.J., 1995. Simaroubaceae, an artificial construct: evidence from rbcL sequence variation. American Journal of Botany 82(1): 92—103.
Fernando, E.S., & Quinn, C.J., 1995. Picramniaceae, a new family, and a recircumscription of Simaroubaceae. Taxon 44: 179—181.
Nakanishi, K., 1982. Recent studies on bioactive compounds from plants. Journal of Natural Products 45(1): 15—26.
Tran Van Sung, Nguyen Minh Phyong, Kamperdick, C. & Adam, G., 1995. Perforatinolone, a limonoid from Harrisonia perforata. Phytochemistry (Oxford) 38(1): 213—215.

R. Kiew

Harrisonia brownii
Harrisonia perforata

Kiew, R., 2001. Harrisonia R. Brown ex A.H.L. Juss.. In: van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H. and Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. Database record: prota4u.org/prosea

The following species in this genus are important in this commodity group and are treated separatedly in this database:
Harrisonia brownii
Harrisonia perforata