Anthelmintic Activity of Trikatu Churna and its Ingredients

The alcoholic extract of Trikatu churna and its ingredients were evaluated for anthelmintic activity. The dried fruits of Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae), Piper longum L. (Piperaceae) and rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe. (Zingiberaceae) were powdered and mixed together in equiproportions to get a polyherbal formulation, Trikatu churna. All these three ingredients are spicy, commonly used in our daily diet, also well known for their tremendous therapeutic potential, since from the Vedic period. The alcoholic extract of Trikatu churna and its ingredients were screened for preliminary phytochemical studies and also tested for anthelmintic activity against Pheritima posthuma and recorded the time taken for induction of paralysis and death. Piperazine citrate (10 mg/ml) was included as standard reference and distilled water as control. The results demonstrated that, the extracts of Trikatu churna and its plant ingredients showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, lignins and steroids, these test samples were also exhibited potent anthelmintic activity, but the highest activity was noticed in Trikatu churna, this might be due to the multifunctional effect of all the three plant ingredients of Trikatu churna. Based on the above results, it is confirmed that, combination of Piper nigrum, Piper longum and Zingiber officinale in Trikatu churna offered promising anthelmintic effect than using the ingredients alone

Study on seasonal variation on the content of Cucurbitacin of various vegetative parts of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. var. cucumerina

The total cucurbitacin content produced in the different parts of T. cucumerina L. var. cucumerina viz., fruit, stem and leaves with time and temperature was studied during the year 2007-08. The highest amount of cucurbitacins was produced in the month of February, i.e., 0.8, 1.7 and 3.7 w/w % and lowest was in the month of July 1.9, 0.5 and 0.17 w/w % in fruit, stem and leaves respectively. Present study reviles that, Production of cucurbitacin is temperature dependent as the temperature increases cucurbitacins production increased; decrease in the temperature production of cucurbitacins was found decrease. Due to high content of cucurbitacins, this plant may prove itself as a potent hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic agent, antifeedant and antimicrobial properties of the plants.The stems are involved in the transportation of cucurbitacins but only the fruits are associated with storage. Although the leaves contained a low concentration of cucurbitacins or the role cucurbitacins is still important as antifeedants. For example, the bitterness of cucurbitacin E is experienced at a low concentration of 10 ppb [9] a concentration that is not detectable by quantitative methods used [26] determined cucurbitacin content in the fruit 40 times greater than in the leaves of Ecballium elaterium.[27] determined 22 times greater than that of the leaves. In present study considering the fresh plant material, the cucurbitacin content in the fruit is about 15 times greater than that of the leaves is adequate to promote and conduct various pharmacological activities, as hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic agent, antifeedant and antimicrobial [28] properties of the plants. This study reveals that production of cucurbitacins is temperature dependent (Figure-2), increase in temperature increases cucurbitacins and cucurbitacin E production.peer-reviewe

(2R*,3R*,4aS*,6aR*,11aS*,11bS*)-Methyl 2-acet­oxy-11b-hydr­oxy-3,7-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,7,11,11a,11b-dodeca­hydro­phenanthro[3,2-b]furan-3-carboxyl­ate

In the title compound, C22H30O6, the conformation of the mol­ecule is dictated by an intra­molecular C—H⋯O contact. The crystal structure is stabilized via inter­molecular C—H⋯O, O—H⋯O and C—H⋯π contacts

Phytochemical Studies of Strychnos potatorum

The present paper deals with the phytochemical screening of therapeutic importance from Strychnos potatorum L.f., an important medicinal plant. This study involves the preliminary screening, quantitative determination and the qualitative thin layer chromatographic separation of secondary metabolites from the root, stem bark and seeds (collected and market) of S.potatorum. Further, HPLC alkaloid profile of the seed has been studied. The generated data has provided the basis for its wide use as the therapeutant both in the traditional and folk medicines

Synthesis of β-amino alcohols by ring opening of epoxides with amines catalyzed by sulfated tin oxide under mild and solvent-free conditions

One significant and elegant method for creating β-amino alcohols, which are useful intermediates for the synthesis of many different natural and synthetic pharmaceutical compounds, is to open the rings of epoxides with amines. When sulfated tin oxide catalyst (2 mol%) is present, epoxides can open their rings and react with amines to produce corresponding β-amino alcohols in good to high yields under mild circumstances. Under clean circumstances and in a short amount of time, the reaction demonstrated high regioselectivity and functioned well with both aromatic and aliphatic amines at room temperature

Non-conventional therapeutics for oral infections

© 2015 Robert P Allaker and CW Ian Douglas. As our knowledge of host-microbial interactions within the oral cavity increases, future treatments are likely to be more targeted. For example, efforts to target a single species or key virulence factors that they produce, while maintaining the natural balance of the resident oral microbiota that acts to modulate the host immune response would be an advantage. Targeted approaches may be directed at the blackpigmented anaerobes, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia, associated with periodontitis. Such pigments provide an opportunity for targeted phototherapy with high-intensity monochromatic light. Functional inhibition approaches, including the use of enzyme inhibitors, are also being explored to control periodontitis. More general disruption of dental plaque through the use of enzymes and detergents, alone and in combination, shows much promise. The use of probiotics and prebiotics to improve gastrointestinal health has now led to an interest in using these approaches to control oral disease. More recently the potential of antimicrobial peptides and nanotechnology, through the application of nanoparticles with biocidal, antiadhesive and delivery capabilities, has been explored. The aim of this review is to consider the current status as regards non-conventional treatment approaches for oral infections with particular emphasis on the plaque-related diseases