Showing papers on "Medicinal plants published in 2007"

Indian Herbs and Herbal Drugs Used for the Treatment of Diabetes

Abstract: Traditional Medicines derived from medicinal plants are used by about 60% of the world's population. This review focuses on Indian Herbal drugs and plants used in the treatment of diabetes, especially in India. Diabetes is an important human ailment afflicting many from various walks of life in different countries. In India it is proving to be a major health problem, especially in the urban areas. Though there are various approaches to reduce the ill effects of diabetes and its secondary complications, herbal formulations are preferred due to lesser side effects and low cost. A list of medicinal plants with proven antidiabetic and related beneficial effects and of herbal drugs used in treatment of diabetes is compiled. These include, Allium sativum, Eugenia jambolana, Momordica charantia Ocimum sanctum, Phyllanthus amarus, Pterocarpus marsupium, Tinospora cordifolia, Trigonella foenum graecum and Withania somnifera. One of the etiologic factors implicated in the development of diabetes and its complications is the damage induced by free radicals and hence an antidiabetic compound with antioxidant properties would be more beneficial. Therefore information on antioxidant effects of these medicinal plants is also included.

Bioactivity of phytochemicals in some lesser-known plants and their effects and potential applications in livestock and aquaculture production systems.

Abstract: Livestock and aquaculture production is under political and social pressure, especially in the European Union (EU), to decrease pollution and environmental damage arising due to animal agriculture. The EU has banned the use of antibiotics and other chemicals, which have been shown to be effective in promoting growth and reducing environment pollutants because of the risk caused to humans by chemical residues in food and by antibiotic resistance being passed on to human pathogens. As a result of this, scientists have intensified efforts in exploiting plants, plant extracts or natural plant compounds as potential natural alternatives for enhancing the livestock productivity. This paper discusses work on the effects of various phytochemicals and plant secondary metabolites in ruminant and fish species. The focus is on (i) plants such as Ananas comosus (pine apple), Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) and Azadirachta indica (neem) containing anthelmintic compounds and for their use for controlling internal parasites; (ii) plants containing polyphenols and their applications for protecting proteins from degradation in the rumen, increasing efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in rumen and decreasing methane emission; for using as antioxidants, antibacterial and antihelmintic agents; and for changing meat colour and for increasing n-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid in meat; (iii) saponin-rich plants such as quillaja, yucca and Sapindus saponaria for increasing the efficiency of rumen fermentation, decreasing methane emission and enhancing growth; for producing desired nutritional attributes such as lowering of cholesterol in monogastric animals; for increasing growth of fish (common carp and Nile tilapia) and for changing male to female ratio in tilapia; and for use as molluscicidal agents; (iv) Moringa oleifera leaves as a source of plant growth factor(s), antioxidants, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and various glucosinolates and their degraded products for possible use as antibacterial, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and antipest agents; (v) Jatropha curcas toxic variety with high levels of various phytochemicals such as trypsin inhibitor, lectin, phytate and phorbol esters in seeds limiting the use of seed meal in fish and livestock diets; and the use of phorbol esters as bio-pesticidal agent; and (vi) lesser-known legumes such as Entada phaseoloides seeds containing high levels of trypsin inhibitor and saponins, Sesbania aculeate seeds rich in non-starch polysaccharides and Mucuna pruriens var. utilis seeds rich in l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and their potential as fish feed; Cassia fistula seeds as a source of antioxidants; and the use of Canavalia ensiformis, C. gladiata and C. virosa seeds containing high levels of trypsin inhinitor, lectins and canavanine. The paper also presents some challenges and future areas of work in this field.

Antibacterial activity of some Indian medicinal plants

Abstract: Aqueous extracts of ten medicinal plants were examined for their antibacterial potential against some reference strains of human pathogenic bacteria. Anethum graveolens, Elettaria cardamomum, Foeniculum vulgare, Trachyspermum ammi and Viola odorata were found to be better/equally effective compared to standard antibiotics. V. odorata was the most effective antibacterial with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 1 to 2%. The results provide a scientific basis for the centuries-old usage of aqueous extracts of these medicinal plants.

Current Status of Herbal Drugs in India: An Overview

Abstract: Herbal drugs constitute a major share of all the officially recognised systems of health in India viz. Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy, except Allopathy. More than 70% of India’s 1.1 billion population still use these non-allopathic systems of medicine. Currently, there is no separate category of herbal drugs or dietary supplements, as per the Indian Drugs Act. However, there is a vast experiential-evidence base for many of the natural drugs. This offers immense opportunities for Observational Therapeutics and Reverse Pharmacology. Evidence-based herbals are widely used in the diverse systems and manufactured, as per the pharmacopoeial guidelines, by a well-organised industry. Significant basic and clinical research has been carried out on the medicinal plants and their formulations, with the state-of-the-art methods in a number of Institutes/Universities. There are some good examples. Indian medicinal plants also provide a rich source for antioxidants that are known to prevent/delay different diseased states. The antioxidant protection is observed at different levels. The medicinal plants also contain other beneficial compounds like ingredients for functional foods. Hence, the global knowledge about Ayurveda and Indian herbals will hopefully be enhanced by information on the evidence-base of these plants. This will yield rich dividends in the coming years.

A Potential Antioxidant Resource: Endophytic Fungi from Medicinal Plants

Abstract: Medicinal plants and their endophytes are important resources for discovery of natural products. Several previous studies have found a positive correlation between total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content (TPC) of many medicinal plant extracts. However, no information is available on whether such a relationship also exists in their endophytic fungal metabolites. We investigated the relationship between TAC and TPC for 292 morphologically distinct endophytic fungi isolated from 29 traditional Chinese medicinal plants. The antioxidant capacities of the endophytic fungal cultures were significantly correlated with their total phenolic contents, suggesting that phenolics were also the major antioxidant constituents of the endophytes. Some of the endophytes were found to produce metabolites possessing strong antioxidant activities. Several bioactive constituents from the fungal cultures and host plant extracts were identified. This investigation reveals that the metabolites produced by a wide diversity of endophytic fungi in culture can be a potential source of novel natural antioxidants.

Medicinal herbs used for managing some common ailments among Esan people of Edo State, Nigeria.

Abstract: Medicinal herbs used for managing some common ailments in Esanland, Edo State, Nigeria were investigated in this study. The Esan people have a rich cultural heritage, which is reflected in the well- developed herbal medicine used to cure and manage various disease conditions. Herbal medicine offered remedies to common ailments ranging from common cold to complex pathological disorders including those relating to the respiratory, circulatory and genito-urinary systems. Seventy herbal plants used in 115 different methods or preparation were identified. About 83% of the herbal preparations were given orally, while 17% were applied topically. The aerial parts of the plants (84%) were most frequently administered in the form of decoctions. Some of the herbs also form part of their diets and include: Talinum trangulare, Boerhavia diffusa, Euphorbia hirta, Gongronema latifolium and Aframomum melegueta. It can be concluded that medicinal herbs have played and will continue to play major roles in the management of commo n diseases in these communities.

Some Nigerian plants of dermatologic importance

Abstract: Background According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80% of the world's population uses medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases and, in African countries, this rate is much higher. In recent years, however, medicinal plants have represented a primary health source for the pharmaceutical industry. No less than 400 compounds derived from plants are currently used in the preparation of drugs, such as vincristine and vinblastine used in the treatment of cancer. Nigerians still depend largely on crude herbal remedies or traditional medicine. They also use wild plants for cosmetics and perfumery. Some of these herbal remedies have been observed to be effective in certain skin diseases. Methods The data were obtained from history questionnaires completed by patients at the Dermatology Clinic, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, and from oral interviews with vendors and prescribers of herbal preparations at major markets at Lagos and Ijebu-Ode in south-west Nigeria, between July 2004 and July 2006. Photographs of plants were taken at private residences at Lagos, Ibadan, and Ijebu-Ode in south-west Nigeria. A literature search was conducted on 38 of the plants. The data are presented in tabular form. Results Sixty-five per cent of patients had applied some form of herbal remedy before attending our clinic. The reasons for consultation included relapses, unsustained relief, incomplete resolution, and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Lesions for which herbs were successfully applied included infantile eczema and seborrhoiec dermatitis, atopic eczema, impetigo, impetiginized eczema, tinea capitis, scabies, erythema multiforme, leg ulcers, localized vitiligo, and sexually transmitted diseases. Partial relief was achieved in dermatophytoses, ichthyosis, leprosy, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Some forms of alopecia, onychomycosis, and vitiligo, as well as allergic dermatoses, were not improved by herbal medicines. The preparation of the remedies was mostly by heating and boiling, infusion, and maceration. In most cases, mixtures of plants or other substances were used. The preparations were applied as poultices, ointments, baths, soaks and soaps, and oral fluids. The plants used included Adansonia digitata, Aframomum melegueta, Aloe species, Azadirachta indica, Cassia alata, Alstonia boonei, Ficus asperifolia, Cocos nucifera, Jatropha gossypyfolia, Ocimum gratissimum, Ricinus communis. A literature search on 38 of the plants used by herbal prescribers revealed the presence of established antimicrobial agents, immune modulating agents, antioxidants, other vitamins and minerals, volatile oils and emollients, and anti-inflammatory agents. Some of the plants may be contaminated by mycotoxins because of poor storage. Conclusion There appears to be clinical, scientific, and pharmacologic basis for the use of herbal preparations. Nigeria needs to provide effective coordination of the practice of herbal medicine to ensure safety, standardization, and preservation of the flora.

Screening of some Algerian medicinal plants for the phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity

Abstract: Since recent times, there is a growing interest in the food industry and in preventive health care for the development and evaluation of natural antioxidants from medicinal plant materials. In the present work we have investigated the antioxidant potency of phenolic compounds of 11 indigenous wild plant species from the Algerian Atlas commonly used in Arab folk medicine for a wide range of conditions. The antioxidant activity of each phenolic extracts has been assessed by using the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) as a chemical test, and in a dynamic way by a biological assay based on whole blood resistance to free radical aggression. Of the 11 tested plants, 2 showed prominent antioxidant activity: Anthemis arvensis and Artemisia campestris. These plants had a very high level of Trolox equivalents and induced a strong delay of free radical-induced red blood cells hemolysis compared to antioxidant references. Artemisia campestris was the best inhibitor, its effect was far stronger than that of caffeic acid and was more than three times as high as ascorbic acid and two times higher than α-tocopherol efficiency. HPLC analysis showed a good correlation between the antioxidant activity and hydroxycinnamic derivatives. These preliminary results on the in vitro protection of blood against oxidative stress emphasized the benefit of the phenolic compounds of these medicinal plants. Our results enable us to proceed towards more detailed chemical and pharmacological understanding of these plant materials and show the interest of natural antioxidant in medicinal plants for the prevention of much free radical-mediated pathology.

An ethnomedicinal survey and documentation of important medicinal folklore food phytonims of flora of Samahni valley, (Azad Kashmir) Pakistan.

Abstract: Ethnobotanical knowledge is one of the precious cultural heritage parts of an area that involves the interaction between plants and people and foremost among these are the management of plant diversity by indigenous communities and the traditional use of medicinal plants. An ethnobotanical analysis was conducted in order to document the traditional medicinal uses of plants, particularly medicinally important folklore food phytonims of flora of Samahni valley, Azad Kashmir (Pakistan). In the valley, inhabitants use different taxa of flora in two different ways; herbal medicines and food (vegetable and fruits) medicines. The distinctive geographic position and historic demological background of the area keep folk phytotherapy potential of medicinal herbs hitherto alive, which are used in various forms; as regular herbal medicines prescribed by Hakeems (herbal practitioners) and as food (medicines) recepies suggested by elder people. Among these, some herbs are used as single remedy while others depict better curative effects in synergistic mode against various ailments. Some interesting and uncommon findings are as; Sisymbrium irio is used for treatment of measles, asthma; Solanum miniatum to cure urinary calculi, heart pain, rheumatism, Momordica balsamina leaves as wound healer; Allium sativum bulb juice as anti cancer, contraceptive, blood pressure; Boerhavia diffusa roots as anti jaundice, anemia, edema; Capsicum annuum fruit as omen against evil eye and giant, yellow fever; Corriandrum sativum seeds as diuretic, anti spermatogenesis; Raphanus sativus seeds against syphilis; Solanum miniatum fruit for treatment of enlarged spleen and liver; seed's oil of Pisum sativum as anti spermatogenesis; Bauhinia variegata for skin diseases, ulcers; Malva sylvestris for cough, bladder ulcer; Phoenix sylvestris kernel as anti-aging tonic; Phyllanthus emblica for diuretic, anemia, biliousness; Terminalia chebula to cure chronic ulcers, carious teeth pain, heart problems; Veronica anthelmintica for bandage of broken bones and Withania coagulans is used to treat small pox. Many wild plants are eaten green and raw as salad, or in boiled form of soup as blood and intestine cleansing tonics. Moreover, some plants are spiritually recorded as sacred and used as ritual plant for good omens or against the evil eye and removal of giant. About 95 species of 38 families were recorded to be important part of phyto heritage of folk pharmacopoeia of Samahni valley. Among most frequent used families are Papilionaceae 9.47%, Solanaceae and Poaceae 8.42% each, Cucurbitaceae 7.36% and Brassicaceae and Rosaceae 6.31% each. Among the surveyed families used to treat various diseases, Solanaceae is at first rank with 9.74%, Brassicaceae 8.23% and Cucurbitaceae 7.39% subsequently. Most commonly used families with highest percentage of plants used as food medicines are Solanaceae (11.37%), Brassicaceae (8.38%) and Papilionaceae (7.18%) respectively. Most frequent plant parts used are; roots, leaves, seeds and flowers while popular forms of plants uses are decoction, poultice, infusions, soups and raw form as salad. Importance of ethnobotanical inventory constructed from ethnomedicinal uses and folklore phytonims of flora in perspectives of initiative for future phytochemical and pharmacological research on these taxa to develop and discover of new drugs is present and discussed.

Phytochemical Databases of Chinese Herbal Constituents and Bioactive Plant Compounds with Known Target Specificities

Abstract: Two databases have been constructed to facilitate applications of cheminformatics and molecular modeling to medicinal plants. The first contains data on known chemical constituents of 240 commonly used Chinese herbs, the other contains information on target specificities of bioactive plant compounds. Structures are available for all compounds. In the case of the Chinese herbal constituents database, further details include trivial and systematic names, compound class and skeletal type, botanical and Chinese (pinyin) names of associated herb(s), CAS registry number, chirality, pharmacological and toxicological information, and chemical references. For the bioactive plant compounds database, details of molecular target(s), IC50 and related measures, and associated botanical species are given. For Chinese herbs, approximately 7000 unique compounds are listed, though some are found in more than one herb, the total number for all herbs being 8264. For bioactive plant compounds, 2597 compounds active against 78...

Screening of some medicinal plants for isolation of antifungal proteins and peptides

Abstract: About three quarters of the world population relies mainly on plants and plant extracts for health care. The global annual sale of botanicals is over $62 billion. This data clearly depict the importance of medicinal plants in health and economy. The extracts of some potential medicinal plants such as Hygrophila auriculata, Abrus precatorius, Moringa oleifera, Withania somnifera, Croton tiglium, Solarium nigrum and Psoralea corylifolia were investigated against pathogenic fungal strains of Aspergillus tamarii, Rhizopus solani, Mucor mucedo and Aspergillus niger. After extraction the extracts were purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex G-100) by using Tris HCl as an extraction buffer. Antifungal activity of the extracts was determined by disc diffusion assay. Antifungal activity was found lost in many extracts after treatment with trypsin, which shows that the activity was due to proteins or peptides, but not due to some other compounds.

Some Swazi phytomedicines and their constituents

Abstract: Ethnobotanical surveys of Manzini and Shiselweni regions of Swaziland were conducted to document new phytomedicines used in Swaziland and to determine their chemical constituents with a view to provide the scientific basis of the use of the remedies in traditional medical practice and as a guide to bioprospecting for drugs. The plants collected in the surveys were extracted with suitable solvents and analysed for secondary metabolites. Sixty one medicinal plants from thirty five families used for treating thirty one diseases were analysed. The medicinal uses of these plants had never been documented in the pharmacopoeia of Swaziland. Different classes of secondary metabolites were found in the plants, namely alkaloids, anthranoids, flavonoids, glycosides, polyphenols, saponins, steroids and tannins. Some of the diseases the plants were used to treat are back ache, cardiac problems, chest pain, cough, diabetes, diarrhoea, headache, menorrhagia, snake bite, stomach ache and urino-genital problems. The presence of these secondary metabolites in the plants was of great importance in the understanding of the basis of the use of the plants in traditional medical practice and may provide a lead in bioprospecting for new pharmaceutical products of herbal origin.

Antimicrobial Screening of Some Turkish Medicinal Plants

Abstract: Ethanol extracts of 19 Turkish medicinal plants, used in the traditional system of medicine, were investigated for their antimicrobial activity against 14 pathogenic bacterial species and a yeast, ...

Medicinal plants of Cree communities (Québec, Canada): antioxidant activity of plants used to treat type 2 diabetes symptomsThis article is one of a selection of papers published in this special issue (part 2 of 2) on the Safety and Efficacy of Natural Health Products.

Abstract: Traditional medicines (TM) used to treat symptoms of diabetes by two Cree communities were assessed for their free radical scavenging activity using the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, and their ability to protect human low-density lipoprotein from Cu2+-mediated oxidation by measuring lag time before the appearance of conjugated dienes and formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Water-soluble phenolic content was also measured. A total of 20 medicinal plants from Whapmagoostui and 16 from Mistissini were compared with 16 extracts of plants that were not used medicinally. Medicinal plant extracts, particularly those from Larix laricina, displayed high antioxidant activity, comparable with ascorbic acid, Trolox, and the known antioxidant flavonoids quercetin, epicatechin, catechin. Extracts of Pinaceae and Ericaceae contained the highest levels of phenolics. Factors such as season and area of plant collection, as well as the plant part from which the extract was derived, affected...

Indian Herbal Drug for General Healthcare: An Overview

Abstract: The medicinal plants are important therapeutic aids for alleviating various ailments of humankind. In the recent past there has been a tremendous increase in the use of plant-based health products in developing as well as developed countries resulting in an exponential growth of herbal products globally. An upward trend has been observed in the research on herbals. Export–Import Bank reports reveal that the global trade of plant-derived and plant originated products is around US $60 billion. Herbal medicines have a strong traditional or conceptual base and the potential to be useful as drugs in terms of safety and effectiveness leads for treating different diseases. India, with its mega-biodiversity and knowledge-rich ancient traditional systems of medicine viz. Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Amchi and local health traditions, provides a strong base for the utilization of a large number of plants in general healthcare and alleviation of common ailments of the people. A number of Indian medicinal plants are used as rejuvenators as well as for treating various disease conditions. They may be tonics, antimalarials, antipyretics, aphrodisiacs, expectorants, hepatoprotectives, antirheumatics, diuretics etc. However, proper methodologies for the research and development are the need of the day for tapping the full therapeutic potentials of plants. In the present article an endeavor has been made to present an overview of the Indian medicinal plants used for general healthcare. Since the different systems of medicine practised in India, viz, Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Amchi and local health traditions, utilize a large number of plants that are commonly used as tonics, antimalarials, antipyretics, aphrodisiacs, expectorants, hepatoprotectives, antirheumatics, diuretics etc, an attempt has also been made to enumerates some of these plants/ drugs used for the alleviation of some common ailments with special emphasis on Rasayana drugs. 1. HERBAL DRUGS-CURRENT SCENARIO Use of herbal medicines is wide spread in developing as well as developed countries. The use of plant-based health products was also increased in other European countries [1]. Export–Import Bank reports reveal that the global trade of plant-derived and plant originated products is around US $60 billion (with growth of 7% per annum) where India holds stake of US $1 billion [2,3] which is expected to reach 3 trillion US$ by the end of 2015. World Health Organization (WHO) has made an attempt to identify all medicinal plants used globally and listed more than 20,000 species. NAPRALERT database documents ethnomedicinal uses alone for 9200 of 33000 species of monocots, dicots, gymnosperms, pteridophytes, bryophytes and lichens, which would suggest that 28 % of plants on earth have been used ethnomedicinally [4]. India is also considered as one of the potential exporting countries of medicinal plants. India has 2.4% of world's area with 8% of global biodiversity. It is one of the 12 megadiversity hot-spot regions of the world, other countries being Brazil, Colombia, China, South Africa, Mexico, Venezuela, Indonesia, Ecuador, Peru, USA and Bolivia. Across the country, the forests of India are estimated to harbour 90% of India's medicinal plants diversity in the wide range of forest types that occur. Only about 10% of the known medicinal plants of India are restricted to non-forest habitats. According to a report [5], one fifth of all the plants found in India are used for medicinal purpose. Fig. 1 shows the estimated domestic demand of the top 20 medicinal plants of India [6]. Utilizing the healing properties of plants is an integral part of all traditional practices. People in all continents have long used hundreds, of indigenous plants for treatment of various ailments dating back to prehistory. There is evidence that suggests Neanderthals living 60,000 years ago [7]. These plants are still widely used in ethnomedicine around the world. Indian Herbal Drug for General Healthcare: An Overview

Evaluation of two methods for the extraction of antioxidants from medicinal plants

Abstract: The efficiencies of two traditional extraction methods used in Chinese medicine (the decoction method and the maceration method) were evaluated for the extraction of antioxidants from medicinal plants A group of medicinal plants possessing nutritious and tonic functions were chosen as model plants A commonly used extraction method was used as a reference method The antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents of the extracts were measured by ferric-reducing antioxidant power and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays as well as the Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively The results obtained indicated that the two traditional extraction methods could effectively extract antioxidants from medicinal plants These extraction methods can be applied to the analysis and purification of antioxidants in plants, respectively At home, people can use these methods to extract antioxidants from plants for consumption In the food industry, these methods could be utilized to prepare crude extracts from plants containing antioxidants for use as food additives

East African medicinal plants as a source of lead compounds for the development of new antimalarial drugs

Abstract: Four traditional medicinal plants of east and central Africa, Emilia discifolia (Oliv.) C. Jeffrey, Senecio stuhlmannii, Indigofera emarginella A. Rich. and Aspilia africana (Pers) C.D. Adams, were screened for in vitro antimalarial activity using the nitro-tetrazolium blue-based parasite lactate dehydrogenase assay. The plant parts were collected in two batches: one in the wet season and the other in the dry season. The ethyl acetate extract of A. africana had the highest antiplasmodial activity against both the chloroquine-sensitive D10 [inhibitory concentration (IC)50 = 9.3; 7.7–10.9 μg ml−1] and the chloroquine-resistant K1 (IC50 = 11.5; 8.7–14.3 μg ml−1) strains of P. falciparum. There was a positive correlation between the antiplasmodial activity of the extracts against the D10 and K1 strains of P. falciparum (Pearsons’ coefficient, r = 0.9691, P =0.05). Yields of extracts and their antiplasmodial activity varied with season in some plant species. This study shows that some East African medicinal plants can serve as a source of lead compounds for the development of new drugs against the chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of P. falciparum. The need for optimization of the conditions of harvest to maximize yields is also highlighted.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and traditional medicine

Abstract: Medicinal plants such as thyme, onion, blackseed, lemon balm and nettle are intensively used in traditional medicine, today. Garlic is among the most important of these plants. For this purpose, garlic has been extensively used worldwide for centuries, especially in the Far East. Garlic is reported to be a wonderful medicinal plant owing to its preventive characteristics in cardiovascular diseases, regulating blood pressure, lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels, effective against bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections, enhancing the immune system and having antitumoral and antioxidant features. Garlic exerts these effects thanks to more than 200 chemicals. It contains sulfur compounds (allicin, alliin and agoene), volatile oils, enzymes (allinase, peroxidase and miracynase), carbohydrates (sucrose and glucose), minerals (selenium), amino acids such as cysteine, glutamine, isoleucine and methionine which help to protect cells from the harms of free radicals, bioflavonoids such as quercetin and cyanidin, allistatin I and allistatin II, and vitamins C, E and A which help to protect us from oxidation agents and free radicals, and other vitamins such as niacin, B1 and B2 and beta-carotene. In this article, the information about the characteristics of garlic, the diseases on which it is effective and its use against parasitic diseases will be given.

Phytochemical Databases of Chinese Herbal Constituents and Bioactive Plant Compounds with Known Target Specificities.

Abstract: Two databases have been constructed to facilitate applications of cheminformatics and molecular modeling to medicinal plants. The first contains data on known chemical constituents of 240 commonly used Chinese herbs, the other contains information on target specificities of bioactive plant compounds. Structures are available for all compounds. In the case of the Chinese herbal constituents database, further details include trivial and systematic names, compound class and skeletal type, botanical and Chinese (pinyin) names of associated herb(s), CAS registry number, chirality, pharmacological and toxicological information, and chemical references. For the bioactive plant compounds database, details of molecular target(s), IC50 and related measures, and associated botanical species are given. For Chinese herbs, approximately 7000 unique compounds are listed, though some are found in more than one herb, the total number for all herbs being 8264. For bioactive plant compounds, 2597 compounds active against 78...

Antimalarial activity in crude extracts of some cameroonian medicinal plants.

Abstract: Fifteen crude extracts from the stem bark and seeds of four medicinal plants, viz: Entandrophragma angolense, Picralima nitida, Schumanniophyton magnificum and Thomandersia hensii were tested in vitro for their antimalarial activity against the chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum W2 strain. The results showed that the extracts of these plants possessed some antimalarial activity, the methanol extract of Picralima nitida demonstrating the highest activity in vitro. Further isolation and identification of some active compounds from these plants will justify their common use in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria or fever in Cameroon.

Allelopathic behaviour of three medicinal plant species on traditional agriculture crops of Garhwal Himalaya, India

Abstract: Allelopathic behaviour of three medicinal herbs viz. Rheum emodi, Saussaurea lappa and Potentilla fulgens, on some traditional food crops was examined. Germination of all the traditional food crops was reduced significantly under aqueous extracts of S. lappa and P. fulgens but radicle and plumule growth of Amaranthus caudatus and Eleusine coracana was reduced significantly under aqueous extracts of all three medicinal species. For marginal farmers sole medicinal plants cultivation is not possible, therefore, medicinal plants based agroforestry is being propagated.

Merits of anti-cancer plants from the Arabian Gulf region

Abstract: Summary Modern cancer therapies have significantly prolonged the life of the average cancer patient, but still have not succeeded in reducing cancer mortality in certain types of cancer. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which is not a mainstream therapy, has introduced a new element of hope. CAM encompasses a wide spectrum of modalities, practices, theories and beliefs and is based upon dietary supplements, herbal products, and other natural products as defined by The US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Extensive research in the last few years has revealed that regular consumption of certain fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of acquiring specific cancers. Phytochemicals derived from such fruits and vegetables, referred to as chemopreventive agents; include tannins, coumarins, lignans, quinones, stilbenes, curcuminoids, flavonoids and other groups of substances. Various edible and medicinal plants have been extensively studied for their ability to inhibit tumor development. The use of traditional medicines is therefore, quite common in developing countries and is spreading rapidly in developed countries. The Arabian Gulf region has a long tradition of herbal therapies. Herbal medicine constitutes a significant part of this region’s heritage and until recently functioned as its main health-care system. Interestingly, medicinal plants from the Arab region have received little international attention. In the botanical literature there are 600 known plant species in UAE, 1204 in Oman, 2250 in Saudi Arabia, 2088 in Egypt and 2367 in Palestine. Less than 10% of these plants has been screened for their medicinal potential. In the Arabian region, medicinal use is well established for Plantago major, Plantago lanceolata and Commiphora myrrha as anti-tumor remedies. Here, we present an up-to-date review of Arabian medicinal plants known for their anticancer activities.