Objectives Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. (Lamiaceae) is a plant of the genus Lamiaceae, and its root is the main part used as a medicine. In China, Scutellaria baicalensis is still an important traditional Chinese medicine with the functions of clearing away heat and dampness, purging fire and detoxification. This medicinal plant is widely distributed in China, Russia, Mongolia, North Korea and Japan. The purpose of this paper was to provide a systematic and comprehensive overview on the traditional usages, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of this plant. Furthermore, the possible development trends and perspectives for future research on this medicinal plant are also discussed. Key findings So far, over 40 compounds have been isolated and identified from Scutellaria baicalensis, including flavonoids, terpenoids, volatile oils and polysaccharides. The compounds and extracts isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, including the effects on the nervous system, effects on the immune system, liver protection, antitumour effects, antibacterial and antiviral effects, antioxidant effects and other pharmacological effects. Summary As a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Scutellaria baicalensis has shown significant effects on the treatment of various diseases, especially hepatitis, diarrhoea, vomiting and high blood pressure. Numerous traditional uses of Scutellaria baicalensis have been confirmed by current investigations. However, it is also necessary to further study the drug-forming properties and pharmacokinetics of the active constituents of Scutellaria baicalensis, as well as to establish quality control standards for different areas of Scutellaria baicalensis, and to carry out the research at the cellular and molecular levels.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jphp.13129

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. (Lamiaceae): a review of its traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology

Induction of apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines by a flavonoid, baicalin

PURPOSE: Asparagus racemosus Wild root has been used traditionally in Ayurveda for the treat- ment of diarrhoea and dysentery. However, the claims of Ayurveda need to be validated by a suitable experi- mental model. Therefore, the present study was under- taken to evaluate the effect of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Asparagus racemosus for its antidiarrhoeal potential against several experimental models of diar- rhoea in Albino Wistar rats. METHODS: The antidi- arrhoeal activity of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Asparagus racemosus root was evaluated using castor oil-induced diarrhoea model in rats. Further, we evalu- ated the effect of ethanol and aqueous extracts on gas- trointestinal tract motility after charcoal meal administration and PGE 2 induced intestinal fluid accu- mulation (enteropooling). Loperamide was used as pos- itive control. RESULTS: The plant extracts showed significant (P < 0.05) inhibitor activity against castor oil induced diarrhoea and PGE 2 induced enteropooling in rats when tested at 200 mg/kg. Both extracts also showed significant (P < 0.001) reduction in gas- trointestinal motility in charcoal meal test in rats. CONCLUSION: The results point out the possible anti-diarrhoeal effect of the plant extracts and substan- tiate the use of this herbal remedy as a non-specific treatment for diarrhoea in folk medicine.

https://www.ualberta.ca/~csps/JPPS8(1)/J.Perianayagam/asparagus.pdf

Anti-diarrhoeal potential of Asparagus racemosus wild root extracts in laboratory animals.

Acacia nilotica (Thorn mimosa) is used locally for various medicinal purposes by traditionalists and herbalists in northeastern Nigeria. Plants products have been used since ancient times in the management of various conditions. The bark of A. nilotica has been reported to be used traditionally to manage diabetes, dysentery, leprosy, ulcers, cancers, tumor of the eye, ear and testicles, induration of liver and spleen and also in treatment of various condylomas. The objective of this study is to determine the phytochemical and elemental constituents of the extracts of A. nilotica pods. Flame emission and atomic absorption spectrometry were also used to determine the presence or absence of micro- and macro-elements in the extracts. Phytochemical analysis of the aqueous, ethyl acetate and N-butanol fractionated portions of the pod extracts of A. nilotica revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, carbohydrate, whereas carbohydrates and tannins were the only constituent in the residue portion. Anthraquinones, alkaloids, terpene and steroids were not present in the extracts. The elemental screening revealed the presence of iron, potassium, manganese, zinc, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, cadmium and copper. Lead, arsenic and molybdenum were not detected in the pod.

http://vrf.iranjournals.ir/article_5387_d20aee91a5c7d34ba11705898a7a888b.pdf

Preliminary phytochemical and elemental analysis of aqueous and fractionated pod extracts of Acacia nilotica (Thorn mimosa).

Purpose: The objective of the study was to investigate the ethyl acetate extract of Morinda morindoides (Baker) Milne-Redh (Rubiaceae) (MM-EA) properties against experimental diarrheoa induced by castor oil in albino Wistar rats. Methods: The ethyl acetate extract of Morinda morindoides (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally to three groups of rats (five animals per group) in order to evaluate the activity of the extract against castor oil-induced diarrhea model in rat. Two other groups received normal saline (5mg/kg) and loperamide (5mg/kg) as positive control. The effect of the extract on intestinal transit and castor oil-induced intestinal fluid accumulation (enteropooling) was assessed. Results : At oral doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight, the plant extract showed pronounced and dose-dependent antidiarrheal activity. The protective role of the extract at 1000 mg/kg was comparable to that of the reference drug, loperamide (5mg/kg). The extract (1000 mg/kg) produced a decrease in intestinal transit comparable to atropine (5mg/kg), and significantly (p<0.01) inhibited castor oil-induced enteropooling. No mortality and visible signs of general weakness were observed in the rats following the extract administration of up to a dose of 6000 mg/kg. Conclusion: The results showed that the extract of M. morindoides has a significant antidiarrheal activity which supports its use in traditional herbal medicine practice.

/pdf/antidiarrheal-activity-of-the-ethyl-acetate-extract-of-1ycepmuxsi.pdf

Antidiarrheal Activity of the Ethyl Acetate Extract of Morinda morindoides in Rats

The present study examined the antioxidant activity in heated canola oil of hexane, acetone, and methanol extracts of dry roots of gansu huangqin (Scutellaria rehderiana) as well as six flavonoids isolated from the acetone and methanol extracts. The oxidation was conducted at 95°C by monitoring oxygen consumption and decreases in both linoleic and α-linolenic acids. The acetone extract was most effective in inhibiting oxidation of canola oil, followed by the methanol extract. The antioxidant activity of gansu huangqin acetone extract was dose-dependent. Among the six flavonoids, baicalein and ganhuangenin were more effective than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in protecting canola oil from oxidation. The present results suggest that the acetone extract of this root may be a potential source of natural antioxidants for use in processed foods.

Antioxidant activity of flavonoids isolated from Scutellaria rehderiana

There is an increasing interest in natural antioxidants present in traditional Chinese herbal medicines. The present study examined the antioxidant activity of heane, acetone, and methanol extracts, as well as baicalein purified from the dry roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (common name: Huangqin), in heated canola oil. Oxygen consumption and decreases in linoleic acid linolenic acid content were monitored in canola oil held at 90–93°C. Among the three extracts, the acetone extract was most effective against oxidation of canola oil, followed by the methanol extract of the dry roots. The antioxidant activity of these three extracts correlated well with their content of baicalein, which provided strong protection to canola oil from oxidation. The antioxidant activity of Huangqin acetone extract was dose-dependent. The acetone extract at 100 ppm or above was even more effective than butylated hydroxytoluene at 200 ppm in protecting canola oil from oxidation. The present results suggest that the acetone extract of these roots should be further explored as a potential source of natural antioxidants for use in the processed foods.

Yu-Rong Bi

Papers

Antioxidant activity of flavonoids isolated from Scutellaria rehderiana

Effect of baicalein and acetone extract of Scutellaria baicalensis on canola oil oxidation