November 2009
Opportunities for the exploration, investigation and utilization for biological activity of novel medicinal plants
November 2009
Biosafety considerations associated with molecular farming in genetically modified plants
The production in genetically modified plants of recombinant proteins for pharmaceutical or industrial use, also referred to as "plant molecular farming", deserves increasing interest due to its potential advantages. However, this type of application of genetic engineering also raises some biosafety concerns, in particular regarding aspects such as transgene spread in the environment or accidental...
November 2009
Phytochemicals as chemotherapeutic agents and antioxidants: Possible solution to the control of antibiotic resistant verocytotoxin producing bacteria
The interest in plants with antimicrobial properties has been revived due to current problems associated with the use of antibiotics with the increased prevalence of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains. Some emerging species of bacteria such as Escherichia coli 0517: H7 and Acinetobacterspecies that are verocytotoxin producers present further chemotherapeutic challenges because of the increased...
November 2009
Evaluation of in vivo antitrypanosomal activity of selected medicinal plant extracts
This study was based on the observation that traditional practitioners in Kenya use plant based extracts for the treatment of parasitic diseases. This necessitated the need to investigate the potential of such plants. Four plants (Kigelia africana, Artemesia annua, Bidens pilosa and Azadirachta indica) were selected for investigation against African human trypanosomiasis. The methanol,...
November 2009
Antioxidant and protective effects of Sumac leaves on chondrocytes
In this study we evaluate in vitro antioxidant and chondroprotective effects of a lyophilised hydroalcholic extract from Sumac leaves. The extract contains many constituents as flavones, tannins, anthocyanins and organic acids with several known biological effects. The antioxidant activity of extract was assayed employing 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method (DPPH). The...
November 2009
Hesperidin, a natural citrus flavanone, alleviates hyperglycaemic state and attenuates embryopathies in pregnant diabetic mice
In this study, we attempted to investigate the effect of hesperidin, a natural antioxidant citrus flavanone, on diabetes-induced embryopathies in mice. Streptozotocin (STZ) was injected intraperitoneally in 60 mg/kg bw/day for 3 consecutive days to induce diabetes in virgin females. 72 h later, mating was applied and hesperidin was orally given to pregnant diabetic mice in 20 ppm from the 1st to the 18th day...
November 2009
The effect of aqueous root extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum on blood glucose level of rabbits
The anti-hyperglycaemic effect of the aqueous root extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum (SJ) Pierre (Menispermaceae) was evaluated in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. The levels of glucose were determined at different doses and times following treatment with the extract. The oral single dose administration of the extract in OGTT study led to significant (p < 0.05) decrease in peak values and the...
November 2009
DPPH free radical scavenging activity of some Bangladeshi medicinal plants
Hydromethanol extracts of fifteen Bangladeshi medicinal plants, traditionally used in different ailments, were evaluated for antioxidant potential using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) radical scavenging assay. Among the extractsCocos nucifera, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Punica granatum and Syzygium cumini were found displaying strong (90% or more) DPPH radical scavenging action. Syzygium...
November 2009
Biological and phytochemical investigations of Goniothalamus umbrosus leaves hexane extract
Antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer properties and chemical compositions ofGoniothalamus umbrosus (GU) hexane extract was investigated using disc diffusion method, DPPH assay, MTT cytotoxicity test (MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, HT-29 colon cancer cell line and CEMss leukemia cell line) and GC-MS, respectively. Anti-tumor effect of GU was further confirmed morphologically under inverted and fluorescent...
November 2009
Antioxidant activity of extracts of Portuguese shrubs: Pterospartum tridentatum, Cytisus scoparius and Erica spp.
Polyphenols and particularly flavonoids are widely appreciated for their potential beneficial health effects, like antioxidant or anticarcinogenic activities. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity of extracts of some shrubs that grow spontaneously in Portugal (Pterospartum tridentatum, Cytisus scoparius and Erica spp.) and then to correlate it with total phenolic and...
November 2009
Amino acid and GABA content in different cultivars of Momordica charantia L.
The variability of amino acid levels including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was investigated in six cultivars of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) of different origins: Nikko and Peacock from Japan, Galaxy and Verde Buenas from Philippines and two native cultivars from China and Korea. Cultivars varied considerably in the amounts of different amino acids. Among them, the cultivar Verde Buenas recorded the...
November 2009
DNA isolation, optimization of ISSR-PCR system and primers screening of Scutellaria baicalensis
To estimate genetic diversity and to authenticate the medicinal materials ofScutellaria baicalensis Georgi, the present work including DNA isolation, optimization of PCR assay of inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and primers screening were investigated. Among three DNA isolation methods, improved CTAB, improved SDS and isolation kit, the improved CTAB was the best if restricted by funding. Based on selection...
November 2009
Antimicrobial potency of Hyptis spicigera leaf extracts against some pathogenic microorganisms
Antibiotic resistance is of grave concern clinically, more so in quinolone-resistant and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates that causes complicated infections. In this study, the potency of Hyptis spicigera leaf extract against some pathogenic microorganisms is described. Minimum bacterial concentration of the leaf extract in five different solvents were tested at five different...
November 2009
Control of dermatophyte-causing agents (Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum) using six medicinal plants
The efficacy of ethanol and distilled water extracts of Azadirachta indica,Jatropha curcas, Jatropha gossypifolia, Cassia alata, Anacardium occidentaleand Aloe vera was determined against Trichophyton mentagrophytes andTrichophyton rubrum isolated from the skin of ringworm-infected patients. Highest antifungal activity was obtained from ethanol extracts where complete inhibition of T....
November 2009
Compounds with elastase inhibition and free radical scavenging activities from Callistemon lanceolatus
Bioassay-guided investigation of the stems of Callistemon lanceolatus led to the isolation of five compounds such as betulinic acid (1), pyracrenic acid (2), arjunolic acid (3), catechin (4), and piceatannol (5). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral studies as well as by comparison with literature data. Elastase inhibition and DPPH radical...
November 2009
Pollen morphology of 14 species of Abutilon and Hibiscus of the family Malvaceae (sensu stricto)
Pollen morphology and the degree of pollen variability within the fourteen species belonging to the two genera, Abutilon Mill. and Hibiscus L. of the family Malvaceae was studied and documented in detail using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two distinct pollen types were recognized based on polarity, shape, diameter and spine index of the pollen grains. The...
November 2009
Effects of Agave salmiana Otto ex Salm-Dick high-fructose syrup on non-diabetic and streptozotocin-diabetic rats
Diabetes has become a serious public health problem worldwide. In Mexico, it has become the leading cause of death. Fructose in diabetic diet remains controversial because it’s potential adverse effects on serum lipids. Forty eight rats were randomly assigned to one of the eight treatments resulting from a complete 2 X 4 factorial arrangement of treatments. In non-diabetic (ND) and...
November 2009
Phytochemical composition of Pleurotus tuber regium and effect of its dietary incorporation on body /organ weights and serum triacylglycerols in albino mice
The phytochemical, mineral and nutrient compositions of Pleurotus tuber regium as well as the effect of its dietary incorporation on body organ weight and total triacylglycerols in albino mice (Mus musculus) was studied. Phytochemical composition analysis yielded (g/100g) saponins (2.19 ± 0.19), alkaloid (0.32 ± 0.07), flavonoids (2.84 ± 0.24) and oligosaccharides (14.14 ± 0.53). Proximate...
November 2009
Antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of the aqueous extracts of some Indian medicinal plants
Antioxidants protect the body against oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals. Plants contain rich amount of polyphenols which are very potent natural antioxidants. The present study was designed to evaluate the relative contribution of different polyphenols such as total phenolics, flavonoids and flavonol contents and their antioxidants activities. For this purpose the total phenolics, flavonoids and flavonol...
November 2009
Antifatigue activity of water extracts of Toona sinensis Roemor leaf and exercise-related changes in lipid peroxidation in endurance exercise
This study evaluated the antifatigue activity of water extracts of Toona sinensisRoemor leaf (ETL) and exercise-related changes in lipid peroxidation in swimming exercise of mice. Male Kunming mice were studied by being divided into four groups (n = 30 mice per group): low, medium, high-dose ETL treated groups and control group. Swimming endurance experiment were conducted after 21 days of ETL supplementation and...
November 2009
Molecular authentication of Panax notoginseng by specific AFLP-derived SCAR marker
The genus Panax contains several medicinal species highly treasured in the Orient. P. notoginseng (Burkill) F. H. Chen (Sanchi) produced in Southern China are used as a hematostatic for hemorrhage. In order to develop species-specific molecular markers for P. notoginseng, amplifed fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses were applied among P. ginseng, P. japonicus, P....
November 2009
The modeling of the relation among the temperature and light intensity of growth in Ocimum basilicum L.
Changes in plant growth caused by the effects of environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity were intended to be described by plant growth models. The study was aimed to define the relationships between temperature, light intensity and growth parameters namely net assimilation rate, relative growth rate, leaf weight ratio, leaf area ratio and specific leaf area for sweet basil. The quantitative...
November 2009
Optimization of growth and pyranocoumarins production in hairy root culture of Angelica gigas Nakai
Hairy root culture of Angelica gigas was studied using different media, strength of medium and addition of various concentrations of sucrose to the culture media to optimize the growth and pyranocoumarins production. Hairy roots in SH medium showed the highest levels of root growth (9.26 g D.W./L) as well as the highest amount of decursin (2.69 mg/g D.W.). MS media produced decursinol angelate a little more...
November 2009
Antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Pericarpium trichosanthis against nosocomial drug resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii in Taiwan
Recently, multiple resistances in human pathogenic microorganisms have developed and caused serious nosocomial infections, especially Acinetobacter baumannii. In this study, we aim to look for new antimicrobial substances against drug resistance strains from Chinese herbal medicines. By using the disc diffusion method, 58 ethanol extracts of Chinese herbal medicines were screened for the antimicrobial activity...
November 2009
Antibacterial effects of the sauce from cassava
Casareep is a sauce that is made from the sap of cassava (Manihot esculenta) and is reputed to extend the life of cooked meats. This preliminary investigation of casareep’s preservative properties indicates that it has antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms and that it does prevent the growth of bacteria in cooked beef. Our investigations have determined that...
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