Article

Caesalpinia sappan
A medicinal and dye yielding plant
Shrishailappa Badami*, Sudheer Moorkoth and B Suresh
J. S. S. College of Pharmacy
Rocklands, Ootacamund – 643 001, Tamil Nadu, India
*Correspondent author, E -mail: shribadami@[Link]
Abstract flowers. Its branches, when interlaced,
make a strong barrier. It is propagated
Natural products have provided a variety of lead structures, which serve from seed and is quick growing. It is a
as templates for the development of new drugs. The water kept in Caesalpinia spreading tree or shrub up to 10 m in
sappan Linn. (Sappan lignum) heartwood is being used in Kerala as herbal height, found wild and as an escape in
drinking water for its antithirst, blood purifying, antidiabetic, improvement of South India, West Bengal, Orissa and
complexion and several other properties. The plant is also being used worldwide Madhya Pradesh, Malaya and Sri Lanka
for a large number of traditional medicinal purposes. Modern day research and cultivated throughout the Asian
confirms its cytotoxic, antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, immunostimulant and tropics. The wood is orange red, hard, very
several other activities. Several triterpenoids, flavonoids, oxygen heterocycles, heavy, straight grained with a fine and even
etc. were isolated. Brazilin is found to be the main constituent of the plant texture. Branches, rufous-pubescent
responsible for several of its biological activities. The use of heartwood as a armed with small prickles. Leaves large
colouring agent for wine, meat, fabric, etc. is well established. It has the potential hairy to glabrous, bearing small prickles
to hit the market as a safe natural colouring agent with good medicinal value for at the base; pinnae 9-14 pairs; leaflets
food products, beverages and pharmaceuticals. There is also a scope for further subsessile, oblong, membranous,
research to establish its medicinal properties and to identify lead compounds for obliquely truncate, 10-20 pairs per pinna.
drug development. Flowers yellow in panicle. Pods green, 3-
Keywords: Caesalpinia sappan, sappan wood, heartwood, colouring agent, 4 seeded and beaked. Seeds ellipsoid and
brazilin, traditional medicines, ayurvedic formulations, chemical constituents, black1-3.
plant drugs.
IPC code; [Link].7⎯ A23L1/27, A61K35/78, C09B61/00, D06P1/34, The heartwood of the plant is
G01N33/46 widely used in traditional medicine.
Chemical investigation resulted in the
Introduction and pharmacological testing procedures, isolation of novel and interesting
new plant drugs usually find their way in phytochemicals possessing potent
Back to nature is not merely a to medicines as purified substances. biological properties. Due to its vast and
slogan. The last forty years have seen a Caesalpinia Linn. (Family: proven medicinal properties and use as
resurgence of interest among researchers Caesalpiniaceae) species are being dyeing agent, the wood has received both
in seeking new medicinal agents from used traditionally and have a wide variety domestic and international market and
plants. This can be attributed to the fact of medicinal properties. Caesalpinia being exported to USA and Europe from
that synthetic and presently available sappan Linn. is one among them, India, Philippines and from several other
medicines are either too expensive or tend commonly known as Brazil or Sappan countries. The present review discusses
to bring out side effects. In addition, there Wood and Bakam or Patang in Hindi. the dyeing properties, traditional uses,
are many diseases still requiring antidotes. The tree is cultivated in the gardens for its pharmacological and other activities and
As a result of modern isolation techniques large, ornamental panicals of yellow reported chemical constituents of various

Natural Product Radiance Vol 3(2) March-April 2004 75

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parts of the plant with special reference alum displays good fastness towards several other Ayurvedic formulations
to heartwood. washing4. (Table 1).
The dye is reported to have anti- According to Ayurveda, the
Dyeing properties inflammatory activity. The pigment find use heartwood is bitter, astringent, sweet,
in manufacture of facials which are acrid, refrigerant, vulnerary, depurative,
Plant dyes were the dominant resistant to light heat and water and are constipating, sedative and haemostatic. It
materials used for textile dyeing in Ancient non-irritating3 . is useful in vitiated conditions of pitta,
China, Japan, India and many other The wood was formerly used in burning sensation, wounds, ulcers,
countries. Sappan wood was one of the calico printing of cotton, wool and silk and leprosy, skin diseases, diarrhoea,
most widely used plant dye for its red later on, largely replaced by synthetic dyes. dysentery, epilepsy, convulsions,
colour. It was exported from South East The heartwood is being used to colour menorrhagia, leucorrhoea, diabetes,
Asia to Europe as dried wood chips. The wines and meat. The roots of the plant haemoptysis, haemorrhages,
red wood obtained from this species is called ‘Yellow wood’ are also used to make stomatopathy and odontopathy1-3. As per
similar to the wood obtained from yellow dye. Yunani system, the wood is very bitter,
Caesalpinia echinata Lam. which is stops bleeding from the chest and lungs,
endemic to the Atlantic Coastal Forest. Traditional medicinal uses heals wounds, ulcers, improves
Both are known as Brazil or Brasil wood complexion and useful in rheumatism.
in trade and yield same dyestuff. By There are innumerable The decoction of the wood is a
manipulating the pH of the dye bath by references of the use of this wood in the powerful emmenogogue being used in
the addition of wood ash water or vinegar, traditional medicine. The plant is one of India, Brazil, China and several other
the dyers’ produce everything from deep the ingredients of an indigenous drug countries. In China and Malaysia, it is used
egg plant to lavender and maroon to ox- ‘Lukol’TM which is administered orally for for disturbances of menstrual functions.
blood red colour. The mordanted dye with the treatment of non-specific leucorrhoea The heartwood is reputed to have blood-
(post IUD) and gave vitalizing activity and used in the treatment
encouraging results in of toxic side effects resulting from
stopping bleeding following radiation and chemotherapy in traditional
IUD insertions3. The wood Chinese medicine. In Malaysia it is used
is a component of ‘Vicco as antimalarial and in Philippines as anti-
Vajradanti’ TM , a famous anaemic. In South Korea it is considered
tooth paste and tooth as an abortifacient. It has been used as a
powder of India. The haemostatic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory
powerful astringent, agent and as a medical treatment for
haemostatic, healing confusion and thrombosis in traditional
properties of the wood Oriental medicine5. Sappan leaves are a
helps to stop bleeding in component of Jamu, a traditional herbal
gums and give firmness and medicine in Java.
strength to the gums and The small core of heartwood
hence, it is useful in mobile produces a dark red solution in water and
teeth, aphthous ulcers, is being used as herbal drinking water in
stomatitis and gum Kerala, since time immemorial for its
erosions because of its antithirst, blood purifying, antidiabetic,
strong healing action. It is complexion enhancer and several other
Caesalpinia sappan also commonly used in properties.

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Table 1 : List of sappan wood containing Ayurvedic Pharmacological activities
formulations and their uses
S. Formulations Uses The reported pharmacological
properties of heartwood and various other
No.
parts are summarized in Table 2.
1. Asavams and Arishtams Cytotoxic and antitumor
1. Useerasavam Astringent, alterative and tonic. Useful in diarrhoea, properties
intestinal and pulmonary haemorrhagia.
Various extracts of dried aerial
2. Chandanasavam Diuretic and urinary antiseptic. Used in gonorrhoea, parts exhibited strong cytotoxic properties
spermatorrhoea and other urinary diseases. when tested in vitro on several cancerous
3. Dasamoolarishtam Bitter tonic, alterative and stimulant. Useful in cell lines. The water and methanol extracts
cough, meno-nervous diseases, anaemia, jaundice, exhibited low IC50 values indicating the
piles and as a prenatal tonic. Used to increase vigour, potent activity against LEUK-U 937, SNU
sperm count and physical health. Also used in gas
1, LEUK-HL 60, multi-drug resistant CA-
troubles, hiccup, cough, vomiting, tuberculosis, lack of
KB-VI, MT-4, HE-1, CA-9 KB, CA-JTC-26
appetite, dropsy, etc.
and several other cancerous cell lines. The
4. Mritasanjeevani Sura Rejuvenator, ideal Ayurvedic tonic for vigour and
inhibitory concentrations of DNA
vitality.
topoisomerase-1 against water and
5. Saribadyasavam Alterative, cooling and tonic. Used in diabetes, skin methanol extracts were found to be 100
diseases, scrofula, rheumatic pain, syphilis, etc. mg/ml and 400 mg/ml, respectively
2. Ghritams indicating the potent cytotoxic effect of the
1. Kalyanaka ghritam and Used in psychosis, epilepsy, poisoning, loss of memory water extract 6-11. The methanol, 50%
Mahakalyanaka ghritam and for body nourishment. methanol and water extracts of heartwood
2. Dasaswarasa ghritam Used for the troubles of pitta. showed antiproliferative activities against
3. Sarvamayanthaka Good for most of the diseases. About 80 diseases due human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells12.
ghritam to vata, 40 diseases due to pitta and 20 diseases due to Aqueous extracts of wood exhibited
kapha can be cured. cytotoxic activity against hepatocellular
4. Brihachagaladi ghritam Good for vata, epilepsy and tuberculosis. carcinoma cell lines, Hep3B and
HepG213. These results are confirmed
3. Kashayams
by the in vivo experiments. Ethanol
1. Drakshadi kashayam Good for intestinal disturbances, irritation of the (50%) extract of dried stem showed
extremities, vertigo, psychosis, etc. antitumor activity in LEUL-P388 cell
2. Mahatiktakam All diseases related to pitta, viz. leprosy, scabies, treated mice at 200 mg/kg body weight
kashayam intestinal disturbances, thirst and vertigo. Useful in i.p.14 The water extract of the wood and
syphilis. its protein fractions also exhibited
4. Thailams antitumor properties against sarcoma
1. Triphaladi thailam Useful in eye and ear diseases. 180 (ascites) treated mice given
2. Irimedadi thailam Antiseptic, deodorant, mild rubefacient, astringent and intraperitoneally15-16.
analgesic. Indicated in pyorrhoea, bleeding of gums, Antimicrobial activity
gingivitis, toothache and other dental diseases. The essential oil obtained from
3. Bala thailam Used externally for the conditions of vata. the leaves and 95% ethanol and water
extracts of the wood showed strong
Natural Product Radiance Vol 3(2) March-April 2004 77
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antibacterial activity against Bacillus Table 2 : Reported pharmacological properties of Sappan
subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus,
Salmonella typhosa and Escherichia
S. Pharmacological Part used Extract References
coli10, 17, 18. The essential oil exhibited No. property
antibacterial activity against Salmonella
paratyphi, Staphylococcus albus, 1. Anti-anaphylactic Heartwood Water 42, 44
Streptococcus viridans17 and the 95%
2. Antibacterial Leaves, Essential Oil, 10, 17, 18
ethanol extract against Mycobacterium Heartwood Ethanol & Water
smegmatis 18 and Shigella
dysenteriae . The plant extract also
10 3. Anticoagulant Heartwood Water 41
exhibited antimicrobial activity against 4. Anticomplementary Heartwood Several extracts 30
Staphylococcus, Diplococcus, 5. Antifungal Leaves Essential Oil 17
Corynebacterium, Shigella baydii
6. Anti-inflammatory Heartwood Methanol 23
and several other species. The leaf oil also
possesses antifungal activity against 7. Antitumor Stem, Heartwood Ethanol, Water, 14-16
Protein Fraction
Aspergillus nidulans, A. niger, A.
oryzae, Curvularia lunata and 8. Antiviral Bark, Heartwood Water 20, 21
Candida albicans17. A saponin obtained 9. Barbiturate potentiation Heartwood Methanol 38
from the plant exhibited strong 10. Cytotoxic Aerial parts, Water, 6-11
antimicrobial activity against Bacillus Dried bark, Methanol,
subtilis, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Heartwood Ethyl acetate
Salmonella stanley and Proteus
11. Enzyme stimulation
vulgaris19. These studies confirm the
wide use of the plant for antidysenteric, i. Glutamate pyruvate Heartwood Water 32
wound healing, lumbago and vulnerary transaminase
purposes. ii. Tyrosinase Heartwood Ethanol 36
Antiviral activity 12. Enzyme inhibition Stem Chloroform, 34, 35
The hot water extract of dried i. Phosphodiesterase Water
bark of the plant exhibited antiviral activity. 13. Immuno stimulant Heartwood Protein fraction 15
The extract showed the activity against
14. Semen coagulation Stem, Heartwood Ethanol 14
Herpes simplex-1, measels, polio
virus-1 and Hepatitis virus in in vitro
studies20, 21. It also showed antiviral activity activity 23 . Among the 130 herbal study showed that after eight weeks of
in vivo against Herpes simplex-1 infected medicines tested for inhibition of treatment with hematein (0.05% in diet),
mice at 5mg/animal dose20. Among 300 hyaluronidase activity C. sappan is one the extent of atherosclerotic lesions were
plants tested, C. sappan is one of the of the six active plants, with the methanol significantly reduced without change in
ten herbs/plants identified as effective for extract at 5 mg/ml concentration showing plasma lipoprotein levels, but probably
its anti-HbsAg (Hepatitis B surface more than 50% inhibition of related to the inhibition of vascular cell
antigen) capability22. hyaluronidase activity24. Hematein isolated adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and
Anti-inflammatory activity from heartwood had been in use in monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)
The methanol extract of the Oriental medicine both as an analgesic expression resulting in an amelioration of
heartwood showed anti-inflammatory and an anti-inflammatory agent. A recent lesion development in rabbit25.

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Immunostimulant properties 69.9% was the most potent. The isolated mice36. Protosappanin A extended the
compounds brazilin, brazilein and sleeping time of mice induced by
The protein fraction of the wood protosappanin E also exhibited hexobarbital (80 mg/kg) at the dose of
increased the peritoneal cells when given anticomplementary activity29. 42 mg/kg i.p., but its activity is relatively
i.p. to mice indicating the immuno- weak when compared to the methanol
stimulant properties15. Brazilin, the main Hepatoprotective activity extract37. The methanolic extract and two
principle of the plant improved the altered purified compounds, brazilin and
immune functions caused by halothane Brazilin reduced BrCCl3 induced hematoxylin isolated from the wood
administration in mice. These results toxicities on rat hepatocytes in vitro showed a significant and dose dependent
might be mainly due to the changes in the indicating the hepatoprotective nature. It vasorelaxing effect via NO and subsequent
function of T cells26. Immuno modulation also showed a protective role on the BrCCl3 cGMP formation38. The sappan wood is
at an initial step of autoimmune diseases induced depression of microsomal found to be a potent agent for the
is effective to prevent or control the calcium sequestration activity30. The water inactivation of human sperms in vitro.
diseases. Brazilin is shown to prevent extract of the wood exhibited glutamate However, the activity is concentration
autoimmune halothane hepatitis by the pyruvate transaminase stimulation effect dependent, and about 2.4 mg/ml is
modulation of altered immune functions at 1 mg/ml concentration against CCl4 required to reduce motility to 50% of the
in the early phase of halothane intoxicants induced hepatotoxicity in rat hepatocytes31. control medium 39. The 50% ethanol
of C57 BL/6 mice27. Several other studies extract of the dried stem showed semen-
also support the immuno modulating Other activities coagulating effect on rat sperms14.
activity of brazilin. Water extract of the wood
The heartwood along with several showed anticoagulant activity in mice at a
Hypoglycemic activity other plants was given orally in powdered dose of 0.1 g/kg body weight40 and anti-
form 5-7 g t. i. d. for 2 months to 138 anaphylactic activity at 1 µg/ml
Brazilin exhibited potent patients suffering from intestinal concentration on complex induced
hypoglycemic action in streptozotocin metaplasia and atypical hyperplasia of the degranulatation of biotinyl IG E-Avidin
induced diabetic rats28. It improved the gastric mucosa of chronic gastritis. The β-hexosaminidase from rat basophilic
glucose metabolism in primary cultured formulation was found very effective leukemia cells41. The methanol extract of
rat hepatocytes, in soleus muscles from therapeutically32. The chloroform and hot the plant demonstrated predominant
rats made diabetic with streptozotocin, water extracts of the wood showed antihypercholesteremic activity and two
and in adipose tissues from diabetic KK significant inhibition of phosphodiesterase aromatic compounds structurally related
mice. It also increased basal glucose at 100mg/ml concentrations33-34. Ethanol to brazilin are found to be responsible for
transport in 3T 3 L1 fibroblasts and extract of the wood exhibited melanin the activity42. It also showed inhibition of
adipocytes, but insulin stimulated glucose formation stimulation and tyrosinase histamine release from the mast cell at
transport was not influenced28. stimulating properties35. These results 250µg/ml concentration 43 . Methanol
support the traditional use of sappan wood extract of sappan wood showed
Anticomplementary activity for improvement of complexion. Out of remarkable anticonvulsant activity. Its ethyl
the 142 extracts of traditional herbs acetate fraction significantly inhibited the
The hexane, ethyl acetate and studied in vitro for antimeasles activity, activities of GABA degradative enzymes,
methanol extracts and the sterol fraction sappan wood was found to be the most succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase
of the heartwood exhibited potent. (SSADH) and succinic semialdehyde
anticomplementary activity. The sterol The methanol extract of the reductase (SSAR). Sappan chalcone and
mixture consisting of campesterol, 11.2; heartwood exhibited sleeping time brazilin were the active compounds
stigmasterol, 18.9; and β-sitosterol, prolonging effect when given (i.p.) to isolated from this fraction44.

Natural Product Radiance Vol 3(2) March-April 2004 79

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Chemical constituents the world for its medicinal properties. In future, more basic research is
These aspects and its high LD50 value14 needed to elucidate the mechanism of
indicate its safety and non-toxicity. actions and isolation of its active
A great deal of chemical
Reported activities confirmed its antitumor ingredients. C. sappan with highly
investigation has been carried out on
antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, interesting biological effects and vast
heartwood and other parts of the plant and
hepatoprotective and several other folklore uses is worth studying more and
the presence of compounds, viz.
properties. Studies carried out in our that might provide a rich natural resource
triterpenoids, flavonoids, oxygen
laboratories proved its strong antioxidant of lead compounds for drug development.
heterocycles, lipids, steroids and amino
properties47. As a colouring agent in wines, Brazilin, responsible for most of the
acids in the heartwood and seeds has been
meat and fabrics its use is already well biological effects of the wood, has the
reported. Brazilin, the main constituent of
established3. It can be used as a colouring potential to become a drug to enter into
the plant is oxidized to produce brazilein
agent for food products and for the market.
by air and light45. Caesalpin J and P,
pharmaceuticals safely. The dye can be
protosappaninn A, B, C, E1 & E 2 and
made use for colouring foods such as hard Acknowledgements
sappanin are the other oxygen
cheese, butter, other dairy products, fish
heterocycles isolated from the wood42.
products, salad dressing, confectionary,
Protosappanin A is a metabolite of sappan The authors are thankful to Shri
bakery, ice-creams, beverages, snack
chalcone and the precursor of sappanin36. Shri Shivarathree Deshikendra
foods, floor polishes, etc. It can also be
Several flavonoids and homo-isoflavonoids Mahaswamigalavaru of Suttur Math,
used in the preparation of shoe polish, hair
are also reported from the heartwood. Mysore, for providing facilities.
nails, red ink, stain for fine wood finishing
These include ombuin, quercetin,
and for colouring leather, furs, silk and
rhamnetin, sappan chalcone, sappanol
toys. It has a potential to enter the market References
and its ethers, 8-methoxy bonducellin,
as a herbal antioxidant mineral water, as
caesalpinia chromans, chromanones and
being used commonly in Kerala. 1. Kirtikar KR and Basu BD, Indian
chalcones. The biogenetic pathway from
Development of effective and Medicinal Plants, Blatter E., Caius J F
sappan chalcone to brazilin via three
nontoxic radio-protecting agent is of and Mhaskar K S (Ed), Lalit Mohan
known homo-isoflavonoids is known42, 46.
considerable interest for radiation Basu, Allahabad, 1989,
Apart from these constituents
medicine, space-flights, nuclear industries 847-848.
triterpenes (β-amyrin, taraxerol), stearic
and emergencies. A large number of
acid, palmitic acid, β-sitosterol have also 2. Warriers PK, Nambiar VPK and
chemical and biological agents have been
been isolated from the heartwood. The Ramankutty C, (Ed) Vaidhyarathnam
screened in this connection, but most of
seed oil contains lupeol, β-amyrin, PS Varriers, Indian Medicinal Plants,
them possessed severe side effects and
stigmasterol and fatty acids. Major fatty A compendium of 500 species, Orient
restricted their use. Since the heartwood
acids are: linoleic, 31.60, oleic, 27.30, Longman Ltd., Chennai, 1993, 1,
is capable of giving protection from UV
palmitic, 18.76 and linolenic, 14.75 291-294.
rays and also possesses strong antioxidant
per cent3. activity, it can be developed as an effective 3. The Wealth of India – Raw Materials,
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Based on the literature it can be from its colouring aesthetic effects, the
concluded that Caesalpinia sappan consumers shall get the beneficial 4. Yun YE, Lynn GS and Glen RC, The
heartwood has high potential for medicinal effects of this wood on their Ozone fading of traditional Chinese
therapeutic and colouring use. It is being body and such colorants are in demand plant dyes, J Am Inst Conser, 2000,
used in Kerala, India and several parts of now. 39, 245-257.

80 Natural Product Radiance Vol 3(2) March-April 2004

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