Plant profile,phytochemistry and pharmacology of Cordia dichotoma (Indian cherry): A review

More than half of the world''s population relies on the traditional medicine and major role of the traditional medicine including the use of plant extract and their active constituents. Among them, Cordia dichotoma Forst., a small to moderate size plant of family Boragenaceae, commonly called bhokar, lasura, gonda, Indian cherry and shlesmataka. Plant parts such as leaves, fruit, bark and seed have been reported for possessing antidiabetic, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulator and analgesic activity. Screening of fruit, leaves and seed shows the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, terpenes and sterols. Present review focuses on details of geographical distribution, physicochemical parameters, phytoconstituents and pharmacological properties of Cordia dichotoma reported so far.     

Ixora coccinea Linn.: Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology

Ixora coccinea Linn.,(Rubiaceae) commonly known as jungle of geranium and red ixora,is an evergreen shrub found throughout India.Depending on the medical condition,the flowers,leaves,roots,and the stem are used to treat various ailments in the Indian traditional system of medicine,the Ayurveda,and also in various folk medicines.The fruits,when fully ripe,are used as a dietary source.Phytochemical studies indicate that the plant contains important phytochemicals such as lupeol,ursolic acid,oleanolic acid,sitosterol, rutin,lecocyanadin,anthocyanins,proanthocyanidins,glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin.Pharmacological studies suggest that the plant possesses antioxidative,antibacterial,gastroprotective,hepatoprotective, antidiarrhoeal,antinociceptive,antimutagenic,antineoplastic and chemopreventive effects,thus lending scientific support to the plant’s ethnomedicinal uses.In the present review,efforts are made in addressing its ethnomedicinal uses,chemical constituents,and validated pharmacological observations.     

A review on ethnobotany,phytochemistry and pharmacology of Fumaria indica (Fumitory)

Fumaria indica (Hausskn.) Pugsley (Fumariaceae), known as “Fumitory”, is an annual herb found as a common weed all over the plains of India and Pakistan. The whole plant is widely used in traditional and folkloric systems of medicine. In traditional systems of medicine, the plant is reputed for its anthelmintic, diuretic, diaphoretic, laxative, cholagogue, stomachic and sedative activities and is used to purify blood and in liver obstruction in ethnopharmacology. The whole plant is ascribed to possess medicinal virtues in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine and is also used in preparation of important Ayurvedic medicinal preparations and polyherbal liver formulations. The review reveals that phytochemical constituents of wide range have been separated from the plants and it possesses important pharmacological activities like smooth muscle relaxant, spasmogenic and spasmolytic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, neuropharmacological and antibacterial activities. The separation of hepatoprotective and antifungal constituents from this plant was also reported newly. This review highlights the traditional, ethnobotanical, phytochemical, pharmacological information available on Fumaria indica, which might be helpful for scientists and researchers to find out new chemical entities responsible for its claimed traditional uses.     

Traditional medical uses of Drimia species in terms of phytochemistry,pharmacology and toxicology

Drimia genus includes plants that used from ancient time for various ailments such as dropsy, respiratory ailment, bone and joint complications, skin disorders, epilepsy and cancer. Toxic properties of some Drimia species also were noted by ancient scientists and these plants have been traditionally used for rat control. Bufadienolides have been identified as the main constituents in the genus of Drimia. Phenolics, sterols, protein and some of other phytochemicals have been also isolated from these plants. Pharmacological and clinical studies have strongly approved their effect on cardiovascular system. Extracts and compounds isolated from Drimia species showed biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and insecticidal effects through several in vivo and in vitro studies. Moreover, cytotoxic and antitumor activities which may be related to bufadienolide content of these plants have been considered by many researchers. Traditional therapeutic values of these plants for treating respiratory and rheumatic ailments as well as skin disorders are needed to be validated through more researches. Toxic effects of these plants and isolated compounds have been investigated through several in vivo studies. Drimia plants and their isolated compounds have narrow therapeutic index, so patients should be prohibited from applying these plants without medical supervision and should be informed about the main intoxication symptoms before starting treatment. Moreover, interaction of Drimia plants with other constituents of traditional herbal mixtures as well as chemical and biological modalities for reducing toxicity of bufadienolide compounds can be subjected for future studies.     

Pharmacognostic evaluation of Cayratia trifolia (Linn.) leaf

Objective

To present a detailed pharmacognostic study of the leaf of Cayratia trifolia (C. trifolia) Linn. (Vitaceae), an important plant in the Indian system of medicine.

Methods

The macroscopy, microscopy, physiochemical analysis, preliminary testing, fluorescence analysis of powder of the plant and other WHO recommended methods for standardization were investigated.

Results

Leaves are trifoliolated with petioles (2–3 cm) long. Leaflets are ovate to oblong-ovate, (2–8 cm) long, (1.5–5 cm) wide, pointed at the tip. The leaf surface shows the anisocytic type stomata covered with guard cells followed by epidermis layer. Leaf surface contents including veins, vein islet and vein termination were also determined. Transverse section of leaf shows the epidermis layer followed by cuticle layer and vascular bandles (xylem and phloem). The mesophyll is differentiated into palisade and spongy parenchyma. Abundant covering trichomes emerge from the upper epidermis. Trichomes are uniseriate and multicellular. Strips of collenchyma are present below and upper layer of epidermis.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that the pharmacognostic profile of the C. trifolia is helpful in developing standards for quality, purity and sample identification.     

Ethnobotanical,phytochemical and pharmacological review of Mimusops elengi Linn.

Mimusops elengi is Indian native plant and is used for a long time in the history of the medicine. Plant was well studied in majority of the world because of its high potential medicinal value. Traditionally all different part of this plant, namely leaf, root, fruit, seed, bark and flower are used to cure various kinds of disorders. Information compiled here will be useful to improve the present investigation of several health care research regarding the Mimusops elengi.     

马钱子药理毒理研究回顾及安全性研究展望

2005年版《中国药典》记载，马钱子又名苦实、番木鳖，味苦有大毒，一般需炮制后入药，归肝、脾经；马钱子功能散结消肿、通络止痛，中医主治风湿顽痹、麻木瘫痪和跌打损伤等。临床上常于成药、复方中配伍应用．治疗风湿和类风湿性关节炎、中风偏瘫、痴呆、视网膜病变以及骨伤科、外科等疾病。其临床应用已有近千年的历史，也取得了很好的临床疗效。但近年来有关马钱子毒性的病例报道不断增多，影响马钱子及其成药的临床安全使用及国际准入，因此，急需开展有关马钱子及其成药的安全性研究工作以制定国内外公认的保证其质量和安全的控制标准。马钱子含有多种生物碱比。     

百里香活性成分及药理作用研究

百里香（Thyme）为唇形科百里香属（Thymus L．）植物的统称,属矮小半灌木,茎匍匐生长,常生长于山坡、海边低丘上。百里香属植物全世界约有300～400种,分布在非洲北部、欧洲及亚洲温带地区,中国有11种和2个变种,多分布于黄河以北地区。     

马兰多糖的含量测定

目的 测定马兰中多糖含量,为马兰的应用和质量评价提供科学依据.方法 以葡萄糖为对照品,采用苯酚-硫酸比色法,在490 nm波长下测定多糖含量.结果 不同产地、采收时间的马兰多糖含量差异显著.结论 苯酚-硫酸比色法操作简单,重复性好,结果准确可靠,可用于马兰中多糖的含量测定.     

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels: A review of its phytochemical constituents and traditional uses

Syzygium cumini (S. cumini) (L.) Skeels (jambolan) is one of the widely used medicinal plants in the treatment of various diseases in particular diabetes. The present review has been primed to describe the existing data on the information on botany, phytochemical constituents, traditional uses and pharmacological actions of S. cumini (L.) Skeels (jambolan). Electronic database search was conducted with the search terms of Eugenia jambolana, S. cumini, jambolan, common plum and java plum. The plant has been viewed as an antidiabetic plant since it became commercially available several decades ago. During last four decades, numerous folk medicine and scientific reports on the antidiabetic effects of this plant have been cited in the literature. The plant is rich in compounds containing anthocyanins, glucoside, ellagic acid, isoquercetin, kaemferol and myrecetin. The seeds are claimed to contain alkaloid, jambosine, and glycoside jambolin or antimellin, which halts the diastatic conversion of starch into sugar. The vast number of literatures found in the database revealed that the extracts of different parts of jambolan showed significant pharmacological actions. We suggest that there is a need for further investigation to isolate active principles which confer the pharmacological action. Hence identification of such active compounds is useful for producing safer drugs in the treatment of various ailments including diabetes.     

含笑属植物所含化学成分与其生物活性的综述

属木兰科的含笑属植物大约有80多个种类,它们大都分布在南亚国家。这些植物被当地人用于治疗各种疾病,如发烧、绞痛、麻风病、眼疾、炎症以及解蝎子毒。从9种含笑属植物中分离出94种化合物,例如倍半萜烯、类固醇、黄酮类、阿扑啡类、苯酚、酯类、生物碱和苯环型化合物等,它们具有抗菌、抗癌以及抗疟原虫活性。本文详细地论述了含笑属植物所含化学成分的生物及化学性能。     

食管癌中microRNA表达的研究进展

microRNA是一类小的非编码蛋白质的RNA,17～25个核苷酸长度,在物种进化中相当保守,其功能通过与靶基因mRNA的3′-UTR配对起负调控基因表达作用,从而调节细胞的代谢、增殖、分化和凋亡等过程.目前认为microRNA在食管癌的发生、发展过程中,起到与癌基因或抗癌基因相似的作用.本文对microRNA功能、microRNA表达与食管癌的关系,以及研究microRNA表达的研究方法等进行综述.     

蒲桃种子提取物对四氧嘧啶糖尿病鼠血糖的影响

目的：探讨蒲桃种子提取物对实验性糖尿病动物血糖的影响。方法：采用四氧嘧啶诱发实验性糖尿病动物模型，用葡萄糖氧化酶法测血糖，用放射免疫法测血清胰岛素。结果：蒲桃种子提取液能降低四氧嘧啶糖尿病小鼠、大鼠的血糖水平，有增加动物对葡萄糖耐量的作用。结论：蒲桃种子提取液对实验性糖尿病动物具有降糖作用。     

云实属药用植物开发利用概况

豆科云实属CaesalpiniaL.植物的部分种类入药,如苏木、苦石莲、云实等均分别来源于该属植物的心材、皮和种子。由于云实属的多种植物含有单宁等成分,从80年代起美国、日本、法国、德国、印度等从秘鲁进口塔拉Tara(刺云实C.spinosaKuntze)作为五倍子的代用原料制取没食子酸,其经济效益显著[1]。我国从90年代起也开始大量进口塔拉生产没食子酸。由于国际市场需求量增大,价格上扬,成本上升。我们在国家自然科学基金的资助下,对云实属植物进行了较为系统的综合利用研究,特别是从国产云实属植物中筛选替代进口塔拉的研究。在此基础上,笔者概述…     

一点红不同营养器官中总黄酮和总酚含量测定

目的：建立一点红不同营养器官中总黄酮和总酚含量测定方法。方法：以芦丁为对照品,采用NaNO2-Al（NO3）3-NaOH比色法测定了总黄酮含量;以没食子酸为对照品,采用Folin-Ciocalteu比色法测定了总酚含量。结果：芦丁浓度在0.01～0.08mg/ml范围内与吸光度呈良好线性关系,平均加样回收率为100.30%,RSD=1.72%,一点红叶、茎、根中总黄酮含量分别为2.54%、1.78%、1.27%;没食子酸浓度在0.002～0.010mg/ml范围内与吸光度呈良好线性关系,平均加样回收率为99.86%,RSD=1.92%,一点红叶、茎、根中总酚含量分别为21.28%、12.77%、8.51%。结论：这2种方法灵敏,准确性强,精密度高,重复性好,可以用作一点红中总黄酮和总酚含量的测定。     

Analgesic,anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal activities of ethanolic leaf extract of Typhonium trilobatum L. Schott

Objective

To explore the efficacy of ethanolic leaf extract of Typhonium trilobatum L. Schott in treating diarrhea, pain and inflammation using experimental models.

Methods

In the present study, acetic acid-induced writhing, xylene-induced ear edema and castor oil-induced diarrheal model were used to evaluate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal activities, respectively. Acute toxicity test was carried out to fix the safe doses of the plant extract.

Results

The plant extract demonstrated a significant inhibition of writhing (P<0.01) compared with the control group in acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. The extract also significantly inhibited the xylene induced ear edema formation (P<0.05). In anti-diarrheal test, the extract significantly decreased the frequency of defecation and increased the mean latent period (P<0.01) in castor oil-induced diarrheal model mice at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the extract possesses significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal activities that support to the ethnopharmacological uses of this plant.     

Mouse spider bites (Missulena spp.) and their medical importance. A systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical significance of definite bites by mouse spiders (Actinopodidae: Missulena spp.) from published case reports/series and museum records. DATA SOURCES: A computerised literature search of MEDLINE and EMBASE was undertaken. All cases reported to major Australian museums and reports from venom researchers working with mouse spiders were also reviewed. Textbooks on clinical toxinology were searched and further reports of cases were located. STUDY SELECTION: All cases of definite spider bites where the spider was collected and identified by an expert as a mouse spider were included. DATA EXTRACTION: All reports were evaluated and the following data extracted: patient demographics (age, sex, geographical location, season), bite site, local and systemic effects, and hospital attendance. Clinical effects were classified into three groups: severe neurotoxic envenoming, local neurotoxic effects or mild systemic effects, and minor local effects. DATA SYNTHESIS: Forty definite bites were identified from around Australia, with only one case of severe envenoming (a 19-month-old child). Local neurotoxic effects occurred in six cases and minor systemic effects in five. There was no evidence of envenoming in most bite victims, and the rate of severe envenoming was 2.5% (95% CI, 0-13%). There were no recorded deaths. CONCLUSIONS: In most cases, bites by mouse spiders cause only minor or moderate effects. Severe envenoming is rare and far less common than for funnel-web spider bites. Mouse spider bites do not appear to be a major medical problem.     

有梗石龙尾甲醇提取物抗志贺菌病作用的体内和体外研究

目的：探讨有梗石龙尾甲醇提取物抑制志贺菌病的作用。方法：首先将有梗石龙尾甲醇提取物做初步化学筛选。使用2种革兰阴性菌、2种革兰阳性菌,2种抗生素耐药的志贺杆菌和1种非抗生素耐药的志贺杆菌经纸片扩散法进行体外抗菌筛选。蓖麻油诱发 Wistar大鼠腹泻后,以洛哌丁胺作为标准对照药进行有梗石龙尾甲醇提取物止泻实验。通过人工胃模型测定有梗石龙尾甲醇提取物的体外抗酸作用,并且对其中和胃酸的效率、容量、体积和氢离子消耗进行评估。结果：有梗石龙尾甲醇提取物中含有酚类、黄酮类、生物碱等化学成分,以及脂肪和油脂。有梗石龙尾甲醇提取物被证明对包括抗生素耐药的志贺杆菌在内的4个菌株具有较强的抑制作用,并且其抗腹泻作用具有剂量依赖性。当服用最低剂量100mg/kg时,其抗腹泻效果比标准对照药洛哌丁胺更好（P〈0.01）。体内实验结果显示有梗石龙尾甲醇提取物具有轻微的抗酸作用。结论：有梗石龙尾甲醇提取物具有轻微的抗酸活性以及强效的抗菌、止泻作用,这对于开发抗痢疾、抗腹泻作用的草药具有一定的意义。     

A recent review on phytochemical constituents and medicinal properties of kesum (Polygonum minus Huds.)

Medicinal plants and herbal preparations are gaining renowned interest in scientific communities nowadays due to their reliable pharmacological actions and affordability to common people which makes them effective in control of various diseases. Polygonum minus (Polygonaceae) locally known as kesum is an aromatic plant commonly used in Malay delicacies. The plant is having potential applications due to its high volatile oil constituents in perfumes and powerful antioxidant activity. It has been used traditionally to treat various ailments including dandruff. The research has been carried out by various researchers using different in vitro and in vivo models for biological evaluations to support these claims. This review paper may help upcoming research activities on Polygonum minus by giving up to date information on the phytochemical constituents and medicinal properties of kesum to a possible extent with relevant data.     

白子菜提取物对急性痛风性关节炎大鼠模型的抗炎免疫作用

【目的】探讨白子菜提取物对急性痛风性关节炎的抗炎免疫作用及机制。【方法】复制急性痛风性关节炎大鼠模型,将72只Wistar大鼠随机分为9组(每组8只):空白组,模型组,秋水仙碱组(剂量为0.2 mg·kg-1·d-1),白子菜水提取物低、中、高剂量组(剂量分别为2.5、5、10 g·kg-1·d-1),白子菜醇提取物低、中、高剂量组(剂量分别为5、10、20 g·kg-1·d-1)。连续灌药7 d后取材,观察各组大鼠关节活动情况(炎症指数、功能障碍指数、足肿胀度),采用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法检测血清白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平,定量聚合酶链反应(q PCR)法检测单核细胞半胱天冬酶-1(caspase-1)、凋亡相关斑点样蛋白(ASC)、NLRP3炎性体(NLRP3)表达,并分析其关系。【结果】各药物处理组对急性痛风性关节炎大鼠活动障碍均有缓解作用;秋水仙碱组TNF-α表达水平显著低于模型组(P<0.05);秋水仙碱组及白子菜醇提取物中剂量组IL-1β、caspase-1、ASC、NLRP3表达水平显著低于模型组(P<0.05);IL-1β与caspase-1、ASC、NLRP3存在显著相关性,TNF-α与ASC存在显著相关性(P<0.05)。【结论】秋水仙碱及中剂量白子菜醇提物能通过抑制NLRP3炎性体的表达,从而抑制IL-1β相关的炎性过程,发挥其抗炎免疫作用。