Pharmacognostic characters of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. leaves: macroscopy, microscopy, and phytochemical analysis

Background:Albizia lebbeck(L.)Benth,a medium to large tree belonging to the family Fabaceae,is commonly used as a medicinal plant for various disease conditions.Aim:The aim of this study was to establish a pharmacognostical profile for the leaves of Albizia lebbeck(L.)Benth in order to aid its identification and authentication.Method:Standard macroscopic methods were employed to analyze the physical parameters of the Albizia lebbeck(L.)Benth leaves.Fresh leaf samples and dried leaf powder were studied under a microscope to reveal the plant’s microscopic features.Preliminary phytochemical investigation of the plant material was also conducted using standard methods.Result:The results showed the presence of fibers,epidermal cells,stomata,sclereids,prismatic crystals,vascular bundles,and parenchyma cells.Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenols,flavonoids,glycocides,terpenes,tannins,saponins,carbohydrates,and quinones.Conclusion:These pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochemical observations can be considered as standard for future studies.

Non-Invasive Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) in Macroscopy (MacroSHG) as Bio-Diagnosis to Image Collagen Network Organization in Extracellular Matrix

In this work, we have considered a new multimodality imaging for macroscopy based on Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) method to monitor invasivelessly the matrix collagen. As the triple helicoidally structure of collagen molecules appearing as not centrosymetric, very organized and spatially oriented, collagen fibrils give rise to a very strong SHG signal and can be imaged without any exogenous dye. To integrate a multidimensional scale with a large field of view (non-sliced samples), we have adapted and validated an instrumental coupling between a two photon excitation laser and a macroscope to collect cartography of SHG signal. We introduced an index (F-SHG) based on decay time response measured by TCSPC for respectively Fluorescence (F) and Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) values. For various sample where protein collagen is the major component of extracellular matrix (vessel, skin, carotide vessel, rat femoral head cartilage, mouse tumor, human wharton’s jelly and rat tendon) or not (nacre), we compared the index distribution obtained with MacroSHG. In this work, we showed for the first time that multiscale large field imaging (Macroscopy) combined to Multimodality approaches (SHG-TCSPC) could be an innovative and non-invasive technique to detect and identify some biological interest molecules (collagen) in biomedical topics.

An update on Ayurvedic herb Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy

Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy(C.pluricaulis)is a perennial herb that seems like morning glory.All parts of the herb are known to possess therapeutic benefits.The plant is used locally in Indian and Chinese medicine to cure various diseases.It is used in Ayurvedic formulation for chronic cough,sleeplessness,epilepsy,hallucinations,anxiety etc.Based on the comprehensive review of plant profile,pharmacognosy,phylochemistry,pharmacological and toxicological data on the C.pluricaulis,there will be more opportunities for the future research and development on the herb C.pluricaulis.Information on the C.pluricaulis was collected via electronic search(using Pub Med,SciFinder,Google Scholar and Web of Science)and library search for articles published in peer-reviewed journals.Furthermore,information also was obtained from some local books on ethnopharmacology.This paper covers the literature,primarily pharmacological,from 1985 to the end of 2012.The C.pluricaulis is an important indigenous medicine,which has a long medicinal application for liver disease,epileptic disease,microbial disease,cytotoxic and viral diseases,central nervous system(CNS)disease in Ayurvedic medicine,traditional Chinese medicine and other indigenous medical systems.The isolated metabolites and crude extract have exhibited a wide of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effect,including CNS depression,anxiolytic,tranquillizing,antidepressant,antistress,neurodegenerative,antiamnesic,antioxidant,hypolipidemic,immunomodulatory,analgesic,antifungal,antibacterial,antidiabetic,antiulcer,anticatatonic,and cardiovascular activity.A chemical study of this plant was then initiated,which led to the isolation of carbohydrats,proteins,alkaloids,fatty acids,steroids,coumarins.flavanoids,and glycosides as active chemicals that bring about its biological effects.A scries of pharmacognostical studies of this plant show that it is a herb,its stem and leaves are hairy,more over it has two types of stomata,anisocytic and paracytic.A herb,C.pluricaulis has emerged as a good source of the traditional medicine for the treatment of liver disease,epileptic disease,microbial disease,cytotoxic and viral diseases,and CNS disease.Pharmacological results have validated the use of this species in traditional medicine.All the parts of the herb are known to possess therapeutic benefits.Expansion of research materials would provide more opportunities for the discovery of new bioactive principles from C.pluricaulis.

Pharmacognostic studies of the leaves and stem of Careya arborea Roxb.

Objective:To study detailed pharmacognostic profile of leaves and stem of Careya arborea(C. arborea) Roxb.(Lecthyidaceae),an important medicinal plant in the Indian system of medicine. Methods:Leaf and stem samples of C.arborea were studied by macroscopical,microscopical, physicochemical,phytochemical,fluorescence analysis of powder of the plant and other methods for standardization recommended by WHO.Results:Maeroscopieally,the leaves are simple, broadly obovate in shape,acuminate apex with crenate,dentate margin,petioles(0.1-1.8 cm) long. Microscopically,the leaf showed the presence of median large size vascular bundle covered with fibrous bundle sheath,arrangement of xylem in cup shape and presence of cortical vascular bundle, patches of sclerenchyma,phloem fibers in groups and brown pigment containing cells in stem are some of the diagnostic features noted from anatomical study.Powder microscopy of leaf revealed the presence of parenchyma cells,xylem with pitted vessels and epidermis with anisocylic slomata.The investigations also included leaf surface data;quantitative leaf microscopy and fluorescence analysis. Physiochemical parameters such as loss on drying,swelling index,extractive values and ash values were also determined and results showed that total ash of the stem bark was about two times higher than leaf and water soluble extractive value of leaf and stem bark was two limes higher than alcohol soluble extractive value.Preliminaiy phytochemical screening showed the presence of triterpenoids, saponins,tannins and flavonoids.Conclusions:The results of the study can serve as a valuable source of information and provide suitable standards for identification of this plant material in future investigations and applications.