Vitis vinifera - Grapes (Draksha) - (Review Paper)

 Grapes (Draksha)-  A Review

Abstract

Grapes are said to be the oldest cultivated fruit.It is used in Ayurvedic&Unani treatment &

shows numerous biological activities. The potential health benefits of consuming grapes are

numerous. Grapes also have some special components that make them more beneficial to

our health, giving them “super food” status. Grapes contain powerful antioxidants known as

polyphenols, which may slow or prevent many types of cancer, including oesophageal, lung,

mouth, pharynx, endometrial, pancreatic, and prostate and colon.They are also good source

of bioflavonoids. Vitisvinifera has more varieties.It is seen that it is useful in prevention of

cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and constipation. Grapes are high in water content

and good for hydration.Many studies have shown that increasing consumption of plant foods

like grapes decreases the risk of obesityand overall mortality. This review provides Ayurvedic

history, varieties, profiling, nutritional values, pharmacological review& side effects of Draksha

(grapes).

Keywords- Grapes (Draksha), Nutritional values, Chemical profiling.

Introduction -

Vitisvinifera commonly known as grapes, angur /dakh, is from Vitaceae family.

Grapes are natives of Western Asia and Central Europe.Grapes were found in Egyptian tombs

and in the tombs of pre-Christ era as well.East, are botanically known as ‘vitisvinifera’. This

species has more than 10,000 varieties.In 1700, the Spanish introduced grape cultivation to

California.It is a large deciduous climber having upto 35 cm long stem, leaves are orbicularcordate,

palmately 5or 7 lobed, irregularly toothed. Flowers are green in colour. Berries variable

in size, ovoid to globose& greenish, purplish or bluish black edible, generally sweet. Seeds

2, 4 pear shaped.In India though a large number of types have been introduced & cultivated

experimentally or otherwise to a greater or lesser extent at different times & places ,only a

few of them are commercially successful.

Cultivation- Grapes are propagated from cuttings, field-budding or grafting to resistant

rootstocks. 

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Six weeks cold stratification

improves the germination rate, and so stored seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it

is obtained. In India Grape is mostly propagated by hardwood stem cuttings. 

               References of Draksha have been mentioned in Vedic period e.g. PaniniyaGanapath,

Shankhalikhitdharmasutra,PatanjalMahabhashya. It is also mentioned along with many

other plants by Charaka & Sushruta in their early medical treatise in the first century A.D.

CharakaSamhita is the oldest & most comprehensive text available. Medicinal plants

mentioned in it many centuries ago are recorded with complete understanding of various

dimensions reflected to their usage.It is the drug of PhalaVarga.Its synonyms are Kashmirika

(grows in high altitude of Northen Region), Gucchaphala (fruits appear in bunches), Gostani

(shape is like cow’s teat), Brimhani(it promotes body), Madhurasa, Svaduphala, Guda,

Sadvi(fruits are sweet), Shramaphala(allays fatigue), Yakshmaghni (allays consumption).

It has Madhur (sweet ) taste (rasa), Sheet (cold) potency (veerya), Madhur (sweet) vipaka

(intestinal digestion and tissue metabolism), Snigdh (unctuousness) attributes., vata–pitta

shaman (alleviate vata& pitta). It is used for ahariya&aushadhikalpana(medicinal formulations).

                In Ayurvedic CharakaSamhita total 162 references of Draksha are mentioned. It is the first

drug of KasaharDashemani, also mentioned in Kanthya, Snehopag, Virechanopag, Jwarhar,

ShramaharGana& in MadhurSkandha. Of which Draksha shows Virechana (purgative),

 Kanthya(beneficial for throat),Snehopag(sub oleative), Virechanopag(sub purgative), Kasahar(anti

 cough or antitussive), Jwarahara(anti pyretic), Shramahar(energy compensator) actions.

Total 21 Kalpanas i.e. Svarasa , Ghrit, Avaleha, Basti, Kwath , Ksheerpak,Gutika, Choorna,

Taila, Arishta, Kalka, Madya, Asav, Rag , Panak, Saktu, Mamsarasa,Sneh,Varti, Yush&Yavagu

mentioned.

                In Unani medicine leaves of grapes useful in piles. Their juice cures headache, syphilis, piles,

inflammation of the spleen, diuretic allays vomiting, stops bleeding from the mouth, applied in

scabies, produces alopecia. The ashes of the stem are used in joint pain, stones in bladder, swelling of

 testicles & piles, The flower are expectorant, emenogogue, enriches the blood, tonic to liver, good in

 chronic bronchitis produces constipations. The fruit is sour sweet, digestive, stomachic, expectorant,

purifies & enriches the blood. The seeds are aphrodisiac, astringent to the bowels; their ash is applied to

 diminish inflammation. The dried fruits are demulcent, laxative and useful in thirst. The sap of young

 branches popular for skin diseases & is still a popular remedy in Europe for opthalmia.

Chemical composition 

Grapes are rich in reducing sugars but poor in protein. They are a fair source of iron & minerals, traces

 of bromide, iodide & fluoride are normally found in grapes. Grape is a phenol-rich plant, and these

 phenolics are mainly distributed in the skin, stem, leaf and seed of grape, rather than their juicy middle

 sections. The compounds mainly included proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, flavonols, resveratrols and phenolic acids.

Vitis vinifera

Red grapes appear to be richer in B –vitamins than white grapes. The vitamin content increases during 

maturation except for biotin which decreases

Fruit- Reducing sugar , poor in protein, Bromide, Iodide, Fluoride,Vit.C, Bioflavonoids (Vit P)

 Enzymes – berries contain invertase, Carbohydrates, Nitrogen compounds[4]Organic acid - Tartaric

 acid & Malic acid (in large amount), Citric acid(small amount) Phenolic compounds – pigments &

 tannin.

Leaves, Bark, Roots, & in Berries - Glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, of VitisVinifera L. Var.

 melibiose, raffinose, stachyose, Malic, Thompson seedless.[4] tartaric, citric, isocitric, ascorbic, cis-

aconitic, oxalic, glycolic, glyoxylic, succinic, lactic, glutaric, fumaric, pyrrolidone carboxylic, á-

ketoglutaric, pyruvic, oxaloacetic, galacturonic, glucuronic, shikimic, quinic, chlorogenic, and caffeic

 acids

Review of pharmacological activities of useful parts of Grape 

1] Anti-inflammatory –(fruits, leaves & juice)

Alcoholic extract of fruit, leaves & juice ofVitisvinifera L. have significant anti-inflammatory

activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of Vitisvinifera L. may be attributed to the presence of

high content of flavonoids viz, quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, and luteolin in addition to phenolic

acids and â-sitosterol which are all reported to have anti inflammatory effect. 

2] Action on chloasma – (Grape seed extract)

Chloasma (melasma), an acquired hypermelanosis, is often recalcitrant to various treatments

and an amenableas. The reducing effect of proanthocyanidin, a powerful antioxidant, on

chloasma in a one-year open design study.Proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extract (GSE)

was orally administered. GSE is effective in reducing the hyper pigmentation with chlosma. .

3] Anticancer activity- (grape skin and seed extracts)

The use of grape antioxidants are promising against a broad range of cancer cells by targeting

epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its downstream pathways, inhibiting overexpression

of COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 receptors, or modifying estrogen receptor pathways,

resulting in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.  A natural product, resveratrol (3, 4, 40-

trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a phytoalexin found in grapes and other food products, is known

as a cancer chemopreventive agent. ,Resveratrol inhibits proliferation and induces

differentiation of myeloid leukemia cells. The mixture of Terminaliachebula, grape juice

and sugar cane juice has been used. Resveratrol, a natural product derivative from grape

juice has been proved to possess cancerchemopreventive activity

4] Cardioprotective activity – (grape seed& extracts)

Animal study (Normal Wistar strain rats were pretreated with Vitisviniferaseed (500mg/kg

body weight) for 28 days) intoxicated with isoproterenol (ISO).  The potential cardioprotective

activityof Vitisvinifera may be due to the presence of therapeutic phytochemicals such as

proanthocyanidins and natural polyphenolic. The active components from grape extracts

have polyphenols such as resveratrol, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and flavonoids. All possess

potent antioxidant properties. Consumption of grape and grape extracts or grape products

may be beneficial in preventing the development of chronic degenerative diseases such as

cardiovascular disease. 

5] Effect of Grape (Vitisvinifera L.) Seed on Reducing Serum

(Uric Acid Level in Gout-Animals Model)

The effect of grape seed greater on lowering uric acid level in gout-animals models than in

control group. Additionally GS can be lowering serum urate level in hyperuricemic. GS may

therefore prevent against gouty and inflammatory. 

6] Antibacterial, Antifungal, antiviral, Antioxidant activities – (leaves – Chloroform

fraction) Fractions shows action against gram-positive (S. aureusand E. faecalis) than against

 gramnegative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa). Antifungal activity against the genus Candida

(C. albicansand C. parapsilosis).

7] Antibacterial activity (Vitisrotundifolia- seeds)

Antimicrobial activity of different variety of grape seed extract was checked against bacterial

species. Polyphenols are the main antimicrobial compounds of the plant. Grapes have a rich

source of this molecule.High antibacterial activity was found with a fraction that contains

oligomeric units of catechins& epicatechins. The same antibacterial effects were obtained

against strains of Escheria coli, Staphylococcus aureus(methicillin-resistant staphylococcus

aureus) the bacterial implicated in oral diseases (streptococcus mutans,

porphyromonasgingivalis&Fusobacteriumnucleatum) & Helicobacter pylori. 

8] Anti –oxidant activity - (seed extract)

The extracts evaluated by B- Caritene – linoleate model & linoleic acid peroxidation mehod.

[10]By potassium ferricynide reduction method, this extract shows good reducing power at

500 mg/ml concentration. It was found that acetone:water:acetic acid (90:9.5:0.5) extract

was better radical scavenger than methanol:water:acetic acid (90:9.5:0.5) extract. The

presence of enriched phenolic and flavonoid compounds act as antioxidants.

9] Anti-histaminic, Anti-microbial, Anti-malignant, Laxative-

It shows anti-histaminic, anti- asthmatic, expectorant and mass cell stabilising properties. It

can be used as effective anti-allergic agents against the respiratory allergic disorders. Moreover

herbal drugs provide better options to prepare formulations on the basis of their pharmacological

actions. Their role as immunemodulator agents is equally important in limiting repeated

respiratory allergies and potentiating the respiratory system. 

10] Hepatoprotective – (leaves)

Hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract and its four different fractions were investigated

against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats.n-BuOH fraction in

83 mg/kg dose shows antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. 

11] Antihypertensive –(Grape skin extract (GSE))

An alcohol-free hydroalcoholic grape skin extract (GSE) obtained from skins of a vinifera

grape (Vitislabrusca) in experimental rodent hypertension models. The antioxidant effect

seen on lipid peroxidation of hepatic microsomes and the vasodilator effect of GSE assessed

in the isolated mesenteric vascular bed of Wistar rats. The antihypertensive effect of GSE

might be owing to a combination of vasodilator and antioxidant actions of GSE. [

12] Antiulcer Activity – (Grape Seed Extract and Procyanidins)

Antiulcer activities of grape seed extracts and procyanidinsinvestigated using rats. The gastric

protective activity of a series of procyanidins increased with the increasing polymerization of

catechin units. The mechanism of antiulcer activity may be the protection by radical scavenging

activity on the stomach surface against radical injury induced by HCl/EtOH solution and the

defense action of procyanidins covering the stomach surface by their strong ability to bind

protein.Oligomers longer than tetramers showed a strong protective effect against gastric

mucosal damage. 

13] Bronchodialator – (leaf hydroalcoholic extract)

Grape leaf hydroalcoholic extract on isolated rat tracheal contractions induced by KCl and

acetylcholine. The grape leaf extract at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 mg/ml significantly reduces the

tracheal contractions induced by KCl.extract effects occur on the smooth muscle cell

membrane. Grape leaf hydroalcoholic extract inhibits the rat tracheal contractions induced

by KCl and acetylcholine via blocking the voltage dependent calcium channels (VDCC) on

the smooth muscle cells membrane. 

14] Wound healing activity - The oil of grape and cranberry

The oil of grape and cranberry has wound healing activity. An excision wound model in rats

used for study.The controls were treated with petroleum jelly. The standard group of animals

were treated with mupirocin ointment. The hydroxyproline content of the granulation tissue

was significantly higher in the animals treated with cranberry and the grape-oil. 

Thus grapes due to their high nutrient content play an important role in ensuring a healthy &

active life. The whole fruit, skin, leaves & seed of grape plant used as medicine. It contains

flavonoids that are very powerful antioxidants, which can reduce the damage caused by free

radicals.