Phytochemical exploration of Neolitsea pallens leaves using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS approach.

Neolitsea pallens (D. Don) Momiyama & H. Hara (Family: Lauraceae), commonly known as Pale Litsea, is an evergreen small tree, distributed in India at altitudes of 1500-3000 m. Traditionally utilized for various purposes, its leaves and bark are used as spices, and the plant is valued in preparing a hair tonic from freshly pressed juice. Secondary metabolites of the leaves have not comprehensively been analysed so far. The objective of the study was to determine the chemical composition of the leaves by analysing their 25% aqueous methanol extract with the aid of ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry. Overall, 56 compounds were identified in the study. Phenolics represented by phenolic acids, phenolic glycosides, proanthocyanidins, and flavonoids were the main components of the extract.

In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Cupressus torulosa D.DON needles extract and its chemical characterization.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cupressus torulosa (family Cupressaceae), widely distributed in the north western Himalayan region of India, is a coniferous aromatic tree with various traditional uses of its aerial parts. Its needles have been used for anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aimed at investigating the previously unknown anti-inflammatory activity of the hydromethanolic extract of the needles employing in vitro and in vivo assays and scientifically validate traditional claim of their use in treatment of inflammation. Chemical characterization of the extract with the aid of UPLCQTOFMS was also of interest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C. torulosa needles were first defatted with hexane and sequentially extracted with chloroform and 25% aqueous methanol (AM). Since the presence of phenolics (TPCs, 208.21 ± 0.95 mg GAE/g needles) and flavonoids (TFCs, 84.61 ± 1.21 mg QE/g needles) was observed in the AM extract only, it was chosen for biological and chemical examinations. Acute toxicity of the AM extract on female mice was evaluated following the OECD guideline 423. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the AM extract was examined using egg albumin denaturation assay while carrageenan-induced paw edema and formalin-induced paw edema models at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg po were used to determine the in vivo activity of the AM extract on Wistar rats of either sex. The components of the AM extract were analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS method using non-targeted metabolomics approach. RESULTS: AM extract was found to be non-toxic at 2000 mg/kg b.w. with no signs of abnormal locomotion, seizures and writhing. The extract demonstrated promising in vitro anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 160.01 µg/mL) compared to standard diclofenac sodium (IC50 73.94 µg/mL) in egg albumin denaturation assay. In carrageenan-induced paw edema and formalin-induced paw edema tests the extract showed significant anti- inflammatory activity (57.28% and 51.04% inhibition of paw edema, respectively) at the dose of 400 mg/kg p.o. after 4 h in comparison to the standard diclofenac sodium which displayed 61.39% and 52.90% inhibition, respectively, at the dose of 10 mg/kg p.o. after 4 h in these models. A total of 63 chemical constituents, majority of them being phenolics, were found in the AM extract of the needles. Two compounds namely monotropein (iridoid glycoside), (±)12-HETE (eicosanoid) and fraxin (coumarin glycoside) were reported to have anti-inflammatory effect. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time our study demonstrated that hydro-methanolic extract of C. torulosa needles exhibit anti-inflammatory activity thereby supporting their traditional use in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. UPLCQTOFMS assisted chemical profile of the extract was also unveiled.

Do assorted approaches aid in estimation of uronic acids? Case studies on Tinospora sinensis polysaccharides.

Polysaccharides containing uronic acids are of immense biological significance. Colorimetric methods using different chromogens have been explored for uronic acid estimation in polysaccharides but these methods counter numerous difficulties, when neutral sugars are present in substantial amount. The uronic acid content of cold water-soluble polysaccharide (CWSP) and hot water-soluble polysaccharide (HWSP) isolated from Tinospora sinensis, widely known for marked therapeutic significance has been studied. The uronic acid was quantitatively estimated by spectrophotometric methods using carbazole, 3-phenylphenol and 3,5-dimethylphenol (DMP) vis-a-vis gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) analysis. Galacturonic acid in CWSP and HWSP was estimated as 1.41% and 1.20% respectively. The findings bring to light, the efficacy of chromogens and also reveal to what extent, they could be relied upon. The results also indicated higher specificity and selectivity of DMP over carbazole and 3-phenylphenol. However, GLC analysis despite time consuming remains the finest method for precise estimation of uronic acids. Further, GLC analysis of alditol acetates indicated the monosugar composition of L-rhamnose, L-arabinose, D-mannose, D-galactose and D-glucose in molar ratio 0.178, 0.259, 0.140, 1.045 and 98.377 in CWSP and L-rhamnose, L-arabinose, D-xylose, D-mannose, D-galactose and D-glucose in molar ratio 0.608, 0.628, 0.978, 0.227, 0.111 and 97.448 in HWSP respectively.

Medicinal plants of rajasthan in Indian system of medicine.

Medicinal plants used in Indian system of medicine from Rajasthan state have been surveyed and catagorised systematically. The paper deals with 205 medicinal plants, thoroughly indexed along with their important traditional application for the cure of various ailments.

On the variation of alkaloidal contents of fumaria indica at different stages of life span.

The concentration of alkaloidal constituents of Fumaria indica at different stages of its life span were estimated. The total alkaloid content was found maximum between 21 - 40 days whereas a mark able variations in the concentrations of pure individual alkaloids at different stages were observed.