Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Context: Bombax ceiba is a large deciduous tree found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Australia. Traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani have been highlighted the use of B. ceiba parts (bark, leaves, and flower) for the treatment of numerous ailments like algesia, hepatotoxicity, hypertension, HIV infections, fever, dysentery, inflammation, catarrhal affection, ulcer, acne, gynecological disorders, piles and urinary infections. However, no scientific pharmacognostic, phytochemical and pharmacological study has been reported for B. ceiba thorn.

Aims: To study the pharmacognostic and pharmacological potentials of B. ceiba thorn extract.

Methods: The physicochemical properties were determined using pharmacopoeial tests. The phytochemical screening was carried out using standard protocols. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was performed by human red blood cells stabilization method, in vitro anthelmintic activity by Pheretima posthuma method, in vitro antioxidant activity by DPPH scavenging method, and anti-microbial studies by agar streak dilution method against bacteria E. coli, B. subtilis, K. pneumonia, and fungi C. albicans and A. niger.

Results: The hydroalcoholic thorn extract of Bombax ceiba (TEBC) showed significant anti-inflammatory (46.9% stabilization), anthelmintic (death at 59.22 min), in vitro anti-oxidant (41.62% inhibition), and anti-microbial activities (B. subtilis > E. coli > K. pneumonia; A. niger > C. albicans).

Conclusions: The study revealed the physicochemical, photochemical and pharmacognostic features of thorn of the B. ceiba. The study also revealed the possession of different pharmacological potentials of extract.

The fruit of guava is very rich in Vitamin C, which is substantially higher than what is found in citrus. It is also a good source of Vitamin A and other important elements. The fruit contains a large amount of citric, lactic, malic, oxalic and acetic acids and a trace amount of formic acid. The ripe fruit is usually eaten as a dessert. It can also be utilized in many ways for making jellies, jam, paste, juice, baby foods, puree, beverage base, syrup, wine and other processed products. It may be eaten sliced with cream and sugar and as ingredient in cakes and pies. It is also used in dishes like "sinigang".

The study of plant-medicine and Phyto-compounds is the ultimate need for the hour. Since synthetic drugs have prevailed over time inflicting side effects worse than the purpose it is used for as medicine, this study gives a clue and create global awareness of Abrus Precatorius Linn, a substitute to Glycyrrhizin glabra, an important medicinal herb to be therapeutic and could be the cure to human numerous diseases such as COVID-19. The quantitative estimation of Phyto-compounds suggests the presence of tannin, phenol, steroid, flavonoid, alkaloid, and carbohydrates. These compounds are responsible for the various pharmacological activities such as antioxidant activity using DPPH, FRAP and Reducing power activity, antibacterial activity, antidiabetic activity, and anti-inflammatory properties. In all, methanol extract proved to be the leading potent potential drug extract due to the strong occurrence of polyphenolic compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, steroids, and phenols. It also demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against virulent strains. The extract fraction serves as a free radical inhibitor or scavenger or acting possibly as primary oxidant and inhibited the heat-induced albumin denaturation also serving as a starch-blocker. Hereby, possess to be a promising source of novel drug formulation after purification and characterization for the treatment of various ailments.

Alstonia scholaris L R. Br plant is a tremendous powerful tropical and subtropical latex plant. There are more than 250 genera and 2500 plant species are available in apocyanaceae family. Alstonia scholaris (L) R. Br. (Apocyanacea) Leaf, root, fruit and flowers are useful for various conditions of ailments in traditional system of medicine since ancient times. Alstonia scholaris fresh roots were collected early in morning with the help of Prof. Madhavasetty and two members of tribal people who lives at forest. The present study aimed to study the detailed study on morphological, microsopical (T.S, LS and powder microscopy with different resolutions), physicochemical, florescence analysis and preliminary phytochemical screening on Alstonia scholaris (L) R. Br roots (Andhra Pradesh). We can easy to identify the plant with help of above characters, provided the detailed valuable information for botanical quality control, species identification and to detect the adulterations in commercial wise samples of Alstonia scholaris root. These studies are mainly useful for identification and standardization of Alstonia scholaris (L) R. Br. The plant is also helpful for the other research studies. Confocal microscope and Nikon lab photo 2 microscopic unit was used to identify the detailed parts in roots. For Alstonia scholaris root (T.S, L.S) and powder sectioning purpose used many reagents to get the individual part clearly. To define the purity and quality of herbal medicine used physicochemical analysis, preliminary phytochemical studies. The root anatomy contains periderm cylinder, wide cortex and largevascular cylinder, thin walled parenchyma cells, secondary phloem, secondary xylem, lighting stained phloem parenchyma cells, pith is filled with thick walled angular compact cells. These fibers are very narrow with tapering ends, the cell walls are thick the cell lumen is narrow. The wide fibers are up to 70µm wide and less than700µm long and 60µm wide. The wide fibers have thin walls and wide lumen. The fibers have vertical row of oblique elliptical simple pits. In some vessel elements, the end wall is circular and horizontal in orientation. The vessel elements have multi seriate minute ellipteal lateral cell wall boarded pits. The vessel elements are 450µm long and up to 60µm wide. In preliminary photochemical studies total ash 33.93%, water soluble ash (3.86), acid insoluble ash (5.98), foaming index (<100), swelling index (<100), Loss on Drying (10.5). extractive values with different organic solvent Hexane (0.7), N-butanol (2.9) Ethyl acetate (6), Ethanol (5.4), acetone (4.8), methanol (12), hydroalcoholic (5.62) and Distilled water (10.23). In florescence analysis at (UV 254 nm & 354 nm) observed plenty of florescence reflections so colourful compounds are present in that plant. In preliminary phytochemical tests terpenoids, aminoacids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides are present carbohydrates. Pharmacognostic study is mainly useful for measurement of quality, safety and efficacy of herbal drugs. It is very helpful for herbal monographs.