Advancement in Medicinal Plant Research

1-7

Authors: Safia Janjua, Maliha Shahid and Fakhir-i-Abbas

The extracts of peels of edible root of Raphanus sativus L. var niger were analyzed for phytochemicals and in vitro antibacterial activity. The proximate analysis and phytochemical analysis revealed that peels of R. sativus L. var niger had most of the important phytoconstituents like tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phlobatannins, anthraquinones, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, steroids, phytosterol, alkaloids, amino acids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and chalcones; indicating its potential for medicinal use. Agar well diffusion assay was employed to test the antibacterial activity of extracts, prepared by using different solvents, against gram positive Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12598, Bacillus subtilis-QAU and Micrococcus luteus ATCC 10240 and gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli-ATCC 8739, Salmonella typhi-ATCC 14079, Klebsiella pneumonia-QAU, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 7700, Bordetella bronchiseptica ATCC 4617 and Enterobacter aerogenes-QAU. Effectiveness of the extracts (CAE, CEE, CME, CEAE and CPEE) against different bacterial strains was measured in terms of zone of inhibition in millimeters. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values determined were compared with the positive control (Gentamycin) used. The present study is supportive evidence that peels of R. sativus, generally wasted, have important medicinal constituents. Keywords: Raphanus sativus L. var niger, antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration.

17-23

Authors: Vishwambhar Prasad Sati

ABSTRACT This article examines the potentials of cultivating medicinal plants and its contribution to livelihood enhancement in the Indian Central Himalayan Region. Here, medicinal plants have been growing traditionally and have been used through local health care system for the centuries. Until now, the production from the traditionally grown medicinal plants is considerably low. Meanwhile, the agro-ecological conditions in this region are very conducive for growing large-scale medicinal plants. Recently, the Government started cultivating medicinal plants in the mid-altitudes and the highlands through establishing poly-houses and providing them to the native farmers of the region. As a result of this, the farmers of the mid-altitudes and the highlands villages followed Government initiatives quite enthusiastically. However, lack of transportation facilities and unavailability of market still remains a major hurdle for the producers of medicinal plants. They do not get the actual returns from the products timely and adequately. Therefore, the pace of cultivating medicinal plants is slow. As medicinal plants require about two years to grow and turn into a complete product, it needs smooth market functioning and other infrastructural facilities, in spatial and temporal perspectives. This study was based upon the collection of primary data, which were gathered through participatory observation method and interview of the farmers and extension workers, involved in the cultivation of medicinal plants, after rapid field visit. Keywords: Conservation, medicinal plants, livelihood, agro-climate, Indian Central Himalayan Region.

29-35

Authors: Haemendra Upadhyay, Amit Kumar, M. K. Gupta, Arvind Sharma and Anu Rahal

The plant Sonchus asper has been used for the cure of skin ailments and many other disease conditions. Thus, the study was planned to compare the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities of aqueous and methanolic extract of S. asper against bacterial pathogens viz. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cerus and Klebsiella pneumoniae and fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus. The findings of study indicated that the plant possesses antibacterial activity; however, it showed more inhibitory results against the Gram positive bacteria in comparison to Gram negative bacteria. Methanolic extract of S. asper showed activity against E. coli whereas S. aureus and B. cerus were inhibited by both methanolic and aqueous extracts. Bacterial isolate of K. pneumoniae and both the fungal species were resistant to both methanolic and aqueous extracts of S. asper as no zone of inhibition was observed during the experiments. The extracts of S. asper showed best activity against S. aureus, the most common pathogen of skin ailments particularly boil and wounds, thus findings of the study justified the traditional use of this plant; however, clinical validation of efficacy is and animal toxicity studies are also required to ascertain the adverse effects, if any. Keywords: Validation, Sonchus asper, medicinal values, skin ailments.