HANSRAJ (ADIANTUM CAPILLUS VENERIS LINN.): A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW ON ITS ETHNOBOTANY, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROFILE

Adiantum capillus-veneris Linn. of Adiantaceae family is one of most common plants that have found diverse medicinal uses in the indigenous systems of medicine. It has been used in cold, skin diseases, bronchitis, hair fall and inflammatory diseases. It is also considered as tonic and diuretic. The previous studies showed that Adiantum capillus veneris contained many secondary metabolites and exerted antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, analgesic, hypoglycemic, antioxidant,  antiproliferative, antidermatitis, neuroprotective, anticholesterolemic and many other effects. The present review will highlight the chemical constituents and the pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Adiantum capillus veneris. A wide range of chemical compounds  including adiantone,  diplopterol, kaempferol, naringin, neoxanthin, populnin, quinic acid, rhodoxanthin, rutin, shikimic acid,  zeaxanthin etc. have been isolated from this plant. The plant leaves and stem of Adiantum capillus veneris L. were found to contain higher amount of triterpenoids and flavonoids. Adiantum capillus-veneris L., is nowadays gaining interest by the scientific researchers due to its folklorics and because of its therapeutic value, easy availability and degree of research work which is not done.  The present review aims at reviewing the research works undertaken till date, on this plant in order to provide sufficient baseline information for future works and for commercial   exploitation. The opening of a wide venue for further research and translation into clinical settings is also envisaged

PROXIMATE COMPOSITION, NUTRITIVE VALUE AND EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF STEM OF DRACAENA REFLEXA LAM

Objective: The stem of Dracaena reflexa was analyzed for preliminary phytochemical screening, proximate composition, nutritive value, total phenolic content and antioxidant potential.Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening, proximate analysis, nutritive value were evaluated using standard methods. Total phenols were calculated by folin ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity was performed by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay.Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various medicinal active phytoconstituent like alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins etc. Total phenolic content was highest for dichloromethane extract (73.48mGAE/g dry weight). Proximate analysis showed content of ash (8.015%), moisture (3.31%), fat (0.97%), fiber (1.31%), protein (3.70%), carbohydrate (86.01%) and nutritive value (367.56 Kcal/100grams of stems). In DPPH assay highest activities shown by dichloromethane extract with IC50 values of 0.46 mg/ml and also have FRAP value 2.071.Conclusion: Overall results revealed that Dracaena reflexa stem exhibits excellent nutritive value along with potent antioxidant activity and can be used in medicine as well as in food supplements to prevent the oxidation and rancidity of food.Â

Evaluation of <em>in vitro</em> antimicrobial activity, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical, proximate composition of leaf and stem of <em>Reinwardtia indica </em> Dumort: A comparative study

248-253Reinwardtia indica as evaluated for its antimicrobial potential, qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytochemicals, and proximate composition analysis by using standard methods. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the agar well diffusion method against four bacterial strains and two fungal strains. Ethanol and chloroform extract of the leaf and the stem are highly active against all the strains. This might be due to the presence of different phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides. The result of the proximate composition showed that the stem contained higher values of crude proteins, crude lipids, carbohydrates, and nutritive energy. The stem bark was richer in carbohydrates than the leaves. From the results, it can be concluded that R. Indica may be a good source of energy, is rich in phytochemicals, and have antimicrobial nature, thus, may be useful in various pharmaceutical formulations

Evaluation of in vitro antimicrobial activity, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical, proximate composition of leaf and stem of Reinwardtia indica Dumort: A comparative study

Reinwardtia indica Dumort as evaluated for its antimicrobial potential, qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytochemicals, and proximate composition analysis by using standard methods. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the agar well diffusion method against four bacterial strains and two fungal strains. Ethanol and chloroform extract of the leaf and the stem are highly active against all the strains. This might be due to the presence of different phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides. The result of the proximate composition showed that the stem contained higher values of crude proteins, crude lipids, carbohydrates, and nutritive energy. The stem bark was richer in carbohydrates than the leaves. From the results, it can be concluded that R. indica may be a good source of energy, is rich in phytochemicals, and have antimicrobial nature, thus, may be useful in various pharmaceutical formulations

Research Article Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant potential of Plagiochasma appendiculatum Lehm. & Lindenb. and Sphagnum fimbriatum Wilson

In recent time bryophytes are gaining attention in terms of their unique phytochemistry. They can generate a wide range of bioactive phytochemicals. Though many of the bryophytes have been evaluated for this aspect yet majority of them are unexplored regarding their phytochemistry and bioactive potential. Hence, in present attempt 2 commonly growing species of bryophytes, viz., Plagiochasma appendiculatum (thalloid liverwort) and Sphagnum fimbriatum (moss) were evaluated for their phytochemical profiling using Folin-Ciocalteau and aluminium colorimetric methods. While antioxidant activity of selected species was evaluated by DPPH and NOSA. It was found that these species have higher levels of total phenols and flavonoids and have good antioxidant potential. Further, to check their possible role as antimicrobial agents, the plant extracts were tested against selected fungal and bacterial strains. The results suggested that these 2 bryophyte species have substantial antifungal and antibacterial activities. Based on this study, these plants appear as a good contender to evaluate further for future herbal formulations

PHYSICAL EVALUATION, PROXIMATE ANALYSIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF MORUS NIGRA SEEDS

Objective: The present study investigates physical evaluation, proximate analysis, nutritive value and antimicrobial activity of Morus nigra seeds. Methods: Physical evaluation proximate analysis and phytochemical screening of Morus nigra seeds was performed by standard protocols. Antibacterial and antifungal activity was performed by agar well diffusion method.Results: Physical evaluation of seeds revealed the presence of 5.553 % total ash, other ash values lies within permissible limit range. Alcohol soluble and water soluble extractive values were found to be 6.561 and 5.587 % respectively. Seeds of Morus nigra contain moisture (5.356%), total nitrogen (2.886%), crude protein (18.039%), crude fat (2.907%), crude fiber (5.662%), total carbohydrate (68.145%) and available carbohydrates (62.483%). The nutritive value for seeds was calculated to be 370.899 Kcal/100 gm. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of a number of secondary metabolites like alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, phenolics and flavonoids. Antibacterial activity of seeds was evaluated against four bacterial strains. Antifungal activity was performed against two fungal strains. Ethyl acetate extract demonstrated prominent activity against all microbes.Conclusion: The results demonstrated the presence of an appreciable content of fat, carbohydrate and protein which may fulfill the nutritional demand of society. Seeds of Morus nigra could also be a source of novel phytoconstituents or antimicrobial agent of herbal origin.Â

Structural, optical and magnetic properties of Fe-doped CeO2 samples probed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The present study reports the effect of Fe-doping on the structural, optical, magnetic and electronic properties of polycrystalline CeO2 (for 5 and 10% doping concentration of Fe-cation) samples synthesized by low-temperature solid-state reaction method. Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction patterns establishes fluorite-type face-centred cubic structure of the Fe-doped CeO2 samples and also confirms successful incorporation of Fe ions in the CeO2 lattice. The UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectra displays reduce band gap energy with rising fluency of Fe-ions, which confirm red shifts in the Fe-doped CeO2 samples. The electronic structure of the pure CeO2 and Fe-doped CeO2 polycrystalline samples have been investigated by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS spectra of Ce 3d reveals the reduction of Ce4+ to Ce3+ states Fe-doped CeO2 samples, which are well supported by the Fe 2p and O 1s spectra. Pure polycrystalline CeO2 displays diamagnetic behaviour at room temperature. Interestingly, 5% Fe-doped CeO2 sample displays S-shape hysteresis loop and establishes room temperature ferromagnetism, whereas, 10% Fe-doped CeO2 sample shows weak ferromagnetic behaviour. A decrement is observed in the magnetization on increasing the doping concentration. The possible reason for ferromagnetism in the Fe-doped CeO2 samples may be incorporation of oxygen vacancies, which are further discussed using F-centre exchange mechanism and double exchange interaction. These experimental findings offer potential opportunities for spintronics and optoelectronics applications by integrating them into device structures and evaluating their performance as a function of their material properties