ABSTRACT
Aims: To analyse the nutritional profile and assess the antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of Gisekia pharnaceoides wild plant used as traditional food source for dietary supplementation and to identify the bioactive compound as the nutraceutical agent. Study design: In vitro and In vivo studies. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biotechnology, CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai-600020, India and Sri Ramachandra College of Pharmacy, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai-600116 between October 2005 and December 2007. Methodology: Dry powder of the whole plant of Gisekia pharnaceoides was used for determining the nutritional parameters. Vitamins were estimated as per Indian Pharmacopoeia and United States Pharmacopoeia methods. Mineral composition was determined using Atomic absorption spectroscopy. Proximate analysis of plant power was carried out according to AOAC methods. Solvent extracts of the plant were assessed for free radical scavenging activities in vitro and antiinflammatory activity in vivo. UV, IR, NMR and LC-MS spectroscopy were used for identification of the bioactive compound. Results: A markedly increased composition of vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, ascorbic acid and vitamin A and a wide range of minerals of metabolic importance have been estimated with high nutritive value. Additionally, the plant contained 9% protein and about 3% fat and carbohydrate content to an extent of 69%, of which 8% was crude fibre. All three extracts exhibited a high degree of free radical scavenging ability against DPPH radical, NO•, OH•, ABTS•+, O2 • -. The methanol fraction showed increased levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities compared to the other two extracts because of the presence of a flavonoid which was identified as kaempferol using UV, FTIR, NMR and LC-MS spectroscopy. Conclusion: Gisekia pharnaceoides could therefore serve as a potential nutraceutical to prevent or inhibit the harmful oxidation process in human pathophysiology, and, is a high value nutritive source as a dietary supplement to prevent malnutrition especially in rural population. Therefore, we suggest the dietary intake of the plant for nutritional supplementation.
ABSTRACT
Arid zone of Rajasthan, India, has its own importance, great diversity and specific characteristic with respect to endemic and large number of plants of economic importance and medicinal use. Out of these, three arid zone plants Gisekia pharnaceoides L., Gisekiaceae, Sericostoma pauciflorum Stocks ex Wight, Boraginaceae, and Trianthema decandra L., Aizoaceae, which are traditionally used for different ailments (hepatitis, asthma, jaundice, skin-infections etc.) have been selected for the study. In the present paper, detailed pharmacognostical evaluation of these plant species using microscopy, standard physicochemical determinations and authentic phytochemical parameters has been carried out. Later, these morphological characteristics could be used for rapid identification of the drugs, particularly in case of powdered materials, and may possibly help to differentiate the drug from its other species.
A zona árida de Rajasthan, Índia, é importante pela grande diversidade e especificidade de plantas endêmicas de importância econômica e medicinal. Destas, três plantas de zonas áridas, Gisekia pharnaceoides L., Gisekiaceae, Sericostoma pauciflorum Stocks ex Wight, Boraginaceae, e Trianthema decandra L., Aizoaceae, que são tradicionalmente utilizados para diversas doenças (hepatite, asma, icterícia, infecções da pele etc.), foram selecionados para o estudo. Neste trabalho trabalho, a avaliação farmacognóstica detalhada destas espécies, através de estudo morfoanatômico, determinações físico-químicas e parâmetros fitoquímicos, foram realizados. As características morfológicas podem ser utilizados para rápida identificação das drogas, particularmente no caso de materiais em pó, e possivelmente ajudar a diferenciar a droga de outras espécies.