Kirti S. Prabhu

Curcuma zedoaria Rosc. (white turmeric): a review of its chemical, pharmacological and ethnomedicinal properties.

OBJECTIVES Curcuma zedoaria Rosc is a perennial herb found in tropical countries, such as India, Japan and Thailand. Various parts of this plant are used in Ayurveda and other folk medicines for the treatment of different ailments such as diarrhoea, cancer, flatulence and dyspepsia. This study is an attempt to compile an up-to-date and comprehensive review of C. zedoaria that covers its traditional and folk medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. KEY FINDINGS Research carried out using different in-vitro and in-vivo techniques of biological evaluation supports most of the claims. SUMMARY This review presents the botany, chemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological data of the plant.

Antidiabetic properties of the alcoholic extract of Sphaeranthus indicus in streptozotocin-nicotinamide diabetic rats.

We have investigated the possible antihyperglycaemic effects of Sphaeranthus indicus extract in rats rendered diabetic by nicotinamide (120 mgkg−1 i.p.) and streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mgkg−1 i.p). Fasting plasma glucose levels, serum insulin levels, serum lipid profiles, magnesium levels, glycosylated haemoglobin, changes in body weight and liver glycogen levels were evaluated in normal and diabetic rats. Oral administration of S. indicus for 15 days resulted in significant decrease in blood glucose levels and increases in hepatic glycogen and plasma insulin levels. Fasting normal rats treated with the alcoholic extract of S. indicus showed significant improvement in oral glucose tolerance test. Glibenclamide was used as a reference standard. The findings demonstrate that the alcoholic S. indicus extract may be useful in the treatment of diabetes.

Antitumor Activity of Dendrophthoe falcata against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma in Swiss Albino Mice

The objective of the present study is to explore the anticancer activity of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the Dendrophthoe falcata in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line. Anticancer activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of D. falcata was evaluated in EAC Swiss albino mice at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight orally. Both extracts at both doses were administered for 13 consecutive days. After 24 h of the last dose and then eighteen hours of fasting, the mice were sacrificed and antitumor effect of ethanolic and aqueous extracts was as- sessed by evaluating tumor volume, viable and nonviable tumor cell count, tumor weight and hematological parameters of EAC bearing host. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts showed significant decrease in (p<0.0001) tumor volume, viable cell count, tumor weight and elevated the life span of EAC tumor bearing mice. Haematological profiles such as red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin, and white blood cell (WBC) count reverted to normal level in treated mice. The results demon- strated that the extract has potent dose dependent anticancer activity comparable to that of cisplatin. Aqueous extract at both doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) and ethanolic extract at 400 mg/kg dose showed potent anticancer activity.

Treatment of onychomycosis: An update

Fungal infections of skin are one of the most common infections in human beings. The areas which are likely to get infected include the scalp, the hands and the feet. Dermatophytes, yeasts and moulds are the three major fungi responsible for skin infections. Earlier oral antifungal agents were used for treatment of fungal infection in finger and toe nails. The disadvantages of oral antifungal agents are toxicity and longer treatment period. Now medicated nail lacquers have been developed for the treatment of fungal infections i.e. onychomycosis, which has less toxicity and shorter treatment period.

Antioxidant Activities of Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f. ) Etting

Dendrophthoe falcata is a parasitic plant used in traditional medicine as an aphrodisiac, astringent, and diuretic and for pulmonary tuberculosis, asthma, menstrual disorder, swelling, and wound. The present study primarily describes the antioxidant activities of methanolic and aqueous extracts of the stem of D. falcate in different in vitro models. Both methanolic and aqueous extracts exhibited antioxidant activity, with IC50 values at 18 and 26

Formulation and Evaluation of Antiseptic Activity of the Herbal Cream Containing Curcuma longa and Tea Tree Oil

Abstract Curcuma longa Linn., commonly known as Turmeric, Indian saffron or Haldi belongs to family Zingiberaceae., is a perennial herb with simple and large leaves. Its tubers, rhizomes and oil have great importance. Melaleuca alternifolia commonly known as tea tree oil, belonging to the family myrtaceae, has been used as a botanical medicine in various forms over the centuries for its antibacterial activity. In this study a cream have been formulated using vanishing cream base incorporating Curcuma longa ethanol extract and tea tree oil in different ratio. The formulated creams were tested for their microbicidal activity against various skin pathogens viz. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25354), Staphylococcus epidermis (ATCC 12228), Propionibacterium acne (ATCC 6919), Candida albicans (ATCC 36232), Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (Clinical isolate), Methicillin Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (Clinical isolate). The formulated creams showed excellent microbicidal activity against all the pathogens used in the test.

A HPTLC densitometric method for the determination of aloeverose in Aloe vera gel

Aloe vera gel is a familiar ingredient in a range of widely available and advertisement healthcare and cosmetic products. As to date there are no documented reports on the standardization of A. vera gel and the following study is an attempt in this direction. A. vera gel was evaluated for its aloeverose content for the first time. Aloeverose, was separated on a thin-layer of silica gel by isocratic gradient elution technique was determined by using HPTLC-photodensitometry. The proposed method is simple and sensitive and can be used for the routine assay of aloeverose in phytomedicines containing A. vera gel.