ABSTRACT
Natural plant products contain diversity of molecules that have different biological, pharmacological and toxicological properties. The present study was carried out to investigate the brine shrimp lethality, insecticidal and phyto-toxic potentials by using the Musa paradisiaca L. bract, flower, trachea [flowering stalk] and tracheal fluid. Brine shrimp lethality assay was determined by using the salina species of artemia and results showed that all four extracts were found inactive at low concentration while little activity was found in each part at high concentration. Phyto-toxic potential was studied on the Lemna minor L. and dose dependent phytotoxic potential of all four extracts were observed. While insecticidal activity was determined by using the direct contact method which indicated that these parts of Musa paradisiaca L. possesses no such kind of activity?
ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to investigate the nephroprotective activity of methanolic extract of different morphological parts [bract, flower, trachea and tracheal fluid] of Musa paradisiaca L. [Family: Musaceae] against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. Gentamicin produced significant changes in biochemical [increased levels of blood urea nitrogen level, blood urea, and serum creatinine], and histological parameters in mice. Treatment with methanolic extract of bract [100 and 250mg/kg, b.w] and flowering stalk [trachea] [250 and 500mg/kg, b.w] significantly prevented biochemical and histological changes produced by gentamicin toxicity. The extracts of M. paradisiaca[bract and flowering stalk] could contribute a lead to discovery of a new drug for the treatment of drug-induced nephrotoxicity
ABSTRACT
Vitex agnus-castus is a small tree or shrub, belonging to the family Verbenaceae. It is a deciduous shrub native to European, Mediterranean, and Central Asian countries. V. agnus castus has a long tradition as a herbal remedy and was used in ancient times not only as an anaphrodisiac but also against diverse disturbances of the female genital system. The major constituents in V. agnus-castus are flavonoids, essential oils, diterpenes, and glycosides. The flavonoids (casticin, quercetagetin, and isovitexin) have been shown in vitro to affect estrogen receptors. V. agnus-castus could be used to treat acne, digestive complaints, menstrual irregularities, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), mastalgia, and infertility, and also for lactation support. Although V. agnus-castus has been used for centuries and enjoys wide support from practitioners and the general public for many gynecological complaints, few clinical studies support its documented uses. The presence of phytochemical and pharmacological activities has proved that the plant has a leading capacity for the development of new good efficacy drug in future.
ABSTRACT
The present investigation was undertaken to establish standardization profile of Taxus baccata L. with the help of pharmacognostic parameters, which is not done before. T. baccata [Taxaceae], is native to Europe, is an evergreen needle-leaved tree, growing up to 28 m high. A large number of phytochemicals like taxoids viz. taxusin, baccatin, baccatin, lignans, flavanoids, steroids, paclitaxel and sugar derivatives have been isolated from it. For the treatment of different types of cancer like ovarian and breast cancers, Kaposi's sarcoma and lung cancers Paclitaxel [taxol] has been approved. Paclitaxel is also under clinical trial for remedy of number of other cancers in combination with other chemotherapeutic medications. Pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochemical screening of T. baccata will be useful to authenticate and avoid adulteration in the raw material. The diagnostic microscopic characters, physiochemical data and FTIR will be useful in the development of monograph
ABSTRACT
The exclusively important Digital is purpurea L. [Foxglove] belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae and is distributed throughout the European continent. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, anthraquinones and also triterpenes. But the most important of the phytoconstituents contributed by D.purpurea is the striking presence of numerous cardioactive glycosides that has proven to be the most important drugs in treating congestive heart failures. The glycosides of D. purpurea are not only considered to possess cardiac stimulant but also it has wound healing, hepatoprotective, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities too. Many of them exhibit slowing ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia and premature extra systoles. The present review is therefore, an effort to present a detailed survey o f literature on pharmacognosy, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of D. purpurea
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This study was aimed to provide pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Coccinia grandis L. [Cucurbitaceae] leaf aqueous extract in indigestion and constipation using the in vitro assay. The portion of rabbit jejunum was mounted in an organ bath, filled with Tyrode's Ringer solution and spontaneous movements of intestine were recorded on oscillograph and kymograph using isotonic transducer before and after applying drug samples and aqueous leaf extract. This study showed that the C. grandis L. possesses laxative activities along with spasmodic effect in the isolated tissues, mediated partially through activation of muscarinic receptors; thus, this study provides a rationale for the medicinal use of C. grandis L. leaves in indigestion and constipation. The results showed that the aqueous extract of C.grandis L. leaves has a significant spasmodic activity which supports its use in traditional herbal medicine practice. The extract produced an increase in intestinal transit comparable to normal contraction; number of contraction also increased in the presence of extract. Hence, the result indicated a remarkable increasing effect on the movement of intestinal tissues of rabbit in comparison to control
ABSTRACT
Plants are an important source of antimicrobial products, most of them are efficacious against diverse organisms including fungi, yeasts and bacteria, insects and nematodes. The present study was aimed at measuring the antimicrobial effects of methanolic extract of flower and leaves of Hibiscus schizopetalus [Mast] Hook. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of H. schizopetalus extracts [HFE and HLE] were evaluated by the agar well diffusion and agar dilution methods, respectively. The flower extract of H. schizopetalus [HFE] revealed antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes, S. faecalis, Enterobacter aerogenes and Proteus vulgaris with zone of inhibition of 5 mm, 9 mm, 3 mm, 6 mm, respectively. The extracts [HFE and HLE] showed prominent activity against human pathogens Aspergillus flavus, A. niger and specially for Candida albicans with zone of inhibition of 5 mm, 4 mm, 10 mm, 6 mm, 3 mm and 14 mm, respectively. The microbial inhibitory effects of the extracts of flower and leaves of H. schizopetalus are favorable to introduce this plant as potential candidate for new drug development regarding treatment of diseases caused by these pathogens
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Globally, the significance of medicinal plant in the cure of variety of illnesses has been increasing the expansion of science of phytopharmaceuticals and desire for treatment in chronic and acute diseases which initiates new enthusiasm to develop herbal medicine. The present study was conducted on mature leaves of Adansonia digitata L. used in traditional system of medicine for curative and preventive treatment of asthma, dysentery, fever, hemorrhoids, insect bites, malaria, measles, sores trypanosomiasis, ulcers, etc. This plant is used as a staple food because it has nutritional value too. The present investigation describes phytochemical screening and standardization profile of mature leaves of A. digitata. Various extracts of leaves were prepared and subjected to phytochemical screening using different solvents and detailed microscopic and fluorescence studies were also carried out
ABSTRACT
The bioactive benzimidazole and corresponding substituted phenacyl halides has been synthesized [11] new derivatives out of three compounds 8, 10 and 11 were found to inhibit the Plasmodium falciparum moderately after 72 hours of incubation hence acting as antimalarial agents. While these derivatives were exhibited negligible insecticidal activity too when analyzed by impregnated filter paper method
ABSTRACT
The present study was undertaken to assess the antidepressant effect of crude ethanolic extract of floral part of Hibiscusrosa sinensis [HRS] at doses l00mg/kg, 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg using three parameters which are forced induced swimming test [FST], tail suspension test [TST] and open field test[OFT]
Flouxetine (15mg/kg, body weight) was used as standard. Significant dose dependent decline in immobility time was observed in all the three doses in FST and TST while in case of OFT none of the dose of HRS exhibited effectual results. To determine MAO[A] and MAO[B] activity HRS extract was used and the results revealed that each dose of this plant exhibited marked effect on MAO[A], while on MAO[B] only 250mg/kg dose was found significant
ABSTRACT
The antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of Hibiscus schizopetalus [Mast] Hook [Malvaceae] flower and leaves extracts were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The hypoglycemic activity of both the extracts [100mg/kg, body weight] was tested in fasting normal rat, glucose loaded rats. Observation on body weight was also recorded. The extracts showed a significant [P<0.001] reduction in blood glucose level in normal fasting rats. In glucose tolerance test, significant [P<0.01] decreased observed in all glucose loaded animals. While in alloxan induced diabetic rats, the percent blood glucose reduction was 59.94% and 45.14% in extracts treated groups. The results obtained were compared with the reference standard drug Tolbutamide [100mg/kg, body weight]. The diabetic rats showed sign of decreased in their body weight during the treatment period. Cholesterol and triglycerides levels were significantly decreased [P<0.001] by HFE. The results obtained demonstrated the potential hypoglycemic activity of methanolic extracts of H. schizopetalus. There is need of bioassay-directed assay of the active principles responsible for the anti-diabetic activity. The methanolic extracts showed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, steroids, terpenes, saponins and glycosides.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Female , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy , Hypoglycemic Agents , Hypolipidemic Agents , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts , Rats , Tolbutamide , AlloxanABSTRACT
Prevalence and concentration of some toxic [Pb, Cd, and As] and essential metals [Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Co] were determined in the blood samples collected from asthmatic patients in Karachi, Pakistan using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. All selected patients were habitual of taking crude drugs and home remedy as self medication to treat and prevent asthma. We detected large proportion of the patients with detectable levels of heavy metals. The percentage prevalence of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Co, were found 100% while that of As and Cd were 55% and 60% respectively. Atomic absorption spectroscopic data showed the presence of metals in the analyzed samples in the range of 0.00-37.08 microg/dl for As, 8.1-41.4 microg/dl for Pb, 0.0-9.6 microg/l for Cd, 2.0-55.6 microg/l for Cr, 20.0-85.9 microg/l for Ni, and 0.15-3.6 microg/l for Co. The study will be helpful in creating awareness regarding the use of quality herbal medicines in asthma. It is suggested that along with avoidance of other risk factors, reliance on the use of quality traditional medicines free from heavy metal contamination is very essential especially incase of bronco asthmatic conditions