Herbals

ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF VOLATILE OIL ISOLATED FROM SOME TRADITIONAL INDIAN SPICES

by Saumendu Deb Roy

Deb Roy Saumendu*, Talukdar Apu, Saikia Dhrubajyoti, Kashyap Arunav, Bhuyan Anupam, Das Bidyut.
Published in International Research Journal of Pharmacy'2012

In the present study the antimicrobial activity of Volatile Oils isolated from Traditional Indian Spices, Anethum... more In the present study the antimicrobial activity of Volatile Oils isolated from Traditional Indian Spices, Anethum Graveolens (Umbelliferae), Foeniculum Vulgare (Umbelliferae) and Coriandrum Sativum (Umbelliferae) were studied. The isolated Volatile Oils in varying concentrations were studied against Staphylococcus Coagulase, E.Coli, Streptococcus fecaelis and Staphylococcus aureus, by paper disc diffusion method, using Amoxicillin as standard drug.
The results indicated that all the Volatile Oil samples from Anethum Graveolens (Dill), Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) and Coriandrum Sativum (Coriender) has antimicrobial potential and were active against almost all the microorganisms but in a dose dependent manner. Foeniculum Vulgare by far was the most potent volatile oil showing the highest activity against Staphylococcus Coagulase.

HERBAL HEPATOPROTECTIVE AGENTS: A REVIEW

by Saumendu Deb Roy

Published in: World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research.

Medicinal plants are significant source of Hepatoprotective drugs.
Mono and poly-herbal preparations have been... more Medicinal plants are significant source of Hepatoprotective drugs.
Mono and poly-herbal preparations have been used in various liver
disorders since ages. According to one estimate, more than 700 mono
and poly-herbal preparations in the form of decoction, tincture, tablets
and capsules from more than 100 plants are in clinical use. A drug
having beneficial effect on the liver is known as Hepatoprotective
drug. On the other hand, drugs having toxic affect on the liver are
better known as hepatotoxic drugs. Clinical research has also shown
that herbals have genuine utility in the treatment of liver diseases. The
article deals with phyto-pharmacological investigative work done on
herbals beneficial in liver and gall bladder ailments.

Estimation of lornoxicam in tablet dosage form by UV spectrophotometric method

by Saumendu Deb Roy

Antiulcer Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Whole Plant of Scutia myrtina

by Saumendu Deb Roy

IN VITRO ANTIBIOTIC ACTIVITY OF VARIOUS EXTRACTS OF GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE

by Saumendu Deb Roy

The main aim of the research work is to confirm the ethno medicinal claim that Gymnema Sylvestre
has got... more The main aim of the research work is to confirm the ethno medicinal claim that Gymnema Sylvestre
has got antimicrobial activities which could be a better alternative for synthetic antimicrobials, if proved
to be effective enough. For this we have extracted Gymnema Sylvestre with Petroleum Ether then with
Chloroform and lastlty with a mixture of Water:Ethanol (1:1), using Soxhlet Apparatus. Antibacterial
activity of different extracts were evaluated by “Paper Disc Diffusion Method” against Bacillus Subtilis,
Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichia Coli using Erythromycin as a standard and DMSO as Control
Sample. Zone of inhibition of Bacillus Subtilis and Staphylococcus Aureus were found respectively when
compared with the result of the Standard, while Extracts had no activity against E.Coli. So, in future the
leaves of this plant can be used for selective infections and can be further explored for isolation of the
active principles responsible for antimicrobial property.

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND GUT MOTILITY ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF WHOLE PLANT OF SCUTIA MYRTINA KURZ.

by Saumendu Deb Roy

Phytochemical and Gut motility activity of Ethanolic Extract of whole plant of Scutia Myrtina Kurz collected from... more Phytochemical and Gut motility activity of Ethanolic Extract of whole plant of Scutia Myrtina Kurz collected from Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu was studied. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of Alkaloids, Glycosides (Anthraquinone), Flavonoids and Tannins. For Gut Motility activity Extracts in concentration of 200mg/Kg and 400mg/Kg were studied in three animal models in comparison to Caster Oil and Glaxenna; (a) Gut motility activity in isolated Rat Intestine, (b) Propulsive Gut motility in mice & (c) Laxative activity in Mice. The Gut motility activity was assessed by different parameters depending on respective animal models. Caster Oil and Glaxenna were used as Standard drugs depending on the animal models. Gut motility in the test drug treated animals were found to be significant in all the models. Anthraquinone Glycosides present in the drug is probably responsible for the Gut motility activity.

Antiulcerogenic activity of Saussurea lappa root

by Saumendu Deb Roy

The study was designed to investigate the antiulcer activity of ethyl acetate extract of the Saussurea lappa root... more The study was designed to investigate the antiulcer activity of ethyl acetate extract of the Saussurea lappa root using different models of gastric and duodenal ulceration in rats. Gastric ulcers were induced by oral administration of ethanol, aspirin and by pyloric ligation and duodenal ulcers were induced by oral administration of cysteamine HCl. The extract was administered at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg orally 30 min prior to ulcer induction. Ranitidine (50 mg/kg) was used as a reference standard. The antiulcer activity was accessed by determining and comparing the ulcer index in the test group with that of the standard drug treated group. Gastric volume, total acid and free acid were estimated in the pylorus-ligated rats. Saussurea lappa root (400mg/kg) showed maximum inhibition of gastric acid, free acid and total acid to 53.54%, 52.55% and 30.30%, respectively. The ulcer index in the Saussurea lappa root treated animals was found to be significantly less in all the models compared to standard drug treated cases. The antiulcer activity of Saussurea lappa root was, however, less than that of ranitidine. The results suggest that Saussurea lappa root possesses significant antiulcer property which could be due to cytoprotective action of the drug or strengthening of gastric and duodenal mucosa with the enhancement of mucosal defense.

Prospects, Problems & Approaches To Alternative System Of Medicine: A Review

by Saumendu Deb Roy

There is a trend for synthetics to replace natural compounds in Prescription and Over the Counter (OTC)... more There is a trend for synthetics to replace natural compounds in Prescription and Over the Counter (OTC) Pharmaceuticals. Today, ephedrine, salicylates, vitamins, and xanthines are mostly synthetic and steroids are often semi synthetic. While agreeing with Farnsworth and Bingel (1977) that 25% of modern prescription drugs contain at least one phytochemical, I suspect that only about 10% of our leading drugs (excluding the illicit drugs, cocaine, crack, hashish, heroin, marijuana, and opium) now contain phytochemicals still extracted directly from the higher plants. Due to their long historical clinical use and reliable therapeutic efficacy, traditional Indian medicine attract and increase global attention, and many big pharmaceutical companies are using traditional Indian medicine as an excellent pool for discovering natural bioactive compounds. If only few constituents are emphasized, the holistic nature will be neglected, which needs to be studied and scientifically understood. With the growing need for safer drugs, attention has been drawn to their quality, efficacy and standards of the traditional Indian medicine formulations

Lamoure J., Stovel J. Interactions of Natural Medicines with Psychotropic Medications. Cdn J of CME 2012; 24(1): 22

by Dr. Joel Lamoure

Lamoure J., Stovel J. Interactions of Natural Medicines with Psychotropic Medications. Cdn J of CME 2012; 24(1): 22

Lamoure J., Stovel J. Interactions of Natural Medicines with Psychotropic Medications. Cdn J of CME 2012; 24(1): 22 Lamoure J., Stovel J. Interactions of Natural Medicines with Psychotropic Medications. Cdn J of CME 2012; 24(1): 22

Differentiating Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius through SDS-PAGE analysis.

by Kevin Yap

Yap KY, Yeh JM. Int J Biomed Pharmaceut Sci 2012 Jan; 6(Special Issue 1): 119-122.

Buyer beware? Does the information provided with herbal products available over the counter enable safe use?

by Theo Raynor

BMC Medicine 2011, 9:94doi:10.1186/1741-7015-9-94

Authors: David K Raynor, Rebecca Dickinson, Peter Knapp, Andrew F Long, Donald Nicolson

Background
Herbal products obtained over the counter are commonly used in Europe, North America and Australia.... more Background
Herbal products obtained over the counter are commonly used in Europe, North America and Australia. Although there is concern about a lack of information provided to consumers to allow the safe use of these products, there has been no published research to confirm these fears. In this study, we evaluated written information provided with commonly used herbal products in the UK in advance of a European Union Directive issued in April 2011 that tightened regulations for some herbal products, including requirements to provide safety information.

Methods
Five commonly used herbal products were purchased from pharmacies, health food shops and supermarkets: St John's wort, Asian ginseng, echinacea, garlic and ginkgo. Written information provided with the products (on the package or on a leaflet contained in the package) was evaluated for inclusion of each of the key safety messages included in the monographs of the US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Specifically, we looked for information on precautions (such as Asian ginseng not being suitable for people with diabetes), interactions with conventional medicines (such as St John's wort with the contraceptive pill and warfarin) and side effects (such as ginkgo and allergic reactions).

Results
Our analysis showed that, overall, 51 (75%) of 68 products contained none of the key safety messages. This included 4 of 12 St John's wort products, 12 of 12 ginkgo products, 6 of 7 Asian ginseng products, 20 of 21 garlic products and 9 of 13 echinacea products. The two products purchased that are registered under the new European Union regulations (for St John's wort) contained at least 85% of the safety messages.

Conclusions
Most of the herbal medicine products studied did not provide key safety information which consumers need for their safe use. The new European Union legislation should ensure that St John's wort and echinacea products will include the previously missing information in due course. The legislation does not apply to existing stock. Depending on therapeutic claims made by manufacturers, garlic, ginkgo and Asian ginseng products may not be covered by the legislation and can continue to be bought without the safety information. Also, consumers will still be able to buy products over the internet from locations outside European Union jurisdiction. Potential purchasers need to know, in both the short term and the long term, how to purchase herbal products which provide the information they need for the safe use of these products.

As Use of Herbal Remedies Soars, Patients Taking These and Cardiovascular Medications May be at Heightened Risk of Dangerous, Potentially Life-Threatening Interactions

by Stacy Collins

Published: Mayo Clinic

Long-term effects of a carbohydrate-rich diet on fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and serum insulin values in rural Bengalis

by Dr. Goutam Thakur

Sutapa Mukherjee, Goutam Thakur, Balasubramaniam Dinesh Kumar, Analava Mitra, Chandan Chakraborty,Journal of Diabetes 1: 288–295 (2009)

Background: The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is increasing in rural areas of India, where there is also often a lack... more Background: The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is increasing in rural areas of India, where there is also often a lack of health infrastructure. Thus, a proper dietary study with the view of combating diabetes is essential. The aim of the present study was to determine the long-term effect of a carbohydrate-rich diet in rural Bengal.
Methods: Volunteers (n = 320) were selected from three villages in Kharagpurand were randomly divided into a control and experimental group (n = 160 in each). The design of the study was such that non-significant differences in any of the dependent variables were maintainted prior to the application of control or treatment modes. In the control group, volunteers consumed <70% carbohydrate as part of their diet, whereas in the experimental group carbohydrate consumption was >70%. Blood samples from both groups were collected on yearly basis for 5 years and fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile and serum insulin values were analyzed.
Results: The blood biochemistry profiles were monitored before the start and at the end of the study. The results indicate that increased intake of carbohydrate causes significant increases in FBS (P < 0.05) and serum insulin (P < 0.05), as well as changes in the lipid profile, particularly triglycerides (P < 0.05) and very low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (VLDL-C; P < 0.05).
Conclusions: The effects of increased carbohydrate on FBS, serum insulin,triglycerides and VLDL-C indicate that a proper nutritional policy needs to be implemented for this population of rural, low-income Bengalis.
Keywords: carbohydrate, diet, rural population, Type 2 diabetes.

Effect of flaxseed gum on reduction of blood glucose and cholesterol in type 2 diabetic patients

by Dr. Goutam Thakur

Goutam Thakur, Analava Mitra, Kunal Pal & Derick Rousseau,International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 60(S6): 126-136 (2009)

The effects of ingestion of flaxseed gum on blood glucose and cholesterol, particularly low density lipoprotein... more The effects of ingestion of flaxseed gum on blood glucose and cholesterol, particularly low density lipoprotein cholesterol, in type 2 diabetes were evaluated. Flaxseed gum was incorporated in wheat flour chapattis. Sixty patients of type 2 diabetes were fed a daily diet for 3 months, along with six wheat flour chapattis containing flaxseed gum (5 g), as per the recommendations of the American Diabetic Association. The control group (60 individuals) consumed an identical diet but the chapattis were without gum. The blood biochemistry profiles monitored before starting the study and at monthly intervals showed fasting blood sugar in the experimental group decreased from 154±8 mg/dl to 136±7 mg/dl (P=0.03) while the total cholesterol reduced from 182±11 mg/dl to 163±9 mg/dl (P=0.03). Results showed a decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol from 110±8 mg/dl to 92±9 mg/dl (P=0.02). The study demonstrated the efficacy of flax gum in the blood biochemistry profiles of type 2 diabetes. Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, flaxseed gum, fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein

Some common antidiabetic plants of the Indian subcontinent

by Dr. Goutam Thakur

Goutam Thakur , Kunal Pal , Analava Mitra , Sutapa Mukherjee , Amit Basak , Dérick Rousseau,Food Reviews International, 26 (4):364-685(2010)

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a clinical manifestation characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia, is often ascribed to either... more Diabetes mellitus (DM), a clinical manifestation characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia, is often ascribed to either a defect in insulin secretion, insulin resistance or both. Ayurveda (Indian Traditional Medicinal System) have shown promising results in the treatment of diabetes using various plants and herbs with negligible side effects and cost effective treatment. However, only a limited number of these plants have been explored and scientifically validated for their hypoglycemic effect. This review highlights some of the plants being commonly used in India for their hypoglycaemic effects.