Traditional Herbal Medicines Used for the Treatment of Diabetes among Two Major Tribal Groups in South Tamil Nadu, India

Medicinal plants used to treat diabetic conditions are of considerable interest and a number of plants have shown varying degrees of hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycaemic activity. An ethno-medico-botanical survey was carried out among the Kani and Paliyar tribals in southern Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu for the exploration of antidiabetic herbal medicines. They frequently use ten species of plants for the treatment of diabetes either in single or in combination with some other plant parts. The wealth of tribal knowledge on medicinal plants points to a great potential for research and the discovery of new drugs to fight diseases including diabetes, obtaining new foods and other new uses

Antimicrobial Activity of Sphaeranthus indicus L.

Aerial parts and flowers of Sphaeranthus indicus were extracted with n-hexane, benzene, chloroform, ehtylacetate and acetone. The extracts were screened for their antimicrobial activity using in vitro disc diffusion method at concentrations of 5, 2.5 and 1.25 mg/disc. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was tested using broth micro dilution method at concentrations ranging from 5 to 0.039 mg/ml. Significant antibacterial and antifungal activity was observed in hexane extract of flower and aerial parts. The flower extract showed MIC as 0.15 mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and the highest MIC (5 mg/ml) was noted for S. epidermidis. The n-hexane extracts of flower and aerial parts showed MIC as 0.15 and 1.25 mg/ml respectively against Candida albicans. In conclusion, the S. indicus flower n-hexane extract seems to be a promising antimicrobial agent

Traditional Healing Potential of Paliyars in Southern India

India is one of the twelve mega-biodiversity countries of the world having rich vegetation with a wide variety of medicinal plants and a tradition of plant-based knowledge distributed amongst a vast number of ethnic groups. The present study focuses mainly on the traditional knowledge of the Paliyar tribals for primary healthcare needs as reported by their informants/traditional healers. The study shows a high degree of ethnobotanical novelty and the use of plants among the Paliyars reflects the revival of interest in traditional folk culture and ethnomedicine

Antifungal activity of triterpenoid isolated from Azima tetracantha leaves.

The present study was designed to evaluate the antifungal activity of Azima tetracantha extracts and isolated compound (friedelin) against fungi. Antifungal activity was carried out using broth microdilution method and fractions were collected using (silica gel) column chromatography. The antifungal activity of Azima tetracantha crude extracts and isolated compound (friedelin) were evaluated using the micro dilution method. Hexane extract showed some antifungal activity. The compound also exhibited antifungal activity against tested fungi. The lowest MIC against Trichophyton rubrum (296) was 62.5 microg/ml and the MIC for Curvularia lunata was 62.5 microg/ml. These results suggest that Friedelin is a promising antifungal agent

Ethnobotanical investigations among tribes in Madurai District of Tamil Nadu (India)

BACKGROUND: An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect information on the use of medicinal plants in Southern Western Ghats of India (Madurai district, Tamil Nadu). Information presented in this paper was gathered from the paliyar tribes using an integrated approach of botanical collections, group discussions and interviews with questionnaires in the years 1998 – 1999. The informants interviewed were 12 among whom 4 were tribal practitioners. RESULTS: A total of 60 ethnomedicinal plant species distributed in 32 families are documented in this study. The medicinal plants used by paliyars are listed with Latin name, family, local name, parts used, mode of preparation and medicinal uses. Generally, fresh part of the plant was used for the preparation of medicine. CONCLUSION: We observed that the documented ethnomedicinal plants were mostly used to cure skin diseases, poison bites, stomachache and nervous disorders. The results of this study showed that these tribal people still depend on medicinal plants in Madurai district forest areas

Preliminary screening of plant essential oils against larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae)

Preliminary screenings of 22 plant essential oils were tested for mortality of the mosquito larvae Culex quinquefasciatus under laboratory conditions. Percent (%) mortality of the mosquito larvae were obtained for each essential oil. At different exposure periods, viz. 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h among the 22 plant oils tested, eight oils viz., aniseed, calamus, cinnamon, clove, lemon, orange, thyme, and tulsi oils gave promising results on larvicidal activity. For larvicidal screening bioassay, the mortality was recorded at different exposure periods viz., 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h, and it was found that larval mortality increased when exposure time increased. The clove oil was found to be the most effective treatment. In the preliminary screening, clove oil gave 100% mortality at all exposure periods. Vetiver oil recorded 36.2, 61.2, 76.2, 87.5 and 100% mortality in 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h, respectively. Results of this study show that the essential oils may be a potent source of natural larvicides.Key words: Screening, essential oils, Culex quinquefasciatus, Larvicidal

ADULTICIDAL ACTIVITY OF BOTANICAL OILS BY IMPREGNATED PAPER ASSAY AGAINST CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS SAY

Objective: The present study was undertaken with the aim of finding out the efficacy of essential oils (EOs) as anti-mosquito agents for commercial purposes. Plant source insecticides as an alternative to chemical insecticide, this study were evaluated to assess the knock-down and adulticidal prospective of the essential oils against Culex quinquefasciatus. The plant essential oil is largely cultivated throughout India and in all Tropical countries.Methods: The selected botanical essential oils were procured from commercial producers of plant essential oils and aromatic substances were used in this study. Knock-down and Adulticidal bioassay was performed according to WHO protocol. A single dose of the essential oils was used in the preliminary screening. 20 adult mosquitoes (3-5 d old glucose fed mosquitoes) were exposed on treated paper for one hour and knocked down and live mosquitoes were counted at 5 minute intervals.Results: Among the twenty three oils tested, 100% knock-down and adult mortality was recorded at 10%/cm2dose of calamus, camphor, cinnamon, citronella, clove, eucalyptus, lemongrass, pine, thyme and tulsi oils respectively. At 10 % concentration, clove oil (KT50 =1.8 and KT90 = 2.03 min) was found to be the most potential treatment. After 15 min exposure period clove oil registered the lowest knock-down dosewhich was calculated as (KD50 =1.8 %/cm2and KD90 =11.2 %/cm2). The lower and upper 95 % confidence limits for clove oil were calculated as 0.2 and 4.2 min respectively.Conclusion: From the results it can be concluded that the adult of the Cx. quinquefasciatus were susceptible to the essential oils. Such findings would be useful in promoting research aiming at the development of new agent for mosquito control on basis of chemical compounds from indigenous plant sources as an alternative to chemicals

3′-Benzoyl-1′-methyl-4′-phenyl­spiro[acenaphthyl­ene-1(2H),2′-pyrrolidin]-2-one

In the title compound, C29H23NO2, the pyrrolidine ring adopts a twisted conformation about one of the C—N bonds. The acenaphthone ring (r.m.s. deviation = 0.025 Å) lies almost perpendicular to the pyrrolidine ring [dihedral angle = 88.08 (8)°]. The dihedral angle between the phenyl rings is 88.12 (11)°. In the crystal structure, weak C—H⋯π inter­actions connect the mol­ecules

Phenotypic responses of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) genotypes to phosphate supply under greenhouse and natural field conditions

Food insecurity is a looming threat for the burgeoning world population. Phosphorus (P), which is absorbed from soil as inorganic phosphate (Pi), is an essential macronutrient for the growth of all agricultural crops. This study reports phenotype analysis for P responses in natural field and greenhouse conditions, using 54 genotypes of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) representing wide geographic origins. The genotype responses were assessed in natural field conditions in two different seasons (monsoon and summer) under Pi-fertilized (P+) and unfertilized (P-) soil for eight above-ground traits. Enormous variations were seen among the genotypes in phenotypic responses for all the measured parameters under low P stress conditions. Variations were significant for plant height, leaf number and length, tillering ability and seed yield traits. Genotypes ISe 1234 and ISe 1541 were P+ responders, and the genotypes ISe 1181, ISe 1655, ISe 783 and ISe 1892 showed tolerance to low P for total seed yield. Genotypes that performed well under P- conditions were almost as productive as genotypes that performed well under P+ conditions suggesting some genotypes are well adapted to nutrient-poor soils. In the greenhouse, most of the genotypes produced changes in root architecture that are characteristic of P- stress, but to differing degrees. Significant variation was seen in root hair density and root hair number and in fresh and dry weight of shoot and root under P- stress. However, there was not much difference in the shoot and root total P and Pi levels of five selected high and low responding genotypes. We noticed contrasting responses in the greenhouse and natural field experiments for most of these genotypes. The leads from the study form the basis for breeding and improvement of foxtail millet for better Pi-use efficiency

CYTOTOXIC AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF FRACTIONS ISOLATED FROM FERONIA ELEPHANTUM

Objective: The leaves of Feronia elephantum are widely used in folk medicine in India to treat various ailments. In the present communication we report the cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of extracts and fractions of F. elephantum leaves. Methods: The leaves of F. elephantum were extracted with hexane and ethyl acetate and checked for cytotoxic properties against human A549 lung adenocarcinoma cancer cell line. The active extract was subjected to column chromatography and fractions were bio-assayed. The active fraction was subjected to GC-MS analysis. Results: Hexane extract exhibited good cytotoxic activity against A549 lung cancer cell line compared to ethyl acetate extract. Hexane extract showed 77.3% activity at the dose of 500 µg/mL with IC50 (50.6%) value of 125 µg/mL. Hexane extract was also tested at different time intervals of 12h, 24h, 48h and 72 h. The activity gradually increased. The active hexane extract was subjected to column chromatography. Based on thin layer chromatography profiles, similar fractions were combined to give 9 fractions. When the fractions were bio-assayed fraction 5 showed maximum cytotoxic activity. Fraction 5 was tested against A549 lung cancer cell line at different time intervals; the activity gradually increased. Fraction 5 was used to test the antioxidant properties using DPPH analysis. Maximum antioxidant activity was observed at 1000 µg/mL (71.63 ± 0.15). Active fraction 5 was identified using GC-MS. It showed the presence of Estragole (50.82%), trans-anethole (p-propenylanisole, anise camphor) (14.98%) and Caryophyllene (9.22%). Conclusion: The results showed that hexane extract of F. elephantum could be probed further in drug discovery programme