Showing papers on "Medicinal plants published in 2015"
TL;DR: Medicinal plants show their main properties as growth promoters, immune enhancers, where they act as antibacterial and antiviral agents to the host immune system, although the mechanisms are not fully understood.
387 citations
TL;DR: The past and present value of medicinal plants such as Thymus vulgar is used in traditional and modern medical practices as bioactive natural compounds are considered.
Abstract: Medicinal plants have played an essential role in the development of human culture. Medicinal plants are resources of traditional medicines and many of the modern medicines are produced indirectly from plants. This study illustrates the importance of traditional and modern medicines in the treatment and management of human diseases and ailments. It has been confirmed by WHO that herbal medicines serve the health needs of about 80 percent of the world’s population; especially for millions of people in the vast rural areas of developing countries. Meanwhile, consumers in developed countries are becoming disillusioned with modern health care and are seeking alternatives. Thymus vulgaris is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiacea. Thymus is a widely used medicinal plant in food and pharmaceutical industries. Among different species of Thymus, Thymus vulgaris is used more than other species in therapeutic dosage forms. In Traditional medicine T. vulgaris is cultivated in many countries by most people especially in rural areas depending on herbal medicines to treat many diseases including inflammation-related ailments such as rheumatism, muscle swelling, insect bites, pains, etc. Also the modern medicine in essential oil of thyme has demonstrated that the compounds have shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties. In this review the objective is to consider the past and present value of medicinal plants such as Thymus vulgar is used in traditional and modern medical practices as bioactive natural compounds.
261 citations
TL;DR: This paper reviews the literature published over the last five years regarding the antibacterial effects of cinnamon and a brief summary of the history, traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and clinical impact of cinnamon is provided.
Abstract: Herbs and spices have been used since ancient times, because of their antimicrobial properties increasing the safety and shelf life of food products by acting against foodborne pathogens and spoilage bacteria. Plants have historically been used in traditional medicine as sources of natural antimicrobial substances for the treatment of infectious disease. Therefore, much attention has been paid to medicinal plants as a source of alternative antimicrobial strategies. Moreover, due to the growing demand for preservative-free cosmetics, herbal extracts with antimicrobial activity have recently been used in the cosmetic industry to reduce the risk of allergies connected to the presence of methylparabens. Some species belonging to the genus Cinnamomum, commonly used as spices, contain many antibacterial compounds. This paper reviews the literature published over the last five years regarding the antibacterial effects of cinnamon. In addition, a brief summary of the history, traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and clinical impact of cinnamon is provided.
258 citations
TL;DR: Assurance of the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicinal plants and herbal products has now become a key issue in industrialized and in developing countries with the increasing number of reports on pathogenic microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials.
Abstract: Medicinal plants have been used in virtually all cultures as a source of medicine. Assurance of the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicinal plants and herbal products has now become a key issue in industrialized and in developing countries. The widespread use of herbal remedies and healthcare preparations is described in the Vedas and the Bible .Medicinal Plants have been used for thousands of years to flavor and conserve food, to treat health disorders and to prevent diseases including epidemics. The knowledge of their healing properties has been transmitted over the centuries within and among human communities. Active compounds produced during secondary metabolism are usually responsible for the biological properties of plant species used throughout the globe for various purposes, including treatment of infectious diseases. Currently, data on the antimicrobial activity of numerous plants, so far considered empirical, have been scientifically confirmed, with the increasing number of reports on pathogenic microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials. Products derived from plants may potentially control microbial growth in diverse situations and in the specific case of disease treatment, numerous studies have aimed to describe the chemical composition of these plant antimicrobials and the mechanisms involved in microbial growth inhibition, either separately or associated with conventional antimicrobials.
125 citations
TL;DR: The findings revealed that the medicinal plants of the area are a major source of herbal drugs for primary health care used among the rural communities and can be used as baseline information for further scientific investigation to develop new plant-based commercial drugs.
114 citations
TL;DR: Out of several leads obtained from plants containing potential hepatoprotective agents, silymarin, β-sitosterol, betalain, neoandrographolide, phyllanthin, andrographlide, curcumin, picroside, hypophyllanth in, kutkoside, and glycyrrhizin have been demonstrated to have potent hepatoprotsective properties.
Abstract: There are a number of medicinal combinations in the Iranian traditional medicine which are commonly used as tonic for liver. In this review, we have introduced some medicinal plants that are used mainly for the treatment of liver disorders in Iranian folk medicine, with focus on their hepatoprotective effects particularly against CC14 agent. In this study, online databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct were searched for papers published from January 1970 to December 2013. Search terms consisted of medicinal plants, traditional medicine, folk medicine, hepatoprotective, Iran, liver, therapeutic uses, compounds, antioxidant, CC14, anti-inflammatory, and antihepatotoxic, hepatitis, alone or in combination. Allium hirtifolium Boiss., Apium graveolens L., Cynara scolymus, Berberis vulgaris L., Calendula officinalis, Nigella sativa L., Taraxacum officinale, Tragopogon porrifolius, Prangos ferulacea L., Allium sativum, Marrubium vulgare, Ammi majus L., Citrullus lanatus Thunb, Agrimonia eupatoria L. and Prunus armeniaca L. are some of the medicinal plants that have been used for the treatment of liver disorders in Iranian folk medicine. Out of several leads obtained from plants containing potential hepatoprotective agents, silymarin, β-sitosterol, betalain, neoandrographolide, phyllanthin, andrographolide, curcumin, picroside, hypophyllanthin, kutkoside, and glycyrrhizin have been demonstrated to have potent hepatoprotective properties. Despite encouraging data on possibility of new discoveries in the near future, the evidence on treating viral hepatitis or other chronic liver diseases by herbal medications is not adequate.
107 citations
TL;DR: The potentially toxic metals content was determined in selected plants, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and some European herbs, and in dietary supplements available on Polish market, containing studied plants.
104 citations
TL;DR: The synergistic effect of the EOs of Pimenta dioica, Psiadia arguta and Piper betle were observed against Escherichia coli and Staphylococ- cus epidermidis when combined with gentamicin, and the fungicidal and fungistatic effect was observed among all the fungi irrespective of the family.
98 citations
TL;DR: The present review highlighted the chemical diversity and medicinal potentials of bioactive principles as well inherent toxicity concerns associated with the use of these plant products, which are of relevance to the clinician, pharmacist or toxicologist.
Abstract: Plants are widely used in many indigenous systems of medicine for therapeutic purposes and are increasingly becoming popular in modern society as alternatives to synthetic medicines. Bioactive principles are derived from the products of plant primary metabolites, which are associated with the process of photosynthesis. The present review highlighted the chemical diversity and medicinal potentials of bioactive principles as well inherent toxicity concerns associated with the use of these plant products, which are of relevance to the clinician, pharmacist or toxicologist. Plant materials are composed of vast array of bioactive principles of which their isolation, identification and characterization for analytical evaluation requires expertise with cutting edge analytical protocols and instrumentations. Bioactive principles are responsible for the therapeutic activities of medicinal plants and provide unlimited opportunities for new drug leads because of their unmatched availability and chemical diversity. For the most part, the beneficial or toxic outcomes of standardized plant extracts depend on the chemical peculiarities of the containing bioactive principles.
95 citations
TL;DR: Results of this study showed that the plants recommended by Shirazian herbalists have potential antidiabetic effects.
Abstract: Background: Diabetes is the greatest public health problem and is considered as the silent epidemic of the 21st century. In Iran, there are approximately 1.5 million diabetic patients. Before the discovery of insulin, medicinal plants were widely used for the treatment of diabetes in Iran. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the indigenous plants used for the treatment of diabetes in Shiraz, southwest of Iran. Materials and Methods: Semi-structured direct interviews were conducted with 25 herbalists to identify medicinal plants used to treat diabetes. Questionnaires were included herbalist personal information, plant local name, growth season, plant parts used, preparation methods, and traditional therapies. Results: The interview data indicated that, 24 medicinal plants from 19 families are used for the treatment of diabetes in Shiraz. The families with most antidiabetic species were Compositae (13%), Rosaceae (13%) and Cucurbitaceae (8%). The most frequently used plant parts were fruits (38%) and the most common preparation method was decoction (62%). For 45% of reported plants, pharmaceutical studies approved antidiabetic effects in animal or humane model of diabetes. Results of this study showed that the plants recommended by Shirazian herbalists have potential antidiabetic effects. Conclusions: It is suggested that the ingredients of indigenous plants be studied to determine therapeutic effects and mechanism of action. If they were safe and effective, they can be refined and processed to produce natural drugs.
90 citations
TL;DR: A review of traditional medicinal and pharmacological uses of the plants of the family Caryophyllaceae is presented in this paper, which provides a ground for future research in the family.
Abstract: Several species of the family Caryophyllaceae are widely used by many ethnic communities as traditional medicine throughout the world. The highest number of plants of the family are used in Chinese traditional medicine. The ethnopharmacologial studies of this family indicate that plants of the family possess anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Other miscellaneous properties reported are ribosome inactivation properties, inhibition of prostatic enlargement in rats, and inhibition of intestinal enzyme carboxyelasterase in rats, cerebro-protective activity, and antiobesity in rats. Few reviews have been published yet, providing information regarding medicinal plants of the family and their biomedical properties. All published reviews have focused either on a particular taxa or a few species. The present review is focused on the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the family Caryophyllaceae along with phytochemical and pharmacological studies of the family. A study of the literature revealed significant traditional medicinal importance of the family. Major chemical constituents of Caryophyllceae are saponins, Phytoecdysteroids, benzenoids, phenyl propanoids, and nitrogen containing compounds. The most important property of plants of the family is anticancer activity and is shown by the large number of plant species studied. This review of traditional medicinal and pharmacological uses of plants of the family, provide a ground for future research in the family.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It was observed that all ten Nigerian medicinal plant contains the important phytochemical like Alkaloids, Phenols, Flavonoids, Saponins, Essential oil and Tannins at appreciable quantity and quality.
Abstract: The purpose of the present study is to show the quantity and quality of ten Nigerian medicinal plant used in Nigeria and African for both tradition Alternative medicine and also, serves as an encouragement for the production of new antibiotics locally and the importance of natural endowed gift of nature. The ten medicinal plant are Pseudocedrela kotschyi, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Terminalia glaucescens, Garcina kola, Zanthoxylun Lessmamul, Sarcorcephalus latiolia, Olax subcorpidica, Alchornea laxiflora, Spondia mombin and Morinda Lucida. It was observed that all ten plant contains the important phytochemical like Alkaloids, Phenols, Flavonoids, Saponins, Essential oil and Tannins at appreciable quantity and quality. The use of medicinal plant should be encouraged.
TL;DR: The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of various compounds like piperine, octodeconoic acids, hexadecanoic acid and squalene in the ethanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides, which support the traditional use of EvlvulusAlsinoide in various disorders.
Abstract: Medicinal plants are at great interest to the researcher in the field of biotechnology, as most of the drug industries depend in medicinal plants for the production of pharmaceutical compounds. Plants are the traditional sources for many chemicals used as pharmaceutical biochemicals, fragrances, food colours and flavours in different countries especially in India. Most herbal medicines and their derivative products were often prepared from crude plant extracts, which comprise a complex mixture of different phytochemical constituents (plant secondary metabolites). The chemical features of these constituents differ considerably among different species. GC-MS method used for the analysis of the obtained extracts can be an interesting tool for testing the amount of some active principles in herbs used in cosmetic, drugs, pharmaceutical or food industry. The aim of this study was to carry out for identification of bioactive compounds from the whole plant ethanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides by Gas chromatography and Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). GCMS analysis of ethanolic extract was done by standard protocol using the equipment Thermo GC-Trace Ultra Version: 5.0, Thermo MS DSQ II. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of various compounds like piperine, octodeconoic acids, hexadecanoic acid and squalene in the ethanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides. Hence, the Evolvulus alsinoides may have chemopreventive, anticancer, anti-microbial activity, antioxidant and antidiabetic activity due to the presence of secondary metabolites in the ethanolic extract. Due to the presence of esters which can be used as a flavoring agent in food industries. These findings support the traditional use of Evolvulus alsinoides in various disorders. Further studies are needed to isolate active principle of the extract as well as to elucidate their exact mechanism of action in various disorders.
TL;DR: This review will summarize the significance and innovative ways on using medicinal plants and their phytochemicals in anticancer therapy along with their future prospective in the treatment of cancer and related diseases.
Abstract: In recent years, medicinal plants have attracted huge attention due to their diverse range of biological and therapeutic properties. Evidences have been accumulated since ages to demonstrate promising potential of medicinal plants used in various traditional, complementary, and alternative systems especially for cancer treatment. Although several medicines are available in the market to treat various types of cancers, no drug is found to be fully effective and safe as anticancer therapy. The major problem in the cancer chemotherapy is the prolonged toxicity of the well-established chemical drugs. However, plants and plant-derived products have been proved effective and safe in the treatment and management of various cancers to some extent. Many natural products and their analogs have been identified as potent anticancer agents, and anticancer properties of various plants or phytochemicals are being identified. Several plant-based anticancer agents including taxol, vinblastine, vincristine, camptothecin derivatives, topotecan, and irinotecan, as well as epipodophyllotoxins, are in clinical use all over the world. This review focuses on the application of medicinal plants and their phytochemicals as natural anticancer substances. In addition, this review will also discuss the Ayurvedic concept of using medicinal plants and their phytochemicals in traditional way for the treatment of various types of cancers. Further, a brief description will be given on the anticancer mode of action of various medicinal plants and their phytochemicals to understand the mechanisms at molecular level that alter growth and metabolism in cancer cells. Finally, this review will summarize the significance and innovative ways on using medicinal plants and their phytochemicals in anticancer therapy along with their future prospective in the treatment of cancer and related diseases.
TL;DR: The plants with high UV and Fl like M. monosperma should be analysed for pharmacological components and discovery of new drugs.
TL;DR: The collected plant species could be a source of a new class of drugs against TB and are a basis for selection of plants for further pharmacological, toxicological and phytochemical studies in developing new plant-based antimycobacterial drugs.
Abstract: Aims: The current study was designed to document medicinal plant species that are traditionally used to treat tuberculosis (TB) by Ghanaian communities. Methods: The medicinal plants used against TB or its signs and symptoms were selected using library and online published data searches. A guided questionnaire interview was also conducted with a botanist involved in plant collection at the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM) at Mampong. Data obtained were entered in Excel and summarized into means and frequencies using SPSS 12.0.1 for windows, and expressed as tables and bar graphs. Results: A total of 15 medicinal plant species distributed between 13 genera and 13 families were documented. The following medicinal plant species were found to be used against TB in Greater Accra and Eastern parts of Ghana: Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Stem bark (Meliaceae), Hygrophila auriculata Heine, whole plant (Acanthaceae), Chenopodium ambrosioides L. leaves (Amaranthaceae), Coix lacryma-jobi L. glumes (Poaceae), Solanum torvum Sw. unripe fruits (Solanaceae), Solanum torvum Sw. leaves (Solanaceae), Bidens pilosa L. whole plant (Asteraceae), Phyllanthus fraternus G.L. Webster leaves (Phyllanthaceae), Dissotis rotundifolia (Sm.) Triana, leaves (Melastomataceae), Cymbopogon giganteus Chiov. Leaves (Poaceae), Cyperus articulatus L. roots (Cyperaceae), Allium sativum L. bulb (Amaryllidaceae), Zingiber officinale Roscoe, rhizomes (Zingiberaceae), Allium cepa L. bulbs (Amaryllidaceae), Allium cepa L. leaves (Amaryllidaceae), Aloe vera var. barbadensis aqueous extract from leaves (Xanthorrhoeaceae), Aloe vera var. barbadensis organic extract from leaves (Xanthorrhoeaceae), Cocos nucifera Linn, water (Arecaceae) and Cocos nucifera Linn. Husk (Arecaceae). Conclusions: The collected plant species could be a source of a new class of drugs against TB. Bioactivity guided fractionation is recommended to identify lead compounds for antimycobacterial activity. The current paper documents for the first time medicinal plant species used by Ghanaian communities to treat TB. These results are a basis for selection of plants for further pharmacological, toxicological and phytochemical studies in developing new plant-based antimycobacterial drugs.
TL;DR: DNA barcodes such as that demonstrated in this study could be effectively used as a regulatory tool to control the adulteration of herbal products and contribute to restoring quality assurance and consumer confidence in natural health products.
Abstract: Medicinal plants such as Cassia, Senna, and Chamaecrista (belonging to the family Fabaceae) are well known for their laxative properties. They are extensively used within indigenous health care systems in India and several other countries. India exports over 5000 metric tonnes per year of these specific herbal products, and the demand for natural health product market is growing at approximately 10-15% annually. The raw plant material used as active ingredients is almost exclusively sourced from wild populations. Consequently, it is widely suspected that the commercial herbal products claiming to contain these species may be adulterated or contaminated. In this study, we have attempted to assess product authentication and the extent of adulteration in the herbal trade of these species using DNA barcoding. Our method includes four common DNA barcode regions: ITS, matK, rbcL, and psbA-trnH. Analysis of market samples revealed considerable adulteration of herbal products: 50% in the case of Senna auriculata, 37% in Senna tora, and 8% in Senna alexandrina. All herbal products containing Cassia fistula were authentic, while the species under the genus Chamaecrista were not in trade. Our results confirm the suspicion that there is rampant herbal product adulteration in Indian markets. DNA barcodes such as that demonstrated in this study could be effectively used as a regulatory tool to control the adulteration of herbal products and contribute to restoring quality assurance and consumer confidence in natural health products.
TL;DR: This review critically review the scientific literature on the phytochemical composition and antibacterial effects of the genus Eryngium plants to provide information about traditional uses, cultivation, as well as phytochemistry.
Abstract: Medicinal and edible plants play a crucial role in the prevention and/or mitigation of different human diseases from ancient times to today. In folk medicine, there are different plants used for infectious disease treatment. During the past two decades, much attention has been paid to plants as novel alternative therapeutic agents for the treatment of infectious diseases due to their bioactive natural compounds such as phenol, flavonoids, tannins, etc. The genus Eryngium (Apiaceae) contains more than 250 flowering plant species, which are commonly used as edible and medicinal plants in different countries. In fact, some genus Eryngium species are used as spices and are cultivated throughout the world and others species are used for the treatment of hypertension, gastrointestinal problems, asthma, burns, fevers, diarrhea, malaria, etc. Phytochemical analysis has shown that genus Eryngium species are a rich source of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and triterpenoids. Moreover, eryngial, one the most important and major compounds of genus Eryngium plant essential oil, possesses a significant antibacterial effect. Thus, the objective of this review is to critically review the scientific literature on the phytochemical composition and antibacterial effects of the genus Eryngium plants. In addition, we provide some information about traditional uses, cultivation, as well as phytochemistry.
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present morphological characteristics, vegetation compounds and evaluation of the therapeutic properties of this valuable medicinal plant, including anti- bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory effects.
Abstract: Background and aims: Medicinal plants are used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases. Celery (Apium graveolens) is a native medicinal plant to Europe. This plant has a very wide range of usage and cultivation. The wild type was found in countries such as Algeria, the Caucasus, Iran, India and America. However, due to increasing value and the special place of the plant in the new pharmaceutical industry, it is necessary to recognize the potential in the field of manufacturing and processing. This article presents morphological characteristics, vegetation compounds and evaluation of the therapeutic properties of this valuable medicinal plant. Methods: The information of this review article have been gathered from accessible journals in databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, SID and Iran Medex. The search terms were "Celery" and "Apium graveolens" that searched in Persian and English books on medicinal plants and traditional medicine, as well as reputable sites mentioned. Results: Various studies have shown that Celery plays a role in prevention of cardiovascular disease, lowering blood glucose and serum lipid, decrease blood pressure and strengthener the heart. This herb has anti- bacterial, anti-fungal and anti- inflammatory effects. Also, a powerful antioxidant property has been attributed to compounds such as apigenin, apiein, vitamins A and C. Conclusion: Celery widely used in pharmaceutical, food and ornamental industries, that causes its significant commercial value. Various combinations and numerous medicinal properties of seeds, leaves and stems, cause the need further and more research about the other useful and unknown properties of celery.
TL;DR: Certain Himalayan medicinal plants present therapeutic properties against different types of cancer, however, not all of the plants have been fully analysed for in vitro, in vivo and toxicological activities, and isolation of secondary metabolites.
TL;DR: The pharmacokinetic profile of 50 different therapeutically effective traditional medicinal plants from the year 2003 onward is reviewed, finding a number of phytoconstituents yet to be explored for their kinetic properties.
TL;DR: Results of this study showed that medicinal plants can be effective in controlling deprivation, decreasing dependency creation, and possibly detoxification of opioid addicts.
Abstract: Addiction is a chronic and recurring disease that recurrence phenomenon is the most important challenge in treatment of this disease. Recent experiences have shown that synthetic drugs have undesirable side effects. Recent studies on medicinal plants have shown that they might be effective in treatment of different stages of addiction with lower side effects and costs. The aim of this study was to review the effects of medicinal plants in the treatment of morphine addiction in experimental animals. In this review article, by using keywords of morphine, withdrawal, and plants or herbal medicine in databases of indexing cites, desired articles were obtained since 1994. Inclusion criteria for selecting articles were the articles related to application of medicinal plants in decreasing symptoms resulting from morphine withdrawal were selected. Results of this study on experimental studies have shown that medicinal plants such as Trachyspermum copticum L and Melissa officinalis decrease the symptoms of withdrawal syndrome in a dose-dependent. Also, medicinal plants like Avena sativa, Hypericum perforatu, Passiflora incarnate, Valeriana officinalis, Satureja hortensis L, and Mentha piperita can have effects on behavior, emotions, and other problems of addicts, decreasing withdrawal symptoms. Results of this study showed that medicinal plants can be effective in controlling deprivation, decreasing dependency creation, and possibly DETOXIFICATION: of opioid addicts.
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: The documented medicinal plants in the natural vegetation and home gardens in Abaya district, Borana Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia can serve as a basis for further studies on phytochemical and pharmacological studies.
Abstract: Medicinal plants are the integral part of the variety of cultures in Ethiopia and have been used over many centuries. Hence, the aim of this study is to document the medicinal plants in the natural vegetation and home gardens in Abaya district, Borana Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Forty eight traditional healers were selected to collect data on management of medicinal plants using semi-structured interview, group discussion, and field observation. The distribution of plant species in the study areas was surveyed. Forty three plant species were documented as having medicinal value: (21 (48.8%)) were Shrubs, (13 (30.3%)) herbs, and (9 (20.9%)) trees. The root (17 (39.5%)) was the most commonly used plant part followed by leaf (13 (30.2%)), fruits (7 (16.3%)) and stem (6 (14.0%)). Agricultural expansion (24.4%) in the area was found to be the main threat for medicinal plants followed by fire wood collection (18.8%). Peoples' culture and spiritual beliefs somehow helped in the conservation of medicinal plants. Traditional healers still depend largely on naturally growing plant species and the important medicinal plants are under threat. The documented medicinal plants can serve as a basis for further studies on phytochemical and pharmacological studies.
TL;DR: The contribution of plant parts collected through destructive methods was 29.5%.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The present review gives an introduction to some medicinal plants, method of extraction and emphasized more towards its application against specific parasites.
Abstract: Medicinal plants have been identified and used traditionally throughout the world from the beginning of the human civilization. Several plants with various properties of healing have been mentioned earlier in the oldest Indian mythology Rig - veda and Athar-veda , thus the history of use of medicinal plants in India dates back to 3500-1800 B.C. These medicinal plants contain active principles which are highly potent against parasites. Parasite causes a quantum of health hazard and economic losses to both human and animals. Therefore, medicinal plants are still a concern of research for their anthelmintic activity and other beneficial effects, because of increasing contraindications in the application of synthetic medicines. The use of crude medicinal plants assures health promising effect to mankind and animals due to anthelmintic efficacy without any side effects. The present review gives an introduction to some medicinal plants, method of extraction and emphasized more towards its application against specific parasites.
TL;DR: The methanol and acetone extracts of H. africana exhibited a significant antibacterial and antioxidant activities, suggesting the presence of either good bioactive potency or the high concentration of the active principle in the extracts which may serve as a guide for selecting bio- medicinal substances of plant origin in antidysenteric drugs.
Abstract: To determine the anti-dysenteric, phytochemicals and antioxidative properties of the root extracts of Hydnora africana. The use of plants for the treatment of dysentery and other diseases in traditional medicine has increased on the basis of these rich traditional medicine systems. Series of pharmacological tests are recommended since the aetiology of many diseases may be due to more than one factor. The agar well diffusion method was used to determine the susceptibility of bacterial strains to crude extracts of the plant. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by the microdilution test. The presence of phytochemicals and antioxidant was also assessed using standard methods. The antimicrobial activity of H. africana against all the tested organisms demonstrated a mean zone diameter of inhibition ranging from 0 to 25 mm. The MIC of the extracts ranged from 0.071 to 5.0 mg/mL. Antioxidant activity showed lower ferric reducing activities, moderate nitric oxide, moderate DPPH and higher ABTS scavenging activities of the plant. Phytochemical assay revealed the presence and equivalent quantity of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and phenolic acid in the extracts. The water and methanol extracts were also shown as the best solvents of extraction for the phytochemicals. The methanol and acetone extracts of H. africana exhibited a significant antibacterial and antioxidant activities, suggesting the presence of either good bioactive potency or the high concentration of the active principle in the extracts which may serve as a guide for selecting bio- medicinal substances of plant origin in antidysenteric drugs.
TL;DR: The present study revealed that some endophytic fungi from the five Sudanese medicinal plants could be a potential source of novel natural antioxidant compounds.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Among underutilized legumes, horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum), family Fabaceae is one of the minor or lesser known neglected legume mainly cultivated in Asian and African countries as a dual purpose crop as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Underutilized legumes are important group of crops which has special significance in subsistence farming and nutritional security of resource poor masses in developing countries. Among underutilized legumes, horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum), family Fabaceae is one of the minor or lesser known neglected legume mainly cultivated in Asian and African countries as a dual purpose crop. It is a climate resilient legume which is well known for its drought hardiness and embraces favourable agronomic features suitable for cultivation on dry lands under poor fertility condition. It is comparable to other commonly consumed pulses in its nutritional value and serves as a cheap source of nutrition for unprivileged rural communities residing in inaccessible areas. Horsegram has excellent therapeutic properties and traditionally used to cure kidney stones, asthma, bronchitis, leucoderma, urinary discharges, heart diseases, piles etc. Besides, it also possess anti-diabetic, anti-ulcer activity and also helps in dietary management of obesity due to the presence of beneficial bioactive compounds. In the present review nutritional composition, antinutritional factors, medicinal properties and its possibilities to be exploited as functional/ medicinal food for health benefits are summarised.
TL;DR: Herbs represent a rich of anti-pancreatic lipase compounds, in particular, Cryptolepis elegans Wall.
Abstract: Objective To screen the effect of 28 medicinal plants on inhibition of pancreatic lipase and evaluate the phytochemical contents of extracts. Methods The ethanolic extracts of 28 traditional Thai herbal medicines were assayed for their in vitro activities against porcine pancreatic lipase using p -nitrophenyl butyrate as a substrate. Quantitative estimation of flavonoids, phenolics, and alkaloids was done. Results Extracts from four herbs, Memecylon edule Roxb., Garcinia vilersiana Pierre, Cryptolepis elegans Wall. and Phyllanthus chamaepeuce Ridl., at a concentration of 100 μg/mL, strongly inhibited porcine pancreatic lipase by 90.97%, 92.04%, 94.64% and 95.38%, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between phenolic content and inhibition activity. Inhibition activity was significantly correlated with flavonoid and with alkaloid contents. Conclusions From this result, it could be concluded that herbs represent a rich of anti-pancreatic lipase compounds, in particular, Cryptolepis elegans Wall. and Phyllanthus chamaepeuce Ridl. It is suggested that the phytochemical compounds from these plants may be applied for the prevention and treatment of obesity or hyperlipidemia.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, the phytochemical analyses, nutrient value and economic importance of Zobo plant was carried out, which revealed that the plant is highly rich in vital minerals and nutrients such as Iron, copper, calcium, magnesium, manganese required for healthy growth in humans.
Abstract: The phytochemical analyses, nutrient value and economic importance of Hibiscus sabdariffa commonly known as Zobo plant was carried out. In Nigeria the plant is used to make a popular beverage known as Zobo drink. Investigations revealed that the plant is highly rich in vital minerals and nutrients such as Iron, copper, calcium, magnesium, manganese required for healthy growth in humans. The phytochemicals were extracted from the dried calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa using solvent extraction method. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed that there are some plant chemicals present in the extract such as alkaloids, tannins, saponnins, glycosides, phenols and flavonoids and quantitative result revealed their presence as follows; Tannins (17.0%), saponnins (0.96%), phenols (1.1%), glycosides (0.13%), alkaloids (2.14%) and flavonoids 20.08%). Hibiscus sabdariffa has medicinal benefits as it causes reduction in hypertension and cholesterol. The plant is economically important for proper metabolic process to be adequately maintained. It was discovered that the dietary constituents contributing to the protective effects of these plant materials are plant secondary metabolites in the form of phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals. Medicinal and aromatic plants contain biologically active chemical substances such as saponins, tannins, glycosides and other chemical compounds which have curative properties. This study suggests that plant derived medicines are relatively safer than synthetic alternative offering profound therapeutic benefits and more affordable treatment, hence, Hibiscus sabdariffa is readily available to provide such benefits.