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Acorus calamus: An overview
Abstract
Acorus calamus (Sweet flag) is a wetland perennial monocot plant, in which the scented leaves and rhizomes have been traditionally used medicinally against different ailments like, fever, asthma, bronchitis, cough and mainly for digestive problems such as gas, bloating, colic, and poor digestive function. Number of active constituents and essential oil were identified and characterized from the leaves and rhizomes of sweet flag. An over view of the pharmacological activities and insecticidal activities are summarized here.
... (Acoraceae), an important medicinal herb with a conservation status of least concern on the IUCN red list, is located in the wetland habitats of the Himalayas, Manipur, Naga Hills, and South India. It is a monocotyledonous, semi-aquatic perennial plant with creeping rhizomes [1,2]. Apart from that, it is also used as a botanical insecticide against field and storage pests in agriculture. ...
... (Schmidt et al., 1991). Asarones, the phytochemicals present in the essential oil, are the main reason for the insecticidal, growth-inhibiting, and antifeedant potential of sweet flag against insect pests [1,3]. Direct exposure of the essential oils to the storage pest,sawtoothed grain beetlecauses morphological alterations on insects' cuticles. ...
... It also causes the weakest feeding deterrence, which leads to phagostimulation and is followed by post-ingestive lethality [4]. The rich insecticidal properties of sweet flag may be the reason for the lower pest attack at the field level, but the presence of root mealy was mentioned by Balakumbahan et al. [1]. Even though studies for morphological identification and genus-level confirmations have not been reported till now, Thus, the objective of the study was to report the attack, symptoms, and biology of the pink pineapple mealybug (PPMB) on Acorus calamus. ...
Acorus calamus Linn is a medicinal plant that also has pesticidal properties, primarily against storage pests of agricultural commodities. The creeping rhizomes are the economic part of the plant and are in high demand in Ayurvedic medicine preparation. So far, the pest attacks have not posed a major issue in terms of the economic yield of the plant. In 2022, the presence of an invasive pest, Dysmicoccus brevipes Cockerell, was recorded in the rhizosphere of sweet flag plants maintained at the Pepper Research Station campus, Panniyur, Kannur, Kerala, India. The polyphagous pest has expanded its host range on A. calamus. The pest attack was recorded from February 2022 onwards, which was the world's first report. Its biology was evaluated in the laboratory, and it was found that the pest is a parthenogenetic race with an average life cycle of 59±2.26 days and a fecundity range of 30-74 offspring per adult. Future research should focus on bio-intensive sustainable management packages to protect the IUCN-red list categorized sweet flag from extinction.
... The herb has also been reported to be an integral part of Ayurveda and Unani medicines. The concentration of asarone in A. calamus essential oils depends on the parts of the plant used to extract the oil and the ploidy [5][6][7][8] . ...
... The reductive ability is due to the presence of reductones 26 . A volume of 2.5 mL of phosphate buffer (200 mM, pH = 6.6) and 2.5 mL of 1% K 4 [Fe(CN) 6 ] were mixed with different concentrations (5-25 µL) of essential oils obtained from the A. calamus. After incubation, 2.5 mL of trichloroacetic acid was added to the mixtures, followed by centrifugation at 650 rpm for 10 min. ...
... The bioactive constituents viz; 2-allyl-5-ethoxy-4-methoxyphenol, 4-terpineol, lysidine, epieudesmin, spathulenol, furylethyl ketone, borneol, nonanoic acid, 2,2,5,5tetramethyl-3-hexanol, galgravin, bornyl acetate, retusin, (9E,12E,15E)-9,12,15-octadecatrien-1-ol, geranylacetate, butyl butanoate, sakuranin, camphor, acetic acid, isoelemicin, acetaphenone, α-ursolic acid, dehydroabietic acid, methyl ether, isoeugenol, apigenin 4,7-dimethylether, linalool, dehydro di-isoeugenol, elemicin and linolenic acid, 1 β,7 α(H)cadinane-4 α,6 α,10 α-triol (1), 1 α,5 β -guaiane-10 α-O-ethyl-4 β,6 β-diol (2), and 6 β,7 β(H)-cadinane-1 α,4 α, 10 α-triol (3) have been reported in A. calamus because of its rich ethnobotanical history and traditional uses against various ailments like, fever, asthma, bronchitis, cough and mainly for digestive problems such as gas, bloating, colic, and poor digestive function. The herb has also been reported to be used in Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine [5][6][7][8] . To verify and characterise the variation of A. calamus oils and to identify the various possible chemotypes in the populations of A. calamus, their compositions were determined by cluster analysis, as shown in (Fig. 2). ...
The essential oil composition of Acorus calamus (Acoraceae) rhizomes, collected from twenty different ecological niches in Uttarakhand, India, with an oil yield ranging between 0.7-5.4% (v/w), was examined by GC/MS. Among the identified components, β-asarone (62.3-75.9%), α-asarone (2.2-6.1%), Z-isoelemicin (2.4-6.2%), Z-methyl isoeugenol (2.3-6.4%) and shyobunone (1.5-5.3%) were found to be the major ones. The antioxidant activity of different essential oils was compared to that of standard antioxidants to assess their free radical scavenging potential, metal chelating ability, and reducing power. The essential oils exhibited significant in vitro antioxidant activity. The IC 50 values for DPPH radical scavenging, metal chelating, and reducing ability exhibited by the rhizomes essential oils were observed between 22.28-61.96 μg/mL, 29.55-159.26 μg/mL, and 21.41-61.19 μg/mL, respectively. Based on the above observations, the chemical diversity of A. calamus essential oil can be a good source of herbal nutraceuticals and phenylpropanoids. The possible mode of action and structure-activity relationship between major compounds of essential oils and proteins of antioxidant activity were studied using in-silico molecular docking and were found to support the in-vitro results.
... Sauer et al. announced the tuber to have been utilized by Indians of America (North) during the period of Europe discovering (Sauer, 1969). This plant has some other names also like myrtle flag, sweet sedge, flag root, cinnamon sedge, sweet root, sweet myrtle, myrtle sedge, and gladdon (Balakumbahan et al., 2010). This plant has long tenuous leaves, grass-like or sword-shaped, that fan from a pinkish base. ...
... The rhizomes and scented leaves of this plant are utilized as traditional medicine, apart from that dried rhizomes which are crushed into powder form containing a spicy flavor which is utilized as a substitute for cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger for its odor (Umamaheshwari et al., 2018;Balakumbahan et al., 2010). Nowadays, an enormous population of developing nations are depending on the traditional medicines for their health needs (Chandra et al., 2017;Ramakrishna et al., 1984). ...
... The rhizomes have diverse different pharmacological properties like expectorant, antispasmodic, anthelmintic, carminative, aromatic, sedative, abdominal pain, dysentery (Umamaheshwari et al., 2018;Paithankar et al., 2011). Besides, it is a significant herb in Ayurveda medicine, and is utilized for rejuvenating brain and nervous system (Balakumbahan et al., 2010). ...
Acorus calamus L. (Sweet flag) is a flowering plant species, the Acoraceae family's tall wetland monocot. It's a perennial herbaceous vine. These are the only plants that grow bear flowers in water. The various portions of this herb, such as rhizomes and leaves, are historically utilized in various herbal formulations to treat numerous ailments inclusive of neuralgia, arthritis, diarrhoea, kidney and liver disorders, dyspepsia, eczema, sinusitis, cough, asthma, hair loss, bronchitis, and other disorders. In addition, it has also been found that this plant is active against the most common and troubling chronic ailments like cancer, heart diseases, diabetes. Biochemical analysation of the plant has uncovered an enormous number of secondary metabolites that might be accountable for its therapeutic benefits. The methods by which it exerts its therapeutic efficacy have been uncovered through basic scientific study. Other than its pharmacological properties, it additionally acts as a pesticide and helps in phytoremediation. Many active components from this plant have been procured and characterized for their wider range of pharmacological actions. Moreover, investigating the pharmacological actions of individual components present in A. calamus would bring novel and safer alternative therapeutics for a wider range of ailments. In this chapter, the botanical descriptions, ethno-therapeutic uses, phytochemical components, and biological action of plant sections, and the molecular targets of sweet flag are included which might furnish as a suitable foundation for future research on this herb.
... Nowadays also 80% of world uses traditional medicine for the treatment of disease as observed in the report given by WHO. Some of these plants also show poisonous effects when used in large quantities or in inappropriate form (Balakumbahan et al. 2010). In traditional, Ayurveda and Unani medicines, many poisonous plants are used as therapeutics by reducing its poisonous effects via various procedures. ...
... Its flowers are cylindrical, greenish brown and covered with rounded spikes and are of 3-8 cm. Its fruits are berry like, small and contain very few seeds (Balakumbahan et al. 2010). ...
... GC-MS analysis of essential oils shows major phytochemicals such as Asarone, socalamendiol, eugenol, Camphor, Elemicin, maltose, glucose, fructose, Linolenic acid, 2-Allyl-5-Ethoxy-4-Methoxyphenol, acorenone and Nonanoic Acid. These phytochemicals have many medicinal effects (Balakumbahan et al. 2010 ...
Many plants present in nature show adverse effects on other organisms, which leads to toxic response in the organisms. One of such plants is Sway or Muskrat root, i.e., Acorus calamus. It is a perennial plant creeping and highly branched, aromatic rhizome. It is cylindrical, up to 2.5 cm thick, purplish brown to light brown externally and white internally. It is a medicinal plant which is commonly used in traditional medicine as well as in Ayurveda, Unani and western herbal medicines. It is used for treatment of various ailments like chronic diarrhea, dysentery, intermittent fevers, eczema, rheumatism, epilepsy, tympanitis, otitis media, cough, asthma, and glandular and abdominal tumors. It contains many phytochemicals like α-Asarone, β-Asarone, linalool, epieudesmin and galgravin which show antimicrobial, insecticidal, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, anticonvulsant and anticancer activities. Apart from these pharmacological activities, A. calamus shows some toxic activities like behavioral abnormalities, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity when tested in vitro. In excess amount, A. calamus shows mortality in mice and rats. Despite these toxic effects, A. calamus can be used for therapeutics and in many medicines in lower concentrations.
... Natural products from plants' origin have long been recognized as a crucial source of therapeutic agents for human well-being [1][2][3][4]. Medicinal plants serve as a rich reservoir of phytochemical constituents with therapeutic qualities that may be crucial and inspire the exploration of new drug designs and syntheses for the development of effective medications [5,6]. The demand for plants natural products is increasing globally, as they are considered more reliable and have fewer adverse side effects compared to synthetic medications [7]. ...
... Consequently, unlike manufactured medications that frequently have unfavorable side effects, plants offer diverse biocomponents for the treatment of numerous human disorders [9]. Thus, to develop innovative medications, it is essential to isolate biologically active phytochemicals from crude plant extracts and evaluate their effectiveness in both in vitro and in vivo settings [5,6]. ...
For centuries, medicinal plants have been integral to human health and well-being across the world. Aegle
marmelos (Rutaceae), a medicinal plant indigenous to Nepal, holds substantial ethnomedicinal use among
indigenous communities in South Asian countries. Present study aimed to explore the integration of contemporary
scientific analysis of the phytochemical composition and bioactivity of A. marmelos leaf extracts harvested
from Nepal with traditional ethnopharmacological knowledge. Leaf extracts of A. marmelos were subjected to
phytochemical analysis utilizing mass spectrometry. The extracts underwent in vitro evaluation for antimicrobial,
antidiabetic, antioxidant, and toxicity activities. Hexane fraction was found to possess volatile oils, polyphenols,
and tannins, while other fractions were found to have alkaloids, terpenoids, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides,
saponins, and reducing sugars. Further analysis of the hexane fraction identified 21 compounds with over 90 %
accuracy. The main phytoconstituents were 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid methyl ester (24.25 %), hexadecanoic
acid (10.89 %), methylcyclohexane (8.39 %), methyl ester (4.26 %), and caryophyllene (4.10 %). The methanol
extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Additionally,
the methanol extract demonstrated pronounced cytotoxic effects against brine shrimp, with an LC50 value of
50.11 μg/mL. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl assay revealed both methanol and acetone extract to have
notable antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 90.63 ± 1.47 μg/mL and 89.93 ± 2.52 μg/mL, respectively.
Remarkably, the acetone extract displayed superior antidiabetic activity compared to acarbose, with an IC50
value of 13.50 ± 0.79 μg/mL. Our findings proves A. marmelos leaf extracts to harbor significant bioactive
constituents, suggesting their potential as sources of natural compounds for applications in medicine and
healthcare.
... Acorus calamus L. (Family: Acoraceae), commonly known as Sweet Flag is a perennial monocot herb and identified as an endangered medicinal plant species (Balakumbahan et al., 2010). It is an extensively branched, cylindrical rhizome up to 2.5 cm thick, purplish brown to light brown externally and white internally. ...
... It is an extensively branched, cylindrical rhizome up to 2.5 cm thick, purplish brown to light brown externally and white internally. It is used as a relief to the digestion disorders, appetite, stomach cramps and colic (Balakumbahan et al., 2010). Plant leaves, rhizomes and its essential oil has various biological actions like antispasmodic, carminative, mental ailments remedy, chronic diarrhea, dysentery, tumors reliever and used for treatment of epilepsy (Devi and Ganjewala 2009). ...
The chemical constituents of Acorus calamus L. leaves have been evaluated using GC-MS and FT-IR. Building upon prior studies that identified antimicrobial activity of A. calamus leaf extracts, the objective of this study was to identify the bioactive antimicrobial and other phytochemical compounds in the leaf extract using GC-MS and FT-IR analyses. Preliminary analysis revealed the presence of tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, phenols, glycosides, and steroids. Of all identified compounds in methanol extracts, the abundant compounds were asarone (41.09%), 9, 12, 15-octadecanoic acid (Z, Z, Z-) (4.74%), Hexadecanoic acid (4%), alpha linolenic acid (3.66%), vitamin E (1.80%), 2-methoxy-4 vinyl phenol (2.54%), phytol (0.46%) and stigmast-5-en-3-ol, (3. beta)-. (0.75%). The FTIR analysis verified the presence of alcohols, phenols, alkanes, alkenes, aldehydes, ketone, and aromatic amines. The study presented here reports the first conclusive evidence indicating the presence of important phytochemical constituents in the leaf extracts of A. calamus, which may suggest leaf extract as potential candidate for effective pharmaceutical formulations. The current method of using rhizome limits the plant usage to one time only. Using leaves extract of A. calamus avoids culmination of entire plant and hence, preserves this endangered herb.
... Salah satu tanaman yang dapat digunakan sebagai obat adalah tanaman jeringau merah (Acorus sp) termasuk dalam famili Acoraceae yang merupakan keluarga tanaman keladi atau talas-talasan tidak berkayu dan hidup di tempat berair (semiakuatik), dan salah satu tanaman endemik Kalimantan Barat. 5 Rimpang jeringau merah secara empiris digunakan sebagai pengobatan untuk demam berdarah oleh suku Dayak. Jeringau merah memiliki anti infeksi, antiinflamasi, anti-toksik, penurun panas, pencahar urin, anti-kusta, anti-sifilis, antioksidan, perbaikan otak, perlindungan saraf dan hipertensi, sebagai obat perut, diare berdarah, dan penyakit kulit. ...
... Jeringau merah memiliki anti infeksi, antiinflamasi, anti-toksik, penurun panas, pencahar urin, anti-kusta, anti-sifilis, antioksidan, perbaikan otak, perlindungan saraf dan hipertensi, sebagai obat perut, diare berdarah, dan penyakit kulit. 5,6 . ...
Latar Belakang : Tanaman Jeringau merah (Acorus sp) .termasuk dalam famili Acoraceae merupakan keluarga tanaman keladi atau talas-talasan yang tidak berkayu dan hidup di tempat berair (semiakuatik), dan .salah satu tanaman endemik Kalimantan Barat. Jeringau merah memiliki anti infeksi, antiinflamasi, anti-beracun, penurun panas, pencahar urin, anti-kusta, anti-sifilis, antioksidan, perbaikan otak, hipertensi dan perlindungan saraf, sebagai obat perut, diare berdarah dan penyakit kulit.. Jeringau merah mengandung senyawa flavonoid, fenol, alkaloid, terpenoid yang memiliki aktivitas antimikroba. Oleh sebab itu, peneliti ingin mengetahui ada tidaknya aktivitas penghambatan terhadap pertumbuhan mikroba dari ekstrak jeringau merah. Tujuan : mengidentifikasi literatur mengenai aktivitas antibakteri terhadap Staphyloccus aureus dan Escherichia coli ekstrak Jeringau merah. Metode : penelusuran literature review. Artikel diperoleh berasal dari database dan search egine Google Scholar, Research Gate dan Pubmed. Kata Kunci yang digunakan adalah uji aktivitas antibakteri.ekstrak jeringau merah (Acorus sp) terhadap pertumbuhan Staphylococcus aureus. dan Escherichia coli. Analisa yang digunakan adalah analisa SPIDER. Hasil : literature review ditemukan 7 artikel yang sesuai terhadap kriteria yang diinginkan. Diperoleh hasil mengenai aktivitas antibakteri, diameter zona hambat terbaik dan perbandingan zona hambat dari ekstrak jeringau merah sebagai antibakteri
... 71 The pistil of the plant is useful in the treatment of mental illnesses and improvement of memory. 72 Acorus calamus reduces oxidative damage induced by scopolamine, thereby restoring the brain's antioxidant state. Therefore, it may be an efficient therapeutic option for the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative disorders like dementia and Alzheimer's disease. ...
Background: Cognition is critical for functional independence as people age. Neurodegenerative dementias are more likely to affect older adults due to the aging process. The inadequate response of conventional therapeutic approaches, besides numerous side effects, can cause patients to explore complementary and alternative medical options. This study aimed to introduce the most common medicinal herbs used in Persian medicine for the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairments. Methods: In order to identify medicinal herbs for the treatment and prevention of cognitive diseases, manuscripts were searched by keywords such as "Nesyan", "Fesad-al-Zekr", and "Zekr". Afterwards, the scientific names and pharmacological properties of selected plants were also searched in scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Results: The results of the review indicate that herbal remedies could be effective in treating cognitive impairment and dementia. The neuroprotective, antioxidant, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities are the basis for how these remedies work. Conclusion: The neuropharmacological effects of medicinal plants on numerous pathways make them promising candidates for future drugs or adjunct therapies in combination with established pharmaceuticals; however, further clinical research is required to establish the safety and effectiveness of these treatments.
... It did, however, demonstrate poor action against bacteria (MIC 5 ->10mg/ml) and significant potency against yeasts (MIC 0.1 to 1mg/ml), Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Cryptococcus neoformans. Hyphae and conidia treated with this fraction shrunk and collapsed, probably as a result of cell fluid leakage, as seen by scanning electron microscopy [5] . ...
Plants have been used for thousands of years to enrich and preserve food, cure ailments, and prevent infections, including epidemics. Medicinal plants have played an important role in the regeneration of deteriorating diseases caused by microbial infections., also to prevent from spreading of infectious disease. Furthermore, medicinal plants provide a valuable resource for potentially beneficial compounds for the development of novel chemotherapeutic drugs, which have significantly contributed to human health and well-being. Plant-derived products have the potential to regulate microbial growth in many different kinds of conditions. In the particular context of infection control, several studies have attempted to characterize the chemical constitute of these plant antimicrobial compounds and the processes behind microbial growth suppression, either in isolation or in combination with traditional antimicrobials. Such works should be brought to the attention of every concerned person. The current paper is an attempt to provide a review of some these kinds of plants.
... AC is classified under the Acorales order and Acoraceae family and is known for its therapeutic applications [27,28]. AC leaves and rhizomes are reported to treat cough, fever, digestive disorder, asthma, and bronchitis [29]. It contains 1,2,4-trimethoxy-5-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]benzene and 1,2,4-trimethoxy-5-[(Z)-prop-1-enyl]benzene which have been reported for anti-microbial, insecticidal, anti-cancer, anti-ulcer, immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hepatotoxic and antioxidant activities [30][31][32][33]. ...
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a potent human pathogen and a prevalent ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species). Considerably, K. pneumoniae becomes a major clinical problem due to numerous AMR genes [extended-spectrum β-lactamase, plasmid-mediated AmpC, carbapenemases, tigecycline resistance, and New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1)] and can hydrolyze the majority of β-lactam antibiotics. Hence, targeting NDM-1 could be an effective approach to eradicate K. pneumoniae pathogenesis. A plethora of reports suggests that the plant compounds possess an anti-microbial activity and their utilization could be a promising strategy to develop novel antibiotics. Our study utilized the hydromethanolic leaves extract of Acorus calamus L. (AC) to target NDM-1 containing K. pneumonia using an in silico approach. At first, we determined the phytochemical composition of AC using GC-HRMS. Further, the phytoconstituents were screened against the NDM-1 (PDB ID: 3ZR9) of K. pneumoniae through molecular docking studies. Our results revealed the compounds from AC such as (2R,4S,6R,7S,8R,9S,13S)-16-hydroxy-5′,7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-1(12)-ene-6,2′-oxane]-11-one (−9.5 kcal/mol), 4,4,5,8-tetramethyl-2,3-dihydrochromen-2-ol (−6.6 kcal/mol), 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichloro phenoxy)phenol (−6.0 kcal/mol), [(3S,3aS,6R,6aS)-3-nitrooxy-2,3,3a,5,6,6a-hexahydrofuro[3,2-b]furan-6-yl] nitrate (−5.7 kcal/mol), 4-(3-hydroxyprop-1-enyl)-2-methoxyphenol (−5.6 kcal/mol), and (E)-3-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid (−5.6 kcal/mol) possess substantial docking scores against NDM-1. Therefore, our study concludes that phytochemicals of AC may inhibit NDM-1-mediated resistance in K. pneumoniae and could be an alternative therapeutic strategy for targeting NDM-1-containing K. pneumoniae.
... In Ayurveda, formulations were prepared from the rhizome of Acorus calamus L. (A. calamus) and it has been used as substitute for ginger due to the characteristic odour. It has been known to have various vernacular names such as cinnamon sedge, flag root, myrtle flag, myrtle grass, myrtle sedge, sweet cane, sweet myrtle, sweet root, sweet rush, sweet sedge, etc (1). In Ayurveda texts, Vacha has been described to enhance the vocal capacity and is the intellect promoting agent. ...
Demand of medicinal plants is growing exponentially due to its extensive use in nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical industries. The major problem is the variation in quality and quantity of phytoconstituents with the collection of medicinal plants in each batch. Though, the quality and quantity of phytoconstituents in plants are influenced by various factors, chief among them is seasonal variation. Rhizome of Acorus calamus L. is used in treatment of neurological disorder specially in children. The Ayurvedic system of medicine believes blends of constituent imparts therapeutic activities. The main chemical constituent responsible for cognition enhancement is Asarone. An attempt has been taken to record change in Pharmacognostic parameter with season and evaluate the best collection time of rhizome of Acaorus calamus L. with special reference to extractive value and asarone content.
... Traditionally, both the leaves and rhizomes of this plant have been utilized for medicinal purposes. The powdered roots possess a spicy flavor and are employed as a substitute for ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg due to their aromatic properties (Balakumbahan et al., 2010). The propagation of the sweet flag primarily involves the in-vitro method of vegetative multiplication, which offers significant advantages for the medicinal trade and germplasm conservation. ...
The objective of this study was to assess the essential oil yields and chemical composition of the root of two varieties of Acorus calamus, namely the local and Jabalpur varieties. Gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis identified β-Asarone as the major chemical constituent. Notable findings revealed that fresh samples exhibited higher essential oil yield and β-Asarone content compared to various drying methods. Specifically, powdering the Jabalpur material resulted in a significant percentage (2.0%) of essential oils, with negligible variations observed in β-Asarone content. Additionally, besides GC, a straightforward and effective reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed for β-Asarone analysis from A. calamus root extracts in different solvents. Interestingly, the spent material also contained a considerable amount of β-Asarone. Among the different solvent extractions, ethyl acetate extracts exhibited the highest percentage (62%) of β-Asarone, while the lowest amount was recorded in methanol extract (37.47%). Keywords: Acorus calamus, Essential oil, GC, HPLC, β-Asarone.
... The antibacterial activity was significantly higher in non-polar Hexane fractions and semi-polar DCM fractions than polar Water fractions against MDR S. aureus (Figure 1a) for all locations but the hexane fraction of Solukhumbu showed siginificantly higher ZOI than Likewise,it was also observed that A. calamus extracts were more effective against gramnegative bacteria than gram-positive bacteria, as the extract showed the lowest MIC at 6.25 mg/mL for MDR E. coli while for MDR S. aureus the lowest MIC was 12.5 mg/mL. This might be due to the differences in morphology and constitution of cell walls of microorganisms which will affect the sensitivity to extract (Balakumbahan et al. 2010). Hexane and DCM fractions of Solukhumbu showed lowest MIC, MBC and highest ZOI than other place fractions for MDR S. aureus (Figure 1b, 1c and 1d) but Hexane fractions of Dhading showed lowest MIC, MBC and highest ZOI than other place fractions for E coli (Figure 2b, 2c and 2d). ...
... The utilisation of natural products in crop protection represents a critical area of innovation and development within the field. These products, known for their efficacy against human pathogens, are equally vital in managing agricultural pests and diseases, owing to their rich diversity of biologically active compounds (Balakumbahan et al., 2010;Henkel et al., 1999). Natural products have been integral to organic and conventional agriculture, showcasing their versatility across various applications. ...
This review entails a critical appraisal on the potential of plants as alternatives to synthetic chemicals for crop protection, aligning with the global shift towards green-based approaches in agriculture. Utilising a defined set of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 235 papers were extracted from Scopus. These articles were analyzed to address specific research questions related to plant-based biocontrol methods. Approximately 25% of the literature was published in journals such as "Industrial Crops and Products", "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry", "Pest Management Science", and "Frontiers in Microbiology". Thematic analysis identified core focus areas, including the chemical properties of antifungal agents, bioactive compounds, environmental protection, and the use of fungicides. Italy and China emerged as countries with the most represented authors, while China, India, and USA led in scientific production, corresponding authors' publications, and citation impact. We identified 91 plant species from 28 families, notably from the Lamiaceae, with strong potential as biocontrol agents. The most promising plants were Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco, Mentha piperita L., Foeniculum vulgare L., Coriandrum sativum L., and Allium ascalonicium L. This study offers valuable insights and practical applications in the field of plant-based biocontrol, thereby underscoring the relevance and efficacy of green-based approaches in contemporary agricultural practices. There is an increasing scientific interest in sustainable crop protection strategies and the potential of plant-based biocontrol agents in addressing biotic stresses in crops. Overall, this review contributes to the understanding of plant-based biocontrol for crop protection, providing a foundation for further research and application in sustainable agriculture.
... Kačániová et al., [57] studied that application of basil EO (Ocimum basilicum) at 100% concentration acted as insecticidal agent against Pyrrhocoris apterus. Acorus gramineus (grassy-leaved Sweet flag) oil when applied at 1000 ppm resulted in 100% mortality in female adults of Nilaparvata lugens [90]. Applying cinnamon oil at 80 μg/ml caused death of larva of Pseudococcus longispinus in guava [91] as mentioned in Fig. 1 [92]. ...
Fresh fruits and vegetables are susceptible to several diseases caused by many phytopathogenic microbes which affect their shelf life and quality especially after harvesting. To control these postharvest diseases, the use of synthetic agrochemicals are found to be effective but their phytotoxicity has created a great concern on consumer’s health, environment and food security. The continuous application of synthetic agrochemicals have found to be developing resistance to several pathogen populations. Currently, many importing countries enforce strict regulations on the minimal pesticide residual levels in the edible part of fresh produce. All these reasons mentioned above have necessitated to search for the natural and novel formulations as alternatives to replace the conventional chemical application during postharvest treatments. A novel approach to manage the postharvest losses, while retaining the fruit quality, has been implemented by the use of essential oils like cinnamon oil, thyme oil extracted from spices and herbs. This strategy eliminates the need for the use of synthetic formulations, thereby ensuring the global food security. Therefore, this review aims to emphasize the potential use of spice and herb oils as green alternative and as well as protective agents, their mode of action, method of application and their potential challenges by implementing in postharvest management of fruits and vegetables.
... D et. al,). 10,[54][55][56][57][58] It is a perennial herbaceous monocot wetland plant native to India, Europe, Japan, and China, posses rejuvenating property hence used in Ayurvedic system of medicine. Broadly fatty acids, essential oils, sugars are the Phytochemicals in the rhizomes of the plant such as α, β Asarone, Cis and trans isoeugenol these are identified using paper chromatography confirmed by direct comparing with authentic samples. ...
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is related to cognitive impairment, dementia observed generally in aged population due to neurodegeneration in an ongoing manner. It gradually worsens memory power of the patient. The hallmark diagnosis features includes formation of senile plaques and Neurofibrillary tangles (NFT'S). Too little availability of Acetyl choline (ACh) a neurotransmitter in the cerebral region due to metabolism by an enzyme Acetyl choline esterase before showing its action and neural death are the primary reasons for AD. There are many categories of Anti-Alzheimer's drugs available for management of AD in the market but due to lack of patient compliance successful outcomes were not observed. Apart from this including Nutraceuticals in diet daily routine, Aromatherapy, modifications in the regular schedule, practicing yoga regularly relaxes mind and body from tensions, insomnia, blood circulation, detoxification of organs due to rhythmic breathings and reduce frequency of incidence of headache are proven to show best results by relieving stress according to survey. At present herbal medicine has turn out to be best choice for the management of AD because of its availability, very economic, good patient compliance, ease of formulation and lower deleterious side effects. Novel techniques can be used for the development of herbal medicine. This review totally discuses about the occurrence of AD, its Pathophysiology, different stages in the disorder, various selective therapeutic targets for AD, available Anti-AD herbal drugs such as Curcumin, Withania somnifera, Bhrami, Ginkgo biloba, guggul, ginseng, herbs with essential oils, volatile oils, source and cultivation of the herbs, mechanism of action of the Phytochemicals in the herb responsible for treating AD.
... It is a perennial plant whose parts such as leaves, roots, and stems have been used to cure various diseases such as fever, asthma, bronchitis, and digestive disorders. It has been also used as a sedative [34]. The presence of various phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, proteins, and carbohydrates is responsible for the reduction of zinc nitrate and the formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles [35]. ...
Nanoparticles possess various unique characteristics compared to the corresponding bulk materials. Large band gap, non-toxic nature, and multi-applicability are the worthwhile characteristics of zinc oxide to be synthesized and studied. The size of nanoparticles can be controlled by varying the different experimental conditions. This paper reports the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles by using an aqueous extract of rhizomes of Acorus calamus, where the bio-components present in aqueous extract acted as reducing agents. The size and band gap energy of zinc oxide nanoparticles were studied by varying different parameters such as pH, concentration of the metal precursor, and reduction time. The variations in the size of nanoparticles were studied by UV-visible spectroscopy. FTIR showed phenolic compounds, primary amines, and amides (proteins/enzymes) as the functional groups responsible for the reduction of metal precursors to form nanoparticles. The surface morphology of nanoparticles was studied by FE-SEM image. The FE-SEM image displayed the formation of various shapes and agglomeration of the nanoparticles. XRD pattern revealed that the average size of zinc nanoparticles is 10 nm. In vitro antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles has been assayed against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The growth inhibitory activity of nanoparticles against different bacterial pathogens has also been determined
... The Afghan people use sweet flag for digestive problems, as anthelmintic, skin ailments etc, "personal communication". Rhizome of sweet flag is used medicinally for treatment of many mental problems such as memory impairment and epilepsy, digestive disorders like bloating, colic, flatulence and poor digestive functions (R. Balakumbahan et al., 2010). However, leaves of the plant also possess some beneficial therapeutic properties such as; an insect repellent, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, antipsychotic, antiinflammatory and analgesic (MythiliAvadhani MN et al., 2019). ...
Acorus calamus commonly known as sweet flag and calamus, is a semi-aquatic rhizomatous aromatic plant of Acoraceae family, and is distributed in eastern parts of Afghanistan. Different parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine of Asian and European countries. Rhizome of sweet flag has medicinal value due to presence of different phyto constituents including essential oil (EO). The EO of calamus is responsible for its various physiological as well as toxic effects. Both geo climatic and environmental factors could affect EO content of A. calamus. A. calamus rhizomes were collected from selected regions of Kabul, Afghanistan, in month of September, 2019 that is the senescence stage of the plant development. The EO of shade-dried rhizomes was extracted by hydro-distillation using Clevenger type apparatus. The yield (percent) of calamus rhizomes EO was measured on the basis of volume (ml) of the EO obtained from 100 grams of plant biomass. The EO content was 2.61± 0.19 percent (v/w) for the calamus rhizomes collected from selected accession area.
... Jeringau merupakan tanaman yang tumbuh liar di daerah rawa, sawah, ataupun ditanam sebagai tanaman hias pekarangan. Menurut [4] Acorus calamus atau jerango merupakan tumbuhan obat yang berimpang yang memiliki manfaat sebagai antispasmodik, aromatik, nervine (obat penenang), dan mempunyai sifat stimulan. ...
Bath salt or better known as bath salt is a product that has recently been growing rapidly. Herbal bath salt itself is still not widely developed by the community. Herbal bath salts can be made from ginger powder and lemon peel which has a distinctive fragrance that can be relaxing for anyone who uses it. This community service activity involved class XI HKBP Sidorame Private High School students based on an innovative herbal bath salt preparation with a combination of ginger and lemon peel. The purpose of this activity is to determine the level of preference (hedonic) for a combination of lemon peel and ginger bath salt preparations. The activity began with the preparation of a combination of lemon peel and ginger bath salt. The activity ended with data collection using pre-test, post-test and hedonic test questionnaires. The results of filling out the pre-test showed that SMAS HKBP Sidorame students' knowledge was still lacking with the proportions for each question namely 23,33%, 6,66%, 10%, 0% and 30%. The results of filling out the post-test showed that the students' knowledge of SMAS HKBP was very good with a proportion of 100% for each question. This shows the development and increase in knowledge of SMAS HKBP Sidorame students about bath salts. The results of the hedonic test survey obtained the largest proportion for shape parameters of 56,66% (very like), color of 50% (like very much), fragrance of 70% (very like), hardness of 46,66% (very like) and ease of use of 63,33% (very like). These results indicate that SMAS HKBP Sidorame students like bath salt product.
... Among the aquatic plants, A. calamus exhibited a r elativ el y differ ent abundance of eukaryotes both in the roots and lea ves . T his could be r elated to se v er al c har acteristics of this species, such as its unique and dense rhizomatous root system and basal leaves (Balakumbahan et al. 2010, Sokoloff et al. 2021 or functions of its unique secondary metabolites (e.g. acorone and β-asarone) (Dušek et al. 2007, Imam et al. 2013, Rana et al. 2013 ). ...
Studies of plant–microbe interactions, including mutualistic, antagonistic, parasitic, or commensal microbes, have greatly benefited our understanding of ecosystem functioning. New molecular identification tools have increasingly revealed the association patterns between microorganisms and plants. Here, we integrated long-read PacBio single-molecule sequencing technology with a blocking protein-nucleic acid (PNA) approach to minimise plant amplicons in a survey of plant-eukaryotic microbe relationships in roots and leaves of different aquatic and terrestrial plants to determine patterns of organ, host, and habitat preferences. The PNA approach reduced the samples' relative amounts of plant reads and did not distort the fungal and other microeukaryotic composition. Our analyses revealed that the eukaryotic microbiomes associated with leaves and roots of aquatic plants exhibit a much larger proportion of non-fungal microorganisms than terrestrial plants, and leaf and root microbiomes are similar. Terrestrial plants had much stronger differentiation of leaf and root microbiomes and stronger partner specificity than aquatic plants.
... India is the eighth largest country having rich plant diversity with a total of around 47,000 species, of which more than 7500 species are being used as medicinal plants. Plant products are used as main source of medicine throughout the world for treating various human ailments 4 . About 50% of the present day medicines in the United States of America are derived from natural sources especially from various plants 5 . ...
Acorus calamus is a medicinal plant with several ethno-medicinal properties. The present study was carried to screen the presence of major phytochemical groups. Phytochemical screening of methanolic and ethanolic rhizome extract showed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, phenolic compound, protein, amino acid flavanoids and tannins. The total phenolic content in methanolic and ethanolic rhizome extracts in terms of gallic acid equivalent was 4.77.50 and 7.5 mg/g of extract powder respectively whereas the total flavonoid content of methanolic and ethanolic extract was 12.02 and 12.89 mg QE/g of extract respectively. Total antioxidant activity was found highest in ethanol extract (75.6 µg AAE/mg of extract) than methanol extract (37.2 µg AAE/mg of extract). Reducing power is also found highest in ethanol extract than methanol extract. Keywords: Acorus calamus, phytochemical screening, methanol, ethanol.
... Particularly in the field of health, fever, toothache, nerve pain, and digestive problems are among the most prevalent conditions [66,67]. It has been reported that A. calamus possesses various biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, insecticidal, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase, antitumor, and analgesic properties [68,69]. ...
In recent years, there has been an increasing prevalence of cases of autism. There is no general cure for autism; however, there are situational treatments available. In this context, plants may be beneficial in suppressing the conditions that may arise in the disease. This study compiles plant species that have been reported in the literature as potential remedies for autism disorders. Furthermore, the general characteristics, usage areas, and biological activities of these plant species have been compiled. As a result of our research, it has been seen that plants can be used to combat many symptoms of autism. It is believed that plants may contribute to the improvement of the well-being of individuals with autism, as a result.
... A large number of bioactive metabolites and essential oil from leaves and rhizomes of A. calamus have been isolated and characterized. Therefore, this plant has very great medicinal importance (Balakumbahan et al., 2010 After that, each extract was sterile filtered (either 0.22 or 0.45 mm), stored at -600C. When plant extract is ready they performed their assay using clear bottom 96 well microtitre plate to reduce evaporation. ...
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, according to WHO in 2019, around 10.0 million people were infected with TB and it is second leading cause of death among all infectious diseases after HIV. Numerous anti-TB synthetic drugs have been developed time to time for treating the disease but due to emergence of drug resistant strains most of them become ineffective after short time use. Moreover, the use of these drugs have various side effects. Therefore, to combat with deadly tuberculosis, it is urgent to search for more effective and less toxic medicines. Since pre-historic time plants have been being used in medicinal purposes and still about 80% of the world population depend on plant based traditional medicines for their health care needs. Plants are very rich source of secondary metabolites, which can be used as an alternative to synthetic drugs. Northeast India being a biodiversity hotspot rich in many indigenous floras having medicinal property most of which are yet to be explored and this region is occupied mostly by different indigenous tribes and they uses plants in medicinal and cultural purposes. In this mini-review we studied a few plant spcies of NE India having potential anti-tubercular activity.
... Acorus calamus L., (Acoraceae) often known as the 'Vacha', in Sanskrit is commonly used alone or in combination with other herbs in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine. The plant, which is native to India, Northern United States, Sri Lanka, China, Mongolia, Europe, Burma, Southern Russia, and Japan, is widely cultivated across the world's temperate and sub-temperate regions (Balakumbahan et al., 2010;Lansdown, 2014). It has numerous therapeutic qualities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-ulcer, anti-fungal, anticholinesterase, anti-allergic, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antimicrobial, tranquilizing, neuroprotective wound healing, radioprotective, pesticidal, insecticidal, and cardioprotective effects (Gilani et al., 2006). ...
Due to the presence of several active secondary metabolites, the traditional Indian and Chinese medicinal herb Acorus calamus L. has been utilized for both medical and culinary purposes since ancient times. A recent report has underscored the promising cytotoxic effect of A. calamus leaves extract against non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. Thus, we want to separate the bioactive substance from the hydromethanolic extract of A. calamus leaves in the current investigation. Thin-layer chromatography was used to separate the compounds and different spectroscopic methods (UV, FTIR, NMR, and LCMS/MS) were used for the structure prediction. α-asarone was found to be the main bioactive compound present and it was isolated from A. calamus leaves extract. It exerted a good cytotoxic effect with an IC50 value of 21.43 ± 1.27 μM against A549 cells and IC50 value of 324.12 ± 1.32 μM against WI-38 cells. The induction of apoptosis in A549 cells by α-asarone was reaffirmed by the diverse differential staining methods including DAPI, Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide, and Giemsa staining. Additionally, α-asarone induced mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) dissipation with a concomitant increase in the production of ROS. Furthermore, it also increased expressions of caspase-3, caspase-9, caspase-8, DR4, and DR5 genes in A549 cells. In conclusion, α-asarone-induced apoptotic cell death in non-small lung cancer cells (A549) as a result of loss of mitochondrial function, increased ROS production, subsequent activation of an internal and extrinsic caspase pathway, and altered expression of genes controlling apoptosis. As a whole, α-asarone is a plausible therapeutic agent for managing lung cancer. HIGHLIGHTSIsolation of bioactive compound from hydromethanolic leaves extract of Acorus calamus L. by thin layer chromatography.Structural elucidation of the bioactive compound was carried out using different methods like UV analysis, FTIR, NMR, and LC-MS/MS analysis.A plausible mode of action revealed that α-asarone can induce apoptosis in lung cancer cells (A549).Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
... The tree is known to marvelously cure headache, asthma caught and other respiratory problems. The fresh roots of baj are found mostly used by Himalayan people to treat fever and cough (Balakumbahan et al., 2010). Scientists have studied upon many other diseases which can be treated by this plant. ...
The medicinal plants are found in all over the world. In India, US, UK and Brazil the medicinal plants are highly demand because its medicinal value plays a major role in disease prevention against pathogenic microbes. Medicinal plants contain a number of phytochemical and bioactive compounds that help in the prevention of human disease. Medicinal plants have long been used in human disease treatment and therapy due to their different properties. In almost all countries, 70 to 95 % of people traditionally use medicinal plants and help make different types of medicine and a part of it is associated with healthcare. Different types of pathogenic microorganisms cause disease in the human body. Disease problem is a major problem in all countries. So, these need to be prevented as soon as possible. The phytochemical constituents present in the medicinal plant can make drugs against various diseases which will prevent those microorganisms. Many medicinal plants or herbal plants have been used for centuries for various types of medicine, ayurvedic medicine. As a result of using this medicinal plant, no side effects can be seen. These medicinal plants have different types of activity such as antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anticancer and anti-inflammatory.
... Acorus calamus L. is a tall perennial wetland monocot plant with a cylindrical, up to 2.5 cm thick, creeping and widely branched, aromatic rhizome, purplishbrown to light brown externally and white internally [1,2]. It is a member of the Acoraceae family and is usually referred to as a sweet flag. ...
The powdered plant materials of Acorus calamus were subjected to successive extraction using the cold percolation method with methanol, hexane, and chloroform solvent. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of methanol, hexane, and chloroform extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, sterols, triterpenoids, and carbohydrates. Five different major compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis of the chloroform extract, with isoprothiolane (83.11%) being the most prevalent. The total phenolic content in the chloroform extract was calculated at 17.39 mg Gallic acid equivalent /g and the total flavonoid content was 3.37 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dry extract. The IC50 value of chloroform extract was found to be 576.19 μg/mL, and the LC50 value was found to be 66.21 μg/mL. Antibacterial activity was shown in Staphylococcus aureus in chloroform extract with a ZOI of 7 mm.
... Calamus marsh, which contains varying amounts of β-azarone depending on the variety, has been traditionally used in Asian medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties, which can help alleviate skin itching, swelling, and redness. Meanwhile, European varieties of Calamus marsh are known to contain sesquiterpenoids, which possess psychoactive properties and display beneficial medicinal effects [396][397][398]. ...
According to the eminent scholar, philosopher, and physician Avicenna, "the doctor has three tools: the word, the plant, the knife." The plant kingdom is recognized as humanity's earliest and most ancient healing source, employed for the management and prevention of illnesses. Tracing back through history, the most ancient documented proof of plants' utilization in medicine dates back to a Sumerian clay slab discovered in Nagpur roughly 5000 years ago. This artifact included a compilation of twelve medicinal recipes that involved over 250 diverse plant species. Sumerian healers extracted powders and infusions from plant roots and stems, while also crediting healing properties to pears and figs. Additionally, they utilized dried and ground young shoots of willow and plum trees, pine and fir needles as a component in compresses and poultices. Often, powders from animal and mineral sources were blended with those extracted from dried and crushed plants. Notably, in addition to water, wine and beer served as solvents. Thus, at least 80 centuries ago, people utilized the most uncomplicated medicinal plant-based preparations for treatment [1]. The "Pen T'Sao," an ancient Chinese text on roots and herbs, authored by Emperor Shen Nung approximately 2500 BC, contains descriptions of 900 medicaments (comprising dried components of medicinal plants). Several of these substances are still in use today, including Rhei rhisoma, camphor, Theae folium, Podophyllum, great yellow gentian, ginseng, datura, cinnamon bark, and ephedra [2]. Regarding Kazakh folk medicine, an area that has yet to be fully explicated and substantiated, it can be stated that the traditional medicinal knowledge of the Kazakh people transcends the mere treatment of ailments and rests on robust theoretical underpinnings. Oteiboydak Tleukabyluly (1388-1478), an astute healer and prominent figure in Kazakh folk medicine during the 15th century, comprehensively explicated the secrets of the healing art in his medical and ethnographic work "Medical Narrative," which he composed between 1466 and 1473 at the behest of az-Zhanibek Khan, who held him in high esteem as a great healer. This medical encyclopedia delineates the functions of various organs of the human body and provides a catalogue of the primary diseases associated with them. Furthermore, it includes a meticulous description of the methods used in traditional medicine at present, such as setting bones, listening to the pulse, and incantations. Through practical experimentation and experimentation conducted in the steppe laboratory, the healer formulated a total of 1,108 different medicinal compounds, of which 858 were derived from medicinal plants, 318 were extracted from animal organs, and roughly 60 were sourced from metals. The moniker "Teacher without a teacher" was bestowed on Oteiboydak Tleukabylov, who discovered methods for treating 1,050 different diseases [3]. At present, the employment of phytotherapy has gained widespread acceptance on a global scale. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) global review of national policies concerning traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine, as well as the regulation of herbal medicines, there is an evident growth in the European and Asian market for herbal medicines [4]. Kazakhstan boasts a natural flora of over 6,000 plant species [5]. The exact number of medicinal plant species present in Kazakhstan remains uncertain, as the list continues to expand annually. More than 150 plant species have been employed in both official and folk medicine for various ailments. This review focuses on a selection of medicinal plants growing within the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan that have traditionally been used to alleviate skin diseases. In conducting this study (2010-2023), emphasis was placed on the plants' phytochemical composition, with a particular focus on the principal components responsible for their therapeutic effects against inflammatory skin conditions such as dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and eczema.
... It is a tall perennial wetland monocot plant from the Acoraceae family. The scented leaves and rhizomes of sweet flag have been traditionally used as a medicine and the dried and powdered rhizome has a spicy flavor and is used as a substitute for ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg for its odor [13] . The rhizomes are considered to possess antispasmodic, carminative, anthelmintic, aromatic, expectorant, nauseate, nervine, sedative, stimulant properties and used for the treatment of epilepsy, mental ailments, chronic diarrhea, dysentery, abdominal pain [14] . ...
... Rhizome-derived (Z)-asarone has been reported to exhibit activity against adult Sitophilus zeamais [52]. Cis-asarone has been reported to cause 83% mortality at 1000 ppm, while trans-asarone resulted in 30% mortality at 1000 ppm against third instar larvae of P. xylostella [53] that showed that different isomers exhibit different results. Based on the above findings and reports from the literature, it can be inferred that EO (individually and in combination) from A. calamus accessions loaded with different secondary metabolites, such as terpenoids / phenylpropanoids, have different potentials for insecticidal activity. ...
The objectives of the present study were to investigate the phytochemical composition of essential oils (EO) from rhizomes of Acorus calamus collected from Jorhat, Assam; Munsyari and Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. EOs were studied for different pesticidal activities viz; nematicidal, insecticidal, and herbicidal activity. To study the synergistic effect of EOs on pesticidal activity, four combinations of EOs were prepared. Phenylpropanoids with β-asarone as the main compound were identified in all collections with varying percentages. Its contribution was found to be 85.8% in Munsyari EOs followed by 74.3% in Pantnagar and 62.6% in Assam collections. All EOs exhibited dose-dependent in vitro nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne incognita in terms of immobility and inhibition of egg hatching. The activity was observed as maximum in the EO combination of all three collections (1:1:1) whereas minimum in the Assam collections. In insecticidal activity against Lipaphis erysimi and Selepa celtis, maximum mortality was observed in Munsyari collections. The oils were assessed for sprout inhibition activity in terms of seed germination inhibition, coleoptile growth of the shoot and root against Raphanus raphanistrum. Maximum seed germination inhibition, % shoot, and root growth inhibition were found in all collections EO combinations. To predict the possible mode of action and the structure-activity relationship between major compounds of EOs and biological activities, in silico molecular docking and ADME/Tox studies were performed. The docking results revealed the mode of action of proteins of insects, nematodes, and weeds and were found in support of in vitro experiments. The study may be helpful for the development of herbal-based pesticides after proper clinical trials.
... The active constituents present in its rhizomes and leaves include sugars -maltose, glucose and fructose; fatty acids -myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, arachidic; essential oils -β-asarone, acorenone, isocalamendiol; lignans -epieudesmin, galgravin; and other compounds such as eugenol, linalool and terpenes. The rhizomes are reported to relieve gastric disorders and asthma, while the leaves are known for their anthelmintic, insecticidal and anti-bacterial properties [3]. In poultry, it is used as medicated water for dipping and disinfection of sheds. ...
Traditionally, the practice of using herbal medicines for diseases of livestock and poultry has given numerous benefits to the farmers. Since poultry are reared intensively, a high incidence of diseases poses a big threat to small - scale poultry production systems. The major poultry diseases prevalent among chicken include Avian influenza, Marek's disease, Coccidiosis, Fowl typhoid, Ranikhet disease and Chronic respiratory disease . In order to control the disease occurrence and prevent huge mortality, farmers are opening up to alternatives such as ethno veterinary medicine as they provide a substitute to newer expensive poultry drugs.
Local knowledge about natural resources is increasingly crucial in formulating conservation strategies and activities. This study collects data regarding medicinal plant use from Sepahat and Tamiang village residents. A total of 100 participants were included in the study, consisting of 50 participants from the Sepahat and another 50 from the Tamiang. Respondents were selected using the Snowball sampling technique, which involved identifying a key individual, such as local leaders, to initiate recruitment of other respondents. The study's findings indicate that the inhabitants of Sepahat village utilize 36 plant species belonging to 24 families, while Tamiang villagers use 11 plant species belonging to eight families. In Sepahat village, the botanical components used for medication comprise 25% rhizomes, 8% bark, 22% fruit, 3% shoots, 34% leaves, and 8% stems. In contrast, Tamiang comprises 23% rhizomes, 16% bark, 15% fruit, and 46% leaves. The utilization of stems and bark has the potential to pose a threat to sustainability. Among various uses, it has been observed that approximately 33% in Sepahat and 27% in Tamiang can lead to plant mortality. Conservation initiatives have been undertaken for 71% of Sepahat and 67% of the utilized plant species in Taminag. Traditional medicines have been used for generations to treat various health conditions, such as back pain, bleeding, controlling cholesterol, coughs, dengue fever, and diabetes. While current use might not threaten the biosphere reserve, villagers must embrace sustainable harvesting techniques, including selective harvesting, replanting, and establishing community nurseries dedicated to cultivating medicinal plants
The Acorus calamus group, or sweet flag, includes important medicinal plants and is classified into three species: A. americanus (diploid), A. verus (tetraploid), and A. calamus (sterile triploid of hybrid origin). Members of the group are famous as components of traditional Indian medicine, and early researchers suggested the origin of the sweet flag in tropical Asia. Subsequent research led to an idea of the origin of the triploid A. calamus in the Amur River basin in temperate Asia, because this was the only region where both diploids and tetraploids were known to co-occur and be capable of sexual reproduction. Contrary to this hypothesis, triploids are currently very rare in the Amur basin. Here, we provide the first evidence that all three species occur in Kazakhstan. The new records extend earlier data on the range of A. verus for c. 1800 km. Along the valley of the Irtysh River in Kazakhstan and the adjacent Omsk Oblast of Russia, A. verus is recorded in the south, A. americanus in the north, and A. calamus is common in between. We propose the Irtysh River valley as another candidate for a cradle of the triploid species A. calamus. It is possible that the range of at least one parent species (A. americanus) has contracted through competition with its triploid derivative species, for which the Irtysh River floods provide a tool for downstream range expansion. We refine our earlier data and show that the two parent species have non-overlapping ranges of variation in a quantitative metric of leaf aerenchyma structure.
Globally, herbal “renaissances” are on the rise, and there is a comeback to herb-based practices for healthcare management in different regions of the world. A substantial number of people have recently begun to use medicines or products derived from the plants for improving the quality of their health, whether they use them alone or in combination with honey or other products. In Ayurveda, honey is used as Anupana (to enhance activity) and Sahapana (to enhance faster absorption and assimilation of medicament) and also as a vehicle (to mitigate side effects) with some medicines. The antibacterial properties of honey are very useful especially against those bacteria that have acquired resistance to antibiotics. Therefore, honey is utilized as an excellent wound dressing agent in surgical infections, wounds and burns. There are a large number of traditional herbal formulations that are prescribed in combination with honey. Combination or infusion with honey generally enhances the effectiveness of certain herbal formulations. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to discuss the medicinal and pharmacological potential of herbal resources in combination with honey for the treatment of various kinds of disorders.
The present study was conducted to evaluate the antifungal activities of plant extracts of Acorus calamus and Parthenium hysterophorus The main aim of the study was to develop a natural, environmentally friendly wood preservative. In the present investigation, petroleum ether and methanol solvents were used for extraction. The wood samples of Pinus roxburghii were treated with plant extracts at five concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, and 2% w/v) for 12 weeks. The treated and controlled wood samples were inoculated with the white rot and brown rot fungi. The wood samples treated with petroleum ether extracts of A. calamus showed maximum resistance to both fungi. While, the wood samples treated with methanol extract of P. hysterophorus showed maximum resistance against both the fungi. Further, it was also observed that the degradation of wood was decreasing with an increase in the concentration of plant extracts in the preservative solution. The efficacy of plant extracts was validated through the decay susceptibility index and the new decay susceptibility index. As per the results of the present study, A. calamus and P. hysterophorus have great potential as natural wood preservatives. The study helps in further development of natural wood preservatives from the selected plants.
Commonly considered bispecific, Acorus is one of the most phylogenetically isolated angiosperm genera that forms the order Acorales sister to the rest of the monocots. The Acorus calamus group is widely distributed in the Holarctic regions of Eurasia and America and has strong medicinal and other practical uses since prehistoric times. Earlier studies interpreted native diploids and invasive triploids occurring in North America as two species that differed in morphology and distribution ranges. In contrast, diploids, triploids, and tetraploids occurring in Eurasia are commonly interpreted as one species because they reportedly cannot be distinguished in collections. We resolve the controversy over taxonomic concepts between Eurasia and America and provide the first detailed multidisciplinary account of Acorus in temperate Asia. We used plastid and nuclear markers, leaf anatomy, seed micromorphology, pollen stainability, flow cytometry, and direct chromosome counts. Diploids and tetraploids show stable molecular and micromorphological differences. Triploids are their sterile hybrids, with the plastid genome inherited from the diploid parent. Diploids of America and Asia tend to differ in leaf characters. Coadaptative coexistence with pollinating beetles Platamartus jakowlewi and Sibirhelus corpulentus (Kateretidae) is conserved between diploids and tetraploids and over a distance of 4700 km between Japan and Western Siberia. Diploids are self-compatible and can set seeds in the absence of kateretid beetles. Tetraploids are self-incompatible and/or cannot set seeds in the absence of Platamartus and Sibirhelus. Diploids (A. americanus) and tetraploids (A. verus) are two biological species; the former has two subspecies. Acorus calamus should be restricted to triploids; it apparently first evolved in temperate Asia. Diploids mostly occur in much cooler climates than triploids and tetraploids. Accessions of A. verus and A. calamus from tropical Asia are apparently derived from ancient introductions. Our data provide a new framework for the pharmacological use of Acorus.
The development of novel antioxidant compounds with high efficacy and low toxicity is of utmost importance in the medicine and food industries. Moreover, with increasing concerns about the safety of synthetic components, scientists are beginning to search for natural sources of antioxidants, especially essential oils (EOs). The combination of EOs may produce a higher scavenging profile than a single oil due to better chemical diversity in the mixture. Therefore, this exploratory study aims to assess the antioxidant activity of three EOs extracted from Cymbopogon flexuosus, Carum carvi, and Acorus calamus in individual and combined forms using the augmented-simplex design methodology. The in vitro antioxidant assays were performed using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging approaches. The results of the Chromatography Gas-Mass spectrometry (CG-MS) characterization showed that citral (29.62%) and niral (27.32%) are the main components for C. flexuosus, while d-carvone (62.09%) and d-limonene (29.58%) are the most dominant substances in C. carvi. By contrast, β-asarone (69.11%) was identified as the principal component of A. calamus (30.2%). The individual EO exhibits variable scavenging activities against ABTS and DPPH radicals. These effects were enhanced through the mixture of the three EOs. The optimal antioxidant formulation consisted of 20% C. flexuosus, 53% C. carvi, and 27% A. calamus for DPPHIC50. Whereas 17% C. flexuosus, 43% C. carvi, and 40% A. calamus is the best combination leading to the highest scavenging activity against ABTS radical. These findings suggest a new research avenue for EOs combinations to be developed as novel natural formulations useful in food and biopharmaceutical products.
The current research aimed to document the ethnobotany and medical important aquatic/semi-aquatic macrophytes common in the Terme wetlands in the Yeşilırmak Delta in northern Türkiye. To determine the ethno-medical potential of aquatic plants, the ethnobotanical knowledge of the local people was not used, and scientific studies on the subject were evaluated. There are rich lentic and lotic systems with different features, depths and sizes in the Yeşilırmak Delta. Macrophytes, used in the treatment of various ailments and whose bioactive properties are mentioned in the literature, were collected and identified through field research lasting five years (2017-2022). In the examinations, it was determined that Terme wetlands are very rich in terms of macrophyte diversity. A total of 22 water plant species with ethno-medicinal characteristics, belonging to 18 genera and 14 families, were documented from Terme wetlands. Plants consist of emerged, submersed, floating, and free-floating leaf species in aquatic/semi-aquatic habitats. It has been determined that some macrophytes (Azolla filiculoides Lam., Wolffia arrhiza (L.) Horkel ex Wimm., Salvinia natans (L.) All., Ceratophyllum demersum L., Ranunculus sphaerospermus Boiss & Blanche, R. trichophyllus Chaix ex Vill.) overgrow in different seasons. Literature research shows that existing aquatic plants are rich in bioactive compounds, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, etc. In addition to its effects, it has also been shown that it has the potential to be used in different areas of industry. Study findings show that Yeşilırmak Delta has significant potential in ethnobotanical aquatic plant richness. Aquatic plants have been ignored as medicinal plants in Türkiye. However, research shows that these plants, common in wetlands, have high potential for natural, commercial and pharmacological use. Determining the aquatic plant diversity and potential of wetlands can support ethnobotanical research. Macrophytes rich in edible and bioactive components can contribute to the region's economic, ecological and sociocultural activities. It can also ensure the protection of wetlands, which have been under increasing pressure from anthropogenic activities in recent years. Preserving wetlands, which have many functional features, is very important in terms of being least affected by global climate change, which is expected to increase its impact in the future and ensure the sustainability of natural balance and biodiversity.
Pain is a common symptom which can result in disability and lower quality of life. The current review covers the use of medicinal plants as an alternative therapy for pain relief, as traditional painkillers like NSAIDs, opioids, and antidepressants can have serious side effects. Medicinal plants are effective, easily available, low-cost, and have fewer side effects. The review examines commonly used medicinal plants, their active components, their pharmacological activity, and their mechanism of action for different types of pain in humans and animal models. The review also discusses the use of herbal therapies for pain in various conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathies, osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhea, headache, migraine, wounds, low back pain, and chest pain, and weighs the advantages and disadvantages of using herbal therapies in light of recent research.
Traditional medicine based on the use of medicinal plants plays an important role in the preservation of health and well-being of many people globally. Today herbal medicine application is progressively finding more significance especially with the acknowledgement of the challenges of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this review was to collect literature based on the traditional application of South African medicinal plant species used in South Africa to prevent and treat various pathogenic bacterial infections. The search was carried out using key electronic scientific databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, ProQuest, Science Direct, Elsevier, BioMed Central. Other sources of literature included scientific articles, book chapters, dissertations, theses and websites. It was found that Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most frequently investigated bacterial pathogens which have developed resistance to most of the available standard antibiotics. Organic and aqueous extracts of many South African plants including Acacia karroo, Psidium guajava, Punica granatum, Eucomis autumnalis, Vernonia amygdalina and Cyathula uncinulata have demonstrated potent antibacterial efficacy against the aforementioned pathogens. This review exemplifies that South African medicinal plants have the potential to be considered as new leads for the development of antibacterial agents against resistant pathogens.
Keywords
Antibiotic resistance, Antimicrobials; Human bacterial infections; Medicinal plants; South Africa
Traditional foods are a vital source of nutraceuticals that contains immense fiber, proteins, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, significantly affecting the prevention of various chronic diseases and curative effects. These foods are suggested to identify the candidate source of balanced diet that can generate a population’s nutritional security to explore the possibilities of underutilized food for food security and their domestication for commercial scale production. Manufacturers have prepared food products for a balanced diet all over the world according to population need and this has a direct impact on peoples’ ability to stay healthy. This chapter is fascinating in bridging traditional foods in traditional knowledge systems and their potential for food and nutritional security. Nutritional security is the central issue of the rural area and can be easily overcome by fortification with traditional food. The development of nutrition security methods and many facets of traditional foods have also been covered.
Investigation the Apoptotic Effects of Sinarin Compound On Breast
Epithelium and Cancer Cells
Aim: it is suggested that sinarin, a polyphenol that is highly involved in artichoke,
has a protective effect against oxidative stress. In addition, the purpose of this study is to
investigate the effects of sinarin on proliferation, cell death in breast cancer cells. And in
this context, to clarify the role of sinarin in the cancer death process.
Material and Method: In this study, MCF10 normal breast cell and MDA-MB�231, MCF7 breast cancer cells were used. With the sinarin treatment applied, cell
proliferation of this treatment in cells was tested with MTT, and colony forming abilities
were tested with colony forming test, western blotting and annexin PI test were used to
clarify its role in cell death.
Results: It was determined that cell proliferation and colony formation ability of
cells in cells treated with sinarin decreased over 70 percent at concentrations of 160 µM
and 180 µM, respectively, in MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 cell lines. Apoptosis occurred
in 10% in MCF10A cell, 63% in MDA-MB-231 cell and 69% in MCF-7 cell line. And
all these results were analyzed using the student's T test and found statistically significant
(p <0.05).
Conclusion: In this study, the effects of sinarin on breast cancer cells and breast
epithelial cells were analyzed. It was determined that sinarin compound had an effect on
increasing apoptosis and decreasing cell proliferation. As a result of this study in which
the effects expected from the drugs used in cancer treatment appeared, it was determined
that sinarin substance would be a new hope for cancer treatment.
Keywords: Sinarin, Epithelium, Breast Cance
Practice and Re-emergence of Herbal Medicine focuses on current research in Indian traditional medicine. Chapters cover many facets of herbal medicine, including quality control and experimental validation, intellectual property issues, pharmacovigilance and the therapeutic use of herbal medicine. The book informs readers about the effectiveness of traditional medicine systems, like Ayurveda and Siddha, in the region with reference to specific communities. The book also highlights herbal medications for diseases such as COVID-19, cancer and erectile dysfunction. The book is a timely reference for researchers interested in ethnobotany, alternative medicine and the practice of herbal medicine in indigenous communities.
Series Introduction:
Natural Medicine is a series of edited volumes that aims to be a repository of knowledge on herbal and traditional medicine with the goal of attracting a global audience. Contributions to the series will present evidence of the efficacy of plant-based medicine against disease. The series will also highlight issues in herbal medicine practice and research.
The skin shows the physiological condition of the body’s organs and systems that prevent infections and physical damage. Throughout the ages, in folk medicine, phytotherapy was considered a primary form of treatment in all countries, including Kazakhstan, due to the abundance and availability of plant-based remedies. This paper discusses several medicinal plants that are traditionally used in the treatment of skin diseases in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The chemical composition of these plants was analyzed, with a particular focus on the biologically active basic compounds responsible for their therapeutic efficiency in treating skin ailments.
Indian traditional medicinal systems are one of the oldest therapeutic systems in the world. Medicinal and aromatic plants play a dominant role in Indian traditional medicinal systems. Traditionally, many medicinal plants are used in India for their therapeutic relevance so much so that they have acquired a significant role in Indian religion as well. Many of these plants have proven antiviral effects. This review documents up-to-date information about many such medicinal herbs used in India which have got pharmacological significance in fighting viral infections. These plants surely have the potential to provide protection against Covid-19. The review presents a list of such plants along with their chemical ingredients and possible modes of action against the respective viral diseases. All information has been obtained by consulting the databases of Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Elsevier, Springer and relevant research papers and reports on COVID-19. The cited medicinal plants are used extensively in India as herbal remedies. The use of these plants is validated in light of research papers citing their ethnobotanical uses, important active principles and modes of action of the of medicinally important natural products. The plants listed have great potential to fight COVID-19 and other viral infections. Many of these are immunity boosters providing strength to the body to control the onset of diseases.
The present study is aimed to compare the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Acorus gramineus and Acorus calamus (Araceae). The antimicrobial activity of the two plants was evaluated disc diffusion and minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) method against six strains. The ethyl acetate fraction of rhizomes extract from A. gramineus exhibited more antimicrobial activity against the tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as compared to the other tested fractions. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. The results showed that the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ethanol extract of A. gramineus rhizomes was the lowest value, it means the highest antioxidant activity, while total polyphenol content was very low. It showed that the antioxidant activity was not directly related to the polyphenol quantity. The results will be supported as a good information on the use of the two plants in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
Bleeding disorders occur due to problem with the clotting mechanism associated with liver disorders. According to the Ayurveda concepts, this ailment is known as Raktapitta, which is a serious disease and it afflicts the patient at a great speed. This study was done to assess the ability to manage non-traumatic ear-bleeding according to the Ayurveda concepts of Urdhvagataraktapitta Chikitsa. The case study was done for five weeks at National Ayurveda Teaching Hospital and literary data were reviewed from Vriddhatraya and web sources from the internet. A male, 47 years old, patient presented to the hospital with a complaint of acute bleeding from the left ear with moderate dizziness since two days. Laboratory tests revealed an full blood count (FBC), with red blood cells (RBC) count as 5.94 x 10 6/L, packed cells volume (PCV) as 51.9%, and an increased clotting time (over 10 minutes). The disease was diagnosed as Urdhvagataraktapitta and the patient was treated for 5 weeks with a decoction of Mudgasalajadi, a decoction of Amrita Nagaran Dhanyaka, a decoction of Duralabha, Virecana (purgative) Karma, and leech therapy for the head. According to the treatments, he was completely cured with a normal full blood count (FBC). Decoction of Mudgasalajadi cured acute Raktapitta in this patient by its Shita Guna, Pitta, and Rakta Shamaka properties. Decoction of Duralabha (Fagonia cretica) with ghee pacifies the dizziness. It was concluded that acute ear-bleeding can be managed according to the Urdhvagataraktapitta Chikitsa mentioned in Ayurveda texts.
Garbhini Paricarya includes Garbhopaghatakara Bhava which is contraindicated during
pregnancy for the wellbeing of the fetus. Food is an essential factor for survival. Though it is
essential, in some instances, it may act adversely on the developing fetus during pregnancy.
The objective of this research is to review the data on Garbhopaghatakara Bhava and analyze
it with the support of modern research findings. This aims to review the Garbhopaghatakara
Bhava related to food, demonstrate its importance in Garbhini Paricarya supported with
current scientific findings. This research was conducted as a conceptual study based on
available literature in Ayurveda classics, including Brihatryi, and scientific evidence provided
by previously published research papers. Excessive consumption of all the six tastes,
unwholesome food articles including alcohol, proscribed incompatible foods, neglected
nutritional conditions, tap water treated with chemicals, modern diets full of free-radicals and
artificial additives, prenatal exposure to heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants,
polychlorinated biphenyls, bisphenol A, phytochemicals, and nutritional impairments are
negative factors that affect the fetus adversely, and result in fetal anomalies, birth
complications etc. Hence, it is important to draw attention to the Garbhini Paricarya related to
the contraindications during pregnancy, which is termed as Garbhopaghatakara Bhava. Diet
is very important throughout life, but unwholesome dietary habits and food consumption may
act as an etiology for fetal anomalies, still births, and congenital anomalies. According to
Ayurvedic teachings and modern research findings also, avoiding Garbhopaghatakara Bhava
and following Garbhini Paricarya properly may be effective in good health outcomes of the
offspring.
Keywords: Garbhopaghatakara Bhava, Garbhini Paricarya, Diet, Anomalies,
Contraindications
1 UG Scholar, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, Gampaha Wi
In present investigation allelopathic effect of two Cassia species namely Cassia obtusifolia
and C. uniflora on jowar seeds were studied. Effect of leaf and root extract of Cassia
species studied on seed germination, seedling growth and biomass of jowar seeds. Leaf
and root extract showed inhibitory effect on seed germination, seedling growth and fresh
weight and dry weight of jowar seedlings. Significant inhibition of seed germination was
observed only after 24h in C. obtusifolia leaf (28.64% and 18.17%) and root extracts
(34.50%) at both concentrations and in leaf extract of C. uniflora at higher concentration
having percent inhibition 62.27%. Leaf extract of C. obtusifolia at both lower as well as
higher concentrations was significantly inhibitory to root length, shoot and total seedling
length. Significant inhibition of shoot length of jowar was also observed due to root extract
of C. uniflora at both higher and lower concentrations. Fresh weights of seedlings were
decreased as compared to control due to leaf extract of C. obtusifolia at lower
concentration and root at both concentrations of C. obtusifolia.
Asarones (2, 4, 5-trimethoxypropenylbenzenes) isolated from the essential oil ofAcorus calamus L. rhizomes, are potent growth inhibitors and antifeedants to the variegated cutworm,Peridroma saucia Hubner.cis-Asarone added to artificial diet significantly inhibited growth and feeding by first-, third-, and fourth-instar larvae, whereas thetrans isomer produced an antifeedant effect alone. Gross dietary utilization (efficiency of conversion of ingested food, ECI) was decreased when the diet was supplemented withcis-asarone or when this compound was topically applied to fourth-instar larvae. Inhibition of growth occurred even at a moderate topical dose (5 μg/larva) primarily as a result of decreased efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD), even though the approximate digestibility (AD) of the food was unchanged. Oral or topical treatment withtrans-asarone also significantly inhibited larval growth, but in this case the effect can be strictly attributed to decreased consumption, as dietary utilization (ECI) was not affected. Both isomers displayed a direct antifeedant effect based on leaf disk choice tests. Thecis isomer was 7.0 and 5.5 times more potent thant thetrans isomer against fourth- and fifth-instar larvae, respectively. Our data suggest that the two asarone isomers have different modes of action.cis-Asarone is toxic in addition to having strong antifeedant activity, whereas thetrans isomer acts only as an antifeedant with no appreciable toxicity.
Asarones (2, 4, 5-trimethoxypropenylbenzenes) isolated from the essential oil ofAcorus calamus L. rhizomes, are potent growth inhibitors and antifeedants to the variegated cutworm,Peridroma saucia Hubner.cis-Asarone added to artificial diet significantly inhibited growth and feeding by first-, third-, and fourth-instar larvae, whereas thetrans isomer produced an antifeedant effect alone. Gross dietary utilization (efficiency of conversion of ingested food, ECI) was decreased when the diet was supplemented withcis-asarone or when this compound was topically applied to fourth-instar larvae. Inhibition of growth occurred even at a moderate topical dose (5 µg/larva) primarily as a result of decreased efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD), even though the approximate digestibility (AD) of the food was unchanged. Oral or topical treatment withtrans-asarone also significantly inhibited larval growth, but in this case the effect can be strictly attributed to decreased consumption, as dietary utilization (ECI) was not affected. Both isomers displayed a direct antifeedant effect based on leaf disk choice tests. Thecis isomer was 7.0 and 5.5 times more potent thant thetrans isomer against fourth- and fifth-instar larvae, respectively. Our data suggest that the two asarone isomers have different modes of action.cis-Asarone is toxic in addition to having strong antifeedant activity, whereas thetrans isomer acts only as an antifeedant with no appreciable toxicity.
Antimicrobial activity of Acorus calamus rhizome and leaf extracts obtained with different solvents viz., petroleum ether, chloroform, hexane and ethyl acetate was evaluated. Extracts obtained with ethyl acetate among others were found to be highly effective. Rhizomes and leaf ethyl acetate extracts exhibited pronounced antifungal activity with diameter zone of inhibition ranged from 20-28 and 18-25 mm as well as antiyeast activity with diameter zone of inhibition ranged from 22-25 and 20-23 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the rhizome and leaf extracts for antifungal activity measured was 2-4mg/ml, except Penicillium chrysogenum whereas against yeasts was relatively higher, 4-5 and 6-8 mg/ml. MIC value for antibacterial activity was comparatively very high ~16-42 mg/ml. In addition, authentic -and -asarones were also tested for their antimicrobial potential. Both -and -asarones exhibited very strong antimicrobial activities against the fungi and yeasts than those of rhizome and leaf extracts. The study clearly suggested that A. calamus rhizomes and leaves must possess active principle -and -asarones which is believed to be responsible for their antimicrobial ac-tivities. Both rhizomes and leaf extracts, however, had no antibacterial activity except E. coli.
A partially-purified fraction obtained from column chromatographic preparation of the crude methanol extract of Acorus calamus Linn. rhizomes was investigated for its antimicrobial activities on various microorganisms including bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi. It exhibited high activity againstfilamentous fungi: Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum gypseum, and Penicillium marneffei with IC50 values of 0.2, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/ml, respectively. However, it showed moderate activity against yeasts: Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MIC 0.1-1 mg/ml) and low activity against bacteria (MIC 5->10 mg/ml). Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed that hyphae and conidia treated with this fraction were shrunken and collapsed, which might be due to cell fluid leakage.
Exposure to continuous loud noise is a serious health problem due to excess production of oxygen free radicals. In medical research, more attention is paid to the antioxidant properties of medicinal plants to minimize the harmful effects of radicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of both ethyl acetate and methanolic extract of Acorus calamus LINN against noise stress (30 d, 100 dBA/4h/d) induced changes in the rat brain. We measured the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C, vitamin E, protein thiols and lipid peroxidation (LPO) for the evaluation of oxidative stress status in discrete regions of the rat brain like cerebral cortex, cerebellum, pons-medulla, midbrain, hippocampus and hypothalamus. The results indicated that during exposure of noisy environment ROS generation led to increase in corticosterone, LPO and SOD, but decrease in CAT, GPx, GSH, protein thiols, vitamins C and E levels. Both the ethyl acetate and methanolic extract of Acorus calamus protected most of the changes in the rat brain induced by noise-stress.
Plants have evolved a number of inducible defence mechanisms against pathogen attack, including synthesis of pathogenesis-related proteins. The aim of the study was to purify and characterize antifungal protein from leaves of Acorus calamus.
Leaf proteins from A. calamus were fractionated by cation exchange chromatography and gel filtration and the fraction inhibiting the hyphal extension of phytopathogens was characterized. The temperature stability and pH optima of the protein were determined and its presence was localized in the leaf tissues.
The purified protein was identified as a class III haem peroxidase with a molecular weight of approx. 32 kDa and pI of 7.93. The temperature stability of the enzyme was observed from 5 degrees C to 60 degrees C with a temperature optimum of 36 degrees C. Maximum enzyme activity was registered at pH 5.5. The pH and temperature optima were corroborated with the antifungal activity of the enzyme. The enzyme was localized in the leaf epidermal cells and lumen tissues of xylem, characteristic of class III peroxidases. The toxic nature of the enzyme which inhibited hyphal growth was demonstrated against phytopathogens such as Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium moniliforme and Trichosporium vesiculosum. Microscopic observations revealed distortion in the hyphal structure with stunted growth, increased volume and extensive hyphal branching.
This study indicates that peroxidases may have a role to play in host defence by inhibiting the hyphal extension of invading pathogens.
The aromatic rhizomes of Acorus calamus L. are used extensively in traditional medicine worldwide. They reportedly relieve stomach cramps, dysentery and asthma, and are used as anthelmintics, insecticides, tonics and stimulants. Alcoholic rhizome extracts of A. calamus growing in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were previously found to have anthelmintic and antibacterial activity. Using bioassay-guided fractionation, the phenylpropanoid β-asarone was isolated from the rhizome. This compound was shown to possess anthelmintic and antibacterial activity. It has previously been isolated from A. calamus, and a related species, A. gramineus. Different varieties of A. calamus exhibit different levels of β-asarone, with the diploid variety containing none of the compound. Mammalian toxicity and carcinogenicity of asarones has been demonstrated by other researchers, supporting the discouragement of the medicinal use of Acorus calamus by traditional healers in South Africa.
Antibacterial activity of Acorus calamus rhizomes was evaluated in vitro. Different concentrations of petroleum ether extract (50-2000 mug) were tested and the antimicrobial activity was observed from 500 mug and the zone of inhibition increased with concentration. The maximum activity was observed at 2000 mug the highest concentration tested, beyond which the inhibition zone did not increase. Among the four types of bacteria tested, high inhibition zone was observed on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.62 cm) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (1.62 cm). Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis showed smaller zone of. inhibition (1.34 and 1.04 cm, respectively). MIC test showed that the minimum inhibition concentration was 0.25 mg/mL for P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, B. subtilis and 0.5 mg/mL for E. coli.
The aromatic rhizomes of Acorus calamus L. are used extensively in traditional medicine worldwide. They reportedly relieve stomach cramps, dysentery and asthma, and are used as anthelmintics, insecticides, tonics and stimulants. Alcoholic rhizome extracts of A. calamus growing in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were previously found to have anthelmintic and antibacterial activity. Using bioassay-guided fractionation, the phenylpropanoid β-asarone was isolated from the rhizome. This compound was shown to possess anthelmintic and antibacterial activity. It has previously been isolated from A. calamus, and a related species, A. gramineus. Different varieties of A. calamus exhibit different levels of β-asarone, with the diploid variety containing none of the compound. Mammalian toxicity and carcinogenicity of asarones has been demonstrated by other researchers, supporting the discouragement of the medicinal use of Acorus calamus by traditional healers in South Africa.
Dry and powdered rhizomes of Acorus calamus L. were extracted with ultrasonic bath using dichloromethane as solvent. Various concentrations (0.01-0.15 %) of the extract were determined for antifungal activity on PDA agar against Alternaria spp. isolated from leaf spot and Fusarium spp. isolated from wilt diseases of cruciferous vegetable, as well as Botrytis spp. isolated from gray mold rot of roses and Septoria spp. isolated from leaf spot of chrysanthemum. The results indicated that all of the molds examined were sensitive to Acorus calamus extract. The growth of all tested fungi was completely inhibited at the concentration of 0.10 % upward. Separation by preparative-TLC and guidance by TLC-bioassay using Cladosporium cladosporioides as a diagnostic fungus revealed an active compound that was identified as β-asarone (cis-1,2,4-trimethoxy-5-(1-propenyl)-benzene) by GC-MS.
The insecticidal activities of compounds derived from the rhizomes of Acorus gramineus against four agricultural insect pests were examined using direct contact application method. The biologically active constituents of A. gramineus rhizomes were characterized as the phenylpropenes, cis- and trans-asarones by spectroscopic analyses. Potencies varied according to insect species, compound, and dose. In a test with female adults of Nilaparvata lugens, cis-asarone caused 100, 83, and 40% mortality at 1,000, 500, and 250 ppm, respectively, whereas 67% mortality was achieved at 1,000 ppm of trans-asarone. Against 3rd instar larvae of Plutella xylostella, cis-asarone gave 83 and 50% mortality at 1,000 and 500 ppm, respectively, whereas trans-asarone at 1,000 ppm showed 30% mortality. Against female adults of Myzus persicae and 3rd instar larvae of Spodoptera litura, cis- and trans-asarones both were almost ineffective at 2,000 ppm. The A. gramineus rhizome-derived materials merit further study as potential insect-control agents or as lead compounds against N. lugens and P. xylostella.
The essential oil composition of Acorus calamus (sweet flag) leaves collected in Lithuania at different growing phases was examined by GC and GC/MS. Rhizome oils of A. calamus, having been more thoroughly investigated, were used for comparison purposes. The content of the oil in dried sweet flag rhizomes was 1.20± 0.12% and in the leaves, depending on the vegetation phase, was from 0.56–1.01%. Ninety-one constituents were positively or tentatively identified in the oils—66 in the leaves and 55 in the rhizomes. Possible formation of calacorene hydrates is suggested for the first time on the basis of mass spectral data. δ-Asarone [(Z)-asarone] was the major constituent in the leaves (27.4–45.5%), whereas acorenone was dominant in the rhizomes (20.86%) followed by isocalamendiol (12.75%). A higher content of some aliphatic and oxygenated monoterpenes was found in oils of the leaves at their earliest growth phase (May), while the β-asarone content was at its lowest level.
Thesis (M.A.)--University of Kansas, Systematics and Ecology, 1989. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 366-385).
Exposure of rats to acrylamide (ACR) caused hind limb paralysis in 58% of the animals on day 10 and decreased behavioural parameters, namely distance travelled, ambulatory time, stereotypic time and basal stereotypic movements compared with the control group. These rats also had a decrease in the reduced glutathione (GSH) content and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity in the corpus striatum and an increase in striatal dopamine receptors, as evident by an increase in the binding of 3H-spiperone to striatal membranes. Treatment with the ethanol:water (1:1) extract of the rhizomes of Acorus calamus (AC-002) increased the GSH content and GST activity in the corpus striatum while insignificant changes were observed in other parameters. Rats treated with ACR and AC-002 in combination had a lower incidence of paralysis (18%) compared with those treated with ACR alone on day 10 of the experiment. The rats also showed a partial recovery in other behavioural parameters. The levels of GSH content and GST activity increased in the corpus striatum, while the dopamine receptors decreased compared with the ACR treated rats. The results suggest that the neurobehavioural changes produced by ACR may be prevented following treatment with Acorus calamus rhizomes.
Crop protection agents from nature
- L G Copping
Copping LG (1996). Crop protection agents from nature. In: Natural
products and analogins: The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge,
p. 501.