ABSTRACT
Current Asthma therapy lack satisfactory effect due to various adverse effects, hence patients are moving to Ayurveda. Researchers conducted studies in last decades on plants mentioned in Ayurveda used for asthama has shown Anti-asthamic, Anti-histaminic and Anti-allergic activity. Present study is conducted to study the anti-asthmatic activity of acetone soluble and insoluble extract of Allium cepa. In this process dried peels of Allium cepa were immersed in 95% ethanol for 48hr and the extract obtained was further fractionated with anhydrous acetone to get acetone soluble (ASF) and acetone insoluble (AIF) fractions. Effect of the fractions was studied on isolated goat tracheal chain suspended in Kreb’s solution and percentage contractile response was measured. Albino Swiss mice (22-25g) of either sex were subjected to milk- induced leucocytosis and eosinophilia to study adaptogenic and anti-allergic activity respectively. Effects of both the extracts were also studied on clonidine-induced catalepsy and clonidine induced mast cell degranulation in mice as a measure of central and peripheral mast cell stabilization respectively. Wistar rats (150-180g) were used to study effect of fractions on passive paw anaphylaxis to study immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity.
ABSTRACT
Natural products particularly of plant origin with antistress property and nutraceutical value have become the focus of scores of scientific investigation in recent times. Against this background the present study was carried out to analyse the phytochemical components and adaptogenic activity of Rhododendron arboreum which grow in high altitudes. Adaptogenic activity of the plant extract was evaluated in vivo in rat and mice animal models. Methanol, hydroethanol and aqueous extract of the leaves were prepared and preliminary screening of the phytochemical constiteunts was carried out. The important phytoconstituents viz. flavonoids and phenolics were estimated and amount of gallic acid and quercetin were evaluated by HPTLC. Adaptogenic activity of the extract was studied in vivo using rat and mice as test animals. The criteria taken were forced swimming test in rat and mice and tail suspension test in mice. Methanol extract showed the presence of diterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, steroids, tannin, phenolics. Hydroethanol extract showed the presence of diterpenes, triterpenes, saponin, glycosides, alkaloids, tannin and aqueous extract showed the presence of tannin, glycosides, triterpenes, flavonoids, diterpenes. Quantitative analysis exhibited that the methanol extract have the highest amount of flavonoid and phenolics. The HPTLC profile of methanol extract showed the presence of highest amount of quercetin. Gallic acid was detected only in methanol extract. In vivo study in test animals revealed that the methanol extract of R. arboreum exhibited potent anti stress activity. Hence, presence of these compounds which are known to have strong anti-oxidant activity in high quantity might be responsible for adaptogenic activity.
ABSTRACT
Medicinal properties of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn) are known for thousand years to various civilizations of the world. This medicinal herb is considered as a sacred plant by the Hindus in the Indian subcontinent. Scientific explorations of traditional belief of medicinal properties of Tulsi have got momentum mostly after the middle of the 20th century. In the present review, efforts have been made to sum up different aspects of scientific studies on this medicinal plant. Scientific evidences are available on various medicinal aspects i.e. antimicrobial, adaptogenic, antidiabetic, hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, radioprotective, immunomodulatory, neuro-protective, cardio-protective, mosquito repellent etc. to name a few. Most of these evidences are based on in-vitro, experimental and a few human studies.