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ASTAVARGA (GROUP OF EIGHT MEDICINAL PLANTS): THE WONDER HERBS OF AYURVEDA
Malaxis is a genus of Orchidaceae family that has a great affinity to land. More than 200 species of this genus are found on the earth, and they dominantly occupy tropical montane ecosystems which are found in the footsteps of mountains. Some species of genus Malaxis are furthermore found growing in rocks and also in epiphytic conditions. The origin of the word “Malaxis” is from Greek literature which represents the soft appearance of plant leaves of genus Malaxis. This genus is found prominently in the western Himalayan region and very little work has been done on this genus as compared to other member of the Orchidaceae family. Researchers tend to confuse between various species of Malaxis and reported different species as the same species which can lead to chaotic research and ethical problems. This book chapter is an attempt to accumulate a major portion of the research conducted on two species of Malaxis and present them in a single platform for providing a good insight for future researchers to carry out their literature survey more productively and in a more or less efficient manner. Here we will discuss morphological distinctiveness, taxonomy, flowering-fruiting seasons, distribution, ethnobotany, phytochemistry, nutritional composition, phytochemistry, secondary metabolites, market products and conservation strategies of two medicinally important orchid species known as Malaxis muscifera (Lindley) O. Kuntze and Malaxis acuminata D. Don which are included under genus Malaxis. Both orchids are found in the western Himalayan region and both have separate uses in Ayurvedic treatment.KeywordsOrchidaceaePhytochemistryMorphological distinctivenessWestern Himalaya
Lilium polyphyllum D.Don ex Royle also known by the name of whitelilyis a member of family Liliaceae. It is a perennial and bulbous herb which can grow up to a height of 1meter and has narrow leaves. It is described underAstavargaplants in Ayurvedic system of medicine. "Astavarga" a group of 8 medicinal plants which are used in the preparation of various Ayurvedic tonics and have rejuvenating effects. This herb is also known by the name of kshirkakoli. It is harvested for its bulbs which have soothing, astringent properties and are used in the preparation of various traditional and modern medicines as a refrigerant, aphrodisiac, diuretic tonics. Its bulbs also contain various phytochemicals such as linalool, saponins etc. which are also responsible for its medicinal value. This plant is used in the preparation of various Ayurvedic tonics such as Chyavanprash, Astvarga Churan, Jivaniya ghrita. Due to its vast medicinal values, it is being exploited at very high rates that gives it a status of a critically threatened or endangered plant.
The antioxidant property of the rhizome extract of Roscoea purpurea (commonly known as Kakoli) has been studied against a long lived 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical at room temperature. The radical scavenging activity of the extract was compared with the naturally occuring antioxidant Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) at the same concentration. The phytochemicals present in the rhizome extract have been utilized for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles under very mild conditions without any extra stabilizing agent. The synthesized gold nanoparticles were characterized by Surface Plasmon Resonance spectroscopy, High resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-Ray diffraction and FTIR studies.
Roscoea purpurea (Zingiberaceae) is commonly known as "kakoli". Traditionally, various parts like leaves, roots and flower etc. are used for the treatment of diabetic, hypertension, diarrhea, fever, inflammation etc. In Nepal tubers are boiled for edible purpose and also used in traditional veterinary medicine. The study aims for nutritional characterization, chemical profiling of R. purpurea (tubers) methanol extract (RPE) along with evaluation of its anti-oxidant activity. Physicochemical and nutritional content were estimated as per standard protocols. Chemical profiling of markers includes method optimization, identification & quantification of bioactive poly phenolics through HPTLC. Anti oxidant potential RPE was analyzed via. Total phenolics (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC), reducing power assay, DPPH and β-carotene bleaching model.
Physicochemical and nutritional standards were established. Kaempferol (0.30%), vanillic acid (0.27%), protocatechuic (0.14%), syringic (0.80%) and ferulic acid (0.05%) were identified and then quantified. TPC and TFC content were found to be 7.10 ± 0.115 and 6.10 ± 0.055%, reducing power of extract also increases linearly (r(2) = 0.946) with concentration, similar to standards. IC50 value of extract in DPPH and β-carotene bleaching model was observed at 810.66 ± 1.154 and 600.66 ± 1.154 µg/ml, which is significantly different from standards (p < 0.05). Although there is a positive, significant correlation between the phenolic and flavonoid content with anti oxidant activity of extract.
Thus, study will authenticates the identity, utility of herb as nutrient supplement and an important medicinal plant having promising pharmacological activities for further elaborated/extended investigation work.
Antimalarial activity of the crude extract of Polygonatum verticillatum rhizomes and its sequentially partitioned fractions were investigated against Plasmodium falciparum. The crude extract possessed notable activity (IC50: 21.67 μg/mL) that enhanced reasonably upon fractionation. The antiparasitic potency of the n-hexane fraction was maximum (IC50: 2.33 μg/mL) followed by chloroform (IC50: 4.62 μg/mL). However, the remaining fractions showed insignificant activity in the assay. The extracts of the plant showed marked scavenging activity on stable free radical, DDPH. The most potent antioxidant was the chloroform fraction (IC50: 90 μg/mL) followed by ethyl acetate (IC50: 93 μg/mL) and n-butanol (IC50: 95 μg/mL) fractions. In the brine shrimps lethality test, the extracts were found nontoxic with the exception of ethyl acetate fraction (LD50: 492.846 μg/mL). The bioactivity-guided isolation resulted into 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) and diosgenin which strongly supports the present experimental findings.
Ashtvarga is a popular Ayurvedic group comprises of eight herbs used in various rejuvenating Ayurvedic
tonics like Chyvanprash. Considering the importance of Ashtvarga group in various preparations, the
phenolic composition, antioxidant and antimutagenic activities of all eight species extracts were evaluated.
Total phenolic content measured by Folin- Ciocalteu assay of Ashtvarga species showed the highest
value in Polygonatum cirrhifolium and minimum was recorded in Roscoea procera. However, R. procera
showed significantly higher tannin and flavonoid content as compared to other Ashtvarga species. Total
fifteen phenolic compounds were quantified using HPLC analysis, and maximum 11 phenolic compounds
were detected in Malaxis acuminata extract. Antioxidant activities using in vitro assay like 2,2-azinobis(3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging (DPPH), Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Superoxide scavenging activity were also determined. The results showed all the Ashtvarga plants possess strong ability to protect DNA and
therefore, these species could be a potential source of natural antioxidant.
The ethanolic (50% v/v) extracts of Carissa carandas (fruits) (Apocynaceae) and Microstylis wallichii (tubers) (Orchidaceae) were examined for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in experimental animals. Carissa carandas and Microstylis wallichii (50-200 mg/kg) caused a dose dependent inhibition of swelling caused by carrageenin significantly in cotton pellet induced granuloma in rats (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the analgesy meter induced pain in rats. The extracts of Carissa carandas and Microstylis wallichii resulted in an inhibition of stretching episodes and percentage protection was 16.05-17.58% respectively in acetic acid induced writhing.
The purpose of the current study was to estimate the antioxidant profile of two compounds, diosgenin and santonin, isolated from Polygonatum verticillatum rhizomes. Stable free radical, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and reducing power assays were employed for this purpose. The results showed profound free radical scavenging effect of both diosgenin and santonin in a concentration-dependent manner. The calculated half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for both diosgenin and santonin was 65.80 and 50.03 μg/ml, respectively. Similarly, in reducing power assay, diosgenin and santonin exhibited marked quenching effect. The corresponding IC50 values for both the compounds were 62.10 and 46.40 μg/ml, respectively. In conclusion, both the isolated compounds have strong antioxidant potential, which is consistent with the results of the extracts of the plant.