Application Of Traditional Medicine Research Articles

Foliar sprays of salicylic acid induce diosgenin synthesis in the leaves of hellenia speciosa (J. Koenig) s.r. dutta

hellenia speciosa (J. Koenig) s.r. dutta, commonly known as spiral ginger, is a potent medicinal plant in the family Costaceae. it has a wide range of applications in traditional and modern medicine with many active ingredients. diosgenin is a steroidal sapogenin obtained from h. speciosa. it is commercially used as an important raw material for the synthesis of steroidal drugs. Foliar sprays of salicylic acid (sa) were used to study the induction of diosgenin synthesis in the leaves of h. speciosa. three different concentrations, 1mM, 5mM, and 9mM, were applied on plants grown in shade net houses. after 60 days of weekly sa application, plants were harvested along with rhizome, dried, and extracted in methanol using the soxhlet apparatus. acid hydrolysis was performed to obtain diosgenin in the extract. the high- Pressure thin layer Chromatography (hPtlC) technique was used to detect the presence of diosgenin in the methanolic extract of leaves. elicitation of diosgenin synthesis was evident in all three extracts obtained from salicylic acid-treated plants. diosgenin was obtained at an rf maximum of 0.58-0.59. the amount of diosgenin was quantified with chromatographic techniques. the maximum quantity of diosgenin was present in the extract treated with 9mM sa. this experiment highlights the effect of stress signals on selected secondary metabolites.

Phytochemical Composition and Anti-Motility Effects of Napoleonae imperialis Methanol Crude Leaf Extract and Fractions in Rats

Background: Extracts from that Napoleonae imperialis leaves have traditionally been used to treat wounds and diarrhoea in south east Nigeria.
 Aim: The present study was carried out to evaluate following scientific principles, the phytochemical composition and anti-motility effect of leaf extract and fractions prepared from the plants in experimental rats.
 Methods: Crude extract was prepared from the plant’s leaves and was subjected to phytochemical and acute toxicity tests. Thereafter, the extract was fractionated using column and thin layer chromatographic techniques. Anti-motility effect of the crude extract and fractions was evaluated using 80 rats assigned to 16 groups of 5 rats each. While group 1 served as control and group 2 was treated with Loperamide (0.5 mg/kg), groups 3-16 were treated with specific dose levels of the crude extract or fraction before charcoal meal 30 minutes after treatments. The animals were sacrificed in a further 30 minutes to assess the extents of movement of the charcoal meal along the gastrointestinal tract.
 Results: Alkaloids (31.09 +0.44 mg/100 g) were the most abundant phytochemical identified in the crude extract and was followed by flavonoids (17.19± 0.90 mg/100 g). Others were saponins (9.61±0.12 mg/100 g), tannins, (3.23±0.06 mg/100 g), phenolics (8.83±0.41 mg/100 g), steroids (5.24±0.10 mg/100 g), terpenoids (2.58±0.11 mg/100 g) and cardiac glycosides (4.95±0.08 mg/100 g). Results of acute toxicity (LD50) test showed no mortality nor obvious signs of toxicity, even at an oral dose of 5000 mg/kg in rats. Results of the anti-motility studies showed that Napoleonae imperialis crude extract and fractions significantly inhibited charcoal meal transit in rat’s gastrointestinal tract with 500 mg/kg of the extract producing an inhibitory effect of 51.44±3.53%. A repeat of the test on chromatographic fractions of the extract showed that fraction 5 had the highest anti-motility effect having produced an inhibitory effect of 87.70±6.04% on intestinal motility.
 Conclusion: Our findings have shown that Napoleonae imperialis leaves contain pharmacologically active components with antidiarrhoeal activities and may be the reason for its antidiarrheoal application in traditional medicine. The observed effects of the extract may be due to its flavonoids and tannins contents and may be via the anticholinergic and osmotic pathway. Solvent combination for fraction 5 may be the most ideal for higher anti-motility effects. More work is required to further establish these findings.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Analysis of Hollyhock (Alcea rosea Cavan) Using High-Throughput Sequencing

Hollyhock (Alcea rosea (Linn). Cavan) is an herbaceous flowering plant with significant applications in urban greening, soil remediation, and traditional medicine. However, its genetic diversity and molecular characteristics at the population level have not been explored yet. Here, the phenotypic and genetic diversity of 162 hollyhock accessions from China revealed extensive variation among 11 traits and strong correlations between several quantitative traits. Whole-genome re-sequencing of 32 randomly chosen accessions identified 10,468,760 core single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed evenly across the genome, except for on chromosome 21, and the average nucleotide diversity (π) was calculated to be 0.00397. Principal component analysis showed that these 32 accessions could be divided into four subpopulations, which was in agreement with the population structure analysis, and the subpopulations were strongly correlated with geographic location. A neighbor-joining dendrogram displayed similar clusters, except for accessions HuB25 and HLJ28, which formed two separate clusters. Our findings illuminate the genetic diversity in hollyhock and provide valuable information for hollyhock breeding.

Jieduquyuziyin prescription alleviates SLE complicated by atherosclerosis via promoting cholesterol efflux and suppressing TLR9/MyD88 activation.

Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP), as a traditional Chinese medicine formula, is extensively applied to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Its prescription is based on clinical practice and an evidence-based application of traditional medicines. It is approved by use in Chinese hospitals as a clinical prescription that can be directly used. The study aims to elucidate JP's efficacy on lupus-like disease combined with atherosclerosis and to explore its mechanism. To conduct in vivo experiments, we established a model of lupus-like disease with atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice fed a high-fat diet and injected intraperitoneally with pristane. In addition, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and a TLR9 agonist (CpG-ODN2395) were utilized to examine the mechanism of JP on SLE combined with AS in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Results indicated that JP reduced hair loss and levels of the spleen index, maintained stable body weight, alleviated kidney damage in mice, and reduced the expression levels of urinary protein, autoantibodies, and inflammatory factors in serum. Furthermore, JP is effective at alleviating the lupus-like symptoms observed in mice. In mice, JP inhibited aortic plaque deposition, stimulated lipid metabolism, and increased the expression of genes that regulate cholesterol efflux, including ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 1 (ABCG1), scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ). In vivo, JP inhibited the expression of the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)-induced signaling pathway, which links TLR9/MyD88/NF-kB to the expression of subsequent inflammatory factors. Furthermore, JP inhibited the expression of TLR9 and MyD88 in vitro. In addition, the JP treatment effectively reduced foam cell formation in RAW264.7 macrophages by increasing the expression of ABCA1/G1, PPAR-γ and SR-BI. JP played a therapeutic role in ApoE-/- mice with pristane-induced lupus-like diseases and AS, possibly through inhibition of TLR9/MyD88 signaling and promotion of cholesterol efflux.

A comprehensive review on the medicinal usage of Podocarpus species: Phytochemistry and pharmacology.

Plants of the Podocarpus species belong to the Podocarpaceae family and are largely distributed in the southern hemisphere. Beside the commercially and ecologically valuable, plants of the Podocarpus species are also used in traditional medicines in some countries for treating asthma, fever, venereal diseases, eye diseases, etc. AIM OF THE STUDY: In recent decades, the identities and pharmacological activities of phytochemicals extracted from Podocarpus plants have been widely studied. However, there have been no comprehensive and systematic reviews. This article aims to systematically review the latest research on the putative mechanisms underlying pharmacological actions of phytochemicals from the Podocarpus species, as well as to lay a foundation for promoting the development of plant resources from this genus, further drug research, and product development. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Elsevier and CNKI databases was conducted using the keywords "Podocarpus", "traditional usage", "phytochemistry", "pharmacology", "nagilactone", etc. Related papers published among July 1964 to February 2023 were collected to summarize the research progress. All plant names were determined through the "The Plant List" (http://www.theplantlist.org/). To date, 262 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from 26 Podocarpus plants; among these, norditerpene bilactone is the main pharmacologically active component. Norditerpene bilactones are reported to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-tyrosinase, neuroprotective, anti-plasmodial, anti-mutagenic, and anti-atherosclerotic properties as well as other pharmacological activities, which support its traditional uses. Extensive studies on phytochemistry and pharmacology of Podocarpus species lead to discovery of a series of hopeful leading compounds with unique chemical structure, especially the nor- and bis-norditerpenoid dilactones with four isoprene units. These compounds have been proved to possess various pharmacological activities. This review will provide a reference for further research and promote the idea of combining modern research with traditional medicinal applications of Podocarpus plants.

A REVIEW ON THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF FENUGREEK

Fenugreek, a herb with a long history in medicine and nutritional value, is one of the most promising ones. Green leaves and seeds from this plant have several uses. Due to their high fiber content and capacity to alter the texture of food, 100 gm of seeds supply more than 65% of the daily need for dietary fiber (Murlidhar et al., 2012). This plant has a wide range of applications in traditional medicine due to its medicinal alkaloids, steroid compounds, and sapogenins. This plant has been used as a general tonic to boost metabolism as well as to ease childbirth and promote digestion. Trigonelline, which is highly helpful in treating diabetes and lowering blood cholesterol, is thought to be the most significant metabolite of fenugreek (Bahmani et al., 2016).

Integrative oncology in cancer care – implementation factors: mixed-methods systematic review

BackgroundIntegrative oncology (IO) appears to be beneficial to patients with cancer, but its implementation remains a challenge. Guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the Capability–Opportunity–Motivation–Behaviour (COM-B) model, this...

Pharmacognostic Evaluation and Hepatoprotective Property of Crude and Fractions of Triumfetta cordifolia A. Rich. (Tiliaceae)

Background: The role of phytochemicals in modern medicine is abundant with more evidence being published. Triumfetta cordifolia is a local plant known for its vast medicinal applications in traditional medicine with limited documented evidence. This study thus aims to evaluate the leaves of Triumfetta cordifolia to determine its Pharmacognostic parameters and hepatoprotective potential.
 Methodology: The leaves were collected, identified, dried and subsequently pulverized before maceration in methanol. This was followed by fractionation using different solvent with increasing polarities (n-hexane, n-butanol, ethyl acetate and aqueous methanol). Physicochemical evaluations such as macroscopy, organoleptic tests, qualitative phytochemical analysis and total phenolic content was subsequently conducted on the extracts. Finally, an acute toxicity test and hepatoprotective evaluation was performed, the latter using carbon tetrachloride.
 Results: The leaves Triumfetta cordifolia on macroscopic evaluation shown a simple, alternate, stipules triangular, densely stellate hairy leaves. The organoleptic evaluation indicated a pungent aromatic smell and a slightly bitter taste. Several phytochemicals such as tannins, saponins, glycosides, steroids and flavonoids were identified qualitatively.The extracts was safe at a dose less than 5,000mg/kg. The ethyl acetate fraction showed consistent hepatoprotective activity at a concentration of 400 mg/kg when compared to Gallic acid (positive control). This was possibly due to its high composition of phenolic compounds which was recorded during the study.
 Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of Triumfetta cordifolia leaves exhibited a hepatoprotective effect thus showcasing the potential benefits of the plant in mitigating liver damage. More research is however needed to identify specific compounds being extracted that may be responsible for the activity recorded in this study.

Objectification of Tongue Diagnosis in Traditional Medicine, Data Analysis, and Study Application.

Tongue diagnosis is an essential technique of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis, and the need for objectifying tongue images through image processing technology is growing. The present study provides an overview of the progress made in tongue objectification over the past decade and compares segmentation models. Various deep learning models are constructed to verify and compare algorithms using real tongue image sets. The strengths and weaknesses of each model are analyzed. The findings indicate that the U-Net algorithm outperforms other models regarding precision accuracy (PA), recall, and mean intersection over union (MIoU) metrics. However, despite the significant progress in tongue image acquisition and processing, a uniform standard for objectifying tongue diagnosis has yet to be established. To facilitate the widespread application of tongue images captured using mobile devices in tongue diagnosis objectification, further research could address the challenges posed by tongue images captured in complex environments.

Roles of Kampo medicine in chemotherapy‐related adverse events

AbstractBackgroundIn recent years, multidisciplinary treatment of cancer has greatly improved the results of cancer treatment. In particular, the development of molecular targeted drugs and cancer immunotherapy drugs has been carried out for many carcinomas, and this has had an important role in improving outcomes. At the same time, there have been important advances in supportive care‐related drugs, with a focus on antiemesis or neutropenia. Here, we overview the clinical roles and potential of the use and utilization of Kampo medicine.ProblemsThe side effects of cancer treatments include various symptoms, such as fatigue, numbness, and loss of appetite that are often difficult for modern medicine to deal with. When experienced, these side effects can make it difficult to continue chemotherapy because of malnutrition, infections, psychological burdens, and so on. In such cases, effective supportive care is very important as it is impossible to derive an anticancer effect unless chemotherapy can be continued.SolutionsLately, the application of traditional Japanese medicine, ‘Kampo’, to cancer supportive care has attracted attention to improve the results of cancer treatment and the quality of life (QOL) of patients. Especially, the Kampo formulae, called ‘Ho‐zai’, which demonstrate supplementing potencies, have been reported to improve nutritional and immune status. In addition, their effects on both mind and body are recognized.ConclusionsThe application of Kampo therapy in cancer supportive care is considered to be indispensable not only for improving treatment outcomes, but also for improving the quality of cancer treatments and the QOL of cancer patients in the latest treatment of cancer.

Neuroprotective Effects of Carnosic Acid: Insight into Its Mechanisms of Action

Carnosic acid is a diterpenoid abundantly present in plants belonging to the genus Rosmarinus and Salvia of the family Lamiaceae, accounting for their application in traditional medicine. The diverse biological properties of carnosic acid that include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities have instigated studies on its mechanistic role, providing further insights into its potential as a therapeutic agent. Accumulating evidence has established the relevance of carnosic acid as a neuroprotective agent exhibiting therapeutic efficacy in combatting neuronal-injury-induced disorders. The physiological importance of carnosic acid in the mitigation of neurodegenerative disorders is just beginning to be understood. This review summarizes the current data on the mode of action through which carnosic acid exerts its neuroprotective role that may serve to strategize novel therapeutic approaches for these debilitating neurodegenerative disorders.

Traditional Tibetan medicine to fight against COVID-19: Basic theory and therapeutic drugs.

The Coronavirus Diseases 2019 (COVID-19) has been rapidly spreading globally and has caused severe harm to the health of people and a substantial social burden. In response to this situation, experts around the world have considered various treatments, including the use of traditional medicine. Traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM), one of the traditional medicines in China, has played an important role in the treatment of infectious diseases in history. It has formed a solid theoretical foundation and accumulated rich experience in the treatment of infectious diseases. In this review, we provide a comprehensive introduction to the basic theory, treatment strategies, and commonly used drugs of TTM for the treatment of COVID-19. In addition, the efficacies and potential mechanisms of these TTM drugs against COVID-19 are discussed based on available experimental data. This review may provide important information for the basic research, clinical application and drug development of traditional medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. More pharmacological studies are needed to reveal the therapeutic mechanisms and active ingredients of TTM drugs in the treatment of COVID-19.

Xanthomicrol Activity in Cancer HeLa Cells: Comparison with Other Natural Methoxylated Flavones.

The methoxylated flavone xanthomicrol represents an uncommon active phenolic compound identified in herbs/plants with a long application in traditional medicine. It was isolated from a sample of Achillea erba-rotta subsp. moschata (musk yar-row) flowering tops. Xanthomicrol promising biological properties include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. This study mainly focused on the evaluation of the xanthomicrol impact on lipid metabolism in cancer HeLa cells, together with the investigation of the treatment-induced changes in cell growth, morphology, and apoptosis. At the dose range of 5-100 μM, xanthomicrol (24 h of incubation) significantly reduced viability and modulated lipid profile in cancer Hela cells. It induced marked changes in the phospholipid/cholesterol ratio, significant decreases in the levels of oleic and palmitic acids, and a marked increase of stearic acid, involving an inhibitory effect on de novo lipogenesis and desaturation in cancer cells. Moreover, marked cell morphological alterations, signs of apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase were observed in cancer treated cells. The bioactivity profile of xanthomicrol was compared to that of the anticancer methoxylated flavones eupatilin and artemetin, and structure-activity relationships were underlined.

БИОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ ЦЕННОСТЬ ЖИРОВ ЖИВОТНОГО ПРОИСХОЖДЕНИЯ, ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ В МЕДИЦИНЕ (ОБЗОР ЛИТЕРАТУРЫ)

The review presents the current results of scientific research on the problem of studying the chemical composition of animal fats, which have found their application in traditional medicine. Modern scientific prerequisites for the creation of broad-spectrum drugs based on these substances are discussed. The composition of the fats of hibernating animals is considered in more detail, because the preparation of animals for hibernation involves the formation of a fat of a unique composition in their body

A Review on Karir (Capparis Decidua Forssk.) An Ethno-Botanical Plant of Rajasthan

In India, there are countless medicinal plants that are employed in numerous ancient medical practises. Individually or in combination, these plants have a huge potential to provide direct therapeutic benefit. The use of medicinal plants in modern medicine is expanding. In Ayurvedic and classical texts like the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita, more than 70% of the medications are of herbal origin .Plants are used to treat a variety of diseases, including toothaches, coughs, and asthma, and have a greater range of applications in traditional folk medicine. All investigations showed that the plant has important pharmacological properties such as antiinflammatory, analgesic, anti-microbial, anti-plaque, anti-hypertensive, and anti-helmintic properties.It is also renowned for being an abundant source of glycosides, phenols, sterols, and alkaloids. In Rajasthan and other places, C. decidua (Karir) has shown to be a plant with significant commercial value. It offers numerous dietary and medical applications; it is important to synthesise a thorough study of connected topics. Because of this, the current review text concentrates on a thorough profile of important nutrients and biochemical molecules as well as the medical benefits of these substances. To evaluate the nutritional and medical significance of C. decidua, an effort is undertaken to study numerous studies on the plant. Furthermore, prior findings still need to be scientifically validated.

Molecular characterization of potent antibacterial compound 4-(3-methylazetidin-1-yl)pentan-2-ol from Calophyllum inophyllum seed oil

Calophyllum inophyllum (Calophyllaceae) has wide applications in traditional folk medicine. The methanol extract of C. inophyllum exhibited good antibacterial activities (17 ± 1.73 to 24 ± 1.15 mm) against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The bioactive constituents of this seed oil were purified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and column chromatography and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The compounds such as Benzene, 1-bromo-4- (1, 3-dichloropropyl), furan −2 –carboxaldehyde 5 – (3-nitrophenoxy) and (4 – iodopyrazol-1-yl) acetonitrile were predominant (28.14%) followed by 2-ethylacridine, 2-methyl-7-phenylindole, 5-methyl-2-phenylindolizine (9.18%) and then by E−11-hexadecenal, Cis-9-hexadecenal and 9, 17-octadecadienal (z) (8.90%). Further, preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectroscopic studies such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) combined with CSEARCH spectral similarity search demonstrated that the bioactive antibacterial compound in the active fraction is 4- (3-methylazetidin-1-yl) pentan-2-ol.

Anthelmintic Activities of Methanol Extracts of Five Different Geophyte Plant Species

The purpose of this study was to look into the in vitro anthelmintic activities of methanol extracts of Hyacinthella lineata (Steud. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Chouard, Ornithogalum umbellatum L., Allium reuterianum Boiss., Cyclamen coum Mill., and Sternbergia clusiana (Ker Gawl.) Ker Gawl. ex Spreng.. The paralysis and death times of the Indian earthworm, Cosmocerca ornata, were used to assess anthelmintic activity. Three different concentrations, (5,10 and 20 mg mL-1) of methanol extracts were used to determine the time required to paralyze and to induce death in the earthworms. Albendazole (15 mg mL-1) was used as reference standard drug. Plant extracts at higher concentrations (20 mg mL-1) produced faster paralytic effects and a shorter time to death. The results revealed that S. clusiana killed all of the test worms within 20 ± 0.6 min of exposure and was 100% effective. Among all five plants extracts tested, S. clusiana was found to be highly effective and significant against C. ornata. The findings will aid in understanding the significance and application of these medicinal plant species in the food industry, traditional medicine, and pharmaceutical applications. This anthelmintic study of the plant extracts revealed that traditional medicine may be as effective as modern medicine in combating pathogenic micro-organisms.

The significant antidyslipidemic, hypoglycemic, antihyperglycemic, and antiobesity activities of the aqueous extracts of Agave Sisalana juice are partly mediated via modulation of calcium signaling pathways

Plant species in the genus Agave, including Agave sisalana, have found extensive application in African and Asian traditional medicine. Inspired by the use of the edible sweet sap known as Aguamiel (obtained from specific mature agave species such as Agave salmiana) in Mexico by diabetic patients to improve their diabetic condition, this study investigated the effects of Agave sisalana extracts prepared by lyophilization, fermentation, and saponin extraction from sisal juice in a rodent model of metabolic syndrome. The metabolic syndrome was induced by administering a high fat and high fructose diet to freshly weaned Sprague-Dawley rats for eight weeks.The A. sisalana extracts possessed significant hypoglycemic effects [3.883 ± 0.371 mmol/L (normal group) vs. 8.183 ± 0.5845 mmol/L (negative control) vs. 3.767 ± 0.2716 mmol/L (positive control) vs. 4.167 ± 0.4602 mmol/L (FSP) vs. 4.533 ± 0.3169 mmol/L (FerSP) vs. 3.5 ± 0.2309 mmol/L (FS LD) vs. 3.867 ± 0.3353 mmol/L (FS HD) vs. 4.617 ± 0.2725 mmol/L (FerS LD) vs. 4.383 ± 0.3114 mmol/L (FerS HD): p < 0.0001]. The extracts also possessed significant antihyperlipidemic effects with significant differences in total serum cholesterol between the groups [1.398 ± 0.1232 mmol/L (normal group) vs. 4.225 ± 0.4135 mmol/L (negative control) vs. 1.582 ± 0.154 mmol/L (positive control) vs. 1.245 ± 0.0911 mmol/L (FSP) vs. 1.393 ± 0.1423 mmol/L (FerSP) vs. 1.387 ± 0.0924 mmol/L (FS LD) vs. 1.761 ± 0.1495 mmol/L (FS HD) vs. 1.698 ± 0.1294 mmol/L (FerS LD) vs. 1.6975 ± 0.0982 mmol/L (FerS HD): p < 0.0001]. Further, significant antiobesity effects of the A.sisalana extracts were observed with significant differences in weight among the groups [196.3 ± 6.49 g (normal group) vs. 298.9 ± 6.67 g (negative control) vs. 215.3 ± 6.06 g (positive control) vs. 195.4 ± 3.92 g (FSP) vs. 213.1 ± 5.21 g (FerSP) vs. 190.8 ± 6.49 g (FS LD) vs. 198.9 ± 4.31 g (FS HD) vs. 204.7 ± 4.78 g (FerS LD) vs. 208.7 ± 6.21 g (FerS HD): p < 0.0001].Network pharmacology studies indicated that the chemical components found in sisal juice primarily exert their effects by modulating the voltage-gated calcium channels CACNA1S, CACNA1D, and CACNA1C, in the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans.

Пряно-ароматические и эфирно-масличные культуры: урожайность и жирнокислотный состав семян

Spices, herbs, and essential-oil plants provide a lot of marketable products, e.g., green mash, seeds, essential oils, etc. These raw materials find application in food industry, pharmacy, perfumery, traditional and folk medicine, landscape gardening, etc. The research objective was to test some new varieties of spices, aromatic herbs, and essential oil crops for their yield and fatty acid composition.&#x0D; The study featured new varieties of medicinal hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.), oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.), garlic chives (Allium odorum L.), rue (Ruta graveolens L.), blue fenugreek (Trigonella caerulea (L.) Ser.), and big-root geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum L.). The yield of green mass and seeds was studied on the experimental field of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy according to standard methods. A set of standard laboratory procedures made it possible to define the content of crude fat, while the fatty acid composition of seed lipids was studied by gas chromatography in extracts of methyl esters of fatty acids.&#x0D; The green mass yield was 150–280 c/ha, whereas the seed yield was 0.5–4.0 c/ha; the crude fat content was 1.15–3.37 and 1.62–9.81%, respectively. The fatty acid composition of seed lipids included caprylic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids. The highest content of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids represented by linoleic and α-linolenic acids was observed in oregano (86.74–87.27%), hyssop (76.41–85.96%), tulsi (85.67%), basil (72.52–80.72%), rue (78.04%), and blue fenugreek (72.96%).&#x0D; The specified yield and fatty acid composition provided a complete assessment of spices, herbs, and essential-oil plants with the prospect of their use as part of new functional products.

Qualitative Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activities of n-Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate and Methanol Extracts of Ficus capensis Stem Bark

Ficus capensis (farin baure) has wide application in traditional medicine especially in the Northan part of Nigeria in the treatment and management of diarrhoea and digestive distress. This is attributed to the presence of many biologically active compounds in their different parts. In this study, stem bark of F. capensis was extracted with four (4) solvents of different polarities ranging from non-polar, moderately polar to polar. Qualitative phytochemical screening of these extracts was conducted using standard laboratory procedures. The results revealed that only alkaloids, glycosides and carbohydrates were detected from the n-hexane (non-polar) extract of F. capensis while the chloroform and ethyl acetate (moderately polar solvents) and methanol (polar solvent) extracts showed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids and proteins. But anthraquinones were not detected in all the extracts.&#x0D; Antimicrobial properties of the extracts were evaluated using clinical isolates of four different bacteria and fungi each. Different concentration of extracts was prepared and activity was measured using zone of inhibition in millimetres (mm). Methanol extracts showed activities against E. coli with the zone of inhibition 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm and 14 mm; B. subtilis with the zone of inhibition 10 mm, 11 mm, 13 mm and 15 mm all for 10, 20, 25 and 30% concentration of extracts respectively. Chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts showed antimicrobial activities against S. aureus (12 mm, 14 mm), E. coli (12 mm, 14 mm), P. aeruginosa (14 mm, 12 mm) and B. subtilis (12 mm, 16 mm) respectively for 20% concentration of the extracts. The methanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed considerable antifungal activities against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fungatus. But the n-hexane extract did not show any reasonable antibacterial and no antifungal activities.