Determination of Some Minerals and Trace Elements in Medicinal Plants - Acalypha indica (L.), Datura metel (L.) and Tylophora indica Used in the Treatment of Ashtma

In the current era, medicinal plants are the major resources of indigenous medicines in the traditional medicine system and are playing an important role. Over 80% of the world population mainly depend only on traditional/folk medicinal plants for plant-based medicines to control many of the diseases and their extracts for health care. In the present study, the medicinal plants commonly used by the local people and traditional practitioners of Kappathgudda area, Gadag District, North Karnataka region for treatment of Asthma viz. Acalypha indica L., Datura metel L. and Tylophora indica belongs to Euphorbiaceous, Solanaceae and Asclepiadaceae families were selected for elemental analysis due to its wider application in the traditional medicinal system. Analytical Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer technique was adopted for the determination of various elements and indicated that Fe, Ca, K, Mg, Ti, Mn, V, Zn, Cu and Cd were present in all samples. The obtained results also revealed that the mineral and trace elemental contents were well within the permissible range and hence the medicinal plants are safe to be utilized in the drug formulations.

Development of Simple, Cost Effective Protocol for Micropropagation of Tylophora indica (Burm f.) Merill., an Important Medicinal Plant.

Aims: The present studies were initiated to develop a cost effective protocol for micropropagation, as a mean for conservation of medicinal plant- Tylophora indica (Burm f.) Merill. The plant is threatened and needs immediate conservation, therefore, the study was undertaken with following objective:  In vitro multiplication of Tylophora indica using nodal axillary bud proliferation and through organogenesis of callus. Study Design: For all experiments ten replicates were used per treatment and all the experiments were repeated three times. Data have been presented as Mean ± Standard deviation. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, Indian Institute of Advanced Research (IIAR), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. Methodology: For in vitro plant regeneration, micropropagation and organogenesis techniques were used. For micropropagation, surface sterilized nodal explants were inoculated on different shoot inducing media and further multiplication was obtained. Root containing shoots were transferred to pot containing pre autoclaved mixture of soil and soilrite. For organogenesis, surface sterilized leaf explants were inoculated on different types of callus inducing media. Results: All the nodal explants were sprouted at a very high frequency, i.e. 98% and sprouted buds elongated up to 8cm on three different media. Dissected explants grew further and average height of shoots reached 9.5cm±0.80cm within 30 days. Interestingly, root formation was observed on the same media; so that the best media was 0.4mg L-1 BA and 0.1mg L-1 Kn for both initiation as well as for multiplication. For organogenesis, the fragile callus was observed on media containing 2mg L-1 2,4-D and 0.1mg L-1 Kn. Green pigmented calli were transferred to MS media, where it regenerated in to shoots and roots, simultaneously Conclusion: The protocol of micropropagation through axillary bud proliferation described here is very simple, repetitive and cost effective, which can be easily utilized for commercial cultivation. On shoot multiplication media, root formation observed, thereby making the process is one step; which is very easy to follow.

Protective Role of Tylophora Indica Ethanolic Extract on Artesunate Induced Liver Toxicity.

Objective: The hepatoprotective role of Tylophora indica ethanolic extract was studied on artesunate induced liver injury in wistar albino rats. Methods: Liver toxicity was induced by administering artesunate110mg/kg orally for 14 days in wistar albino rats. Ethanolic (90%) extracts of Tylophora indica (EETI) was administered orally to the experimental animals for 14 days. The hepatoprotective activity of the extracts was assessed by analyzing the levels of various biochemical parameters like alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkalinephosphatase (ALP), γ‐glutamyltransferase (GGT), bilirubin (BIL) and albumin (ALB) in serum. Meanwhile thelevels of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured in rat liver homogenate. Results: The results showed that on administration of artesunate for 14 days caused a significant increase (p<0.001) in the levels of ALT, AST, ALP and GGT in serum. The levels of SOD and CAT in liver homogenate were also decreased significantly (p<0.01) in artesunate administered animals. The levels of above biochemical parameters were significantly (p< 0.001) reversed in rats which received EETI. Conclusions: The present study proves that the ethanolic extract of Tylophora indica has a significant protective action against artesunate induced hepatic injury.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Plants Balanites Aegyptiaca Del. and Tylophora Indica Merr. Against Resistant Organisms Especially those Harbouring bla Genes.

Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of endangered medicinal plants Balanites aegyptiaca and Tylophora indica were analyzed for antibacterial potential against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria including resistant strains harbouring bla genes by agar well diffusion method. Alcoholic extracts of both the plants showed activity against wider range of tested bacteria as compared to aqueous extracts which showed limited antibacterial activity. The alcoholic extract of leaf of Tylophora indica showed good activity against gram negative bacteria and mild activity against those harbouring bla genes, whereas, the alcoholic extract of fruit of Balanites aegyptiaca showed excellent antibacterial activity against gram positive, gram negative bacteria as well as resistant bacteria harbouring bla genes. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the alcoholic extracts were determined by broth microdilution method. The MIC values of the alcoholic fruit extract of B. aegyptiaca against tested bacterial species ranged from 1.53 to 49.0 μg/ml and MIC of alcoholic leaf extract of T. indica ranged from 3.05 to 98.0 μg/ml. The present study leads to conclusion that extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca and Tylophora indica contain good antibacterial activity which can be used as novel antimicrobial compounds in the treatment of various infections showing resistance to treatment by currently used antimicrobial agents.

Comparison of antifungal activity of medicinal plant Tylophora indica Merr. with its in vitro raised plant and callus.

The antifungal potential of medicinal plant Tylophora indica Merr. was evaluated by agar well diffusion method and it was compared with the activity of its in vitro raised plant and callus . The extracts of in vitro raised plant and callus showed better antifungal activity against the tested fungal species as compared to parent plant. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts were determined by broth microdilution method. The MIC of the alcoholic leaf extracts of parent plant against tested fungi ranged from 12.0 to 98.0 μg/ml, whereas, the MIC of extract of in vitro raised plant and callus ranged from 1.53 to 49.0 μg/ml and 3.05 to 24.0 μg/ml respectively. The present study leads to conclusion that extracts of Tylophora indica contain good antifungal activity which could be used in the treatment of various fungal infections showing resistance to treatment by currently used antifungal agents. As the in vitro raised plant and callus gave good results, in vitro cultivation of the explants may be used to obtain novel antifungal compounds. This is the first report on antifungal activity of Tylophora indica through in vitro raised plant and its callus.

Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Phyllanthus Amarus and Tylophora Indica on Isoniazid Induced Hepatic Injury in Wistar Albino Rats.

Objective: To assess the hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract of leaves and stem of Phyllanthus amarus and ethanolic extract of leaves of Tylophora indica against Isoniazid induced liver toxicity in experimental animals. Methods: Liver toxicity was induced by administering Isoniazid 27mg/kg orally for 30 days in Wistar albino rats. Ethanolic (90%) extracts of Phyllanthus amarus (PAEE) and Tylophora indica (TIEE) was administered orally to the experimental animals for 30days. The hepatoprotective activity of the extracts was assessed by analyzing the levels of various biochemical parameters like Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ‐Glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBL) and albumin (ALB) in serum. Mean while the levels of antioxidant enzymes like Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in rat liver homogenate. Results: The results showed that on administration of Isoniazid for 30 days caused a significant increase (p<0.001) in the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, TBL in serum. At the same time, the serum level of ALB was significantly (p<0.01) reduced in Isoniazid administered rats. The levels of SOD, CAT and GSH in liver homogenate were also decreased significantly (p< 0.01) in Isoniazid administered animals. The levels of above biochemical parameters were significantly (p< 0.001) reversed in rats which received PAEE and TIEE. Conclusion: The present study proves that the ethanolic extracts of Phyllanthus amarus and Tylophora indica have a significant protective action against isoniazid induced hepatic injury.