@article {1310, title = {Isolation and Structural Characterization of Phytoconstituents from Strobilanthes kunthianus}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {November 2020}, pages = {1605-1611}, type = {Research Article}, chapter = {1605}, abstract = {

Background: Strobilanthes kunthianus T Anders (Neela kurinji) is well known for its medicinal properties and reported to possess many biological activities. However, so far there is no phytoconstituents are isolated and reported in S. kunthianus. Objective: The present study aimed to isolate and characterize the chemical constituents present in various parts of S. kunthianus. Methods: The successive petroleum ether root and stem extracts, chloroform stem extract, macerated and crude methanol flower extracts were subjected to column chromatography for the isolation of constituents. All the isolated compounds were characterized based on their physical and spectral data analysis. Results: Ten compounds were isolated and being reported for the first time from S. kunthianus. Except lupeol (1 and 2), betulin (3), α-amyrin (5) and β-sitosterol (7), other five compounds including of 3,5-bis-(dimethylcarbamoyl)methyl)-4-(11- cyclohexylundecyl)-4-heptyl-N1,N1,N7,N7 tetramethylheptanediamide (4), 4-amino-tetrahydro- 2H-pyran-3,5-diol (6), 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methyl-4-((E)-3,6-dimethylundec-4-enyl)cyclohexyl propionate (8), flavone glycoside (9) and decahydro-1,1,4a,8-tetramethylphenanthren- 2(1H,3H,4bH)-one (10), isolated from S. kunthianus were novel. Conclusion: The novel compounds need to be further investigated for ascertain pharmacological activities which will be useful for further drug development.

}, keywords = {Column chromatography, Flavone glycoside, Neela kurinji, Phytoconstituents, Strobilanthes kunthianus}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2020.12.220}, author = {Geetha Balasubramaniam and Mahendran Sekar and Subban Ravi and Shrishailappa Badami} } @article {917, title = {A Methanolic Extract of Ocimum basilicum Exhibits Antioxidant Effects and Prevents Selenite-induced Cataract Formation in Cultured Lenses of Wistar Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {11}, year = {2019}, month = {May 2019}, pages = {496-504}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {496}, abstract = {

Objective: An extract (Methanolic) of the Ocimum basilicum leaf was analysed for potential to abrogate experimental formation of cataract in-vitro. Methods: Phytoconstituents were first detected in O. basilicum extracts (Aqueous or methanolic) by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis. The putative antioxidant activity of these extracts was then assessed by measuring in-vitro radical-scavenging activity, ion-chelating potential and reducing potency. Potential cytotoxicity of the extract on Human lenticular epithelial B3 (HLE-B3) cells was also sought. Finally, possible prevention of cataract formation by the methanolic extract was gauged in selenite-exposed lenses obtained from Wistar rats. There were 3 groups (8 Lenses in each): Group I (Lenses incubated in Dulbecco{\textquoteright}s modified Eagle{\textquoteright}s medium [DMEM] alone); Group II (Lenses incubated in DMEM with sodium selenite [100 μM/ml]); Group III (Lenses incubated in DMEM with selenite [100 μM/ml] and the O. basilicum methanolic extract (200 μg/ml DMEM). Gross lenticular morphology was assessed. Levels of lenticular malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were also measured. Results: A higher intensity of antioxidative activity was noted in the methanolic extract than in the aqueous extract. The methanolic extract exhibited negligible cytotoxicity. On morphological examination, marked opacification was seen in all 8 Group II lenses whereas there was no opacification in 7 of 8 Group III lenses. Near normal mean levels of reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde, were noted within Group III lenses. Conclusion: The methanolic extract of the O. basilicum leaf appears to prevent selenite-induced cataract formation in-vitro.

}, keywords = {Antioxidants, Cataract, Crystallins, Ocimum basilicum, Oxidative stress, Phytoconstituents}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2019.11.79}, author = {Thiraviyam Anand and Mahalingam Sundararajan and Muniyandi Anbukkarasi and Philip Aloysius Thomas and Pitchairaj Geraldine} } @article {922, title = {Phytochemical Screening, HPTLC Fingerprinting and Invitro Antioxidant Activity of Root Extract of Asparagus racemosus}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {11}, year = {2019}, month = {July 2019}, pages = {818-823}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {818}, abstract = {

Background: Asparagus racemosus is a climber shrub used in Indian medicine for centuries. It has been used as galactogogue and nerve tonic in folk medicine. The recent research on A. racemosus has revealed its disease fighting properties such as anti-bacterial, immunomodulatory, cardio protective, anti-stress, etc. Phytochemicals present in the plants are associated with their therapeutic capabilities. Hence, phytochemical screening of a therapeutic plant is essential. Materials and Methods: A preliminary qualitative screening of phytoconstituents present in the ethanol and aqueous extract of the plant was done. high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used to create a phytochemical fingerprint of the plant extract. Further, a series of antioxidant assays, i.e., 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DDPH) radical, Nitric oxide (NO) radical, Superoxide (SO) radical and 2,2{\textquoteright}-azinobis( 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays were done. Results: The phytochemical screening and the HPTLC fingerprint showed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, glycosides, triterpenoids, saponins etc. They also showed free radical scavenging property and hence can be used as potential primary antioxidant. Conclusion: A preliminary screening created a phytochemical profile of A. racemosus extracts. These phytoconstituents may be linked to the various known therapeutic applications of the plant. This may aid in further extensive studies for identifying and isolating compounds with potential therapeutic value in A. racemosus.

}, keywords = {Antioxidants, Asparagus racemosus, Chromatography, Phytochemistry, Phytoconstituents, Therapeutics}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2019.11.131}, author = {Kalaivani Selvaraj and Girija Sivakumar and Aruthra Arumugam Pillai and Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan and Srinivasa Rao Bolla and Geetha Royapuram Veeraraghavan and Gayathri Rengasamy and Joel P Joseph and Janardhana PB} } @article {190, title = {Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry Analysis and In vitro Antioxidant Activity of the Ethanolic Extract of the Leaves of Tabernaemontana divaricata}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {Oct 2016}, pages = {451-458}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {451}, abstract = {

Objective: To identify phytoconstituents present in an ethanolic extract of the leaves of Tabernaemontana divaricata and to evaluate its in-vitro antioxidant potential. Methods: The extract was subjected to gas chromatography- mass spectrometry analysis to identify phytoconstituents, and screened for hydroxyl, superoxide and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, reducing power and metal-chelating activity as a measure of potential antioxidant activity. Results: GC-MS analysis of the extract revealed the presence of 96 phytoconstituents, of which 17 are reported to be bioactive and 11 of these to possess antioxidant potential. When tested in-vitro, the extract exhibited the most potent radical-scavenging activity at a maximum concentration of 10 mg/ml, scavenging effects of 64\%, 67\% and 69\% and corresponding half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 6.7 mg/ml, 6.8 mg/ml and 6.2 mg/ml on hydroxyl, superoxide and DPPH radicals, respectively. Ascorbic acid used as a standard (10 mg/ml) showed scavenging effects of 73\%, 73\% and 75\% and corresponding IC50 values of 5.3 mg/ml, 5.8 mg/ml and 5.2 mg/ml, respectively, on hydroxyl, superoxide and DPPH radicals. At 10 mg/ml, the extract and an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid standard exhibited 68\% and 78\%, respectively, chelation of ferrous ions; at the same concentration, the reducing power of the extract and that of a butylated hydroxytoluene standard was found to be 3.855 and 4.308, respectively. Conclusion: These observations strongly suggest that the ethanolic extract of T. divaricata leaves has potent in-vitro antioxidant activity and thereby could act as a possible therapeutic agent for oxidative stressinduced pathological states.

}, keywords = {antioxidant activity, GC-MS analysis, Metal chelating activity., Phytoconstituents, Reducing power, Tabernaemontana divaricata}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2016.5.7}, author = {Muniyandi Anbukkarasi and Philip A Thomas and Mahalingam Sundararajan and Pitchairaj Geraldine} } @article {77, title = {Pharmacognostic Studies and In Vitro Antioxidant Potential of Traditional Polyherbal Formulation of West Sikkim with Asparagus Spp}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {7}, year = {2015}, month = {Nov-Dec 2015}, pages = {348-355}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {348}, abstract = {

Introduction: The powder mixture of the two species of Asparagaceae (Asparagus filicinus and Asparagus officinalis) was found to be used traditionally for the treatment of heart palpitation in west Sikkim. Objective: Pharmacognostic characterisation was carried out for the authentication of the powder drug which included powder microscopy, fluorescence analysis and physicochemical characterisation. The presence of any therapeutic potential in HP was also determined by qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytochemicals along with free radical scavenging activity of various successive solvent extracts (based on their polarity). Thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the powdered HP was also done. The standard software SPSS (ver. 15.0) and XLSTAT 2009 (Addinsoft) and Smith\’s Statistical Package were used for different statistical analysis. Results: Powder microscopy of HP revealed the presence of calcium oxalate crystal, tracheids, stone cells etc. Various fluorescence colours were exhibited by HP on UV after reacting with different chemical reagents. The analysis values were also obtained in a satisfactory way. TLC and qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of some active phytoconstituents. Among all the solvent extracts, acetone, heptane, ethyl acetate and benzene extracts showed higher antioxidant potential. Conclusion: The results support the use of HP as a traditional medicine and further purification should be done for the identification of bioactive phytoconstituents responsible for its antioxidant activity.

}, keywords = {Antioxidant, Pharmacognostic evaluation, Phytoconstituents, Successive solvent extraction, Thin layer Chromatography}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2015.6.6}, author = {Arunika Subba and Palash Mandal} }