ABSTRACT
In arid and semi-arid regions of the world salinity is the one of the major problem that causes tremendous loss in the crop yield. It is required to bring these areas under utilization for maximizing the crop production either by removing salinity or by using salt tolerant crops. These plants are growing on the soil as creepers and herbs such as Citrullus colocynthis, Cres erotica, Launeae nudicaulis [L.] Hook.f. etc. One of such kind of plants, L. nudicaulis [L.] Hook.f. has been selected for the current research study. L. nudicaulis [L.] Hook.f. is abundantly found in Pakistan, especially in Karachi, parts of Sindh province and Cholistan desert. The L. nudicaulis [L.] Hook.f. Compositae [Asteraceae] is considered as facultive type of Halophyte which can grow on saline as well as non saline soil. According to the literature survey, this creeper facultive halophyte has great medicinal significance. It is recommended in Folk medicine as bitter tonic, stomachic, wound healing accelerator etc. Furthermore, it is reported to possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, insecticidal and cytotoxic properties. Present study is based on standardization, phytochemical, urease inhibition and heavy metal analysis of three morphological parts of L nudicaulis [L.] Hook.f. i.e. [A]root, [B] stems, and [C] leaves. Due to significant medicinal properties, agronomy and easy accessibility of this ignored halophyte, preliminary phytochemical, physico-chemical, moisture content, total ash content and florescent analysis of all parts of plant were separately performed to establish the standard protocol for its identification that is crucial for medical use and detenuination of existing chemical components either primary or secondary metabolites in each part and their behaviors. Elemental analysis and urease inhibition activity were carried out to prove this plant as both nutritional and agronomic potential along with their toxic components present in each part of L. nudicaulis [L.] Hook.f?
ABSTRACT
Plants are rich in a variety of chemical compounds. Many are secondary metabolites including aromatic substances most of them are phenols or their oxygen substituted derivatives. Medicinal plants are also rich in antioxidant constituents such as phenols, tocopherols, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and flavonoids etc. They are found to acquire free radical scavenging activity and used worldwide for the treatment of various immune system dependent diseases. Peltophorum pterocarpum [DC] Backer ex K. Heyne [Caesalpiniaceae] is a beautiful ornamental tree, widely grown in tropical regions and its parts are used in traditional medicine as an effective therapeutic agent. Fresh pods of Peltophorum pterocarpum was evaluated for its antioxidant potential by using various methods including DPPH, superoxide anion, nitric oxide scavenging, and metal chelating activity. TPC via Folin-Ciocalteau's reagent and anti haemolytic activity red blood cells respectively have also been measured. The methanol extract of pods of Peltophorum pterocarpum was found to possess the significant amount 439.21 +/- 0.17 mg GAE [gallic acid equivalents] / g of TPC. The antioxidant potential of pods extract at mature stage showed potent activity and measured as, free radical scavenging activity 73.29 +/- 0.81%, superoxide anion scavenging activity 89.03 +/- 1.07%, nitric oxide scavenging activity 84.25 +/- 1.18%, and metal chelating activity 64.12 +/- 0.11%. The extract also showed potent anti haemolytic activity 79.09 +/- 75%. Peltophorum pterocarpum exhibited strong but varying level of antioxidant and anti haemolytic activity in various methods along with total phenolic contents