Graphical abstract

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam. (Araliaceae) is a short and edible medicinal herb, which is used in the traditional system of medicines. The review aims to report the current information of H. sibthorpioides on the basis of its botanical and taxonomical description, traditional use, active phytoconstituents, pharmacological use and toxicity. The information on H. sibthorpioides with respect to its journey from traditional uses to scientific validation was gathered based on the online survey. The results from the review signify that the plant is used by the different tribes of the world for the treatment of patients suffering from fever, edema, dysentery, rheumatalgia, whooping cough, jaundice, throat pain, psoriasis, herpes zoster infection, hepatitis‐B infection, soothing pain, dysmenorrhoea and carbunculosis. It is also used as a brain tonic, detoxifying agent and hepatoprotective agent. Scientific investigation reported that the plant has a significant pharmacological activity, viz. cognitive agent, anti‐cancer, antiviral, antibacterial, anti‐fungal and hepatoprotective. Moreover, based on the phytochemical aspects, a total of 50 phytoconstituents was identified and isolated from the plant. In conclusion, the outcome of this review will be useful for (a) developing a comprehensive plant profile; (b) assist investigators for exploring further research; and (c) to fulfil the gaps lacking in terms of clinical studies.

No abstract

Background: Pharmacognostic study of medicinal plants is an important parameter for standardization and authentication of plants, with the help of which adulteration and substitution can be prevented. The present study deals with pharmacognostic profile of leaf of Bridelia scandens (Roxb).Willd. an important traditional plant, belonging to family Euphorbiaceae used to treat various ailments. Methods: The present study includes macroscopic and microscopic studies, quantitative microscopy, and physiochemical characters such as ash value, extractive values, fluorescence analysis, and total phenol and flavonoid content. Results: Macroscopically, the leaves are B. scandens are elliptic –oblong or obavate, dark green above, pale green below lateral veins. Microscopically, leaf consists of thick semicircular midrib and the lamina, cortical zone ending with thick continuous cylinder of sclerenchyma cells. Sclerenchyma cylinder completely enclosed the vascular cylinder of the midrib, consists of only continuous thick layer of phloem. Xylem cylinder consists of numerous short or long radial chains of vessels. The lateral vein is flat on the adaxial side and prominently projecting hemispherical body on the adaxial side. Powder microscopy of leaf revealed the presence of spiral xylem vessels, rosette and prismatic calcium oxalate crystals and trichomes. A Physiochemical characteristic was also determined. Conclusion: Existing literature revealed that so far, no Pharmacognostic study has been reported on the leaf of B. scandens. Findings from this investigation can be used for its identification and determination of quality and purity of medicinally important plant. Thus exploring the usefulness of pharmacognostic evaluation to validate and authenticate drug

We aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of H. sibthorpioides against monosodiumglutamate (MSG) induced excitoneurotoxicity in rats. Animals were randomly divided into 11 groups (n=8) and subjected to high-doses of MSG (2g/kg body weight) along with the test-dose (1 week). The test-chemicals were H. sibthorpioides extracts of petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, and water. Dizocilpine-hydrogen-maleate was used as a standard.Cognitive property was assessed using Morris-water-maze and elevated-plus-maze. On the 9 th -day, the animals were sacrificed and evaluated for their biochemical parameters. We found chloroform and methanolic extracts significantly enhanced the cognitive behavior of rats vs. control. Biochemical analysis suggested that there was a high level of antioxidants and lower levels of glutamate and proinflammatory cytokines in the cortex and hippocampus.We concluded that chloroform and methanolic extracts of H. sibthorpioides enhanced the level of antioxidants, decreased proinflammatory-cytokines and glutamate in brain and thus prevented the monosodium-glutamate-induced-excite-neurotoxicity.