Deepa Nath

Ethnomedicinal plants used by traditional healers of North Tripura district, Tripura, North East India

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Information about ethnomedicinal plants used by traditional healers in Tripura, India is very much limited. As there is rapid erosion of traditional knowledge in the state, needs has arisen to document the diversity of medicinal plants, their preparation and associated diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY Attempts have been made to explore the herbal medicines used by the traditional healers belonging to the various communities in North Tripura district of Tripura, India and document the associated traditional knowledge on the utilisation of medicinal plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was based on ethnomedicinal field survey covering a period of 1 year from February 2012 to February 2013. The ethnomedicinal information was collected by using semi-structured questionnaires from different healers and knowledge holders. Collected data were analysed through informant consensus factor, Index of Specialisation and Relative frequency of citation to determine culturally significant plants. RESULTS A total of 75 species of plants under 68 genera belonging to 43 families were collected during the study for the treatment of 15 disease categories. Leaves were the most frequently used plant parts and most of the medicines were prepared in the form of extract and administered orally. FIC values of the present study indicated that there was a high agreement in the use of plants in the treatment of digestive system disorders and respiratory system disorders among the healers. Plants having high ISu are Justicia adhatoda, Pajanelia longifolia, Catharanthus roseus etc. CONCLUSION The present study highlighted certain species having higher priority indices for further phytochemical investigation. Counselling of traditional health practitioners should be taken into consideration in order to smooth continuation and extension of traditional medical knowledge and practice for ensuring safe and effective therapy.

Plant utilization against digestive system disorder in Southern Assam, India.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Being one of the most common types of life threatening diseases in Southern Assam, India, the digestive system disorders (DSD) have gained much attention in recent decades. Traditional beliefs and inadequate income of mass population result in the use of alternative phytotherapies to treat the diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY The present paper documents the medicinal knowledge and utilization of plants for treatment of digestive system disorders in Southern Assam, India by Disease Consensus Index (DCI). It also determines the most suitable plant species used to treat digestive system disorders in the study area. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was based on ethnomedicinal field survey covering a period of 1 year from 2014-2015. The ethnomedicinal information was collected by using semi-structured questionnaires from different traditional Bengali people having knowledge on medicinal plants. Collected data were analyzed by calculating DCI. RESULTS During the survey, 29 informants were interviewed and a total of 49 plants under 46 genera belonging to 33 families were listed. Data analysis revealed that Litsea glutinosa, Momordica charantia, Andrographis paniculata, Lawsonia inermis, Cleome viscosa, Psidium guajava, Ageratum conyzoides, Cuscuta reflexa, Cynodon dactylon and Carica papaya are the most prominent plants among the people of Southern Assam for treating DSD. CONCLUSION This explorative survey emphasizes the need to preserve and document the traditional healing practices for managing DSD inviting for more imminent scientific research on the plants to determine their efficacy as well as safety. With the help of statistical analysis (DCI), we propose 10 priority plants for DSD in present work. Systematic pharmacological study with these plants may contribute significant result.

Probiotic Biosurfactants: A Potential Therapeutic Exercises in Biomedical Sciences

Biosurfactant is the exudates of microbial metabolism and also familiar as surface-active compounds. It has netted its rank in both industrial and environmental portion but in medical science, use of same is still in nascent stage. Important probiotics like lactic acid bacteria, Bacillus spp. make up the vital constituents of human microflora, possesses an enormous antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antitumor and anti-adhesive potential. Structural novelty and diverse properties make biosurfactant as probable candidates for beneficial applications today. To attain anticipated success under this approach it is vital to keep in mind that certain microbes must transport some antimicrobial and surface activity. Surface activity aids in potential association with cell membranes of different organisms. Evident from the published literature that microbial surfactants such as lipopeptide and glycolipid showed to inhibit the transmission of cancerous cells and following apoptosis by rapid cell rupture. In drug discovery, biosurfactants appear with a promising drug delivery mode. In general, biosurfactants have strong bactericidal and fungicidal properties. Anti-adhesiveness of biosurfactant against pathogenic candidates marks them helpful for curing many diseases and also as therapeutic candidates. Structural diversity, their mode of actions and future prospects in medical sciences are the points of discussions under this review.

Febrifugine and its analogs: Studies for their antimalarial and other therapeutic properties

Abstract Malaria remains one of the major infectious diseases in the tropical region because of the development of resistance by the causal organism in response to the existing drugs. It motivated intensive research to discover drugs having novel structures and mechanisms from the natural sources. Several compounds isolated from natural sources are found to possess antimalarial properties. Febrifugine is one of such compounds first isolated from Dichroa febrifuga, a plant traditionally used for antimalarial recipe in China and other parts of Asia. This alkaloid has potent antimalarial properties; however, its clinical usage is impeded by presence of adverse effects and toxicity associated. Now, attention has been provided to synthesis of febrifugine analogs having therapeutic potentials with low toxicity to control malaria. In addition to it, potential applications of febrifugine analogs in controlling cancer and fibrotic diseases have been demonstrated. This chapter provides an overview of the febrifugine and its different analogs for their antimalarial and other therapeutic properties with special reference to their structure–activity relationships.

Antibacterial activity of some selected plants traditionally used as medicine in Manipur

Methanolic leaf extracts of the plant species Elsholtzia blanda Benth., Elsholtzia communis (Collett & Hemsl) Diels., Polygonum posumbu Buchanam-Hamilton ex D. Don and Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC. using methanol as a solvent were tested against 10 human pathogenic bacteria for potential antibacterial activity. The study revealed that all extracts show varied degree of antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial pathogens. The antibacterial activity was determined using agar well diffusion method. Methanolic extract of the leaf Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC. showed antibacterial activity against five bacterial strains from among the ten bacteria tested followed by Polygonum posumbu , Elsholtzia communis and Elsholtzia blanda . Clostridium sporogenes was found to be susceptible to all the plants tested. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the plants against the tested organism ranged between 3.125-12.5 mg/ml. Hence these plants can be used to discover bioactive natural products that may serve as leads in the development of the new pharmaceuticals. Keywords: Antibacterial, human pathogens, methanolic extract, traditional medicine African Journal of Biotechnology , Vol 13(13), 1491-1495

Phytotherapy in the Management of Diabetes and Hypertension

Description: Phytotherapy in the Management of Diabetes and Hypertension is a good addition to existing volumes detailing knowledge of hyperglycemia therapy. This e-book emphasizes the basic biochemistry behind diabetes mellitus and hypertension, along with the control or remediation of these conditions through a cost effective, safe, easy-going, easy-adaptable method validated by scientific research. This e-book contains 7 chapters dealing with various aspects of these diseases and their Phytotherapy treatment and life style management. Phytotherapy can give patients long term benefits with less or no side effects. Hence, this e-book is an authentic alternative or complementary therapeutic compendium to physicians and patients. This book will also be useful to students, teachers, researchers, clinicians and general readers interested in learning about applied phytotherapy.