@article {134, title = {Bioactivity Guided Fractionation of Ethanol Extract of Caesalpinia digyna Rottler Roots}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {December 2015}, pages = {165-167}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {165}, abstract = {

Background: Authors have reported earlier that ethanol extract of Caesalpinia digyna Rottler roots exhibits significant antianxiety activity at 400 mg/kg, po, in mice using elevated plus-maze (EPM). Objective: Aim of the study was to isolate antianxiety principle(s) from ethanol extract of C. digyna roots following bioactivity guided fractionation approach. Materials and Methods: Bioactive ethanol extract was partitioned with ethyl acetate to get ethyl acetate soluble (EASF) and ethyl acetate insoluble (EAIF) fractions. A compound (CD1) precipitated from EASF. The two fractions and CD1 were evaluated for antianxiety activity in mice. Column chromatography of EASF yielded 5 fractions (F1-F5), all of which were evaluated for antianxiety activity using EPM. Results: Present study revealed that EASF (80 mg/kg) and CD1 (40 mg/kg) exhibited significant antianxiety activity, while EAIF does not. Among the five fractions, only F4 (40 mg/kg, po), exhibited significant antianxiety activity, which was statistically comparable to that of diazepam (2 mg/kg). Conclusion: Present investigation reveals that EASF obtained by partitioning of ethanol extract of C. digyna roots with ethyl acetate, and a compound CD1, isolated from EASF, exhibit significant antianxiety activity. Among 5 fractions (F1-F5) obtained from column chromatography of EASF, only F4 exhibited significant antianxiety activity. F4 is being processed further to isolate the anxiolytic constituent(s), and CD1 is being characterized.

}, keywords = {Antianxiety, Bioactivity-guided fractionation, Caesalpinia digyna, Elevated plus-maze.}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2016.2.11}, author = {Jitender Singh and Ashwani Kumar and Anupam Sharma} } @article {70, title = {Pharmacognostical and Preliminary Phytochemical Investigations on fruit of Vaccinium macrocarpon aiton}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {7}, year = {2015}, month = {Nov-Dec 2015}, pages = {333-338}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {333}, abstract = {

Background: Vaccinium species are hostile nutraceutical fruit in India as well as all over the world. In recent years, Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton is used as a functional food for treating various diseases without authentication. Objective: The current work was investigated to perform the morphoanatomical and physicochemical of Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton fruit. Method: Pharmacognostic studies were carried out for different parameters include organoleptic, macroscopic, microscopic, fluorescence and physicochemical analysis. Results: The fruit was shining burgundy purple in colour having smooth lustrous surface, globular to ellipsoidal in shape with 10-15 mm in length and diameter was 9 mm. The main microscopic characteristic of fruit showed ovules, compact angular parenchyma cells, developed sclerenchymatous outer sheath, central xylem and phloem strands. Fruit powder showed oil bodies, spherical parenchyma cells in large thick masses and walls of the epicarp demonstrated cellulose content. Further, physicochemical examination of fruit powder showed loss on drying, total ash, insoluble ash as 9.23, 7.8, and 9.16\% w/w respectively. The water and alcohol soluble extractives values of the fruit were 24.74 and 76.88\% respectively. Anthocyanins and flavonids were also confirmed by phytochemical screening. Conclusion: A variety of pharmacognostic features was found in fruitful way which may help in identification and standardization of Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton fruit in a crude form.

}, keywords = {Fruit, microscopy, Morphoanataomical, Physicochemical analysis, Vaccinium macrocarpon aiton}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2015.6.3}, author = {Manisha Khaneja and Sumeet Gupta}, editor = {Anupam Sharma} }