Search for antisickling agents from plants.
Authors: Dash BP, Archana Y, Satapathy N, Naik SK
Abstract
The sickle cell disease is fatal in nature. Thousands of children are dying off due to this health problem throughout the globe. Due to the rapid development of diagnosis and clinical managements such patients are living up to a respectable age. But as there is no permanent cure the patients are suffering from bone and joint pain, jaundice, hepato-splenomegaly, chronic infections etc. The main physiological complicacy is due to the polymerization of sickle hemoglobin (HbS), (sickling process) inside the red blood cell (RBC) of these patients during...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
An overview on saffron, phytochemicals, and medicinal properties.
Authors: Gohari AR, Saeidnia S, Mahmoodabadi MK
Abstract
Saffron is the most valuable medicinal food product because of its importance in Iran's agricultural economy. The dried stigmas of the plant Crocus sativus (Iridaceae) are processing to produce saffron as a well-known spice which has some other importance in pharmaceutics, cosmetics, perfumery, and textile dye-producing industries. Recently, reports about the pharmacological activity of this plant increase its importance in the world. The world's annual saffron production is estimated around 300 tons per year (Iran produces 76% of total) and also saf...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Trema orientalis Linn. Blume: A potential for prospecting for drugs for various uses.
This article is aimed at providing comprehensive information on the medicinal uses, biology, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological data available on T. orientalis. This has been done to explore its therapeutic potential for future research opportunities. This review was compiled with information obtained from databases such as Medline, Elsevier, Springer, Science Direct, Pubmed, Google Scholar, and a library search for articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Compounds present in the plant include tannins, saponins, flavanoids, triterpenes, phytosterols, and several constituents of xanthones. Some pharmacolo...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Phytochemistry and medicinal properties of Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl. extracts.
Authors: Altaf R, Asmawi MZ, Dewa A, Sadikun A, Umar MI
Abstract
Phaleria macrocarpa, commonly known as Mahkota dewa is a medicinal plant that is indigenous to Indonesia and Malaysia. Extracts of P. macrocarpa have been used since years in traditional medicine that are evaluated scientifically as well. The extracts are reported for a number of valuable medicinal properties such as anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant and vasorelaxant effect. The constituents isolated from different parts of P. macrocarpa include Phalerin, gallic acid,...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Plants and phytochemicals for Huntington's disease.
Authors: Choudhary S, Kumar P, Malik J
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive motor dysfunction, including chorea and dystonia, emotional disturbances, memory, and weight loss. The medium spiny neurons of striatum and cortex are mainly effected in HD. Various hypotheses, including molecular genetics, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, metabolic dysfunction, and mitochondrial impairment have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of neuronal dysfunction and cell death. Despite no treatment is available to fully stop the progression of the disease, t...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Rasayans and non-rasayans herbs: Future immunodrug - Targets.
Authors: Doshi GM, Une HD, Shanbhag PP
Abstract
Ayurvedic therapeutics describes vast number of medicinal herbs used as "Vyadhirodhak Chamatav" that has enlightened the application of herbs used as corner stone in various diseases especially those modulating the immune system. Ayurveda literature comprises of rasayana and non-rasayana herbs. Materia Medica entirely enriched with enormous data of rasayana medicinal herbs acting as immunomodulators in existence. However, as such there is no specific review of literature available for non-Rasayana herbs that have immense potential as immunomodulators. This re...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
In vitro techniques to assess the proficiency of skin care cosmetic formulations.
Authors: Roy A, Sahu RK, Matlam M, Deshmukh VK, Dwivedi J, Jha AK
Abstract
Cosmetics comprising either natural or synthetic components are used almost regularly and universally in different forms to enhance the beauty. The utmost disclosure of human membrane to sunlight and environmental pollution results in the exhibition of free radical, that react with deoxyribonucleic acid, proteins and fatty acids, causation oxidative destruction dysfunction of the antioxidant system. In skin, the formation of reactive oxygen species leads to skin diseases, predominantly cutaneous malignancies, immunosuppression, wrin...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Natural proteins: Sources, isolation, characterization and applications.
Authors: Nehete JY, Bhambar RS, Narkhede MR, Gawali SR
Abstract
Worldwide, plant protein contributes substantially as a food resource because it contains essential amino acids for meeting human physiological requirements. However, many versatile plant proteins are used as medicinal agents as they are produced by using molecular tools of biotechnology. Proteins can be obtained from plants, animals and microorganism cells. The abundant economical proteins can be obtained from plant seeds. These natural proteins are obtained by isolation procedures depending on the physicochemical properties of proteins. Isol...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Thymoquinone in the clinical treatment of cancer: Fact or fiction?
Authors: Abukhader MM
Abstract
Thymoquinone (TQ) is the bioactive phytochemical constituent of the seeds oil of Nigella sativa. In vitro and in vivo research has thoroughly investigated the anticancer effects of TQ against several cancer cell lines and animal models. As a result, a considerable amount of information has been generated from research thus providing a better understanding of the anti-proliferating activity of this compound. Therefore, it is appropriate that TQ should move from testing on the bench to clinical experiments. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential of TQ as an an...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Cholinesterase inhibitors from botanicals.
Authors: Ahmed F, Ghalib RM, Sasikala P, Ahmed KK
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, wherein a progressive loss of cholinergic synapses occurs in hippocampus and neocortex. Decreased concentration of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh), appears to be critical element in the development of dementia, and the most appropriate therapeutic approach to treat AD and other form of dementia is to restore acetylcholine levels by inhibiting both major form of cholinesterase: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Consequently, researches have foc...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Oleandrin: A cardiac glycosides with potent cytotoxicity.
Authors: Kumar A, De T, Mishra A, Mishra AK
Abstract
Cardiac glycosides are used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and arrhythmia. Current trend shows use of some cardiac glycosides in the treatment of proliferative diseases, which includes cancer. Nerium oleander L. is an important Chinese folk medicine having well proven cardio protective and cytotoxic effect. Oleandrin (a toxic cardiac glycoside of N. oleander L.) inhibits the activity of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B chain (NF-κB) in various cultured cell lines (U937, CaOV3, human epithelial cells and T cells) as ...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Onosma L.: A review of phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology.
Authors: Kumar N, Kumar R, Kishore K
Abstract
The genus Onosma L. (Boraginaceae) includes about 150 species distributed world-wide in which only about 75 plants has been described for its morphology and less than 10 plants for their chemical constituents and clinical potential. The phytochemical reports of this genus revels that it comprise mainly aliphatic ketones, lipids, naphthazarins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, naphthoquinones, flavones while most important are shikonins and onosmins. The plants are traditionally used as laxative, anthelmintic and for alexipharmic effects. The plants are also equal...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Camellia sinensis (Tea): Implications and role in preventing dental decay.
This article outlines the possible role of these compounds coupled with the presence of high fluoride content in tea to exhibit an anticariogenic effect.
PMID: 24347923 [PubMed] (Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews)
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Review on Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. (Koṭṭaikkarantai).
Authors: Ramachandran S
Abstract
Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. is from the aroma family Asteraceae. It is also known with other synonyms such as Munditika, Mundi, Shravana, Bhikshu, Tapodhana, Mahashravani, Shravanahva, Shravanashirshaka. It is abundantly distributed in damp areas in plains and also as a weed in the rice fields. In the Indian system of medicine, the plant as a whole plant or its different anatomical parts viz., leaf, stem, bark, root, flower and seed are widely used for curing many diseases. The plant is bitter, stomachic, restorative, alterative, pectoral, demulcent and externally soothing. ...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Biological activities and chemical constituents of some mangrove species from Sundarban estuary: An overview.
Authors: Simlai A, Roy A
Abstract
This review represents the studies performed on some beneficial mangrove plants such as Ceriops decandra, Xylocarpus granatum, Xylocarpus moluccensis, Excoecaria agallocha, Sarcolobus globosus, Sonneratia caseolaris and Acanthus ilicifolius from the Sundarban estuary spanning India and Bangladesh with regard to their biological activities and chemical investigations till date. Sundarban is the largest single chunk of mangrove forest in the world. The forest is a source of livelihood to numerous people of the region. Several of its plant species have very large applications...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
