PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STANDARDIZATION OF HUGONIA MYSTAX L. LEAVES

The present study discloses detailed pharmacognostical profile of leaves of Hugonia mystax L. This plant belongs to family Linaceae and an important medicinal plant in the Indian system of medicine. This species is has a restricted global distribution, occurring only in India and Sri Lanka. In the present study leaves of H. mystax were subjected for macroscopical, microscopical, physicochemical, phytochemical, fluorescence and H.P.T.L.C. analysis. The microscopical studies revealed the presence of shield shaped vascular bundle accompanied by 2 to 1 small accessory vascular bundles in the midrib region, pericyclic fibers around the vascular bundle, rubiaceous type stomata in lower region, presence of abundant rhomboidal to prism shaped calcium oxalate crystals, presence of reddish tannin content in palisade region and presence of abundant fibers. To determine extent of adulteration as well as to establish the quality and purity of drug, Physicochemical parameters like loss on drying, total ash value, acid insoluble ash, water insoluble ash, various extractive values etc., were carried out and revealed the total ash value as 8.7%, of which, 1.34% was acid insoluble ash, and 2.25% was water soluble ash and 5.8 % water insoluble. The extractive values were found to be 18.54% and 13.42% for water and alcohol respectively, which indicated higher extractive value for water compared to alcohol. Further, qualitative tests for various functional groups like Triterpenoids, alkaloids, glycosides etc., were carried out and H.P.T.L.C. profile was also established with Methanolic extract

MICROSCOPICAL OBSERVATIONS ON CISSUS VITIGINEA L.

The present study discloses detailed investigation on Macro and Microscopical characters of the leaves and roots of Cissus vitiginea L. Yanadhi tribes of Nellore district, have been using the root powder and leaf paste of C. vitiginea as a single drugs remedy to heal the wounds and to get immediate relief from swellings and sprains respectively. The plant belongs to Vitaceae family. In dried form identification of leaves and roots is hard and at present authentic pharmacognostical data is not available. With this view, leaves and roots of C. vitiginea were subjected to various pharmacognostical studies like, powder microscopy, sectioning, maceration and florasense studies to identify authentically. In the microscopical studies, different cell structures like trichomes, elongated fibers, raphide sacs, acicular crystals and different arrangements like, raphide sacs in the parenchymatous region reddish tannin content in the phloem region were noticed

ETHNO-BOTANICAL CLAIMS COLLECTED FROM TRIBAL AND RURAL PEOPLE OF KADAPA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH

The main aim of the study is to collect the ethnobotanical claims on therapeutic actions of twenty-seven (27) plant species belonging to Fourteen (14) families of angiosperms; practicing by tribal and rural people of Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. The study was directed in the tribal villages and provincial regions like; Badvel, Balapalli, Chitvel, Guvvala cheruvu, Kukkaladhoddi, Lankamalai, Mamandur, Palakonda hills, Pulivendula, Rajampeta, Rayachoti and Settipalli in Kadapa District. The governed tribal populations in these regions are Yanadhi accompanied by Yerukula, Nakkala, and Sugalis. Tribal and rural people of the investigated areas have been applying all these plant materials in the form of ash, boiled, crude, curry, decoction etc. for treating 27 disease conditions like; anorexia, bilious affections, piles, burning sensation in the stomach, cold and cough, dandruff, dental diseases, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, redness of eye, facial paralysis, fever, fissures, cracks, flatulence, haemorrhage, hair loss, indigestion, intestinal ulcers, loss of libido, migraine, pains, swellings etc. The botanical name, family name, habit, habitat, part(s) used, flowering and fruiting time, the name of the diseases against which the plants are used and mode of administration with dosage for most of the claims is discussed in detail. The provided information could be used to find new medications of natural origin by the systematic research on pharmacological and clinical trials

Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Dermatogenic Diseases in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, India

An ethno-medicobotanical survey of plants used in the treatment of dermatogenic diseases in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh was conducted. The information was collected on the basis of personal interviews with traditional healers, tribal doctors and old women of the society. The investigation revealed that 24 plant species belonging to 18 families and 21 genera are commonly used in the treatment of skin ailments

Ethnopharmacognastical investigation on Ipomoea pes-tigridis Linn.

The present investigation was undertaken to analyze the Pharmacognostical, physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical profile in the leaves and roots of Ipomoea pes-tigridis Linn. with the back ground of Ethnic importance. This plant is used by the tribes of Nellore district as a single drug remedy to treat as Laxative and skin diseases. In the present work the leaf and root part of the plant were subjected to various microscopical and physico- preliminary phyto chemical evaluations. In the microscopical studies, the different cell structures and arrangements were studied. Physicochemical parameters like loss on drying, total ash value, acid insoluble ash, water insoluble ash, various extractive values etc., were carried out. Further, qualitative tests for various functional groups like Triterpenoids, alkaloids, glycosides etc..., were carried out

Feasibility of utilising address card system for obtaining accurate address of patients under programme conditions

An addresscard, one on which patient's home address is asked to be recorded by a person knowing for sure the patient's address, was investigated for acceptability and efficiency, in two Government hospitals located in semiurban areas and six Primary Health Centres located in rural areas in North Arcot district. In all 394 address-cards were given to the patients from the eight centres, of which 374 were returned with the address filled in, showing an acceptability rate of 95%. In all, 373 Type A letters were then posted to these addresscard addresses in respect of which acknowledgment cards were received back from 306 (82%) patients. For 140 patients, the recorded addresses were found to be the same as on the addresscard and the treatment card: In the remaining 233, there was some difference between the two addresses. Type B letters were then posted to the 233 patients at their treatment card address. No definite information was available regarding the receipt of one or both types of letters in respect of 80 patients; so, an attempt was made to visit these patients in their homes to find out the fate of these letters. Of these, no information could be collected in 9 patients. Out of 224 patients for whom information regarding the receipt of letter was available, 143 (64%) patients received both letters and 16 (7%) received neither Type A nor Type B letter. Twenty one (9%) had probably or definitely not received the Type A letter, but had received the Type B letter. Forty four (20%) had definitely or probably not received the Type B letter, but had received the Type A letter

SCIENTIFIC VALIDATION AND STANDARDIZATION OF PARPATAKA AN AYURVEDIC DRUG WITH RESPECT TO FUMARIA INDICA

Objective: Fumaria indica is an essential curative herb and asserted as a prevalent weed across the plains of India. The entire plant is popularly employed in conventional systems of medicine for its therapeutic activities like anthelmintic, diuretic, diaphoretic, laxative, purging and stomachic. The entire plant is regarded to have therapeutical purposes in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine and is employed in the preparation of important Ayurvedic formulation Parpataka. In Unani systems of medicine, it is used as shahtara. This contemporary study is intended to authenticate and validate the species Fumaria indica with respect to Parpataka drug. Methods: The chief objective of this contemporary research work is to assess the various pharmacognostic properties like Macroscopical, Microscopical, Physiochemical and Fluorescence studies. Microscopical studies include cell structure and their arrangement, Physicochemical parameter s include loss on drying, total ash value, acid insoluble ash, water-insoluble ash, various extractive values etc. Qualitative tests for various functional groups were also carried out. Results: The microscopical characters of leaf, stem and roots, physicochemical, preliminary phytochemical profiles were established. Conclusion: The pharmacognostical screening on Fumaria indica is significant data for the identification and to determine the quality and purity of the plant material in future reviews

ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY TRIBES OF CHITTOOR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH TO CURE MUSCULAR PAIN AND INFLAMMATION

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect the first-hand information on medicinal plants used by the inhabited and traditionally rich tribal communities (Chenchus, Yanadis and Nakkalas) in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh (AP) for the treatment of muscular pain and inflammation. The information was gathered by an integrated approach of botanical collections, group discussions and questionnaire. The survey revealed thirty forty (34) ethno-medicinal plants belonging to twenty one (21) angiospermic families specifically used for the preparation of medicinal remedies. The tribal claims on the medicinal plants are listed with Latin name, family, local name, part used, method of preparation, dose and its use in pain and inflammation conditions. The habit of frequently used plant were recorded includes tree species (44 %) followed by herbs (35 %) climbers (12 %), under shrubs (6 %) and shrub (3%). Most frequently utilized plant parts were leaves, followed by root, latex, whole plant, bark, fruits, rhizome and seeds. In this particular study the most dominant family was found to be Euphorbiaceae. The result clearly indicates that people living around Chittoor forest area hold valuable traditional knowledge of the use of medicinal plants for their primary health care need related to muscular injury and inflammation. These plant resources are important component in their local livelihood and to control overexploitation of these resources sustainable management approach and proper conservation strategy for the area is also highly recommended by bringing the involvement of local communities and forest department. More in-depth investigations on these claims through phytochemical and pharmacological parameters are required to explore their activities to deal with the conditions of pain and inflammation