Current Traditional Medicine - Volume 4, Issue 4, 2018

Background & Methodology: Swertia punicea (Shuihuanglian), a Tujia Ethnomedicine component is a complementary part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It has been employed by the TCM practitioners as part of the formulations for treatment of a variety of health disorders. Keeping in view the high medicinal value of the plant, the natural product chemists have ventured to study its chemical nature and isolate some of the fascinating molecules, which account for its pharmacological activities. Results: So far about 78 compounds have been reported from the plant. Xanthones and iridoids are the major constituents of S. punicea along with some sterols, terpenes and other molecules. Some of these compounds have exhibited significant biological potential. Conclusion: This article emphasizes on the importance of S. punicea in TCM and the bioactivities of the compounds isolated till date.

Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound, has been subjected to a variety of antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal investigations due to its extensive traditional uses. It has been used traditionally in various Asian countries including China and India for its biological activities like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiulcer, hypotensive and hypocholesteremic. The lack of sufficient antifungal compounds with reduced side effects necessitates the importance of studying natural compounds for this purpose. The antifungal activity of curcumin, as well as its mechanism, has already been investigated in the literature. The promising results for antifungal activity of curcumin against various fungal species make it a good candidate, where the effect can be synergized by the addition of other natural and synthetic antifungal agents. This review aims to summarize fungal infection, its causes, conventional methods of treatment, the potential of herbal drugs especially curcumin for antifungal activity.

Putranjiva roxburghii belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae (spurge family). It is a moderate sized evergreen tree which grows in moist evergreen forests. This tree has antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-nociceptive, anti-pyretic, anti-emetic, cytotoxic, hypoglycemic, larvicidal, cytogenetic toxicity, aphrodisiac, anthelmintic, radioprotective, CNS depressant and analgesic activities, and contains terpenoids, mustard oils, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides and phenolic compounds. Owing to the diverse biological significance and chemical constituents of Putranjiva roxburghii, this tree is regarded as highly beneficial and useful and further study on this tree is urgently needed. This critical review summarizes the literature dealing with ethnomedical uses, chemical constituents, and pharmacological profile of the leaf, stem bark and seed of putranjiva roxburghii. Particular attention is given to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, diuretic, hepatoprotective, anthelmintic, and anti-bacterial effects so that its potential uses in pharmaceutics can be better evaluated. We hope that adequate amount of information in this review endorses the importance of this tree and attracts the attention of readers to further explore biological diversity.

Background: Silaasaththu Parpam (SP) has been traditionally used for curing kidney diseases and urinary stones. There are no reported scientific studies which provide the physicochemical nature of SP or its raw materials. Objective: The study is aimed at exploring the physicochemical, and anti-urolithiasic characters of the traditional Indian Siddha medicine, SP. Methods: Various methods like elemental analyses, FTIR spectral analysis, X-ray Diffraction Studies, Particle size analysis, Thermal analysis, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ICP-OES and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), were used for understanding the physicochemical nature of SP. The anti-urolithiasis property of SP against ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis in albino Wistar rats was performed. Result: The ICP-OES analysis revealed the presence of calcium (25.92%), and magnesium (2.05%) as the major metallic elements, while sodium (0.70%), potassium (0.43%) and iron (0.16%) were present in trace amounts. The XRD analysis identified that SP belongs to the orthorhombic crystalline phase of calcium sulphate with an average crystallite size of 35.55 nm. The mechanism of thermal degradation during the calcination of the raw sample treated with Aloe vera juice to get SP is understood by thermal studies. The pharmacological studies revealed that the elevated levels of various biomarkers in serum and urine samples were reduced by treating them with SP for 28 days. Conclusion: The physicochemical nature of SP, biosynthetic method of fine particle preparation using Aloe vera and ethnopharmacological action investigated in the present study highlight the proper application of modern scientific approaches for developing new insights into metal based traditional medicines.

Background and Objectives: Carica papaya leaves have been used in traditional medicine in Asian countries mainly in treating dengue. Various earlier studies proved their role in increasing platelet count in dengue patients. A precise mechanism of their action remains unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of C. papaya leaf extract on platelets and unravelling its possible mode of action. Materials and Methods: The methanol (MEA) and acetone (ACA) extracts were studied for antiplatelet activity and bleeding time in rats whereas the decoction of leaves powder was clinically used in patients with low platelet count. Results: The results showed that MEA, ACA and positive control (heparin) attenuated the platelets aggregation by 68%, 56% and 72%, respectively. On the other hand, MEA and ACA at 400 mg/kg significantly increased bleeding time in rats by 3 and 4 seconds, respectively, while the standard (aspirin) at 100 mg/kg increased the bleeding time by 7 seconds in comparison to the control. The clinical studies revealed that decoction of the leaf (1 g thrice a day) significantly increased the platelet count in the patients. Conclusion: The study concludes that the papaya leaf has potential to increase platelet count via attenuating their aggregation.

Background: Many plant extracts show a synergistic effect with each other or with modern drugs, the drugs from natural sources contain steroids, flavonoids, glycosides and terpenoid that have clinical importance for analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic action. Objective: The study was designed to evaluate the effective polyphyto admixture TLB for the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic action using different animal model. Material Methods: The test drug TLB was composed of Polyphyto formulation of Tridax procumbens, Lawsonia inermis and Bouganvillea spectabilis in four different proportions [TLB-I (1:1:1), TLB-II (1:1:2), TLB-III (2:1:1), and TLB-IV (1:2:1)]; tested for the analgesic activity by Hot plate and Tail immersion method, antiinflamatory activity was studied by using plethysmometer and antipyretic activity was studied by using rectal thermometer at a dose of 100 mg/kg po. Results: The result of test drug TLB produced statistically significant effect (<0.05) when it was studied in Hot plate and Tail immersion method, the inhibition of edema induced by carrageenan and reduced fever induced by Brewer's yeast at 100 mg/kg po administration when compared to the control groups. Conclusion: Direct crude drug combination of test group TLB containing Tridax procumbens, Lawsonia inermis and Bougainvillea spectabilis possesses significant analgesic, antiinflammatory and antipyretic activity.