A STUDY ON MEDICINAL VALUE OF KATPHALA (SOHPHIE - LOCAL KHASI NAME) COMMONLY PRACTICED BY KHASI TRADITIONAL HEALER FOR VARIOUS AILMENTS: A REVIEW WITH AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVES

Khasi tribe, largest tribes of Meghalaya, northeastern part of India possesses an immense knowledge and belief on their folklore medicinal practice. They inhibit their art of healing from their forefather, and it is being passed on since ages. Numerous herbs are utilized and practiced for their specific desired effect. One such medicinal plant is Myrica Nagi (Myricaceae) commonly known as Box Myrtle or Katphala as per Ayurveda. This plant is very well known among the community for its multiple medicinal remedies, locally known as Sohphie its fruit is being consumed as pickle and refreshing juice. The other part used are pre-pared into various formulations for the desired therapeutic effect. Irrespective of the traditional usage, it is widely mentioned in the classical texts of Ayurveda. A clear identification and detail analysis of this herb as per Traditional knowledge and Ayurveda texts would aid in better understand of its distinctive and multiple therapeutic effect.

Molecular Mechanisms of the Action of Myricetin in Cancer

Natural compounds, such as paclitaxel and camptothecin, have great effects on the treatment of tumors. Such natural chemicals often achieve anti-tumor effects through a variety of mechanisms. Therefore, it is of great significance to conduct further studies on the anticancer mechanism of natural anticancer agents to lay a solid foundation for the development of new drugs. Myricetin, originally isolated from Myrica nagi, is a natural pigment of flavonoids that can inhibit the growth of cancer cells (such as liver cancer, rectal cancer, skin cancer and lung cancer, etc.). It can regulate many intracellular activities (such as anti-inflammatory and blood lipids regulation) and can even be bacteriostatic. The purpose of this paper is to outline the molecular pathways of the anticancer effects of myricetin, including the effect on cancer cell death, proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis and cell signaling pathway.

Estimate Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Performance Using Dyes Based on Green-Future and Local Wisdom with Simulation Method

One of the considerations for renewable energy that can be accepted by society is energy based on nature (green future) and environmentally friendly (local wisdom). Dye-sensitized solar cells give to the world, easily and simple implemented technology for future renewable energy. This research was conducted by simulating the performance of DSSC using dye based on green future and local wisdom. Dye is one of the most important components influencing solar cell performance because dye determines the photoresponse of the DSSC. Several dyes that used in this research included Vasica nees, W. fruticose L, U. dioical L, R. arborium, Myrica nagi, Curcuma angustifiola dan Berberies aristate. The reason for this choice of dye included it is easily found in Indonesia, does not cause environmental pollution, and is thought to have good prospects to be applied to DSSC. The best performance results produced by DSSC are using dye W.fruticose L with an efficiency of 1.6%, and the lowest performance are using dye R. arborium with an efficiency of 1 %.

A Review of Common Medicinal Plants in Chin State, Myanmar

Promising sources of novel bioactive compounds include plants growing in several third-world countries where the local flora is still largely uninvestigated. A paradigmatic example is represented by medicinal plants growing in Myanmar, especially in Chin State, in northwestern Myanmar. This is one of the least developed areas of the country where the people still use natural remedies derived from a rich biodiversity. This review mainly covers the investigations done on phytochemical constituents and biological activities of 20 medicinal plants, namely Alangium chinense, Anemone obtusiloba, Anneslea fragrans, Antidesma bunius, Croton oblongifolius, Embelia tsjeriam-cottam, Ficus heterophylla, Gaultheria fragrantissima, Hydnocarpus kurzii, Leea macrophylla, Leucas cephalotes, Millingtonia hortensis, Myrica nagi, Olax scandens, Pimpinella heyneana, Pterospermum semisagittatum, Ruellia tuberosa, Smilax zeylanica, Stemona burkillii, and Tadehagi triquetrum, that have long been used in the Chin State for curing various diseases. These plants have been selected on the basis of their medicinal uses not only in Myanmar but also in the related Ayurvedic healing system. Moreover, besides their medicinal importance, most of them grow in the Chin State more abundantly than in other regions of Myanmar. Although the efficacy of some of these plants have been verified scientifically, the chemical constituents and biological activities of most of them still need to be investigated to confirm the claimed therapeutic effects.

Preparation of Myrica nagi (Box myrtle) drink and effect of storage temperature on its quality

Box myrtle (Myrica nagi) belongs to family Myricaceae is a sub-temperate tree found throughout the mid-Himalayas at an elevation of 1300 to 2100 meters above mean sea level. Its fruits are known for their ravishing taste and have been reported as rich source of anti-oxidants like phenols and anthocyanins. In the present study drink was prepared from box myrtle juice and quality evaluation was carried out during six months of storage of fruit drink. Different combinations of juice (8%, 10%, 12%, 14% and 16 %) and sugar syrup/TSS (Total soluble solids) (12 oB and 15 oB) were tried to standardize proper combination for drink. The drink prepared by following the best selected recipe (14 % juice and 12 oB TSS) was packed in glass and PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) bottles and stored for six months under ambient and refrigerated temperature conditions. Drink could be safely stored for a period of six months under both the storage conditions without much change in various quality characteristics. Various physico-chemical characteristics increased/decreased like TSS (12.05 to 12.48 oB), reducing sugars (7.80 to 8.69 %), titratable acidity (0.30 to 0.27 %), ascorbic acid (1.09 to 0.47 mg/100 g), total phenols (27.35 to 19.11 mg/100 g) and anthocyanins (6.14 to 3.69 mg/100 g). However, the changes in the quality characteristics of the drink were slower in refrigerated storage conditions as compared to ambient conditions. Both the packaging materials viz. PET and glass bottles were found suitable, with comparatively less changes occurring in glass bottles stored under refrigerated conditions.