Withania coagulans belongs to family Solanaceae and its beries are commonly known to be as good vegetable rennet. It has been reported to have withanolides which are known to be as a group of steroidal lactones found among members of Solanaceae. Withanolides are reported to have antitumor, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immune-suppressive, cyto-toxicity and antiulcer activities. In the present study, the anti-carcinogenic activity of Withania coagulans of aqueous and methanolic fruit extracts was investigated on DMBA induced skin papillomagenesis. Single topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) of 100μg/100μl acetone, was given and one week later promoted by repeated application of Croton oil (1% in acetone/twice in a week ) till the end of experiment (16 weeks) in Swiss albino mice. Single topical application of Methanolic and Aqueous extract of Withania coagulans at the dose 1000mg/kg body weight along with DMBA+ Croton oil was found  effective in decreasing cumulative no. of papillomas, tumor yield, tumor incidence and tumor burden as compared to the Control group i.e. DMBA and Croton oil. Histo-pathological studies also showed positive results of the Withania coagulans extracts against DMBA as promoter and Croton oil as stimulator of causing papillomagenesis. Histological sections in all the groups show marked papillomatosis, hypergranulosis and hyperkeratosis with papillary projections but in the control group papilloma consisted of fibro-vascular core with lump of epithelia showing mild dysplasia, the signs of malignancy were prominent showing Keratinous pearl and  full thick dysplasia containing fibro-vascular core with lining epithelia. The tumor incidence in methanolic extract group are found statistically significant (p<0.05) in comparison to control group.

Gloriosa superba (Liliaceae) is one of the oldest ingredients of species from ancient time. Tubers roots and seeds are two most important part of glory lily used for variety of purpose. Swertia chirata (Gentianaceae) is widely used in India to treat fever and malaria. It is also used to treat liver diseases . The whole plant methanol and aqueous extracts of Swertia chirayta possessed maximum anti-inflammatory activity in a dose dependent manner i.e 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg in carrageenan induced animal models. Further screening of the potent extracts of the plant confirmed the presence of xanthone (1, 5-dihydroxy-3, 8-dimethoxy xanthone, m.p.185 0 C, yellowish crystalline needles from methanol) was obtained. The structure of the fraction was confirmed by spectral analysis (UV, IR, NMR). The methanol and aqueous extracts of tubers of Gloriosa superba also possessed good anti-inflammatory in a dose dependent manner i.e 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg in carrageenan induced animal models. Further screening of the extracts confirmed the presence of colchicines in the extracts. The present study thus revealed the presence of potent anti-inflammatory drugs in these plants.

In the present investigation Bacillus sp. strain was isolated and screened from the red soil collected from Doiwala region of Dehradun (U.K), India. Serial dilution technique was adopted to isolate the organism and was screened for its chitinolytic activity. The biochemical tests were performed to prove its validity. The microorganism was also screened by inoculating a loop full of the isolated strain in basic cresol red dye and incubated for about 18- 24 h. The conversion of colour of the red dye into purple (pH, 6.5- 8.8) was taken as an indication for the presence of Bacillus sp. Amylase production by the organism was also screened by introduction of iodine in the broth/agar culture having starch. The broth/agar medium having starch but no bacterial strain was used as the control. The disappearance of color confirmed the presence of Bacillus strain producing amylase which degrades the starch. The chitinous wastes were collected from fresh water crustaceans viz. fresh water crab ( Potamon sp.) and fresh water prawn ( Palaemon sp.) and the chitin extracted was used as the substrate for chitinase. The yield of chitin extracted from fresh water prawn ( Palaemon sp.) was found to be comparatively higher than that of chitin extracted from fresh water crab ( Potamon sp.). Standard colloidal chitin was used as the reference control. The enzyme activity of chitinase for degradation of chitin extracted from crab and prawn was compared. The results confirmed that chitinase activity for degradation of crab chitin was comparatively higher than that of degradation of prawn chitin. The enzyme activities were found to be 0.11 µ g/ml/minute and 0.09 µ g/ml/minute for degradation of crab and prawn chitin respectively. The antimicrobial activity of chitinase extracted was determined against the bacterial and fungal cultures. Potent antibacterial activity of chitinase was observed against the bacterial cultures but no antifungal activity was observed. The chitinase produced by the species was able to degrade the chitin and chito-oligosaccharides produced was separated by TLC and purified by HPLC.

Article History In the present study, the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of methanolic and aqueous extracts of fruits of Withania coagulans were compared and investigated to find out the number of different phytoconstituents present in the plant which makes it remarkable for its use by traditional practitioners. Phytochemical screening of both the extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, phenolic compounds, tannins, saponin, carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids and organic acids. Further study showed high in vitro antioxidant activity in both of the extracts when compared to standard ascorbic acid but aqueous extracts showed higher antioxidant potential in comparison to that of methanolic extract.

Medicinal plants play an important role in development of drugs. The present study is based upon the Anti-mutagenic activity of Withania coagulans, a traditionally known herb. The Antimutagenic activity of Withania coagulans fruit extracts was investigated on cyclophosphamide induced micronucleus formation in mouse bone marrow cells. The results confirmed that a single i.p administration of W. coagulans fruit extract at the dose of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight prior to 24 hours have significantly prevented the micronucleus formation in dose dependent manner in bone marrow cells of mice as compared to cyclophosphamide group.

Syzygium cumini (syn. Eugenia jambolana) commonly known as “Jamun” having promising therapeutic value with its various phytoconstituents such as Tannins, Alkaloids, Steroids, Flavanoids, Terpenoids, Fatty acids, Phenols, Minerals, Carbohydrates and Vitamins. Crateva nurvula (Varuna) is also known to be used in Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times in India as it also contains different phytochemical constituents. In the present investigation, seeds of Jamun and bark of Varuna were investigated for their antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Different solvent extracts of both the plant (s) parts were prepared according to decreasing polarity. The methanol extracts of both the plants were found to be most potent antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in comparison to other solvent extracts. Methanol extracts (200 mg/ml) of Jamun showed maximum potency against Aspergillus niger but showed moderate activity against other pathogens. These extracts also showed predominant in vitro antioxidant activity and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced animal models at a dose of 120 mg/kg. Methanol extracts (200 mg/ml) of Varuna showed maximum potency against Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans but showed moderate activity against other pathogenic microorganisms. These extracts were having predominant in vitro antioxidant activity and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity at a dose of 50 mg/kg in carrageenan induced animal models. The methanol extracts of the plants were also screened for their hemolytic activity against sheep erythrocytes but the extracts showed negative hemolysis

Syzygium cumini (syn. Eugenia jambolana) commonly k own as “Jamun” having promising therapeutic value with its various phytoconstituent s such as Tannins, Alkaloids, Steroids, Flavanoids, Terpenoids, Fatty acids, Phenols, Miner als, Carbohydrates and Vitamins. Crateva nurvula (Varuna) is also known to be used in Ayurve dic medicine since ancient times in India as it also contains different phytochemical constituen ts. In the present investigation, seeds of Jamun and bark of Varuna were investigated for their anti microbial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Different solvent extracts of both the plant (s) parts were prepared according to decreasing polarity. The methanol extracts of both the plants were found to be most potent antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ag ent in comparison to other solvent extracts. Methanol extracts (200 mg/ml) of Jamun showed maxim um potency against Aspergillus niger but showed moderate activity against other pathogens. T hese extracts also showed predominant in vitro antioxidant activity and in vivo anti-inflamm atory activity in carrageenan induced animal models at a dose of 120 mg/kg. Methanol extracts ( 200 mg/ml) of Varuna showed maximum potency against Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi i, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans but showed moderate act ivity against other pathogenic microorganisms. These extracts were having predomin ant in vitro antioxidant activity and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity at a dose of 50 mg/ kg in carrageenan induced animal models. The methanol extracts of the plants were also scree ned for their hemolytic activity against sheep erythrocytes but the extracts showed negative hemol ysis.

Bacopa monniera, also referred to as Bacopa monnier i, Herpestis monniera, water hyssop, and “Brahmi,” has been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries. The whole plant extracts of the plant were evaluated for antioxidan t, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The methanol extracts of the plant wer e found to have potent antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Th e aqueous extracts of the plant were found to have fewer activities in comparison to methanol ext racts. Petroleum ether and hexane extracts showed negligible activities in comparison to the a bove extracts. These active crude methanol extracts were also assayed for cellular toxicity to fresh sheep erythrocytes and found to have no cellular toxicity.