Medicinal plants are facing threats due to loss of habitat and overexploitation of knows species. Therefore the present work shows utilization of essential oil from discarded leaves of Psidium guajava Linn. against human dermatophytic fungi Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum gypseum and Microsporum canis. The oil was found to be fungicidal at 3.0 µl/ml and it tolerated heavy inoculum of pathogens at fungicidal concentrations. The fungicidal activity of the oil was thermostable, up to 70˚C and shelf life was found to be six months, which was maximum the time taken into consideration. The oil having cineole, caryophyllane, copaene, azulene and eucalyptol as main constituents, exhibited broad fungicidal activity. The oil did not show any adverse effect on mammalian skin upto 5% concentration. Phylogeny of the dermatophytes with respect to toxicity of the oil has also been discussed using molecular data. The cost effective formulation from waste leaves can be exploited after undergoing double blind successful multicentral topical testing.

No abstract

Dill is a seed spice crop and an important aromatic herb, native to South-West Asia or South-East Europe and cultivated since ancient times. There are two closely related cultivated species of dill, i.e. European dill (Anethum graveolens) and Indian dill (A. sowa). This chapter looks at the history and description of dill before presenting its production, cultivation and harvesting. The extraction of essential oil and the chemical composition of oils from different dill varieties are described, along with culinary, medicinal (both traditional and modern), antimicrobial, insecticidal and other uses. Quality issues and applicable standards and specifi cations are described.

No abstract

No abstract