Hemidesmus indicus

About: Hemidesmus indicus is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 301 publications have been published within this topic receiving 5305 citations. The topic is also known as: Indian sarsaparilla.

Ethnobotanical survey of folk plants for the treatment of snakebites in Southern part of Tamilnadu, India.

Abstract: Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in four different indigenous groups in Southern parts of Tamilnadu, India, using a questionnaire. The herbal practitioners in the study area were interviewed, and information on medicinal plants was collected from the traditional healers called “Vaidyars”. This survey covers 72 medicinal plants belonging to 53 families that are used for the treatment of snakebite in a traditional way. Traditional approach was evaluated scientifically with some selected plant extracts (7.2 mg/kg bw) and partially purified fractions (2.4 mg/kg bw) were orally administered to mice experimentally envenomed with rattlesnake venom s.c. injection (2.5–15 μg/kg bw). Tested fractions ( Aristolochia indica , Hemidesmus indicus , Gloriosa superba , Strychnos nux-vomica , Eclipta prostrata , and Andrographis paniculata ) showed potent neutralizing effect against the venom. Compared to the extracts, administration of purified fractions was more effective in increasing the body weight. Control mice injected with the venom alone showed weight loss and severe toxicity at 15 μg/kg bw. The purified fractions (2.4 mg/kg bw) produced significant protection against venom induced changes in serum SOD and LPx levels. The isolated fractions effectively inhibited the toxic effect of snake venoms in vitro than in vivo. The above observations confirmed the protective activity of plants— Aristolochia indica , Hemidesmus indicus , Gloriosa superba , Strychnos nux-vomica , Eclipta prostrata , and Andrographis paniculata against the lethal action of snake venom and need further investigation.

Antimicrobial effects of Indian medicinal plants against acne-inducing bacteria

Abstract: Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis have been recognized as pus-forming bacteria triggering an inflammation in acne. The present study was conducted to evaluate antimicrobial activities of Indian medicinal plants against these etiologic agents of acne vulgaris. Ethanolic extracts of Hemidesmus indicus (roots), Eclipta alba (fruits), Coscinium fenestratum (stems), Curcubito pepo (seeds), Tephrosia purpurea (roots), Mentha piperita (leaves), Pongamia pinnata (seeds), Symplocos racemosa (barks), Euphorbia hirta (roots), Tinospora cordyfolia (roots), Thespesia populnea (roots), and Jasminum officinale (flowers) were tested for antimicrobial activities by disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. The results from the disc diffusion method showed that 07 medicinal plants could inhibit the growth of Propionibacterium acnes. Among those Hemidesmus indicus, Coscinium fenestratum, Tephrosia purpurea, Euphorbia hirta, Symplocos racemosa, Curcubito pepo and Eclipta alba had strong inhibitory effects. Based on a broth dilution method, the Coscinium fenestratum extract had the greatest antimicrobial effect. The MIC values were the same (0.049 mg/ml) for both bacterial species and the MBC values were 0.049 and 0.165 mg/ml against Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, respectively. In bioautography assay, the Coscinium fenestratum extract produced strong inhibition zones against Propionibacterium acnes. Phytochemical screening of Coscinium fenestratum revealed the presence of alkaloid which could be responsible for activity. Taken together, our data indicated that Coscinium fenestratum had a strong inhibitory effect on Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Inhibition of Propionibacterium acnes-induced mediators of inflammation by Indian herbs.

Abstract: Summary Propionibacterium acnes , an anaerobic pathogen, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acne by inducing certain inflammatory mediators. These mediators include reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the present study, ROS, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were used as the major criteria for the evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity. To prove the anti-inflammatory effects of herbs, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and monocytes were treated with culture supernatant of P. acnes in the presence or absence of herbs. It was found that Rubia cordifolia, Curcuma longa, Hemidesmus indicus , and Azadirachta indica caused a statistically significant suppression of ROSfrom PMNL. Sphaeranthus indicus caused a smaller, still significant suppression of ROS. Aloe vera had no effect on ROSproduction. In the case of proinflammatory cytokine-induced monocytes, maximum suppression was shown by Azadirachta indica and Sphaeranthus indicus , followed by Hemidesmus indicus , Rubia cordifolia , and Curcuma longa. Aloe vera showed insignificant inhibitory activity. Thus, these herbs shows anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the capacity of P. acnes- induced ROSand pro-inflammatory cytokines, the two important inflammatory mediators in acne pathogenesis.

Larvicidal effect of Hemidesmus indicus , Gymnema sylvestre , and Eclipta prostrata,/i> against Culex qinquifaciatus mosquito larvae

Abstract: The larvicidal effect of aqueous extracts of Hemidesmus indicus roots, Gymnema sylvestre and Eclipta prostrata leaves were tested against Culex quinquefasciatus larvae at the concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% up to three days. All extracts showed larval mortality. Larval mortality was 100% with the use of 5% concentration of root extract of H. indicus, leaves extracts of G. sylvestre and E. prostrata after 2 days. Qualitative analysis of the phytochemicals of aqueous extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, phytosterols, phenols, flavonoids and tannins in all the plants. Quantitative analysis showed that the crude saponin was the major phytochemical constituent present in highest percentage followed by crude tannin in all three plants. It is suggested that all the three plants possess larvicidal properties that could be developed and used as natural insecticides for mosquito control.

Evaluation of antioxidant properties of root bark of Hemidesmus indicus R. Br. (Anantmul)

Abstract: Hemidesmus indicus R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) is a well known drug in Ayurveda system of medicine. In the present study, antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of H. indicus root bark was evaluated in several in vitro and ex vivo models. Further, preliminary phytochemical analysis and TLC fingerprint profile of the extract was established to characterize the extract which showed antioxidant properties. The in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant potential of root bark of H. indicus was evaluated in different systems viz. radical scavenging activity by DPPH reduction, superoxide radical scavenging activity in riboflavin/light/NBT system, nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging activity in sodium nitroprusside/Greiss reagent system and inhibition of lipid peroxidation induced by iron-ADP-ascorbate in liver homogenate and phenylhydrazine induced haemolysis in erythrocyte membrane stabilization study. The extract was found to have different levels of antioxidant properties in the models tested. In scavenging DPPH and superoxide radicals, its activity was intense (EC50 = 18.87 and 19.9 microg/ml respectively) while in scavenging NO radical, it was moderate. It also inhibited lipid peroxidation of liver homogenate (EC50 = 43.8 microg/ml) and the haemolysis induced by phenylhydrazine (EC50 = 9.74 microg/ml) confirming the membrane stabilization activity. The free radical scavenging property may be one of the mechanisms by which this drug is effective in several free radical mediated disease conditions.