Anthelmintic activity of extracts of Artemisia absinthium against ovine nematodes

The increasing prevalence of anthelmintic resistant strains of helminths, drug residues in animal products and high cost of conventional anthelmintics has created an interest in studying medicinal plants as an alternative source of anthelmintics. Artemisia absinthium Linn. (Tethwen) is used traditionally by people as a vermifuge in addition to its other livestock uses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of crude aqueous extracts (CAE) and crude ethanolic extracts (CEE) of the aerial parts of A. absinthium in comparison to albendazole against the gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes of sheep. To fulfill the objectives, the worm motility inhibition assay was utilized in order to investigate the direct effects of plant extracts on the survival of the adult nematodes under in vitro conditions and faecal egg count reduction assay to investigate the effects on faecal egg output of GI nematodes under in vivo conditions. Significant anthelmintic effects of CAE and CEE on live adult Haemonchus contortus worms (P < 0.005) were observed in terms of the paralysis and/or death of the worms at different hours post-treatment (PT), however, CEE were more efficacious than CAE. The oral administration of the extracts in sheep was associated with significant reduction in faecal egg output by the GI nematodes. The CEE was as effective as the reference drug-albendazole and demonstrated faecal egg count reduction (FECR) of 90.46% in sheep at 2.0 g kg(-1) body weight on day 15 PT followed by 82.85% FECR at 1.0 g kg(-1) bw on day 15 PT. The CAE showed less activity and resulted in maximum of 80.49% FECR at 2.0 g kg(-1)bw. Dosage had a significant (P < 0.05) influence on the anthelmintic efficacy of A. absinthium. The better activity of CEE can be attributed to the greater concentration of alcohol soluble active anthelmintic principle/s and a more rapid transcuticular absorption of the CEE into the body of the worms when compared with the CAE. The results of the present study suggest that A. absinthium extracts are a promising alternative to the commercially available anthelmintics for the treatment of GI nematodes of sheep.

An endophytic Neurospora sp. from Nothapodytes foetida producing camptothecin

The medicinal plant, Nothapodytes foetida contains a number of important alkaloids like camptothecin (an anticancer drug molecule) but its concentration is less to meet the existing demand of this important molecule, so in an effort for accessible availability of camptothecin. An endophyte (designated ZP5SE) was isolated from the seed of Nothapodytes foetida and was examined as potential source of anticancer drug lead compound i.e. camptothecin, when grown in Sabouraud liquid culture media under shake flask conditions. The presence of anticancer compound (camptothecin) in this fungus was confirmed by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods in comparison with authentic camptothecin. Isolated endophyte (Neurospora crassa) producing camptothecin may become an easily accessible source for the production of precursor anticancer drug molecule in future at large scale.

Podophyllum hexandrum Offers Radioprotection by Modulating Free Radical Flux: Role of Aryl-Tetralin Lignans

We have evaluated the effect of variation in aryl-tetralin lignans on the radioprotective properties of Podophyllum hexandrum. Two fractionated fractions of P. hexandrum [methanolic (S1) and chloroform fractions (S2)], with varying aryl-tetralin lignan content were utilized for the present study. The peroxyl ion scavenging potentials of S1 and S2 were found to be comparable [i.e. 45.88% (S1) and 41% (S2)] after a 48 h interval in a time-dependent study, whereas in a 2 h study, S2 exhibited significant (P < 0.05) antioxidant activity in different metal ion + flux states. In the aqueous phase, S2 exhibited non-site-specific reactive oxygen species scavenging activity, i.e. 73.12% inhibition at 500 μg ml⁻¹. S1 exhibited 58.40 ± 0.8% inhibition (at 0.025 μg ml⁻¹) of the formation of reactive nitrite radicals, comparable to S2 (52.45 ± 0.825%), and also showed 45.01% site-specific activity (1000 μg ml⁻¹), along with significant (P < 0.05) electron donation potential (50–2000 μg ml⁻¹) compared to S2. Such activities of S1 could be attributed to the significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of podophyllotoxin β-d-glucopyranoside (16.5 times) and demethyl podophyllotoxin glucoside (2.9 times) compared with S2. Together, these findings clearly prove that aryl-tetralin lignan content influences the radiation protective potential of the Podophyllum fractions to a great extent.

Preparative High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Separation of Naphthodianthrones from St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), a perennial flowering plant, has been used medicinally for thousands of years and has most recently been identified as an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression and neuralgic disorders. This work presents a procedure for the isolation of naphthodianthrones from St. John's Wort by an accelerated extraction and separation of marker compounds by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with photodiode array detection. The accelerated extraction method minimizes the extraction time and increases the yield, and the marker compounds obtained by preparative HPLC are of 98% purity. The compounds are characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (electrospray ionization) and NMR spectra.

A brevifoliol analogue from the Himalyan yew Taxus wallichiana

The needles of Taxus wallichiana gave a new brevifoliol derivative whose structure was established by spectral data.

Volatile Constituents of Dracocephalum nutans

The essential oil of DRACOCEPHALUM NUTANS L. (Lamiaceae) has been investigated for the first time. The GC-MS analysis of the oil showed the presence of about 25 monoterpenoids including pinocamphone (56.4%), beta-pinene (12.7%), isopinocamphone (4.3%), alpha-phellandrene (4.6%), and isopinocampheol (3.7%).