J.S. Tandon

Immunostimulant activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. (Oleaceae), a plant widely used in the traditional medicinal systems of India, has recently been reported to possess hepatoprotective, antileishmanial, antiviral and antifungal activities. In the present study strong stimulation of antigen specific and non-specific immunity, as evidenced by increases in humoral and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and in the macrophage migration index (MMI), has been demonstrated in mice fed with 50% ethanolic extract of seeds, flowers and leaves of this plant. Maximum activity was found in the seeds in which the active principle(s) appear to be mainly associated with lipids. In flowers and leaves, however, the major activity was found in the aqueous fraction of the 50% ethanol extract. The immunostimulant substance(s) found in N. arbor-tristis L. are likely to play a role in its antiamoebic, antileishmanial, antiviral and certain other activities.

Immunostimulant activity of dry fruits and plant materials used in Indian traditional medical system for mothers after child birth and invalids.

Products of certain plants given to mothers after child birth or to invalids were studied for immunostimulant activity using the macrophage migration index (MMI) as a parameter of macrophage activation and cell-mediated immunity and haemagglutinating antibody (HA) titres and plaque-forming cell (PFC) counts as parameters of humoral immunity. Feeding of Prunus amygdalus (Almond(1)) and Buchanania lanzan (Chirronji(1)) significantly stimulated both CMI and humoral immunity in BALB/c mice as evidenced by the enhancement of MMI, HA titres, and PFC counts. Euryale ferox (Tel makhana(1)), Phoenix dactylifera (Chhohara(1)) and Zingiber officinale (Sonth(1)), however, stimulated humoral immunity to a greater extent than CMI. The observation provides scientific basis for feeding the products of above plants to mothers after child birth and to invalids with a relatively poor immune status.

Antimalarial Activity of Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh) against Plasmodium berghei NK 65 in Mastomys natalensis

Andrographis paniculata (kalmegh), a plant used extensively in the Indian traditional systems of medicine as a hepatoprotective and a hepatostimulative agent, was studied in a four day suppressive test against Plasmodium berghei NK 65 in Mastomys natalensis. A crude ethanol extract and fractions reduced the level of parasitaemia in a dose-dependent manner. Four diterpenes, isolated from the n-butanol fraction, also suppressed the parasitaemia level, but not in a dose-dependent manner. Chemoprophylactic activity of neoandrographolide was tested using different protocols. Fifteen days of therapy with neoandrographolide before infection suppressed the parasitaemia.

Antisecretory (antidiarrhoeal) activity of Indian medicinal plants against Escherichia coli enterotoxin-induced secretion in rabbit and guinea pig ileal loop models

AbstractAlcohol, Hexane, Chloroform, Butanol and Aqueous Extracts Of Different Parts Of 31 Indigenous Medicinal Plants Of India Were Screened For Their Antisecretory Activity Against Escherichia Coli Enterotoxin (Lt, St and Lt/St)-Induced Secretory Responses In Rabbit and Guinea Pig Ileal Loop Models. The Extracts Of 5 Plants, Andrographis Panic Ulata, Cassiafistula, Coleusforskohlii, Tridex Procumbens and Papaver Somniferum, Showed Highly Significant Antisecretory Activity.

Antimalarial Activity of Traditional Plants against Erythrocytic Stages of Plasmodium berghei

AbstractAlcoholic extracts of 44 plants were screened in vivo and in vitro for antimalarial activity against the NK 65 strain of Plasmodium berghei. Jurinea macrocephala, Artemisia scoparia, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Enicostema hyssopifolium, Aegle marmelos, Cinnamomum tamala, Momordica dioica and Prunus persica were found to possess schizontocidal activity (50% and above) in vivo as well as in vitro at a dose of 1 gm/kg × 4 days and 100 μg/ml respectively, whereas 12 other plant extracts were active only in vivo and 3 plant extracts in in vitro only.

Two substituted bibenzyls and a dihydrophenanthrene from Cymbidium aloifolium

Abstract Two new substituted bibenzyls (1,2-diarylethanes) aloifol I and aloifol II and a new substituted 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene, 6-O-methylcoelonin in addition to batatasin III, coelonin and gigantol have been isolated and characterized. The three new compounds are 1-(4′-hydroxy-3′,5′-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(3″-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 1-(4′-hydroxy-3′,5′-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(4″-hydroxy-3″-methoxyphenyl)ethane and 2,7-dihydroxy-4,6-dimethoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene.

Naphthaquinones of Arnebia nobilis

Abstract Silica gel chromatography of the fraction from Arnebia nobilis possessing antibiotic and anticancer activities has yielded three new naphthaquinones, 5,8-dihydroxy-2-(1′-β,β-dimethylacryloxy-4′-methylpentyl)-1,4-naphthaquinone, 5,8-dihydroxy-2-(4′-hydroxy-4′-methylpentyl)-1,4-naphthaquinone and 2-(1′-acetoxy-4′-hydroxy-4′-methylpentyl)-5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthaquinone, along with alkannin [5,8-dihydroxy-2-(1′-hydroxy-4′-methylpent-3′-enyl)-1,4-naphthaquinone], 5,8-dihydroxy-2-(1′-β,β-dimethylacryloxy-4′-methylpent-3′-enyl)-1,4-naphthaquinone and 2-(1′-acetoxy-4′-methylpent-3′-enyl)-5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthaquinone, which were reported earlier.

Antiallergic Activity of Some Traditional Indian Medicinal Plants

AbstractAlcohol extracts of fourteen plants traditionally used in India for antiallergic disorders were evaluated for their antiallergic activity. Coleusforskohlii, Nyctanthes arbortristis, Pterocarpus santalinus, Rubia cordifolia and Momordica dioica were found to inhibit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in the mouse and rat.

Antileishmanial Activity of Traditional Plants against Leishmania donovani in Golden Hamsters

AbstractA total of 23 plants were evaluated for antileishmanial activity with Leishmania donovani - infected hamsters. Extracts derived from Alstonia scholaris, Swertia Chirata, Tibouchina Semidecandra, Tinospora cordifolia and Nyctanthes arbortristis were found to be active.

Chemical constituents of the antibiotic fraction ofArnebia nobilis

Aus den Wurzeln vonArnebia nobilis wurden 4 antibiotisch wirksame Stoffe isoliert. Die Struktur von dreien wurde aufgeklärt.