• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2010

The flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. of Oleaceae widely used in Ayurvedic system of medicine for the treatment of diuresis, liver disorder, spleen enlargement sciatica, bitter, stomachic, carminative and tonic to hair. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis for hepatoprotective effect against carbontetrachloride induced liver damage in rats. Administration of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis protect the liver from toxic effects of carbontetrachloride by reducing the elevated levels of Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, Alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin. Results revealed that both the alcoholic and aqueous extracts showed significant hepatoprotective activity by reducing the elevated levels of biochemical parameters at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. The results were supported by histopathological studies of liver samples which showed regeneration of hepatocytes by the extracts.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 1999

'Gunja' is attributable to the plant Abrus precatorius L. (Leguminosae). Three forms with red, brown and another with white seeds are known to occur in this species and are employed for different therapeutic uses viz. as purgative, emetic, aphrodisiac, tonic and also as an abortifacient. According to some Ayurvedic literature the seeds are poisonous and should be given to the patients after proper processing ('Shodhan'). A comparative study of various phytochemical parameters, namely, percentage of successive extractives, total proteins, tannins, total ash and acid insoluble ash of these three forms of the processed (with cow's milk and Kanji) and unprocessed seeds was done. TLC and densitometric scanning of successive extractives was also carried out to serve as markers for processed and unprocessed seeds. The percentage of proteins, tannins, alcohol and water soluble extractives decreased in the processed material. Besides, their acute toxicity, CNS activity were also studied in albino mice and it was found that white seeds are more toxic as compared to the red and brown. The toxic effect was reduced with the processing. Further, the 'Kanji' processed seeds are less toxic than the milk processed one.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.463-469
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• 2018

Background: Roots of Withania somnifera (WS) are a celebrated medicinal ingredient in Ayurvedic and many other indigenous systems of medicine. The present study investigates the effect of the phytochemical composition of the extracts on their antioxidant and reducing activities. Methods: WS roots were extracted with water, acetone, aqueous methanol (1:1), and methanol:-chloroform:water (1:1:1) to obtain aqueous, acetone, hydro-methanolic, and methanol-chloroform-water extracts. Thereafter, phytochemical constitution and antioxidant and reducing activities of the extracts were compared using different qualitative and quantitative tests. Results: Maximum extraction recovery was obtained with 50% aqueous methanol whereas extraction with acetone yielded the poorest recovery. Methanol-chloroform-water extract had the highest content of phytochemical constituents, except tannins, and also exhibited the highest antioxidant and reducing activities. Conclusion: Phytochemical composition and antioxidant and reducing activities of the extracts were positively associated with the use of organic solvents during the extraction process. Alkaloids and flavonoids were the most important contributors in the antioxidant and reducing activities of the extracts.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2012

Herbal medicines have been used since the dawn of civilization to maintain health and to treat diseases. Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading cause of death in many developed countries. The incidence of diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate in India. It was estimated that India which had 19.4 million diabetes in 1995 is expected to register a near threefold increase by. Many plants reported to be useful for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in ayurvedic medicine, are being tested for their hypoglycemic activity in experimental animals Lagerstroemia flos- reginae is one such plant commonly found as shade trees in Kerala. In Ayurveda both root and leaves are used in the treatment of diabetes. The main objective of this study was to assess the antidiabetic effect of the alcohol extracted leaves of Lagerstroemia flos- reginae in alloxan induced diabetic rats in terms of controlling blood glucose level, lipid profile, bilirubin, uric acid in serum and lipid peroxides and glutathione in the liver of the experimental animals. The present study has been undertaken to observe the protective effect of the active constituents of Lagerstroemia flos- reginae leaf extracts against alloxan induced diabetes in experimental animal model. The activity of the active constituents was compared with Daonil -a standard drug.

• CELLMED
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.4.1-4.8
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• 2019

Now researchers have focused attention on exploring the mechanism of acute responses of heat stress given in heat therapy that ultimately promotes the long term health benefits. Heat therapy is not a new idea rather it was practiced since thousands years back in the form of hot bath, sauna bath, steam room. Similarly in Ayurveda there is very comprehensive description of heat therapy in the form of Svedan karma (Sudation therapy). Svedan is a process to induce sweating artificially in a patient who had already undergone Snehan. Svedan is applied for purification of body, as well as in management of various disorders originated due to vitiation of Vata, Kapha Dosha, Meda Dhatu and musculoskeletal disorders. It produces various beneficial effects by augmenting the Agni like clears the channels, liquefies the deposited Dosha, regulates Vata Dosha, helps in removal and pacification of Dosha, augments metabolism (Agni Deepan), increases appetite, flexibility in body parts, softness and shining of skin, removes coldness, stiffness, drowsiness, improves joint motility. However, Svedana karma is vastly used by Ayurveda Physicians in treatment of various disorders but the mechanisms of beneficial effects produced by Svedan Karma are yet not completely explored on scientific basis. In this article, we will discuss and try to establish a possible mechanism of action of Svedana karma in relation to heat stress, mitochondrial adaptation, heat shock protein (HSP) and glucocorticoids as these are secreted under stressful conditions.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.268-274
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• 2019

Morus alba L., known as white mulberry, is a medicinal plant belongs to family Moraceae. It has long been used commonly in Ayurvedic for the treatment of lung-heat, cough, asthma, hematemesis, dropsy and hypertension. In the present study, seven prenylated flavonoids, along with four benzofuran compounds were isolated by means of repeated column chromatography. The structures of the known compounds were identified as kuwanon G (1), kuwanon E (2), kuwanon T (3), morusin (4), sanggenon A (5), sanggenon M (6), sanggenol A (7), moracin R (8), mulberofuran G (9), mulberofuran A (10) and mulberofuran B (11), by comparing their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. For these isolates, containing trace compounds, the inhibitory activity against IL-6 production in $TNF-{\alpha}$ stimulated MG-63 cells was examined. All isolated compounds (1 - 11) showed excellent inhibitory activity against IL-6 production in $TNF-{\alpha}$ stimulated MG-63 cells. Especially this study is first time to report that sanggenon A (5), sanggenon M (6), sanggenol A (7), mulberofuran G (9), mulberofuran A (10) and mulberofuran B (11) showed the inhibitory activity of IL-6 production. Our study suggested the possibility of anti-inflammatory regulation by compounds (1 - 11) isolated from M. alba.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2005

Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum.) Heine is a wild herb commonly found in moist places on the banks of tanks, ditches and paddy fields throughout India and is one of the main sources of Ayurvedic 'Rasayana' drug. The free radical scavenging potential of 50% aqueous alcoholic extract of H. auriculata (HAEt) was studied for DPPH scavenging activity, nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical and ferryl bipyridyl complex scavenging activity along with lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity inhibition using Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in rat liver homogenate. Integral antioxidative capacity was determined by photochemiluminescence assay. HAEt showed good radical scavenging activity at various concentrations $(200-1000\;{\mu}g/ml)$ against 1,1 diphenyl, 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (32.32-77.02%) with moderate scavenging activity against Nitric oxide (12.46-52.84%), hydroxyl radical (11.69-55.26%), ferryl bipyridyl complex (17.66-58.67%) and lipid peroxidation (0.829-0.416nmoles/mg protein). The above results indicate HAEt to be very effective antioxidant. It was suggested that the varied therapeutic activities claimed for the plant in the Indian indigenous systems of medicine may be in the part due to the free radical scavenging and/ or potent antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2017

Objectives: Semecarpus anacardium Linn. is a plant well-known for its antimicrobial, antidiabetic and anti-arthritic properties in the Ayurvedic and Siddha system of medicine. This has prompted the screening of this plant for antibacterial activity. The main aims of this study were to isolate compounds from the plant's seeds and to evaluate their antibacterial effects on clinical bacterial test strains. Methods: The n-butanolic concentrate of the seed extract was subjected to thin layer chromatography (TLC) and repeated silica gel column chromatography followed by elution with various solvents. The compound was identified based on observed spectral (IR, $^1H$ NMR, $^{13}C$ NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry) data. The well diffusion method was employed to evaluate the antibacterial activities of the isolated acyclic isoprenoid compound (final concentration: $5-15{\mu}g/mL$) on four test bacterial strains, namely, Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Bacillus cereus (MTCC 430), Escherichia coli (MTCC 1689) and Acinetobacter baumannii (MTCC 9829). Results: Extensive spectroscopic studies showed the structure of the isolated compound to be an acyclic isoprenoid ($C_{21}H_{32}O$). Moreover, the isoprenoid showed a remarkable inhibition of bacterial growth at a concentration of $15{\mu}g/mL$ compared to the two other doses tested (5 and $10{\mu}g/mL$) and to tetracycline, a commercially available antibiotic that was used as a reference drug. Conclusion: The isolation of an antimicrobial compound from Semecarpus anacardium seeds validates the use of this plant in the treatment of infections. The isolated compound found to be active in this study could be useful for the development of new antimicrobial drugs.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.10
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• 2015

Fumaria indica Linn. (Syn: Fumaria parviflora, Fumariaceae) is a wildly grown weed, mentioned and recommended in classical Ayurvedic texts for treatments of variety of ailments including dermatological diseases, topical diseases, cardiovascular complaints, circulatory disease, fever and headache etc. The present pilot study was designed to experimentally verify the possibility that fumarates are the major bioactive principles of Fumaria indica extracts involved in their stress response modulating activities, and to estimate pharmacologicallyactive dose ranges of fumarates and standardized methanolic extract of Fumaria indica (MFI). Effect of single, 5 and 10 daily oral doses of pure fumaric acid (FA), monomethyl fumarate (MMF), dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and MFI was quantified in well validated rodent models viz. apomorphine induced cage climbing, stress induced hyperthermia, and elevated plus-maze tests. Obtained results reveal high efficacy of MFI and pure fumarates possess qualitatively analogous activity profiles in all the three tests. There were no significant difference in the potencies of pure FA, MMF and DMF in the three tests, whereas efficacy of MFI in the elevated plus maze test for anxiolytics was higher than in the other two tests. Efficacies of all the four test agents in all the three tests increased with increasing number of days of oral treatments. Results of these pilot experiments should be helpful for more rational selections of pharmacologically interesting dose ranges and treatment regimens of fumarates and Fumaria indica extracts for further more holistic explorations of their diverse therapeutic potentials.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2004

A number of plants from different geographical origins have been shown to possess antioxidant activity. Some of them have been developed as natural antioxidant formulations for food, cosmetic and other applications. Bangladeshi flora is a rich source of a range of plant species, many of which are medicinal plants, and have been used in the preparations of the Unani and Ayurvedic traditional medicines. There are no, or just a few, reports on any systematic screening of the extracts of Bangladeshi plants for free radical scavenging activity using DPPH assay available to date. As part of our on-going search for biological activity in Bangladeshi plants, Kadam (Anthocephalus chinensis), Goran (Ceriaps decandra), Swarnalata (Cuscuta reflexa), Gab (Diospyros peregrina), Sundari (Heritiera fomes), Dhundul (Xylocarpus granatum) and Possur (Xylocarpus mekongensis) have been selected for the assessment of their free radical scavenging activity, and studies on the contents of alkaloids, anthraqunones, flavonoids and tannins in these extracts. Most of these species have been used in traditional medicine in Bangladesh and other countries for the treatment of various illnesses ranging from common cold to cancer. All extracts, except the methanol extract of Cuscuta reflexa, displayed significant free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay $(RC_{50}$ values within the range of $2.75\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;to\;4.7\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/mL)$. Among these extracts, the methanol extract of Xylocarpus granatum exhibited the most potent activity $(4.7\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/mL)$ and that of Cuscuta reflexa had the least activity $(1.64\;{\times}\;10^{-1}\;mg/mL)$. While none of these plants showed positive tests with Dragendorff's reagent, presence of low to moderate amounts of phenolic compounds, e.g. anthraquinones, flavonoids and tannins was evident in all of these plants, except for the methanolic extracts of C. reflexa and the barks of D. peregrina, which did not display any evidence for the presence of flavonoids and anthraquinones, respectively.