Review on Camptothecin Producing Medicinal Plant: Nothapodytes Nimmoniana

Nothapodytes nimmoniana is an endangered medicinal plant widely distributed throughout the Western Ghats of India. The plant contains camptothecin (CPT) which is renowned anticancer drugs. Though, CPT found in many plant species but maximum amount of CPT has been reported from N. nimmoniana. Due to very good source of CPT, this plant has been explored for its Phytochemical, Biotechnological and Pharmacological aspects. Looking to the huge global demand for CPT, overexploitation of N. nimmoniana, unplanned deforestation, and lowest production of CPT from intact plant, reduction of seed germination, high market cost and not have economically feasible process of production has optimistic us to investigate this plant in a systematic manner. The proposed article can be utilized for the establishment of extraction methods and analytical protocol for CPT. Also, Bioreactors production of CPT using high yielding cell line of N. nimmoniana. The pharmacological data will be applicable for discovery of new Drug and development lead to novel compounds which are safe and effective.

Exploring the phyto- and physicochemical evaluation, fluorescence characteristics, and antioxidant activities of Acacia ferruginea Dc: an endangered medicinal plant

Background Herbal plants are potent in curing various ailments of ancient times as they have comparatively lesser side effects. The demands for natural drugs, mostly from plant sources, are increasing over the past few decades. Because of their potent antioxidant activity, Acacia species are used to treat a variety of diseases. One of the species Acacia ferruginea, an endangered medicinal plant, is widely used in the traditional medicine system, and it is considered that standardization would be beneficial. The present study investigates the physicochemical parameters, preliminary phytochemical screening, trace metals by SEM–EDS, and fluorescence properties of various extracts (non-polar to polar) of leaf and bark parts. Standard spectrophotometric methods (UV–Vis, FT-IR, fluorescence spectroscopy) are employed to analyze the functional groups, and the DPPH and total antioxidant methods are used to assess antioxidant potential. Results The ethyl acetate extract of leaves and ethanol extract of the bark are found to be the highest in yield, 16.32% and 2.54%. Results reveal that the total ash percentage and moisture content are of bark and the water-soluble ash of leaves is higher (10.3 ± 0.85, 7.6 ± 0.34, 3.22 ± 0.24%). The bark polar extract contained more macro-elements such as Na, K, Mg, Ca, S, and Cl. Phytochemical analysis reveals the polar extracts of leaves and bark show saponins, flavonoids, steroids, phenolic compounds, and non-polar extracts show mild positive. The total alkaloids, phenolics, and terpenoids (1.58 ± 0.08%; 0.56 ± 0.11; 0.75 ± 0.15) are found to be higher in A. ferruginea leaves. The FT-IR result shows the presence of alkanes, alkenes, aromatic compounds, aldehydes, phenolics and does not contain any toxic substances since there is no peak observed in the region between 2220 and 2260 cm−1. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the species demonstrated that both the leaf and bark parts have prominent antioxidant properties. Conclusions The results obtained from the preliminary standardization of A. ferruginea are very helpful in the determination of the quality and purity of the crude drug. The refurbished findings of A. ferruginea are promising, and further research is important to identify the bioactive compounds, thereby developing nutritional supplements and medications through therapeutic compound isolation. Graphical Abstract

Impacts of Cd on Temporal Dynamics of Nutrient Distribution Pattern of Bletilla striata, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Plant

Bletilla striata is an endangered medicinal plant the habitats of which are polluted by cadmium (Cd). Nutrient management is a potential way to mitigate Cd toxicity, providing reference for B. striata artificial cultivation. Pot experiments were undertaken to examine the effect of five levels of Cd concentration (control: 0.28 mg/kg; I: 0.37 mg/kg; II: 1.00 mg/kg; III: 7.39 mg/kg; IV: 54.6 mg/kg) on the temporal dynamics of nutrient allocation in B. striata components. The results showed that the content and accumulation of Cd increased significantly in all tissues of Bletilla striata as Cd concentration was increasing, and most accumulated in the roots and slightly transferred to the aboveground parts, while tubers were less likely to accumulate Cd. Excessive cadmium accumulation under long-term exposure reduced the biomass of all tissues of B. striata, and the yield was not significantly affected when cultivated in soil with a concentration of Cd ≤ 1 mg/kg. Potassium (K) was quickly transferred from the root to other tissues in response to the Cd stress. The absorption of zinc (Zn) increased at first and then decreased with increased Cd concentration. According to Pearson correlation analysis, a mechanism is suggested that Cd accumulation affects the absorption of nutrients but is positively and significantly correlated with translocation factor of K and Zn in the tuber. This may imply that B. striata tends to promote the absorption of nutrient elements to adapt to the Cd enrichment in tubers and to compensate for the interrupted mineral nutrition metabolism.