Botany, chemistry, and pharmaceutical significance of Sida cordifolia: a traditional medicinal plant

Sida cordifolia Linn. belonging to the family, Malvaceae has been widely employed in traditional medications in many parts of the world including India, Brazil, and other Asian and African countries. The plant is extensively used in the Ayurvedic medicine preparation. There are more than 200 plant species within the genus Sida, which are distributed predominantly in the tropical regions. The correct taxonomic identification is a major concern due to the fact that S. cordifolia looks morphologically similar with its related species. It possesses activity against various human ailments, including cancer, asthma, cough, diarrhea, malaria, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, obesity, ulcer, Parkinson’s disease, urinary infections, and many others. The medical importance of this plant is mainly correlated to the occurrence of diverse biologically active phytochemical compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids. The major compounds include β-phenylamines, 2-carboxylated tryptamines, quinazoline, quinoline, indole, ephedrine, vasicinone, 5-3-isoprenyl flavone, 5,7-dihydroxy-3-isoprenyl flavone, and 6-(isoprenyl)- 3-methoxy- 8-C-β-D-glucosyl-kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucosyl[1–4]-α-D-glucoside. The literature survey reveals that most of the pharmacological investigations on S. cordifolia are limited to crude plant extracts and few isolated pure compounds. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate many other unexplored bioactive phytoconstituents with evidences so as to justify the traditional usages of S. cordifolia. Furthermore, detailed studies on the action of mechanisms of these isolated compounds supported by clinical research are necessary for validating their application in contemporary medicines. The aim of the present chapter is to provide a detailed information on the ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological aspects of S. cordifolia

Evaluation of some plant extracts for standardization and anticancer activity

682-687<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt;mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-IN" lang="EN-US">In recent times, the trend in cancer research is shifting towards identifying new medicines from natural resources for management of cancer.<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt; mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"> <span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-IN" lang="EN-US">Medicinal plants such as Sthauneyaka (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Taxus baccata L.) and compound formulations like Triphala ghrita, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Khadirarista, Madhusnuhi rasayana, Maha triphaladya ghrita, Panchatikta guggulu ghrita are indicated in the Ayurvedic texts for management of cancer/ tumour. <span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold" lang="EN-GB">The anti-proliferative activities of hydro-alcoholic extracts of some standardized plant materials were screened against a panel of 14 human cancer cell lines representing different tissues (lung, pancreas, colon, cervix, oral, bladder, prostate, breast, leukaemia, etc.) through Sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay. The findings revealed that <span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold" lang="EN-GB">Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) ex Lamb. and <span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold" lang="EN-GB">Berberis aristata (Roxb.) ex DC. have maximum anticancer activity against 3 cell lines while <span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt; mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">Withania somnifera<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold" lang="EN-GB"> Dunal. showed activity against two cell lines. In addition to these, <span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt; mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">Picrorhiza kurroa<span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold" lang="EN-GB"> Royle ex Benth. and Piper longum L. were found active against only one cell line. These results indicate the potential of Ayurvedic medicinal herbs as anti-neoplastic agents mentioned in the Ayurvedic texts. However, further studies are needed for evaluating their mechanism of action and to isolate the active anticancer compounds responsible for this activity. </span