European Journal of Medicinal Plants

In this study, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) has done using traditional herbal namely Cassia auriculata extract by the simple Green synthesis method. The synthesized Ag nanoparticles were studied by the characterization techniques includes X-ray diffraction (XRD) crystallography for nature of crystalline with relevant parameters, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for particle size as well as the SAED patterns for amorphous, crystalline or polynanocrystalline and Photoluminescence analysis were carried out for the prepared NPs. Ag NPs were fabricated utilizing Phyto-aquatic extract of Cassia auriculata which act as a reducing agent, and it was converted into a precursor solution to coat on cotton fabrics for antibacterial applications. To further, its performance on anticancer application was studied for Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) line breast cancer.

Aim: Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-Parkinson activity of Portulaca oleracea seed methanolic extract.

Place: C. U. Shah College of Pharmacy and Research, Wadhwan, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India.

Methodology: Collect plant materials were extracted with methanol. Extract was subjected to qualitative and quantitative investigation and antioxidant properties of extract was determine by Nitric oxide free radical scavenging activity and Reducing power by FeCl₃ method.

Anti-Parkinson activity evaluated by two behavioral models namely, haloperidol induced catalepsy, and orofacial dyskinesia both models various behavioral activity/ parameter (catalepsy, vacuous chewing movement and tongue protrusion) were evaluated.

Results: Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening was to reveal presence of polyphenols, flavanoids, glycoside, alkaloids, carbohydrates and reducing sugar etc. Based preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening; quantitative estimation of methanolic extract showed significant amount of polyphenols. In-vitro antioxidants was performed by two method reducing power by FeCl₃ and nitric oxide free radical scavenging, the methanolic extract shows significant antioxidant properties, based on polyphenols and antioxidant properties extracts was used for the Anti-Parkinson activity Haloperidol induced catalepsy in mice Treatment with Portulaca oleracea seed showed a significant (P<0.01) reduction in the duration of cataleptic behavior dose dependently when compared to haloperidol treated group. Haloperidol induced orofacial dyskinesia in rat recovery of orofacial dyskinesia as evidenced by decrease in the frequency of vacuous chewing movement and tongue significant (P<0.05) decrease in the frequency of vacuous chewing & tongue protrusion while Portulaca oleracea seed (200 mg/kg) was found to be insignificant in this respect.

Conclusion: After Portulaca oleracea seed (MLPO) treatment, the significant alterations produced in Parkinson’s affected rodents in respect to lipid peroxidation and antioxidant concentration significantly contributing its antioxidant potential. This antiperoxide action observed in Portulaca oleracea seed (MLPO) treated animals might be due to the suppression of the production of reactive oxygen species. This compound may be found to scavenge free radicals, including hydroxyl anions and reduce the level of lipid peroxidation in MLPO animals. Inhibition of oxidative stress may be one of the possible mechanisms for the anti-Parkinson effects of Portulaca oleracea seed (MLPO).

Aqueous extract of Urginea indica kunth. (Udupi acccession) was screened for antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotium rolfsii, Magnaporthe orzae, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium moniliformae by poisoned food technique. The results confirmed Urginea indica extracts showed very significant antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum and showed significant inhibition for Sclerotium rolfsii and Magnapothea orzaea it showed no activity against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. All the activity was evaluated to determine the lowest concentration required to inhibit visible mycelial growth of the pathogen at minmum concentration. Fusarium oxysporum showed very significant inhibition in 10% concentration (Reconfirmed) while Sclerotium showed significant inhibition in 25% concentration followed by Magnoporthe oryzae. The number of sclerotia spores formed was also reduced drastically. These results show that a potential and safe antifungal agent can be obtained from Urginea.

Aims: Selection of a suitable solvent is important and utilized in the extraction of desirable chemical components in medicinal plants.

Study Design: Chemical analysis of various extracts of Leea guineensis leaves using standard analytical procedures.

Place and Duration of Study: Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, between March 2019 and August 2019.

Methodology: Leaves of Leea guineensis were extracted with six solvents categorized into polar (Acetone, Methanol and Aqueous) and non-polar (Ethyl acetate, Hexane and Chloroform) types using cold maceration method, the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical assay was done on the respective extracts using the standard methods.

Results: Phytochemical screening of the non-polar solvent extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins for all the solvents, while tannin was present only in ethyl acetate extract. For the polar solvent extracts, all the secondary metabolites determined were present except terpenoids and phlobatanins. In the quantitative test, alkaloid levels ranged from 1.31-38.25 mg/100 g, saponin: 2.01-14.35 mg/100 g, flavonoids: 1.10-6.25 mg/100 g, Tannin: ND-4.62 mg/100 g, terpenoids: ND-1.02 mg/100 g, cardiac glycosides: ND-0.84 mg/100 g, Anthraquinone: ND-2.58 mg/100 g and phlobatanins: ND-0.95. The results obtained for each of the phytochemicals are significantly different (p<0.05) across all the solvent extracts, while phytochemicals such as terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones and phlobatanins were not detected in the non-polar solvent extract of L. guineensis.

Conclusion: The phytochemical constituents detected in varying quantities depend on the polarity of the substances, L. guineensis could be exploited and extracted very well using a polar solvent like methanol, acetone and aqueous.

Aims: Antioxidant and Antimutagenic (Anticlastogenic) activity of alcoholic extract of Bauhinia variegata (Linn.) root.

Place: C. U. Shah College of Pharmacy and Research, Wadhwan, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India.

Methodology: Shade dried Bauhinia variegata (Linn.) root, extraction was carryout by isolation extract were subjected to primary and secondary Phytochemical investigation. Then In-vitro antioxidant properties were estimated by reducing power and nitric oxide free radical scavenging method. Based on Phytochemical constituent and antioxidant properties In-vivo Antimutagenic (Anticlastogenic) activity was performed.

Results: Preliminary phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of carbohydrates, free amino acids, and secondary metabolites like tannins, phenolic compounds and flavonoids, then polyphenol estimation found ALBV contains 86.38% phenolic compounds. In antioxidant properties determination IC50 respectively found 55.27±2.57 µg/ml, 125.52±8.15 µg/ml against of Ascorbic acid and Curcumin. Then In-vivo Antimutagenic (Anticlastogenic) activity ALBV shows significant reeducation in % MNPCE, % MNNCE and P/N ratio at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h against the cyclophosphamide-induced mutagenicity.

Conclusion: Therefore, from the present study, it is concluded that alcoholic extract of Bauhinia variegata root (ALBV) can prove to be a very good antioxidant and effective chemopreventive against cyclophosphamide-induced mutagenesis.

In the Himalayan region, there are several tree species which are relatively less studied particularly in reference to their seed maturation. Semecarpus anacardium Linn (Marking Nut) is a medicinal tree which is found in Garhwal Himalaya and mostly propagated through seeds. In perennial crops, selection of fruits is an important management techniques adopted after fruit harvest as it plays an important role in production of high quality seedlings in nursery. Hence, studies were formulated to evaluate the influence of fruit colour variation on seed quality characters. Fresh marking nut were collected from Dehradun, Lansdowne and Kalagarh Forest Division, Uttarakhand, India. The fruits were categorized based on the colour into four different groups such as T₁ as Ground collection (dried), T₂ as fully ripened fruits, T₃ as Semi ripened & T₄ as unripened (fully green) and seeds were sown on petri dish  with five replications of 20 seeds each by Randomized block design (CRD) under Laboratory condition. In all parameters, seed maturity indices- ground collection and fully ripened seeds showed significant results with respect to germination percentage, germination capacity, sedling vigour index, collar diameter and height.

Java plum (Syzygium cumini L. Skeels) originates from Asia and has adapted very well to soil conditions and climate in Brazil, becoming spontaneous in the Northeast region. Still, there is no large commercial production in the country, since information related to planting, plant management, post-harvest management, and fruit processing is limited and vague. The production of quality seedlings depends on several factors, and the composition of the substrates is a factor of great importance, because the germination of the seeds, the beginning of the roots and the rooting are directly linked to the constitution of the substrate. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of the Tocantins, at a city of Gurupi/TO. For this, Java plum seeds were used directly removed from the fruits, which were collected in the same period. The substrates used were: Washed Sand; Black Soil; Black Soil + Worm Humus + Commercial Substrate and Commercial Substrate + Washed Sand + Pine Bark, in the presence and absence of mucilage. The highest values of root length and length of shoot, in the presence and absence of mucilage, were obtained in the substrates of BS (10 and 13 cm) (8.7 and 9.3 cm), BS + WH + CS (9.3 and 12.4 cm) (8.2 and 9.5 cm) and CS + WS + PB (9 and 11 cm) (8.6 and 10.6 cm), respectively. Regarding the first emergency count and seedling emergence, once again the CS + WS + PB (20 and 56.2%) (51.2 and 90%), in the presence and absence of mucilage, respectively. It was concluded that the removal of the mucilage in Java plum seeds provided better performance in all substratum and the commercial substrate + washed sand + pine bark provided greater viability and vigor.