Glycyrrhiza glabra L. [Liquorice]

Medicinal plants are being used for treating various diseases. According to World Health Organization 80% of the world population depends on indigenous medicinal plant remedies. Herbal medicine employs fruits, vegetables, as dry materials or their extracts for the treatment of different diseases and health maintenance. Glycyrrhiza glabra [Liquorice] has been used in Europe since prehistoric times. It is well documented in written form starting with the ancient Greeks. Glycyrrhizin is the major active constituent obtained from liquorice roots, one of the most widely used in herbal preparations for the treatment of liver complaints. The plant is used as anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, laxative, anti-depressive, anti-ulcer and anti-diabetic. The present review focuses Glycyrrhiza glabra distribution, ethno botany, ethno pharmacology, chemical constituents, medicinal uses, cultivation and trade. Plant requires a lot of attention as it has been reduced in population due to over-use in Baluchistan. The plant conservationists should consider this herb as priority species and should start its cultivation on the commercial scale to fulfill the requirements of the local markets and pharmaceutical industries as well as reduce the pressure on the wild plants

Elemental, nutritional, phytochemical and biological evaluation of Hypericum perforatum Linn.

This study was carried out to study elemental, nutritional, phytochemical and biological evaluation of Hypericum perforatum collected from Swat in 2010. The elemental analysis showed that Ca was highest [5600 micro g/g] in leaves and lowest [2500 micro g/g] in flowers. The potassium was highest [840 micro g/g] in fruit and lowest [80 micro g/g] in leaves. Magnesium was highest [260 micro g/g] in stem and lowest [200 micro g/g] in flowers. Sodium was highest [4900 micro g/g] in stem and lowest [4700 micro g/g] in leaves and flowers. Copper was highest [26 micro g/g] in stem and lowest [10 micro g/g] in leaves. Iron was highest [5000 micro g/g] in flowers lowest [1200 micro g/g] in stem. Zinc was highest [80 micro g/g] in flowers and lowest [46 micro g/g] in stem. Nickle, cadmium and Cobalt were <5 micro g/g for all plant parts. The nutritional analysis showed that the dry matter was in the range of [97.61%] in stem and [96.38%] in leaf, ash [5.43%] in flowers and [1.90%] in stem, crude protein [12.63%] in leaf and [6.15%] in stem, crude fibre [64.74%] in flowers and [13.0%] in leaf, ether extract [10.98%] in fruit and [1.88%] in stem and nitrogen free extract was [65.80%] in leaf and [10.98%] in flower, respectively. Hypericum perforatum did not show cytotoxic, insecticidal and antibacterial activity in vitro at different doses. The% activity was zero% in cytotoxic and insecticidal activities. However, H. perforatum plant parts revealed phytotoxic activity. The phytotoxic activity of leaf and fruit remained same [44.0%] at highest dose [500 micro g/ml]. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of mucilage, tannins, anthraquinones, saponins, fats and oils and proteins in all parts of the plant. Calcium oxalate was found in all parts except the fruit. Lignin and catechin was found in all parts except the leaf. Cutin was found only in stem and flower while chlorophyll was found only in stem and leaf. In various localities [Shartangaar, Panj Pali and Sharanko] of Swat fresh leaves were used while in Barani and Jaba fresh as well as dried leaves were used as stimulant, in fever, cough, diphtheria and as an anthelmintic only in Shartangaar

Effect of cold water extracts of acacia modesta wall. and glycyrrhiza glabra linn. on tribolium castaneum and lemna minor

The aim of the present study was to introduce an alternative way for insects control through biodegradable plants materials. The different cold water extracts dilutions of Acacia modesta and Glycyrrhiza glabra were tested against Tribolium castaneum. The extracts dilutions of both plants caused mortality of the Tribolium castaneum. ANOVA revealed that dilutions and plants were highly significant. The interaction between plants and dilutions was also significant at P < 0.05. Phytotoxic activity showed that dilutions of Acacia modesta and Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts significantly inhibited the growth of Lemna minor. ANOVA showed that dilutions of both plants extracts were significant at P < 0.05

Cytotoxic activity of plants of family Zygophyllaceae and Euphorbiaceae

The methanolic and n-hexane extracts of studied plants showed significant toxicity to brine shrimps. The methanolic extract of Fagonia cretica had highest LD[50] [117.72] value, while Peganum harmala showed low LD[50] value [41.70] compared to n-hexane extract. The methanolic and n-hexane extracts of Tribulus terrestris showed similar LD[50] values. The methanolic extract of Chrozophora tinctoria showed low LD[50] value than the n-hexane extract. The methanolic extract of Ricinus communis showed highest LD[50] value while the n-hexane extract showed lowest LD[50] value. The LD[50] value less than 100 was obtained for n-hexane extracts of Fagonia cretica, Peganum harmala and Ricinus communis. The n-hexane extracts of these plants also showed the highest toxicity as compare to methanolic extracts. The chemical constituents detected in the present investigation might be responsible for cytotoxic activity

Elemental composition of Bischofia javanica Blume

The elemental analysis shows the presence of C, O, Mg, Al, Si, CI, K and Ca in different parts of Bischofia javanica Blume

Phosphorus content in Hippophae rhamnoides L. growing in two soils from Mastuj, district Chitral

The physico-chemical characteristics of soils and phosphorus content of leaf of Hippophae rhamnoides L. [Seabuckthorn] collected from Toque and Chinar areas of Chitral were determined. The soil analysis showed that both soils were sandy loam with clay [12.0 to 8.4%], silt [28.0 to 46.0%], organic matter [1.93 to 0.62%] nitrogen [0.096 to 0.031 ppm], phosphorus [26.0 to 38.6 ppm], potassium [93 to 336 ppm], pH [8.0 to 8.2], electrical conductivity [0.23 to 0.18] and total soluble salts [.074 to 0.058%], respectively. Phosphorus content varied from 0.22 to 0.16% in the leaf of Seabuckthorn. These differences can be due to soil physico-chemical properties, leaves maturity, weather, humidity, light and air

Pharmacognostical study of leaf and root of cichorium intybus L.

Pharmacognostic study of the root and leaf of Cichorium intybus L. [Kasni], a common weed of winter of high medicinal value for various ailments, has been carried out on the basis of microscopic characters, powder analysis, fluorescence characteristics, photochemical and medicinal aspects

pharmacognostic study of nerium odorum soland used as miswak

Anatomy, macro- and microscopic study powdered drug and chemical tests of powdered drug of Nerium odorum Soland used as a Miswak were carried out. The N. odorum wood shows small size vessels to moderate size, parenchyma, fibers and pith with intercellular spaces and ray cells abundantly found. Powdered miswak is soluble in sulphuric acid while insoluble in other chemicals and its powder did not retain its actual colour when mixed in various chemicals. Powdered drug shows fragments of fibers, parenchyma and uniseriate ray cells

Pharmacognostic studies of acacia modesta wall. used as miswak

Wood anatomy, macro and microscopic study and some chemical tests of one of the local plant Acacia modesta Wall. Collected from Rawapindi were carried out. The bark shows cork cells, cork cambium and a band of fiber cells. Stone cells and cortical parenchymal were also present. Wood consists of cambium of meristematic cells, vessels, parenchyma, fibers and rays. The microscopic study of the miswak reveals the same tissues but many tissues are in fragmented form. Powdered drug is insoluble in hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, benzene and water which is partly soluble in sulphuric acid but it did not retain its actual colour i.e. black and brown and shows various colours when observed under UV [254] nm, on filter paper and in mixtures themselves. The wood is strong and hard but tree yields pale yellowish gum and is employed in medicine. The tender twigs are still used in South Asia for cleaning teeth. As the tree is also used for afforestation, it must be protected so that this miswak should be exploited for commercial purposes