@article {171, title = {Comparative Botanical and Phytochemical Studies of Ambiguous Medicinal Plant Species of Wedelia and Eclipta (Fam. Asteraceae) Used in ASU Systems of Medicine with Special Reference to in-silico Screening of Hepatoprotective Potential of Marker Wedelolacto}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {August 2020}, pages = {285-298}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {285}, abstract = {

Context: In traditional medicine, Kesaraja (Ayurveda) or Manjal karisali (Siddha) is effective for jaundice. Aim: Three species of Asteraceae need to be studied for their therapeutic superiority of their intended claim. They are Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. Philipp J., Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc. and Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (Asteraceae). The present study aimed to screen and characterize the potential species for therapeutic purpose. Materials and Methods: The whole plants, W. chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. Philipp J., W. trilobata (L.) Hitchc. and Eclipta prostrata (L.) (Asteraceae) were collected and botanically identified. Preliminary phytochemical analysis and high-performance thin-layer chromatography finger printing with marker wedelolactone were done for the ethanolic extracts of these plants. Botanical and pharmacognostical diagnostic characters of the plants based on macro-morphological, micro-morphological and powder microscopical characterization were worked out. Comparative in-vitro antioxidant potential of ethanolic extracts of these plant species was carried out. Using ADMET SAR software, the pharmacokinetics of wedelolactone were predicted. Using Autodock 4.2 software, the binding energy of wedelolactone on targets of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity namely PPAR-α, AMPK, JNK-1, EGFR, Nrf2, ALT, ALP, GGT, CAR, Frizzled receptor, FXR, ERK1, LXR, mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase, p53, mTOR C1, CYP1A2, CYP2E1, 5-lipoxygenase, thrombin, UCP1, GSK1, RXR and PXR was predicted. Results: All the three plant species were pharmacognostically and chemically different. W. chinensis was found to possess more antioxidant potential than the other two plants. The marker compound wedelolactone was not detected in W. trilobata. Wedelolactone passed the Lipinski{\textquoteleft}s rule of five, and the docking analysis of wedelolactone confirmed high binding affinity toward PPAR-α, AMPK, Nrf2, CYP2E1, EGFR, JNK1, UCP-2, thrombin, 5-lipoxygenase, mTORC1, RXR, FXR, LXR, Frizzled receptor, GDH and Erk-1. Conclusion: Based on the above observations, we conclude that the presence of marker compound wedelolactone might have attributed the potency of W. chinensis and E. prostrata in counteracting acetaminophen toxicity when compared with W. trilobata.

}, keywords = {Antioxidant, Ayurveda, Botany, Docking, Eclipta prostrata, High-performance thin-layer chromatography, Macro-morphological, Micro-morphological, Phytochemical, Powder microscopy, Siddha, Wedelia chinensis, Wedelia trilobata, Wedelolactone}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_11_20}, author = {C Arunachalam and R Arunadevi and S Murugammal and N Monika and R Susila and S N Sunil Kumar} } @article {242, title = {Anatomical and Phytochemical Characterization of Physalis angulata L.: A Plant with Therapeutic Potential}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {11}, year = {2019}, month = {April 2019}, pages = {171-177}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {171}, abstract = {

Background: Physalis angulata L. is widely used in folk medicine. Secondary metabolites with pharmacological potential, including physalins that exhibit anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory and antiparasitic activities, have been identified in this specie. To date, few studies have investigated storage sites for secondary metabolites in P. angulata. Objective: The objective of the study is to characterize the anatomical structures and determine the phytochemical composition of the vegetative organs of P. angulata. Materials and Methods: Electron and conventional optical microscopy was used for the anatomical characterization of P angulata organs (leaves, roots, stems, and fruits). Methanolic extracts from leaves, roots, stems, and fruits were chemically characterized for the presence of steroids, terpenoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, coumarins, and phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds, flavonoid contents, and antioxidant capacity of these extracts were determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-free radical scavenging activity. Results: Abaxial leaf stomata were more abundant than the adaxial stomata. Trichomes were more abundant along veins in the petioles and stems, beyond the margin in the sepals and petals, and dispersed in the ovary. Steroids and terpenoids were present in leaves, stems, and fruits of P. angulata. Saponins were exclusive to fruits. Phytochemical screening did not detect flavonoids, anthraquinones, and alkaloids in all tested plant parts. The highest antioxidant capacities were identified in leaf and fruit extracts, possibly due to the presence of phenolic compounds in these organs. Conclusion: This study describes anatomical and biochemical features from P angulata that will assist in future phytochemistry and pharmacological studies, particularly pointing toward organs abundant in antioxidants (leaves and fruits) and steroids (possibly physalins; leaves).

}, keywords = {Anatomy, Botany, Electron microscopy, Photochemistry, Physalis angulata}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_97_18}, author = {L{\'e}a Maria dos Santos Lopes Ferreira and Ademir Evangelista do Vale and Amancio Jos{\'e} de Souza and Kelly Batista Leite and C{\'a}ssia Sacramento and Maria Lucia Vieira Moreno and Thessika Hialla Ara{\'u}jo and Milena Botelho Pereira Soares and Maria Fernanda Rios Grassi} } @article {434, title = {A Review of Botany and Pharmacological Effect and Chemical Composition of Echinophora Species Growing in Iran}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {November 2017}, pages = {305-312}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {305}, abstract = {

This review was conducted to investigate the botany, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties of Echinophora species. The information of this review was obtained by searching for keywords Apiaceae, Echinophora, pharmacological effects, and traditional and modern medicine in scientific articles and books published in search engines Scopus, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, and Web of Science. The traditional uses of Echinophora and the existence of valuable phytochemicals in the plant have led to isolation and drug discovery of natural medicines such as antibiotic, analgesics, and anticancer drugs, and the beneficial effects of these plants can widely be used in healthcare.

}, keywords = {Botany, Chemical composition, Echinophora, Modern medicine, Traditional medicine}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_22_17}, author = {Zohreh Hosseini and Zahra Lorigooini and Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei and Hamzeh Ali Shirmardi and Kamal Solati} }