Anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extract of Ficus hispida dried fruit

Background: Natural products are a valuable resource of novel bioactive metabolites and these products exist in which the anti-inflammatory activity. The present investigation studies the in vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extract of Ficus hispida in rat’s model.Methods: Plant material was extracted with methanol in a Soxhlet extraction apparatus. Indomethacin was used as a standard drug here, which is a known potent inhibitor of PG synthesis. The carrageenin and histamine induced paw oedema were selected to represent models of acute inflammations. The test compounds and standard drugs were administered orally. After 60 minutes paw oedema was induced by giving 0.1 ml of 1% Carrageenan and 0.1 % histamine by sub-plantar administration. Paw volume-Plethysmometer by mercury displacement method, before and after 1 hr to 4 hours of carrageenan and histamine administration. Performed MTT-based cytotoxicity assay of the Ficus hispida on the RAW264.7 cell line to determine the IC50 and calculate the pro-inflammatory cytokines viz, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α and compared to the LPS control.Results: The result obtained from the in-vivo study shows that the Ficus hispida has significant anti- inflammatory activity in a dose dependent manner. This effect is similar to that produced by NSAIDS such as Indomethacin. The concentrations of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, secreted by the cells after challenging with bacterial LPS (2 µg/ml) and subsequent treatment with 50 µg Ficus hispida has been found to reduce the production of all the three pro-inflammatory cytokines viz, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α as compared to the LPS control. The activity, in fact, is comparable to the standard NSAID Indomethacin.Conclusions: All these findings and phytoconstituents present in the extract could be the possible chemicals involved in the prevention of inflammations.

Pollution Resistance Assessment of Plants Around Chromite Mine Based on Anticipated Performance Index, Dust Capturing Capacity and Metal Accumulation Index

Plant species sustaining under a polluted environment for long time are considered as potentially resistant species. Those plant species can be considered as an eco-sustainable tool used to bio-monitor and mitigate pollution. This study was carried out on total ten commonly available plant species to assess their anticipated performance index (API), Dust capturing capacity (DCC) and Metal accumulation index (MAI) in chromite mine and control area. According to Anticipated performance index (API) Macranga peltata, Holarrhena pubescens and Ficus hispida are highly tolerant species while Terminalia arjuna and Trema orientalis are intermediate tolerant species. Ficus hispida was also showed the highest dust capturing capacity (5.94 ± 0.43 mg/cm2) and whereas Woodfordia fruticosa (1.03 ± 0.11 mg/cm2) was found to be lowest. Metal accumulation index ranged from 17.29 to 4.5 and 6.38 to 1.94 at mine and control area respectively. Two-way ANOVA analysis revealed area wise significant differences between biochemical and physiological parameters. Also, result showed that the pollution level and heavy metal affected different biochemical and physiological parameter of plant species at mining area. The plant species with highest API, DCC and MAI value could be recommended for greenbelt development in different polluted area.

A phytochemical and pharmacognostic approach of Ficus hispida Linn: a review

Herbal plants are arguably poised for a comeback as like sources of ethnic health products in the main due after their vast desire in accordance with synthesize complicated combinations on structurally diverse compounds, which ought to furnish a safer than more holistic approach in conformity with disease cure and prevention. Ficus hispida (FH) Linn belonging to the family Moraceae, who have various pharmacognostic properties. The class Ficus constitutes a necessary crew on trees, now not solely concerning their extensive medicinal virtue however also of their growth habits yet religious significance. Almost every part over those plants is ancient as a traditional belief on treatment because of the treatment on a variety of ailments through Indian traditional healers. The goal on the existing instruction is to accumulate competencies over ethno-medicinal and pharmacognostic importance about FH. FH includes extensive sorts on bioactives compounds as alkaloids, proteins and amino acids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, sterols, phenols, glycosides, gums and mucilage, saponins and terpenes. Multiple scientific researches have been published to establish the scientific foundation over common medicinal values attributed in conformity with FH of terms on ayurvedic usage the plant for blood disorders, anemia, dysentery, hemorrhoids, stomatorrhagia, jaundice and ulcers. The crop fruits are used namely aphrodisiac, lactagogue, emetic and tonic. Furthermore, pharmacological activities like anticancer, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory have been additionally acknowledged recently. Till now, no action has been published in conformity with elaborate the pharmacognostic functions of FH Linn. The existing decrial is, therefore, an endeavour to relinquish a clear estimate of its pharmacognosy and phytochemistry and a considerable survey over its pharmacological activities.

Phytodiversity and Phytosociology of Riparian Trees Along the Elevation Gradient In The Pamba River, Southern Western Ghats, India

BackgroundThe riparian vegetation along the tropical rivers become threatened due to anthropogenic interference. The tree species diversity and distribution along longitudinal and transversal dimensions is variable and has a pivotal role in the river ecology. The data on the riparian tree species diversity and distribution is inevitable for the nature-based restoration efforts. To test the variability along with the river profile, we investigated the tree species diversity and phytosociology in the tropical river Pamba, Southern Western Ghats. Variation of elevation (701–1923m asl Highrange; 71–700m asl Highland; 8–70m asl Midland and <7.0m asl Lowland) as an indicator of topographic species diversity, we laid a total of 54 × 3 quadrats and data were analyzed with Excel and PC-Ord. ResultsShannon-Wiener's diversity is uniform (1.43689–1.84841) and showed homogeneity (Multiple site similarity index = 0.825396825). Humboldtia vahliana, Neolamarckia cadamba, Vateria indica and Syzygium hemisphericum were showed the highest Importance Value Index. DBH size class (15–>331cm) demonstrated a reverse ‘J’ shaped curve. The tree density and total basal area demonstrated an increasing trend from Lowland to Highrange. Validation of Quadrat data with TWINSPAN and Braun-Blanquet table analysis indicated Ochreinauclea missionis-Ficus hispida-Neolamarckia cadamba in Lowland, Mallotus philippensis-Macaranga peltata-Ficus hispida in Midland, Madhuca neriifolia-Hydnocarpus alpina-Humboldtia vahliana in Highland and Symplocos cochinchinensis var. laurina-Syzygium hemisphericum-Cullenia exarillata in Highrange as dominant stand types. Reciprocal Averaging and Hierarchical Clustering revealed unequivocal classification of quadrats following species composition and elevation. Clumped dispersion was noticed in the Midland and Highland. High regeneration of Madhuca neriifolia, Hopea ponga and Humboldtia vahliana were observed along the elevation gradient.ConclusionsThe present research illustrated that the species diversity of riparian forest in the Pamba river is high and comparable with similar tropical rivers. The phytodiversity, phytosociology and regeneration data are significant for developing a conservation strategy of the anthropogenically fragmented Pamba river. Based on the stand type and regeneration data, Madhuca neriifolia, Hopea ponga, Humboldtia vahliana and Ochreinauclea missionis were suitable for buffer design and restoration along with the Pamba river profile.

Comparison of Hypoglycemic and Antioxidant Activities of the Compounds Isolated from Ficus hispida Linn. and Ficus pomifera Wall

Background: Traditional knowledge has been a legacy of the past to the present. Barks of Ficus hispida Linn. and leaves of Ficus pomifera Wall. (Moraceae) have been used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes in North-east India and many other places. As many drugs have been developed from traditional plants, the authors have taken up the plants for the study of hypoglycemic activity. Objective: To investigate the hypoglycemic activities of the triterpenoids isolated from the plants and their antioxidant activities. Methods: The bioactive compounds were determined by biochemical analysis, antioxidant activity using DPPH method. Hypoglycemic activity was detected using glucose tolerance test in normal rats and alloxan induced diabetic rats with Gliclazide as standard. Results: The biochemicals and trace elements were present in appreciable amounts. Triterpenoids, (1-5), from F. pomifera and 19-hydroxyphlogacantholide (6), 3-O-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1’→2’)-α- L-rhamnopyranosyl-phlogacanthoside] (7) and galanolactone (8) along with stigmasterol (9), stigmasta- 5,22-dien-7-on-3ß-ol (10), 5-(decahydro-1,1,4a-trimethyl-6-methylene-5-yl)-3-methylpent-2- enal (11), stigmasterol glucoside (12) and stigmast-4-en-3-one (13) from F. hispida Linn., respectively, were isolated. The different extracts of the barks and leaves of these plants along with the isolated compounds had antioxidant and hyploglycemic activities. Conclusions: The five triterpenoids (1-5) were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of F. pomifera, and compounds (6-13) were isolated from the chloroform extract of the barks of F. hispida. Methanol extract of the leaves of F. pomifera and the chloroform extract of the barks of F. hispida; compounds (1-13) isolated from these two plants reduced DPPH free radicals in a concentrationdependent manner. It was also observed that the methanol and chloroform extracts of the plants, F. pomifera and F. hispida respectively, and the compounds (1, 6 & 7) exhibited anti-diabetic properties and also caused a highly significant reduction in the blood glucose levels of normal rats.