NIR reflectance spectroscopy was applied to the identification of plant drugs. It was possible to satisfactorily distinguish ginseng, Silybwn marianum and grape seeds, directly analysing the product in its finished form. It was possible to identify Silybum samples grown in different areas. Ginseng samples containing starch were identified and old and young roots were distinguishable. Semiquantitative assay of ginsenoside content was possible.
Thirty plants, indigenous to Qatar, were extracted separately with hexane, chloroform and ethanol. The dried extracts were examined for potential anti-inflammatory activities both in vitro by their ability to inhibit agonist-induced platelet aggregation and in vivo by a topical antierythema test. The same extracts were also tested for cytotoxicity to mononuclear cells. Fourteen extracts were found to exhibit significant antiaggregatory activity when DOP (Phorbol ester) was used as agonist in human platelets, five extracts inhibited PAF-acether induced rabbit platelet aggregation and four extracts inhibited ADP-induced aggregation of human platelets. Three plant extracts demonstrated a significant inhibition of phorbol ester-induced erythema of mouse skin in vivo. An in vitro cytotoxicity test showed that twenty-four of the species investigated exhibited significant toxic effects on human mono-nuclear cells at a dose of 5 μg dry weight of extract/ml.
Steam Distilled Essential Oil Of Hyptis Suaveolens Yielded 32 Terpenoid Compounds When Subjected To Gc/Ms Analysis. The Compounds Were Identified From Their Retention Times, Mass Spectral Fragmentation Patterns and Correlation With Database Ms Data. Limonene; Thujane; α-Pinene; α-Phellandrine; 3-Cyclohexen-L-ol; 4-Methyl-L-(L-Methyl Ethyl)-3-Cyclohexen-L-ol; 3-Cyclohexen-1-Carboxyaldehyde; Elemene; 4, 11, 1 L-Trimethyl-8-Methylene Bicyclo [7.2.0] Undec-4-Ene; Octahy-Dro-1, 4-Dimethylazulene; 5α, 8β, H-9β, H-10a- Labd-14-Ene; 5α-Androst-9(L L)-En-12-One and 5α-Androstan-2,11-Dione Were The Major Components Identified. The Essential Oil Inhibited The Growth Of Both Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria As Well As Having Mild Antifungal Activity.
Pharmacognostic Studies Were Carried Out On Calamintha Sylvatica Subsp. Ascendens (Jordan) P. W. Ball On Both Transverse Sections Of The Different Organs Of The Plant and On The Fine Powder Obtained From These After Sieving.
The ethanolic extract of Trichipteris procera exerted anti-inflammatory effects and promotion of healing in experimental incisions in rabbit ears. This confirms its use in Peruvian ethnomedicine for promoting healing when applied to ulcers and wounds. Pharmacological experiments with isolated organs demonstrated anticholinergic and antihistaminic activities.
The present communication deals with comparative ultramorphological surface characters of 13 Artemisia species used as crude drugs or their suspected adulterants in the traditional Indian systems.
IntroductionGorkha District (27° 15′- 28°45′ N Latitude and 84°27′- 84°58′ E Longitude) Has An Area Of 2505 Sq.Km and Occupies The Central Position Of The Country. It Is Bounded In The North By Tibet, In The South By Tanahu and Chitwan, In The West By Lamjung and In The East By Dhading Districts Of Nepal.The district abounds in low and high forest covered mountains and many famous himalayan peaks such as manasulu (8156 m), himalchuli (7895 m), siringi (7177 m) and bauddha (6674 m). it experiences tropical, temperate and alpine climates with a hot season followed by rainy season which extends from june to september.The district has a predominantly rural population. some of the uses of medicinal plants confined to certain tribes are, however, not known outside their restricted communities. a preliminary ethnobotanical survey of this area was carried Out. Except A Few Papers (Bhandarye/ Ai, 1982; Manandhar, 1980a, B; 1982; 1985; 1986; 1987; sacherer, 1979; shrestha, 1985) hardly any information about the ethnobotany of nepal is available.
Rabbits Receiving Terminalia Arjuna Along With A High Cholesterol Diet Showed Lesser Increase In Total Cholesterol (P <0.01) and Triglycerides (P < 0.05) and No Change In High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Than The Rabbits Receiving Only High Cholesterol Diet. Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits Receiving Terminalia Arjuna Treatment Showed A More Marked Reduction In Total Cholesterol (P <0.02) and Triglycerides (P <0.05) and Elevation In High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (P <0.001) Than The Hypercholesterolemic Control Rabbits.
The pressed extract of the leaves of Eupatorium odoratum is popularly employed traditionally to arrest bleeding from cuts and for wound dressing. Preliminary investigations showed that the leaf extract of E. odoratum significantly reduced bleeding time in guinea pigs and rabbits. The effect was traced largely to its vasoconstrictor activity similar to that of adrenaline. In vitro studies showed that the extract concentration-dependently contracted both the rat and guinea pig vasa deferentia and rabbit arterial strips while having no effect on isolated guinea pig ileum and rat stomach strip preparations. The extract-induced contractions were blocked by low concentrations of prazosin but not by atropine, propranolol, mepyramine or pimoxide. These results suggest that the hemostatic action of E. odoratum may be partly due to a-receptor mediated vasoconstriction.
IntroductionVerbena littoralis H. B. K. (Verbenaceae) is the sole species of this genus which grows in Costa Rica. It is a shrub widely used in folk medicine as an effective antidiarrhetic (1). It has also been claimed as a remedy for typhoid fever, for relieving inflammations from insects bites (2) and for cancer (3).
The effect of temperature on aflatoxin B, (Afl-B) production was examined. The highest level of Afl-B, (1.25 μg/g) production was at 30°C after 3 weeks of incubation. At 20, 25, 35 and 40°C aflatoxin levels ranged from 0.22- 1.00 jug/g- However, at 15°C aflatoxin production (0.12 to 0.24 μg/g) was much lower.
The alcoholic extract of Andrographis paniculata exhibited significant antidiarrhoeal activity against E. coli enterotoxins in animal models. The activity was further located in n-butanol fraction, which led to the isolation of four diterpenes, andrographolide (7), neoandrographolide (2), deoxyan-drographolide (3), and andrographiside (4). Among the four diterpenes, andrographolide and neoandrographolide showed similar activity to loperamide against E. coli LT and LT/ST enterotoxins. Andrographolide was found to be superior against ST enterotoxin, the most common cause of epidemics of neonatal diarrhoea.
A Phytochemical Investigation Of The Overground Parts Of Sencio Glabellus Resulted In Isolation and Identification Of Five Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids: Florosenine (Acetylotosenine), Senecionine, Integerrimine, Otosenine and Senkirkine, By Comparison With Authentic Samples. Separation Of The First Three Of These Alkaloids From Otosenine and Senkirkine Was Realized By A Simple Liquid/Liquid Extraction Procedure Which Is Reported. This Is The First Report Of The Occurrence Of Florosenine, Otosenine and Senkirkine In S. Glabellus.
Pharmacognostic studies on the leaf and stem of Cluytia richardiana were carried out. Fluorescence characteristics, ash and extractive values are given. Many diagnostic elements were found for its rapid detection and identification.
Panchcole Extract, A Combination Of Piper Longum Root and Seed, Piper Officinarum Seed, Plumbago Zeylanica Bark, and Zingiber Officinale Rhizome Is A Potent Inhibitor Of Hmg-Coa Reductase, Reducing Serum Ldl Cholesterol By 88.9%, and Serum Triglyceride 73.6% In Rabbits. Dietary Feeding Of Panchcole Reduced Both Cholesterol and Phospholipid As Well As The Cholesterol/Phospholipid Ratios Significantly. Panchcole Extract Feeding Brings About A Definite Regression Of Atheroma and Hindered Placque Formation In The Ascending and Thoracic Aorta.
The ethanolic extract (ee) of the herb descurainia sophia (l.) webb was tested for its activity against the mosquito cu/ex quinquefasciatus say. the treatment of the late 3rd instar larvae with 100-1500 ppm of the ee resulted in concentration-dependent larval mortality and inhibition of emergence. the gravid females of c. quinquefasciatus deposited higher number of egg rafts in water treated with 1-50 ppm of ee than the nontreated water or 100 ppm of/), sophia (ee). at 1-100 ppm of ee, d. sophia induced ovicidal activity against zero h old eggs and substantial mortality against newly hatched larvae.
Coleus forskohlii is reported to possess medicinal properties against human gut ailments. Coleonol (forskolin), a diterpene from this plant, was amoebicidal for trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica at a cone, of 1000 /μg/ml. It showed therapeutic efficacy in clearing these amoebae from 50% infected rats at a high dose of 300 mg/kg body wt. Interestingly 67 and 64 % of rats respectively with caecal amoebiasis responded to treatment with dry root powder of this plant and its ethanolic extract fed at a dose of 900 mg/kg body wt.
Commercial powdered samples of Verbascum flowers and slightly broken and powdered samples obtained from previously authenticated plant material (flowers of Verbascum thapsus L. subsp. thapsus) were examined by SEM. For the powdered drug, the most valuable diagnostic characters are the 3-colporoidate prolate pollen grains with reticulate exine and the co-occurrence of smooth branched and of warty-striated non-branched trichomes. Contamination of a commercial powdered sample of Verbascum flowers with plant material not belonging to a Verbascum species (most probably flowers of a Composite), was observed.
The Histopathological Effect Of Chewing Of Betel Quid Without Tobacco Was Studied By Simulating 14 Different Chewing Habits Using The Mouse Glandular Stomach Mucosa As A Model Mammalian System. Chronic Oral Administration For 8 To 10 Months Resulted In Marked Architectural Atypia In Animals Receiving Extracts Of Areca Catechu L. Red Nut, With Piper Betle L. Varieties and A Combination Of Nut, Leaf and Lime. The Initial Histologic Changes Were Erosions and Regenerative Hyperplasia Of The Pyloric Glands. After Atrophy and Erosion Of The Mucosa, Regenerative Glandular Hyperplasia Developed In Animals Receiving Lime Suspension While Marked Adenomatous Hyperplasia Exhibiting Excessive Glandular Proliferation, Often With Peripheral Growth Into The Stomach Cavity, With Few Cellular Atypism Developed In Animals Receiving Combinations Of P. Betle Var. Bangla, A. Catechu and Low Concentration Of Lime (B Bn Lmn) and A. Catechu With Low Concentration Of Lime (Cbn Lmn). High Dose Of Lime Together With P. Betle L.Var. Bangla Probably Played A Protectant Role By Reducing The Dysplastic Changes and Metaplasia. The Leaf Var. Bangla Alone Was Found To Be An Irritant and Increased The Mitotic Index.
