Satish C. Jain

Ethnopharmacology of Calotropis procera flowers.

An ethanolic extract of the flowers of Calotropis procera was investigated for anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and antimicrobial activities. The plant extract reduced the paw swelling induced by carrageenan by 37%, fever in rats by 40% and showed some weak effect in rats on the writhing induced by acetic acid. The growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was significantly inhibited. A dose-dependent effect on prostaglandin release was also observed.

Pharmacological investigation of Cassia italica

In the present study, the ethanolic extract of the whole plant parts (root, stem leaves and pods) of Cassia italica (Mill.) Lam. ex F.W. Ander (Leguminosae) was investigated for bioactivities: namely anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and prostaglandin (PG) release by rat peritoneal leucocytes, antineoplastic and antiviral. In rats, the extracts reduced carrageenin-induced paw swelling (100 mg/kg bw-31%) and fever (100 mg/kg bw-37%). The extract showed weak effect on writhing induced by acetic acid. A dose-dependent inhibition of PG release effect was observed using rat peritoneal leucocytes.

Safety evaluation of long term oral treatment of methanol sub-fraction of the seeds of Carica papaya as a male contraceptive in albino rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The manuscript is one of the series of attempts in authenticating scientific documentation of the seeds of Carica papaya being traditionally used for contraception. AIMS OF THE STUDY To establish safety of the methanol sub-fraction (MSF) of the seeds of Carica papaya as a male contraceptive following long term oral treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS MSF was administered orally to albino rats at multiples of contraceptive dose (CD) at 50 (1x), 100 (2x), 250 (5x) and 500 (10x)mg/kg body weight daily for 52 weeks. Body weight, organs weight, morbidity, mortality, clinical chemistry, sperm analysis, histopathology and serum testosterone were evaluated to assess the safety and contraceptive efficacy. RESULTS MSF treatment at various dose regimens, daily for 52 weeks did not show significant changes in body weight, organs weight, food and water intake and pre-terminal deaths compared to those of control animals. Sperm count and viability in 50mg/kg body weight treated animals and the weight of epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate of all the treated animals showed significant reduction compared to control. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa of 50mg/kg body weight treated animals were immotile. Azoospermia was observed in 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight treated animals. Serum clinical parameters, serum testosterone and histopathology of vital organs were comparable to those of control animals. Histology of testis revealed adverse effects on the process of spermatogenesis, while the histology of epididymis, seminal vesicles and ventral prostate showed no changes compared to control. CONCLUSION The long term daily oral administration of MSF affects sperm parameters without adverse side effects and is clinically safe as a male contraceptive.

Ethnopharmacological evaluation of Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) Chiov.

Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) Chiov. (Asclepiadaceae), a wild plant of the arid zone of Rajasthan, hasdemonstrated significant antiinflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic activities including the release of prostaglandin.

Effect of chemical mutagens on steroidal sapogenins in Trigonella species

Abstract A two- to four-fold increase in the steroidal sapogenins (diosgenin and tigogenin) was observed in the plants and seeds obtained from seeds of T. corniculata and T. foenum-graecum treated with low concentrations of chemical mutagens (EMS, MMS and NaN 3 ). However, a decrease in their levels was recorded at high concentrations of the mutagens.

Isolation and Characterization of Steroidal Sapogenins and Glycoalkaloids from Tissue Cultures of Solanum verbascifolium LINN.

Undifferentiated callus tissue of S. verbascifolium LINN. was established from sterilized seeds on Murashige and Skoogs revised medium and maintained on the same medium. Six-month-old callus was then analyzed for steroidal sapogenins and glycoalkaloids. Diosgenin and solasodine were isolated and estimated quantitatively in tissue samples harvested periodically (2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks).

Microwave-assisted rapid cyclization of lapachol, a main constituent of Heterophragma adenophyllum

Cyclization reactions of lapachol (1) isolated from Heterophragma adenophyllum have been studied under microwave irradiation under different conditions using alumina (acidic, basic and neutral)/silica gel/montmorillonite (KSF and K-10) as solid support along with neat reaction using 2–3 drops of DMF giving naturally occurring dehydro-α-lapachone (2), α-lapachone (3), β-lapachone (4) depending upon the nature of support and irradiation time. A novel naphthoquinone derivative adenophyllone (5) can be synthesized from lapachol using DMF under microwaves.

A new pentacyclic phenol and other constituents from the root bark of Bauhinia racemosa Lamk.

This work reported the isolation of one unknown (1) and 10 known compounds (2–11) from the root bark of Bauhinia racemosa Lamk. (family: Caesalpiniaceae). Racemosolone (1) was characterised as a pentacyclic phenolic compound possessing an unusual skeleton with a cycloheptane ring and a rare furopyran moiety. The structure elucidation was carried out on the basis of UV, infrared (IR), HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra and finally confirmed by the single crystal X-ray analysis. The known compounds were characterised as n-tetracosane, β-sitosteryl stearate, eicosanoic acid, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, racemosol, octacosyl ferulate, de-O-methyl racemosol, lupeol and 1,7,8,12b-tetrahydro-2,2,4-trimethyl-2H-benzo[6,7]cyclohepta [1,2,3-de] [1] benzopyran-5,10,11 triol on the basis of spectroscopic data comparison with the literature value. Compounds with skeleton similar to 1 have never been reported from any natural or other source.

Bioactivities of polyphenolics from the roots of Bauhinia racemosa

AbsctractVarious extracts of Bauhinia racemosa Lamk. (roots) and the isolated polyphenolics, viz. 1,7,8,12b-tetrahydro-2,2,4-trimethyl-10-methoxy-2H-benzo [6,7] cyclohepta[1,2,3-de][1]benzopyran-5,9-diol (racemosol) (1), 1,7,8,12b-tetrahydro-2,2,4-trimethyl-2H-benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2,3-de][1]benzopyran-5,10,11-triol (2), and 1,7,8,12b-tetrahydro-2,2,4-trimethyl-2H-benzo[6,7] cyclohepta [1,2,3-de][1]benzopyran-5,9,10-triol (de-O-methyl racemosol) (3) were screened for antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities. The isolated compounds exhibited profound antibacterial and antifungal activities while methanol extract exhibited potential efficacy against Herpes simplex virus.

New Furanocoumarins and Other Chemical Constituents from Ficus carica Root Heartwood

Two new furanocoumarins, 5-(1”,1”-dimethylallyl)-8-methyl psoralen (1) and 2-O-acetyl oxypeucedanin hydrate-3”-methyl ether (2), were isolated from the root heartwood of Ficus carica Linn. together with three known furanocoumarins, two triterpenoids, two long-chain compounds, and a steroid. Their structures and relative confi gurations were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (IR, HR-ESI-MS, and NMR) and by comparison of their NMR spectral data with those of related compounds