A.A. Baby’s research while affiliated with St. Mary's College, Thrissur and other places

Objective: Bauhinia phoenicea, an endemic plant of western Ghats, using in traditional medicine against diabetes, skin allergies, fungal infections, and worm disturbances. To the best of our knowledge, any scientific studies on the medicinal properties of the leaves of this plant are not yet reported. Therefore, as the first step toward unraveling its medicinal property, bioactivity profiling, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were performed. Methods: The pharmacological activity profiling includes antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, and antioxidant property screening using crude ethanolic extract, which preliminary analyses its folk claim. GC-MS analysis performed to identify the pharmacologically active principles. All analyses were performed according to standard protocols. Results: Ethanol extract of the leaves of B. phoenicea was assayed for the antimicrobial activity against 10 human pathogenic strains using well diffusion assay. The extract showed a significant activity against all pathogens. A maximum zone of inhibition observed in Salmonella typhi in their higher concentration (500 μg/ml). The anthelmintic activity of crude drug evaluated on Indian adult earthworms Pheretima posthuma, exhibited dosedependent spontaneous mortality, and evoked responses to pin prick and effects compared with that of albendazole. The drug showed potent antioxidant property in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging and superoxide anion scavenging assays with half maximal inhibitory concentration values 92±0.92 and 62±1.34, respectively. The GC-MS analysis which showed the presence of 19 compounds including hexadecanoic acid and oleic acid. Conclusion: According to our results, it is concluded that leaf of B. phoenicea has significant antimicrobial, anthelmintic, and antioxidant properties supporting the folk medicinal use of this species. The further procedures of isolation and characterization of active principles are in progress. © 2016, Innovare Academics Sciences Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.

In the Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, the plant Naravelia zeylanica (Linn) DC has been used in the treatment of pitta, helminthiasis, dermatopathy, leprosy, rheumatalgia, odontalgia, colic inflammation, wounds and ulcers. The study includes macroscopy, microscopy, preliminary phytochemical screening, physicochemical evaluation and fluorescence analysis. Phytochemical evaluation reveals the presence of quinone, saponin, phenol, flavanoid, alkaloid, coumarin and cardiac glycoside. The fluorescence analysis under visible light&under UV light by treatment with different chemical reagents showed different colour changes. In present investigation, pharmacognostic study is carried out to lay down the standards which could be useful in future experimental studies.

Objective: Bauhinia phoenicea Wight & Arn is a medicinal plant endemic to Western Ghats. In traditional medicine, it used against diabetes, skin allergies, fungal infections and worm disturbances. To the best of our knowledge, any scientific studies on the medicinal properties of this are not yet reported. Therefore, as a first step towards unraveling its medicinal property, bioactivity profiling was performed. Methods: Pharmacological activity profiling includes antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic and antioxidant property screening using crude ethanolic extract, which preliminary analyses its folk claim. Qualitative Phytochemical analysis performed to identify various valuable secondary metabolites. All the analysis were done according to standard protocols Results: The present work focused on the evaluation of its folk claim. Ethanolic extract of bark of B. phoenicia assayed for antimicrobial activity against 10 human pathogenic strains. The extract showed significant activity against all pathogens. Maximum zone of inhibition observed in Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger in their higher concentration (500μg/ml). The anthelmintic activity of crude drug evaluated on Indian adult earthworms Pheretima posthuma, exhibited dose dependent spontaneous mortality, and evoked responses to pin prick and effects compared with that of Albendazole. The ethanolic extract showed potent DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging and super oxide anion scavenging properties with IC 50 values 90±0.92 and 64±0.5 respectively. The preliminary qualitative analysis of B. phoenicea bark indicated the presence of alkaloids, saponins, phenols, steroids and flavonoids. Conclusion: According to our results, it is concluded that bark of B. phoenicea has significant antimicrobial, anthelmintic and antioxidant properties supporting the folk medicinal use of this species. The further procedures of identification and isolation of the pharamacologically active principles are in progress. © 2015, International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science. All rights reserved.

Introduction: Areca catechu L (Arecaceae) root is commonly used in the traditional systems of medicine against various ailments like urinary tract disorders, skin irritations, worm disturbances, as a component in health tonic preparation etc. Objectives: The present study gives first insight of anti-microbial, anthelmintic, anti-oxidant properties and preliminary phytochemical analysis of the root of A.catechu. Methodology: All the analysis was done according to standard protocols. Results: The ethanolic extract produced significant anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anthelmintic properties in a dose-dependent manner. DPPH free radical scavenging assay exhibited IC 50 value of 65.7 ± 1.53 and super oxide anion scavenging assay showed 201.7 ± 0.76, IC 50 value. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, quinone, phlobatanins, tannins and phenols that may be the reason for its biological properties. Yield in different solvent fractions of the crude extract showed maximum bulk in the aqueous fraction, in which the alkaloids present. Conclusion: This paper first reporting the medicinal property of A. catechu root and the further procedures of identification and isolation of active principles are in progress.

Introduction: World Health Organization (WHO) appreciates the importance of medicinal plants for public health care in developing nations. White Abrus (Abrus precatorius Linn) have important role in traditional medicine, its seeds, bark, leaves and stem are medicinal.

Ethno-medical survey of Peechi-Village of Thrissur, district was carried out to gather information on the ethno-medically important plants used by the famous traditional practitioners as well known ottamoolis. Ottamoolis are important traditional practice because it prevents the recurrents of the disease. There are lot of myths associated with this medical application, among them the most important one is if, the medical preparation is disclose to anyone it will not effective, so the practitioners are not disclosing the method to anyone except to one of their child. But, the younger generation is ignorant about this so India's one of the traditional medical practice is diminishing now a days, so the present work was undertaken as an attempt to unravel the field of ottamooli chikilsa. The present paper provides preliminary evaluation of 27 ethno-medicinal plants belong to 18 families.