A review on Cressa cretica Linn.: A halophytic plant.
Authors: Priyashree S, Jha S, Pattanayak SP
Abstract
Herbal medicine is used by up to 80% of the population in developing countries. Cressa cretica L. is a popular holophytic plant and is used in folklore medicine for ailments including diabetes, ulcers, asthma, anthelmintic, stomachic, tonic and aphrodisiac purposes, enriches the blood, and is useful in constipation, leprosy, and urinary discharges. The plant is traditionally used in Bahrain as expectorant and antibilious agent. Scientific evidence suggests its versatile biological functions such as its antibacterial, antifungal, antitussive, anticancer w...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Hygrophila spinosa: A comprehensive review.
Authors: Kshirsagar AD, Ingale KG, Vyawahare NS, Thorve VS
Abstract
Hygrophila spinosa T Ander, belonging to the family Acanthaceae, is a promising medicinal plant with great economic potential. The medicinal value of H. spinosa has been appreciated in the ancient medical literature. The plant contains terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, and is traditionally known as an aphrodisiac, renal tonic, and for its health-promoting properties. The plant is cultivated throughout India. However, systematic information on the different aspects of this species is not available. In this review, an attempt has been made ...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Argyreia speciosa (Linn. f.) sweet: A comprehensive review.
Authors: Galani VJ, Patel BG, Patel NB
Abstract
Argyreia speciosa (Linn. f.) Sweet is a popular Indian medicinal plant, which has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic Indian medicine for various diseases. This plant is pharmacologically studied for nootropic, aphrodisiac, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, antiviral, nematicidal, antiulcer, anticonvulsant, analgesic and central nervous depressant activities. A wide range of phytochemical constituents have been isolated from this plant. A comprehensive account of the morphol...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Anethum graveolens: An Indian traditional medicinal herb and spice.
Authors: Jana S, Shekhawat GS
Abstract
Anethum graveolens L. (dill) has been used in ayurvedic medicines since ancient times and it is a popular herb widely used as a spice and also yields essential oil. It is an aromatic and annual herb of apiaceae family. The Ayurvedic uses of dill seeds are carminative, stomachic and diuretic. There are various volatile components of dill seeds and herb; carvone being the predominant odorant of dill seed and α-phellandrene, limonene, dill ether, myristicin are the most important odorants of dill herb. Other compounds isolated from seeds are coumarins, flavonoids, pheno...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
The genus Gelsemium: An update.
Authors: Dutt V, Thakur S, Dhar VJ, Sharma A
Abstract
The review includes 103 references on the genus Gelsemium, and comprises ethnopharmacology, morphology, phytoconstituents, pharmacological reports, clinical studies and toxicology of the prominent species of Gelsemium. Alkaloids and iridoids constitute major classes of phytoconstituents of the genus. Most popular species of the genus are the Asian G. elegans and the two North American related species, G. sempervirens and G. rankinii. Gelsemium species are categorized under medicinal as well as poisonous plants. Amongst various species, G. elegans and G....
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Phytopharmacology of Ficus religiosa.
Authors: Chandrasekar SB, Bhanumathy M, Pawar AT, Somasundaram T
Abstract
Herbs have always been the principal form of medicine in India. Medicinal plants have curative properties due to the presence of various complex chemical substances of different composition, which are found as secondary plant metabolites in one or more parts of these plants. Ficus religiosa (L.), commonly known as pepal belonging to the family Moraceae, is used traditionally as antiulcer, antibacterial, antidiabetic, in the treatment of gonorrhea and skin diseases. F. religiosa is a Bo tree, which sheltered the Buddha as he divined t...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Crocus sativus L.: A comprehensive review.
Authors: Srivastava R, Ahmed H, Dixit RK, Dharamveer, Saraf SA
Abstract
Crocus sativus L. belonging to the family Iridaceae (syn - kesar) comprises the dried red stigma and is widely cultivated in Iran and other countries such as India and Greece. Saffron contains more than 150 volatile and aroma-yielding compounds mainly terpenes, terpene alcohol, and their esters. The bitter taste and an iodoform or hay-like fragrance are caused by chemicals picrocrocin and safranal. C. sativus possesses a number of medicinally important activities such as antihypertensive, anticonvulsant, antitussive, antigenototoxic an...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Salvadora persica.
Authors: Khatak M, Khatak S, Siddqui AA, Vasudeva N, Aggarwal A, Aggarwal P
Abstract
Salvadora persica (kharijal) is a large, well-branched, and evergreen shrub or a tree resembling Salvadora oleoides (meethijal) found in the dry and arid regions of India. Chewing sticks have been used for centuries for tooth cleaning, and are recommended by the World Health Organization in areas where their use is customary. Salvadora persica has enormous reported activities. It has potential medicinal and research activities. Salvadora persica is a promising product and is useful to produce antiplaque, analgesic, anticon...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Chemical constituents of Asparagus.
Authors: Negi JS, Singh P, Joshi GP, Rawat MS, Bisht VK
Abstract
Asparagus species (family Liliaceae) are medicinal plants of temperate Himalayas. They possess a variety of biological properties, such as being antioxidants, immunostimulants, anti-inflammatory, antihepatotoxic, antibacterial, antioxytocic, and reproductive agents. The article briefly reviews the isolated chemical constituents and the biological activities of the plant species. The structural formula of isolated compounds and their distribution in the species studied are also given.
PMID: 22228964 [PubMed] (Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews)
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Flavonoids: A versatile source of anticancer drugs.
Authors: Chahar MK, Sharma N, Dobhal MP, Joshi YC
Abstract
An exponential increase in the number of studies investigating how different components of the diet interact at the molecular and cellular level to determine the fate of a cell has been witnessed. In search for anticancer drugs compelling data from laboratories, epidemiologic investigations, and human clinical trials showed that flavonoids have important effects on cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. In many molecular mechanisms of action for prevention against cancer, flavonoids play a major role by interacting between different types of gene...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Structure pre-requisites for isoflavones as effective antibacterial agents.
Authors: Mukne AP, Viswanathan V, Phadatare AG
Abstract
Recent reports reveal that there is increasing incidence of infections of multidrug-resistant bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Flavonoids and related compounds have been shown to possess potent antimicrobial activities. Most of the flavonoids are considered as constitutive antimicrobial substances recently termed as "Phytoanticipins," especially those belonging to prenylated flavonoids and isoflavones. The current review highlights the structure prerequisites for isoflav...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
α-glucosidase inhibitors from plants: A natural approach to treat diabetes.
Authors: Kumar S, Narwal S, Kumar V, Prakash O
Abstract
Diabetes is a common metabolic disease characterized by abnormally high plasma glucose levels, leading to major complications, such as diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular diseases. One of the effective managements of diabetes mellitus, in particular, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) to decrease postprandial hyperglycemia, is to retard the absorption of glucose by inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes, such as α-glucosidase and α-amylase, in the digestive organs. α-Glucosidase is the key enzyme catalyzing the...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Role of natural herbs in the treatment of hypertension.
Authors: Tabassum N, Ahmad F
Abstract
Hypertension (HTN) is the medical term for high blood pressure. It is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries), besides increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. HTN can also lead to other conditions such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness. Conventional antihypertensives are usually associated with many side effects. About 75 to 80% of the world population use herbal medicines, mainly in developing countries, for primary health care because of their better acceptability ...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Phytoestrogens in postmenopausal indications: A theoretical perspective.
Authors: Sunita P, Pattanayak SP
Abstract
This review discusses plant-derived compounds with estrogenic activity. The authors rightly emphasize the need for the intake of foods containing phytoestrogens in view of their positive effects on postmenopausal indications. This is particularly significant in the light of the current wave of enthusiasm for vegetarian food, in general, and phytoestrogens, in particular. Phytoestrogens are plant-derived hormone-like diphenolic compounds of dietary origin. These compounds are weakly estrogenic and could play a role in the prevention of other estrogen-related conditi...
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
Novel approaches for stability improvement in natural medicines.
This article deals with the stability problems and is aimed to provide some tools and techniques to increase stability of natural medicines and herbal formulations.
PMID: 22096318 [PubMed] (Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews)
Source: Pharmacognosy Reviews - November 25, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Pharmacogn Rev Source Type: research
