Streblus asper Lour. (Shakhotaka): A Review of its Chemical, Pharmacological and Ethnomedicinal Properties

Streblus asper Lour is a small tree found in tropical countries, such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Various parts of this plant are used in Ayurveda and other folk medicines for the treatment of different ailments such as filariasis, leprosy, toothache, diarrhea, dysentery and cancer. Research carried out using different in vitro and in vivo techniques of biological evaluation support most of these claims. This review presents the botany, chemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of this medicinal plant

Phytochemical Profiling and Antioxidant Potential of Ailanthus Excelsa Roxb. Extracts

Abstract The stem bark of Ailanthes excelsa Roxb., known as Aralu, is commonly used as a substitute in trade and raw drug market for several other important medicinal plants like Oroxylum indicum and Holarrhena antidysenterica. In the present study, its physicochemical parameters, preliminary phytochemical screening, HPTLC fingerprinting and assessment of its antioxidant potential were carried out. The different extracts were analyzed for their total phenolic and flavonoid contents and subjected to phytochemical analysis using HPTLC and the chemical markers lupeol and stigmasterol were quantified. Lupeol and stigmasterol were found to be present only in the methanolic extract (5.3 µg/mg and 8.1 µg/mg extract respectively). Results indicated that the 50% aqueous methanolic extract contained the highest content of phenolics and flavonoids. The methanolic extract exhibited the best antioxidant potential in both the in vitro test models used viz. DPPH radical scavenging activity as well as the Total Antioxidant Capacity. The analysis results may thus be used for the routine analysis of the raw drug samples and formulations for the presence of A. excelsa. The HPTLC fingerprint profiles are especially useful as they provide a fingerprint of the various phytoconstituents present in the crude drug and can be essentially used for quality control and assessment. They may also be used for confirming the presence of authentic plant material and monitoring the consistency of different batches of finished products where A. excelsa has been used as an ingredient

In vitro antifilarial activity, antioxidant potential and phenolic constituents of Quisqualis indica L.

648-654Quisqualis indica L., commonly known as ‘Rangoon-ki-bel’ or ‘Madhumalti’, has been used by the traditional healers as it is active against some of the commonly occurring diseases like boils, fevers diarrhea and helminthiasis. However, no systematic and scientifically validated studies on antifilarial activity of Q. indica are available. In the present study, we report in vitro antifilarial activity of ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts of the leaves (QILE and QILEW) and flowers (QIFE and QIFEW) of this plant on microfilariae (mf) and female adult worms of human lymphatic filariid Brugia malayi using motility and or 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-reduction assays. The hydroalcoholic extract of flowers (QIFEW) was found effective as it killed adult female worms (LC100: 62.5 µg/mL) and mf (LC100: 125 µg/mL); IC50 values for the respective parasite stages were 34.50 and 31.88 µg/mL. SI values recorded with respect to motility of female parasite and mf was more than 20. The active principle(s) responsible for antifilarial activity may thus be present in QIFEW. The antioxidant activity results also indicated QIFEW to possess better antioxidant potential than the other extracts studied. HPLC analysis showed that the 02 keyphenolics present in hydroalcoholic extract of the flowers (QIFEW) were gallic acid and ellagic acid. In the different extracts, the concentration of gallic acid was found to vary from 26.9 mg/g to 2.50 mg/g while ellagic acid ranged between 11.5 mg/g to 6.77 mg/g. It was also observed that the leaves were rich in flavonoids whereas the flowers were rich in phenolics. The findings indicate that active molecule (s) of hydroalcoholic extractfrom Q. indica flowers may help in providing new leads for developing antifilarial agents. We believe that this is the first systematically studied report on the in vitro antifilarial activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of Q. indica flowers

Indian Traditional Ayurvedic System of Medicine and Nutritional Supplementation

Food is the major source for serving the nutritional needs, but with growing modernization some traditional ways are being given up. Affluence of working population with changing lifestyles and reducing affordability of sick care, in terms of time and money involved, are some of the forces that are presently driving people towards thinking about their wellness. There has been increased global interest in traditional medicine. Efforts to monitor and regulate traditional herbal medicine are underway. Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine, remains the most ancient yet living traditions. Although India has been successful in promoting its therapies with more research and science-based approach, it still needs more extensive research and evidence base. Increased side effects, lack of curative treatment for several chronic diseases, high cost of new drugs, microbial resistance and emerging, diseases are some reasons for renewed public interest in complementary and alternative medicines. Numerous nutraceutical combinations have entered the international market through exploration of ethnopharmacological claims made by different traditional practices. This review gives an overview of the Ayurvedic system of medicine and its role in translational medicine in order to overcome malnutrition and related disorders

In vitro antifilarial activity, antioxidant potential and phenolic constituents of Quisqualis indica L.

Quisqualis indica L., commonly known as ‘Rangoon-ki-bel’ or ‘Madhumalti’, has been used by the traditional healers as it is active against some of the commonly occurring diseases like boils, fevers diarrhea and helminthiasis. However, no systematic and scientifically validated studies on antifilarial activity of Q. indica are available. In the present study, we report in vitro antifilarial activity of ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts of the leaves (QILE and QILEW) and flowers (QIFE and QIFEW) of this plant on microfilariae (mf) and female adult worms of human lymphatic filariid Brugia malayi using motility and or 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-reduction assays. The hydroalcoholic extract of flowers (QIFEW) was found effective as it killed adult female worms (LC100: 62.5 μg/mL) and mf (LC100: 125 μg/mL); IC50 values for the respective parasite stages were 34.50 and 31.88 μg/mL. SI values recorded with respect to motility of female parasite and mf was more than 20. The active principle(s) responsible for antifilarial activity may thus be present in QIFEW. The antioxidant activity results also indicated QIFEW to possess better antioxidant potential than the other extracts studied. HPLC analysis showed that the 02 keyphenolics present in hydroalcoholic extract of the flowers (QIFEW) were gallic acid and ellagic acid. In the different extracts, the concentration of gallic acid was found to vary from 26.9 mg/g to 2.50 mg/g while ellagic acid ranged between 11.5 mg/g to 6.77 mg/g. It was also observedthat the leaves were rich in flavonoids whereas the flowers were rich in phenolics. The findings indicate that active molecule (s) of hydroalcoholic extractfrom Q. indica flowers may help in providing new leads for developing antifilarial agents. We believe that this is the first systematically studied report on the in vitro antifilarial activity of the hydroalcoholicextract of Q. indica flowers

<span style="font-size:19.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.5pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Bacoside <span style="font-size:20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">A₂—A <span style="font-size:19.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">triterpenoid saponin from <i>Bacopa monniera</i></span></span></span>

353-356A new saponin, bacoside A<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">2, has been isolated from Bacopa monniera and its structure elucidated as 3β-[O--L- arabinofuranosyl( 1→6)-O-[-L-arabinopyranosyl( 1→5)]-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">O--D-glucofuranosyl) oxy]pseudojujubogenin by chemical and spectral studies

Phytochemical profiling and antioxidant potential of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. extracts

828-833The stem bark of Ailanthus excels Roxb., known as ‘Aralu’, is commonly used as a substitute in trade and raw drug market for several other important medicinal plants like Oroxylum indicum and Holarrhena antidysenterica. In the present study, its physicochemical parameters, preliminary phytochemical screening, HPTLC fingerprinting and assessment of its antioxidant potential were carried out. The different extracts were analysed for their total phenolic and flavonoid content and subjected to phytochemical analysis using HPTLC and the chemical markers lupeol and stigmasterol were quantified. Lupeol and stigmasterol were found to be present only in the methanolic extract (5.3 μg/mg and 8.1 μg/mg extract respectively). Results indicated that the 50% aqueous methanolic extract contained the highest content of phenolics and flavonoids. The methanolic extract exhibited the best antioxidant potential in the in vitro test models used viz., DPPH radical scavenging activity as well as the total antioxidant capacity. The analysis results may thus be used for the routine analysis of the raw drug samples and formulations for the presence of A. excelsa. The HPTLC fingerprint profiles are especially useful as they provide a fingerprint of the various phytoconstituents present in the crude drug and can be essentially used for quality control and assessment. They may also be used for confirming the presence of authentic plant material and monitoring the consistency of different batches of finished products where A. excelsa has been used as an ingredient

Phytochemical analysis, phenolic content and antioxidant properties of different parts of <em>Terminalia bellirica</em> (Gaertn.) Roxb.- A comparative study

370-375Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb., commonly known as Baheda, is one of the three ingredients of the well known Ayurvedic formulation Triphala which is very effective in gastrointestinal tract and eye and brain related problems. In the present study the fruits (TBF), leaves (TBL) and bark (TBB) of T. bellirica were analyzed and phytochemical analysis for triterpenoids and phenolics was done by HPTLC. The Total phenolic content and Total flavonoid content of the samples were in the order TBL>TBF>TBB with TBL showing the highest TPC and TFC with 15.8 mg GAE/g and 33.3 mg QE/g, respectively. Ellagic acid was the most predominant constituent and was found to be present in all the samples of T. bellirica, its percentage being maximum in case of leaves (4.863 %). Their antioxidant potential was also determined. It was observed that the leaves of T. bellirica, which are rich in phenolics and flavonoids, also exhibit the highest antioxidant potential as evidenced by the better DPPH radical scavenging ability as well as the total antioxidant capacity

Evaluation of Ayurvedic Compound Formulations 5- <i>Katphaladi Cũrna</i>

295-299The interest in Ayurvedic drugs/ formulations has led to an increase in their demand leading to a decline in their quality, primarily due to lack of adequate regulations pertaining to herbal drugs. Standardization is an essential tool to obtain the desired effect of any drug/ formulations. But the herbal formulations which are being prepared using traditional methods may not have the desired quality and batch to batch consistency due to lack of modern pharmacopoeial standards. Four samples of Katphaladi Cũrna, procured from different Ayurvedic pharmacies, were subjected to physicochemical analysis, HPTLC fingerprinting and botanical characterization, and compared using authentic ingredients as reference. The studies suggest that these parameters may, together, be used for quality evaluation and standardization of compound formulations and maintaining their quality, purity and efficacy

Evaluation of <em>Ayurvedic</em> compound formulations 6- <em>Panchkola Churna</em>

514-518Increasing public interest and acceptance of herbal drugs and natural therapies in both developing and developed countries has given rise to various forms of adulteration and substitution in the herbal formulations leading to consumers and manufacturers disappointment and in some instances fatal consequences. Standardization and quality evaluation is the process of preparing a set of standards or identical characteristics, constant parameters, definitive values that carry an assurance of quality, efficacy, safety and reproducibility of any single or compound herbal formulation. In the continuation of earlier studies on standardization of Ayurvedic herbal formulations four samples of Panchkola Churna, procured from different Ayurvedic pharmacies, were subjected to physicochemical analysis, HPTLC fingerprinting and botanical characterization, and compared using authentic ingredients as reference. The studies suggest that these parameters may, together, be used for quality evaluation and standardization of compound formulations and maintaining the quality, purity and efficacy of the studied formulation