Bitter Plants Research Articles

Time-Dependent Evaluation Of The Antibacterial And Phytochemical Properties Of Vernonia Amygdalina And Gongronema Latifolium

Background: Many plants in Africa are medicinal including domesticated edible vegetables. The time-dependent antibacterial efficacy of two popular Nigerian vegetables (Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium) on clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was evaluated. Phytochemical compositions were also evaluated using direct chemical estimation and thin layer chromatography respectively. Methods : Leaves were extracted with aqueous and alcoholic solvents at 2 hours and 72 hours at various concentrations and tested against bacteria using the agar well diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations were also determined. Results: Ethanol extracts of fresh leaves were more active than methanol extracts when were decocted in 98% alcoholic concentrations. The highest zone size obtained was 18mm at 125mg/ml concentration of ethanol extract against S. aureus. Activity was most prominent at 2 hours of decoction. Both plants had inhibition values of 2500 μg/ml each on E. coli as MIC and MBC while G. latifolium showed 5000 μg/ml each as MIC and MBC and V. amygdalina showed 625μg/ml each as MIC and MBC values respectively on S. aureus. The plants were shown to have ample quantities of saponins, flavonoids and alkaloids. Conclusions: This result has shown the relative potency of edible vegetables against bacteria. The level of phytochemical compounds bitter vegetable plants contain points to the usefulness of G. latifolium and Vernonia amydalina as credible supplements for antibiotics when used fresh or used as fresh solvent decoctions.

Cytomorphology of Gentiana kurroo: an important endangered bitter plant of temperate Himalaya

Gentiana kurroo, a potent bitter drug plant of Indian subcontinent, is under threat due to over exploitation and destruction of natural habitat. We studied the morphophenology and chromosomes of G. kurroo on both wild and field grown plants, which is very important for proper identification, conservation and domestication. Results reveal that G. kurroo is a perennial herb, and its shoot is represented by flowering branches only. Stem is modified to rhizome. The older rhizomes split into four parts at collar region appearing to fuse together at the ends and is an important diagnostic feature for crude raw materials. Two types of leaves i.e. radical leaves at the base of the plant and cauline leaves on flowering shoot are present. Flowering occurs during September to October with 1–9 inflorescences per plant. Inflorescence is terminal monocasial cysome type. Flowers are protrandus. Anthesis starts around 7.30 am and continued till 10.0 am. Ovary is bicarpillary syncarpous unilocular. Fruit is Capsule and takes 18–20 days to mature after fertilization. Seeds are very small elliptical and 1 000 seeds weigh to 0.1275 g. Chromosomal studies made by usual squash method reveals the species is a genomic allotetraploid with n = 13. The anaphase-I segregation was normal and in none of the cells at Anaphase-I or Telophase-I could any abnormality like laggards, bridges, micronuclei etc. be observed.

Functional foods with digestion-enhancing properties

On analyzing the traditional societies' plant lore by treatment and plant categories, one cannot but notice the greater weight given to treatment of digestive disturbances and ailments compared to modern Western pharmacopoeias, and the blurred boundaries between medicines and foods, in contrast to the clear-cut distinction made in contemporary industrialized societies. Hence, there is an interest in exploring the issue of multifunctional food and traditional ingredients with digestive properties. In this paper, I examine the coevolutionary foundations for digestive activities, the problems and ambiguities that emerge in the analysis of traditional data, and the possible biological mechanisms underlying the actions of bitter, aromatic and pungent compounds. After these premises, this paper presents a short review of those plants with a significant body of research supporting the claims that they have a digestive action, with particular emphasis on clinical data. The plants that have a substantial body of data in support of their digestion-enhancing activities mainly belong to one of three groups: bitter, aromatic and pungent plants. Amongst the most important we can find ginger, peppermint, aniseed and fennel, citrus fruits, dandelion and artichoke, melissa and chamomile, but many more have a significant body of experimental data available.

A bitter plant with a sweet future? A comprehensive review of an oriental medicinal plant: Andrographis paniculata

Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f) Nees is one of the most popular and important medicinal plant of the Orient, and South East Asia. It finds mention in various forms in Indian, Chinese, Malay, Thai, Unani, and Japanese systems of medicine. The plant exhibits anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, anti-venom, cholestatic, hepatoprotective, anti-thrombotic, anti-retroviral, anti-microbial, anti-pyretic, anti-malarial, anti-oxidant, immunomodulatory, and cardioprotective effects. The major active principles contributing to biological activity are diterpene lactones, but flavonoids, xanthones and caffeic acid derivatives also contribute to anti-oxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-malarial effects. As a result of its wide spectrum of pharmacological activity, almost impeccable safety profile, being a widely cultivated medicinal plant, we have collected and compiled various facets of this plant. Extensive datamining of the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Andrographis paniculata revealed more than 50 diterpene lactones, 30 flavonoids, 8 quinic acid derivatives, and 4 xanthones. This review contains information on around 80 isolated compounds, out of which more than half of the compounds have no reported pharmacological activity. Though there are some good reviews available on Andrographis paniculata, the authors of the earlier reviews focused on one or two aspects of the plant and none have attempted to integrate the available information on this plant. This provided us the much needed impetus, warranting a full-fledged and complete review on Andrographis paniculata, one of the most popular and important Oriental medicinal plant.

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Samadera indica Using In vitro Models

Antioxidant has gained importance in the current scenario as it has an ability to trap free radicals which are produced during the degenerative diseases. Natural antioxidant is considered superior to synthetic as it is safe and produces a prominent action. Samadera indica a bitter plant widely distributed throughout India, and mostly found in evergreen forest of Western Ghats and along river shore, the bitterness is due to the presence of flavanoids like Quassinoids. Literatures showed the presence of Quassinoids and therefore, plant may show the antioxidant activity which is not yet ruled out. Hence the present study was focused out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Samadera indica by in-vitro models. Method: The plant leaf was extracted using methanol and acetone as solvent. The extracts were evaluated for antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging assay using DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging assay, FRAP, DCF/AAPH assay and was expressed as IC50. Result: All the methods showed a prominent antioxidant activity but were comparatively lower than standard Quercetin. Antioxidant activity of extracts produced increased scavenging activity in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion: The evaluation of antioxidant activity of Samadera indica concludes that the plant extracts showed activity and this may be due to the presence of flavanoids. Hence, further work should be done on the isolation and identification of other antioxidant components of Samadera indica.

Callus induction and plant regeneration from an ancient and forgotten crop plant Vicia ervilia L. (WILLD)

Recently ICARDA has recommended the cultivation of annual legume of vetch group especially bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia L.) in fallow lands for right exploitation of pastures and rectifies feed shortage at marginal dry lands areas. To reach this aim a research was carried out in Tabriz university of IRAN. At this research bitter vetch plants and embryo axis were grown and developed under some levels of hormonal concentrations (high and low) on MS medium containing BAP and NAA (0, 0.1, 1, 20 and 40 mg/l). After statistical comparison, hormonal combination of 5 mg/l of BAP with 20 mg/l NAA and without NAA was considered as the best treatment for callus induction and maintenance. Then some callus and embryonic axis were transferred on regeneration medium containing (NAA 0.1 mg/l, BAP 0.2 mg/l), (NAA 2 mg/l + BAP 0.2 mg/l), (NAA 1 mg/l + BAP 0.1 mg/l) and without hormones. Three different hormonal media did not show significant differences for callus size and fresh weights but shooting frequency was high (94%) and the highest number of shoot (6–28 per explant) were obtained and recognized significant difference in comparison to previous experiments which carried out without hormonal shocks.

A herbalogical study on the plants of Aspleniaceae in Korea

Objective : For the purpose of developing Korean herbalogy of the plants to Aspleniaceae in Korea, the literatures of the successive generations have been thoroughly investigated to prepare this article. Methods : The examined herbalogical books and research paper which published at home and abroad. Results : 1. There are 2 genera and 21 species in Aspleniaceae in Korea and among them medicinal plants are 2 genera and 10 species, some 48% in total. 2. Asplenium genus is a main kind in that it has 20 species among 21 species in Aspleniaceae of which medicinal plants are 9 species. 3. The Herb play medicinal parts if most plants in the Aspleniaceae have the effect of a medicine, the 10 species of which are used for medical care. 4. According to nature and flavor of medicinal plants in the Aspleniaceae, the cold medicinal plants and the bitter medicinal plants take the highest number of them 5. According to the properties and principal curative action, they were classified into drugs for hemostatic 10 species, drugs for clearing away heat 8 species, drugs for detoxification 7 species respectively. 6. None of the species of Aspleniaceae have been found to be toxic. Conclusions : There are totaled to 2 genera and 21 species in Aspleniaceae in Korea and among them medicinal plants are 2 genera and 10 species some 48% in total.

An acyltransferase-like gene obtained by differential gene expression profiles of quinolizidine alkaloid-producing and nonproducing cultivars of Lupinus angustifolius

Quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs) are one of the representative groups of plant alkaloids. To isolate genes involved in QA biosynthesis, we performed a differential gene expression analysis by PCR-select subtraction between a QA-producing bitter cultivar and a nonproducing sweet cultivar of Lupinus angustifolius. We obtained 71 and 43 clones specific to the bitter and sweet cultivars, respectively. Among the genes specifically expressed in the bitter cultivar, an acyltransferase-like gene (LaAT: Lupinus angustifolius acyltransferase) showing homology to the BAHD protein family was isolated. LaAT showed the strongest homology to the Arabidopsis thaliana BAHD acyltransferases involved in the formation of conjugated polyamines. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that LaAT expression was highest in the young leaves but barely detectable in the other organs of the bitter cultivar plant, whereas LaAT expression was undetectable in the sweet cultivar.

Plants as bitter

The plants containing bitters (bitter substances) are exclusively used due to their intensively bitter tastes, they increases the appetite and stimulates digestion by acting on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Also increases the flow bile, stimulate repair of gut wall lining and regulate the secretion of insulin and glucagons. They reflectively induce stimulation on the salivary gland and the secretion of gastric juice. The bitter taste recognizes at the very moment of excitation. The taste buds are situated at the root of the tongue, and keep the bitter taste some time afterwards ('after-taste'). These are then sending the signal to the brain, which by reflexes than affect the swelling of the secreting mucous membranes. The bitters have therefore positive influence on the digestive processes, then it lead to an improvement on appetite as well as an amelioration of the food intake. The bitters plants are generally showing antidiabetic and tonic action. Keywords: Bitter plants, Alkaloids, Glycosides, Antidiabetic, Bitterness value.

Bitter avoidance in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) and mice (Mus musculus and Peromyscus leucopus).

Rejection of bitter substances is common in many species and may function to protect an animal from ingestion of bitter-tasting toxins. Since many plants are bitter, it has been proposed that high tolerance for bitterness would be adaptive for herbivores. Earlier studies conducted on herbivorous guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) have been used to support this proposal. We tested guinea pigs with bitter plant secondary metabolites (salicin, caffeine, quinine hydrochloride) and bitter protein hydrolysates (two types of hydrolyzed casein, hydrolyzed soy) in a series of two-choice preference tests. For comparison, we tested two nonherbivorous mouse species (Mus musculus and Peromyscus leucopus). Guinea pigs did show weaker avoidance of quinine hydrochloride than did the mice, confirming predictions generated from earlier work. However, guinea pigs had similar responses to caffeine as did Peromyscus. Both of these species showed weaker avoidance responses than Mus to 10 mM caffeine. For salicin, guinea pigs were the only species to avoid it at 10 mM and their preference scores at this concentration were significantly lower than for the two mice species. Guinea pigs avoided all of the protein hydrolysates more strongly than the other species. Responses to the protein hydrolysates did not reflect the patterns observed with the simple bitter compounds, suggesting that other properties of these complex stimuli may be responsible for guinea pig avoidance of them. Our results suggest caution in accepting, without further empirical support, the premise that guinea pigs (and herbivores in general) have a generalized reduced bitter sensitivity.

The gourmet ape: evolution and human food preferences

This review explores the relation between evolution, ecology, and culture in determining human food preferences. The basic physiology and morphology of Homo sapiens sets boundaries to our eating habits, but within these boundaries human food preferences are remarkably varied, both within and between populations. This does not mean that variation is entirely cultural or learned, because genes and culture may coevolve to determine variation in dietary habits. This coevolution has been well elucidated in some cases, such as lactose tolerance (lactase persistence) in adults, but is less well understood in others, such as in favism in the Mediterranean and other regions. Genetic variation in bitter taste sensitivity has been well documented, and it affects food preferences (eg, avoidance of cruciferous vegetables). The selective advantage of this variation is not clear. In African populations, there is an association between insensitivity to bitter taste and the prevalence of malaria, which suggests that insensitivity may have been selected for in regions in which eating bitter plants would confer some protection against malaria. Another, more general, hypothesis is that variation in bitter taste sensitivity has coevolved with the use of spices in cooking, which, in turn, is thought to be a cultural tradition that reduces the dangers of microbial contamination of food. Our evolutionary heritage of food preferences and eating habits leaves us mismatched with the food environments we have created, which leads to problems such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Management of Bittergourd yellow mosaic virus (BGYMV) by using virus inhibiting chemical, biocontrol agents, antiviral principles (AVP) and insecticide

Bitter gourd Yellow Mosaic Virus (BGYMV) is a Whitefly transmitted geminivirus. BGYMV causes yellow mosaic disease in bitter gourd. This disease attains significance because the virus causing this disease is capable of attacking the crop at all stages. There was a severe yield loss in bitter gourd plants due to the infection of BGYMV. Bitter gourd plants treated with Bougainvillea spectabilis challenge inoculated with BGYMV reduced the disease incidence and increased the plant growth. In the above treatment the disease incidence was 33.33% at 75 Days After Sowing (DAS). But in the inoculated untreated control the disease incidence was 100% at 75 DAS. The mean maximum plant height was 92.24 cm in plants inoculated at 65 DAS. Bougainvillea spectabilis treated plants challenge inoculated with BGYMV showed an increased activity of peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase and phenol content from 4 Days After Inoculation (DAI) to 12 DAI. The activity of all the enzymes was reduced from 16 DAI in all the treatments.

Detection of Bittergourd Yellow Mosaic Virus (BGYMV) in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) through Triple Antibody Sandwitch (TAS) ELISA and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Serodiagnosis of BGYMV revealed that ACMV polyclonal antibody and ICMV monoclonal antibody trapped the particles from the extracts of BGYMV infected bitter gourd plants. Optimum antigen and ICMV monoclonal antibody dilution to detect BGYMV was 1:10 and 1:1, respectively. A405 value at 1.10 and 1:100 antigen dilution for BGYMV infected sample was 0.949 and 0.544, respectively. A405 value at 1:1 and 1:5 ICMV monoclonal antibody dilution was 0.993 and 0.696, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction technique using Deng's degenerate primer for gemini virus amplified 560 bp fragment from BGYMV infected bitter gourd plants.

Host range and purification of bitter gourd yellow mosaic virus (BGYMV) in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia)

A survey was conducted to record the occurrence of whitefly-transmitted gemini viruses (WTGs) in four districts of Tamil Nadu. Various plant and weed species infected by WTGs were collected during the survey, and preliminary studies conducted revealed that the bitter gourd plant exhibiting the yellow mosaic symptom was new and it was devastating for bitter gourd in all the places where the survey was conducted. This virus was characterized as bitter gourd yellow mosaic virus (BGYMV). Cassava (Monihot esculenta) and three weed species viz., Acalypha indica L., Croton sparsiflorus, Bail, and Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Gracke, respectively, were found to be the hosts of BGYMV. BGYMV was purified from the infected bitter gourd plants and it was found that the purified particles contained a single major protein of an estimated molecular weight of 35 KDa.

Rodent herbivores fed novel bitter plant compounds regulate meal size

Rodent herbivores fed novel bitter plant compounds regulate meal size

Secondary and Primary Plant Metabolites as Chemical Markers for Resistance of Bitter Candytuft (Iberis amara) Plant against Insect Attack

A correlation between the levels of secondary and primary plant metabolites and food coefficient parameters with the population density of infested broccoli plants was studied. Cucurbitacins and glucosinolates compounds were good signs of resistance in bitter candytuft plants. On the other hand, lower values or the absence of these markers rendered broccoli susceptible to the pests under study, not during all stages of growth but whenever these values were much lower throughout growth stages. The major cucurbitacins were isolated and purified from bitter candytuft and identified by spectroscopic techniques. Glucosinolates content in bitter candytuft was also studied. The development of cabbage aphid treated with various bitter candytuft extracts as well as isolated cucurbitacins was also evaluated. A field study showed a remarkable reduction (88.9 %) of cabbage aphid induced by spraying the broccoli plants with 4 % water extract after autolysis of bitter candytuft.

The taste sensory evaluation of medicinal plants and Chinese medicines

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of the artificial taste sensor in the evaluation of 11 medicinal plants and 10 Chinese medicines with bitter and/or astringent tastes, and to assess the possible application of the sensor in the evaluation of taste and quality control of medicinal products. Aqueous extracts of the six bitter medicinal plants could be classified into three types, and those of the five astringent medicinal plants into two types, on the basis of sensor output pattern profiles. These differences seem to derive from the different structures of the main components. In the principal component analysis of the taste sensor output of 10 Chinese medicines, a new measure developed, the ‘Euclidean distance’, defined as the distance between a control and the targeted substance on the principal component map. This measure offers a possibility for indicating the different tastes of Chinese medicines. Lastly, we confirmed that berberine adsorption on the surface of the artificial membrane of the taste sensor was of the Langmuir type. The berberine content in extracts of medicinal plants could be evaluated by the taste sensor, and it was shown to be possible to use the taste sensor for the quality control of medicinal plants.

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric study and analysis of xanthone and secoiridoid glycoside composition of Swertia chirata, a potent antidiabetic

Swertia chirata is a bitter plant, used in the Indian system of medicine (Ayurveda) for various human ailments. The bioactive constituents include the xanthone and secoiridoid glycosides consisting of mangiferin, amarogentin, amaroswerin, sweroside and swertiamarin. Methanolic extracts of S. chirata possess constituents with antidiabetic activities, which was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS). Preliminary HPLC analyses were performed on a reversed-phase C18 column using gradient elution. In the LC/ESI-MS spectra, predominant [M+H]+ and [M+Na]+ ions were observed in positive ion mode and provided molecular mass information. The five components of S. chirata were structurally correlated and confirmed based on the fragmentation characteristics and information available in the literature. The fragmentation behavior of [M+H]+/[M+Na]+ ions of these components were deduced from the collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra obtained from the selective on-column information-dependant acquisition (IDA) approach. Xanthone-C-glycoside showed characteristic fragment ions due to fragmentation in the C-glycosidic unit while iridoid-O-glycosides showed characteristic fragment ions due to cleavage in the glycoside linkage and retro-Diels-Alder (RDA) cleavage within an iridoid aglycone. Furthermore, on the basis of this information, an analytical assay was developed and validated to determine relative concentrations of mangiferin, amarogentin, amaroswerin, sweroside and swertiamarin. The detection was carried out using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in positive ionization mode with a total analysis time of 3.5 min. The method was successfully applied to standardize four different batches of herbal preparation on the basis of relative concentration of five bioactive components.

Effect of Gibberellic Acid (GA3) on Flowering and Fruit Development of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Flowering and fruiting of two varieties of bitter gourd (Tia and Biruttam) as affected by six levels of GA3 concentrations viz. 0, 25, 40, 55, 70 and 85 ppm was studied in the Crop Botany Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from February to May 2005. Application of GA3 at pre-flowering stage in bitter gourd plant significantly influenced flowering behaviour and fruting characteristics. It was observed that individual fruit weight were the maximum by application of GA3 at 40 ppm but at higher concentration (>40 ppm) fruit yield declined. The results showed that variety Tia produced higher yield (1.454 kg/plant) than the variety Biruttam (1.367 kg/plant). Effect of different level of GA3 concentrations were statistically different from each other.

Amarogentin can reduce hyperproliferation by downregulation of Cox-II and upregulation of apoptosis in mouse skin carcinogenesis model

Swertia chirata, is a bitter plant, used in the Indian system of medicine (Ayurveda) for various human ailments. Our laboratory was the first to report the chemopreventive effect of this plant. The antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic action of amarogentin rich fraction of S. chirata is now demonstrated on a mouse skin carcinogenesis model. Immunohistochemical localization revealed a reduction in proliferating and increase in apoptotic cells in skin lesion following treatment, also reflected in the expression of molecular markers—Cox-II and caspase-3 proteins. It may be possible to calculate relative risk, relative protection and attributable risk from the action of test agents on proliferation and apoptosis.