Showing papers on "Medicinal plants published in 2012"

An overview on antidiabetic medicinal plants having insulin mimetic property

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is one of the common metabolic disorders acquiring around 2.8% of the world's population and is anticipated to cross 5.4% by the year 2025. Since long back herbal medicines have been the highly esteemed source of medicine therefore, they have become a growing part of modern, high-tech medicine. In view of the above aspects the present review provides profiles of plants (65 species) with hypoglycaemic properties, available through literature source from various database with proper categorization according to the parts used, mode of reduction in blood glucose (insulinomimetic or insulin secretagogues activity) and active phytoconstituents having insulin mimetics activity. From the review it was suggested that, plant showing hypoglycemic potential mainly belongs to the family Leguminoseae, Lamiaceae, Liliaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae, Moraceae, Rosaceae and Araliaceae. The most active plants are Allium sativum, Gymnema sylvestre, Citrullus colocynthis, Trigonella foenum greacum, Momordica charantia and Ficus bengalensis. The review describes some new bioactive drugs and isolated compounds from plants such as roseoside, epigallocatechin gallate, beta-pyrazol-1-ylalanine, cinchonain Ib, leucocyandin 3-O-beta-d-galactosyl cellobioside, leucopelargonidin-3- O-alpha-L rhamnoside, glycyrrhetinic acid, dehydrotrametenolic acid, strictinin, isostrictinin, pedunculagin, epicatechin and christinin-A showing significant insulinomimetic and antidiabetic activity with more efficacy than conventional hypoglycaemic agents. Thus, from the review majorly, the antidiabetic activity of medicinal plants is attributed to the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins and other constituents which show reduction in blood glucose levels. The review also discusses the management aspect of diabetes mellitus using these plants and their active principles.

Phytochemicals and uses of Moringa oleifera leaves in Ugandan rural communities.

Abstract: Moringa oleifera grown and used in many countries around the world is a multi-purpose tree with medicinal, nutritional and socio-economic values. In Senegal and Benin, M. oleifera leaves are dispensed as powder at health facilities to treat moderate malnutrition in children. It established the medicinal uses of M. oleiferaleaves by local communities in Uganda and identified phytochemicals present inM. oleifera leaves extracts. It used quantitative and experimental methods that established the uses, and identified phytochemicals in M. oleifera leaves. Employed serial extractions, using ether, ethanol and water as solvents. The phytochemicals were qualitatively identified using standard chemicals and standard outcomes. Twenty-four medicinal uses of M. oleifera leaves were established. Phytochemicals present included: tannins, steroids and triterponoids, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, alkaloids and reducing sugars. The local communities in Uganda use M. oleifera leaves to treat common ailments. Presence of phytochemicals in the extracts, indicate possible preventive and curative property of M. oleifera leaves. There is need to standardize M. oleifera leaves use for nutrition and herbal medicine. Key words: Phytochemicals, medicinal plant extracts, herbal medicine, Uganda.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of selected Chinese medicinal plants and their relation with antioxidant content

Abstract: The main aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of forty four traditional Chinese medicinal herbal extracts and to examine these activities in relation to their antioxidant content The antioxidant activities were investigated using DPPH radical scavenging method and yeast model The anti-inflammatory properties of the herbal extracts were evaluated by measuring their ability to inhibit the production of nitric oxide and TNF-α in RAW 2647 macrophages activated by LPS and IFN- γ, respectively The cytotoxic effects of the herbal extracts were determined by Alomar Blue assay by measuring cell viability In order to understand the variation of antioxidant activities of herbal extracts with their antioxidant contents, the total phenolics, total flavonoids and trace metal (Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se and Mo) quantities were estimated and a correlation analysis was carried out Results of this study show that significant levels of phenolics, flavonoids and trace metal contents were found in Ligustrum lucidum, Paeonia suffuticosa, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Sanguisorba officinalis, Spatholobus suberectus, Tussilago farfara and Uncaria rhyncophylla, which correlated well with their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities Some of the plants displayed high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities but contained low levels of phenolics and flavonoids Interestingly, these plants contained significant levels of trace metals (such as Zn, Mg and Se) which are likely to be responsible for their activities The results indicate that the phenolics, flavonoids and trace metals play an important role in the antioxidant activities of medicinal plants Many of the plants studied here have been identified as potential sources of new antioxidant compounds

Phytochemicals: Extraction Methods, Basic Structures and Mode of Action as Potential Chemotherapeutic Agents

Abstract: Medicinal plants have been the mainstay of traditional herbal medicine amongst rural dwellers worldwide since antiquity to date. The therapeutic use of plants certainly goes back to the Sumerian and the Akkadian civilizations in about the third millenium BC. Hippocrates (ca. 460–377 BC), one of the ancient authors who described medicinal natural products of plant and animal origins, listed approximately 400 different plant species for medicinal purposes. Natural products have been an integral part of the ancient traditional medicine systems, e.g. Chinese, Ayurvedic and Egyptian (Sarker & Nahar, 2007). Over the years they have assumed a very central stage in modern civilization as natural source of chemotherapy as well as amongst scientist in search for alternative sources of drugs. About 3.4 billion people in the developing world depend on plant-based traditional medicines. This represents about 88 per cent of the world’s inhabitants, who rely mainly on traditional medicine for their primary health care. According to the World Health Organization, a medicinal plant is any plant which, in one or more of its organs, contains substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes, or which are precursors for chemo-pharmaceutical semi synthesis. Such a plant will have its parts including leaves, roots, rhizomes, stems, barks, flowers, fruits, grains or seeds, employed in the control or treatment of a disease condition and therefore contains chemical components that are medically active. These non-nutrient plant chemical compounds or bioactive components are often referred to as phytochemicals (‘phyto-‘ from Greek phyto meaning ‘plant’) or phytoconstituents and are responsible for protecting the plant against microbial infections or infestations by pests (Abo et al., 1991; Liu, 2004; Nweze et al., 2004; Doughari et al., 2009). The study of natural products on the other hand is called phytochemistry. Phytochemicals have been isolated and characterized from fruits such as grapes and apples, vegetables such as broccoli and onion, spices such as turmeric, beverages such as green tea and red wine, as well as many other sources (Doughari & Obidah, 2008; Doughari et al., 2009).

Immunomodulatory and therapeutic potentials of herbal, traditional/indigenous and ethnoveterinary medicines.

Abstract: Herbs/Botanical plants are considered as God's gift to human beings in the form of natural medicines, like the one well known "Sanjeevani booti" described in Hindu Mythology. The traditional and ethno-veterinary practices have been in use for centuries, transferring the knowledge from generation to generation and they are accessible, easy to prepare and administer, with little or no cost at all. Even though the modern developments in therapeutic field brought about a rapid decline in traditional medicine, the plant-based remedies are still having a crucial role as potential source of therapeutic aids in health systems all over the world for both humans and animals. Among the 21,000 medicinal plants listed by the World Health Organization (WHO), 2500 species are native to India, which stands first in the production of medicinal herbs. This innumerable treasure of medicinal herbs brings India the distinction of 'the botanical garden of the world'. Nowadays immune-based therapies are gaining more importance than monovalent approaches which are having limited benefits. Apart from the actions like treating diseases, control of ecto- and endo-parasites, fertility enhancement, bone setting and poor mothering management, an array of herbal medicines have been reported which are having immunomodulatory effects like modulation of cytokine secretion, histamine release, immunoglobulin secretion, class switching, cellular co-receptor expression, lymphocyte expression, phagocytosis and so on. The present article describes in brief few of these important ones viz., ashwagandha, amla, tulsi, arjuna, aloe vera, garlic, turmeric, ginger, shatavari, neem, guduchi, kiwifruit, tut, kamala, palashlata, kokilaksha etc. being used for human and animal health benefits.

Antioxidant activity and protecting health effects of common medicinal plants.

Abstract: Medicinal plants are traditionally used in folk medicine as natural healing remedies with therapeutic effects such as prevention of cardiovascular diseases, inflammation disorders, or reducing the risk of cancer. In addition, pharmacological industry utilizes medicinal plants due to the presence of active chemical substances as agents for drug synthesis. They are valuable also for food and cosmetic industry as additives, due to their preservative effects because of the presence of antioxidants and antimicrobial constituents. To commonly used medicinal plants with antioxidant activity known worldwide belong plants from several families, especially Lamiaceae (rosemary, sage, oregano, marjoram, basil, thyme, mints, balm), Apiaceae (cumin, fennel, caraway), and Zingiberaceae (turmeric, ginger). The antioxidant properties of medicinal plants depend on the plant, its variety, environmental conditions, climatic and seasonal variations, geographical regions of growth, degree of ripeness, growing practices, and many other factors such as postharvest treatment and processing. In addition, composition and concentration of present antioxidants, such as phenolic compounds, are related to antioxidant effect. For appropriate determination of antioxidant capacity, the extraction technique, its conditions, solvent used, and particular assay methodology are important.

A pharmacological appraisal of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential.

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a complicated metabolic disorder that has gravely troubled the human health and quality of life. Conventional agents are being used to control diabetes along with lifestyle management. However, they are not entirely effective and no one has ever been reported to have fully recovered from diabetes. Numerous medicinal plants have been used for the management of diabetes mellitus in various traditional systems of medicine worldwide as they are a great source of biological constituents and many of them are known to be effective against diabetes. Medicinal plants with antihyperglycemic activities are being more desired, owing to lesser side-effects and low cost. This review focuses on the various plants that have been reported to be effective in diabetes. A record of various medicinal plants with their established antidiabetic and other health benefits has been reported. These include Allium sativa, Eugenia jambolana, Panax ginseng, Gymnema sylvestre, Momrodica charantia, Ocimum sanctum, Phyllanthus amarus, Pterocarpus marsupium, Trigonella foenum graecum and Tinospora cordifolia. All of them have shown a certain degree of antidiabetic activity by different mechanisms of action.

Phytochemicals from Plants to Combat Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract: For many decades, the use of synthetic chemicals as drugs has been effective in the treatment of most diseases. Moreover, from ancient to modern history, many traditional plant based medicines are playing an important role in health care. Phytochemicals are natural bioactive compounds found in vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants, aromatic plants, leaves, flowers and roots which act as a defense system to combat against diseases. The phytochemicals from natural products cover a diverse range of chemical entities such as polyphenols, flavonoids, steroidal saponins, organosulphur compounds and vitamins. A number of bioactive compounds generally obtained from terrestrial plants such as isoflavones, diosgenin, resveratrol, quercetin, catechin, sulforaphane, tocotrienols and carotenoids are proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and aid in cardioprotection which is the leading cause of death globally. The cardioprotective effects of the various phytochemicals are perhaps due to their antioxidative, antihypercholesteroemic, antiangiogenic, anti-ischemic, inhibition of platelet aggregation and anti inflammatory activities that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disorders. The multi-faceted role of the phytochemicals is mediated by its structure-function relationship and can be considered as leads for cardiovascular drug design in future. This review summarizes the findings of recent studies on selected phytochemicals as prophylactic and therapeutic agents in cardioprotection.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of selected medicinal plants and fungi containing phenolic and flavonoid compounds

Abstract: Background This study aims to determine the relationship between the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the thirteen herbs and two fungi extracts, and their total phenolic and flavonoid contents.

Phytochemical and ethnobotanical study of some selected medicinal plants from Nigeria

Abstract: This study involves the phytochemical screening and ethnomedicinal survey of twenty-three medicinal plants belonging to thirteen families commonly found in Nigeria. Semi-structured interviews and discussions with selected informants were adapted to collect ethnobotanical information on the plants. It was discovered that all of them possess alkaloids, tannins and saponin. Steroid is present in only twelve of the plant species, only five have phlobatannin; terpene is present in twenty of the plants, flavonoid is present in nineteen of the plants, while cardiac glycoside is present in sixteen of the species. Leea guineensis and Uvaria chamae were the only plants among the 23 plant samples that contain all the eight phytochemicals tested. The phytochemical present in the samples were juxtaposed with their ethnomedicinal significance, and from this, several suggestions were deduced on the secondary metabolites responsible for the pharmacological actions of the plants. Conclusively, it could be said that the ethnomedicinal significance of the selected plants for this study corresponds to the pharmacological actions of the secondary metabolites they contain. Key words: Phytochemical, ethnomedicinal, medicinal plants, bioprospecting.

Ricinus communis linn: a phytopharmacological review

Abstract: Medicinal plants have a vital role to preserve the human healthy life. The large family Euphorbiaceae contains nearly about 300 genera and 7,500 species. Generally they are the flowering plants. Amongst all, the Ricinus communis or castor plant has high traditional and medicinal value for maintain the disease free healthy life. Traditionally the plant is used as laxative, purgative, fertilizer and fungicide etc. whereas the plant possess beneficial effects such as anti-oxidant, antihistamic, Antinociceptive, antiasthmatic, antiulcer, immunemodulatory, Antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, Antifertility, anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, central nervous system stimulant, lipolytic, wound healing, insecticidal and Larvicidal and many other medicinal properties. This activity of the plant possess due to the important phytochemical constituents like flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, alkaloids and steroids etc. The aim of this paper is to explain the details of phyto-pharmacological properties of Ricinus communis for the future research work.

Biological and pharmacological properties of terminalia chebula retz. (haritaki)- an overview

Abstract: Medicinal plants have been considered valuable and cheap source of unique phytoconstituents which are used extensively in the development of drugs against various diseases. A large proportion of the world population, especially in the developing countries relies mainly on the traditional system of medicine. The use of plants and plant products in medicines is getting popularized because the herbal medicines are cheap and have natural origin with higher safety margins and lesser or no side effects. Terminalia chebula Retz. (T. chebula) belongs to the family Combretaceae and is one of the most important medicinal plants used in medicines of ayurveda, siddha, unani and homeopathy. It is called the “King of Medicines” in Tibet and is listed first in the Ayurvedic material medica because of its extraordinary power of wound healing and a wide spectrum of medicinal properties. T. chebula possesses antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antidiabetic, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antiulcer and wound healing properties. It also prevents cardiac damage and is used for the treatment of kidney disease. It is a mild, safe and effective laxative in traditional medicine. T. chebula and its phytoconstituents have therapeutic effect with no toxicity. T. chebula is an active ingredient of the well known herbal preparation, Triphala, which is used for the treatment of enlarged liver, stomach disorders and pain in eyes. This review gives a bird’s eye view on the biological and pharmacological properties of various extracts and isolated phytoconstituents of T. chebula to enrich our knowledge about this plant.

An Overview of Antimicrobial Properties of Different Classes of Phytochemicals

Abstract: Plants produce a great diversity of phytochemicals, the beneficial properties of which have been used by humans for centuries since the advent of human civilization. With the discovery of effective and potent antimicrobial compounds, these synthetic antimicrobial compounds are widely used to prevent and cure microbial diseases. However, the development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, reduced efficacy and safety of antimicrobials and the search of new antimicrobials against emerging incurable diseases by conventional antimicrobial agents have revived to explore phytochemicals as an alternative to synthetic antimicrobial compounds. Although numerous studies have been conducted in vitro and in vivo in the recent years on the efficacy of plant phytochemicals as antimicrobial agents, this chapter provides an overview of the antimicrobial properties of some major group of phytochemicals, namely, different phenolic compounds, alkaloids, saponins, iridoids and secoiridoids, polyacetylenes, glucosinolates, terpenoids, sulfinate, limonoids (tetranortepenoids) and anthranoids against pathogenic bacteria, fungi, viruses and commensal bacteria in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals. This chapter also discusses their antimicrobial mechanisms of action, the efficiency of different groups of phytochemicals against multiple-drug resistant bacteria, the effect of active dietary phytometabolites on the beneficial and pathogenic microbes of the gastrointestinal tracts and the outcomes of combination of phytofactors and drugs interactions.

Profile of Heavy Metals in Selected Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Diabetes, Malaria and Pneumonia in Kisii Region, Southwest Kenya

Abstract: 2 Abstract: Medicinal herbs are sources of chemical substances that have different biological activities including those useful in the treatment of human and animal diseases. Amongst the indigenous herbs used as phytomedicines for the treatment of diabetes, malaria and pneumonia in Kisii region, Southwest Kenya are Carissa spinarum, Urtica dioica, Warburgia ugandensis, Senna didymobotrya, Physalis Peruvian, Bidens pilosa, Leonotis nepetifolia and Toddalia asiatica. A study was carried out on these herbs in the year 2011 to 2012. The objective was to determine the essential and non-essential heavy metals present in the herbs and their levels. Leaf samples of these plants were obtained from Kisii region, washed, air-dried and milled. The samples were digested by wet digestion method and analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The essential and non-essential heavy metals in the plant extracts were quantified. As a guideline, FAO/WHO defined the permissible limits (ppm) of the various heavy metals in the consumed medicinal herbs for different countries as: chromium (2), manganese (44.6 to 339), iron (261 to 1239), cobalt (0.14 to 0.48), nickel (1.63), copper (20 to 150), zinc (27.4), cadmium (0.3), mercury (0.1) and lead (10). Results obtained in the present study showed that extracts of the medicinal herbs investigated contain heavy metals namely iron, chromium, copper, zinc, cobalt, manganese and nickel that are considered essential elements; and lead, cadmium and mercury which are non- essential. The concentration (ppm) of heavy metals in the plant extracts was found to be as follows: chromium (0.567 to 2.035), manganese (3.254 to 17.33), iron (0.967 to 6.067), cobalt (0.967 to 6.067), nickel (0.589 to 1.60), copper (0.305 to 1.44), zinc (0.989 to 1.833), cadmium (0.035 to 0.206), mercury (0.0024 to 0.00838) and lead (0.25 to 0.407). From the comparison of the results with the defined permissible limits, it was concluded that the levels of heavy metals present in the herbs fall in the permissible range for consumed medicinal herbs as defined for different countries.

Traditional medicinal plants research in Egypt: Studies of antioxidant and anticancer activities

Abstract: Plants have played a significant role in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases for the last four decades. Natural products have been rediscovered as important tools for drug development despite advances in combinatorial chemistry. Egyptian flora, the most diverse in the world, has become an interesting spot to prospect for new chemical leads or hits due to its species diversity. Screening programs have been established in Egypt as a strategy to identify potentially active substances. High throughput screening techniques allow for the analysis of large numbers of extracts in a relatively short period of time and can be considered one of the most efficient ways of finding new leads from natural products. In our study, 23 wild plants were extracted by ethanol and water in addition to 24 ethanolic and aqueous extracts from spices and herbs and tested in vitro as anticancer agents. The trypan blue technique was used for the anticancer activity against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cells (EACC) while SRB technique was used against HepG2 cells. The antioxidant activity of the 90 plant extracts was determined by 2, 2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Results showed that both of ethanolic and water extracts of some plant possessed high cytotoxic and antioxidant activities and inhibited the cell growth of cancer cells. On the other hand, some ethanolic extract gave cytotoxic and antioxidant activities more than aqueous extract but other aqueous extracts possessed the opposite trend. We believe that the flora of Egypt can be a valuable source of plants rich in, cytotoxic compounds and antioxidant agents. Key words: Anticancer, antioxidant, polar extracts, Egyptian flora.

In-Vitro Anti-Bacterial Activities of Three Medicinal Plants Using Agar Well Diffusion Method

Abstract: Medicinal plants play a vital role for health care. The constituents of medicinal plants control the h yperglycemia as well as its secondary complications. The purpose of this st udy was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of m edicinal plants by agar well diffusion assay. Three medicinal plants ( Saussurea lappa , Ricinus communis and Acacia nilotica ) were used against four bacterial strains ( Lactobacillus subtilis, Bacillus thureogenesis, Cor ney bacterium and Escherichia coli ). These three medicinal plants were macerated into three forms (E thanol, Chloroform and Simple macerated extracts). Then, with the help of agar diffusion assay the antibacterial acti vity of these medicinal plants were measured. The z ones of inhibition were measured with the help of scale and they were repre sented by graphs and tables. These medicinal plants showed antibacterial activity against four available bacte rial strains. The present study suggests that the e thanol extracts of these medicinal plants contain compounds that can form th e basis for the development of a novel broad spectr um antibacterial formulation.

Levels of tannins and flavonoids in medicinal plants: evaluating bioprospecting strategies.

Abstract: There are several species of plants used by traditional communities in the Brazilian semiarid. An approach used in the search for natural substances that possess therapeutic value is ethnobotany or ethnopharmacology. Active substances that have phenolic groups in their structure have great pharmacological potential. To establish a quantitative relationship between the species popularly considered to be antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antidiarrheal, the contents of tannins and flavonoids were determined. The plant selection was based on an ethnobotanical survey conducted in a community located in the municipality of Altinho, northeastern Brazil. For determination of tannin content was utilized the technique of radial diffusion, and for flavonoids, an assay based on the complexation of aluminum chloride. The group of plants with antimicrobial indications showed a higher content of tannins compared to the control groups. The results evidence suggests a possible relationship between these compounds and the observed activity.

Natural products: A safest approach for obesity

Abstract: Obesity is recognized as a social problem, associated with serious health risks and increased mortality. Numerous trials have been conducted to find and develop new anti-obesity drugs through herbal sources to minimize adverse reactions associated with the present anti-obesity drugs. The use of natural products as medicine has been documented for hundreds of years in various traditional systems of medicines throughout the world. This review focuses on the medicinal plants such as Achyranthus aspera, Camellia sinensis, Emblica officinalis, Garcinia cambogia, Terminalia arjuna, etc., being used traditionally in Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha and Chinese, etc., systems of medicine. The review also highlights recent reported phytochemicals such as escins, perennisosides, dioscin, gracillin, etc., and the various extracts of the plants like Nelumbo nucifera, Panax japonicas, Cichorium intybus, Cyperus rotundus, Paeonia suffruticosa, etc., which have been successfully identified for the treatment of obesity.

Antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase-inhibitory properties of long-term stored medicinal plants

Abstract: Medicinal plants are possible sources for future novel antioxidant compounds in food and pharmaceutical formulations. Recent attention on medicinal plants emanates from their long historical utilisation in folk medicine as well as their prophylactic properties. However, there is a dearth of scientific data on the efficacy and stability of the bioactive chemical constituents in medicinal plants after prolonged storage. This is a frequent problem in African Traditional Medicine. The phytochemical, antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase-inhibitory properties of 21 medicinal plants were evaluated after long-term storage of 12 or 16 years using standard in vitro methods in comparison to freshly harvested materials. The total phenolic content of Artemisia afra, Clausena anisata, Cussonia spicata, Leonotis intermedia and Spirostachys africana were significantly higher in stored compared to fresh materials. The flavonoid content were also significantly higher in stored A. afra, C. anisata, C. spicata, L. intermedia, Olea europea and Tetradenia riparia materials. With the exception of Ekebergia capensis and L. intermedia, there were no significant differences between the antioxidant activities of stored and fresh plant materials as measured in the β- carotene-linoleic acid model system. Similarly, the EC50 values based on the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay were generally lower for stored than fresh material. Percentage inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was generally similar for both stored and fresh plant material. Stored plant material of Tetradenia riparia and Trichilia dregeana exhibited significantly higher AChE inhibition than the fresh material. The current study presents evidence that medicinal plants can retain their biological activity after prolonged storage under dark conditions at room temperature. The high antioxidant activities of stable bioactive compounds in these medicinal plants offer interesting prospects for the identification of novel principles for application in food and pharmaceutical formulations.

Studies of the in vitro cytotoxic, antioxidant, lipase inhibitory and antimicrobial activities of selected Thai medicinal plants

Abstract: Traditional folk medicinal plants have recently become popular and are widely used for primary health care. Since Thailand has a great diversity of indigenous (medicinal) plant species, this research investigated 52 traditionally used species of Thai medicinal plants for their in vitro cytotoxic, antioxidant, lipase inhibitory and antimicrobial activities. The 55 dried samples, derived from the medicinally used parts of the 52 plant species were sequentially extracted by hexane, dichloromethane, ethanol and water. These 220 extracts were then screened for in vitro (i) cytotoxicity against four cell lines, derived from human lung (A549), breast (MDA-MB-231), cervical (KB3-1) and colon (SW480) cancers, using the MTT cytotoxicity assay; (ii) antioxidant activity, analyzed by measuring the scavenging activity of DPPH radicals; (iii) lipase inhibitory activity, determined from the hydrolytic reaction of p-nitrophenyllaurate with pancreatic lipase; and (iv) antimicrobial activity against three Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria species plus one strain of yeast using the disc-diffusion method and determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration by the broth micro-dilution assay. The crude dichloromethane and/or ethanol extracts from four plant species showed an effective in vitro cytotoxic activity against the human cancer cell lines that was broadly similar to that of the specific chemotherapy drugs (etoposide, doxorubicin, vinblastine and oxaliplatin). In particular, this is the first report of the strong in vitro cytotoxic activity of Bauhinia strychnifolia vines. The tested tissue parts of only six plant species (Allium sativum, Cocoloba uvifera, Dolichandrone spathacea, Lumnitzera littorea, Sonneratia alba and Sonneratia caseolaris) showed promising potential antioxidant activity, whereas lipase inhibitory activity was only found in the ethanol extract from Coscinum fenestratum and this was weak at 17-fold lower than Orlistat, a known lipase inhibitor. The highest antimicrobial activity was observed in the extracts from S. alba and S. caseolaris against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans, respectively. The Thai medicinal plant B. strychnifolia is first reported to exert strong in vitro cytotoxic activities against human cancer cell lines and warrants further enrichment and characterization. The broad spectrum of the biological activities from the studied plant extracts can be applied as the guideline for the selection of Thai medicinal plant species for further pharmacological and phytochemical investigations.

A Survey of Major Ethno Medicinal Plants of Kano North, Nigeria, Their Knowledge and Uses by Traditional Healers

Abstract: An ethno botanical survey of major ethnomedicinal plants was carried out in the study area (Kano north senatorial district, Nigeria), their knowledge and uses by the local healers was determined. Data was obtained through the use of interviewer administered questionnaires, distributed at random to the traditional healers as the target respondents. Research shows that various plant species from 25 families were reported to be used in the treatment of various human ailments. Majority of these plants (73.2%) were wild, and 40% were harvested mainly for their leaves. Most of the plants were trees (44%). About 45.2% have been reported to be used in dry form. Concoction was the major method of preparation of the medicinal plants (46%). The most reported threat to the availability of medicinal plants was deforestation (43.6%). Many additives like edible oil, honey, butter, porridge, garlic were used in almost 58% of the remedy preparations. In addition, more than one medicinal plant species were used more frequently than the use of single species for medicinal preparations. Keywords: Ethnobotany, Senatorial zone, Knowledge, Use.

Antimicrobial Activities of Medicinal Plants -Review

Abstract: Medicinal plant ‘Rasayana’ has played a vital role in the rejuvenation of worse condition created by the infection of microorganisms. Moreover, medicinal plants are the important source of potentially useful structures for the development of noval chemotherapeutic agents. Historically, plants have provided a source of the development for novel drugs and plant derived drugs which have made large contributions to human health and well being. Till now very few plants have been scientifically proved by different researchers for their medicinal potential but the therapeutic ability of number of plants are still unknown. The renaissance of medicinal potential of such plants is thus strongly needed. Several researchers have carried out bioassay for antimicrobial activities of different extracts of certain plants. Such works should be brought in the knowledge of every concern man. Present study is therefore an attempt for review on some of such plants.

Some Medicinal Plants Cultivated in Iran

Abstract: Medicinal plants contain plant materials such as leaf, root, flower and seed using for producing drugs. Essential oils and extracts of various species of edible and medicinal plants, herbs, and spices constitute of very potent natural biologically active agents. Iran with 1.64 million km 2 areas has 7500-8000 plant species. Iran is an ancient country in usage of herbal plants. The ancient Persians soon became familiar with various medicinal plants. Several medicinal species are cultivated in Iran. This review focuses on some of these plants such as Ziziphora, Stachys, Satureja, Thymus, Scrophularia, Thymbra, Tanacetum, Ocimum and Crocus.