STUDIES ONTAXUS BACCATA– I. Preliminary Phytochemical and Behavioral Investigations

Abstract

V o h o r a and I s h w a r K u m a rTaxtrs baccata, L i n n . (Taxaceae), is reputed to possess varied medicinal properties eg. carminative, cardiotonic, expectorant, anti-spasnlodic, diuretic, antiseptic, emmenagogue etc. ( K i r t i k a r and B a s u , 1933; N a d a k a r n i , 1954; C h o p r a et al., 1958). Aqueous extract of the leaves has been reported to elicit encouraging (55%) anti-implantation activity in albino rats (K h a n n a et al., 1969). Af a q (1970) made botanical identity of this pla~lt and stated that the crude drug ,ZARNABC, which is in use at Delhi, is Taxus baccata and not Flacotlrtia cataphracta, under which name it is erraneously mentioned in literature. ,ZAR-NAB', is also listed in Avicennas tract on cardiac drugs (S id d i q LI i and A z i z , 1963) and has been extensively mentioned in Unani books (M a k h z a n u 1 a d v i a , 1776; M u h e e t -e -A z a m 1894) for its medicinal value. A survey of literature showed that so far no systematic work has been carried out on this potentially useful plant. This communication is first of the series of studies conducted on this plant and it presents a preliminary report on its phytochemical properties and behavioral effects. ExperimentalAuthenticated samples of the leaves of Taxus bnccatn were obtained. These were air dried and pulverized. Total ash, water soluble ash, acid soluble ash and percentage extractibilities with petroleum ether (b. p. 60-80°C), 90% ethanol and hot distilled water were determined (B. P., 1958). Qualitative analysis was done for the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, glycosides, tannins, resins, saponins, volatile oils and steroids by the usual methods. (Table 2).Behavioral investigations were carried out with the hot aqueous extract of the leaves. General observations for the behavioral changes in mice were made while approsi~nating the LD 50. Effects on the spontaneous motor activity were studied in albino rats (120-150 g) using a n improvised Jingle Cage. The animals were placed in a freely suspended cylindrical cage (length: 13 cm, diameter: 7 cm) connected through a system of pulleys to a writing Iever. This enabled almost all the movements of the rat to be recorded on the kymograph. A 15-20 minute normal motility pattern of each animal was obtained. T h e test drug was then injected (100 mglkg I. P.) and after one minute the pattern of motility was again recorded. The effects on the spontaneous motor activity were quantitatively assessed in mice by the Traction Test. ( T u r n e r , 1965).Potentiation of Pentobarbitone sleeping time was studied in rats (90-120g). Sleep was induced by 40 mg/kg of en to barb it one sodium administered intraperitoneally. The effect was studied by pretreating the animals with different doses (10, 30, 100, and 300 mglkg I. P. one hour before the administration of pentobarbitone) of the test drug. The onset and the duration of loss of righting reflex (sleeping time) were recorded.

Phytochemical Screening and Quantitative Screening for Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Content in Taxus wallichiana Collected from Various Districts of Nepal

“…Alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenol, tannins, coumarin, terpenoids, and quinone were the major phytochemicals detected. Our result concurs with that of Vohora and Kumar 16 and Kazmi et. al.…”

Comparative Determination of the Cardioselectivity of Taxine and Verapamil in the Isolated Aorta, Atrium and Jejunum Preparations of Rabbits

“…The plant had been tried for several remedial purposes in the past [1,2]. It is also listed in Avicenna's book on cardiac drugs [3]. Avicenna wrote in his book that the drug sets the heart at ease [4].…”

The medieval physician Avicenna used an herbal calcium channel blocker, Taxus baccata L.

“…This can be confirmed from several sources: One of the medical books written by an Ottoman author Hayatizade Mustafa Fevzi Efendi (1641-1693), gives the plant's names, including zarnab, in Turkish, Arabic, Latin and in some other languages (Tuncer, 1978). Authors from India (Vohora and Kumar, 1971) and from Azerbaijan (Alakbarov, 2007) also reported that zarnab is Taxus baccata.…”