The present study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity and preliminary phytochemical analysis of ethanolic leaf extract of Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging activity method. The Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. ethanolic extract showed antioxidant activity by inhibiting DPPH. Significant antioxidant activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Gymnema Sylvestre R.Br. was found to which might be due to the presence of acidic compound, tannins, saponins, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids found in the preliminary phytochemical analysis.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita), a popular flavoring for gum, toothpaste, and tea. It has been proven helpful in symptomatic relief of the common cold. It is also used to soothe an upset stomach or to aid digestion. Because of its calming and numbing effect, it is also been used to treat headaches, skin irritations, anxiety associated with depression, nausea, diarrhea, menstrual cramps, and flatulence. It is also an ingredient in chest rubs, used to treat symptoms of the common cold. In test tubes, peppermint kills some types of bacteria, fungus, and viruses, suggesting it may have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Several studies support the use of peppermint for indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. Though M. piperita is on FDA’s GRAS (Generally recognized as safe) list but the herb has few side effects. It can cause heartburn or perianal irritation and is contraindicated in patients with bile obstruction, gall bladder inflammation and severe liver damage and caution should be taken in patients with GI reflux.
Keywords: M. piperita, Anxiety, Nausea, Indigestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, GRAS.
3.
REVIEW OF STUDIES WITH EFFECTS OF MSG IN LIVER, KIDNEY AND OTHER TISSUES IN ANIMAL MODEL
T. Bhattacharaya, BR Sontakke, AM Tarnekar, JE Waghmare, MR Shende
A naturally found excitatory neurotransmitter, known for its UMAMI taste, is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). It was known to be safe prior to 1950. People were enchanted with the delicious recipes of some of the restaurants in Far East. Regular restaurant visitors started getting trouble with particular food items. These food items had MSG as one of the chief ingredients. In 1968, an author described the Chinese restaurant syndrome (Kwok’s Disease) with symptoms of headache, chest discomfort and facial flushing. Since then several researchers launched extensive research projects in search of toxic role of MSG in human beings. It was documented in late 60s that MSG produces oxygen derived free radicals as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation products and disturbance of central endocrine axis affecting wide spread areas in body along with causing learning difficulty and obesity in children, irreversible hepatic damage and gonadal dysfunction. An attempt is made to review the studies with effects of MSG in liver, kidney and other tissues in Animal model.
Now a days, mucilage has got an importance as an pharmaceutical excipient as it is having local availability, biocompatibility, lack of toxicity, low cost, biodegradability and better patient tolerance. Mucilage is ester of sulphuric acid obtained from Aloe vera, Aegle marmelos, Althar Officinalis, Cassia tora, etc. This overview on mucilage includes isolation by cold maceration method and hot maceration technique, identification test, purity test, organoleptic test, physiochemical characterisation, micromeretic, microbial characterisation and its compatibility studies by FTIR and DSC. It is pharmaceutically important as thickening, binding, gelling, disintegrating, viscolyting and stabilizing agent. Keywords: Mucilage, Isolation, Excipient, Food industry.
5.
PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STANDARDIZATION OF LEAVES AND BARKS OF AEGLE MAMELOS (RUTACEAE)
Herbs lay a vital role in Siddha system of medicine. Vilva ilai kudineer is one of the siddha formulation which controls the Diabetes mellitus. The present study is design to carry out the Pharmacognostical standardization of leaves and bark of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (Rutaceae) individually, which are the raw materials used in the preparation of Vilva ilai kudineer. The standardization parameter includes organoleptic evaluation, powder microscopic analysis, physiochemical evaluation and phytochemical screening. These kind of comprehensive data might be useful to standardize the Vilva ilai kudineer for further research.
The purpose of the investigation was to study the seasonal variability of Halimeda species collected from Thoothukudi region in the south east coast of Tamil Nadu, India. Halimeda species were collected in various seasons namely summer, pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon from intertidal and subtidal regions up to 1m depth. Halimeda species were enumerated at random using a quadrate (0.5m2). A total of three species of Halimeda were collected in the study area such as Halimeda copiosa, Halimeda macroloba and Halimeda tuna. The frequency and density were calculated and all the Halimeda species showed a similar pattern of seasonal variation. Among the seaweeds collected the highest frequency (69.75%) and density (5.60) were observed in Halimeda tuna during summer season and the lowest frequency (22.50%) and density (1.83) were recorded in Halimeda copiosa during post-monsoon season. All the Halimeda species (Chlorophyceae) showed the maximum frequency and density during the summer season followed by the declined trend was observed during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons in the present study. During the post-monsoon season the frequency and density of Halimeda species (Chlorophyceae) was minimum in Tirunelveli region of the south east coast of Tamil Nadu, India.
Keywords: Green seaweed, Halimeda, Quadrate, Frequency, Density.
7.
THE MEDICINAL USES OF CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA – A REVIEW
Traditional system of medicine consists of large number of plants with various medicinal and pharmacological importance’s and hence represents a priceless tank of new bioactive molecules. This review will be helpful to create interest towards Calotropis gigantean and may be useful in developing new formulations with more therapeutic and economical value.
Keywords: Calotropis gigantean, Medicinal and Pharmacological Importance.
8.
INVITRO ANTICANCER AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF THE MEDICINAL PLANT COUROUPITA GUIANENSIS
C.Ramalakshmi, A.Kalirajan, A.J.A.Ranjitsingh* and K.Kalirajan
Couroupita guianensis is one of the medicinal plants which is native to South India and Malaysia, is commonly known as Nagalinga pushpam in Tamil. In traditional medicine, the leaves of this plant have been used in the treatment of skin diseases, stomachache, and intestinal gas formation, antithrombotic and vasodilatory actions. In the present investigation, In-vitro anti-cancer and In-vitro antioxidant activity were evaluated using the flower extract of the medicinal plant Couroupita guianensis. In vitro anti cancer activity was tested against the cancer cell lines viz, Caco2 (Human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma), MCF-7(Human Breast carcinoma), A-431(Human skin epidermis carcinoma), and HeLa (Cervix adenocarcinoma) using MTT assay. In vitro antioxidant activity was tested using free radicals viz., 2,2-diphenyl-1–picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-radical, Nitric oxide, Hydroxyl radical. The MECG displayed potential anticancer activity (80.63±0.6%) at 1000 μg concentration against the Caco 2 human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma and the CTC 50 value was recorded as 367.93 μg/ml. The anticancer activity was recorded 79.15±0.9 % against MCF-7(Human Breast carcinoma) and the CTC 50 value was found to be 156.67 μg/ml. Against A-431(Human skin epidermis carcinoma) the compound showed 77.24±1.9% activity at the concentration of 1000 μg/ml and in the meantime the CTC 50 value was found 166.67 μg/ml. Moderate anticancer activity 59.39±0.3% was recorded against HeLa Cervix cancer cell line at the concentration of 1000 μg/ml and the CTC 50 value was 426.67 μg/ml. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was 95.00 ± 0.49 % at 200 μg /ml concentration and the IC50 value was 36.70 ± 0.07 μg/ml.The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was found 77.66 ± 0.55 % at 200 μg/ml concentrations and the IC50 value was found 37.27 ± 0.28 μg/ml. Nitric oxide free radical scavenging activity was 83.77 ± 1.39 % at 200 μg/ml concentrations and in the due course the IC50 value was found 45.25 ± 0.20 μg/ml.
Edible seaweeds are widely consumed as they provide high nutritional compounds of minerals, fatty acids and free amino acids. In the present study, biochemical, phytochemical and pigment content of eight seaweeds (Enteromorpha compressa, Enteromorpha intestinalis, Ulva fasciata, Ulva lactuca, Chaetomorpha antennina, Padina gymnospora, Grateloupia lithophila, and Hypnea valentiae) collected from Pondicherry coast were analysed. Brown seaweed P. gymnospora showed the presence of all the phytochemicals screened. Maximum total chlorophyll and carotenoid was recorded in green seaweed U. fasciata (0.75±0.01 mgg-1) and brown seaweed P. gymnospora (0.85±0.01 mgg-1) respectively. Maximum protein and carbohydrate was observed in P. gymnospora while lipid in U. lactuca. The results clearly showed that brown algae P. gymnospora is an alternate food and feed source among the seaweeds analysed.
EFFECT OF WATER EXTRACT OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN. LEAVES ON THE NEUTROPHIL ACTIVITY TO HEAT KILLED AEROMONAS HYDROPHILA IN OREOCHROMIS MOSSAMBICUS (PETERS)
Aquaculture and fishing in India traditionally have strong export markets. But a variety of microbial agents cause diseases in aquaculture systems. Aeromonas hydrophila is a important pathogen and it cause a variety of diseases in fish. To overcome such problems immunostimulators can be used as protective and supportive therapy to promote host resistance. Immunostimulants are being used today both within aquaculture sector and in traditional animal husbandary to reduce mortality due to infections and to improve general performance of animals. Recently, there has been increased interest in the immune stimulating function of some herbs in aquaculture. Many studies have proved that herbal additives enhanced the growth of fishes and protected them from various diseases. For this purpose, the specific objectives of the present investigation was to screen the water extracts of Achyranthes aspera Linn for their neutrophil activity to heat killed Aeromonas hydrophila in Oreochromis mossambicus. Generally, the lower doses of leaf extracts administered groups significantly stimulated the neutrophil activity and the higher dose did not showed any significant difference from that of control. The results of the present study indicated, the use of leaf extracts of medicinal plants in aquaculture system has a lot of scope in maintain the health of finfish culture.
