Showing papers on "Medicinal plants published in 1997"

The Medicinal Plants of Mauritius – Part 1

Abstract: A survey of the medicinal plants of Mauritius has been carried out and 461 plants have been identified as being medicinal. The vernacular names of the plants are given along with the data on plant parts used and for which diseases these plants can be employed.

Medicinal plants for the treatment of urogenital tract pathologies according to Dioscorides' De Materia Medica.

Abstract: The De Materia Medica of the Greek Dioscorides reports about 200 plants used for the treatment of pathologies of the urogenital tract during the 1st century AD. On the basis of explicit and implicit affirmations by Dioscorides, a theoretical system concerning the specific properties of these plants has been attempted. Comparison of the species reported by Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder for renal affections does not support the thesis of a close relationship between De Materia Medica and the Naturalis Historia.

Chemical Investigation of Medicinal Plants

Abstract: Since his existence on this planet man has had to depend on Nature for sustenance and survival. Medicinal plants have been used by him to keep himself healthy. According to the studies on ethnomedicine and folk medicine about 2000 species are newly identified as drug yielding plants and are well known for their use in about 4000 drug industries of various Indian systems of medicine. Phytochemical examination of a number of them has been carried out and active ingredients, isolated, identified are being currently used as drugs. Chemical examination of hitherto unexplored medicinal plants will help in discovering new drugs.

Antimicrobial activity of extracts of Momordica charantia and Alstonia boonei on some bacteria

Abstract: The medicinal plants, Momordica rharantia and Alstonia boonei were examined for antimicrobial activity against a Gram positive bacterium: Staphylororcus aureus and some Gram negative bacteria; Salmonella typhi, Proteus 1•ilfgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klehsiella pneumoniae. The active constituents of the leaves of the medicinal plants were extracted with 953 ethanol using the clad maceration method of extraction. Sterilized filter paper disks, 6mm in diameter, were used in evaluating the activity of the plants extracts against viable and pure cultures of the test organisms. Results showed that both medicinal plants exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staph aureus, S. typhi and K. pneumoniae. A. boonei also showed antibacterial activity against P. vulgaris , but this organism was however resistant to M. charantia. P. aeeruginosa -was resistant to both medicinal plants. Although this is a preliminary study, the possible chemotherapeutic usefulness of these two medicinal plants can not be overemphasized.

In Vitro Assay for The Anti-Diabetic Effect Of Ocimum Canum and Other Medicinal Plants

Abstract: ............................................ xii CHAPTER O N E ............................................. 1 INTRODUCTINO AND LITERATURE REVIEW................... 1 1.

Antitumor Promoters from Plants Used as Condiments or Garnishes

Abstract: As part of a screening program for cancer chemopreventive agents of plant origin, we have examined the antitumor-promoting activity of extracts and constituents of edible or medicinal plants. Primary screening for antitumor promoters was carried out using an in vitro short-term assay. Inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation were observed in this assay. The isolated active components were further tested using in vivo antitumor-promoting assays against mouse skin and lung. A variety of phytochemicals such as sesquiterpenes, biflavones, lipids, lignans, and other phenolic compounds were isolated as active principles by monitoring their inhibitory effects on EBV-EA activation. Among these, drimane-type sesquiterpenes and acetylenic compounds showed potent antitumor-promoting activities in vivo. They were derived from edible plants used as condiments or garnishes in the Japanese cuisine. Focusing on the edible plants, the results of our screening study are reviewed.

In vitro effects of decoction from five species of chinese plants against trichomonas vaginalis

Abstract: In vitro effects of extracts from the 5 species of Chinese herbal medicine against Trichomonas vaginalis, one of the most important protozoal diseases in China, were investigated. It was demonstrated that the extracts from Artemisia annua, Phellodendron amurense and Pulsatilla chinensis were highly effective against the protozoa at 1 to 5 hr after the start of the exposure to the drugs. The extract from Cnidium monnieri was much less effective and that from Sophora flavescens showed no activity even afterthe exposure for 5 hr. After this screening for excluding non-effective drugs, the parasites were exposed to all of the drugs except the extract from S. flavescens, the negative one in the above test, for 5 days at the drug concentrations lower than those above. The extracts from A. annua and P. chinensis were highly effective, immobilizing the parasites completely 2 or 3 days after the start of the exposure and afterwards. Contrarily, those from C. monnieri and P. amurense were not so effective. The results obtained in the present studies were in favour of the prospect that further studies including those on side effects, would be worthy of being carried out for the establishment of the chemotherapy of T. vaginalis infection with the crude drugs from medicinal plants in China.