PHARMACOLOGICAL SCREENING OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANT, VITEX ALTISSIMA (VERBENACEAE) FOR ITS TRADITIONAL CLAIMS

Objective: Vitex altissima (Verbenaceae) has been extensively used in folk medicine for the treatment of pain and associated ailments. Hence, the present study was intended to evaluate total methanolic and aqueous leaf extracts of Vitex altissima for analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities. Methods: The analgesic activity was studied by tail immersion model, while the anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan induced paw oedema model and the antipyretic activity was studied by brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia model. Acute toxicity study and preliminary phytochemical screening were also studied to evaluate the toxicity and chemical profile of the both extracts respectively. Results: No toxicity profile was observed in rats after oral administration of the both extracts at the dose of 5g/kg body weight.  The different extracts at a dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight p.o produced a significant (p<0.05) dosage dependent inhibition of pain and oedema in analgesic and anti-inflammatory models respectively. Both extract also showed significant and dosage dependent inhibition of temperature elevation compared with the standard drug paracetamol (150 mg/kg/ body weight). Phytochemical screening of the plant extract revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins, coumarins and terpenoids. Conclusion: These results indicate that leaf extracts of Vitex altissima possesses potent analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects and thus pharmacologically justifying its folkloric use in the management of pain and related ailments

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Paliyars</i> aboriginal community in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, India</span>

613-618<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">The present ethnobotanical exploration depicts 48 medicinal plants for about 36 types of ailments practiced by Paliyar tribes of the Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, India. The study was carried out through semi-structured questionnaires and personal interviews in consultations with the herbal practitioners. The ethnic community still depends upon their indigenous knowledge to healing their ailments. The study thus emphasizes the need to pursue meticulous ethnobotanical research in finding solutions to major fatal diseases and ensure its application in improving human healthcare facilities.</span

Pharmacognostic evaluation of stem, leaves and roots of<i> Merremia</i> <i>tridentata</i> (L.) Hallier f.

693-698Pharmacognostic investigation of leaf, stem and root of Merremia tridentata (L.) Hallier. f. was carried out to determine its macromorphological, micromorphological, and chemomicromorphological profiles. The anatomy of the leaf reveals that collateral vascular bundles, paracytic type of stomata, peltate type of glandular trichomes and druses calcium oxalates are seen on the epidermis of the lamina. The stem shows the presence of bicollateral vascular cylinder, it consists of a few wide, circular or angular vessels and xylem fibres. The root shows the presence of secondary phloem which is not distinct from the cortex. The phloem rays are narrow and straight. Secondary xylem includes vessels, fibres and xylem rays. Preliminary phytochemical analysis and HPTLC analysis was done along with fluorescence characteristics, extractive values, quantitative estimation of ash values, acid insoluble ash, and water soluble ash which may serve as useful indices for the correct identification of the powdered drug. Calcium oxalate crystals are abundant in the leaf and roots. This observation would be immense value in the botanical identification and standardization of the drug in the crude form. This study would be useful evidences for further investigations of this medicinal plant