Journal of Medicinal Herbs
Volume:13 Issue: 2, Summer 2022

Curcuma caesia Roxb., commonly known as “Black turmeric” is a perennial rhizomatous critically endangered herb available in Northeast, Central, and Southern India. The plant possesses various medicinal properties and remains an untouched plant among researchers and growers.

Experimental:

  In the current review keywords including black turmeric and medicinal properties, black turmeric and phytochemical, black turmeric and pharmacological application were searched in scientific websites such as PubMed, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar regarding plant description, distribution, chemical composition, and pharmacological investigation of black turmeric (Curcuma caesia Roxb.)

 The plant with bioactive compounds in form of carotenoids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenolics, terpenoids, coumarins, anthraquinones, etc. possess antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-asthmatic, smooth muscle relaxant, anxiolytic, bronchodilating, anti-convulsant, CNS depressant, locomotor depressant, anthelmintic, anti-bacterial anti-fungal, and anti-mutagenic activities. The potentiality of the rhizome as an antiviral agent against coronavirus has also been justified and under trial.

Recommended applications/industries: 

 This review focuses on the description, phytochemical, and pharmacological investigation of the herb to explore its potentiality as an important medicinal plant with special emphasis on its preservation and cultivation among the growers.

A tumor is merely a mass of tissue that does not perform any physiological function; it can be either benign or malignant. Cancer is being regarded as a malignant ailment emerging from unrestricted cell division occurring in the body to make mass of tissues. Spondias mombin L.  (Family- Anacardiaceae) grows in coastal areas and in the rain forest into a big tree of up to 15 – 22 m. This study investigated the efficacy of S. mombin aqueous and n-hexane extracts in chemically induced tumor-bearing animals.

Experimental: 

 Twenty-eight (28) healthy rats were used and grouped into seven (7). Six groups were induced with trichloroacetic acid and ethidium bromide leaving out normal control group for 28 days prior to treatments. LBH589 (standard anticancer drug, 500 mg/kg) served as positive control. At the termination of the experiments, the animals were sacrificed; solid tumor volume was determined, blood and tissue samples were collected for hematology and histopathology respectively.

The results showed very significant reduction in the solid tumour volumes of S. mombin leaves extracts treated groups compared to positive and untreated control groups. The result of hematological parameters showed that the hemoglobin content, red blood cell and white blood cell counts of all treated groups were near to normal control group. Normal histological features were observed in control group animals, the negative groups showed the manifestations of cancer, all the treatment groups showed significant levels of repair almost similar to normal features in control group particularly in intestines and lungs of the experimental animals.

Recommended applications/industries:

 The present data provided substantial evidence that S. mombin leaves suppressed tumor growth in experimental animals and suggested that the extracts are potential antitumorigenic agent inhibiting chemically induced lung and intestinal tumors.

Medicinal plants have served as the primary constituents of traditional healthcare methods. Such plants have served mankind since primordial times. But such traditional knowledge is lacking conservation and promotion in present times. Documentation of such traditional knowledge can serve as safeguards for the conservation of such knowledge. The study primarily aims at the documentation of locally abundant medicinal plants available in the Kapilvastu district of Southern Nepal.

Experimental:

 Data on medicinal plants regarding their local name, parts used along with their usage were collected through a questionnaire survey with a total of n=54 individuals of the locality. Excel software was used to analyze the pooled data and results were demonstrated in tables, charts, and graphs. Google Scholar and Researchgate were assessed for secondary data collection.

A total of 50 plant species from 46 genera representing 30 families used for curing 55 types of diseases were identified in the study area. Family Fabaceae was reported with the maximum number of species used (n=6). Trees (n=26) was the major used life form and leaf was the most frequently used (n=28) in terms of parts used.

Recommended applications/industries:

 This study serves as a future basis for research promotion, resource production, policy formulation, and protection of these highly valuable plants. The paper will also be useful for those looking for traditional remedial measures using locally available plants in Kapilvastu district, and also will serve as informational bank for homeopathy-based curative measures.

Lavandula officinalis is one of great importance due to its aromatic compounds and medicinal uses but not many studies have been done on the antioxidant power of different plant organs.

Experimental: 

Antioxidant ability of Lavender leaves, flowers, seeds and essential oil based on inhibition of free radicals and nitric oxide, inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation by ferric thiocyanate and inhibition of malondialdehyde by thiobarbituric acid in compare with synthetic antioxidants Butyl Hydroxy Toluene (BHT) and Butyl Hydroxy Anisole (BHA) were measured.

The phenolic and flavonoid content of the leaf was 96.49±6.35 (µg gallic acid per mg dry weight of the extract) and 39.97±3.36 (µg of catechins per mg dry weight of the extract) respectively, more than other samples. In the study of antioxidant power, plant leaf extract with 48.66±5.5 μg was able to inhibit 50% of DPPH radicals, which had a weaker ability than synthetic antioxidants. The leaf extract of the plant had a higher ability than the synthetic antioxidant BHA to inhibit nitric oxide radicals and its ability was as high as BHT. The ability to inhibit the linoleic acid peroxidation of leaf and flower extracts at the beginning of the functional test showed similar BHT and BHA, at the end, the ability of leaf extract was stronger than BHA and weaker than BHT. The inhibitory potential of malondialdehyde leaf extract (82.66±1.5%) was better than BHA and weaker than BHT. Pearson correlation coefficients between phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of samples were high. Examination of leaf essential oil using GC-MS technique showed the presence of phenolic compounds in the plant.

Recommended applications/industries: 

Due to the dangers of synthetic antioxidants in the food industry, the results of this study could introduce another application of this plant in terms of strong antioxidant properties.

Osteoporosis is an increasing medical threat which is referred to as a systemic skeletal disorder that is characterized mainly by low bone mass and microarchitectural wear of bone tissue and strength, which eventually results in an increase in the fragility of bone and makes bone to be susceptible to fracture. Osteoporosis is known globally as a severe health problem affecting approximately 200 million people worldwide. Therefore, a pharmacological solution is urgently needed. Studies have shown that farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase is a crucial enzyme in the mevalonate pathway that causes bone resorption, thus serving as a key pharmacological target.

Experimental: 

Gongronema latifolium’s (Benth) phytoconstituents were screened against the mevalonate pathway enzyme farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase computationally using molecular docking, pharmacokinetics screening and Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area approach to identify compounds with the better inhibitorypotentials against this target in this study.

The study resulted that five compounds; hyperoside, rutin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, kaempferol-3-arabinoside, and isoquercetin show a better inhibitory potential by binding to the active site of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase compared with a co-crystalized ligand. These hit compounds were further subjected to pharmacokinetics studies to predict their drug-likeness and toxicity characteristics which show that all hit compounds except Rutin are drug-like leaving Kaempferol-3-Arabinoside as the most drug-like hit compound compared to the co-crystallized ligand.

Recommended applications/industries:

 This study suggests that G. latifolium leaf could be a good plant source for a drug-like compound that may treat osteoporosis by inhibiting the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, in the mevalonate pathway, thereby stopping bone resorption.

 This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Allium cepa on the atherogenic, serum biochemical, and hematologic indices in Wistar rats administered KBrO3.

Experimental:

 Forty male rats assigned into 8 groups (n=5) in which groups A, B, C, D, and E received distilled water (2 mL), KBrO3 (50 mg/kg), quercetin 70 mg/kg, aqueous extract of Allium cepa (AEAC) at 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, respectively. Groups F, G, and H received KBrO3 with AEAC at 150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and quercetin, respectively, on alternate days for 3 months.

 The phytochemical analysis of the AEAC revealed the presence and absence of some phytochemical constituents. The Acute toxicity result indicated that AEAC has an LD50 above 5000mg/kg. KBrO3 caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the haematological parameters relative to the control but administration of KBrO3 with AEAC or quercetin improved the parameters. KBrO3 caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in the levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), but significantly (P<0.05) lower level of HDL-C. Treatment with KBrO3 and AEAC or quercetin significantly (P<0.05) abrogated these KBrO3-induced alterations. Similar ameliorative effects of AEAC were found in KBrO3-induced alterations in atherogenic indices, such as Castelli's Risk Index I (CRI-1), Castelli's Risk Index II (CRI-II), Atherogenic Coefficient (AC), and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) indices relative to the control.

Recommended applications/industries:

 According to the present results, AEAC showed amelioration against KBrO3-induced derangement in the haematological, lipid, and atherogenic indices and it might be helpful in the management of cardiovascular problems.

 Tendon is the connective tissue between bone and muscle. Because of poor blood flow and the possibility of adhesions during repair, tendon injury management is particularlyimportant.Therefore, finding a quick way to repair tendon tissue is one of the targets that has been pursued over the years.

Experimental:

 In this study, 24 male rats were divided into 4 groups, including first group without any treatment, second group receiving dexamethasone (1mg/kg), third group receiving 250 mg/kg Viola odorata and Pistacia atlantica extract, fourth group receiving 500 mg/kg and Pistacia atlantica and Viola odorata extract. After anesthesia of rat acute tendonitis developed. Al the mentioned groups were injected subcutaneously on bigining day, 7 and 21 days after surgery and histopathological evaluation was performed on day 21.

 The results showed no statistical significance in the number of fibroblasts between different groups. However, dexamethasone groups and the one receiving 500 mg/kg of extract differed significantly from the control group in terms of inflammation and bleeding. Furthermore, the number of fibrocytes in the groups receiving 500 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg doses of Viola odorata and Pistacia atlantica extracts was significantly different from the control and dexamethasone groups (P <0.05).

Recommended applications/industries: 

According to the results, the amount of collagen and fibrocytes in the group treated with 500 mg/kg had a significant difference, compared to other groups, probably due to the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of Viola odorata and Pistacia atlantica. They can be used in traditional medicine along with other medicines.

 Dryopteris filix-mas (D. filix-mas) is used among the Southern Nigerian populace in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, treatment of wounds, worm infestations, among other diseases. We evaluated the 6 months chronic exposure effects of its ethanol leaf extract in Wistar rat.

Experimental:

 A total of 48 rats were randomized into four groups of 12 each as follows; group A (control) and the test groups B-D received 31.25, 62.5 and 125 mg/kg of the leaf extract, respectively. Blood samples were collected via retro-orbital puncture for baseline determination of haematological and biochemical parameters. Thereafter, rats were dosed orally (p.o) for 180 days (6 months) and blood samples were collected for the determination of haematological, biochemical parameters on the 181st day. Liver and kidneys were harvested for histopathology analyses. A 28 - day recovery study was also conducted to determine reversibility in toxicological effects.

 There was no significant alteration (P>0.05) in heamatological, lipid profile and electrolyte parameters as well as body weight gain and relative organ weights of animals that were exposed to the extract when compared with control group. However, there was significant (P<0.005) reductions in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as well as elevation in urea and creatinine levels of extract treated groups. Histological sections did not reveal toxicity of liver architecture on day 181st, except dose dependent kidney toxicity, which was reversed following the recovery study.