@article {1231, title = {Tinospora cordifolia: An Optimistic Herb for Comprehensive Gesundheit}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {16}, year = {2024}, month = {April 2024}, pages = {219-229}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {219}, abstract = {

The necessity for wellness and good habits that boost resistance to illness has come to light due to worries about possible health concerns. Because they are harmless, biologically active polysaccharides derived from plants are excellent substitutes for treating various illnesses. Tinospora cordifolia (Thunb.) Miers, an evergreen perennial climber, is known as "guduchi." This plant, which is dioecious and deciduous, is a member of the Menispermaceae family. In the Indian medical system, a plant named Rasayana is incredibly beneficial. Different extraction and purification techniques have been used to separate and characterise the polysaccharides from Tinospora cordifolia. In addition to hot-water extraction, other state-of-the-art techniques are used to extract the polysaccharides from T. cordifolia, such as Enzyme-Assisted Extraction (EAE), pulsed electric field, microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. The modern healthcare system has also recognised its efficacy. The stem of the plant may be used medicinally. Because the stems contain more alkaloids than the leaves, the entire plant is utilised medicinally. This plant also offers many other benefits, including immunomodulation, hypoglycemia, antioxidants, anti-hyperglycemia, allergies, inflammation, and diabetic mellitus. Most of the plant{\textquoteright}s chemical makeup comprises alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, sesquiterpenoids, aliphatic, diterpenoid lactones, and other unidentified evidence. This study highlights the many traditional and ethnobotanical uses of T. cordifolia and the countless pharmacological, phytochemical, and clinical literature written about the plant.

}, keywords = {Ethnobotanical, Guduchi, Pharmacological., Phytochemical, Polysaccharides, Tinospora cordifolia}, doi = {10.5530/pres.16.2.28}, author = {Snehangshu Gupta and Annammadevi G.S and Sourav Nag and Reshmi Paul and Sumanta Mondal} } @article {1196, title = {Calotropin: Natural Phytomolecules for Cutting-edge Features}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {16}, year = {2023}, month = {December 2023}, pages = {19-25}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {19}, abstract = {

Phytochemical is a collective term for plant chemicals with varied structure and function. The most common sources of phytochemicals are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and other plant foods. Calotropin is a pharmacologically active compound isolated from milkweed plants like Calotropis procera, Calotropis gigantea, and Asclepias curassavica that belong to the Asclepiadaceae family which is used for medicinal purposes in many Asian countries. Calotropin is identified as a highly potent cardenolide that has a similar chemical structure to cardiac glycosides (such as digoxin and digitoxin). Among cardenolides, calotropin is identified as the most promising agent. Calotropin has cytotoxic and anti-tumor impacts, with cancers of the breast, colon, lung, and leukemia malignancies exhibiting the most significant effects. The effects of calotropin on cancer have been extensively studied in preclinical pharmacological studies in vitro using cancer cell lines and in vivo in experimental animal models that have targeted antitumor mechanisms and anticancer signaling pathways. During ancient times, calotropin was utilized in various techniques. A macerated bark extract is frequently utilized for de-hearing hides and tanning. Calotropin is a particularly effective abortifacient or interceptive agent in females. Cardenolide calotropin is poisonous. This critique focused on its chemistry and therapeutic activity in various cancer cells.

}, keywords = {Asclepias curassavica, Calotropin, Calotropis gigantea, Calotropis procera, Cardenolide.}, doi = {10.5530/pres.16.1.3}, author = {Sourav Nag and Reshmi Paul and Sumanta Mondal and Naresh Panigrahi and Partha Roy} } @article {1148, title = {In Quest of the Mysterious Holistic Vedic Herb Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {15}, year = {2023}, month = {June 2023}, pages = {410-454}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {410}, abstract = {

Throughout history, complementary and alternative therapies have been widely utilised. In recent years, there has been a surge in interest in the usage of herbal treatments all around the world. Various natural chemicals, such as those produced from plants, have been investigated as potential therapies for a myriad of ailments. The essence of this review was to methodically describe everything we know about Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell, a mysterious holistic Vedic herb belonging to the Plantaginaceae family, a well-known nootropic and effective memory enhancer, which has recently emerged as one of the most important medical herbs, widely used therapeutically in the Orient and growing in popularity around the world. Literature was gathered from sources such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, and reviewed using the Prisma quality metacritic paradigm. It is now plainly obvious that current therapies fall short of meeting the demands of the vast majority of individuals with health problems, and traditional medicines are gaining appeal as a result of their reduced toxicity. Bacopa is a traditional herb used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat brain and nerve weariness, as well as in Siddha medicine to treat impaired memory. It{\textquoteright}s also used to cure brain and nerve exhaustion in Unani medicine. We improved Brahmi micropropagation and secondary metabolite biosynthesis by compiling pharmacobotanical and pharmacognostical descriptions, as well as ethnoarchaeological data and nanotechnology domination. This critique also highlights our contemporary information of pharmacological activity, preclinical and clinical investigations, significant bioactives, reported mechanisms of action, clinical effectiveness, safety, and the potential for herb-drug interactions. At the same time, the current incarnation of research at the plant is reviewed, as well as future research possibilities. Brahmi offers a lot of potential for treating a range of illnesses, including neuro-pharmacological, depression, inflammation, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, and others. According to the presumptions of this review, further clinical trials and research are needed. While the impact of Brahmi as an anxiolytic and antidepressant has to be explored further, its potential as an anti-epileptic therapy and a treatment for antiepileptic drugs side effects is also being researched. Furthermore, Brahmi{\textquoteright}s antioxidant ability may explain, at least in part, the antistress, immunomodulatory, cognition-facilitating, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging benefits documented in experimental animals and clinical circumstances, necessitating further study into its other therapeutic characteristics.

}, keywords = {Bacopa monnieri, Cheminformatics, Clinical trials, Herpestis monnieri, Pharmacological Testimony, Phytomolecules., Plantaginaceae}, doi = {10.5530/pres.15.3.045}, author = {Sumanta Mondal and Kausik Bhar and Prasenjit Mondal and Naresh Panigrahi and Suvendu Kumar Sahoo and Pydi Swetha and Subhadip Chakraborty and Nooka Yaswanth Teja and Neha Parveen} } @article {1103, title = {An Insight into the Elusive Healer Plant {\textquotedblleft}Luffa echinata Roxb.{\textquotedblright}}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {15}, year = {2023}, month = {December 2022}, pages = {26-41}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {26}, abstract = {

Recent years have seen a global rise in the use of herbal medicine. Many naturally occurring bioactive substances, especially those derived from plants, have been studied as potential cures for various diseases. Luffa echinata Roxb., a mysterious medicinal plant from the Cucurbitaceae family, has recently gained recognition as one of the most important medicinal herbs among them. Many phytochemicals found in this plant have been found to have therapeutic potential, including xanthones, alkaloids, phytosterols, flavonoids/isoflavonoids, chalcone, glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, carbohydrates, proteins, reducing sugars, fatty acids, tannins, and phenolic compounds. Other potent phytoconstituents of this plant include saponins, hentriacontane, gypsogenin, sapogenin, cucurbitacin (A, B, C, D, E, K, S, and I), β-sitosterol, echinatol (A and B), oleanolic acid, isoquercetin, quercimeritrin, and sitosterol glycoside. Cucurbitacin, a prominent class of triterpenoids found in L. echinata, has been proven effective in numerous reports. Recent research has shown that cucurbitacins can decapitate or inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. Luffa echinacea{\textquoteright}s fruit and leaves have long been used as purgatives and to cure liver disease, hemorrhoids, jaundice, migraines, emesis, and other conditions by Indian and Chinese physicians. Ulcers and sores have also been expelled using them. During the field study, it was found that the tribal community (Tharus) of Khatima utilized extremely bitter, squeezed fruit stuff given to sufferers of dog bites in the morning on an empty stomach, and more than 500 people have been adequately treated thus far. The therapeutic potential and phytoconstituents of Luffa echinata have been clarified by pharmacological and phytochemical studies; further study is required to investigate these phytoconstituents and their structures.

}, keywords = {Cucurbitaceae, Cucurbitacin, Ethnobotanical, Luffa echinata Roxb., Pharmacobotanical, Pharmacological Testimony, Phytomolecules}, doi = {10.5530/097484900254}, author = {Sumanta Mondal and Kausik Bhar and Renu Kumari and Prasenjit Mondal and Subhadip Chakraborty and Nooka Yaswanth Teja} } @article {39, title = {{\textquotedblleft}Haripriya{\textquotedblright} God{\textquoteright}s Favorite: Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. - At a Glance}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Resea}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {February 2020}, pages = {1-16}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {1}, abstract = {

The Kadam tree is highly regarded as religiously and culturally in India being sacred to Lord Krishna, and hence, the tree is also known as Haripriya, God{\textquoteright}s favorite. This article provides a detailed review of Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb) Miq. (family {\textendash} Rubiaceae) that covers taxonomical classification, vernacular names, geographical distribution, botanical description, ethnobotanical information, pharmacological studies, and phytochemistry. Several parts of this plant have a number of traditional applications for treating humanity, which includes mouth ulcer, subdermal inflammatory deposits, stomatitis, fever, gastric disturbance, astringent, febrifuge, antiseptic, diuretics, anemia, uterine complaints, increase breast milk in lactating women, improvement of semen quality in men, nanotechnology, and agroforestry. The plant parts produce various pharmacological activities such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, antitumor, nephrotoxicity, diuretic and laxative, antihepatotoxic, hypolipidemic, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antifilarial antimalarial, sedative, antiepileptic, urolithiatic, immunomodulatory, antivenom, gastroprotective, anthelminthic, wound healing, antimicrobial, geranyl acetate esterase inhibition along with toxicological studies, nanotechnology, and agroforestry, which are newly added applications. Many phytoconstituents were isolated using various solvents and obtained compounds, such as cadambine, 3α-dihydrocadambine, isodihydrocadambine, β-sitosterol, amygdalin, phelasin, ursolic acid, linalool, and geraniol that belong to alkaloids, coumarins, terpenoids, diterpenoids, triterpenes glycosides, sterols, flavonoids, amides, and fatty acids. Various solvent extracts and their gas chromatography{\textendash}mass spectrometry studies have confirmed structures of some important phytoconstituents. Hence, this review can be a good reference for researchers who are willing to continue further research about A. cadamba.

}, keywords = {Anthocephalus cadamba, Ethnobotanical information, Haripriya, Pharmacological activities, Phytoconstituents}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_102_19}, author = {Sumanta Mondal and Kausik Bhar and Ashes Sinha Mahapatra and Joy Mukherjee and Prasenjit Mondal and Syed Tazib Rahaman and Aishwarya P Nair} } @article {190, title = {Phytochemical and Pharmacological Screening of Begonia grandis Dryand}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {January 2021}, pages = {375-379}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {375}, abstract = {

Begonia grandis Dryand (Family: Begoniaceae) was screened for its phytoconstituents and evaluated for its ethnomedicinal potential as an antioxidant and hepatoprotective agent. The preliminary phytochemical studies of the B. grandis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, triterpenoids, and steroids. Antioxidant effect of the methanolic extract was assessed by DPPH, superoxide, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and hepatoprotective effect by CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. The extract showed significant antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects at a dose of 400 mg/kg similar to that observed in ascorbic acid and silymarin.

}, keywords = {Antioxidant, Begonia grandis, Begoniaceae, Ethnomedicinal, Hepatoprotective, Silymarin}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_67_20}, author = {Srinivasarao Pendy and Krishna Nallamothu and Ganapaty Seru and Sunitha Katta and Sumanta Mondal} } @article {319, title = {Antiarthritic Potential of Aqueous and Ethanolic Fruit Extracts of {\textquotedblleft}Momordica charantia{\textquotedblright} Using Different Screening Models}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {July 2018}, pages = {258-264}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {258}, abstract = {

Background: Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae) is a plant, reported for its variety of ethnic medicinal uses and widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. Objective: The present work has been planned to screen antiarthritic activity of fruit of the plant with the ethanolic and aqueous extracts. Materials and Methods: Fruit powder was successively extracted with ethanol (95\%) and water using soxhlet extraction and subjected to phytochemical screening to identify different phytoconstituents. Ld50 studies for both (ethanolic and aqueous) extracts were conducted up to the dose level of 2 g/kg by following OECD up and down method of guidelines No. 425. Antiarthritic activity was performed using formaldehyde, Freund{\textquoteright}s adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats, and Collagen-induced arthritis model in mice. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett{\textquoteright}s t-test. P \< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Preliminary phytochemical studies revealed the presence of saponins, sterols, mucilage, glycosides, alkaloids, steroidal saponins in both the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of M. charantia. No mortality was observed with aqueous and ethanolic extracts up to the maximum dose level of 2 g/kg. In Formaldehyde induced arthritis model the percentage reduction in paw volume was 30.69\% and 42.81\% for aqueous extract whereas for ethanolic extract it was 25.23\% and 39.5\%. In Freund{\textquoteright}s adjuvant model, the percentage of reduction in paw volume was 56.1\% and 66.51\% for ethanolic extract and 52.6\% and 63.83\% for aqueous extract, respectively. In collagen-induced arthritis models, the arthritis index was found 6.02 and 3.68 for ethanolic extract at medium and high dosage. The arthritis index of aqueous extract was found 5.66 and 4.03 at medium and high dosage. Conclusion: From the present experimental findings of both pharmacological and biochemical parameters observed from the current investigation, it is concluded that at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg aqueous extract of M. charantia possesses potentially useful anti-arthritic activity since it gives a positive result in controlling inflammation in adjuvant-induced arthritic and collagen-induced arthritis model in rats and mice

}, keywords = {Anti-arthritic, Collagen, Formaldehyde, Freund{\textquoteright}s adjuvant, Momordica. charantia}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_5_18}, author = {Venu Kola and Prasenjit Mondal and Manish Kumar Thimmaraju and Sumanta Mondal and Nimma Venkat Rao} } @article {425, title = {Evaluation of Toxicological, Diuretic, and Laxative Properties of Ethanol Extract from Macrothelypteris Torresiana (Gaudich) Aerial Parts with In silico Docking Studies of Polyphenolic Compounds on Carbonic Anhydrase II: An Enzyme Target for Diuretic Acti}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {October 2018}, pages = {408-416}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {408}, abstract = {

Background: Macrothelypteris torresiana (Gaudich) is a species of fern having a wide range of reputed medicinal properties for the treatment of inflammation, fever, renal failure, stomach problems, etc. Objective: The present investigation focused on the evaluation of toxicity profile and diuretic and laxative activities of ethanol extract from M. torresiana aerial parts (EEMTAP), with in silico docking studies of polyphenolic compounds on carbonic anhydrase (CA)-II, an enzyme target for diuretic activity. Materials and Methods: Acute and subacute toxicity was performed according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines. EEMTAP at doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg, p.o., employed for the assessment of diuretic and laxative activities with loperamide-induced constipation in Wistar albino rats. Furosemide (10 mg/kg, p.o.), agar-agar (300 mg/kg, p.o.), and sodium picosulfate (5 mg/kg, p.o) were used as reference standards, respectively, for activity comparison. During saluretic activity study, total urine volume, body weight before and after the experiment, and urinary levels of Na+, K+ (by flame photometry), and Cl- (by titrimetry) were estimated. Polyphenolic compounds such as caffeic acid and quercetin were successfully detected through chromatographic method of EEMTAP, and to rationalize the results obtained in diuretic activities, we carried out docking studies of the natural phenolic compounds against CA-II enzyme co-complexed with furosemide (Protein Data Bank ID: 1Z9Y CA-II in complex with furosemide as sulfonamide inhibitor). Results: In acute toxicity study, no mortality was observed at 2000 mg/kg, p.o., and in subacute toxicity study, the extract-treated group did not show any significant changes in body weight and organ weights. The hematological and biochemical parameters did not show any significant changes in the sample-treated groups when compared with the control group animals. The laxative activity of the extract was found to be in a dose-dependent increase in fecal output of rats at selected dose levels; similarly, EEMTAP significantly increased the urinary output as well as urinary electrolyte concentration in a dose-dependent manner. The molecular docking studies of phenolic compounds (caffeic acid and quercetin) into the binding site of CA II enzyme reveals that these analogues are having more favourable interaction when compared to the furosemide with better docking scores and hydrogen bonding interactions. Conclusion: The result demonstrated that the EEMTAP possesses a reasonable safety profile and shows promising diuretic and laxative activities in a dose-dependent manner.

}, keywords = {Diuretic, in silico docking studies, Laxative, Macrothelypteris torresiana, Toxicity}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_16_18}, author = {Sumanta Mondal and Naresh Panigrahi and Purab Sancheti and Ruchi Tirkey and Prasenjit Mondal and Sara Almas and Venu Kola} }