SCREENING OF PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE LEAVES OF CLINACANTHUS SIAMENSIS BREMEK AND CISSAMPELOS PAREIRA L USED AS ANTIDOTE FOR SNAKE BITE IN INDIGENOUS MEDICINE

Objective: The study is aimed to screen the phytochemical constituents of the medicinal plants Clinacanthus siamensis Bremek and Cissampelos pareira L used as anti snake venom in tribal medicine. Methods: The phytochemical compounds such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, coumarins, anthocyanin, glycosides, reducing sugars, lignins, anthoquinone and alkaloids were extracted by standard methods and compared the components for its antivenom activity. Results: Qualitative analysis of methanolic and aqueous extracts of leaves confirmed the presence of primary metabolites like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and reducing sugars and secondary metabolites like phenols, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, coumarins, lignins, anthocyanin, anthoquinone and alkaloids. Quantitative estimation of primary and secondary metabolites showed that the presence of proteins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and lipids are more in Cissampelos pareira L when compared to Clinacanthus siamensis B. whereas the phenols and carbohydrates were more in Clinacanthus siamensis B. Conclusion: The study helped in the successful screening of phytochemical constituents which supports the traditional knowledge of the use of the plants as important medicine, as an antidote for poisonous snake bites and in curing various ailments

Micropropagation of Dysophylla myosuroides (Roth.) Benth. In. Wall. through leaf culture

A method was developed through leaf as explant of Dysophylla myosuroides (Roth.) Benth. for multiple shoot regeneration. The effect of Auxins (IAA, NAA, IBA) and Cytokinins (BA) were studied on shoot regeneration in clulture. On MS half strength medium light green compact calli were formed with 0.1 mg l-1 NAA. The cultures produced 62.57 + 0.04 shoots on half strength medium with 0.5 mg l-1 BA and 0.01 mg l-1 NAA and also maximum mean length (0.52 + 0.02) of shoots were achieved. In vitro produced shoots rooted on half strength MS medium with 1 mg l-1 IBA. The in vitro regenerated plantlets were successfully acclimatized in paper cups containing vermiculate, then transferred to green house. Hardened plants were transplanted in to sand and soil (1 : 1)

Viral Etiology of Complete Hydatidiform Moles (CHM)

175-179Complete hydatidiform moles (CHM) are the most common forms of gestational trophoblastic disease. CHM prevalence rate is higher in Kerala, India as compared to other parts of the world. The etiology of this disease is not yet clearly understood. Reports and observations suggest conceptual alterations, which could be due to involvement of viruses or carcinogens rather than host factors. In this study, the association of the common genital viruses with this disease was examined in 105 cases of CHM and 95 cases of normal placentae using immunohistochemistry, ELISA and PCR techniques. Present study suggests an association of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection with this disease while no association was noticed with other genital viruses such as Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes simplex virus (HSV). This is the second report in world literature and first in Indian literature showing such an association