Journal of Medicinal Natural Products

Potential Antioxidant, Cytotoxic & Antimicrobial Activity of Edible Plant Dioscorea alata L. (Leaves & Stems)

2025-05-26T16:13:34+08:00

Ethanolic extracts of leaves & stems of D. alata L. from the Dioscoreaceae family were subjected to cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity. Crude extracts of D. alata L. showed lethality against the brine shrimp nauplii (LC₅₀ = 52 µg/mL) compared to the standard vincristine sulphate (LC₅₀ = 0.54 µg/mL) in the brine shrimp lethality bioassay test. In the free radical scavenging activity (DPPH assay), the crude extracts exhibited notable antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ was approximately 531 μg/mL) compared to the standard ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ was approximately 5.10 μg/mL). At the 250 µg/disc & 500 µg/disc concentration the crude extracts showed feeble antimicrobial activity against S. aureus (Diameter of zone of inhibition is 5.21 mm & 7.29 mm at 250 & 500 µg/disc concentration respectively) & S. epidermidis (Diameter of zone of inhibition 5.18 mm & 6.19 mm at 250 & 500 µg/disc concentration respectively) in comparison with standard drug ciprofloxacin (5 µg/disc) in disk diffusion assay test. The results suggest that the crude extracts might possess some chemical constituents responsible for cytotoxic, antioxidant & antimicrobial activities.

In Silico Investigation of Pajanelia longifolia (Willd.) K. Schum Bark Extract against NSCLC Targets: Potential Involvement in Apoptotic Pathways

2025-05-15T14:48:43+08:00

Nature provides innumerable answers to human problems, but our knowledge is restricted. The use of medicinal plants to treat health problems dates back to ancient times., It has evolved into contemporary techniques that combine traditional knowledge with modern medicine. Cancer, the biggest cause of mortality worldwide, remains difficult to treat properly. This study focusses on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)., The most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 85–90% of occurrences and associated with factors such as smoking and pollution. Pajanelia longifolia, an Indian traditional medicinal herb, has therapeutic potential and has historically been used to cure a variety of diseases. This study examines the phytochemical elements of P. longifolia bark using metabolite profiling. It evaluates its anti-NSCLC activity using computational methods. The key compounds were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and molecular docking was performed against protein B-Raf and EGFR, both linked to cancer proliferation. The findings emphasise the potential of P. longifolia as a source of bioactive chemicals for cancer therapy. They highlight the need for additional investigation into its medicinal potential, particularly in combination with proven medicines such as irinotecan.

Pharmacological Investigation of the Active Fractions of Ficus benjamina Leaf Extract

2025-07-14T11:01:34+08:00

Objective: Ficus benjamina, commonly known as the weeping fig, is valued for its medicinal properties and potential health benefits. Due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, it can treat infections, reduce inflammation, and minimize oxidative damage. This study aimed to investigate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects, along with the acute toxicity, of ethyl acetate (EA) and n-hexane (n-H) fractions derived from ethanolic leaf extract. Methods: In vivo evaluations were conducted to assess the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and acute toxicity effects of the extracts. The acetic acid-induced writhing method was used to evaluate analgesic activity, while the formaldehyde-induced paw edema method was employed to assess anti-inflammatory effects. Antipyretic activity was determined by monitoring changes in rectal temperature in mice. Acute oral toxicity testing was performed according to OECD Guideline 423 (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) using the Fixed Dose Procedure. Results: The extract of F. benjamina exhibited significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activities. In analgesic tests, the ethyl acetate fraction (250 and 500 mg/kg) inhibited pain by 36.78% and 48.27%, respectively, while the n-hexane fraction showed 37.93% and 49.42% inhibition. Anti-inflammatory assays confirmed significant activity, with the ethyl acetate fraction reducing inflammation by 34.24% and 36.98%, and the n-hexane fraction by 27.84% and 29.17% at the same respective doses. Both fractions demonstrated antipyretic effects, with the ethyl acetate fraction (500 mg/kg) showing the highest efficacy. Acute toxicity tests indicated no toxic effects at doses up to 5000 mg/kg. Conclusion: F. benjamina leaf extract demonstrated notable analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties.

Herb-Drug Interactions: A Critical Exploration in Modern Healthcare Practices

2025-06-03T14:36:50+08:00

Herb-drug interactions (HDIs) are a growing concern in modern healthcare, with almost 70% of individuals using herbal remedies alongside conventional pharmaceuticals. These interactions can have either beneficial or adverse consequences, and the concentration of a medicine in a certain tissue may change due to these interactions. Herb-mediated blockage and activation of protein transporters and drug-metabolizing enzymes, such as the CYP450 framework, is a common method that pharmaceuticals and herbs collaborate on. Herbovigilance, is the surveillance and assurance of the responsible use of conventional drugs, is crucial for the safety of herbal treatments. However, the frequency of adverse pharmacological reactions associated with herbal treatments has been refuted by numerous scientific studies. Herbal molecules can interact with medicines via pharmacodynamic pathways, leading to antagonistic, combined, and synergistic effects. The quality of herbal remedies is another significant risk factor, as it is difficult to precisely evaluate the safety and efficacy of herbal remedies due to problems like adulteration, misidentification, and contamination. Unpredictable therapeutic effects and an elevated risk of interaction can also result from variations in the content of herbal products, often caused by variations in production and preparation techniques. Despite the increasing awareness of the importance of monitoring HDIs, there is still a lack of standardized guidelines for assessing HDIs, leading to unreported adverse reactions and underestimated risks of using traditional and herbal remedies simultaneously.

Drug Standardization, HPTLC Finger Printing, Toxicity Research Studies of ASU Herbaceous Plant Fruit Seeds Part Samples of Ipomoea nil (Linn.) Roth

2025-04-28T16:01:48+08:00

Article

Drug Standardization, HPTLC Finger Printing, Toxicity Research Studies of ASU Herbaceous Plant Fruit Seeds Part Samples of Ipomoea nil (Linn.) Roth

Pawan Kumar Sagar ¹^,*, Suryansh Kashyap ¹, Mageswari S. ², P. Meera Devi Sri ² and Asma Sattar Khan ¹

¹Drug Standardization Research Institute, CCRUM, Ministry of AYUSH., PCIM&H Campus, IInd Floor, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad- 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India

²Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, CCRUM, Ministry of AYUSH., Royapuram, Chennai - 600013, Tamil Nadu, India

* Correspondence: pawan.ccrum@nic.in or pawansagarkr93@gmail.com; Tel.: +91-9848736978

Received: 21 November 2024; Revised: 27 February 2025; Accepted: 18 March 2025; Published: 22 April 2025

Abstract: This study aims to evaluate the drug standardization research, physico-chemical, toxicity research studies of the fruit seeds part of plant of I N. drug standardization research, physico-chemical, toxicity research studies of ASU (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani) herbal products remains a big challenging task. There needs to be more than the advance investigation research studies and screening parameters to validation, authenticate and differentiate adulterants in Ipomoea nil (Linn.) Roth medicinal plant is one of the herb used to treat various health wellness and therapeutic illness of public mankind. Plant samples of I N. powder were carried out using standard methods. The Quality, safety and toxicity effects of the tested drug samples were also investigated. estimated and investigated research studies data’s of I N. have shown that all the parameters were within the AYUSH/WHO permissible limits. The tested drug samples showed significant Quality, safety and toxicity studies against certain pathogens organisms and promising anti-pathogenic activity. In the investigated studies of DSR, HPTLC finger printing investigation, QC, Toxicity research findings revealed that the revalidated test drug samples was free from adulterations. This investigated herb research data confirmed to drug standardization and therapeutically may treat that the drug is safe for internal use and cures in Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antispasmodic, Anticancer, Anti-tumor, Antiproliferative Activities, Multidrug-Resistance Efflux-Inhibiting Activity, bronchodilatory along with Antiasthmatic potential, Diuretic, anthelminthic and deobstruant and are prescribed for dropsy and constipation, Antihypertensive and cardio-protective effects, Investigated drug had classically, traditional and alternative ASU medicine I N. used as a Cold, Dropsy, Gout, Joint pain, Vitiligo, Itching, Asthma and Anthelmintic.

Chemical Composition and Health Benefits of Grape and Grape Products

2025-05-02T00:36:13+08:00

Review

Chemical Composition and Health Benefits of Grape and Grape Products

Didem Şöhretoğlu ^1,*, Ayşenur Duru ¹, and Öznur Bengisu Köylüoğlu ²

¹Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Sıhhiye, Ankara 06100, Turkey

²Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Sıhhiye, Ankara 06100, Turkey

* Correspondence: didems@hacettepe.edu.tr

Received: 2 February 2025; Revised: 19 March 2025; Accepted: 6 April 2025; Published: 28 April 2025

Abstract: Grape is a highly nutritious fruit that is widely consumed around the world. It is widely cultivated around the world. We provided knowledge on the phytochemical contents, biological impacts, and economic worth of grapes. Polyphenols are main constituents of grape and grape derivated products. They exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antihepatotoxic properties. The most prominent effect was the cardioprotective effect. The cardioprotective effect is shown by in vitro, in vivo studies as well as human studies.

The Potential Protective Effect of the Standardized Ginkgo biloba Leaves Extract EGb761 against Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Toxicity in Rats via Mitigating Renal Tissue Redox Imbalance, Inflammation, Cell Apoptosis and Mitochondrial Damage

2025-05-06T12:03:03+08:00

Article

The Potential Protective Effect of the Standardized Ginkgo biloba Leaves Extract EGb761 against Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Toxicity in Rats via Mitigating Renal Tissue Redox Imbalance, Inflammation, Cell Apoptosis and Mitochondrial Damage

Mahmoud M. Farag ^1,*, Mariam A. Wagdy ¹, Heba E. Ahmed ¹, and Amani H. Kazem ²

¹Departments of Pharmacology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21561 Egypt

²Departments of Pathology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21561 Egypt

* Correspondence: mahmoudfarag2012@hotmail.com; Tel.: +20-1006632014

Received: 25 March 2025; Revised: 13 April 2025; Accepted: 14 April 2025; Published: 6 May 2025

Abstract: In clinical medical practice, the applications of diagnostic and interventional procedures requiring iodinated contrast media (CM) administration have recently markedly increased. However, the intrinsic CM toxicity may lead to contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), particularly in patients with renal disease or diabetes. As successful therapy of CI-AKI is rather limited, effective strategies to prevent CI-AKI have become an insistent demand. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential protective effects of the standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves EGb761 against the pathophysiology of CI-AKI in a rat model. In this study, CI-AKI in rats was evaluated histopathologically and biochemically by measuring serum biomarkers of kidney function and tissue markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, tubular cell apoptosis and mitochondrial injury. Our results showed that CM administration led to several kidney morphological changes with alterations in serum and renal tissue parameters indicative of acute renal toxicity. These changes were moved to normality upon EGb761 treatment before CM exposure via integrated suppression of CM-induced renal tissue redox imbalance, inflammatory response, cell apoptosis activation and tubular cell mitochondrial damage. These findings demonstrated the nephroprotective effectiveness of EGb761 in alleviating CI-AKI pathophysiology through multiple effects. In conclusion, our study suggests a new therapeutic strategy for attenuating CI-AKI via administering EGb761 before CM use and may serve as an experimental basis for further studies to elucidate the promising clinical impact of EGb761 as a nephroprotective agent in patients at the risk of developing CI-AKI.

Exploring the Pharmacological Potential of Bauhinia malabarica Roxb.: A Comprehensive In Vitro and In Vivo Investigation

2025-05-12T14:24:08+08:00

This study investigates the potential biological effects of organic soluble fractions from the crude methanol extract of the leaf and bark of Bauhinia malabarica Roxb (B. malabarica), which is traditionally used for various ailments. Plant materials were collected, dried, and extracted using methanol. They were then extracted into aqueous fractions, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and petroleum-ether. The methanolic leaf extract demonstrated excellent antioxidant activity during the DPPH assay for antioxidant testing, with an IC₅₀ value of 12.15 μg/mL, which is similar in efficacy to the standard ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 5.8 μg/mL). The cytotoxicity assay was carried out using brine shrimp nauplii. All test samples of B. malabarica showed significant membrane-stabilizing activity as determined by the hemolysis induced by hypotonic solutions and heat. The plant samples from leaf extract and bark extract also exhibited significant anthelmintic and analgesic activity in a dose-dependent manner. These plant extracts exerted analgesic effects that were characterized by elongation of tail immersion time and reduction in abdominal writhes. The test samples reduced the quantity of diarrhea caused by castor oil in mice in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, the extract extended the sleep duration and delayed the onset of action compared to the control group. Based on our findings, B. malabarica could be a rich source of bioactive compounds, meriting further exploration for its potential in traditional medicine.