Ethno-pharmacology of Asaroon (Asarum europaeum L.) with special reference to Unani System of Medicine

Author(s):  
MD Maseehullah ◽  
Mohammad Zakir ◽  
Mohd Anas ◽  
Munawwar Husain Kazmi

Abstract Asaroon is the rhizome of Asarum europaeum L. and is commonly used in Unani medicines for its various pharmacological actions. It is an evergreen plant with glossy foliage. It belongs to the family of Aristolochiaceae and is native to Europe and the United State of America. Some species of Asaroon have been found in the Eastern Himalayan region. Asaroon has actions like Muharrik-i-A‘sab (nervine stimulant), Mudirr-i-Bawl (diuretics), Mudirr-i-Hayd (emmenagogue), Musakkin-i-Alam (analgesic), Mufattit-i-sudad (remove obstructions) and Muqawwī-i-Jigar (hepatotonic), etc. It is used in the management of Hummā (fevers), Waja 'al-Mafasil (polyarthritis), Sara (epilepsy), Falij (paralysis), Ihtibās al-Tamth (amenorrhea) and Niqris (gout), etc. as per the Unani system of medicine (USM). It is used as a single herb as well as with a combination of other drugs to manage many diseases. The A. europaeum L. contains volatile oils and flavonoids along with other secondary metabolites. In the Indian market, Valeriana wallichii DC has been sold as Tagar but in some cases, it is sold as Asaroon. It is a clear case of adulteration by replacement of costly foreign drugs with a similar-looking indigenous drug. In this manuscript, we have discussed the Ethno-pharmacology of the A. europaeum L. with special reference to USM and basic differences with V. wallichii DC to show that both drugs are different and their actions and uses are also different from each other.

2020 ◽  
pp. 171-174
Author(s):  
Ashwini Kumar Dixit ◽  
Mery Aradhna Kerketta

This article reports the occurrence of the thalloid liverwort Cyathodium denticulatum Udar et Srivastava was collected first time from the Achanakmar – Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve (AABR) Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. It is shown that Cyathodium denticulatum a narrow Himalayan endemic has been reported earlier from Darjeeling, India. There is no record of its occurrence from central India. Cyathodium denticulatum is a rare species known only from eastern Himalayan region. A key to related Indian taxa and taxonomic description is provided.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shabana Bibi ◽  
Ayesha Sarfraz ◽  
Ghazala Mustafa ◽  
Zeeshan Ahmed ◽  
Muhammad Aurang Zeb ◽  
...  

Background: Coronavirus Disease-2019 belongs to the family of viruses which cause a serious pneumonia along with fever, breathing issues and infection of lungs for the first time in China and later spread worldwide. Objective: Several studies and clinical trials have been conducted to identify potential drugs and vaccines for Coronavirus Disease-2019. The present study listed natural secondary metabolites identified from plant sources with antiviral properties and could be safer and tolerable treatment for Coronavirus Disease-2019. Methods: A comprehensive search on the reported studies was conducted using different search engine such as Google scholar, SciFinder, Sciencedirect, Medline PubMed, and Scopus for the collection of research articles based on plantderived secondary metabolites, herbal extracts, and traditional medicine for coronavirus infections. Results: Status of COVID-19 worldwide and information of important molecular targets involved in COVID-19 is described and through literature search, is highlighted that numerous plant species and their extracts possess antiviral properties and studied with respect to Coronavirus treatments. Chemical information, plant source, test system type with mechanism of action for each secondary metabolite is also mentioned in this review paper. Conclusion: The present review has listed plants that have presented antiviral potential in the previous coronavirus pandemics and their secondary metabolites which could be significant for the development of novel and a safer drug which could prevent and cure coronavirus infection worldwide.


Author(s):  
Archana Elamkulam Ravindran ◽  
John Ernest Thoppil

Objective: Aglaia malabarica is an unexplored endemic forest tree belonging to the family Meliaceae. The present study was conducted to screen the phytochemical constituents of the leaf extract, to analyze the important secondary metabolites and to determine the antibacterial efficacy of the plant extract.Methods: Antibacterial activity was studied using agar based disc diffusion method. Four strains of bacteria were used for the antibacterial study that includes Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosae, Proteus vulgaris and Bacillus megaterium.Results: The presence of constituents like, carbohydrates, proteins, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids and steroids were confirmed. Saponin was found to be absent. The secondary metabolites quantified were terpenoids, phenols and flavanoids, which were found in considerable amounts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of all the bacteria studied was found to be 500 µg methanolic leaf extract.Conclusion: The plant extract was found to be highly potent against both the Gram positive and Gram negative strains and this property may be attributed to the potent phytochemicals revealed in the extract.


Author(s):  
Dayana Figueiredo Abdalla ◽  
Indiara Nunes Mesquita Ferreira ◽  
Moemy Gomes de Moraes ◽  
Eli Regina Barboza de Souza

Hancornia speciosa Gomes, known as mangaba or mangabeira, is a plant species of the family Apocynaceae with botanical varieties occurring in several regions of Brazil. The species is of considerable ecological and economic importance in the food, timber, latex and medicinal industries. Four different varieties of H. speciosa occur in Cerrado. Anatomical characteristics contribute to the taxonomic identification of plants, including those of isolated organs such as leaves, roots, stems, fruits and seeds. Thus, the present work investigated the anatomical characteristics and the location of the main classes of secondary metabolites of the fruits of H. speciosa var. pubescens, H. speciosa var. gardneri, H. speciosa var. speciosa and H. speciosa var. cuyabensis to assist in distinguishing the varieties. Fruits were collected, preserved and fixed following usual methods for anatomical and histochemical analyses. All varieties under study showed similarities in anatomical characteristics and in the distribution of metabolites in the fruits, with the exception of the anatomy of the exocarp, where the occurrence of trichomes differed among the varieties of H. speciosa.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veilumuthu P ◽  
Nagarajan T ◽  
Sasikumar S ◽  
Siva R ◽  
J Godwin Christopher

Abstract Streptomyces species is one among the dominant group of bacteria in the family Actinobacteria with a rich repertoire of secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity and plant growth promotor have been isolated from various Streptomyces sp. Here in this investigation, we present the draft genome of a new species, Streptomyces sp. VITGV156 isolated from healthy tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum) which has some rare antimicrobial secondary metabolites, like coelichelin, fluostatins, vicenistatin, nystatin, sipanmycin, and informatipeptin. The genome is 8.18 Mb in size with 6,259 protein coding genes. The average GC content of the genome is 72.61 %. Preliminary analysis with antiSMASH 6.0 revealed the presence of 29 biosynthetic gene clusters for the synthesis of potential secondary metabolites. These includes 4 NRPS (non – ribosomal peptide synthetase), 7 PKS (Polyketide Synthases), 2 RiPP (Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides) clusters. When we look into genes associated with secondary metabolites, 406 genes are present which includes 184 genes for cofactor and vitamins, 72 genes for terpenoids and polyketides, 70 genes for xenobiotics and 80 genes for other metabolites are present. Comparative genome analysis of VITGV156 with its closest neighbor Streptomyces luteus strain TRM45540 revealed ANI 91.22% and dDDH value 44.00%.


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