Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes, cardiac and renal diseases in the North centre region of Morocco (Fez-Boulemane).

Screening of Yemeni medicinal plants for antibacterial and cytotoxic activities

Screening of Zulu medicinal plants for prostaglandin-synthesis inhibitors

neurochemical subtleties. Lengthy discussion is published verbatim and in general enhances the value of the papers. A major justification of the duplicate publication usually involved in printing symposia proceedings is the orientation provided in the field by bringing together related work, not merely in juxtaposition, but under evaluative discussion by leading investigators within and across disciplines. In this case comment was incisive and much remains cogent.

Screening Methods in Pharmacology.

Foeniculum vulgare Mill commonly called fennel has been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments related to digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and respiratory systems. Additionally, it is also used as a galactagogue agent for lactating mothers. The review aims to gather the fragmented information available in the literature regarding morphology, ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Foeniculum vulgare. It also compiles available scientific evidence for the ethnobotanical claims and to identify gaps required to be filled by future research. Findings based on their traditional uses and scientific evaluation indicates that Foeniculum vulgare remains to be the most widely used herbal plant. It has been used for more than forty types of disorders. Phytochemical studies have shown the presence of numerous valuable compounds, such as volatile compounds, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and amino acids. Compiled data indicate their efficacy in several in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antinociceptive, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antithrombotic, apoptotic, cardiovascular, chemomodulatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and memory enhancing property. Foeniculum vulgare has emerged as a good source of traditional medicine and it provides a noteworthy basis in pharmaceutical biology for the development/formulation of new drugs and future clinical uses.

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Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Contemporary Application, and Toxicology

The decoction of the aerial part of Calotropis procera is commonly used in Saudi Arabian traditional medicine for the treatment of variety of diseases including fever, joint pain, muscular spasm and constipation. The present investigation was undertaken to confirm its claimed activity in traditional medicine. The ethanol extract of the plant was tested on laboratory animals for its antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, purgative and muscle relaxant activities. The results of this study showed a significant antipyretic, analgesic and neuromuscular blocking activity. On smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum, the extract produced contractions which was blocked by atropine supporting its use in constipation. The extract failed to produce significant anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. Our phytochemical studies on the aerial parts of C. procera showed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, sterols and/or triterpenes. However, the chemical constituents responsible for the pharmacological activities remains to be investigated. The safety evaluation studies revealed that the use of extract in single high doses (up to 3g/kg) does not produce any visible toxic symptoms or mortality. However, prolong treatment (90 days) causes significantly higher mortality as compared to control group.

Pharmacological studies on aerial parts of Calotropis procera.

The ethanol extract of the dried ripe fruit of Foeniculum vulgare (500 mg/kg) was tested for diuretic, analgesic, antipyretic, antimicrobial, cytotoxic activities and its effect on bile secretion in rats. Also, the acute toxicity after 0.5, 1 and 3 g/kg was investigated in mice. The extract showed diuretic, analgesic, antipyretic activities and it enhanced bile secretion. As an antimicrobial agent, the extract inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and showed a marked mitodepressive effect. At a dose of 3 g/kg, it caused piloerection and it depressed locomotor activity but caused no deaths when administered acutely to mice.

Pharmacological and toxicological investigations on Foeniculum vulgare dried fruit extract in experimental animals

Analgesic, antipyretic activity and phytochemical screening of some plants used in traditional Arab system of medicine

Zizyphus spina-christi is a commonly available plant used by Saudi folk medicine practitioners for various purposes. The experimental testing of these claimed properties in animals, using the ethanolic extract of the leaves, showed that it has a considerable anti-inflammatory and moderate antipyretic activities. It also inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis. However, no analgesic or diuretic activity could be demonstrated. The aqueous extract of the leaves exhibited surface activity with critical micelle concentration found at 0.25% w/v concentration.

A. Mohsin

Papers

Pharmacological studies on aerial parts of Calotropis procera.

Pharmacological and toxicological investigations on Foeniculum vulgare dried fruit extract in experimental animals

Analgesic, antipyretic activity and phytochemical screening of some plants used in traditional Arab system of medicine

Evaluation of some Pharmacological, Microbiological and Physical Properties of Zizyphus spina-christi