THIS text-book of pharmacognosy has already found wide recognition among teachers and students of pharmacy. Its subject matter has grown from a laboratory manual intended for use in practical classes, and now comprises the requirements for the Chemist and Druggist Qualifying Examination of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. A Textbook of Pharmacognosy By T. C. Denston. Fourth edition. Pp. xviii + 594. (London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd., 1945.) 27s. 6d. net.

/pdf/a-textbook-of-pharmacognosy-33ag9rvlzo.pdf

A Textbook of Pharmacognosy

https://dspace.stir.ac.uk/bitstream/1893/24424/1/2016%2005%2023%20review%20IS%20diets%20FSI%20format%20-SM.pdf

The response of fish to immunostimulant diets

The increasing use of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) in daily-life applications, electronics, or catalysis calls for green and cost-efficient synthetic methods. Ag NPs are used especially in biomedicine because of their antibacterial, antifungal, or anticancer properties. Chemical synthesis allows tuning the particle morphology, size, and crystallinity, but requires toxic and hazardous chemicals. Bioinspired synthetic protocols have shown promise to minimize environmental impact, but biological protocols for the synthesis of Ag NPs lack control on the morphology and crystallinity. This review briefly compiles the chemical synthesis of Ag NPs and contrasts it with "green" protocols based on lessons learnt from chemical synthesis. The synthesis of Ag NPs with different plant extracts and the associated phytomolecules, their chemical and biological effects, and their effect on particle synthesis are described and put into perspective to improve green protocols. The surface functionalization of Ag NPs by phytomolecules and the mechanisms of their biomedical applications are summarized.

Plant extracts as green reductants for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles: lessons from chemical synthesis.

Azadirachta indica L. is a multipurpose medicinal tree of family Meliaceae. It occurs in tropical and semitropical regions of the world. Different parts of this miraculous tree are used to treat pyrexia, headache, ulcer, respiratory disorders, cancer, diabetes, leprosy, malaria, dengue, chicken pox, and dermal complications. The tree is popular for its pharmacological attributes such as hypolipidemic, antifertility, microbicidal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antipyretic, hypoglycemic, insecticidal, nematicidal, antiulcer, antioxidant, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and antileishmaniasis properties. A. indica is also rich in various phytochemicals for pharmaceuticals such as alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates. The fungicidal potential of the tree is due to the presence of azadirachtin and nimbin. Herein, we have compiled a comprehensive review of phytochemical profile, pharmacological attributes, and therapeutic prospective of this multipurpose tree.

A comprehensive review of phytochemical profile, bioactives for pharmaceuticals, and pharmacological attributes of Azadirachta indica

Inclusion of fungi as commensals in oral biofilm is an important innovation in oral biology, and this work aimed to review the literature on the available biofilm and related disease in vitro models. Actually, thousands of bacterial and around one hundred of fungal phylotypes can colonize the oral cavity. Taxonomic profiling combined with functional expression analysis has revealed that Candida albicans, Streptococcus mutans and prominent periodontopathogens are not always present or numerically important in candidiasis, caries, or periodontitis lesions. However, C. albicans combined with Streptococcus spp. co-increase their virulence in invasive candidiasis, early childhood caries or peri-implantitis. As Candida species and many other fungi are also members of oral microcosms in healthy individuals, mixed fungal-bacterial biofilm models are increasingly valuable investigative tools, and new fungal-bacterial species combinations need to be investigated. Here we review the key points and current methods for culturing in vitro mixed fungal-bacterial models of oral biofilms. According to ecosystem under study (health, candidiasis, caries, periodontitis), protocol design will select microbial strains, biofilm support (polystyrene plate, cell culture, denture, tooth, implant), pre-treatment support (human or artificial saliva) and culture conditions. Growing mixed fungal-bacterial biofilm models in vitro is a difficult challenge. But reproducible models are needed, because oral hygiene products, food and beverage, medication, licit and illicit drugs can influence oral ecosystems. So, even though most oral fungi and bacteria are not cultivable, in vitro microbiological models should still be instrumental in adapting oral care products, dietary products and care protocols to patients at higher risk of oral diseases. Microbial biofilm models combined with oral epithelial cell cultures could also aid in understanding the inflammatory reaction.

Oral fungal-bacterial biofilm models in vitro: a review.

Objective: To check the antimicrobial activity of Azadirachta indica (Neem), Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), Mimusops elelngi (Bakul), Tinospora cardifolia (Giloy) and Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHX) on common endodontic pathogens like Streptococcus mutans , Enterococcus faecalis and staphylococcus aureus . Materials and Methods: The agar diffusion test was used to check the antimicrobial activity of the Methanolic extracts of the medicinal plants along with CHX. Six different concentrations of the tested agents were used for the study. The values of Zone of Inhibition were tabulated according to the concentration of the tested agent and data was statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Bonferroni post- hoc tests. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBC) values were also recorded. Results: All the plants extracts showed considerable antimicrobial activity against selected endodontic pathogens. At 3mg. concentration, O.sanctum was the most effective against S. mutans, M. elengi showed highest zone of inhibition against E.faecalis , whereas CHX was the most effective agent against S.aureus . CHX was also the most consistent of all the medicaments testes, showing inhibitory effect against all the tree pathogens at all the selected concentrations. Conclusions: The Methanolic extract of A.Indica, O.sanctum, M. Elengi, T.cardifolia and Chlorhexidine Gluconate has considerable antimicrobial activity against S. mutans, E. faecalis and S. aureus .

/pdf/the-antimicrobial-activity-of-azadirachta-indica-mimusops-1a2qpl3e29.pdf

The antimicrobial activity of Azadirachta indica, Mimusops elengi, Tinospora cardifolia, Ocimum sanctum and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate on common endodontic pathogens: An in vitro study

Aims: To check the antimicrobial activity of Azadirachta indica (Neem), Mimusops elengi (Bakul), and Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) on multispecies biofilm of common endodontic pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Settings and Design: In vitro dentin disinfection model used to check the antimicrobial efficacy of herbal extracts. Materials and Methods: The in vitro dentin disinfection model was used to check the antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extracts of the medicinal plants along with Chlorhexidine gluconate. The polymicrobial biofilm was allowed to grow on extracted teeth sections for a period of 21 days. Remaining microbial load in the form of CFU/ml after the antimicrobial treatment was tabulated, and data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS version 17, one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc test. Results: Both the plant extracts showed considerable antimicrobial efficacy as compared to negative control. 2% CHX was the most effective antimicrobial agent having statistically significant difference against plant extracts and negative control (saline). Conclusion: The methanolic extract of A. Indica, M. elengi, and Chlorhexidine Gluconate has considerable antimicrobial activity against polymicrobial dentinal biofilm of S. mutans, E. faecalis, S. aureus and C. albicans.

Antibacterial efficacy of Azadirachta indica, Mimusops elengi and 2% CHX on multispecies dentinal biofilm

Aims: To check the antimicrobial activity of Tinospora cordifolia (TC) (Giloy), Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) against 21-day-old multispecies biofilm formed on tooth substrate of extracted human teeth. Settings and Design: In vitro dentin disinfection model used to check the antimicrobial efficacy of herbal extracts. Materials and Methods: The in vitro dentin disinfection model was used to check the antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extracts of medicinal plants along with NaOCl. The polymicrobial biofilm was allowed to grow on extracted teeth sections for a period of 21 days. Remaining microbial load in the form of CFU/ml after the antimicrobial treatment was tabulated and data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS version 17 one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc test. Results: Both the plant extracts showed considerable antimicrobial efficacy as compared to negative control. About 5.25% NaOCl was the most effective antimicrobial agent having statistically significant difference against plant extracts and negative control (saline). Conclusions: The methanolic extract of TC (Giloy), O. sanctum (Tulsi), and 5.25% NaOCl has considerable antimicrobial activity against polymicrobial dentinal biofilm of Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans.

Samir Shah

Papers

The antimicrobial activity of Azadirachta indica, Mimusops elengi, Tinospora cardifolia, Ocimum sanctum and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate on common endodontic pathogens: An in vitro study

Antibacterial efficacy of Azadirachta indica, Mimusops elengi and 2% CHX on multispecies dentinal biofilm

Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial activity of herbal extracts with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite against multispecies dentinal biofilm