Diuretic activity of squamate mistletoe, Viscum angulatum.

Viscum angulatum Heyne ex DC (Viscaceae) is a leafless hemiparasitic shrub traditionally used in Asian countries for the treatment of hypertension. In the present study, the methanol extract of the whole plant was examined for diuretic activity in rats. The activity was evaluated using parameters such as urine volume after 5, 19, and 24 h and urine sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations. The extract was further scrutinized for polyphenolic compounds and triterpenoids. The extract demonstrated a significant increase in and dose-dependent effect on urine excretion volume in comparison to the normal group in the tested range of 100-400 mg/kg. The extract demonstrated comparable saluretic and higher natriuretic activity (Na(+)/K(+)) compared to the furosemide treated group. However, the Cl(-)/Na(+) + K(+) ratio, which indicates carbonic anhydrase mediated activity, remained unaffected. HPLC and quantitative analysis of the extract revealed that polyphenolic compounds and the triterpenoid, oleanolic acid, are the major phytochemicals, and are proposed to be responsible for the observed diuretic effect. Oleanolic acid has been reported to possess diuretic activity with significant potassium loss in rats. In contrast to pure oleanolic acid, the extract demonstrated a valuable potassium-sparing effect. This suggests modulation of the diuretic effect of oleanolic acid by polyphenolics present in the extract. The observed dose-dependent potassium-sparing diuretic effect is a hereto unreported property of this plant.

Preliminary Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial studies on Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb.

The antibacterial activity of Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb. bark was tested against different species of bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the methanolic extract showed that there was no growth in Shigella soneii 2, E.coli MTCC 1568, Bacillus pumilus 8241, Proteus mirabilis AM 198, Bacillus subtelis ATCC 6633, E. Coli Row 7/12 Species at 200-400g/ml. From the result obtained, it was observed that the methanolic extract of. Artocarpus lakoocha at concentration of 200 gl ml and 400 gl ml exhibited a good activity against gram negative bacteria.

Anthelmintic activity of root bark of Carissa carandas.

The anthelmintic activity of the Imethanolic extract of the root bark of Carissa carandas was evaluated on adult Indian earthworm (Pheretima posthuma) using albendazole as a reference standard. The extract caused paralysis followed by the death of worm at the tested dose level. The extract at the highest tested concentration has anthelmintic activity comparable with that of standard drug albendazole.

COMPARISION OF DIURETIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF AERVA LANATA (Linn.) Juss. ex. Schult & AERVA TOMENTOSA Forsk. Family: AMARANTHACEAE.

The diuretic activity of concentrated ethanolic extract of Aerva lanata (Linn) & Aerva tomentosa Forsk on healthy albino rats were studied with frusemide as reference drug. The urine output increased with concentrated ethanolic extract of Aerva lanata only. In this case the level of electrolytes in urine also increased. But the diuretic activity was mild as compared to frusemide.

Pharmacognostical evaluation of chlorophytum borivilianum root.

Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapan and Fernandes is an important medicinal Plant in Ayurveda and it is used mainly for its aphrodisiac activity. It is very closely related to other species also. The present work attempts to identify the Chlorophytum borivilianum from other allied species in general by pharmacognostical, preliminary phytochemical and fluorescence analysis methods.

Regeneration of plants from leaf explants of Cucumis melo cv. Pusa Sharbati.

Leaves of three different sizes excised from 14, 21, 28 and 35-day-old seedlings of Cucumis melo were cultured on a MS medium supplemented with a range and combination of growth regulators. Maximum shoot differentiation from the leaf explants occurred in the combined presence of BAP and 2iP at equimolar concentration of 1 µM. Regeneration potential of leaves declined with increasing size of the leaves and the age of the donor seedlings. For elongation the shoots were transferred to MS+BAP [1 µM]. Such shoots were rooted with 75% frequency on MS+IAA [0.5 µM]. The plants have been established in pots.

GLC identification and determination of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) from plasma and urine.

A GLC method for qualitative and quantitative determination of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine in biological fluids is described. After extraction of the drug and the internal standard, 4-methoxyamphetamine, from plasma and urine, the solvent is evaporated and the residue is mixed with 20 mul of freshly distilled ether. Aliquots (1-2 mul) then are injected into the gas chromatograph. Both the drug and the internal standard give well-separated symmetrical peaks. Flame-ionization detection allows concentrations of 0.125 mug of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine from plasma to be determined with a precision of 3.16%. The method is applicable to the estimation of 4-methoxyamphetamine, employing 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine as the internal standard. For identification purposes, various derivatives such as Schiff bases, isothiocyanates, trifluoroacetates, and heptafluorobutyrates of both compounds were formed following extraction from urine and their GLC behavior was investigated. Derivative formation was confirmed by GLC-mass spectrometry. Mass spectral data for these derivatives are presented.