December 2009
Non-conventional sources, antioxidative properties and novel medicinal use of plant derivatives
December 2009
Biomarker enzymes in muscle tissue and organs of Clarias gariepinus after intramuscular injection with aqueous extracts of Lepidagathis alopecuroides leaves
Tank-raised Clarias gariepinus (mean weight, 250.04 ± 50.22 g, SD: mean total length 30.05 ± 4.05 cm, SD) were intramuscularly injected with aqueous extracts (2 ml/kg weight of fish) of various concentrations (2.00, 4.00, 6.00, 8.00 and 10.00 ppm) of leaves Lepidagathis alopecuroides. The extract was administered to five replicates/treatment level and a control injected with...
December 2009
Implication of foliar epidermal features in the taxonomy of Abutilon Mill. (Malvaceae)
The micro morphology of both adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces of seven species of the genus Abutilon Mill. (Malvaceae) viz., Abutilon bidentatum A. R. rich, Abutilon fruticosum Guill. & Perr., Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet, Abutilonmolle (Wild.) Sweet, Abutilon muticum (Del. Ex. DC,) Sweet, Abutilonpakistanicum Jafri & Ali...
December 2009
Isolation and identification of two novel flavone glycosides from corn silk (Stigma maydis)
Corn silk has been found to be an excellent source of bioactive compound. Two novel flavone glycosides of corn silk were identified by means of spectral analyses as 2″-O-a-L-rhamnosyl-6-C-3″-deoxyglucosyl-3′-methoxyluteolin and 6,4′-dihydroxy- 3′-methoxyflavone -7-O-glucoside. Also, the flavonoid contents of 40 corn silk lines collected from 16 provinces in China were analyzed by high...
December 2009
The different antioxidant and anticancer activities depending on the color of oyster mushrooms
Oyster mushroom is a popular edible mushroom which has various colorful fruit bodies. The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant and the anticancer activities of oyster mushrooms (OM) with different colors such as dark-grey strain (Pleurotus ostreatus), yellow strain (Pleurotus cornucopiae), and pink strain (Pleurotus salmoneostramineus). The methanolic extracts from...
December 2009
Histomorphological study to evaluate anti-fertility effect of Abrus precatorius L. in adult male mice
This study was designed to find effects of ethanol extracts of Abrus precatoriusseeds on male mice (Balb-C) fertility. The extracts were intraperitoneally administered with 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg doses for 20 days. Compared to the controls, there was no significant decrease in testicular and epididymal weight. Histological analysis showed disrupted arrangement of seminiferous tubules, loosening of germinal epithelium...
December 2009
A simple apparatus for gel staining used in two-dimensional electrophoresis
Two-dimensional electrophoresis was widely used in molecular biology. It was required that all gels be in the same condition. The gels can be controlled in the same condition easily during SDS-PAGE. But no paper reported how to ensure the gels were in the same condition during being stained. When the common protein gel staining plates were used, keeping the gels in the same treatment was impossible. A new...
December 2009
Antibacterial activity of some lichen extracts
The aqueous and ethanol extracts prepared from some lichens species were evaluated for antibacterial activity against six standard strains (Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis) and two environmental strains (Aeromonas) that were isolated from different lakes. The aqueous and ethanol extracts showed a variable...
December 2009
Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for the management of diabetes mellitus in the Nkonkobe municipality of South Africa
An ethnobotanical survey was conducted on the medicinal plants frequently used for the management of diabetes mellitus in Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape of South Africa. Information was obtained through structured questionnaire administered to traditional healers and herbalists in the region. The study revealed 15 species of plants belonging to 13 families namely; Hyacinthaceae, Asphodelaceae, Caryophyllaceae,...
December 2009
Cytotoxic effect of some Moroccan medicinal plant extracts on human cervical cell lines
Organic extracts of 7 selected plant species, used by Moroccan traditional healers to treat cancer or non-cancer diseases, were tested for their anti-cancerous activities. The plant selection was based on ethnobotanic information and interviews with local healers. Extracts from Inula viscosa (L.) Ait., Retama monosperma (L.) Bois., Ormenis mixta (L.)...
December 2009
Antimicrobial activity of Gunnera perpensa and Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica
Methanol and water extracts from Gunnera perpensa rhizomes and Heteromorpha arborescens roots were investigated for their in vitro antimicrobial activities. These plants are implicated in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Ten bacterial strains (5 Gram positive and 5 Gram negative) and four fungal strains were selected for the antimicrobial assays. Both plant species were active against...
December 2009
Contribution to the knowledge of medicinal plants of the Dja Biosphere Reserve, Cameroon: Plants used for treating jaundice
An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in two phases in the Dja region in 1995 and 2000. A total of 63 herbalists prescribed 45 plants and 84 recipes in the treatment of jaundice. These plants are distributed in 44 genera and 31 botanical families. The fact that a same plant species be mentioned by different persons or by the same persons after five years for treating the same ailment, is a credibility index which...
December 2009
Hypoglycemic effect of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. on alloxan-induced diabetic mice
Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. known as “banaba” is traditionally used as a herbal medicine in the Philippines. Although Lagerstroemia speciosa has been shown to produce hypoglycemic effects in some mice models of diabetes, there are no reports of the effects of this substance in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Thus, the present study aimed to elucidate the hypoglycemic effects of L....
December 2009
Assessment of herbal products and their composite medicinal plants through proximate and micronutrients analysis
Fourteen medicinal plant species, growing in different parts of Pakistan, have been used to prepare two herbal products Mussafeen and Itreeful ustokhudus by the Qarshi Industry Pvt Ltd. These products were selected to compare the proximate parameters and micronutrients composition with medicinal plants used therein. In proximate analysis carbohydrate, protein, fiber, fat, ash and energy values while in case of...
December 2009
Antioxidant and antihepatotoxic activities of ethanolic crude extract of Melia azedarach and Piper longum
In the present investigation, the antioxidant and antihepatotoxic activities of the crude ethanolic extract of Melia azedarach and Piper longum were studied. The antioxidative activities of biherbal ethanolic extract (BHEE) were investigated employing various established in vitro systems such as total antioxidant activity in linoleic acid emulsion system and inhibitory effect on protein...
December 2009
Optimization of DNA isolation for RAPD-PCR analysis of selected (Echinaceae Purpurea L. Moench) medicinal plants of conservation concern from Turkey
Genetic analysis of plants relies on high yields of pure DNA samples. Here we present the optimization of DNA isolation and PCR conditions for RAPD analysis of selected medicinal plants of conservation concern from Turkey, containing high levels of polysaccharides, polyphenols and secondary metabolites. The method involves a modified CTAB extraction employing polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) while grinding, successive...
December 2009
Screening for anti-microbial activity and phytochemical constituents of some Nigerian medicinal plants
Anti-microbial activity and phytochemical constituents of methanol extract ofPlumeria rubra (flower and leaf) and Eucalyptus globules (leaf) was investigated. Phytochemical screening of the crude extract revealed the presence of tannins, phlobatannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and reducing sugar in the plants investigated. Phlobatanins were found to be absent in the...
December 2009
Evaluation of biological activities of Rhaponticum carthamoides extracts
Rhaponticum carthamoides is an endemic medicinal plant of Siberian origin. Its roots tissue is well known as a rich source of biologically active compounds. R. carthamoides crude extracts were obtained with two different extraction methods (sonication and shaking) and three extraction solvents with different polarity (chloroform, methanol and water). All extract were screened for antioxidative activity...
December 2009
Underutilized medicinal plants and spices: Chemical composition and phytochemical properties
Six plants and spices were examined for their possible efficacy as medicinal plants in a completely randomized design model. The proximate composition of the samples showed greatest crude protein content for Vernonia amygdalinaand Ocimum gratissimum, followed by Allium sativum and Citrus aurantifoliaand then Khaya senegalensis and Zingiber officinale. The higher ether extract...
December 2009
A comparison study of the effects of Echinacea purpurea extract and mesna on cyclophosphamide- induced macroscopic fetal defects in rats
There are reports that the teratogenic effects of cyclophosphamide can be decreased by application of antioxidant drugs and stimulation of maternal immune system. Echinacea extract has being found to be antioxidative and immunomodulatory. Mesna (Sodium 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate) is used for decreasing side effect of cyclophosphamide, especially hemorrhagic cystitis. In this study, the prophylactic effects of...
December 2009
Egg yolk cholesterol lowering effects of garlic and tea
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of garlic and tea on the performance, egg traits and laying parameters of laying hens. Five groups of black leghorn hens, Yafa breed (five birds per group) and aged 21 weeks were used for this experiment. Each group was fed basal diet (layers mash) supplemented with garlic at 1% garlic powder (group 1), 2% garlic powder (group 2), 1% black tea (group 3), 2% back tea (group...
December 2009
Investigation of biological behavior of Iranian indigenous phosphate solubilizing bacteria and determinant of colonization ability of potato roots by these bacteria isolation
The ability of a few soil microorganisms to convert insoluble forms of phosphorus (P) to an accessible form is an important trait in plant growth-promoting bacteria for increasing plant yields. The use of phosphate solubilizing bacteria as inoculants increases the P uptake by plants. In this study, isolation and characterization of 3 strains of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) from Central province of Iran were...
December 2009
Antimicrobial activity of some common spices against certain human pathogens
Antibacterial activity of Allium sativum (garlic), Zingiber officinale (ginger) andPiper nigrum (pepper) extracts has been evaluated against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Morganella morgani, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris. Among ten extracts evaluated for antimicrobial activity garlic extract showed excellent antibacterial activity...
December 2009
In vitro effect of Aegle marmelos on human sperm motility
Plants have served as a natural source of anti-fertility substances. The present study is aimed at investigating the anti-fertility potential of Aegle marmelos(Rutaceae) leaves. A. marmelos is a medicinal plant whose leaves are claimed to be useful in the treatment of spermatorrhoea. Various concentrations of the ethanol extracts of leaves of A. marmelos were investigated for their in...
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