Volume1,Issue1

Turnera aphrodisiaca Ward (family Turneraceae) is reputed as an aphrodisiac throughout the world. Despite a long tradition of use as an aphrodisiac, no systematic work has ever been carried out on this plant to validate its traditional use. In the present investigation, various extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water), alkaloidal fraction, and volatile oil of T. aphrodisiaca were screened for aphrodisiac activity in mice. Mounting behaviour was taken as a parameter to screen aphrodisiac activity. Chloroform extract exhibited significant activity at a dose of 200 mg/kg, p.o. while methanol extract showed aphrodisiac activity at a lower dose, i.e., 50 mg/kg, p.o.. Volatile oil of T. aphrodisiaca was found to be devoid of aphrodisiac activity. Qualitative phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids in chloroform and methanol extracts. Therefore, the alkaloidal fraction was isolated from aerial parts of T. aphrodisiaca, and tested for aphrodisiac activity at dose levels of 25, 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg, p.o. A dose dependent increase in activity was observed upon acute as well as subacute administration of alkaloidal fraction.

Ichnocarpus frutescens leaf, stem and root were investigated for it’s physicochemical and phytochemical screening. Ash value (total ash, acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash) Extractive value (alcohol extractive value and water extractive value), total carbohydrate, protein, tannin and phenol contents were studied dry weight. Ash content analysis was showed that the higher percentage of ash content in stem portion (8%). Alcoholic extractive value was also found higher in leaf (19.2%) and water extractive value higher in stem (19.2%). Total carbohydrate percentage was found higher in leaf (3.58%). However, protein, tannin and phenol content were found higher in stem portion (3.12%, 5.94%, 8.03% respectively) of the plant. Preliminary phytochemical analysis test showed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, phenols, phytosterol, tannins and absence of alkaloids and saponins.

Euphorbia neriifolia (Linn) family Euphorbiaceae, commonly known as Milk Hedge. In this paper we have determined the immunomodulatory activity of 70 % v/v hydro-alcoholic extract of dried leaves of Euphorbia neriifolia by oral administration at dose of 400 mg/kg/day of body weight to healthy albino rats divided into four groups consisting of six animals each. The assessment of immunomodulatory activity was done by testing the survival rate of rats against abdominal sepsis caused by E. coli, determination of hematological parameters, phagocytic index determined by carbon clearance method and humoral immune responses determined by haemagglutination antibody titre method and cellular immune responses determined by footpad swelling method. The hydro-alcoholic extract of Euphorbia neriifolia have to possess significant protection against E. coli induced abdominal sepsis, significant increase in total leucocyte count, differential leucocyte count and phagocytic index were determined. It remarkably potentiates haemagglutination antibody titre and cell mediated immunity by facilitating the footpad thickness response in normal and Betamethasone induced immunosuppressed rats.

Nyctanthes arbortristis Linn. belonging to family Oleaceae is a well known medicinal plant.The stem bark extracts of the plant were tested for their in vitro antimicrobial activity by cup plate method. The test organisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The zone of inhibition and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extracts were determined and compared with the standard drugs ciprofloxacin and fluconazole. The chloroform extract was found to have both antibacterial and antifungal activity whereas the petroleum ether and ethanol extracts possess only antibacterial activity.

This study was intended to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of different extracts of Hibiscus tiliaceus (Malvaceae). No acute toxicity was observed in mice after oral administration of the methanolic, petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of Hibiscus tiliaceus leaves at the dose of 5 g/kg. The antinociceptive investigations were carried out against two types of noxious stimuli, chemical (acetic acid-induced writhing) and thermal (hotplate and tail immersion tests). The different leaves extracts of Hibiscus tiliaceus (250 and 500 mg/kg, orally) possess a significant anti-inflammatory activity on carragennan-induced paw edema in rat at the second and third hour. All the extracts significantly inhibited the acetic acid induced abdominal contractions in mice in order methanolic >chloroform>petroleum ether extract. The extracts showed the significant antinociceptive activity at dose of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg (p<0.01) at 60 min after extracts administration.