Chemical profiling, antibacterial and antiparasitic studies of Imperata cylindrica

Imperata cylindrica is a common grass with little known medicinal properties. The underground part (comprising rhizome with roots) is used by the Mizo people for the treatment of microbial and intestinal worm infections. To understand the chemical and pharmacological properties of the plant part, a methanol extract was prepared in a Soxhlet apparatus, and the extract was concentrated using a vacuum rotary evaporator. Chemical analysis was done using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Antibacterial activity was tested by Kirby–Bauer test and antiparasitic activity by survival test in vitro. Fourteen volatile compounds were detected; out of which the most abundant were n-hexadecanoic acid and (Z)-18-octadec-9-enolide. Some compounds detected including 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, 6-methylenebicyclo [3.2.0] hept-3-en-2-one and phenol,2,4-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl) are already known biologically active compounds. The plant extract was effective against all bacteria tested that included Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and a Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. It was also effective against two avian intestinal worms such as the tapeworm Raillietina echinobothrida and the roundworm Ascaridia galli. These findings reveal the importance of this plant as a source of therapeutic compounds.

Apoptotic effect of arundoin on human prostatic cancer cells by activating Poly ADP ribose polymerase / 中草药

Objective: To study the potential apoptotic effect of arundoin on human prostatic cancer cells. Methods: Arundoin was isolated and purified from the crude ethanol extract of Imperatae Rhizoma. Human prostatic cancer cell line PC3 was treated with arundoin. The relative cell viabilities were determined by MTT assay; Apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V/PI dual staining with flow cytometry; The protein expression levels of Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) and other apoptotic related proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results: Arundoin (20, 40, and 80 μmol/L) reduced the viability of PC3 cells dose- and time-dependently. Moreover, arundoin induced apoptosis in PC3 cells. Western blotting analysis showed that arundoin up-regulated the expression level of PARP in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, apoptosis related proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2, and casapases were all affected by arundoin. Conclusion: Arundoin could induce apoptosis in human prostatic cancer cells, which provides novel information for clinical application of arundoin and its preparations for the prostatic cancer patients.

Tradition to therapeutics: sacrificial medicinal grasses desmostachya bipinnata and imperata cylindrica of India / De la tradición a la terapéutica: hierbas medicinales votivas, desmostachya bipinnata e imperata cylindrica de la India

Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf. (Fam. Poaceae) and Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv. (Fam. Poaceae) also traditionally known as Kusha and Dharbha respectively are two grasses that form vital ingredient in various Vedic sacrifices (Yagnas) and rituals. They are found along river beds and plains throughout India and are well known for their medicinal properties as supported by traditional Ayurvedic scriptures and are a vital component in traditional medicinal formulations such as Tripanchamool, Kusadya-ghrita and Kusablecha, etc. to treat many disorders such as dysentery, diuresis, jaundice, skin infections etc. The current review enlightens the bioactive molecules such as flavonoids, glycosides etc. isolated from these grasses so far. Emphasis is laid on the various therapeutic applications of extracts or biomolecules characterized from these medicinal grasses. Reports of antimicrobial, diuretic, anti-ulcerogenic and other activities from both of these plants suggest involvement of various bioactive principles. Also, the future perspectives concerned with medicinal properties of these sacred grasses is discussed.

Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf. (Fam. Poaceae) e Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv. (Fam. Poaceae) también conocida tradicionalmente como Kusha y Dharbha respectivamente, son dos plantas medicinales que forman un ingrediente vital en diversos sacrificios védicos (yagnas) y rituales. Se encuentran a lo largo de cauces y llanuras en toda la India y son bien conocidos por sus propiedades medicinales apoyadas por escrituras ayurvédicas tradicionales y son un componente vital en formulaciones medicinales tradicionales como Tripanchamool, Kusadya-ghrita y Kusablecha, etc. para tratar muchos trastornos tales como la disentería, la diuresis, la ictericia, infecciones de la piel, etc. La revisión actual resalta las moléculas bioactivas como los flavonoides, glucósidos etc., aislados de estas plantas hasta ahora. Se hace hincapié en las diversas aplicaciones terapéuticas de los extractos o biomoléculas caracterizadas de estas hierbas medicinales. Informes de actividades antimicrobianas, diuréticas anti-ulcerogénicas y otras de estas dos plantas sugieren la participación de varios principios bioactivos. Además, se discutieron las perspectivas de futuro que se ocupan de las propiedades medicinales de estas hierbas sagradas.

Phenolic compounds from roots of Imperata cylindrica var. major / 中草药·英文版

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Imperata cylindrica var. major. Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by combination of silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, polyamide, and ODS column chromatography. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified by means of spectral data and physicochemical property. Results: Twelve phenolic compounds were isolated from I. cylindrica var. major and identified as 4,7-dimethoxy-5-methylcoumarin (1), 7-hydroxy-4-methoxy-5-methylcoumarin (2), 7- O-β- D-glucopyranosyl-4-methoxy-5-methylcoumarin (3), 6-hydroxy-5-methoxyflavone (4), 5-methoxyflavone (5), 5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone (6), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (7), 4-hydroxy-cinnamic acid (8), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (9), 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl- O-β- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1β6)-β- D-glucopyranoside (10), impecyloside (11), and graminone A (12). Conclusion Compounds 2β4, 6, and 10 are obtained from this plant for the first time. © 2013 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.

Analysis of vegetation in an Imperata grassland of Barak valley, Assam.

Imperata grassland at Dorgakona, Barak valley, North Eastern India was analyzed for species composition and diversity pattern in relation to traditional management practices. 19 families were in the burnt and unburnt plots of the study site with Poaceae as the most dominant one. 29 species occurred in the burnt plot and 28 in the unburnt plot. Most of the species were common in both the plots. The pattern of frequency diagrams indicated that the vegetation was homogeneous. Imperata cylindrica, a rhizomatous grass was the dominant species based on density (318.75 and 304.18 nos. m-2), basal cover (158.22 and 148.34 cm2 m-2) and Importance value index (IVI) (132.64 and 138.74) for the burnt and unburnt plots respectively. Borreria pusilla was the co-dominant species constituting Imperata-Borreria assemblage of the studied grassland. It was observed that B. pusilla (162.25 nos. m-2 and 50.37 nos. m-2), I. cylindrica (318.75 nos. m-2 and 304.18 nos. m-2) and Setaria glauca (24.70 nos. m-2 and 16.46 nos. m-2) were benefited from burning as shown by the values sequentially placed for burnt and unburnt plots. Certain grasses like Chrysopogon aciculatus and Sacciolepis indica were restricted to burnt plot while Oxalis corniculata showed its presence to unburnt plot. Grasses dominated the grassland as revealed by their contribution to the mean percentage cover of 72% in burnt plot and 76% in unburnt plot. The dominance-diversity curves in the study site approaches a log normal series distribution suggesting that the resources are shared by the constituent species. Seasonal pattern in diversity index suggested definite influence of climatic seasonality on species diversity; rainy season was conducive for maximum diversity (1.40 and 1.38 in the burnt and unburnt plots, respectively). Dominance increased with concentration of fewer species (0.0021 in burnt plot and 0.0055 in unburnt plot) in summer and behaves inversely to index of diversity. This study showed that the traditional management practices benefits the farmers as it promote grassland regeneration with I. cylindrica as the dominant grass.

Extraction and Content Determination of Polysaccharide in Imperata Cylindrica / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To optimize the extracting conditions of polysaccharide from Imperata Cylindrica and establish a suitable method for its content determination. Methods Based on the qualitative yield of polysaccharide extraction, a orthogonal test was employed to evaluate the effect of four factors including extracting temperature, extracting time, the extraction times and the ratio of material to liquid. The phenol-dense sulphuric acid method was applied for the content determination of polysaccharide. Results The times of extraction and the extracting temperature influenced the content of polysaccharides mostly, while the duration of extraction and the amount of water showed little influence. Conclusions The optimum extraction condition was refluxing and extracting for 3 times at 85 ℃ for 3 hours, and with 15 folds of water for every time. The contents of polysaccharide in Imperata Cylindrica collected from two different places were above 0.15%.

Opitimization of Processing Technique of Imperata Cylindrical Carbonisatus by Orthogonal Design / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective Orthogonal design was employed to determine the best techniques in processing Carbonized Imperata Cylindrical. Methods UV was used to detect the absorption force and tannis in Carbonized Imperata Cylindrica by different kinds of processing methods. Results The best technique is to bark the drug for 4 minutes at 270 ℃. Conclusion The optimized processing technique was proved to be reasonable by the repeated test.