Chorisia insignis Botany, Chemistry & Biological Activities

There are many reasons for the current increased use of herbal medicines, from the appeal of products from nature and the perception that such products are safe. Chorisia insignis HBK. (white floss silk tree) is native to South America, named in honor of the botanical artist and traveler Ludwig I. Choris (19th century). It is mainly cultivated for its ornamental brilliant flowers and the silky white fibre obtained from ripened fruits used to form cushions and vests which explain its name. The plant found to possess interesting botanical features used for its identification. Its chemical composition was studied and it was found that it contains several chemical classes. These constituents contributed to its bioactivities, meanwhile the plant has high LD50, indicating its safety. C. insignis has several biological activities. It has significant anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activities. It protects the liver from damage and showed high activity against two Gram positive bacteria. It showed significant cytotoxic activity against larynx carcinoma.

Doaa Mahmoud Moawad Mahmoud Hanafy, Assistant researcher in National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. Studied at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt. Obtained the Master degree of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Pharmacognosy from the same faculty. Has several articles published in reputed journals.