Quality control standardization of the rhizome of Curcuma yunnanensis: A comprehensive standardization process

110-117Curcuma yunnanensis (CY) (Zingiberaceae) is a plant having a long flowering season (July-October). It is well morphologically characterized by its lance-shaped leaves having a purplish stripe running down the midrib and greenish coloured rhizome when cut transversely. Pharmacognostical standardization of the rhizome has been evaluated as per WHO guidelines. The dried rhizomes are golden-brown colour and vary in size (2 to 7 cm length and 1 to 2 cm diam.). The histological characteristic of the rhizome shows dissimilarity with other existing Curcuma species. Physico-chemical standards studied are foreign organic matter (0.16% w/w), loss on drying (9.80% w/w), total ash (7.66% w/w), acid insoluble ash (1.70% w/w), water-soluble ash (3.17% w/w), alcohol soluble extractive (8.77% w/w) and water-soluble extractive (7.70% w/w), foaming index (<100), swelling index (4.3) and volatile oil content (0.8%). Powdered characterization showed the presence of starch grains, unicellular covering trichomes and lignified xylem vessels. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, phenolics, tannins and steroidal components. Quantitative estimation of total tannins and phenolics was also determined in the ethanolic extract and was found to contain 21.375 and 22.5 mg/g GAE, respectively. The presence of demethoxycurcumin in the CY ethanolic extract was also documented for the first time using HPTLC by comparing with standard curcumin

In Vitro

Objective. The whole plant of Houttuynia cordata has been reported to have potent antihyperglycemic activity. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the glucose utilization capacity of bioactive fractions of ethanol extract of Houttuynia cordata (HC) in isolated rat hemidiaphragm. Methods. All the fractions, that is, aqueous (AQ), hexane (HEX), chloroform (CHL), and ethyl acetate (EA), obtained from ethanol extract of H. cordata were subjected to phytochemical standardization use in quercetin as a marker with the help of HPTLC. Further, glucose utilization capacity by rat hemidiaphragm was evaluated in 12 different sets of in vitro experiments. In the study, different fractions from H. cordata as mentioned above were evaluated, where insulin was used as standard and quercetin as a biological standard. Results. Among all the tested fractions, AQ and EA significantly increased glucose uptake by isolated rat hemidiaphragm compared to negative control. Moreover, AQ fractions enhanced the uptake of glucose significantly (p<0.05) and was found to be more effective than insulin. Conclusions. The augmentation in glucose uptake by hemidiaphragm in presence of AQ and EA fractions may be attributed to the presence of quercetin, which was found to be 7.1 and 3.2% w/w, respectively, in both the fractions

Study on impact of different climatic zones on physicochemical and phytochemical profile of Withaniasomnifera (L.) Dunal

The main objective of the present investigation included a comparative physicochemical, phytochemical along with chromatographic evaluation of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal roots collected from various Indian climatic zones. The study includes macroscopical, microscopical, physicochemical, phytochemical and chromatographic evaluation of W. somnifera roots collected from different climatic zones (desert, plains, coastal and plateau) of India. Further, chromatographic evaluations were carried out taking Withaferine-A and Withanoloid-A as biomarkers with the help of HPTLC and HPLC analysis. The physicochemical parameters evaluated were found to be within the prescribed limits of the WHO, while the phytochemical analysis showed the higher quantities of phytoconstituents obtained from desert followed by coastal regions. The chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of maximum number of phytoconstituents in sample from coastal and desert region. Further, the quantification of Withaferine-A and Withanoloid-A was carried out using HPTLC and HPLC. The results confirmed higher quantity of both the biomarkers in samples collected from desert followed by coastal region. Thus, the study may be helpful in understanding the role of climatic zones in relation to the variability in phytochemical composition of medicinal plants such as W. somnifera. This will help in selecting the better quality of medicinal plant for preparation of herbal formulations with best therapeutic value that will serve the society

Study on impact of different climatic zones on physicochemical and phytochemical profile of Withaniasomnifera (L.) Dunal

486-493The main objective of the present investigation included a comparative physicochemical, phytochemical along with chromatographic evaluation of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal roots collected from various Indian climatic zones. The study includes macroscopical, microscopical, physicochemical, phytochemical and chromatographic evaluation of W. somnifera roots collected from different climatic zones (desert, plains, coastal and plateau) of India. Further, chromatographic evaluations were carried out taking Withaferine-A and Withanoloid-A as biomarkers with the help of HPTLC and HPLC analysis. The physicochemical parameters evaluated were found to be within the prescribed limits of the WHO, while the phytochemical analysis showed the higher quantities of phytoconstituents obtained from desert followed by coastal regions. The chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of maximum number of phytoconstituents in sample from coastal and desert region. Further, the quantification of Withaferine-A and Withanoloid-A was carried out using HPTLC and HPLC. The results confirmed higher quantity of both the biomarkers in samples collected from desert followed by coastal region. Thus, the study may be helpful in understanding the role of climatic zones in relation to the variability in phytochemical composition of medicinal plants such as W. somnifera. This will help in selecting the better quality of medicinal plant for preparation of herbal formulations with best therapeutic value that will serve the society

Economics of Goat Farming in Agra District of Uttar Pradesh

ABSTRACT The economic study of goat farming from different herd size groups (Small, Medium and Large

Aldose reductase inhibitory potential of different fractions of Houttuynia cordata Thunb

Objective: To evaluate the aldose reductase (AR) inhibitory activity of different fractions from Houttuynia cordata (H. cordata) which used as a medicinal salad for lowering of blood sugar level. Methods: AR inhibitory activity along with protein content was evaluated in vitro in rat lens. Total phenol and flavonoid contents were also determined in all the fractions. Results: All the four fractions were found to inhibit lens AR activity, but to different extent. From dose response curve (DRC), aqueous fraction (AQ) was found to be the most effective AR inhibitor followed by ethyl acetate (EA), chloroform (CL) and hexane fraction (HEX). The IC50 values of AQ, EA, CL and HEX were calculated to be (64.62±3.90), (90.69±7.50), (134.59±4.90) and (151.58±3.30) μ g/mL respectively. Quercetin was taken as positive control which exhibited AR inhibition with an IC50 value of (3.21±0.60) μ g/mL in a non-competitive manner. Conclusion: These findings indicated that, AQ fraction of H. cordata exhibited significant inhibitory effect on AR in a non-competitive manner, which may be attributed to the presence of high phenolic and flavonoid contents. Thus, the plant H. cordata may act as a promising source in the treatment of secondary complications like cataract associated with diabetes

Antihyperglycemic Activity of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Present study is an attempt to investigate plausible mechanism involved behind antidiabetic activity of standardized Houttuynia cordata Thunb. extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The plant is used as a medicinal salad for lowering blood sugar level in North-Eastern parts of India. Oral administration of extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg dose level daily for 21 days showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in fasting plasma glucose and also elevated insulin level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. It also significantly reversed all the alterations in biochemical parameters, that is, total lipid profile, blood urea, creatinine, protein, and antioxidant enzymes in liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue of diabetic rats. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the extract significantly reversed the expression patterns of various glucose homeostatic enzyme genes like GLUT-2, GLUT-4, and caspase-3 levels but did not show any significant effect on PPAR-γ protein expressions. Additionally, the extract positively regulated mitochondrial membrane potential and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in diabetic rats. The findings justified the antidiabetic effect of H. cordata which is attributed to an upregulation of GLUT-4 and potential antioxidant activity, which may play beneficial role in resolving complication associated with diabetes

Antidiarrhoeal evaluation of rhizomes of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Cryptocoryne spiralis </i>Fisch. ex Wydler: Antimotility and antisecretory effects

139-146The antidiarrhoeal activity of Cryptocoryne spiralis rhizomes extract (250, 500, 750 mg/kg, po) was evaluated using faecal excretion, castor oil-induced diarrhoea, small intestinal transit, intestinal fluid accumulation, gastric emptying and PGE2 induced enteropooling models in rats. In addition, various biochemical estimations, histopathological studies and antibacterial evaluations on strains responsible for diarrhoea were also performed. The results illustrated a significant reduction in normal faecal output rate after 5th and 7th h of treatment, while castor oil-induced diarrhoea model depicted a protection of 55.44% at same dose level from diarrhoea. The other models except, gastric emptying test demonstrated more pronounced effect at same dose level. A significant inhibition in nitric oxide, increase in carbohydrates, protein, DNA, Na+ and K+ level with minimum degeneration of colonic fibrous tissues and potent antibacterial activity were also observed. The antidiarrhoeal potential of C. spiralis may be as a result of antimotility and antisecretory type effect mediated through nitric oxide pathway