Ethnobotanical studies and antimicrobial activity of chirchita [achyranthes aspera linn.] extracts

The ethnobotanical studies were carried out to know about the phonological data and the medicinal uses by the local villagers, tribal peoples in the four districts of western Uttar Pradesh that were surveyed. The antimicrobial activity was tested using Agar well method of aqueous and alcoholic extract of Chirchita [Achyranthes aspera Linn.] at different concentration gradient. Zone of inhibition was compared with standard drugs [Ampicillin for Gram Positive bacteria and Gentamicin for Gram Negative bacteria]. Against Gram Positive bacteria [i.e., Bacillus cereus [MTCC 430]] and Gram Negative bacteria [Klebsiella pneumoniae [MTCC 109]], Proteus vulgaris [MTCC 426] and Escherichia coli [clinical isolate] for antimicrobial activity. Chemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, tannin, oleonolic acid based saponins, amino acids, essential oil, steroids and resins as major compounds and the antimicrobial activity may be attributed to any of these compounds

Pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies of sahdevi [vernonia cinerea less.] a lesser known plant

Ash coloured fleabane [Vernonia cinerea Less; Family: Asteraceae] commonly known as Sahdevi is an Indian plant and it seems that the Unani practitioners adopted it for its easy availability and usefulness in fever, conjunctivitis, general weakness, syphilis, gonorrhoea, and diseases of kidney and urinary bladder etc. There is report for its usefulness but no pharmacognostical and phytochemical work are carried out and can be put as lesser known plant. Thus in order to bridge the gap. the present work is an endeavor in this regard. The study included macroscopy, microscopy and physicochemical standardization. The qualitative analysis for different constituents and the quantitative estimation of carbohydrates 9.23%, sterols/terpenes 0.99%, nitrogen 4.40%, proteins 3.40%, phenols 2.41%, flavonoids 5.03% and oil 2.61% were carried out. With the help of descending paper chromatography 12 amino acids and 2 sugars were found to be present. Thin Layer Chromatography [TLC] was also carried out for identification of organic compounds

Studies on a non-pharmacopoeial unani drug for its effect on aspirin and ethanol-induced gastric ulcer

A non-pharmacopoeial Unani compound formulation containing 5 ingredients was studied in experimental animals for its effect against aspirin and ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in two separate tests. In the first test, the animals were divided into 3 groups and treated with distilled water [3ml], test drug [3.12g/kg] and ranitidine [50 mg/kg], respectively. After 30 min of treatment, all the animals were administered with aspirin in the dose of 200 mg/kg. Animals were treated in this way daily once for 4 days and sacrificed after 4 hours of last dosing. The stomach was dissected out and the ulcer was observed with the help of magnifying glass and the degree of ulcer was determined. In the second test, the animals were treated in same way as described earlier except that they were treated with distilled water, test drug and ranitidine once only. After one hour of the treatment, they were administered with 1 ml of 80% ethanol. Later on, after 4 hours of ethanol treatment all the animals were sacrificed and observed for ulcer as in previous test. The ulcer index was calculated by dividing the multiplied sum of average degree of ulceration [ADU] with% of rats with ulceration [RU], by 100. The results were compared with plain as well as standard control. The test drug was found to produce significant anti-ulcer effect, as it substantially reduced the level of ulcer index as compared to the control group and it was almost equally effective to that of ranitidine

Pharmacological studies of "Chaksini" [peristrophe bicalyculata nees] in relation to psychosomatic disorders

The drug Chaksini [Peristrophe bicalyculata Nees Family: Acanthaceae] is a less known drug. It is used for different ailments especially in psychosomatic disorders in traditional system of medicine. The preliminary neuropharmacological screening of the drug has been done for this purpose. The gross behaviour, spontaneous motor activity, pentobarbitone sodium induced narcosis and supramaximally electric shock seizure tests were carried out. The results clearly indicated that the aqueous extract has CNS depressant activity. The effect is probably due to a water soluble glycoside present in the drug in good quantity

Germination and growth of datura innoxia mill.-III physiological influence of pre-sowing seed treatment with vitamins on growth, development and alkaloid production

Datura innoxia Mill, is an important medicinal plant, being a source of scopolamine an alkaloid of high medicinal value, but has not received the attention of researchers it deserves. In a simple randomized pot culture experiment, the residual effect of pre-sowing seed treatment with vitamins B[1], B[6], B-complex and C [considered as regulators for growth and development of plants by many workers], each at 500 ppm, on the physiomorphological characteristics of Datura innoxia Mill, was studied under natural conditions at three growth stages. Vitamin treatments, in general, significantly enhanced total leaf area and dry weight plant[-1]. In addition, average fresh weight and dry weight of whole plants were found to be increased by the treatments. Growth components, viz. absolute growth rate [AGR], leaf area duration [LAD] and biomass duration [BMD], leaf nutrient content and nitrate reductase activity [NRA], studied at 60, 120 and 180 days after sowing [DAS], were enhanced by the treatments. A decrease in leaf NPK content with advancement in growth was also observed. Leaf NRA and total leaf alkaloid yield were maximum at flowering stage [120 DAS], Vitamin B[6] followed by B-complex proved best in improving the physiomorphology of the treated plants in terms of overall performance, including growth, total leaf alkaloid yield and fruit number plant[-1]

Phytochemical and physicochemical standardization of market sample of ghariqun [polyporus officinalis fries.]

The Ghariqun is an important purgative fungus, used in Unani System of Medicine since ancient Greece period. Botanically it is Polyporus officinalis Fries, grows on trunks of many Coniferous trees, particularly on the stem of Larix species. No work on standardization is reported, therefore, the physico-chemical and phytochemical studies are reported here. The parameters studied in this communication include microscopic study of scrap material, the extractive total, acid insoluble and water-soluble ash values. The qualitative and quantitative estimation of various constituents and constants of fatty matters were determined. Besides T.L.C., the fluorescence analysis of powdered drug under U.V. light was also carried out

Pharmacological studies of Chaksini peristrophe bicalyculata nees for analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect on albino rats

The drug Chaksini, Peristrophe bicalyculata Nees [Family Acanthaceae] is a lesser known drug. It is used for different ailments especially in wound healing in traditional Unani medicine. The preliminary pharmacological screening of analgesic and anti inflammatory effect of the drug are tested. Eddy's hot plate method, Radiant heat method, and Carrageenin induced oedema tests, were carried out for this purpose. The results clearly indicate that the aqueous extract has wound healing effect

Predicting solasodine content in solanum nigrum L. a statistical model

Steroidal alkaloids are usually classified with other alkaloids as the former are similar in structure but they resemble biosynthetically with terpenoids. The nitrogen is incorporated therein from ammonia or ammonium compounds. The application of nitrogen, therefore, could enhance the uptake of nitrogen and in turn the yield of Solasodine in the fruits of Solanum nigrum L. The correlation studies between the leaf-nitrogen content and the Solasodine content of the fruits of S. nigrum were made in three pot experiments. The nitrogen was estimated in leaves and Solasodine in fruits at different stages of growth using spectrophotometric methods. A statistical model for the prediction of the alkaloid the at the early stages of growth [85 days after sowing] by estimating the nitrogen content in the leaves is hereby proposed. If leaf-N at early stage of growth predicts the low value of fruit-Solasodine, the corrective measures, like top-dressing or foliar spray could be employed immediately, for higher yield

Studies of oil, sugars and amino acids of cardiospermum halicacabum L seeds

The fixed oil derived from the seeds of Cardiospermum halicacabum L. contains the following fatty acids.: capric 5.11%, lauric 1.85%, Myristic 2.75%, palmitic 1.95%, palmitoleic 1.75%, stearic 6.05%, oleic 2.21%, linoleic 1.98%, linolenic 3.85%, archidic 26.40%, 11-Ecosenoic 37.87%, boheric 3.40%, lignoceric 4.75%. Sugars namely sucrose 55.54%, fructose 17.3%, maltose 15.08%, rafinose 7.96% and glucose 4.07% were present and amino acids, ornithine 14.65%, histidine 10.87%, argentine 10.66%, DL-dopa 15.14%, threonine 22.05%, alanine 8.50%, tyrosine 3.29% valine 0.47%, tryptophane 7.77%, iso-leucine 2.79% and leucine 3.81% along with proline are reported in the seed

Chemical standardization of the market samples of badranjboya', nepeta Hindustana L.

Four samples of the drug, 'Badranjboya' [Nepeta hindustana L] were obtained from different sources. The chemical standardizations were made, and it has been suggested that the drug can be stored not more than two years. It is also concluded that standard sample should yield 4.42% +/- 0.0852 petroleum-ether extract, 2.52% +/- 0.0708 benzene extract, 1.00% +/- 0.0489 chloroform extract, 13.10% +/- 0.0487 ethanol extract and 20.50% +/- 0.1400 water extract. Total and acid insoluble ash should not be more than 13.20% +/- 0.0547 and 4.47 +/- 0.1653, respectively. Crude fibre and moisture content should not be more than 13.20% +/- 0.0547 and 7.01% +/- 0.0708, respectively. The fatty matter should be 2.67% +/- 0.259, unsaponified matter 0.55% +/- 0.4920 free acid 1.4% +/- 0.0050, free sugar 2.31% +/- 0.0154, total sugar 3.42% +/- 0.0167, alkaloid 0.52% +/- 0.0054, tannin 0.94% +/- 0.0073, resin 14.20% +/- 0.1574 and protein 11.66% +/- 0.0246. The essential oil should be 0.0059%, Sp. Gr. of the oil should be 0.85 +/- 0.0010, acid value 8.45 +/- 0.0180, saponification value 44.14 +/- 0.2109 and saponification value after acetylation 81.68 +/- 0.0433. The T.L.C. studies were also conduced. The petroleum ether extract shows seven spots with Rf. values 0.05, 0.16, 0.32, 0.39, 0.45 and 0.96