The traditional uses, chemical constituents and biological activities of Plantago major L. A review

Anthocyanins in Cornus alternifolia, Cornus controversa, Cornus kousa and Cornus florida fruits with health benefits

The antibacterial effect of a soluble pectin polysaccharide, PMII, isolated from the leaves of Plantago major, was examined in inbred NIH/OlaHsd and Fox Chase SCID mice experimentally infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6B. Serotype 6B is known to give a more protracted infection when injected intraperitoneally into susceptible mice than more virulent serotypes like type 4. PMII was administered i.p. either once 3 days before challenge or once to thrice from 3 to 48 h after challenge. The number of bacteria in blood and the mouse survival rate were recorded. Pre-challenge administration of PMII and also lipopolysaccharide (LPS), included as a control, gave a dose-dependent protective effect against S. pneumoniae type 6B infection. However, injection of PMII after establishment of the infection in NIH/OlaHsd mice had no effect. The data demonstrate that, firstly, the polysaccharide fraction PMII from P. major protects against pneumococcal infection in mice when administered systemically prechallenge, and secondly that the protective effect is owing to stimulation of the innate and not the adaptive immune system.

Protective Effect of Plantago major L. Pectin Polysaccharide against Systemic Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection in Mice

Plants are one of the precious creatures of Allah, producing a verity of useful bioactive compounds having definite pharmacological actions on human body. Keeping in view this idea, the methanolic extract from the bark of Cornus macrophylla was investigated for phytochemicals, antioxidant, total phenolic contents (TPC) and phytotoxic activities. Phytochemical analysis of Cornus macrophylla revealed the presence of tannins, anthraquinones, glycosides, reducing sugar, saponins and flavonoids. The percent free radicals scavenging potential of DPPH at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100µg/ml was 72.69%, 73.32%, 73.51, 73.83% and 74.33% respectively and were compared to ascorbic acid (84.6%, 92.83%, 95.36%, 96.40% and 98.03%), gallic acid (85.49%, 92.47%, 95.14%, 98.22% and 98.03%) and quercetin (95.35%, 96.30%, 97.16%, 98.02% and 98.28%) as standards. The IC50 value of Cornus macrophylla was 14.5/µg/ml. The TPC of the methanolic bark extract was 2.916 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of extract. The extract have shown excellent phytotoxic activity against the tested plant Lemna minor and inhibited the growth at 1000 µg/ml. Our findings revealed that the crude methanolic extract of Cornus macrophylla is a potential source of natural antioxidants and herbicidal.

http://pjps.pk/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/28/1/paper-4.pdf

Phytochemicals, in vitro antioxidant, total phenolic contents and phytotoxic activity of Cornus macrophylla Wall bark collected from the North-West of Pakistan.

Rubiasins A–C, new anthracene derivatives from the roots and stems of Rubia cordifolia

Survey of Chinese Drugs for Presence of Antibacterial Substances.

Fresh-water medusae found in kiating, szechuen, china.

FORTY soil samples collected around Kiating and its vicinity, Szechuen, have been studied. Fifty-seven species of Protozoa were recorded: 24 species flagellates, 10 species Sarcodina and 23 species ciliates. Among them, several species were found for the first time in soil. They are, among the flagellates, Cryptochrysis commutata, Peridinium sp.; among the Sarcodina, Amaeba guttula, Amaeba striata; and among the ciliates, Frontonia sp., Chilodon capucinus, Chilodon fluviatilis, Vorticella chlorostigma, Vorticella nutans. The most common species found are Oikomonas termo, Monas vulgaris, Amaeba limax, Hartmanella hyalina, Cercomonas longicauda, Naegleria gruberi and Colpoda cucullus. They are present in 70–100 per cent of the samples examined. Casual observations indicate that the greatest number of species found in one single sample is around seventeen, and the least one or two.

H. Zanyin Gaw

Papers

Survey of Chinese Drugs for Presence of Antibacterial Substances.

Fresh-water medusae found in kiating, szechuen, china.

Soil Protozoa in some Chinese Soils

The occurrence and isolation of azotobacter in chinese soils.