profile of natural sweetener - stevia

The small perennial shrub, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is native to valley of Rio Monday in Paraguay. It is one of 150 species of genus Stevia which contains diterpene glycosides e.g. Stevioside, Rebaudioside A, B, C [Dulcoside B], D, E, F, [Dulcoside A], Steviolmonoside, Steviolbioside and Rubusoside in its leaves. All these are responsible for making Stevia about 300 times sweeter than sucrose [0.4% solution]. Stevioside and Rebaudioside A are the abundant glycosides in this plant responsible for the potent sweet taste of the drug. Extract of Stevia leaves have been used for many years as sweetening agent in traditional treatment of diabetes in South America. Several studies demonstrated that Stevia significantly decreases glucose level and increases glucose tolerance in diabetic type II volunteers and experimental animals. Stevioside and Rebaudioside A exert hypoglycemic, insulinotropic [enhance insulin release] and glucogonostatic activities. Organoleptic evaluation of Stevia for sweetener properties demonstrated that it exerts intensively sweet taste superior to most of other sweeteners. Other pharmacological activities such as antihypertensive, anticancer, non-carcinogenic, gastroprotective, antibacterial etc. have been demonstrated by several studies. The present literature survey reveals the phytochemical and pharmacological activities of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

Evaluation of wound healing activity of polyherbal formulation

A herbal drug combination of Rubia cordifolia, Centella asiatica, Terminalia belerica, Plumbago zeylanica and Withania somnifera was evaluated for wound healing activity, on excision wound of albino rats. Wound healing activity of the plant was evaluated by formulating the drug in ointment dosage form and then compared with a marketed formulation [Soframycin cream] as reference drug. The parameters studied include the percentage closure of excision wound, period of epithelizalion and histopathology, The herbal drug combination has been observed to promote healing of wounds in animals. The results of study were validated statistically

Topical and oral anti-inflammatory formulations of ficus racemosa [leaf] extracts

The anti-inflammatory activity of petroleum ether and alcoholic extracts of Ficus racemosa leaves has been reported. The oral and topical formulations of these extracts were developed and evaluated for their activity against carrageenan induced rat paw oedema. The effects of preparations were observed for 6 hrs. Topical formulation in the concentration of 10% w/w petroleum ether extract exhibited maximum anti-inflammatory effect, that is 67.96% at the end of 3 hrs. In case of oral suspension formulations the doses 100 mg/kg body weight of petroleum ether and alcoholic extract exhibited less anti-inflammatory activity, that is 57.88% and 60.61% respectively at the end of 3 hrs. The activity obtained was comparable to that of marketed oral and topical preparations of Diclofenac salts, a prototype of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent