May 2011
Chinese traditional medicine matrine: A review of its antitumor activities
Matrine, a major component of the dried roots of Sophora flavescens Ait. (Leguminosae) has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been found that matrine possesses a wide range of pharmacological effects including antitumor activities on a number of cancer cell lines in recent years. However, its spectrum of practical applications is often limited due to the elusive antitumor mechanism....
May 2011
Gene therapy: A review article
The introduction of nucleic acids into cells has as a purpose of medical condition or disease. Currently, gene therapy studies a broad range of potential therapeutic interventions, including the body's immune reaction to tumors, new blood vessels in the heart to alleviate heart attacks and to stop HIV-replication in patients with AIDS (Coleman et al., 2003). There is also renewed emphasis on the gene therapy of...
May 2011
Review on cancer and anticancerous properties of some medicinal plants
Cancer is a dreadful disease and any practical solution in combating this disease is of paramount importance to public health. Therefore, besides the rationalized allopathic drugs, it is worth evaluating the folk medicine-a ...
May 2011
Medicinal and edible wild fruit plants of Botswana as emerging new crop opportunities
There is a burgeoning need for the promotion of medicinal plants and edible fruit plants as crop in Botswana because these are re-emerging as health aid. Medicinal plants constitute one of the important overlooked areas of international development. They represent a form of biodiversity with the potential to do much good and not just in the healthcare. Indeed, the production and processing of medicinal plants offers the...
May 2011
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) extract impairs the fibrogenic effect of bleomycin in rat lung
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of yarrow (Achillea millefulium) extract on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rat. Hydroalcoholic extract of yarrow was prepared using maceration method. Sprague Dawley rats weighing 180 to 220 g were given single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (7.5 IU/kg) or vehicle (saline). They were treated with different doses of oral yarrow extract (400, 800,...
May 2011
Plant growth and essential oil content and composition of Satureja hortensis L. cv. Saturn in response to calcium carbonate and nitrogen application rates
Satureja hortensis L. (Summer savory) is one of the most important medicinal and spice plants cultivated in many parts of the world. A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of nitrogen (0, 50, 100 and 150 Kg.ha-1) and calcium carbonate (0, 5 and 10 t.ha-1) application rates on the growth and essential oil content and composition of S. hortensis cv. Saturn. Nitrogen (N) fertilization...
May 2011
Simultaneous determination of five major active depsides in the freeze-dried Dan-Shen injection by LC
To establish an high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method for the first time to simultaneously determine five major bioactive depsides, salianic acid A , protocatechuic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, salvianolic acid G and salvianolic acid D in freeze-dried Dan-Shen injection. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Phenomenex Hydro-C18 reserved-phase column (4.6×250...
May 2011
Acute toxicity study of Carica papaya leaf extract in Sprague Dawley rats
Carica papaya (CP) leaves are popularly used as food and have many traditional claims for herbal medicine. The leaf extract have been proven scientifically for their efficacy as wound healing and has protective effects against gastric damage in rats. However, toxicity study of the CP leaf extract is still lacking. The present study is to investigate the acute toxicity of CP leaf extract on Sprague Dawley rats at a...
May 2011
Immunomodulatory effects of aqueous extract of Ocimum basilicum (Linn.) and some of its constituents on human immune cells
Ocimum basilicum Linn. (OB) is an edible plant with high concentrations of caffeic (CA) andp-coumaric acid (pCA). In this study, the authors evaluated the immunomodulatory activities of aqueous extract of OB, CA and pCA on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by lymphoproliferation test, and defined the responding cells by flow cytometry, secretion of various cytokines by ELISA, and expression of mRNA...
May 2011
A comparative evaluation of the antioxidant activity of some medicinal plants popularly used in Nepal
Recently, attention has focused on phytochemicals as new sources of natural antioxidants.Therefore, the methanolic crude extracts of 24 commonly used medicinal plants fromJhapa and Illam District, Nepal, were screened for total phenols, flavonoids, and free radical scavenging activity. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH). Significant differences in DPPH...
May 2011
In vitro chemopreventive activity of an ethyl acetate fraction derived from hot water extract of Orthosiphon stamineus in HepG2 cells
Orthosiphon stamineus (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant containing several biologically active components that have chemopreventive activity. To investigate the chemopreventive properties of O. stamineus, we studied the apoptotic activity of the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) derived from the hot water extract of O. stamineus leaves on the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2. The...
May 2011
High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of derivatized sapogenin of Asparagus (RP-HPLC analysis of derivatized sapogenin of Asparagus)
RP-HPLC method on C8 column was investigated for derivatized sapogenin, the marker inAsparagus species using water and acetonitrile as mobile phase in isocratic manner at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. The method is sensitive (LOD = 2.02 µg), accurate (average recovery was 98.97%) and precise (intra day variation of RT<0.398, inter day variation of RT<0.982). Quantification was done by UV absorption at...
May 2011
Ethnobotanical study of traditional uses of medicinal plants: The flora of caatinga in the community of Cravolândia-BA, Brazil
The Caatinga is one of the most characteristic vegetation types in northeastern Brazil, where there are several endemic species of medicinal plants. Information on the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses would represent a vital role in the discovery of novel products from plants. An ethnobotanical survey about utilization and conservation of medicinal plants was applied to residents of...
May 2011
Molecular markers associated with genetic diversity of some medicinal plants in Sinai
The main objective of this work is to fingerprint some selected plant germplasm along the western Red Sea coast of Sinai. Selection is based on the relative economic importance of these plants on the medicinal and pharmaceutical levels. Molecular markers such as RAPD, ISSR and AFLP technologies were used in this work to detect genetic diversity of the selected medicinal plants. The study showed that taxonomical...
May 2011
Antioxidant properties, total phenolic, total carotenoid and chlorophyll content of anatomical parts of Hypericum foliosum
Methanolic extracts from eight anatomical parts of the endemic Azorean Hypericum foliosum were evaluated for their potential antioxidant activity and basic classes of bioactive compounds. The results revealed that one single method is not enough to perform an accurate estimation of the antioxidant potential. The reducing power, prevention of β-carotene/linoleic acid system oxidation and...
May 2011
Phytochemicals screening, DPPH free radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitiory activities of Cassia fistula seeds extract
This study investigates antioxidant activity of Cassia fistula seeds extract. The antioxidant potential of this extract was evaluated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and xanthine oxidase inhibition assay. The IC50 values were calculated for DPPH and xanthine oxidase assays in order to evaluate the antioxidant efficiency of C. fistula seed extract. Total phenolic...
May 2011
Effects of a botanical larvicide derived from Azadirachta indica (the neem tree) on oviposition behaviour in Anopheles gambiae s.s. mosquitoes
More focus is given to mosquito larval control due to the necessity to use several control techniques together in integrated vector management programmes. Botanical products are thought to be able to provide effective, sustainable and cheap mosquito larval control tools. However, bio-larvicides like Azadirachta indica (neem) could repel adult mosquitoes from laying their eggs in the treated larval habitats. In...
May 2011
Application of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with photodiode array detector for the simultaneous determination of 12 chemical components of traditional Chinese Si-Jun-Zi-Tang formula
We established an UPLC-photodiode array (PDA) detection method to determine simultaneously 12 components, namely Gallic acid, Ferulaic acid, Liquiritin, Benzoic acid, Lobetyolin, Liquiritigenin, Calycosin, Isoliquiritigenin, Formononetin, Glycyrrhizic acid, Atractylenolide III, Glycyrrhetinic acid in traditional Chinese Si-Jun- Zi-Tang (SJZT) formula. They were analyzed in less than 38 min on Acquity UPLC system with...
May 2011
Scutellaria barbata D. Don induces apoptosis of human colon carcinoma cell through activation of the mitochondrion-dependent pathway
Scutellaria barbata D. Don has long been used in China for the clinical treatment of various cancers including colorectal cancer. However, the precise mechanisms of its tumorcidal activity remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the cellular effects of the ethanol extract of S. barbata D. Don (EESB) in the HT-29 human colon carcinoma cell line. We found that EESB inhibited the growth of...
May 2011
Evaluation of different medicinal plants blends in diets for broiler chickens
The effects of five blends of medicinal plants on performance, carcass characteristics, humoral immunity and serum lipids of broiler chickens were studied in this experiment. A total of 304 day- old male Ross-308 broiler chicks were allocated into six dietary treatments including basal diet with no supplement as control group (C), basal diet plus 10 g/kg of herbal blends including; garlic, cinnamon, thyme, rosemary and...
May 2011
Plant extract activities against the fibroblast cell lysis by honey bee venom
Bee venom stings are still health problems in tropical areas. Local people use herbs as their first choice to relieve envenomation symptoms. In this study, the aqueous extracts of 22 plant species were screened for their activity against fibroblast cell lysis after Apis melliferaLinn. (Apidae) bee venom treatment. The venom was preincubated with plant extracts for 30 min and then added to confluent fibroblast...
May 2011
In vitro cytotoxic effects and apoptosis induction by a methanol leaf extract of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.)
This research evaluated the in vitro apoptotic inducing properties of a methanol leaf extract of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) on a human cervical adenocarcinoma cell line (HeLa). The cell viability effect on a prostate (DU-145), breast (MDA-MB-231) and colon cell line (HCT-166) was also assessed. The effect of the extract on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by HeLa cells was studied, and a...
May 2011
Exploration of a novel hydroxyl radical scavenger from Sargassum myriocystum
Sargassum myriocystum was selected to evaluate for reactive oxygen radical scavenging capacities and antioxidant activities using commonly accepted assays. After shade drying, marine seaweeds were powdered and extracts were prepared by cold and Soxhlet methods using various organic solvents. Crude powder materials were used for determination of bio-chemical constituents like protein, carbohydrate and phenolic...
May 2011
Phytochemical screening and evaluation of cytotoxic, antimicrobial and cardiovascular effects of Gomphrena globosa L. (Amaranthaceae)
Gomphrena globosa L. (Amaranthaceae) is used in folk medicine in the treatment of high blood pressure and other diseases. To confirm this popular use, ethanol extract from leaves of G. globosa L. was prepared by maceration and analyzed by some phytochemical and biological assays, including cardiovascular activity. The phytochemical screeningdetected the presence...
May 2011
Potent antagonistic activity of newly isolated biological control Bacillus subtilis and novel antibiotic against Erysiphe graminis f.sp tritici
A newly isolated Bacillus subtilis, as well as its antibiotic, had potent antagonistic activity against Erysiphe graminis f.sp tritici. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the antibiotic for E. graminis f.sp tritici was determined. We arrived at an opinion: for some bacteria, unless the ammonium sulfate-precipitated substance had been filtered with a membrane, even if...
May 2011
Chili pepper-induced injury to splenic tissue of rabbit
Chili pepper is the most common species used in food throughout the world. In the present study, we examined the effects of chili pepper on rabbit’s splenic tissue. Oral administration of chili pepper was carried out every day for 10 days at a dose of 2 g/kg rabbit. Chili pepper induced significant increase in spleen weight as well as the number of leucocytes. Spleen architecture was altered as indicated by the...
May 2011
Nelumbo nucifera alkaloid inhibits 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and improves high-fat diet-induced obesity and body fat accumulation in rats
The leaf of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn has been used for summer heat syndrome as home remedy in China, and it has been used for the treatment of obesity in traditional medical clinics in China, so we investigated the pharmacological activity of the antiobesity effect ofN. nucifera leaves extract. N. nucifera alkaloid (NNA), which is the main component in theN. nucifera leaves. 3T3-L1...
May 2011
Effect of supplementation with grape seed (Vitis vinifera) extract on antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in patient with type ΙΙ diabetes
To determine the effects of grape seed extract (GSE) supplementation on antioxidant defense system and lipid peroxidation in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). During a randomized double blind clinical trial adult subjects with type 2 diabetes were supplemented with 200 mg/day of GSE or placebo for two months. Fasting blood samples were obtained at the beginning and the end of study to determine total...
May 2011
Screening of chemical composition of essential oil, mineral elements and antioxidant activity in Pulicaria Undulata (L.) C. A. Mey from Iran
Pulicaria undulata (L.) C.A. Mey is a medicinal plant used to treat inflammation. It is also an insect repellent and herbal tea. In this study, concentration of macro minerals (that is, Ca, K and Mg) and micro minerals (major and trace elements) (that is, Fe, Cu, Na and Mn) and P, were estimated in Pulicaria undulata from the Sistan and Baluchestan province. Sample preparation using microwave...
May 2011
Antifungal properties of Allium ursinum L. ethanol extract
Allicin analysis of Allium ursinum L. flower and leaf ethanol extracts by LC/MS and in vitrogermination and growth inhibition effects on Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, Botrytis paeoniae, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. tulipae, Penicillium gladioli, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were performed. The antifungal activity of the flower extract was stronger than that of the leaf extract,...
May 2011
Antioxidant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of aqueous extract From stem bark of Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. (Fabaceae)
The aqueous extract of Pterocarpus erinaceus stem bark was investigated for its anti inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant activities. The phytochemical screening using standard procedures of analysis revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins, triterpenoids and steroids The antioxidant test using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) methods...
May 2011
Consumer preferences for medicinal and aromatic plant products: Surveys of urban consumers and sellers in western mediterranean region of Turkey
The aim of this study is to determine the consumer preferences for medicinal and aromatic plant products in three city centers located in the Western Mediterranean Region in Turkey. The consumer preferences were considered together with the consumption purposes, factors that constitute the consumption habits, the plants preferred in consumption and how they are consumed, how such products are provided and in means of...
May 2011
In-vitro antagonistic activities of crude dichloromethane extracts of Garcinia kola (Heckel) seeds against potentially pathogenic Vibrio species
Dichloromethane extracts of the seeds of Garcinia kola were screened for anti-Vibrioactivities against a panel of 50 Vibrio isolates comprised of five different species namelyVibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio fluvialis and Vibrio metschnikovii andVibrio sp. (not identified to the specie level). The extract had activity against 16 of...
May 2011
The obtaining of an antioxidant product based on Issopus officinalis freeze: Dried extract
The aim of this study was to obtain a freeze-dried extract from Issopus officinalis with an important antioxidant and antimicrobial effect. The extract was obtained in a fluidized bed solid extractor and the optimal values of phenols, flavonoids and the highest reduction power were determined when using 75% ethanol as solvent, the antioxidant activity ranging between 90 to 95%. In case of the freeze-dried...
May 2011
Acetylcholinesterase and NADH oxidase inhibitory activity of some medicinal plants
Acetyl-cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) comprise a family of enzymes which include serine hydrolases. Acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and termination of the nerve impulse in cholinergic synapses. AChE inhibitory activities were determined as given in Materials and Methods. Results show that the following plants have more than 50% inhibition of AChEase enzyme...
May 2011
Nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDase) inhibitory activity of some medicinal plants
Nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolasess (NTPDases, EC 3.6.1.5) are well characterized ectoenzymes which are involved in the hydrolysis of ATP and ADP resulting in the formation of nucleoside monophosphates and orthophosphate. By hydrolyzing circulating ATP to ADP to AMP, NTPDases play a crucial role in preventing the activation of platelets and their aggregation. NTPDase inhibitors therefore are currently target...
May 2011
An ethnomedicinal inventory of knotweeds of Indian Himalaya
The present study aims to highlight the current knowledge of the usefulness of Knotweeds (Polygonum L.) of India as to point out what species need careful consideration for conservation rather than eradication. The present study intends to produce an inventory of the important Polygonums that needs re-evaluation for cultivation and hence increasing our accessibility to natural medicinal...
May 2011
Effect of topical application of G7 in reducing histamine induced skin reactions: A preliminary study
A Siddha drug G7 was tested for its anti allergic activity in human subjects. Histamine was prick tested onto the drug sensitized region and control site of volar forearm. The extent of erythema, oedema and itching were scored. G7 exhibited activity in reducing the erythema and itching induced by histamine in a dose dependent manner. Key word: Anti allergic activity, histamine, Siddha, medicinal plants.
May 2011
The use of geographical information system (GIS) for the extension of Echium amoenum Fisch. et Mey., a medicinal plant, in the Northern part of Iran
Viper's bugloss (Echium amoenum Fisch. et Mey.), a medicinal plant, grows as wild and cultivated in Eshkevarat area located in the northern mountains of Iran. Information layers from environmental factors affected on the growth of this plant was prepared by geographical information system (GIS) and overlaid in order to the plant extension and preservation, as well increasing of rural society's economic...
May 2011
Response surface methodology for optimization of polysaccharides extraction by mild alkaline hydrolysis from fruiting body of medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum
Polysaccharides (PLS) is a major source of biological activity and therapeutic use ofmedicinal basidiomycete, Ganoderma lucidum. The aim of this study was to systematically obtain a model of factors that would yield an optimized extraction condition of PLS from fruiting body of G. lucidum, and compared alkaline hydrolysis extraction and aqueous extraction methods in PLS...
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