@article {1089, title = {Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Composition of Momordica Charantia: A Review}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {February 2020}, pages = {213-222}, type = {Review Article }, chapter = {213}, abstract = {

Momordica charantia L. (bitter melon) is a plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family and is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas around the world, mainly in Asia, India, China and Brazil, where it is traditionally used as a medicinal plant, and the fruits of some varieties of M. charantia are consumed as food. Studies have determined that this plant contains a great diversity of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential like charantin, α-momorcharin and MAP30, and highlighting its properties as antidiabetic, antiulcer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antihyperglycemic and anticancer. Review shows the complete botanical description of the plant (fruits, leaves, stem, etc.), the bioactive chemical compounds reported in the plant species, the antimicrobial activity of the extracts or fractions of M. charantia, emphasizing the antibacterial and antifungal activities, with respective values of MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) reported according to the methodology used in each study. The review seeks to update the phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge of M. charantia, which would be useful for researchers in their search for new chemical compounds of the plant, studies of its safety and efficacy, as well as the evaluation of its possible synergistic action in combination with other antimicrobials, in order to find new therapeutic alternatives against bacterial resistance.

}, keywords = {Antibacterial, Antifungal, Charantin, Cucurbitaceae, Cucurbitane, Phytochemicals}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2020.12.32}, author = {V{\'\i}ctor Eduardo Villarreal-La Torre and William Sag{\'a}stegui Guarniz and Carmen Silva-Correa and Lizardo Cruzado- Razco and Ra{\'u}l Siche} } @article {883, title = {Anatomical and Histochemical Characterization of Leaves of Luffa cylindrica (L.) M. Roem}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {11}, year = {2019}, month = {May 2019}, pages = {511-514}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {511}, abstract = {

Background: Luffa cylindrica (L.) M. Roem. (Cucurbitaceae) is an herbaceous plant used for food as compose salads and do sweets and also used in traditional medicine as treat parasitic infections and intestinal diseases. Although this information, there are not many relates about anatomic characters for use in your quality control. Objective: The aim was investigating the anatomical characters of petiole and leaf blade and characterizing the metabolites in the leaf blade of L. cylindrica. Materials and Methods: Semipermanent histological slides were prepared for analysis of petiole and leaf blade in optical microscopy. Histochemical tests were also performed in the leaf blade. Results: The anatomical study revealed information about the type of trichomes, cuticle, vascular bundles and arrangement of the tissues that determine the botanical identity of this species. It was also identifying, for the first time, the presence of two types of trichomes in both of leaf blades faces. The histochemistry allowed determining which metabolites are in the leaf blade and also their location. Conclusion: The study described new characters for L. cylindrica and the results provide support to quality control of the species.

}, keywords = {Anatomy, Cucurbitaceae, Histochemistry, Luffa cylindrica, microscopy}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2019.11.81}, author = {La{\'\i}s Emanuelle Bernardo Vieira and Rafaela Damasceno S{\'a} and Karina Perrelli Randau} } @article {465, title = {New Medicinal Plant Variety of Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. (Cucurbitaceae) from Northeastern Thailand}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {December 2017}, pages = {29-32}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {29}, abstract = {

Objectives: This research was carried out for describing, illustrating and treating a new medicinal plant variety in the genus Trichosanthes. Methods: This research was carried out by collecting plant specimens in the Northeastern Thailand. Morphological characters were studied and compared with the closely related taxon and taxonomic literatures. Results: T. tricuspidata subsp. rotundata var. longirachis, was found. This plant is described and illustrated here and treated as a new variety. It differs from the other of T. tricuspidata subsp. rotundata by having the following combination characters: Comparatively stout herbaceous climber up to 20 m long, tendril 3\–5-brached, probract obovate with obvious glands, mature blade unlobed or 3-shallowly lobed with 1-2 short angles, blade not deeply lobed (unlobed blade found in juvenile plants), blade size 5-11 cm diameter and raceme rachis length 10\–130 cm. Its fruits and seeds were used as medicinal parts. Conclusion: Totally, three subspecies and four variety of T. tricuspidata in Thailand have been recorded so far. Important comparative morphological characters with some closely related variety are discussed. The local people used it as medicinal plant.

}, keywords = {Cucurbitaceae, Ethnobotany, Taxonomy, Thailand, Trichosanthes tricuspidata}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2018.1.6}, url = {http://fulltxt.org/article/361}, author = {Wannachai Chatan and Wilanwan Promprom} } @article {1546, title = {Pharmacognostic studies of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) standley fruits}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {6}, year = {2014}, month = {18th Feb,2014}, pages = {07-11}, type = {Original Article}, abstract = {

Background: Lagenaria siceraria (LS) fruits belonging to Cucurbitaceae family is widely used in Indian traditional medicine for its various medicinal values. As per best of our knowledge there were no pharmacognostical reports, specifically to determine anatomical and other physicochemical standards required for its standardization. Material and Methods: In this study various standardization parameters like macroscopic and microscopic studies, physico-chemical constants, extractive values and preliminary phytochemical screening were studied and reported. Results: Different standardization parameters were reported, which would be of immense use to identify and establish the authenticity of the plant. Conclusion: Preliminary pharmacognostic evaluation of Lagenaria siceraria fruits can give some useful information, which will be further used for standardization.

Key words: Pharmacognostic, Bhopla, Cucurbitaceae, standardization, Lagenaria siceraria.

}, keywords = {Bhopla, Cucurbitaceae, Lagenaria siceraria, Pharmacognostic, standardization}, author = {C.V. Panchal, and Jyotiram A. Sawale, and B. N. Poul, and Khandelwal, K. R.} }