A brief review on medicinal plant Tagetes erecta Linn.

Medicinal plants, its derivatives and characterized secondary metabolites are widely used for medicinal purposes, are becoming popular all over the world as a natural alternative to synthetically produced chemicals both in Traditional and Allopathic system of medicine. The beneficial effect of herbal medicine typically result from the combination of secondary metabolites produced in the herbs such as glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, gums etc. There is a need for the documentation of research work carried out on these herbs, hence forth timely review on the herb Tagetes erecta Linn. Methodology used in the review is based on the published original research articles through exhaustive search through scientific databases; Saudi Digital Library, Pubmed, and Science Direct etc. Reviewed parameters are ethonomedicinal uses chemical constituents and pharmacological and non Pharmacological studies on medicinal plant Tagetes erecta Linn.

Evaluation of Echitamine, Ditamine and Echitenine for Anticataract Activity using in vitro cataract Model.

The alkaloids such as echitamine, ditamine and echitenine were subjected for anti cataract activity using in vitro cataract model. Goat lenses were incubated in artificial aqueous humor containing 55 mM glucose with test alkaloids in different concentrations at room temperature for 72 h. Studied Biochemical parameters were sodium ion, potassium ion level and Na+-K+-ATPase activity. Glucose induced opacification of goat lens began 8-10 hrs after incubation and was complete in 72-80 hrs. Cataractous lenses treated with echitamine shown lower sodium ion, higher the potassium ion and higher Na+-K+-ATPase activity. Echitamine treated lens prevented formation and progress of cataract as evidenced by biochemical parameters and visual observation. Ditamine and echitenine were devoid of anti - cataract activity.