Annals of Phytomedicine; An International Journal

4

Authors: C. Beena and V.V. Radhakrishnan

S araca asoca ( Roxb.) de Wilde , is locally known as Sita asok and is grown as an ornamental tree throughout the country. But bark of asoka tree is an important herbal raw drug used in gynaecological problems like uterine bleeding associated with fibroids. It is a major constituent of the ayurvedic medicines “asokarishtam” and “asokagritham”used for the treatment of gynaecological disorders. The increasing demand of the bark along with less availability has led to its widespread adulteration. It is widely adulterated with the bark of Polyalthia longifolia, a well known avenue tree available in plenty. Since adulteration of herbal drugs has clinically relevant effects, an attempt has been made to develop an easy method to detect the adulteration in market samples of the raw drug asoka bark and to develop specific chemical fingerprints of the genuine bark by TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography). Petroleum ether extracts of the stem barks of asoka and polyalthia were found best suitable to develop good chromatograms. These specific chromatograms proved efficient in detecting adulteration in 22 market samples analysed

5

Authors: Md. Liyakat Ahmed,Ashwini Jadhav, Paramjyothi Swamy*, Syed Sanaullah and N. Santosh Kumar

The antiulcer effect of Semicarpus anacardium Linn. seed extracts was investigated against aspirin plus pylorus ligation induced and ethanol induced gastric ulcers in rats. Both the models revealed ulcer healing property of the seed extracts. The present investigation also revealed the hepatoprotective activity of the seed extracts, against ethanol induced hepatotoxicity. Histopathological studies of the liver showed significant restoration of the normal histomorphological pattern of hepatocytes. The biochemical estimation of serum bilirubin, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase ( SGPT ), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase ( SGOT ) and alkaline phosphatase ( ALP ) showed significant reduction in the rats fed with the seed extracts. The study, thus, substantiates the potential anticulcer and hepatoprotective effects of Semicarpus anacardium seeds

6

Authors: Saujanya Kumar Jha and Shailendra Kumar Srivastava

The objective of this study is to determine the in vivo effect of methanolic extracts of leaves and seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. in blood plasma of mercuric chloride induced oxidative stress in mice, with respect to the levels of different antioxidant enzyme systems like catalase, Super oxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase enzyme activities. DPPH assay of the methanolic extracts of the seeds and leaves were conducted and it was seen that the free radical scavenging activity of seed was better than that of methanolic extract of leaves as seen by a lower E.C. 50 value obtained for seed as compared to a higher E.C. 50 value for the leaves. It was seen that there was an enhanced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme levels were significantly decreased in blood plasma of mercuric chloride treated mice. Subsequent oral administration of methanolic extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. seeds and leaves for seven days, demonstrated decreased lipid peroxidation in blood plasma of mice almost to the normal control range. Antioxidant enzyme levels post extract feeding also increased in contrast to decrease in their levels on mercuric chloride administration. However, the seeds were found to have a better antioxidant potential than the leaves in vivo

6

Authors: N. Lakshmi, Divya Pingili and Sheena M Raj

This research paper reports a comparision of the genomic DNA constitution between two selected antimalarials plants, i.e ., Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Artemisia annua L. The Random Amplification of Polymorhic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed to detect the polymorphism between them. Genetic analysis of these plants relies on high yields of pure DNA samples. Optimized conditions for DNA isolation and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) polymerization were provided. The method involves a modified Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) extraction employing polyvinyl pyrrolidone. The yield of DNA ranged from 1-2μg/ μl per gram of the leaf tissue and purity (ratio) was between 1.6-1.7, indicating minimal levels of contaminating metabolites. The isolated DNA was used for RAPD analysis. Reproducible and amplifiable products were observed in all PCR reactions that are polymorphic. The analysis revealed that these two plants showed genomic similarities, hence, it may be useful in paving a gateway for further research to design new modified drugs for malaria.

7

Authors: Divya Pingili, Sneha Jijabapu Anarthe, Nulgumnalli Manjunathaiah Raghavendra

In the present investigation, methanolic and hydro alcoholic polyherbal extracts . having Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn, Piper nigrum Linn. and Cuminum cyminum Linn. were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activity by 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide radical scavenging method; in vitro antidiabetic activity by α -glucosidase and α -amylase inhibitory method; and anticancer activity by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against A549 human lung cell carcinoma. Antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna (S 1 ) was found to be more potent compared to other polyherbal extractions. S 1 also inhibited α -glucosidase enzyme and hydroalcoholic extract inhibited α -amylase enzyme. Few polyherbal combinations are found to possess significant anticancer activity against A549 human lung cell carcinoma.

8

Authors: N.M.A. Rasheed, K. Nagaiah, P.R. Goud and V.U.M. Sharma

Many countries are registering their standardized herbal drugs with proven clinical efficacy, safety and as dietary supplements. But India is unable to exploit the World market due to unsatisfactory system of quality control which necessitates the establishment of standards for herbal single drugs and compound formulations. In order to ensure international community to use AYUSH drugs with confidence and without compunction, developing acceptable quality control standards of herbal medicines aims to ensure their consistency, safety and efficacy with good manufacturing practices is very much essential. Study of chemical markers is applicable to many research areas, including authentication of genuine species, search for new resources or substitutes of raw materials, optimization of extraction and purification methods, structure elucidation and purity determination. Systematic investigations using chemical markers may lead to discoveries and development of new drugs

8

Authors: Suaib Luqman and Ritesh Kumar

The present study investigates a concentration-dependent assessment of scavenging property and antioxidant activity in the extracts of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. syn. Phyllanthus emblica L. fruit using various in vitro assays. A correlation of aqueous and ethanolic extract of Emblica fruit along with different known standards for its antioxidative properties was made by performing assays like TPC, RP, TAC, DPPH FRAP and HRSA . Both the aqueous and ethanolic extract of fruit showed high phenolic content beside strong reducing power and free radical scavenging capacity. The hydroxyl radical scavenging potential of aqueous extract was higher compared to ethanolic extract. A high positive correlation was observed among the in vitro assays for the antioxidative properties except for HRS assay which showed negative corelation. Our finding not only tots up the results related to antioxidant asset of amla fruit but also emphasizes the fact of its usefulness as chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic importance. Further studies are warranted to explore the constituents responsible for the antioxidant property and other pharmacological activities

9

Authors: K. Vijaya Sri, D. Srinivas, Ch. Ajay Kumar and D. Ravishanker

The aim of the present study was to evaluate seed flour of Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper or Black gram as binding, disintegration nature and sustained release matrix forming material in tablet formulation. The seeds of Vigna mungo swell and form gelatinous mass when it comes in contact with water due to its hydrophilic nature. Indomethacin ( NSAIDS ) was selected as a model drug because of its poor water solubility and short half life. FT -IR studies showed no evidence on interaction between indomethacin and Vigna mungo . Conventional /sustained release matrix tablets of indomethacin, was developed by using wet granulation technique. Compressed tablets were evaluated for pharmacopoeias tests and compared with marketed product. The kinetic studies showed that the release of drug from formulation CVF2 follows first order model and formulation SVF1 follows zero order model and anomalous diffusion and explained by Higuchi’s model. Selected conventional formulation CVF2 was carried out by anti-inflammatory activity by using plethysmometer. The selected formulations CVF2 and SVF1 was subjected to stability studies for three months at 45ºC temperature with RH 75±5% , and showed stability with respect to release pattern

11

Authors: S. D. Sonkawade and G. R. Naik

Dietary nucleosides and nucleotides perform a range of functions in our body. They play important role in the maintenance of mitochondrial function, differentiation of hematopoietic cells, strengthen the immune system, helps in small intestine growth and development, lipid metabolism etc . External supplementation of dietary nucleotides is a good regimen against mitochondrial dysfunction caused by Nucleosides Reverse Transcriptase Inhibiters ( NRTI ) drug therapy; it has a long history of use for cancer and viral diseases e.g. , NucleomaxX is a dietary nucleotide supplement, and has a potential use in the treatment of mitochondrial toxicity as it contains Mitocnol; a sugarcane extract with a high percentage of nucleotides. Therefore, analysis of these compounds in food materials is very important for improving and assuring food quality as well as to boost Biotech Industrial sector of India; manufacturing a dietary nucleotide supplement. During the present investigation, the extraction protocol for nucleotides from different sources (sugarcane, pulses/lentils, oilseeds, yeast, mushroom and animal milks) was standardized, which is one of the simple, cost effective method for isolation of total nucleotides/nucleosides. The isolated nucleic acid was quantified using double beam UV spectrophotometer. Estimation of RNA was carried out by Orcinol method and DNA by Diphenylamine method, using nucleic acid extract obtained from different food materials. The screening of samples from different sources helped to determine the desirable concentration of nucleic acid in natural sources for dietary nucleotides. Further, investigation is in progress to study influence on animal model, developing therapeutic formulation and scale up criteria