Deepti Katiyar

Hypoglycemic herbs and their polyherbal formulations: a comprehensive review

Diabetes has been described as the common metabolic disorder of carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, which is due to absolute or relative lack of insulin and is characterized by hyperglycemia. Two main types of diabetes based on their clinical manifestations are identified as Type I diabetes—known as Juvenile diabetes or insulin sensitive diabetes and Type II diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Diabetes has been conventionally treated with orthodox medicines that function as hypoglycemic agents, or insulin production modulators and/or lipoprotein lowering agents. Since the therapy is life long, therapeutic agents devoid of side effects would be appreciated and one of such approach is use of alternative system of medicine comprising herbal products. Phyto-constituents identified from traditional medicinal plants are presenting an exciting opportunity for the development of new types of therapeutics. Due to increase in demand by patients to use natural products with anti-diabetic activity, investigations on hypoglycemic agents derived from medicinal plants have gained popularity in recent years. The novelty of this review article is to focus on the utility of hypoglycemic herbs and their polyherbal formulations.

Synthesis, Antifungal and Toxicity Screening of Newer Isoniazid Derivatives

A series of Isoninicotinic acid hydrazide (INH) incorporated derivatives of thiazolidin-4-one (2a-h, 3a-h), azetidin-2one (4a-h) and 1,3,4-oxadiazole (5a-h) were synthesized in satisfactory yield and pharmacologically evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activity. All the synthesized compounds were in good agreement with elemental and spectral data. A majority of the tested compounds showed good to moderate antifungal activity against all tested pathogenic fungal strains. To evaluate the toxicity of the compounds on liver, estimation of enzymes was also carried out.

FORMULATION, STANDARDIZATION AND SCREENING OF POLYHERBAL CHURNA FOR ANTACID ACTIVITY

The aim of our study was to claim the antacid activity of a polyherbal formulation prepared by the combination of herbs such as ginger, garlic, eucalyptus, cinnamon, amla and to standardize the formulation. The polyherbal churna was prepared by mixing the raw drugs in accurate amount and then it was standardized. Polyherbal formulation of churna was analogized with sodium bicarbonate. The formulation when compared to standard drug highlighted the same acid neutralizing capacity. Through our present study, we concluded that the polyherbal formulation can be used as herbal antacid. The churna showed similar action as standard drug sodium bicarbonate. The formulation can be used to treat condition of gastro esophageal reflux disease, hyperacidity and GIT problems.

QU ALITATIVE ESTIMATION OF SEEDS OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA LINN. (CUCURBITACEAE) AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GALLIC ACID ISOLATED FROM ITS ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT

The current investigation engrosses the qualitative estimation of the seeds of Momordica charantia Linn. (Cucurbitaceae) and character ization of gallic acid isolated from its alcoholic extract. The seeds were successively extracted in petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol and water in a Soxhlet Apparatus. Each of the extract was subjected to the preliminary phytochemical screening using the standard qualitative identi fication tests. The extract sh owing the presence of maximum phytoconstituents was utilized for the isolation of compounds by column chromatography and characterization was performed by using various spectral data analysis i.e., IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and DART - MS. The alcoholic extract exhi bited the presence of maximum number of phytoconstituents. Elution of the column with 0 .2% Methanol in Chloroform gave a pale yellow, crystalline compound - Gallic Acid (3, 4, 5 - trihydroxy benzoic acid) . The diverse nature of chemical constituents present in the seeds of Momordica charantia Linn. (Cucurbitaceae) and t he isolated compound - Gallic Acid can be further explored for their pharmacological potential which might be of immense value to mankind. This compound might act as the chromatographic marker and shall be beneficial in identifying and assuring the quality of the crude drug.

Volatile Constituents and Antimicrobial Activity of Immature Green Seeds of Foeniculum vulgare Miller

Abstract A steam distilled volatile oil obtained from the immature green seeds of Indian fennel, Foeniculum vulgare Miller belonging to Umbelliferae family, was analysed by capillary GC and GC-MS. The volatile oil mainly comprises of five monoterpenes, cumic aldehyde (87.3 %), was found to be predominant constituent followed by fenchone (8.2 %), anethole (2.1 %), citronellal (1.6 %) and geraniol (0.6 %).