Rubus moluccanus L.: a valuable medicinal plant of traditional system of medicine.

Rubus moluccanus L., commonly known as Molucca bramble or broad-leaf bramble is a member of family Rosaceae which occurs mainly in tropical Asia and Australia. It has applications in indigenous medicines and is used in the treatment of number of ailments like headache, diarrhoea, dysentery, abdominal pain, nocturnal micturition of children and enhancement of female fertility. This plant is a rich and valuable source of bioactive flavonoids, terpenes and other chemical compounds. The presence of these active chemical compounds exerts antibacterial, antifungal, antihelminthic and antioxidant activities. Regardless of its use in various diseases and disorders, the information about this plant is scanty. So the present review assessed and summarised the knowledge on taxonomy, morphology, geographical distribution, nutritional value, ethnobotany, phytochemistry and biological activities of R. moluccanus.

Study on Trace Elements Concentration in Medicinal Plants Using EDXRF Technique.

Ten medicinal plants used as ingredients of folklore and Ayurvedic medicine belonging to the Malnad Kerala region of South India, were analysed for concentrations of trace elements Fe, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb using the Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. The soil from the root area of these medicinal plants was also analysed, and the soil to plant transfer factor (TF) of the elements was estimated. Iron (Fe) recorded higher concentration than the other trace elements estimated in the medicinal plants, followed by manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn). The mean TF was found to be highest for Zn. Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng recorded the maximum value of TF for Zn. Most of the essential elements were found to be present in Centella asiatica (L.) Urban and indicated its medicinal importance. The data obtained in the present investigation may add up to the trace elemental database of medicinal plants in the world.

Ethanol extract and chromatographic fractions of Tamarindus indica stem bark inhibits Newcastle disease virus replication.

CONTEXT: The plethora of ethnomedicinal applications of Tamarindus indica Linn. (Leguminosae), tamarind, includes treatment of human and livestock ailments; preparations are recognized antipyretics in fevers, laxatives and carminatives. African folklore has various applications of tamarind. However, in Nyasaland, domestic fowl are fed with preparations for prophylactic properties. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the antiviral properties of T. indica extract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tamarindus indica stem bark was extracted through ethanol maceration over 24 h, and the crude extract was fractionated by gravity-propelled column chromatography. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) inhibitory activity of extract and fractions were evaluated in vivo using 10-d-old embryonated chicken egg (ECE) as the medium for virus cultivation and antivirus assay. About 240 ECE were grouped into eight (three controls and five experimental) and, 200 µL of the extract and fractions respectively inoculated into NDV pre-infected eggs and incubated at 37 °C. Allantoic fluid was harvested 5 d post-virus infection and assayed for haemagglutination (HA). RESULTS: Anti-NDV assessment showed 62.5 mg/mL of crude extract and fractions: TiA, TiC and TiD to yield a HA titre of 1:128 each, while TiB showed 1:64 HA titre. At 125 mg/mL, a titre of 1:16 was recorded against TiB and TiD and, 1:8 against TiA. Similarly, crude extract and TiC, each recorded 1:4 HA titre. However, the minimum concentrations of extract and fraction for virus inactivation were 0.24 mg/mL and 0.49 mg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSION: The antiviral activity shown by T. indica portends novel antiviral drugs and, perhaps, as scaffold for new drugs.

Garcinia kola seed ameliorates renal, hepatic, and testicular oxidative damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

CONTEXT: In Africa, Garcinia kola Heckel (Guttiferae) seed is commonly recommended in folklore medicine for the treatment of diabetes and its associated complications. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated this traditional claim by mechanistic investigation into the effect of G. kola seed administration on renal, hepatic, and testicular oxidative damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes mellitus was induced in adult male Wistar rats by an intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg). The diabetic rats were thereafter treated orally once per day with G. kola seed (250 mg/kg) and monitored for 14 d. Clinical observations, plasma biochemistry, hormonal profile, oxidative stress indices, sperm characteristics, and histopathological examination of the kidney, liver, and testes were evaluated to monitor treatment-related effects of G. kola seed in STZ-induced diabetic rats. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Garcinia kola seed administration significantly ameliorated hyperglycemia mediated damage by decreasing the blood glucose level (72.8% and 84.6% on the 7th and 14th post-treatment days, respectively), enhancement of the antioxidant system, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and improving the architecture of the kidney, liver, and testes in STZ-induced diabetic rats. In addition, G. kola seed intervention restored the kidney and liver function biomarkers, the sperm characteristics as well as the plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) to normal in STZ-induced diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: The findings from this investigation provide persuasive scientific support for the traditional use of G. kola seed in the treatment of diabetes and its associated complications.

Evaluation of anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant potential of andrographolide and echiodinin isolated from callus culture of Andrographis paniculata Nees.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant activity of andrographolide (AND) and echiodinin (ECH) of Andrographis paniculata. METHODS: In this study, an attempt has been made to demonstrate the anti-microbial and anti-oxidant activity of isolated AND and ECH by broth micro-dilution method and 2,2-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, respectively. Structure elucidation was determined by electro-spray ionization-MSD, NMR ((1)H and (13)C) and IR spectra. RESULTS: AND was effective against most of the strains tested including Mycobacterium smegmatis, showing broad spectrum of growth inhibition activity with Minimum inhibitory concentration values against Staphylococcus aureus (100 µg/mL), Streptococcus thermophilus (350 µg/mL) Bacillus subtilis (100 µg/mL), Escherichia coli (50 µg/mL), Mycobacterium smegmatis (200 µg/mL), Klebsiella pneumonia (100 µg/mL), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (200 µg/mL). ECH showed specific anti-bacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a concentration higher than 225 µg/mL. Both AND and ECH were not effective against the two yeast strains, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae tested in this study. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study showed promising anti-bacterial activity and moderate free radical scavenging activity of AND and ECH, and it may provide the scientific rationale for its popular folklore medicines.

The folklore medicinal orchids of Sikkim.

BACKGROUND: Orchids are well-known for decorative and aromatic values than its medicinal properties. Jivanti, Jivaka, Rsabhaka, Rasna, Manakanda, Pañcagula are used in Ayurveda are said to be orchids. There are 50 species of orchids in medicine. Sikkim has identified 523 species of wild orchids so far. AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the folklore medicinal use of orchids in Sikkim. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To assess the traditional medicinal uses of orchid species, close contacts were made with native people particularly, traditional healers, religious leaders, nursery growers and villagers of Sikkim. The information was gathered with the help of the questionnaire and personal interviews with various knowledgeable respondents during the field visit in between August 2009 and December 2011. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We found that 36 species of orchids are used as medicines for different purposes of health. The botanical and ayurvedic name, phenology, parts used and medicinal uses of 36 orchids are presented in this paper along with its local distribution.

Evaluation of anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant potential of andrographolide and echiodinin isolated from callus culture of Andrographis paniculata Nees

Objective: To evaluate the anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant activity of andrographolide (AND) and echiodinin (ECH) of Andrographis paniculata. Methods:In this study, an attempt has been made to demonstrate the anti-microbial and anti-oxidant activity of isolated AND and ECH by broth micro-dilution method and 2,2-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, respectively. Structure elucidation was determined by electro-spray ionization-MSD, NMR (1H and 13C) and IR spectra. Results: AND was effective against most of the strains tested including Mycobacteriumsmegmatis, showing broad spectrum of growth inhibition activity with Minimum inhibitory concentration values against Staphylococcus aureus (100 μg/mL), Streptococcus thermophilus (350 μg/mL) Bacillus subtilis (100 μg/mL), Escherichia coli (50 μg/mL), Mycobacterium smegmatis (200 μg/mL), Klebsiella pneumonia (100 μg/mL), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (200 μg/mL). ECH showed specific anti-bacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a concentration higher than 225 μg/mL. Both AND and ECH were not effective against the two yeast strains, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae tested in this study. Conclusion:This preliminary study showed promising anti-bacterial activity and moderate free radical scavenging activity of AND and ECH, and it may provide the scientific rationale for its popular folklore medicines.