Pharmacognostical identification of Alchemilla japonica Nakai et Hara (Identificación farmacognóstica de Alchemilla japonica Nakai et Hara)
Resumen Context: Alchemilla japonica is a therapeutically important medicinal plant, which is widely used in traditional medicine external application for injuries as well as orally for acute diarrhea, dysmenorrhea, and menorrhagia, among others. However, there is not a correct identification of this species and is of prime importance differentiate it from commonly available adulterants or substitutes, in fresh, dried or powdered state. There is only a small number of data of pharmacological standards for identification and authentication of A. japonica. Aims: To characterize morpho-anatomically the roots, leaves and stems of Alchemilla japonica Nakai et Hara (Rosaceae), explore and establish the micromorphology and quality control method for this plant. Methods: Pharmacognostic and phytochemical investigations were conducted in terms of macroscopic, microscopic and preliminary phytochemical parameters. Results: The transverse of root showed presence of polygonal parenchyma cells and obvious triangular intercellular space. The stele of the root was tetrarch. There was trichome in the epidermis cells of stem transverse section, but its cortex was wider than others. Xylem cells arranged in continuously cyclization. The phloem was more than ten bundles. There were many trichomes on the folicolous and palisade tissue contained cluster crystal of calcium oxalate, bundle sheath forms ring closed. The diagnostic feature of powder was cluster type of crystals of calcium oxalate. Trichomes were also observed. The main diagnostic feature of powder was Pente-like thickening cell walls of the subsidiary cells. Conclusions: The leaves, roots, and stem of A. japonica can be differentiated by macro and microscopic characters. Various pharmacognostic characters that observed in this study can help in identification and standardization of this species. Contexto: Alchemilla japonica es una planta medicinal, terapeutica- mente importante, que se utiliza ampliamente en la medicina tradicional por aplicacion externa en lesiones, asi como por via oral para la diarrea aguda, dismenorrea y menorragia, entre otras. Sin embargo, no hay una correcta identificacion de la especie y es de primordial importancia diferenciar esta de adulterantes comunmente disponibles o sustitutos, en estado fresco, seco o en polvo. Solo hay un pequeno numero de datos de patrones farmacologicos para la identificacion y autenticacion de A. japonica. Objetivos: Caracterizar desde el punto de vista morfo-anatomico las raices, hojas y tallos de Alchemilla japonica Nakai et Hara (Rosaceae), analizar y establecer la micromorfologia y el metodo de control de calidad para esta planta.
Pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies on Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam . – A Kazakh and Uygur ethnomedicinal plant
Resumen Context: Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. (Lamiaceae) is an annual or perennial herb or subshrub widely distributed from the Mediterranean to central Asia and Afghanistan. In Xinjiang, China, the whole herb has been used in traditional Kazakh and Uygur medicines as anti-febrile and detoxicating drug. Aims: To characterize macroscopical, microscopically of the overground part of the Z. clinopodioides, explore and establish the macromorphology, micro-morphology, quality and physicochemical parameters standards for this plant. Methods: Pharmacognostical and phytochemical investigations were conducted in terms of macroscopic, microscopic and preliminary phytochemical parameters. Results: The vegetable material can be identified by structural features of the flowers, structural characteristics of the stem, specific pale brown hesperidin can be regarded as identification character. This crude drug showed the characteristic physicochemical values like total ash (7%), insoluble ash (1.3%), water soluble ash (3.7%), moisture (7.5%). The ethanolic extract contained flavonoids, organic acids, alkaloids, and glycosides. Conclusions: Various pharmacognostical characters that observed in this study can be an effective supplement to further research of this ethnomedicinal plant. Meanwhile, the results of this paper deal with pharmacognostical studies on the Ziziphora clinopodioides in an attempt to mitigate the adulteration to the crude drug. Contexto: Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. (Lamiaceae) es una hierba anual o perenne o arbusto ampliamente distribuida desde el Mediterráneo a Asia central y Afganistán. En Xinjiang, China, la hierba entera se ha utilizado en las medicinas tradicionales de Kazajistán y Uygur como droga anti-febril y desintoxicante. Objetivos: Caracterizar macroscópicamente y microscópicamente la parte aérea de Z. clinopodioides, explorar y establecer la macro-morfología, la micro-morfología, la calidad y los parámetros físico-químicos estándares para esta planta. Métodos: Las investigaciones farmacognósticas y fitoquímicas se realizaron en términos de parámetros macroscópicos, microscópicos y fitoquímicos preliminares. Resultados: El material vegetal pudo ser identificado por las características estructurales de las flores, las características estructurales del tallo, específico color marrón pálido hesperidina puede ser considerado como carácter de identificación. Esta droga cruda bruto mostró los valores fisicoquímicos característicos como cenizas totales (7%), cenizas insolubles (1,3%), cenizas solubles en agua (3,7%) y humedad (7,5%). El extracto etanólico contenía flavonoides, ácidos orgánicos, alcaloides y glucósidos. Conclusiones: Varios caracteres farmacognósticos que se observaron en este estudio pueden ser un suplemento efectivo para investigaciones posteriores de esta planta etnomedicinal. Mientras tanto, los resultados de este trabajo se refieren a estudios farmacognósticos sobre la Ziziphora clinopodioides en un intento por mitigar la adulteración de la droga cruda.
Studies on the antiplasmodial properties of some South African medicinal plants used as antimalarial remedies in Zulu folk medicine.
The parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay method, a recently developed in vitro enzymatic method for evaluating antimalarial compounds, was used to examine the antiplasmodial activities of the aqueous leaf, stem-bark and fruit extracts of some plants used for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of malaria in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The in vitro antiplasmodial assay was carried out using a chloroquine-sensitive strain of malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum D10. A preliminary phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts was carried out using UV spectral analysis and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to separate the chemical constituents of the extracts. Their chemical components were subsequently identified by treating the TLC plates with various spray reagents. Of the 14 plant extracts investigated, only 10 were found to have IC50 values of 10-50 micrograms/ml. The two most active extracts were Psidium guajava stem-bark extract and Vangueria infausta leaf extract, both of which showed IC50 values of 10-20 micrograms/ml. Phytochemical analysis of these two active plant extracts revealed the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, seccoirridoids and terpenoids.