MINOR PROJECT

My research question is about the Caesalpinia genus in Thailand. Caesalpinia sappan is one of the popular plants in this genus that used to promote blood circulation in Thai traditional medicine. It contains an important compound called brazilin in their heartwood. The samples from different parts of Thailand at least 15 places will be test to confirm about the brazilin content.

Researchers who have looked at this subject are Zanin et al. and Gilbody et al. They reported that brazilin constituent is an important major compound of Caesalpinia sappan heartwood.

Zanin et al. (2012) argues that brazilin is a natural pigment commonly used as a dye and found in Caesalpinia sappan L., where is particularly abundant (8-22% w/w). The compound brazilin is homoisoflavonoids, collectively isolated from alcoholic extraction of heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L. 

Gilbody et al. (1901) argues that there is long history about the substance called “Brazilin” that is the major compound of Caesalpinia sappan wood. Since the year 1190, brasil from dye wood was mentioned by Kimichi (Spanish writer). In 1500, this plant was discovered in South America and credible that the named the northerly section Brazil. In the East Indies, central and South America, the Antilles and Africa, the brazil- wood tree (Leguminosae, species Caesalpinia) is widely classified in the tropics. The wood is very hard and deep red colour. It rapidly changes to red when exposed the air.

Debate centers on the basic issue if brazilin content is an important compound from Caesalpinia sappan  heartwood. This compound may used to confirm their benefit that is to promote blood circulation. So, it is important  to study about brazilin that extract from sappan wood in every part of Thailand.

My research will be closer to both Zanin and Gilbody at the point of brazilin content which is extract from heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan. The study of Zanin and Gilbody were tested in different places and times, but their result showed that brazilin was contained in the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan. So, I will be try to extracting the sappan's heartwood from every part in Thailand to confirm about the brazilin compound also.

Hopefully, my contribution will be confirm that brazilin content is contain in the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan in every part of Thailand. It will be support that people who consume this plant obtain fully benefits such as to promote their blood circulation and antioxidant.

References List
            

      Zanin, J.L.B., Carvalho, B.A., Martineli, P.S., Santos, M.H., Lago, J.H.G., Sartorelli, P.,  Viegas, C., and Soares, M.G. Review The Genus Caesalpinia L. (Caesalpiniaceae):  Phytochemical and Pharmacological Characteristics. Molecules 17 (2012): 7887-7902.

      

      Gilbody, A.W., Perkin, W.H., Yates, J. Brazilin and Haematoxylin PartI. J. Chem. Soc. 79 (1901): 1396.

ASSIGNMENT #2

WRITING INTRODUCTION

            STAGE 1:
Nowadays, many people think that the products that are labeled or made from natural or herbal are always safe and good for them. It may not absolutely true if the herbal medicines or herbal products do not have to go through the testing. Some plants may be harm if users select the wrong part, wrong species, or wrong dose. So, it is very important to study about the standard of plants and pharmacological activities from the constituents inside herbals. The improvement will be occur if we know the structure of plant and develop their quantitative and qualitative.

STAGE 2: 

The family Caesalpiniaceae is one of the important and interesting herbal for study in Thailand. This family has more than 500 species worldwide. There are many reports about pharmacological activities and several chemical compounds. Only 18 species of Caesalpiniaceae are found in Thailand (Smitinand, T. 2001). Four species that are C. sappan, C. bonduc, C. pulcherrima, and C. mimosoides are spread in every part of Thailand and have been used in Traditional Thai Medicine for years. Caesalpinia sappan L. used for promote blood circulation, decline hypertension, antithirsty, and also mixed with other herbals for cure other diseases. The heartwood of sappan had an important constituent named “Brazilin”. It is a natural pigment commonly used as a dye and had several biological properties such as anti-inflammation, antibacterial, etc. Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb or Sa-ward in Thai is an extensive climber, with branches finely grey and downy, armed with both hooked and straight, hard yellow prickles. This plant used for treat ascites, urinary disorder, wound, etc. Caesalpinia pulcherrima Swartz. or Peacock flower or Hang Nok Yung Thai is a large peremial shrub, 1-3 m tall and widely distributed in tropical areas and has been used as ornamental plant. It used for cure bronchitis, asthma, the roots used as drain menstrual and heal inflammation also. Pawar et al. (2011) reported that the microscopic study of Caesalpinia pulcherrima presented collenchyma, vascular bundle, spongy parenchyma, palisade cells, and stomata. The total ash, acid soluble ash, water insoluble ash, loss on drying, alcohol soluble extractive were tested in the part of physicochemical study (p. 998). Caesalpinia mimosoides Lamk. or Cha-luead is a climbing shrub, densely hispid and bristly on all parts. The leaves are bipinnate, flowers are bright yellow and broadly obovate petals. In Traditional Thai Medicine used Arial parts of this plant for support fainting and promote blood circulation. In the experiment, there are several methods for analyze brazilin compound. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) are using for test the active compound in plant extracts. These are widely used, easy, rapid, inexpensive, and suitable for plant screening by recognize the compound.

             STAGE 3: 

Although there are many reports that related with Caesalpiniaceae family, there are no information about DNA fingerprinting and microscopic characterization for improve their qualitative and quantitative. Many reports presented that the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan contained an important chemical substance called "Brazilin". In Thailand, Caesalpinia sappan is spread in every parts, so it should be to investigated at least from 15 places and to be confirmed their quality.   

             STAGE 4& 5: 

In this present study will be try to investigate the quantitative analysis of brazilin in Caesalpinia sappan, the microscopic characterization by leaf measurements and transverse section of plant, and the molecular evaluation by DNA fingerprinting of four species of Caesalpiniaceae Family (C. sappan, C. bonduc, C. pulcherrima, and C. mimosoides).