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12(1): Medicinal and poisonous plants 1

Justicia L.

Sp. pl. 1: 15 (1753); Gen. pl. ed. 5: 10 (1754).

ACANTHACEAE

x = 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18; Justicia adhatoda: 2n = 30, 34, 40, 46, 50, 56, 58, Justicia gendarussa: 2n = 28, 30, 32, Justicia procumbens: 2n = 18, 28, 36

Major species Justicia adhatoda L., Justicia gendarussa Burm.f., Justicia procumbens L.

Justicia is a large genus with somewhere between 300 and 600 species. It is distributed in all tropical and subtropical regions, with some species extending into temperate regions (e.g. in China and Japan).

Leaf and root extracts of Justicia are commonly used in traditional medicine throughout South-East Asia, India and China, particularly for treating bronchitis, asthma, cough, fever and jaundice. Fresh leaves are often applied as a topical, poultice or lotion to treat swellings, skin eruptions, rheumatism and as a sedative. In India, Justicia adhatoda has a considerable reputation for its anti-allergic and anti-asthmatic properties.
Justicia adhatoda and Justicia gendarussa are often planted in hedges or as ornamental; the wood of the former is used as firewood.

Several lignans (e.g. justicidins A-H, diphyllin, diphyllin apioside, diphyllin apioside-5-acetate, justicidinosides A-C, neojusticin A-B, taiwanin E, taiwanin E methyl ether) have been identified from Justicia procumbens. Neojusticin A and B, taiwanin E methyl ether and taiwanin E significantly inhibit platelet aggregation. The methanolic extract of the herb has been found to have significant inhibitory activity in vivo against P-388 lymphocytic leukaemia in mice, as well as in vitro cytotoxicity in the 9-KB (human nasopharyngeal carcinoma) cell culture assay. Justicidin A and diphyllin were demonstrated to be the active compounds. Justicidin A and B, diphyllin, diphyllin apioside and diphyllin apioside-5-acetate showed strong antiviral activity against vesicular stomatitis virus and low cytotoxicity against cultured rabbit lung cells. Justicidin A and B caused respectively 100% and 90% mortality of fourth-instar larvae of Bombyx mori after 6 days of feeding at 20 ppm. Several justicidins have piscicidal activity. Methods for synthesis of justicidin B and E and diphyllin have been described. The lignan justisolin and the lignan glucoside simplexoside, exhibiting growth regulatory properties in plants, have also been isolated from Justicia procumbens. Simplexoside produced a weak depressant action on the central nervous system in mice and rats, whereas the free lignans produced a stimulant action on the central nervous system.
The alkaloids found in Justicia adhatoda include vasicine, vasicinone, vasicinine, vasicinolone, adhatodane, adhatodine, adhavascinone and anisotine. The yield of vasicine in the leaves ranges from 0.5-2% on dry weight basis. Comprehensive pharmacological investigations have been reported on drugs from Justicia adhatoda. A combination of the two alkaloids vasicine and vasicinone showed bronchodilator activity comparable to that of theophylline and greater than that achieved with each alkaloid separately. The mechanism of action is thought to be anticholinergic. A hitherto unidentified alkaloid showed pronounced protection against allergen-induced bronchial obstruction in guinea-pigs (10 mg/ml aerosol). Vasicine exhibits strong respiratory stimulant activity, moderate hypotensive activity and cardiac-depressant effect; vasicinone does not have these activities. Vasicine has been reported to lower blood pressure.
The benzylamines bromhexine and ambroxol, semi-synthetic derivatives of vasicine and widely used as mucolytics, have a pH-dependent growth-inhibiting effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosis; they have a potentially useful adjunctive function in the therapy of tuberculosis. The leaf juice of Justicia adhatoda showed activity against some strains of e.g. Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella typhosa. In rats fed for 10 days following insemination a leaf extract was 100% abortive at a dose equivalent to 175 mg/kg of starting dry material. The alcohol extract of dried leaves showed atropine-like activity due to the presence of a non-nitrogenous and non-toxic principle, vasakin. Vasakin exhibits hypoglycaemic activity, but is less potent than tolbutamide. The oil, which is present in small amounts e.g. in the root, showed slight insecticidal activity against the stored-grain pests Bruchus chinensis, Sitophilus oryzae, Rhizopertha dominica, Stegobium paniceum and Sitotroga cerealella, but it displayed superior activity against freshly moulted fifth-instar nymphs of the red cotton bug Dysdercus koenigii. The leaf powder did not afford protection against attack of Callosobruchus chinensis on stored pulses. Larvae of the noctuid Spodoptera littoralis fed with Justicia adhatoda leaves showed high mortality.
Powdered preparations of the leaves combined with burning charcoal to produce smoke repelled the mosquitoes Armigeres subalbatus and Culex quinquefasciatus. A 10% alcoholic water extract was effective in decreasing the severity of powdery mildew (caused by Phyllactinia corylea), leaf spot (caused by Pseudocercospora mori) and leaf rust (caused by Cerotelium fici) in mulberry (Morus spp.). Chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of caffeic, ferulic, vanillic, p-coumaric, p-hydroxybenzoic and tannic phenolic acids in aqueous extracts of Justicia adhatoda for which allelopathic activities are known.
Four simple o-disubstituted aromatic amines have been isolated from the leaves of Justicia gendarussa and characterized as 2-amino benzyl alcohol, 2-(2'-amino-benzylamino) benzyl alcohol and their respective O-methyl ethers. 'BETA'-Sitosterol (a phytosterol) has also been reported. A leaf infusion of Justicia gendarussa showed analgesic effect in tests with mice. Fungicidal activity was reported for a crude extract; the extract was quite effective against Rhizoctonia-like isolates. Aqueous extracts significantly inhibited aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus in rice, wheat, maize and groundnut.
Justicidin B has also been isolated from the Central and South American Justicia pectoralis Jacq., which is considered as wound-healing in Jamaica. It also contains coumarin and umbelliferone, which relax smooth muscles and is used as snuff. The Mexican Justicia spicigera Schltdl. showed high trophozoite mortality and had a clear in vitro antigiardiasic effect, better than tinidazol commonly used in the treatment of giardiasis. In animal tests, extracts from the South American Justicia cydoniifolia (Nees) Lindau showed anti-inflammatory activity equipotent to aspirin. The alkaloid 7-methoxyvasicine exhibited anti-inflammatory properties.

In India, leaves of Justicia adhatoda are sometimes adulterated with those of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb.

Erect shrubs or herbs, sometimes procumbent or ascending. Leaves opposite-decussate, simple, ovate to elliptical or linear-lanceolate, usually entire, often with cystoliths, petiolate, exstipulate. Inflorescence a terminal or axillary congested spike or panicle, sometimes a thyrsoid cyme or flowers solitary; bracts small and linear or subulate to large and foliaceous, bracteoles 2, linear-lanceolate, occasionally absent. Flowers sessile or pedicellate, bisexual, zygomorphic, white, pink or purple; calyx deeply 4-5-lobed, persistent; corolla with often narrow, funnel-shaped, straight or incurved tube, bilabiate, upper lip narrow, entire to bifid, lower lip broad, patent or recurved, 3-lobed; stamens 2, slightly exserted, with filiform filaments attached near the middle of the tube, anthers dorsifixed, with 2 usually unequal thecae, one or both thecae apiculate or calcarate; ovary superior, 2-locular, each locule with 2 ovules, style simple, filiform, with minute unequally 2-lobed stigma. Fruit an oblong, ovoid or obovoid-clavate capsule, distinctly stiped, bivalved and elastically and loculicidally dehiscent from apex downwards, usually 4-seeded. Seeds orbicular-lenticular, compressed, rough, tuberculate or smooth, on curved retinacula.

The flowers of Justicia are insect-pollinated, mainly by bees, butterflies and flies. Justicia adhatoda and Justicia gendarussa rarely produce fruits in Java, but the latter apparently fruits regularly in the Philippines.

Taxonomical studies on Justicia have followed one of two divergent trends, resulting either in the recognition of a large number of small segregate genera, or in the adoption of a very broad definition of Justicia. Here, the concept of Justicia sensu lato is adopted. As a result, each species treated here is found in the literature under several names: Justicia adhatoda is often considered as belonging to the split genus Adhatoda, Justicia gendarussa to Gendarussa, and Justicia procumbens to Rostellaria or Rostellularia. Justicia is related to Rungia, but differs in the usually not rising placenta; when it does rise (e.g. in Justicia gendarussa), then both bracts at each node are fertile.

In South-East Asia, Justicia procumbens occurs in open locations, such as grasslands and roadsides, whereas Justicia gendarussa prefers more shady places such as forest, forest borders or along streams.

Cuttings taken from terminal shoots of Justicia gendarussa root easily when planted in sand, particularly when treated with auxin (e.g. naphthalene acetic acid or indole butyric acid). Cuttings taken from lateral shoots by systematically decapitating apical meristems of growing shoots, rooted earlier and produced more roots than normal cuttings. Rooting of Justicia adhatoda stem cuttings in India is usually satisfactory, with a maximum success of 90%. Justicia procumbens is a short-living herb which reproduces freely by seed.

Justicia is rarely planted for medicinal purposes. In India, Justicia adhatoda is reported to be suitable for intercropping with poplar (Populus sp.).

Fusarium spp. may attack Justicia gendarussa. A rust disease caused by Puccinia thwaitesii is reported from Malaysia for Justicia gendarussa, resulting in premature drop of infected leaves. A graft-transmissible disease, possibly of mycoplasma origin, and resulting in witches' broom symptoms has been described from India. In India, Justicia adhatoda is host for root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne javanica and Meloidogyne incognita) and for fungi such as Phyllosticta ribiseda and Phomopsis pustulata. The most common fungal disease is greasy rust caused by Chnoopsora butleri.

All Justicia species described here have a large area of distribution, either naturally or as a result of cultivation, and do not seem to be at risk of genetic erosion. However, as some Justicia species rarely fruit in at least part of Malesia (e.g. Justicia adhatoda and Justicia gendarussa in Java) and are consequently propagated vegetatively, the genetic base is probably comparatively small in this region. There is no known selection and breeding work for medicinal purposes.

The known active compounds of Justicia are quite different for each species, but all species described here deserve special attention. The alkaloids and their derivatives from Justicia adhatoda show promising activity as bronchodilator, and have a potentially adjunctive function in the treatment of tuberculosis. Vasicine is reported as a promising uterotonic abortifacient, and may prove useful for the control of postpartum haemorrhage. It acts as a cholagogue and may be employed in some types of jaundice. Moreover, the insecticidal activity suggests some promise against insect pests of crops and mosquitoes transferring malaria. Some lignans from Justicia procumbens showed antitumour and antiviral activity, but more research is needed to establish their value for modern medicine. The fungicidal activity of Justicia gendarussa extracts warrants more research.

Asano, J., Chiba, K., Tada, M. & Yoshii, T., 1996. Antiviral activity of lignans and their glycosides from Justicia procumbens. Phytochemistry 42(3): 713-717.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (various editors), 1985. The wealth of India. Revised Edition. Vol. 1. Publications and Information Directorate, New Delhi, India. pp. 76-79.
Ferdous, A.J, Islam, S.N., Ahsan, M. & Faroque, A.B.M., 1990. Antibacterial activity of the leaves of Adhatoda vasica, Calotropis gigantea, Nerium odorum and Ocimum sanctum. Bangladesh Journal of Botany 19(2): 227-229.
Fukamiya, N. & Lee, K.-H., 1986. Antitumor agents, 81. Justicidin-A and diphyllin, two cytotoxic principles from Justicia procumbens. Journal of Natural Products 49(2): 348-350.
Graham, V.A.W., 1988. Delimitation and infra-generic classification of Justicia (Acanthaceae). Kew Bulletin 43(4): 551-624.
Grange, J.M. & Snell, N.J., 1996. Activity of bromhexine and ambroxol, semi-synthetic derivatives of vasicine, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 50(1): 49-53.
Hansen, B., 1989. Notes on Southeast Asian Acanthaceae 1. Nordic Journal of Botany 9(2): 209-216.
Malik, K.A. & Ghafoor, A., 1988. Acanthaceae. In: Nasir, E. & Ali, S.I. (Editors): Flora of West Pakistan. No 188. Department of Botany, University of Karachi and National Herbarium, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan. pp. 29-44.
Okigawa, M., Maeda, T. & Kawano, N., 1970. The isolation and structure of 3 new lignans from Justicia procumbens var. leucantha. Tetrahedron 26(18): 4301-4305.
Wagner, H., 1989. Search for new plant constituents with potential antiphlogistic and antiallergic activity. Planta Medica 55(3): 235-241.

H. Sangat-Roemantyo

Justicia adhatoda
Justicia gendarussa
Justicia procumbens

Sangat-Roemantyo, H., 1999. Justicia L.. In: de Padua, L.S., Bunyapraphatsara, N. and Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(1): Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. 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:
Justicia adhatoda
Justicia gendarussa
Justicia procumbens