International Journal of Phytomedicine 

About: International Journal of Phytomedicine is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): DPPH & Phytochemical. It has an ISSN identifier of 0975-0185. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 532 publications have been published receiving 3556 citations.

Natural sources as potential anti-cancer agents: A review

Abstract: Natural products remain an important source of new drugs, new drug leads and new chemical entities. The plant based drug discovery resulted mainly in the development of anticancer agents including plants (vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide, paclitaxel, camptothecin, topotecan and irinotecan), marine organisms (citarabine, aplidine and dolastatin 10) and micro-organisms (dactinomycin, bleomycin and doxorubicin). Beside this there is numerous agents identified from fruits and vegetables can used in anticancer therapy. The agents include curcumin (turmeric), resveratrol (red grapes, peanuts and berries), genistein (soybean), diallyl sulfide (allium), S-allyl cysteine (allium), allicin (garlic), lycopene (tomato), capsaicin (red chilli), diosgenin (fenugreek), 6-gingerol (ginger), ellagic acid (pomegranate), ursolic acid (apple, pears, prunes), silymarin (milk thistle), anethol (anise, camphor, and fennel), catechins (green tea), eugenol (cloves), indole-3-carbinol (cruciferous vegetables), limonene (citrus fruits), beta carotene (carrots), and dietary fiber. In this review active principle derived from natural products are offering a great opportunity to evaluate not only totally new chemical classes of anticancer agents, but also novel lead compound and potentially relevant mechanisms of action. Keywords: Cancer, vincristin, vinblastin, fruit, vegetables.

Antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of mahanimbine (carbazole alkaloid) from murraya koenigii (rutaceae) leaves

Abstract: Murraya koenigii leaves (Rutaceae) are used traditionally in Indian Ayurvedic system to treat diabetes. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of mahanimbine (carbazole alkaloid from Murraya koenigii leaves) on blood glucose and serum lipid profiles on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in adult male Wistar rats by intra-peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (45mg/kg). Mahanimbine (50 and 100mg/kg) were administrated as a single dose per week to the diabetic rats for 30 days. The control group received 0.3% w/v sodium carboxy methyl cellulose for the same duration. Fasting blood sugar and serum lipid profiles were measured in the diabetic and non-diabetic rats. In addition, in vitro alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibitory effects of mahanimbine were performed. Results: In the diabetic rats, the elevated fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein levels were reduced and high density lipoprotein level was increased by mahanimbine at a dose of 50 and 100mg/kg (i.p). In addition, mahanimbine showed appreciable alpha amylase inhibitory effect and weak alpha glucosidase inhibitory effects when compared with acarbose. Conclusions: The present study indicated that mahanimbine possess anti-hyperglycemic and anti-lipidemic effects. Thus results suggesting mahanimbine has beneficial effect in the management of diabetes associated with abnormal lipid profile and related cardiovascular complications. Keywords: Streptozotocin; Hypoglycemic; Hypolipidemic; Mahanimbine

Medicinal uses and pharmacological properties of Moringa oleifera

Abstract: Moringa oleifera Lam [Moringaceae] is a highly valued plant, distributed in many countries of the tropics and subtropics. It has an impressive range of medicinal uses with high nutritional value. Different parts of this plant contain a profile of important minerals, and are a good source of protein, vitamins, β -carotene, aminoacids and various phenolics. In addition to its compelling water purifying powers and high nutritional value, M. oleifera is very important for its medicinal value. Various parts of this plant such as the leaves, roots, seed, bark, fruit, flowers and immature pods act as cardiac and circulatory stimulants, possess anitumor, antipyretic, antiepileptic, antiinflammatory, antiulcer, antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antifungal activities, and are being employed for the treatment of different ailments in the indigenous system of medicine. This review focuses on the detailed phytochemical composition, medicinal uses, along with pharmacological properties of different parts of this multipurpose tree. Keywords: Moringa oleifera; β –carotene; anitumor

Application of quality control principles to herbal drugs.

Abstract: Quality is conformance to requirement and meeting stated as well as implied needs of customer. The word quality is derived from Latin ‘qualis’ means ‘of what kind’ and encompasses composition and properties of object. Quality is of paramount importance when it is specifically related with drugs. And when it comes to herbal drugs, because of several reasons is a herculean task. The quality of pharmaceuticals has been a concern of the World Health Organization (WHO) since its inception. The setting of global standards is requested in Article 2 of the WHO Constitution, which cites as one of the Organization’s functions that it should “develop, establish and promote international standards with respect to food, biological, pharmaceutical and similar products”. The World Health Assembly - in resolutions WHA31.33 (1978), WHA40.33 (1987) and WHA42.43 (1989) - has emphasized the need to ensure the quality of medicinal plant products by using modern control techniques and applying suitable standards. This manual describes a series of tests for assessing the quality of medicinal plant materials. The tests are designed primarily for use in national drug quality control laboratories in developing countries, and complement those described in ‘The international pharmacopoeia’ which provides quality specifications only for the few plant materials that are included in the WHO ‘Model List of Essential Drugs'. In this review, we have addressed some important issues related to quality of botanicals and discussed possible application of total quality management for herbal drugs. Keywords: WHO, Herbal Drugs, Quality Control.

A Convenient mechanism for the free radical scavenging activity of Resveratrol

Abstract: Resveratrol(3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a stilbenoid , a type of natural phenol, and a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi was evaluated for possible antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. Different antioxidant tests were employed, namely, reducing power, chelating activity on Fe 2+ , free radical-scavenging, total antioxidant, superoxide radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. In addition, the results were compared with natural and synthetic antioxidants, such as α- tocopherol, ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene(BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and trolox. Resveratrol exhibited a strong reducing power, chelating activity on Fe 2+ , free radical-scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. Antioxidant activity of resveratrol increased with increased concentrations.Total antioxidant activity of resveratrol and both standards decreased in the order of α-tocopherol > resveratrol > trolox > BHA > BHT. This study showed that resveratrol exhibited antioxidant activity in all tests and could be considered as a source of natural antioxidants.