Aims: Khaya grandifoliola C.DC is a plant used locally in Nigeria ethno medicine for remedy of various disease conditions. However, there is little scientific evidence to support the therapeutic claims of the plant. Therefore, these investigations were conducted to determine the antimicrobial activity, antioxidant and cytotoxic potentials of the plant extracts. Methodology and results: In vitro antimicrobial activity of the leaf and stem bark extracts of K. grandifoliola against some human pathogens was done using agar diffusion method. The free radical scavenging activity and cytotoxic property of the plant materials were evaluated using 2, 2- diphenyl-1-pieryhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and brine shrimp lethality bioassay methods respectively. The yields of the plant material extracts ranged from 3.57±0.06 to 6.49±0.01% and 4.76±0.02 to 9.17±0.06% for the leaf and stem bark extracts respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of KG-A and KG-E ranged from 2.5 to 200 mg/mL and recorded remarkable activity against the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Trichophyton rubrum and Aspergillus flavus. However, Strepcoccus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and T. rubrum were resistant to the KG-W. The plant extracts demonstrated high DPPH free radical scavenging activity when compared with ascorbic acid used as control in the assay and, also exhibited lethality against brine shrimp larvae with LC50 values ranging from: leaf extracts (0.67 to 1502 ppm) and stem bark extracts (0.91 to 1431 ppm). Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The results show that the KG-A and KG-E have great potentials as antimicrobial agent and may be used in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by the susceptible organisms.
Plants, Medicinal

Aims: Quantitative screening of phytochemical properties and antimicrobial activities were done on some plants of importance in human medicine as traditional herbs to treat fish diseases in Malaysia. Six extracts of Vitex trifolia, Aloe vera, Strobilanthes crispus, Clinacanthus nutans, Pereskia grandifolia and Peperomia pellucida were determined for phytochemical properties and their antibacterial activities against common freshwater pathogens i.e. Streptococcus agalactiae, Aeromonas hydrophila and Enterobacter cloacae. Methodology and results: Qualitative screening of phytochemical properties in herbs were determined using conversional method for flavonoids, tannins, saponin, alkaloids steroid and glycoside The results showed flavonoid was presence in all plant extracts. For the antimicrobial activity, the aqueous and methanolic extracts were tested by using disk diffusion method. Antimicrobial assay of methanolic crude extracts (25 to 100 mg/mL) showed effectiveness against the pathogenic bacteria. Comparatively, all aqueous extracts did not show any antimicrobial activity. Strong antibacterial activity was shown by the methanolic extracts of V. trifolia, A. vera and S. crispus while moderate antimicrobial activity was shown by C. nutans, P. grandifolia and P. pellucida. Conclusion, significance and impact study: The current results indicated that the studied plants might indeed be potential sources of natural antimicrobial agents to control fish diseases.
Plants, Medicinal

No abstract available.
Plants, Medicinal*

Aims: Plant diseases caused by pathogens are threatening crop yield. Agrochemicals are used extensively to curb pathogens. Efforts to reduce the usage of agrochemicals are needed for sustainable agriculture. This study was aimed to screen medicinal plants possessing antifungal properties against crop pathogenic fungi. Methodology and results: Sequential extraction using absolute n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol was performed on nine selected medicinal plants to obtain crude extract. An antifungal assay using these crude extracts was performed on Fusarium solani, Collectotrichum musae and two isolates of Pyricularia oryzae. The assay showed that medicinal plant species with all three types of crude extract inhibited the growth of all three pathogenic fungal species tested. The inhibitory effects of crude extracts were not only fungal species dependent but also isolate dependent. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Antifungal effect of nine selected medicinal plant species was observed against the three tested fungal pathogens. These research findings suggest that the selected medicinal plant species may serve as a potential source for the development of new biofungicide products.
Plants, Medicinal

Aims: Acalypha indica (AI), Centella asiatica (CA), and Sesbania grandiflora (SG) are vegetables commonly used in traditional medicine in Asian countries to treat skin problems. In this study, we investigated their pharmacological activities relevant to wound healing and synergistic actions to provide an insight into a promising vegetable combination as a candidate treatment for wounds. Methodology and results: The stimulatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of aqueous (A) and methanol (M) extracts of all the three vegetables were assessed alone and in combination in normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells in vitro. CA-A (89.52%) and the combination of AI-A+CA-A (90.76%) produced the highest percentage of wound closure. AI-A exhibited the highest total phenolic content (TPC) (82.94 mg GAE/g) and moderate reducing activity (61.63 mM Fe (II)/mg) when assessed by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), and the combination of AI-A+CA-A exhibited scavenging activity at IC50 = 379.75 µg/mL and IC50 = 578.7 µg/mL, respectively. Pre-treatment of NHDF cells with CA-M at 100 µg/mL offered the highest protection against hydrogen peroxide. All single and combined vegetable extracts showed poor antibacterial properties against Gram negative and Gram positive bacterial species implicated in wound infection. Only AI-A+CA-A executed synergism in fibroblast migration when assessed via the combination index (CI). Furthermore, screening and identification of AI-A, CA-A, and CA-M via UHPLC (LC-MS/MS) system revealed that the major components responsible for all the tested bioactivities were phenolic groups such as simple polyphenols, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and triterpenes (asiaticoside and madecassosides). Conclusion, significance and impact of study The vegetable extracts of A. indica, C. asiatica, and S. grandiflora exhibited good bioactivities independently. However, only AI-A+CA-A showed synergism in combination to accelerate the migration of fibroblast and increase antioxidant activities. These findings demonstrate the potential formulation of combined vegetable extracts from the two species of A. indica and C. asiatica for optimum wound healing properties.
Plants, Medicinal

Total glue or extraction juice, which were made from Streptocaulon juventas (Lour) Merr., Asclepiadaceae in benzene segmentation, increased survival rate of experimental mice with copperhead venom intoxication is from 30% to 60% and prolong the resistant time from 2.4 to 9.8 time in comparison with placebo. Effect of glue is more strong than extraction juice in benzene segmentation. Model of copperhead venom intoxication is nearly with common intoxication, and intoxication due bacteria and allergy. Thus experimental result suggested for previous studies about detoxicated effect and antiallergy of this medicinal plant.
Asclepiadaceae ; plants ; Plants, Medicinal

WHO issued the guidance for evaluation of the safety and validity of herbal medicine including the qualitative standards of materials, and preparations (fresh and dry materials, processed materials, storage, package and labeling), and general researches on the pharmaceutical and pharmacological aspects (toxicity, grow, and materials development).
Plants ; Plants, Medicinal

The botanical characteristics of Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et Hemsl. (red Polygonatum) and P. cyrtonema Hua (ginger Polygonatum) were described. The microscopic characteristics were proposed for the standard control of the herbs. The plant rhizomes might be prepared into the form named as cooked Polygonatum
Polygonatum ; Plants ; Plants ; Medicinal

Genus Oxalis L. belonging to the Oxalidaceae R. Br. family. Another species belonging to the Genus Oxalis L. known as “Khe dat”, an annual medicinal plant has recently been found in Tien Phuoc district, Quang Nam province in 2002. This plant has scientific name Oxalis barrelieri L., its origin comes from the South American, it also grows in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and etc. The juice of the fresh leave is used for sunstroke, influenza and headache. The fresh leaves and young branches are also used as vegetables.
Plants ; Plants, Medicinal ; Vegetables

Soil samples were collected in the provinces of Hai Duong and Thanh Hoa, and in Ha Noi, Da Lat and Sapa cities. Each sample was taken from 9 spots of soil situated on 2 diagonals, that were mixed together. The chemical composition of the soil varied widely in different ecological areas. All the samples of soil showed light acid reaction, while those taken from Sapa (province of Lao Cai) were the most acid. Ha Noi soil samples were neutral. Almost soil samples were poor in total N, P and K, except that of Sapa, which was rich in N, while samples taken from Ha Noi and Thanh Hoa were the poorest. The total amount of P and K varied from poor to medium.
Plants, Medicinal ; Plants ; Soil