November 2008

Phytochemical and microbial screening of herbal remedies in Akwa Ibom State, South Southern Nigeria

Ethanolic extracts of six commonly used medicinal plants (by traditional medicine practitioners in Uyo and Ikot-Ekpene), Vernonia amygdalina del. (“Etidod”), Ocimum gratissimum L. (“Nton”), Smilax anceps wild. (“Odufad”),Holarrhena floribunda (“Idid ikot”), Parkia biglobosa (“Epo igba”), and Khaya...

Author(s): Adebayo-Tayo, B. C. and Adegoke, A. A.    

November 2008

Effects of three plant extracts (Ocimum gratissimum, Acalypha wilkesiana and Acalypha macrostachya) on post harvest pathogen of Persea americana

Disease assessment of Persea americana (Avocado) in a local market in Delta State Nigeria showed that only 7% of the fruits were healthy. 36% of the avocado fruits had Cercospora spot; 28% had Diotherella rot and 29% had anthracnose. Plant extracts of three different species; Ocimum gratissimum, Acalypha wilkesiana and Acalypha macrostachya were assessed for inhibitory effect on the...

Author(s): Erute Magdalene Ogbo and A. E. Oyibo    

November 2008

Hepatoprotective activity of leaves of Rhododendron arboreum in CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats

The study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of pre-treatment with ethanolic extract of leaves of Rhododendron arboreumagainst carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rat model. Liver damage was induced in experimental animals by administering CCl4. The ethanolic extract of R.  arboreum (40, 60 and 100 mg/kg, po) was given for five days. Silymarin (100 mg/kg, po) was...

Author(s): T. Prakash, Snehal Dayalal Fadadu, Uday Raj Sharma, V. Surendra, Divakar Goli, Perfect Stamina and D. Kotresha    

November 2008

Antioxidant activity of herb extracts from five medicinal plants from Lamiaceae, subfamily Lamioideae

Five medicinal plants from the subfamily Lamioideae of the Lamiaceae were tested for antioxidant activity and screened for polyphenols content. Aerial parts of Ballota nigra, Lamium maculatum, Leonurus cardiaca, Marrubium vulgare, and Galeopsis tetrahit were extracted with methanol (MeOH) and subsequently partitioned by liquid-liquid extraction...

Author(s): Adam Matkowski, Patrycja Tasarz and Emilia SzypuÅ‚a    

November 2008

Efficacy of a mouthrinse based on leaves of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) in the treatment of patients with chronic gingivitis: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial

The aim of this study was to compare the short-term efficacy and safety of aAzadirachta indica mouthrinse on gingival inflammation and microbial plaque, compared to 0.12% chlorhexidine. A double-masked, randomized, parallel armed study was carried out to assess the efficacy of an oral mouthrinse based on leaves of the neem tree reducing gingivitis. Study subjects were recruited from a slum in Brazil. Fifty-four...

Author(s): Marco Antonio Botelho, , Rinaldo Araujo dos Santos, Jose Galberto Martins, Cintia Oliveira Carvalho, Mabel Calina Paz, Cláudio Azenha, Ronaldo Sousa Ruela, Dinalva Brito Queiroz, Wagner Sousa Ruela, Gloria Marinho, Francisca Isabel Ruela    

November 2008

Responses of Bacopa monnieri to salinity and drought stress in vitro

Bacopa monnieri has been chosen as a model medicinal plant to study the abiotic stress (salinity and drought) under in vitro system. Distinct morphological changes on organogenesis and callogenesis were observed on stress application. The proline and protein content was also investigated and it was found that the proline increases whereas protein content decreases on stress in the plants under in...

Author(s): Mousumi Debnath