Herbs, spices and their active components as natural antimicrobials in foods Effect of natural antioxidants in herbs and spices on shelf life of foods Ajowan Aniseed Asafoetida Allspice Capers and caperberries Caraway Celery Chervil Fennel and fennel seed Galangal Kaffir lime leaf Lavender Lemongrass Lovage Nigella Oregano Poppy Sesame Star anise Tarragon Tamarind Other significant herbs and spices.

Handbook of Herbs and Spices

Article history: Antifungal activity Medicinal plants Hexane extract Ethyl acetate extract Methanol extract Minimum inhibitory concentration Broth microdilution method Phytochemical Active principles Fungi Objective: To assess the antifungal activity of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of 45 medicinal plants and to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration for each extract against human pathogenic fungi. Methods: A total of 45 medicinal plants were collected from different places of Tamil Nadu and identified. Hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of 45 medicinal plants were assessed for antifungal susceptibility using broth microdilution method. Two known antifungal agents were used as positive controls. Results: Most of the extracts inhibited more than four fungal strains. From the evaluation we found that ethyl acetate extracts inhibited large number of fungal growth. Hexane extracts also nearly showed the same level of inhibition against fungal growth. Methanol extracts showed the minimum antifungal activity. Among the 45 plants tested, broad spectrum antifungal activity was detected in Albizzia procera (A. procera), Atalantia monophylla, Asclepias curassavica, Azima tetracantha, Cassia fistula (C. fistula), Cinnomomum verum, Costus speciosus (C. speciosus), Nymphaea stellata, Osbeckia chinensis, Piper argyrophyllum, Punica granatum, Tinospora cordifolia and Toddalia asiatica (T. asiatica). Promising antifungal activity was seen in A. procera, C. speciosus, C. fistula and T. asiatica. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the plant species assayed possess antifungal properties. Further phytochemical research is needed to identify the active principles responsible for the antifungal effects of some of these medicinal plants.

Antifungal activity of traditional medicinal plants from Tamil Nadu, India

Antimicrobial activity of 105 Indian plant species was tested. Among them, 30 showed antibacterial activity; 20 of these exhibited antifungal action as well. Seeds ofCarum copticum, stem ofPinus longifolia, roots ofPlumbago zeylanica andSaussurea lappa, and rhizome ofAlpinia officinarum have considerable antifungal activity, especially against pathogenic fungi. Antibiotic activity against a wide variety of microorganisms—pathogenic and nonpathogenic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and fungi—was also noted with leaves ofLawsonia inermis, roots ofPlumbago zeylanica, and fruits ofTamarindus indica,Terminalia belerica, andEmblica officinalis.

Antimicrobial activity of some Indian plants

Objectives: To study the antiinflammatory activity of Curcuma amada rhizome extract in albino rats. Methods: Rhizomes of Curcuma amada were extracted and subjected to spectroscopic studies. The extract was screened for antiinflammatory activity in albino rats using acute carrageenan paw oedema and chronic granuloma pouch model. Results: The extract showed presence of chemical compounds with hydroxyl, ester, carbonyl and olefin funtionalities and exhibited dose dependant antiinflammatory activity in acute and chronic models. Conclusions: The extract of Curcuma amada rhizomes showed antiinflammatory activity in acute and chronic administration in albino rats. Curcuma amada albino rats antiinflammatory activity SUMMARY

Antiinflammatory activity of Curcuma amada Roxb. in albino rats

Records of usage or assays in Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae). I. Subgenera Isocladus, Kirganelia, Cicca and Emblica.

A systematic screening of 170 different West Bengal plants was carried out to find antifungal antibiotics, usingAspergillus niger andTrichophyton rubrum as test organisms. From them, four plant species, viz.Curcuma zedoaria, C. aromatica, C. amada, and aBrassica sp. have been found to contain active antibiotic principles with strong inhibitory effects against both test organisms.

A. B. Banerjee

Papers

Screening of Selected West Bengal Plants for Antifungal Activity