Herbs/Botanical plants are considered as God's gift to human beings in the form of natural medicines, like the one well known "Sanjeevani booti" described in Hindu Mythology. The traditional and ethno-veterinary practices have been in use for centuries, transferring the knowledge from generation to generation and they are accessible, easy to prepare and administer, with little or no cost at all. Even though the modern developments in therapeutic field brought about a rapid decline in traditional medicine, the plant-based remedies are still having a crucial role as potential source of therapeutic aids in health systems all over the world for both humans and animals. Among the 21,000 medicinal plants listed by the World Health Organization (WHO), 2500 species are native to India, which stands first in the production of medicinal herbs. This innumerable treasure of medicinal herbs brings India the distinction of 'the botanical garden of the world'. Nowadays immune-based therapies are gaining more importance than monovalent approaches which are having limited benefits. Apart from the actions like treating diseases, control of ecto- and endo-parasites, fertility enhancement, bone setting and poor mothering management, an array of herbal medicines have been reported which are having immunomodulatory effects like modulation of cytokine secretion, histamine release, immunoglobulin secretion, class switching, cellular co-receptor expression, lymphocyte expression, phagocytosis and so on. The present article describes in brief few of these important ones viz., ashwagandha, amla, tulsi, arjuna, aloe vera, garlic, turmeric, ginger, shatavari, neem, guduchi, kiwifruit, tut, kamala, palashlata, kokilaksha etc. being used for human and animal health benefits.

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Immunomodulatory and therapeutic potentials of herbal, traditional/indigenous and ethnoveterinary medicines.

The molecular mass and its distribution of citrus pectin degraded by different methods were investigated. The primary structure and nanostructure of the degraded products were also identified. The results indicated that acid (80 °C, 12 h), ultrasound-assisted acid (25 °C, 2.5 h) and ultrasound (25 °C, 1.5 h) degraded pectins had equivalent molecular mass. The molecular mass distribution of ultrasound-assisted acid and ultrasound degraded pectins were less polydisperse than that of acid degraded pectin. According to HPLC, IR and NMR analysis, the main chain of ultrasound degraded pectin could be preserved. By contrast, acid degraded pectin was completely free of neutral sugar-side chains. Furthermore, the esterification level of ultrasound-assisted acid and ultrasound degraded pectins was considerably lower than that of original pectin, whereas that of the acid degraded pectin was nearly equal to zero. AFM analysis indicated that the morphology of original pectin was different from that of degraded pectins. The length of linear chains of degraded pectins was shorter and density of branches was lower, compared with that of original pectin. The results indicated that the ultrasound degradation method has the advantage of being timesaving, milder and environment-friendly.

Effect of degradation methods on the structural properties of citrus pectin

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of fifteen Indian medicinal plants has been evaluated by in vitro enzyme assay. Methanol extracts of Cyperus rotundus (tubers), Plumbago zeylanica (root), Symplocos racemosa (bark), and Terminalia arjuna (bark) had displayed 100% inhibition with the IC 50 value of 3.98 µg/ml, 3.46 µg/ml, 8.16 µg/ml and 0.69 µg/ml, respectively. Bark extract of Terminalia arjuna is highly effective against alpha- glucosidase activity even at nanogram concentration. Plant parts of Piper retrofractum (stem), Zingiber officinale (rhizome), Acorus calamus (rhizome), Picrorhiza kurroa (rhizome), Marsdenia tenacissima (stem), Clerodendron serratum (root), and Rubia cordifolia (root) are not effective and they require high concentration to exhibit inhibition. Potential plants that show maximum inhibition at low concentration (<10 µg/ml) were subjected to kinetic analysis to determine the mode of inhibition of the enzyme. Cyperus rotundus, Symplocos racemosa and Terminalia arjuna exhibited uncompetitive inhibition and Plumbago zeylanica had displayed mixed inhibition to alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity. From the enzyme assay, we infer that Cyperus rotundus, Plumbago zeylanica, Symplocos racemosa and Terminalia arjuna contain potential alpha-glucosidase inhibitors that can be exploited for its use in the treatment of diabetes.

Screening of fifteen indian ayurvedic plants for alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity and enzyme kinetics

Effect of polysaccharide from cultured Cordyceps sinensis on immune function and anti-oxidation activity of mice exposed to 60Co

Characterization of polysaccharide from Astragalus radix as the macrophage stimulator

Water-soluble polysaccharide obtained from Acorus calamus L. classically activates macrophages and stimulates Th1 response.

Were studied the effects of water-soluble plant polysaccharides isolated from pharmacopoeic raw material on anaphylactic shock and production of IgE and IgG1 by lymphocytes from mice immunized with ovalbumin. Course treatment with polysaccharides from coltsfoot, sweet flag, clover, Artemisia, marigold, and elecampane reduced animal mortality after induction of anaphylactic shock. In addition, injection of these substances reduced serum concentrations of IgE and IgG1. These substances can be regarded as promising agents for the treatment of IgE-dependent diseases (atopic dermatitis, asthma, atopic rhinitis, urticaria, food allergies, etc.).

E. S. Trophimova

Papers

Water-soluble polysaccharide obtained from Acorus calamus L. classically activates macrophages and stimulates Th1 response.

Effects of Plant Water-Soluble Polysaccharides on the Production of Immunoglobulins E and G1 by Lymphocytes of Mice Sensitized with Ovalbumin