A. Pandurangan

Antinociceptive activity of steroid alkaloids isolated from Solanum trilobatum Linn.

Solasodine (1) was isolated for the first time from the roots of Solanum trilobatum Linn., a member of the Solanaceae, and assessed for its presumed antinociceptive activity using several experimental murine models, viz. the writhing, formalin, and hot plate tests. When used at doses of 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg, this steroidal alkaloid caused a significant and dose-dependent decrease in the nociception induced by an intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid (p < 0.001). It also led to a significant reduction of the painful sensation caused by formalin in both phases of the formalin test (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the alkaloid produced a significant increase in the reaction time in the hot plate test (p < 0.001). These results suggest that solasodine elicited antinociceptive activity through both central and peripheral mechanisms.

Wedelia chinenis (Asteraceae) – An overview

Article history: Objective: The plant Wedelia chinensis (W. chinensis) belonging to family Asteraceae (sunflower family) has great importance in Ayurvedic, Sidhha and Unani systems of traditional medicine. Thorough screening of literature available on W. chinensis depicted the fact that it is a popular remedy among the various ethnic groups, Ayurvedic and traditional practitioners for treatment of various ailments. Extensive studies show presence of flavonoids, diterpenes, triterpene saponins and phytosteroids. W. chinensis is reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, CNS depressant, anti-osteoporic, anticonvulsant, wound healing, sedative, antistress, antiulcerogenic and anticancer activity. This work gives an overview of the phytochemical and pharmacological evidence of W. chinensis. Although more studies are necessary to explore the therapeutic potential of this plant as, it has more therapeutic properties which are not known.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of ethanol extract and compounds isolated from Trichodesma indicum (Linn.) R. Br. root

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The roots are reportedly used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, leprosy, skin diseases and fever. AIM OF STUDY The aim of present study was to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial potential of ethanol extract of Trichdesma indicum root, and its purified compounds and to validate scientifically its use in traditional medicine. MATERIAL AND METHODS The root of Trichdesma indicum was extracted with ethanol and subjected to chromatographic separation for isolation of phytochemical compounds. Structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The antimicrobial activities of the ethanol extract of T. indicum and isolated compounds were primarily evaluated by a disc diffusion test. The anti-microbial efficacy of the ethanol extract or isolated compounds was then assessed in vitro by determining minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal or fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC). RESULTS n-Decanyl laurate (1), n-tetradecanyl laurate (2), n-nonacosanyl palmitate (3), stigmast-5-en-3β-ol-21(24)-olide (4), n-pentacos-9-one (5), n-dotriacont-9-one-13-ene (6), stigmast-5-en-3β-ol-23-one (7) and lanast-5-en-3β-D-glucopyranosyl-21 (24)-olide (8) were isolated from ethanol extract of T.indicum. The ethanol extract and isolated compounds (1-8) showed varying degrees of antimicrobial activities. The ethanol extract exhibited potent growth inhibitory activity against S. aureus, B. subtilis and C. albicans with an MIC value of 19.2 μg/ml. Among all the isolated compounds, lanast-5-en-3β-D-glucopyranosyl-21 (24)-olide (8) displayed strongest antibacterial activity against S. aureus with MIC value of 2.4 μg/ml. CONCLUSIONS The results of present study provide ground basis for the potential use of the ethanol extract Trichodesma indicum root as well as the some of the isolated compounds in the treatment of infections associated with the studied microorganisms.