No abstract

This study was conducted between January to July 2015 in Junagadh and surrounding villages to document the use of medicinal plants for veterinary practices by people living in this area. A total 121 farmers, cowshed owners or livestock owners were contacted personally in the survey with a semi-structured questionnaire. Out of 121, 82 male informants of age 40 to 70 years have responded well and were included in this study. Sixty-seven medicinal plants from 40 different families have been reported to be effective in 13 different animal ailments. A total of 13 medicinal plants were cited 47 times for gastrointestinal problems, which were the highest. Leaves were used prominently (27.59 %) whereas, epicarp was the least used (0.86 %). Large number of medicinal plants reported were from the Fabaceae family (15.38 %). Junagadh area is important due to a large plant biodiversity.

A collection of medicinal plants was done from the ambience of Junagadh district, Gujarat, India. These plants were subsequently screened to know their phytochemical potential. The in vitro antioxidant activity was also evaluated using DPPH and nitric oxide scavenging methods. Qualitative phytochemical screening and total phenolic content have been evaluated for each plant extract. TLC showed the presence of various phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, glycosides, saponins, sterols and tannins. Methanol and water extracts of plants exhibited the highest amount of phenolic content. There was a difference in per cent inhibition of DPPH and nitric oxide scavenging activity showed by extracts. In the case of DPPH scavenging activity, water extracts of Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K. Heyne leaves and Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels leaves showed the highest free radical inhibition up to 76.37 ± 0.42% and 67.49 ± 0.51%, respectively. In the case of nitric oxide scavenging action, all the extracts of Bauhinia variegata L. bark and P. pterocarpum leaves showed nitric oxide inhibition more than 75%. The plants like B. variegata, P. pterocarpum and S. cumini revealed high level of phenolic compounds. In conclusion, extracts of B. variegata, P. pterocarpum and S. cumini leaves can be served as the vital source of phenoilcs and flavonoids for having antioxidant potential.

No abstract

The present study was planned to carry out phytochemical analysis and to evaluate in vitro antidiabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of different extracts of six medicinal plants collected from the nearby area of Junagadh, Gujarat, India, viz., Luffa echinata Roxb. (fruit), Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso (leaf), Sphaeranthus indicus L. (fruit), Cressa cretica L. (leaf), Corchorus depressus L. (root) and Cassia absus (seed). An in vitro antidiabetic activity was evaluated by alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibition methods, antioxidant activity by DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay and anti-inflammatory activity by albumin denaturation assay. Hydro-alcoholic and methanolic extracts of L.echinata, water extract of C.cretica and methanolic and hydro-alcoholic extracts of C. depressus showed significant inhibition either of alpha-amylase or alpha-glucosidase or both in vitro at various concentrations. Hydro-alcoholic and methanolic extracts of L. echinata fruit and hydroalcoholic and methanolic extracts of S. indicus fruit showed significant in vitro antioxidant effect. Water extract of O. turpethum leaf showed significant anti-inflammatory activity by preventing albumin denaturation in vitro. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and steroids in different extracts of medicinal plants which might be responsible for significant in vitro antidiabetic, antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. Identification and isolation of active substances from such plants and in vivo efficacy evaluation will be helpful for further validation of pharmacological activities of these medicinal plants.