Medicinal plants

About: Medicinal plants is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3816 publications have been published within this topic receiving 108681 citations. The topic is also known as: medicinal herbs & medicinal plants.

Phytochemical analysis and medicinal uses of Hibiscus sabdariffa.

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.

Review on Some Malaysian Traditional Medicinal Plants with Therapeutic Properties

Abstract: There are many medicinal plants that have been used for thousands of years. These plants can now be found in herbal products and as part of the traditional Malaysian health care system because of their therapeutic efficacy. This paper discusses the use of ten medicinal plants in the traditional medicinal system of Malaysia and related scientific studies on their Pharmaceutical properties, which demonstrate their traditional uses. The plants viewed are Amaranthus spinosus L., Arundina graminifolia (D.Don) Hochr., Callicarpa arborea Roxb., Carica papaya L., Citrus grandis L., Coleus amboinicus Lour., Curcuma domestica Valeton., Psidium guajava L., Garcinia atroviridis Griff. ex T. Anders., and Zingiber officinale Rosc. All the plants mentioned in this paper have therapeutic properties, which explains and validates their uses in traditional medicine. .

The potential of anti-malarial compounds derived from African medicinal plants, part III: an in silico evaluation of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics profiling.

Abstract: Malaria is an endemic disease affecting many countries in Tropical regions. In the search for compound hits for the design and/or development of new drugs against the disease, many research teams have resorted to African medicinal plants in order to identify lead compounds. Three-dimensional molecular models were generated for anti-malarial compounds of African origin (from 'weakly' active to 'highly' active), which were identified from literature sources. Selected computed molecular descriptors related to absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) of the phytochemicals have been analysed and compared with those of known drugs in order to access the 'drug-likeness' of these compounds. In the present study, more than 500 anti-malarial compounds identified from 131 distinct medicinal plant species belonging to 44 plant families from the African flora have been considered. On the basis of Lipinski's 'Rule of Five', about 70% of the compounds were predicted to be orally bioavailable, while on the basis of Jorgensen's 'Rule of Three', a corresponding >80% were compliant. An overall drug-likeness parameter indicated that approximately 55% of the compounds could be potential leads for the development of drugs. From the above analyses, it could be estimated that >50% of the compounds exhibiting anti-plasmodial/anti-malarial activities, derived from the African flora, could be starting points for drug discovery against malaria. The 3D models of the compounds have been included as an accompanying file and could be employed in virtual screening.

Phytochemicals screening and antimicrobial activities of selected medicinal plants of Khyberpakhtunkhwa Pakistan

Abstract: The study was carried out to assess the phytochemical and antimicrobial bioassay of five medicinal plants, Lepidium sativum, Nerium oleander, Ranunculus repens, Tecoma stans and Urtica dioca. These plants are traditionally used as medicine in the Northwest Pakistan, therefore it is necessary to identify and estimate their alkaloid, flavonoid , saponin, phenol and tannin contents. Phytochemical inveigation of plant samples determines that alkaloid (63.6%) and flavonoid (0.91%) were highest in N. oleander, saponin (11%) and phenol (0.031) in T. stans, tannin (0.61%) in L. sativum , All five species showed no significant antimicrobial activities.