Some biological evaluations on samanea saman

Samanea saman [Jacq.] Merr. Was subjected to bioactivity analysis. The records of these investigations are described in this communication. A battery of assays was performed on hexane and methanol extracts of Samanea saman leaves, which include antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, brine shrimp bioassay, Lemna bioassay and insecticidal activity. Both the extracts showed moderate antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa where as moderate antifungal activity of hexane extract against Fusarium solani and of methanol extract against Trichophyton longifusus was observed. In brine shrimp bioassay the methanol extract exhibited cytotoxicity with LD[50] value of 757.3672 micro g/ml. In Lemna bioassay the methanol extract in concentration of 1000 micro g/ml significantly inhibited the growth of Lemna. The results of insecticidal activity showed that the hexane extract of Samanea saman exhibited 505 mortality against Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium granarium where as methanol extract remained inactive against all the tested insects

Colorimetric determination of indolic drugs

A colorimetric method has been developed for the quantitative determination of the rescinnamine, reserpine upto [-10-4M], Yohimbine on complexation with bromothymol blue. The coloured complexes exhibit absorption maxima in the region 415-416 nm. The RSD [Relative Standard Deviation] of the method is 2.02%. The method is simple, easy, rapid and convenient for routine analysis of the indolic drugs

Kinetic studies on zingiber officinale

The present investigation deals with the isolation, purification and characterization of gingerol, the major pungent constituent of ginger [Zingiber officinale] and its kinetic of extraction using a number of organic solvents. The characterization was carried out through GC and GC-MS. Gingerol has been assayed in the plant material during extraction with various solvents by a HPLC method. In order to develop a relationship between solvent characteristics such as viscosity and dielectric constant and the rates of extraction, the kinetics of extraction of gingerol has been studied by using twelve different solvents in order to evaluate the solvent efficacy in the extraction processes. It has been observed that both solvent viscosity [1/v] and dielectric constant show a linear relationship with the rates of extraction [k]. An increase in solvent viscosity leads to a decrease in the rates of extraction, similarly an increase in dielectric constant also leads to a decrease in the rates of extraction. This appears to be largely due to an unionizable character of gingerol which does not interact with polar solvents. Thus solvent viscosity and dielectric constant both play an important role in the choice of solvents for the extraction of gingerol. Sovlents with relatively low viscosity and dielectric constant are more suitable for the extraction of gingerol from plant material

Acute systemic toxicity test on lotus garcinii D.C.

The different extracts of Lotus garcinii was subjected to the toxicological investigation with special reference to acute systemic toxicity in experimental animals displayed that it elicit sever toxicity. The symptoms of toxicity were breathing problem with idleness, mild erection of hairs. Lotus garcinii extracts are capable of producing toxic reactions