IT may occasion some surprise to those men of science who are ill-acquainted with India, and who so frequently express the view that Governments are unappreciative of the importance of science to learn that as far back as 1886 the Government of India arranged for Dr. George (later Sir George) Watt, professor of botany in the Presidency College, Calcutta, to prepare a "Dictionary of the Economic Products of India". The six volumes of this standard work were published during the years 1889-99. In 1908 Sir George Watt published a condensed version, "The Commercial Products of India". Whatever the defects of these 'dictionaries', they have been of inestimable value to all interested in Indian natural products. The Wealth of India A Dictionary of Indian Raw Materials and Industrial Products. Raw Materials, Vol. 1. Pp. xxvii+254+39 plates. 15 rupees ; 24s. Industrial Products, Part 1. Pp. xii+182+8 plates. 8 rupees ; 12s. (New Delhi : Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1948.)

The Wealth of India

Structure, Delimitation, Nomenclature and Classification of Stomata

The New Willis@@@A Dictionary of the Flowering Plants and Ferns

Background: Centella asiatica leaves ethanol extract (CALEE) has higher concentration compared to other structures within the plant. The extract contains alkaloids, saponins and flavonoids, which play an active role as antioxidant and antibacterial. Current study aimed to determine the effect of CALEE on Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Yersinia enterocolitica, Gram-negative bacteria that cause diarrhea. Materials and methods: Simplicia of C. asiatica leaves was dissolved in 96% ethanol and macerated to get condensed extract, which then produced a concentration of 1 g/mL. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined to assess the effectiveness of CALEE on P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris, and Y. enterocolitica. MIC was determined through serial dilution test with Mueller Hinton broth media. After incubation, the bacteria were streaked on nutrient agar or McConkey agar to determine the MBC. Results: The MIC value of CALEE could not be determined since the color of CALEE was dark, hence the turbidity could not be compared. CALEE had the same MBC value (0.25 g/mL) in all bacteria species used in this study. Conclusion: CALEE is effective against Gram-negative bacteria, such as P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris, and Y. enterocolitica. Further research is needed, especially in vivo experiments and evaluation of the cytotoxicity effect of CALEE. Keywords: Centella asiatica, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Yersinia enterocolitica, antibacterial

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Antimicrobial Activity of Ethanol Extract of Centella asiatica Leaves on Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Yersinia enterocolitica in vitro

The paper deals with pharmacognosy of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, including its morphological, anatomical, chemical constituents and powder analysis. Stomata are mostly anisotricytic, isotricytic and few tetracytic. Sphaero-crystals of calcium oxalate are observed in palisade, spongy and ground parenchyma of leaf lamina, petiole and rhizome and absent in roots. Uniseriate flagellate conical hairs present only on abaxial surface of leaf and all over the petiole. The venation is palmatous actinodromous with six primary veins. Midrib consists of a single vascular bundle while petiole consists of 7 - 8, rhizome with numerous bundles are observed and root consists of tetrarch vascular bundle. Powder microscopically show fragment of epidermis, mesophyll, sphaero-crystals, trichomes, collenchyma and parenchyma of leaf, petiole, rhizome and root. Tracheary elements show annular helical and pitted types.

M Prabhakar

Papers

Pharmacognostic studies on centella asiatica (L) urban.