Phytopharmacy Research

ABSTRACT Tabebuia arjentea is a species of Tabebuia native to South America in Suriname, Brazil, eastern Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay and northern Argentina. The common English name Carribbean Trumpet Tree is misleading, as it is not native to the Caribbean. It is small dry season-deciduous tree growing to 8 m tall. The leaves are palmately compound, with five or seven leaflets, each leaflet 6-18 cm long, green with silvery scales both above and below. The flowers are bright yellow, up to 6.5 cm diameter, produced several together in a loose panicle. The fruit is slender 10 cm long capsule. It is a popular ornamental tree in subtropical and tropical regions, grown for its spectacular flower display on leafless shoots at the end of the dry season. This species presence in riparian areas of the caatinga of northeastern Brazil is a crucial resource for Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), which is presently extinct in the wild with fewer than 100 birds remaining in capacity. Any future reintroduction would have to provide sufficient T.argentea for nesting and other purposes-while the tree is not considered threatened on a global scale, locally it has declined due to unsustainable use of timber. Keywords: Tabebuia arjentea, Carribbean, Spix’s Macaw, Cyanopsittaspixii.

ABSTRACT Rasona (Allium sativum Linn.) commonly known as ‘garlic’ has been used safely since ancient time as both food and medicine. It is a rich source of several phytochemicals and recognised to have significant & wide range of biological activities. The active constituent of garlic includes several sulphur containing compounds (principally thiosulfinate) which, are rapidly absorbed, transformed and metabolized. Thiosulfinate, volatile sulphur compound is responsible for its pungent smell and different biological action. Since centuries garlic has been used traditionally for the management of different disorders. In Ayurveda the garlic is considered as ‘Rasayana’, an important class of drugs reputed to promote health & longevity and therefore, it can be used for the prevention as well as for the management of different disorders. In the United States and Western Europe, garlic is one of the most popular remedies used to reduce various risks associated with cardiovascular disease. Several clinical & experimental studies validated its potential uses in the pathological conditions related to the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, genito-urinary system, gastrointestinal system, hematopoietic system and skin. Garlic can be used in different forms & preparations viz. tablets, capsules, inhalation, beverages, alcohol, macerated in water, fried, cooked in oil, raw, roasted etc. Keywords: Rasona, Rasayana, Pharmacological action, Life style, Phytochemical.

Stereospermum colais (SC) and Stereospermum suaveolens (SS) known as “Patala” are large deciduous treedistributed throughout india. The Ayurvedic literature indicates that the roots are bitter, diuretic, cardiotonic, antiinflammatory,antibacterial, and febrifuge also it is one of the ingredients of “Dasamula”. So far no systematic studies havebeen carried out for the antiarthritic potential of the plants. The present study made an attempt to provide scientific validity forits traditional claim. Roots of SC and SS were extracted successively with various solvents such as Pet. Ether, chloroform,ethylacetate and ethanol. Invitro antiarthritic study was carried out by protein denaturation method using Bovine SerumAlbumin. The results of invitro antiarthritic activity showed that the various extracts of SC and SS has antiarthritic potential ina dose dependent manner when compared with diclofenac sodium. In both the species, the ethanol extract showed maximumactivity on comparison with other extracts. The antiarthritic activity was maximum in SC compared to SS.

Skeletal muscle activity of Aloe vera extract were studied in the green frog (Rana hexadactyla) by the rectus abdominis muscle preparation. Aloe vera extract with distilled water 1μg/ml, 5μg/ml and 10μg/ml concentrations. The result indicated that the treatment of Aloe vera extract alone and combination with acetylcholine produce skeletal muscle activity. Thus from the present study it was concluded that Aloe vera extract were have good skeletal muscle activity alone and combination with Acetylcholine.

ABSTRACT The methanol extracts of the stem bark and leaf of Nauclea latifolia (Rubiaceae) were investigated for their phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity. The result revealed that the plant contain bioactive constituents such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenes, and steroids. Two compounds were isolated from the plant, a steroid and an alkane. The steroid, stigmast-4-en-3-one was isolated from the ethylacetate fraction of the stem bark and the alkane, 2,4-dimethylhexane from the n-hexane fraction of the leaf. The stem bark extract, the leaf extract and the two compounds isolated exhibited antimicrobial activity against some bacteria including Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus sanguinis. Both of them are oral bacteria believed to be responsible for dental caries. Keywords: Antimicrobial, Stigmast-4-en-3-one, Isolation, 2,4-dimethylhexane.

ABSTRACT Ageratum conyzoides (AC), known as “Mentrasto”, is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of several inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic, methanol and ethanol extracts of AC. The activity was evaluated using paw oedema induced by carrageenan, ear oedema induced by croton oil and pleurisy methods using carrageenan, bradykinin (BK), histamine (HIS) and substance P (SP) as flogistic agents. AC was effective in reducing paw oedema, the dose of 300mg/kg was the one that best inhibited oedema. The IMs (maximum inhibitions) were calculated for 69% MeOH, 65% EtOH and 76% for EHA. Both extracts, when incorporated into a cream (1, 3 and 5%), were effective in inhibiting ear oedema. The IMs were calculated as 60% MeOH, 72% EtOH and 77% EHA at a concentration of 5%. EAH (500 mg/kg) inhibited leukocytes by 57.82±1.25%, neutrophils by 58.57±2.22%, mononuclear cells by 49.49±3.52%, PGE2 by 48.162.12%, LTB4 activities by 46.67±1.45 and NO levels by 39.00±1.53% in Cg induced pleurisy. EHA also inhibited leukocytes in pleurisy induced by BK (48.80±0.32%), HIS (71.13±0.26%) and SP (56.73±2.26%). Ageratum conyzoides (AC) showed an important anti-inflammatory profile in the experimental models used, moreover, several mechanisms including the inhibition of mediator release and action, appear to account for the anti-inflammatory effect of AC. Keywords: Ageratum conyzoides, Popular use, Inflammation, Mice, Pleurisy, Oedema, Carrageenan.

ABSTRACT Gmelina arborea roxb. is found in the tribal areas of Koraput, Keonjhar and Ganjam districts. The present study is an attempt for review on tribal use and the preliminary investigation of phytochemical constituents of different fruit extracts of plant G. arborea using ethanol, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and petroleum ether as solvents. The non toxic property of plant extracts was examined by heavy metal study in soil and acute toxicity study using Albino mice as animal model. The survey from tribal people reveals that plant G. arborea used against fever due to cold, as hypoglycemic, to relieve headache, for washing of ulcer, abortion in early stage of pregnancy, blood diseases, aphrodisiac, antimicrobials, in snake bite, post delivery weakness, blood in cough and hepatoprotective. The heavy metal was absent in soil and the fruit extracts of G. arborea was non toxic for living body. The ethanol and n-butanol extracts were containing most phytochemicals where as ethyl acetate extracts was containing least number of phytochemicals. Keywords: Gmelina arborea, Verbenaceae, Traditional use, Acute toxicity study, Heavy metal, Phytochemicals.

ABSTRACT Modern agricultural practice has resulted in many other related problems such as depletion of soil fertility, increase in soil salinization (i.e., deposition of salt), soil and water pollution, nutrient imbalance, emergence of new pests and diseases. Composting is becoming an environmental friendly and economical alternative method for treating of solid organic waste. Composting converts the active organic portion of solid waste in to a stabilized product which can be used as a nutrient source for plant growth and/or as a conditioner to improve soil physical properties. It can improve soil structure, increase soil organic matter, suppress soil borne pathogens and enhance plant growth. This study clearly supports the view that weed pant, Lantana camara co-composted with crab shell, Portunus sanguinolentus wastes gives nutrient rich compost and that can be used as a organic soil amendment. Key words: Compost, Lantana camara, Portunus sanguinolentus, Sustainable agriculture.

ABSTRACT The Indian system of medicine (Ayurveda) practiced since very early days, was not written but was passed on from generation to generation by recitation and memory. A good deal of Ayurvedic literature was lost after invasion on India by Mohammadan. The Unani and Tibbi system of medicine brought by Mohammadan got intermingled with the Ayurveda and a good deal of Ayurvedic literature was lost. This led to rapid waning of the glory of Indian medicine in as much as a number of effective remedies were lost. In their place a number of worthless drugs of doubtful origin came in, which did not have the curative properties and thus the Indian system of medicine got over shadowed. The main problem confronting our country at present in the prevention of adulteration of crude drug in as much as a large number of them are now adulterated with spurious material. Also a very potent factor of encouraging adulteration is the fact that many of the drugs are sold in the local drug market under various names for the same drug as also the same name for different drugs and in many cases even the learned Hakims and Kavirajas cannot differentiate with certainty as to which is the authentic specimen meant in the old text. Thus it is high time to realize the importance of the use of pharmacognostical investigation to all the crude drugs used in Ayurveda so that one can pinpoint the salient diagnostical characters of the crude drug under question which can differentiate it from its possible substitutes and/or adulterant and this would go a long way in their correct identification. Keywords: Crude drug, Ayurveda, Pharmacognosy.

ABSTRACT The present study investigated the prevalence of uropathogens in urinary tract infection and the synergistic effect between antimicrobial potential of four Indian spices viz., Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon), Piper nigrum (black pepper), Syzygiumaromaticum (clove) and Trachyspermum ammi (carom seeds) and drugs against uropathogens. E. coli was the most prevalent uropathogens (45%). Spices exhibit effective antimicrobial potential. The ethanolic extract of cinnamon showed highest potential against E. coli (21.4±0.30 mm) while that of black pepper showed highest potential against E. coli (22.3±0.56 mm). The ethanolic extract of clove was most effective against E. coli (25.0±0.41 mm) while that of carom seeds was most effective against Proteus (13.7±0.12 mm). The methanolic extract of cinnamon showed highest potential against E. coli (12.6±0.32 mm) while that of black pepper showed highest potential against Staphylococcus (14.6±0.32 mm). The methanolic extract of clove was most effective against E. coli (15.6±0.27 mm) while that of carom seeds was most effective against Proteus (10.7±0.17 mm). Aqueous extract of cinnamon showed highest potential against E. coli (14.6±0.12 mm) while that of black pepper showed highest potential against E. coli (16.5±0.20 mm). Aqueous extract of clove was most effective against Staphylococcus (15.8±0.17 mm) while that of carom seeds was most effective against Klebsiella (12.3±0.12 mm) and least against Pseudomonas (9.7±0.12 mm). A synergistic effect on the antimicrobial was observed when crude extracts of spices was used in combination with antibiotics. Keywords: Uropathogens, Antimicrobial potential, Clove, Cinnamon, Black pepper, Carom seeds.

ABSTRACT Phytochemical investigation of Cassia italica Mill. (Fabaceae) aerial parts collected from Saudi Arabia gave nine compounds: β-sitosterol (1), (22E)-3--hydroxycycloart-22-en-24-one (2), uvaol (3), daucosterol (4), methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (5), emodin (6), 4-hydroxyphenyl-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), aloin B (8), and rutin (9). Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic study, in addition to co-chromatography with authentic samples. The total MeOH extract (TME), different fractions, and compounds 1-9 were assessed for their antimicrobial effects using agar plate diffusion assay. The TME, EtOAc fraction, and compounds 5-9 showed significant antimicrobial activity against the tested microbial strains. Keywords: Cassia italic, Sterols, Triterpenes, Phenolics, Anthraquinones, Antimicrobial.