Bioactivity studies of the individual ingredients of the Dashamularishta

The bioactivity studies of the individual ingredients of Dashamularishta ' a classical Ayurvedic preparation were done with the aqueous extracts of the individual ingredients. The Aegle marmelos Correa. exhibited severe toxicity to the brine shrimp [BST] nauplii, wheat rootlet growth [WRG] inhibition bioassay and lettuce seed germination [LSG] bioassay. It exhibited no inhibition to the growth of PPR and Reo virus in vero cell line. The Oroxylum indicum exhibited moderate toxicity to the BST and WRG, but it is not toxic to the LSG. It exhibited no inhibition to the growth of PPR and Reo virus. The Stereospermum suaveolens exhibited severe toxicity to the BST and LSG, but it is not toxic to the WRG. It exhibited total inhibition to the growth of Reo virus, but it has not effect on the PPR virus. The Premna integrifolia showed severe toxicity to the BST, but it was not toxic to the WRG and LSG. It exhibited no inhibition to the growth of PPR and Reo virus. The Gmelina arborea exhibited severe toxicity to the BST and WRG, but it is not toxic to the LSG. It exhibited no inhibition to the growth of PPR and Reo virus. The Solanum xanthocarpum showed mild toxicity to the BST, WRG and LSG. It exhibited 75% inhibition to the growth of Reo virus. The Solanum indicum showed no toxicity to the BST, WRG and LSG. It exhibited 75% inhibition to the growth of PPR virus. The Desmodium gangeticum showed no toxicity to the BST, but moderate toxicity to the WRG and LSG. It exhibited total inhibition to the growth of PPR virus. The Uraria lagopoides showed no toxicity to the BST, WRG and LSG. It exhibited total inhibition to the growth of Reo virus. The Tribulus terrestris showed no toxicity to the BST, but showed moderate toxicity to the WRG and LSG. It exhibited 75% inhibition to the growth of both PPR and Reo virus

Screening of some medicinal plants for their effects on the gastrointestinal motility of the laboratory animals

A highly significant peristaltic activity was found in Phragmites maxima Blatter and McCann, Imperala cylindrical Beauv, Saraca asoca [Roxb.] de Wilde, Nigella sativa Linn., at both intervals. Saccharum spontaneium L., Pterocarpus santalinus f., Nyctanthes arabor-tristis L., Adhatoda vasica Nees., increased the GI motility at significant level [p < 0.005] only at 15 minutes. Saccharum officinarum Linn. and Numphaea lotus Hook f and Thoms increased the motility after 30 minutes intervals. Dichelactina nodicaulis Hance., Pentaptera mollis Presl., Embica officianlis, Zingiber officinale Rosc., Cyperus rotundus Linn., Tinospora cordifolia Will., Tribulus terrestris Linn., Terminalia chebula Retz., and Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. did not show any effect on gastrointestinal motility experiments. Plumbago zeyanica Linn., Woodforida fruticosa Kurz, Piper longum Linn., Iraria lagopodioides, Curcuma domestica Valeton, Symplocos racemosa Roxb., Crataeva religiosa Buch-Ham, and Terminalia bellerica Roxb. showed a decreasing tendency on GI motility at intervals. The Embelia ribes Burm f., Crataeva nurvala Buch-Ham, Argyreia speciosa Burm f. Boj., Boerhaavia diffusa Linn., Centratherum anthelminticum Kuntze, Ipomoea turpethum Linn., Butea monosperma Kuntze and Piper nigrum Linn. showed significant decrease in peristaltic movements only at 15 minutes intervals. The Semecarpus anacardium Linn. [p < 0.001] showed a very high GI motility inhibiting effects showing no motility at both intervals