Medicinal potential of Passiflora foetida L. plant extracts: biological and pharmacological activities

OBJECTIVE: To investigate analgesic, antidiarrhoeal and cytotoxic activities of the ethanol extract of Passifl ora foetida L.(Passifl oraceae) by three experimental methods. METHODS: Analgesic activity of the ethanol extract of Passifl ora foetida L.(EEPF) was carried out using acetic acid-induced writhing inhibition in mice. The method of castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice was utilized to evaluate antidiarrhoeal activity. The cytotoxic activity of EEPF was explored with a brine shrimp lethality bioassay.RESULTS: The extract showed 68.75% and 30.00% inhibition of writhe at the doses of 500 and 250 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The extract increased the mean latent period prior to diarrhoeal onset to about 1.55 h and 1.17 h, and decreased the mean number of stools to 4.4 and 5.6 at the doses of 500 and 250 mg/kg body weight. The extract also demonstrated cytotoxic activity in the brine shrimp lethality assay, and the median lethal concentration for brine shrimp nauplii was 80 μg/mL. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the plant extract has analgesic and antidiarrhoeal activities, supporting its uses in traditional medicine. The results also demonstrate that the plant extract possesses cytotoxic activities.     

Synergistic antibacterial effect of honey and Herbo Ocimi Basilici against some bacterial pathogens

OBJECTIVE： To evaluate the antibacterial activity of the combination of different honey brands and methanolic fraction of Herba Ocimi Basilici using agar well diffusion assay. METHODS： The antibacterial activity was deter- mined against thirteen pathogenic bacterial clini- cal isolates including six gram negative （Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimirium, Xanthomonas campestris） and six gram positive strains （Enterococcus faecalis faecalis, Bacillus subti- lis, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens type C, Clostridium perfringens type D, CIostridium chauvoei）. Agar well diffusion method was used while zones of inhibition were measured with verni- er scale. RESULTS： At higher concentration, all the honey brands showed good to significant activity. Thehighest activity was observed for Hamdard brand honey （27.60±0.40） against Enterococcus faecalis. CONCLUSION： These results revealed that combi- nations of plant extracts of Herba Ocimi Basilici with honey can be used for the development of potent and novel antibacterial agents.     

Antibacterial activity of honey in north-west Pakistan against select human pathogens

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the antimicrobial activi- ty of commercially available honey and raw honey samples in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, against pathogenic bacterial strains. METHODS： Well diffusion assays were performed to screen pure and diluted honey samples for anti- bacterial activity against six Gram-negative and six Gram-positive bacterial strains. Zones of inhibition were measured and compared with 10 mg Genta- mycin. RESULTS： When honey samples were diluted to 20%-70%, the honey samples showed no activity to mild antibacterial activity. The highest antibacterial activity was recorded when 90% and pure undilut- ed honey samples were tested and compared with a control Gentamycin disc（10 mg）. CONCLUSION： Commercially processed honey and raw honey samples from north-west of Pakistan possess good antimicrobial potential.     

Insights for integrative medicinal potentials of Ethiopian Kale (Brassica carinata): Investigation of antibacterial, antioxidant potential and phytocompounds composition of its leaves

Objective:To compare the phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of Ethiopian Kale leaves infusions,investigate the antioxidant activity and profile the major phytochemicals existing in the better solvent system.Methods:Ethiopian Kale leaves were collected from Addis Ababa,Ethiopia,and extracted using different solvents.The qualitative phytochemical analysis,antibacterial assays,and Fourier Transform Infrared(FTIR) analysis are executed for all extracts.Antioxidant assay and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry(GC-MS) analysis are carried out for the solvent system,which showed better activity in preliminary studies.Results:The qualitative phytochemical analysis exposed the presence of different classes of phytoconstituents in most of the tested extracts.The broad spectrum of antibacterial activity(7-15 mm) was noted against the tested bacterial species.The functional groups of the extracts are reported by FTIR analysis.The antioxidant ability of ethanol extract was found to be(62.92±0.34)% for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH*) assay and(71.12±0.41)% for 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS) assay.More than 17 major phytocompounds in ethanol extract were profiled by GC-MS analysis.Conclusion:The ethanol extract of Ethiopian Kale leaves contain a good source of phytochemicals and it can be a significant source for various functional applications.     

Antioxidant activity profiling by spectrophotometric methods of aqueous methanolic extracts of Helichrysum stoechas subsp,rupestre and Phagnalon saxatile subsp,saxatile

AIM： The aqueous methanolic extracts of two plants from Algeria, Helichrysum stoechas subsp, rupestre and Phagnalon saxatile subsp, saxatile, were investigated for their antioxidant activity. METHOD： Total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins were determined by spectrophotometric techniques..In vitro antioxidant and radical scavenging profiling was determined by spectrophotometrie methods, through： Total antioxidant capacity, and radical scavenging effects by the DPPH and ABTS methods, reducing and chelating power, and blanching inhibition of the β-carotene. RESULTS： All of the extracts showed interesting antioxidant and radical scavenging activity. The highest contents in phenolics, tannins, and the highest total antioxidant capacity as gallic acid equivalents of 97.5 ± 0.33 mg GAE/g DW was obtained for the flowers of H. stoechas subsp, rupestre extract in the phosphomolybdenum assay. An extract of the leafy stems of P. saxatile subsp. saxatile revealed the highest content of flavonoids, and the highest antioxidant activity by the radical scavenging and fl-carotene assays when compared with standards. The best activity was by the scavenging radical DPPH with an IC50 value of 5.65 ± 0.10 μg.mL^-1. CONCLUSION- The studied medicinal plants could provide scientific evidence for some traditional uses in the treatment of dis- eases related to the production of reactive oxygen species （ROS） and oxidative stress.     

Larvicidal potential of selected indigenous lichens against three mosquito species–Culex quinquefasciatus,Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi

Objective:Mosquitoes are the major transmitting vectors of serious human diseases,causing millions of deaths every year with undesirable effects,including toxicity to non-target organisms.Some plants with insecticidal properties have been used in recent years for the control of a variety of pest insects and vectors.In the quest for alternative natural biological control agents against mosquito larvae lichens were selected.Method:Larvicidal activity was assessed with methanolic extracts of Parmotrema reticulatum,Parmotrema kamatti,Parmotrema tinctorum,Parmelia erumpens,Leptogium papilosum,and Roccella montagnei against Aedes aegypti,Anopheles stephensi,and Culex quinquefasciatus.The standard WHO protocols with minor modifications were adopted and the bioassay was evaluated at the concentrations of 100–500μg/m L for each lichen.Since all the lichen extracts showed complete mortality against C.quinquefasciatus in100μg/m L,the concentrations were decreased to 100,50,25,12.5,and 6.25μg/m L for C.quinquefasciatus.Larval mortality was observed for 24 h after treatment.Results:All the lichen extracts exhibited activity against third instar larvae of A.aegypti and A.stephensi at 100μg/m L,and 100%mortality was observed against the vector C.quinquefasciatus at 100μg/m L.The highest larvicidal activity was found with L.papilosum against A.aegypti(81.127μg/m L)and A.stephensi(89.10μg/m L).Similarly,P.tinctorum and R.montagnei when tested against C.quinquefasciatus with minimum concentration100μg/m L exhibited significant activity withof 5.32and 6.97μg/m L.Conclusion:The bioassay results revealed larvicidal potential of lichens especially against C.quinquefasciatus with high mortality even at lower concentration.Hence,lichens can be used as an ideal sustainable approach for the control of lymphatic filariasis caused by vector C.quinquefasciatus.     

Synergistic effect of α-mangostin on antibacterial activity of tetracycline,erythromycin, and clindamycin against acne involved bacteria

Objective: To evaluate the synergistic effect of α-mangostin with tetracycline, erythromycin, and clindamycin against bacteria involved in acne production.Methods: A broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of α-mangostin and a range of antibiotics. Synergistic effects on antibacterial activity were determined based on their own MIC, and then using a checkerboard method and a time-kill assay at 37 °C for24 h.Results: α-Mangostin exhibited antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and S. pyogenes with MIC values of 0.78, 3.13, 0.78, and 6.25 μg/m L, respectively. The results of the checkerboard assay showed that α-mangostin produced synergistic effects with tetracycline, erythromycin, and clindamycin against all tested bacteria, with a fractional inhibitory concentration index(FICI) between 0.09 and 0.32. Moreover, time-kill curve data indicated that α-mangostin increased the antibacterial activity of tetracycline, erythromycin, and clindamycin.Conclusion: These findings suggested that α-mangostin may be used to enhance the antibacterial activity of some antibiotics against bacteria involved in acne production.     

Anti-oxidative Activities of Ethanol Extracts from Both Wild Plant and Suspension Cell Cultures of Rheum franzenbachii

Objective To evaluate the content of rhaponticin and anti-oxidative activities of theethanol extracts from both the wild plants and suspension cell cultures of Rheum franzenbachii.Methods Quantitative analysis of rhaponticin was performed by HPLC.The anti-oxidative activities of the ethanol extracts were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)scavenging assays.Results The content of rhaponticin in the roots of the wild plant was 4.36 mg/g,while the content was only 1.59 mg/g in the leaves.The content of rhaponticin in suspension cells cultured on Murashige and Skoog(MS)medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine(6-BAP)and 2.0 mg/L 2,4-dicholorophenoxy acetic acid(2,4-D)was 17.64 mg/g,which increased by 4.05 times compared with the content in the roots of the wild plants.The roots of wild plants displayed the strongest anti-oxidative activity,followed by thesuspension cells 5 and 6,and the scavenging percent was 91.96%,91.23%,and 89.27%,respectively,at the concentration of 100μg/mL.The IC50 values were 2.477,15.644,and 31.415μg/mL,respectively.In particular,the DPPH scavenging activity of the ethanol extracts from the roots of the wild plant was generally comparable to the control of ascorbic acid(VC),and the IC50 value of the extracts was lower than that of VC(2.502μg/mL).Conclusion Rhaponticin production in the cell culture can be modulated and the accumulation can be increased.The roots of the wild plant display the strongest anti-oxidative activity.These results suggest that R.franzenbachii could hold a good potential source for human health.     

Anthelmintic,antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of Caltha palustris var. alba Kashmir,India

The methanolic extract obtained from the root portion of Calthapalustris var. alba was evaluated for its anthelmintic efficacy against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep under both in vitro and in vivo conditions using worm motility inhibition （WMI） assay and fecal egg count reduction （FECR） assay, respectively. The extract was subjected to antimicrobial activity using agar-well diffu- sion method against different bacterial strains. In addition the extract was evaluated for cytotoxic and antioxidant activity against cultured THP-l（Leukemia）, A-549 （Lung）, HCT-15 （Colon）, Cervix （HeLa） and PC-3（Prostrate） cell lines by SRB and DPPH radical scavenging assays. The extract used resulted in mean %WMI of 94.44%, as observed when the worms were put in lukewarm buffer for 30 min after exposure to different treatments. The mean mortality index of the sample was 0.95. The lethal concentration （LCs0）was 0.11 mg·mL ^-1. Cell lines were exposed to concentration of 100 μg·mL^-1 of extract for 48 h, which reduced the viability of these cell lines. The same plant extract also showed 55.58% DPPH radical scavenging activity.     

红树林真菌Hypocrea lixii VB1的抗癌及抗菌活性(英文)

AIM:Mangrove is one of the oldest living tree species and its leaves are among the most extensively studied botanicals in use today.Scientific research throughout the world has found evidence to support the fact that its foliar extracts have great potential against human microbial pathogens.This study highlights the isolation of foliar fungi from Rhizophora mucronata,Avicenna officialis and Avicenna marina.METHOD:It was isolated in Sabouroud’s Dextrose Agar and mass cultivation was done in Sabouroud’s Dex-trose broth.RESULTS:The ethyl acetate extract showed maximum antibacterial activity which inturn checked for different concentra-tion against bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for Hep2 and MCF7 cell line in vitro.The DNA was isolated from the fungi and the ITS region of 5.8 s RNA was sequenced and assigned to new species as they are separated from the type strains phylogenetic neighbors by sequence similarities.CONCLUSION:This preliminary screening of fungal endophytes revealed their potential to yield potent bioactive compounds for drug discovery programmes.     

珍珠母超微粉蛋白及寡肽对小鼠镇静安眠作用比较

目的比较珍珠母超微粉蛋白、寡肽对小鼠镇静安眠作用。方法利用PCPA制造小鼠失眠模型,观察小鼠的自主活动情况,ELISA法测小鼠血中ATCH含量并计算脑及脑系数。结果阳性对照组、寡肽组小鼠的自主活动次数显著降低,小鼠血中ACTH的含量增加,但脑干系数无影响。结论超微粉寡肽类成分(MCP)镇静安眠活性最强,为镇静安眠主要活性部位,调节ACTH可能是其镇静安眠机制。     

病性变化和转化的哲理数学原理

病性的变化和转化以及疾病的传变是中医病理学的2个核心问题。它们可分别从阴阳五行数学的公理1和公理2、3得到圆满的解释。病性变化,其症结在于主导属性明晰度的大小发生变化;病性转化,其症结则在于主导属性明晰度的正负号发生变化。     

丁香苦苷不同给药途径的药物动力学研究

目的:研究并比较丁香苦苷单体两种给药途径在家兔体内的药物动力学过程,考察丁香苦苷单体口服后的绝对生物利用度。方法:家兔静脉注射丁香苦苷注射液和灌胃给予丁香苦苷水溶液,采集血样,固相萃取小柱活化方法处理血浆后高效液相色谱法测定丁香苦苷血浆浓度,采用药动学软件3P97进行数据处理,确定药动学参数。结果:丁香苦苷静脉给药后在体内符合二室模型分布,其主要药动学参数分别如下:T1/2α为2.41min,T1/2β为15.38min。灌胃给药后丁香苦苷的药动学行为符合一级吸收二室模型,Cmax为17.91min,T1/2(α)为9.642min,T1/2(β)31.748min。绝对生物利用度为35.9%。结论:丁香苦苷单体经口服和静脉两种给药途径给药后,吸收和消除均较快。     

《老老恒言》论老年养生

简要论述了《老老恒言》中有关老年养生的思想和方法 ,认为饮食以调理脾胃为要 ,应注意饮食有节、五味调和、清淡为补 ;起居以养静为要 ,应注意调顺四时、起居有常、静养与导引相结合 ;养性以安命为要 ,应注意清心寡欲、修心养性     

Evaluation of estrogenic activity of alcoholic extract of rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides

The rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (Amaryllidacea) is an important Ayurvedic as well as Unani drug. It is present in several drug formulations used in the treatment of menorrhagia and other gynecological problems. In this study, we conducted a comparative study of estrogenic activity of alcoholic extract of Curculigo orchioides with diethylstilbestrol in bilaterally ovariectomized young albino rats. Bilaterally ovariectomized albino rats were divided into five groups (n=9) receiving different treatments, consisting of vehicle (0.6% w/v sodium carboxy methyl cellulose), ethanolic extract of rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides at three different doses (viz., 300, 600, 1200 mg/kg body weight) and standard drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight. All these were administered orally daily for 7 days. Estrogenic activity was assessed by taking percentage vaginal cornification, uterine wet weight, uterine glycogen content and uterine histology as parameters of assessment. Alcoholic extract of Curculigo orchioides showed a significant increase in percentage vaginal cornification, uterine wet weight (P<0.001), uterine glycogen content (P<0.001) and a proliferative changes in uterine endometrium compared to the control.     

中药产业竞争力提升战略研究

本文运用了竞争力理论与战略理论,分析了中药产业竞争力提升的环境与条件,提出了提升中药产业竞争力的三大战略目标、三大总体战略、四条战略举措及三个实施阶段与重点任务。     

血管性认知障碍的中医治疗有效思考

血管性认知障碍概念的提出,为现代医学治疗脑血管疾病提供了新的认识空间,要求对患者实施早期诊断,早期治疗。由于现代医学治疗该病的局限性,为中医的治疗带来了一个广阔的空间。中医中药采用补虚,逐瘀,化痰,理气,解毒,清热,通络,开窍等多种方法,其中以补肾、化痰、活血最为常用。中成药以及针灸在临床的运用为血管性认知障碍提供了多元化治疗。大量的临床及实验室的实践研究表明了中医治疗该病的有效性,同时也给医者思考的空间:中医为何有效及其有效的理论依据。     

对中医学科建设与学科带头人培养的思考

通过中医学术发展的历史沿革回顾,提出了中医药学科建设的总体构思,指出要发展一个大的一级学科,首先要有教育,这是发展学科的基础;其次是科研来提高教育水平,并指导临床;再次是临床;三者缺一不可。同时提出了学科带头人应具备的条件及如何培养学科带头人。     

中医方剂学考试改革的探索与实践

传统的闭卷考试不能很好地反映方剂学教学的效果,因此,我们试行了以多种形式相结合的考试改革,考试成绩由笔试、机试、平时3个方面组成。结果大大提高了学生分析问题和解决问题的能力,激发了学生学习的兴趣,提高了教师教学水平,带动了教学改革和教学研究的全面进行。     

肾阳虚与血瘀关系的实验研究

目的探讨肾虚与血瘀之间的发展变化规律,为补肾活血法提供实验依据。方法制作肾阳虚动物模型,选取Wistar大鼠37只,分为对照组、模型组、治疗组。观察动物外观、一般体征、脏器重量和血脂等改变。结果模型组动物皮毛稀疏,精神萎靡,懒动,大便溏稀,耳垂毛细血管紫暗;模型组肾上腺、精囊腺的重量与对照组比较明显降低;血清睾酮含量降低;模型组血清TC和LDL-C明显增高,TG增高不明显,HDL-C降低。结论肾阳虚同时伴有血瘀,血瘀时间的延迟可出现肾阳虚。