Volume3,Issue2

In the present study, the ethanolic extracts of Artemisia abrotanum and Artemisia pallens were screened for their antibacterial activity against gram positive organisms such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Micrococcus luteus and gram negative organisms such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas cepacia and Salmonella typhi. These extracts were also assessed for their antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Trichosporon beigelii. The antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts of Artemisia abrotanum and Artemisia pallens were evaluated by cup plate method using different dilutions such as 10 mg/ml, 20 mg/ml and 30 mg/ml. These extracts showed maximum activity at 30mg/ml. Among the strains, the maximum zone of inhibition was noted against Pseudomonas cepacia (28.6mm) and Bacillus stearothermophilus (27.6mm) by Artemisia abrotanum and Artemisia pallens respectively. Both the plants extract showed the maximum antifungal activity against Trichosporon beigelii (17mm). Similarly Artemisia abrotanum was effective against Saccharomyces cerevisiae (17mm). These results indicate that the ethanolic extracts of Artemisia abrotanum and Artemisia pallens shown both antibacterial and antifungal activity

The present study was performed with the objective of dose determination and evaluation of Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic activity of the Ethanolic extracts of Inularacemosa root and Albiziaamara. The dose determination studies were carried out according to OECD guidelines and the safe dose determined was 2000 mg/kg. Hence, 200 mg/kg was given for the models for anti-inflammatory (carrageenan induced paw edema) and analgesic (hot plate) activity. The percentage reduction in paw volume observed against Carrageenan induced paw oedema for Inula was found to be 34 % whereas in Albizia it was15 %. In hot plate method, the percentage inhibition was 42% and 61.91% respectively.The data were found statistically significant by using one way ANOVA (P< 0.05).Thus, both the Extracts were able to show anti-inflammatory & analgesic activity as compared with standard drug Aspirin 100 mg/kg. But the effect of Albiziaamara extract was more statistically significant compared to extracts of Inularacemosa.

Indian sub-continent is rich in a variety of flora and also considered to be the home of many medically important plant species. Weeds are part of the flora that varies in density of the species in different areas and in different conditions. Considering the importance of the weed Lantana aculeata and its multivarious applicability in Ayurvedic medicine, it is felt that a thorough analysis of various stages (young and mature root) of the plant species is worthwhile, which deals with their evaluation of microscopic, cellular composition, tissue organization and cell inclusions. Such a study may enable one to identify the taxon in any fragmentary form of its parts. Under a situation when incomplete sterile samples are to be identified, one has naturally resort to the histological analysis of the samples by employing certain special techniques, which have been in vogue in the filed of Pharmacognosy. Botanical microtechniques have been playing a role par excellence not only in Pharmacognosy but also in Forensic Sciences and other related fields of investigations. Having apprehended its worth, this section is devoted to the pharmacognostic analysis of Lantana aculeata roots (young and mature) and to propose a protocol of anatomical features for diagnosing and distinguishing from its adulterants.

The present study was comparative of phytochemical analysis in Withania somnifera and Withania obtusifolia. The Withania root powder extract with absolute alcohol, the phytochemical compound screened by qualitative and GC-MS method. In the GC-MS analysis, 24 bioactive phytechemical compounds were identified in W.obtusifolia, but in the case W.somnifera 21 bioactive compounds were detected. These two Withania species having morphology and anatomically slightly differ but the phytochemical are different in these two species.

Alcoholic and aqueous extracts from the leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus (Family- Lumiaceae) were investigated for their anthelmintic activity against adult Indian earthworms Pheretima posthuma and Ascardia galli. Various concentrations (10-100 mg/ml) of each extract were tested in the bioassay, which involved determination of time of paralysis and time of death of the worms. Piperazine citrate (10 mg/ml) was included as standard reference and distilled water as control group. Both the extracts elicited significant anthelmintic activity at highest concentration of 100 mg/ml which was comparable to that of standard drug. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were investigated in alcoholic and aqueous extracts of leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus.