Preventive Effect of an Extract of Terminalia avicennioides on Acetylcholine-Induced Tracheoconstriction in Wistar Strain Rats

Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory pathologies worldwide. The cost of its treatment, particularly for populations in developing countries like Senegal, requires an alternative which consists of developing research into new therapeutic approaches with the use of plants from traditional pharmacopoeia. The objective of this study was to determine whether the hydroalcoholic extract of Terminalia avicennioides leaves has a preventive effect on the constriction of tracheal smooth muscle induced by Acetylcholine in Wistar strain rats. Methods: The species used in our experiments were male Wistar rats aged between 12 and 14 weeks. Rings of rat trachea were suspended in isolated organ chambers connected to tension sensors. Two pharmacological agents were used: acetylcholine, for its constrictor effect and adrenaline, for its dilating effect on the pulmonary trachea. Our plant material consisted of a hydroalcoholic extract of Terminalia avicennioides leaves. The experimental protocol was that of the preventive model which consisted of impregnating these rings with the extract at a defined concentration then testing its contractility in the presence of Acetylcholine which was the contractile agonist used in this study. The preventive effect of the extract was studied with an Acetylcholine contraction range on rings pre-incubated with Terminalia avicennioides extract. Results: The results showed that Acetylcholine contracts the trachea and the increase in its contractility was dependent on the dose of Ach added cumulatively (10−5 to 4 × 10−5 mol/l). The administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of Terminalia avicennioides leaves led to a modification of the contractile response to Acetylcholine. Indeed, this extract induced a significant attenuation of the contractile responses of the treated tracheal rings compared to those untreated. Conclusion: Terminalia avicennioides had a relaxing effect on tracheal smooth muscle and this effect could play an important role in the prevention of bronchial hyperreactivity in certain respiratory diseases, particularly asthmatic disease.

The development of Terminalia chebula Retz.(Combretaceae) in clinical research

Medicinal plants are part and parcel of human society to combat diseases from the dawn of civilization.Terminalia chebula Retz.(Fam.Combretaceae),is called the‘King of Medicine??in Tibet and is always listed at the lop of the list of‘Ayurvedic Materia Medica??because of its extraordinary power of healing.The whole plant possesses high medicinal value and traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments for human beings.Some of the folklore people used this plant in the treatment of asthma,sore throat,vomiting,hiccough,diarrhea,dysentery,bleeding piles,ulcers,gout,heart and bladder diseases.The plant has been demonstrated to possess multiple pharmacological and medicinal activities,such as antioxidant,antimicrobial,antidiabetic,hepatoprotective,anti-inflammatory,antimutagenic,antiproliferative,radioprotective,cardioprotective,antiarthritic,anticaries,gastrointestinal motility and wound healing activity.But no systematic updated information on the therapeutic effectiveness of Terminalia chebula,a popular herbal remedy in India and South-East Asia has so far been reported.This review highlights an updated information particularly on the phytochemistry and various pharmacological and medicinal properties of Terminalia chebula Retz.and some of its isolated compounds,along with their safety evaluation.This may provide incentive for proper evaluation of the plant as medicinal agent against the human diseases and also to bridge the lacunae in the existing literature and future scope which may offer immense opportunity for researchers engaged in validation of the traditional claims and development of safe and effective botanical medicine.

Investigation of hypoglycemic,hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Terminalia paniculata bark in diabetic rats

Objective:To investigate the hypoglycemic,hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Terminalia paniculata bark(AETPB) in streptozotocin(STZ)-mduced diabetic rats.Methods:Acute toxicity was studied in rats after the oral administration of AETPB to determine the dose to assess hypoglycemic activity.In rats,diabetes was induced by injection of STZ(60 mg/kg,i.p.) and diabetes was confirmed 72 h after induction,and then allowed for 14 days to stabilize blood glucose level.In diabetic rats,AETPB was orally given for 28 days and its effect on blood glucose and body weight was determined on a weekly basis.At the end of the experimental day,fasting blood sample was collected to estimate the haemoglobin(Hb),glycosylated haemoglobin(HbA1c),serum creatinine,urea,serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase(SGPT),serum glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase(SGOT) and insulin levels. The liver and kidney were collected to determine antioxidants levels in diabetic rats.Results: Oral administration of AETPB did not exhibit toxicity and death at a dose of 2000 mg/kg.AETPB treated diabetic rats significantly(P<0.001,P<0.01 and P<0.05) reduced elevated blood glucose, HbAlc,creatinine,urea,SGPT and SGOT levels when compared with diabetic control rats.The body weight,Hb,insulin and total protein levels were significantly(P<0.001,P<0.01 and P<0.05) increased in diabetic rats treated with AETPB compared to diabetic control rats.In diabetic rats, AETPB treatment significantly reversed abnormal status of antioxidants and lipid profile levels towards near normal levels compared to diabetic control rats.Conclusions:Present study results confirm that AETPB possesses significant hypoglycemic,hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities in diabetic condition.

Antioxidant and antimutagenic activities of bark extract of Terminalia arjuna

Objective:The alcoholic extract of stem bark of Terminalia arjuna（ALTA） was screened for antioxidant and antimutagenic（anticlastogenic） activity.Methods:Antioxidant property was determined by l,l,Diphynyl,2-Picryl hydrazyl（DPPH） assay,super oxide radical scavenging activity,lipid peroxidation assay and total polyphenolic content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteau’s reagent.Antimutagenic activity was evaluated using micronucleus test in mice. Results:The ALTA has shown potent antioxidant activity with EC50 of 2.491±0.160,50.110±0.150 & 71.000±0.250 in DPPH assay,superoxide radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation assay, which is comparable with ascorbic acid with EC50 of 2.471±0.140,40.500±0.390 and 63.000±0.360 respectively.In micronucleus test,ALTA（100 & 200 mg/kg,p.o.） showed significant reduction in percentage of micronucleus in both polychromatic erythrocytes（PCE） and normochromatie erythrocytes（NCE） and also shown significant reduction in P/N ratio.Conclusions:These results suggested that ALTA possess significant antioxidant and antimutagenic activity.

Hepatoprotective activity of Terminalia paniculata against paracetamol induced hepatocellular damage in Wistar albino rats

Objective:To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Terminalia paniculata against paracetamol induced hepatic damage in rats.Methods:The plant material was shade dried, powdered and extracted with ethanol.Liv 52 and silymarin were used as standard drugs and 2%gum acacia as a control(vehicle).Alteration in the levels of biochemical markers of hepatic damage like AST,ALT,ALP and lipid peroxides were tested,and phytochemical tests were also performed.Results:Paracetamol(2 g/kg) increased the serum levels of alanine aminotransfer (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and the lipid peroxides. Treatment of Liv 52,silymarin and ethanolic extract of Terminalia paniculata(200 mg/kg) altered levels of biochemical marker and showed significant hepatoprotective activity.Ethanolic extract revealed the presence of phenolic compound and flavanoids.Our findings suggested that ethanolic bark extract of Terminalia paniculata possessed hepatoprotective activity in a dose dependent manner.Conclusions:Terminalia paniculata possesses hepatoprotective activity.It could be an effective and promising preventive agent against PCT induced hepatotoxicity.

Effects of Terminalia catappa seeds on sexual behaviour and fertility of male rats

Aim: To evaluate the aphrodisiac potential of Terminalia catappa Linn. seeds using a suspension of its kernel (SS)in 1% methyl cellulose in rats. Methods: Male rots were orally treated with 1500 mg/kg or 3000 mg/kg SS or ve-hicle, and their sexual behaviour was monitored 3 h later using a receptive female. Another group of rats was orallytreated with either 3000 mg/kg SS or vehicle for 7 consecutive days. Their sexual behaviour and fertility were evaluatedon days 1, 4 and 7 of treatment and day 7 post-treatment by pairing overnight with a pro-oestrous female. Results:The 1500 mg/kg dose, had a marked aphrodisiac action (prolongation of ejaculation latency) but no effect on libido(% mounting, % intromission and % ejaculation), sexual vigour (mounting-and-intromission frequency), or sexualperformance (intercopulatory interval). In contrast, the higher dose (3000 mg/kg) reversibly inhibited all the para?e-ten of sexual behaviour other than mounting-and-intromission frequency and copulatory efficiency. The effects of highdose SS were not due to general toxicity, liver toxicity, haemotoxicity, stress, muscle deficiency, muscle incoordina-fion, analgesia, hypoglycaemia or reduction in blood testosterone level. They were due to marked sedation. Conclu-sion: The kernel of T. catappa seeds has aphrodisiac activity and may be useful in the treatment of certain forms ofsexual inadequacies, such as premature ejaculation.

Aceclofenac-induced hepatotoxicity:An ameliorative effect of Terminalia bellirica fruit and ellagic acid

BACKGROUND Aceclofenac(ACF),a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug,has been associated with a number of severe cases of clinical hepatotoxicity.Terminalia bellirica,an evergreen tree,is known to have several ethnomedicinal uses including antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects.Hence T.bellirica fruit extracts and its phytoconstituent ellagic acid(EA)are expected to provide protection against oxidative stress and liver damage produced by long-term use of ACF.AIM To evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of T.bellirica fruit extracts and EA against ACF-induced toxicity in albino Wistar rats.METHODS The in vitro antioxidant activities of T.bellirica fruit ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts were measured by metal ion chelation and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays.The in vivo antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of T.bellirica extracts(200 mg/kg)and EA(40 mg/kg)in ACF-induced hepatotoxic rats were assessed in serum and liver tissue after oral administration for 21 d.Silymarin(40 mg/kg)was used as a standard control.Oxidative stress markers in the blood(ferric reducing ability of plasma and lipid peroxidation inhibition)and liver tissues(superoxide dismutase,catalase and malondialdehyde)were analyzed using standard protocols.Liver function markers such as alkaline phosphatase,glutamic pyruvic transaminase,glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase,lactate dehydrogenase,γ-glutamyl transferase,creatinine,total protein,and uric acid were evaluated in rat serum.RESULTS The T.bellirica fruit ethyl acetate extract exhibited superior metal ion chelating and nitric oxide radical scavenging abilities during in vitro antioxidant assays as compared to aqueous extracts.Oral administration of ACF in rats(15 mg/kg)for 21 d produced oxidative stress and adversely affected liver function suggesting liver injury.Treatment with extracts(ethyl acetate and aqueous),EA and silymarin accounted for a significant reduction in the adverse effects of ACF on oxidative stress and liver function markers in serum and hepatic tissue in rats.Histopathological evaluation of the liver indicated that the extracts and EA significantly decreased the degree of liver damage.The in vivo efficacy of EA was higher than T.bellirica fruit extracts.Of these extracts,ethyl acetate extract revealed comparatively better antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity.CONCLUSION Ellagic acid and T.bellirica fruit extracts exhibited considerable hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities in long-term ACF-treated rats.

Evaluation of Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities on Ethanolic Extract of <i>Terminalia chebula</i>Fruits in Experimental Animal Models

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanolic extract of Terminalia chebula (commonly known as Haritaki) fruits in experimental animal models. The study was carried out using Swiss Albino mice (20-25 g) and Long Evans rats (100-150 g) of either sex. The analgesic activity of Terminalia chebula was assessed by using hot plate method. For the determination of analgesic effect, doses of ethanolic extract of Terminalia chebula used in the present study were 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight (BW). Anti-inflammatory effect was analyzed by carrageenan induced paw edema method with the administration dose of 300 mg/kg BW of animals. The analysis of experimental data was performed by statistical process of ANOVA to determine the variability of sample, while Dunnet’s test was performed for evaluation of comparative analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Terminalia chebula with control and standard. The animals were divided into four treatment groups of six animals each and the “Mean ± SEM” is the statistical identifiable value of the data and P values <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Hot plate test showed a significant increase in the mean reaction time to heat stimuli in hot plate method at both 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg BW doses throughout the observation period in 30 minutes and 60 minutes after treatment, which was comparable to the standard ketorolac and control group. In carrageenan induced paw edema method, considerable results were found after determining the percentage change in paw volume in extract. In both cases of analgesic and anti-inflammatory study, % inhibition of pain and inflammation were evaluated. Comparing with control, largest inhibition was found in inhibiting inflammation 5 hours after treatment, while the largest inhibition of pain was obtained in 30 minutes and 60 minutes after treatment of doses. The present study suggests that ethanolic extract of Terminalia chebula fruits has significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Analysis of phytochemical profile of Terminalia arjuna bark extract with antioxidative and antimicrobial properties

Objective:To investigate phytochemical screening,antimicrobial activity and qualitative thin layer chromatographic separation of flavonoid components,antioxidant activity and total flavonoid compound of Terminalia arjuna.Methods:For phytochemical screening,some common and available standard tests were done.Antimicrobial bioassay was done through agar well diffusion method.Detection of antioxidant activity and flavonoid compounds were done through thin layer chromatography.Total antioxidant activity was measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)in colorimetric method.Aluminum chloride colorimetric method was used for total flavonoid determination.Results:Phytochemical screening showed the active compounds presence in high concentration,such as phytosterol,lactones,flavonoids,phenolic compounds and tannins and glycosides.The anlimicrobial activity of extract showed that greater inhibition zone against Gram negative bacteria than Gram positive bacteria.This methanolic extract showed a promising antioxidant activity,as absorption of DPPH redicles decreased in DPPH free radical scavenging assay.Flavonoids components having antioxidant property present in the methanol extract at a level of199.00 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dried methanol extract in colorimetric method.Conclusions:The Terminalia arjuna bark extract revealed the presence of bio-active constituents which are known to exhibit medicinal as well as physiological activities.

Nanosuspension enhances dissolution rate and oral bioavailability of Terminalia arjuna bark extract in vivo and in vitro

Objective:To enhance the dissolution rate and oral bioavailability of Terminalia arjuna bark extract by formulating its nanosuspension.Methods:Nanoprecipitation approach was used for the formulation of nanosuspension using polysorbate-80 as a stabilizer.The formulated nanosuspension was assessed for particle size,polydispersity index,zeta potential value and for in vitro dissolution study.Oral bioavailability studies were carried out in Wistar male albino rats by administering a single dose(50 mg/kg.b.wt)of the formulated nanosuspension and coarse suspension.The storage stability of the formulated nanosuspension was determined after three months of storage at room temperature and under the refrigerated condition.Mutagenicity assay was carried out to evaluate the toxicity of the formulated nanosuspension using two mutant strains(Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and Salmonella typhimurium TA98).Results:The mean particle size of the formulated nanosuspension was 90.53 nm with polydispersity index and zeta potential values of 0.175 and-15.7 m V,respectively.Terminalia arjuna nanosuspension showed improved dissolution rate and 1.33-fold higher oral bioavailability than its coarse suspension.The formulated nanosuspension also showed better stability under the refrigerated condition and was non-mutagenic against both strains.Conclusions:Our study demonstrates that nanosuspension technology can effectively enhance the dissolution rate and oral bioavailability of Terminalia arjuna bark extract.

In vitro anti oxidant activity and acute oral toxicity of Terminalia paniculata bark ethanolic extract on Sprague Dawley rats

Objective:To ensure the safety and evaluate the anti oxidant activity of Terminalia paniculata(T.paniculata)ethanolic extract in Sprague Dawley rats.Methods:The solvent extracts(hexane,ethyl acetate and ethanol)of T.paniculata were subjected to phytochemical analysis and their DPPH radical scavenging activity was assayed.The oral acute toxicity was evaluated using ethanolic extract of T.paniculata.Results:Ethyl acetate and elhanolic extracts showed more phytochemicals,whereas highest DPPH scavenging activity was found in ethanolic extract.In an acute toxicity study,T.paniculata ethanolic extract was orally administered(1000 mg/kg body weight)to rats and observed for72 h for any toxic symptoms and the dose was continued up to 14 d.On the 15th day rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected from control and test animals and analyzed for some biochemical parameters.We did not observe any behavioral changes in test groups in comparison with their controls.Also,there were no significant alterations in biochemical,hematological(hemoglobin content and blood cells count)and liver function parameters such as serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase,serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase,alkaline phosphatase,total proteins,albumin and bilirubin levels between T.paniculata ethanolic extract treated and normal control groups.Conclusions:Together our results demonstrated that T.paniculala ethanolic possessed potent antioxidant activity and it was safer and non toxic to rats even at higher doses and therefore could be well considered for further investigation for its medicinal and therapeutic efficacy.

UPLC-Q/TOF-MS based metabonomics revealed protective effect of Terminalia chebula extract on ischemic stroke rats

Terminalia chebula(TC),a kind of Combretaceae,is a widely used herb in India and East Asia to treat cerebrovascular diseases.However,the potential mechanism of the neuroprotective effects of TC at the metabonomics level is still not unclear.The present study focused on the effects of TC on metabonomics in stroke model.In our study,rats were divided randomly into Sham,Model,and TC groups.The TC group were intragastricly administered with TC for 7 d after middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)operation.The sham and the model groups received vehicle for the same length of time.Subsequently,the neuroprotective effects of TC were examined by neurological defects evalua⁃tion,infarct volume assessment,and identification of biochemical indicators for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activi⁃ties.Further,metabonomics technology was employed to evaluate the endogenous metabolites profiling systematically.Consist to results of biochemical and histopathological assays,pattern recognition analysis showed a clear separation of the Model and the Sham group,indicating a recovery impact of TC on the MCAO rats.Moreover,12 potential biomarkers were identified in MCAO Model group,involved in energy(lactic acid,succinic acid,and fumarate),amino acids(leucine,alanine,and phenylalanine)and glycerophospholipid[PC(16∶0/20∶4),PC(20:4/20:4),LysoPC(18:0)and LysoPC(16:0)]metabolism,and other types of metabolism(arachidonic acid and palmitoylcarnitine).Notably,we found that metabolite levels of TC group were partially reversed to normal.In conclusion,TC could ameliorate MCAO rats by intervening with energy metabolism(glycolysis and TCA cycle),amino acid metabolism,glycerophospholipid metabolism and other types of metabolism.

Anti-cancer activity of an ethyl-acetate extract of the fruits of Terminalia bellerica(Gaertn.)Roxb.through an apoptotic signaling pathway in vitro

Objective:To investigate the biochemical constituents of the fruits of Terminalia bellerica(Gaertn.)Roxb.(hereafter termed T.bellerica)and estimate the anti-cancer activity of different polar extracts.Methods:To rapidly screen and identify the biochemical constituents of ethyl acetate(EA)extracts of T.bellerica,ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry(UPLC-ESI-MSn)was done.The CellTiter-BlueTM cell-viability assay was used to ascertain the anti-cancer activity of different polar extracts in 10 human cancer cell lines.Results:Forty polyphenols of the EA extract of T.bellerica were characterized tentatively.The EA extract exhibited significant anti-cancer activity against ZR-75-1 cells(half-maximal inhibitory concentration=27.33(0.98)μg/mL)and Colo-205 cells(39.65(2.99)μg/mL)in vitro.Treatment of ZR-75-1 cells with 20 and 60μg/mL of the EA extract elicited dosedependent apoptosis percentages at an early stage of 17.58(0.74)%and at a late stage of 29.20(1.22)%;Colo-205 cells at the same concentration of EA extract had values of 21.33(1.03)%and 40.55(0.34)%,respectively.Western blotting suggested that ZR-75-1 and Colo205 cells treated with the EA extract showed a similar increasing tendency for expression of cleaved anti-poly adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase I.Conclusion:We identified a total of 40 chemical constituents,of which 11 were first obtained from the Terminalia Linn.genus using UPLC-ESI-MSn.Meanwhile,we observe that the EA extract of T.bellerica possesses anti-cancer activity,especially against breast and colon cancers.

Terminalia arjuna:A novel natural preservative for improved lipid oxidative stability and storage quality of muscle foods

The study was conducted to explore the possibility of utilization of Terminalia arjuna as a novel natural preservative in meat products by using chevon sausages as a model system.Chevon sausages were prepared by incorporating different levels of T.arjuna viz.T1(0.25%),T2(0.50%)and T3(0.75%)and were assessed for various lipid oxidative stability and storage quality parameters under refrigerated(4±1◦C)conditions.T.arjuna showed a significant(p<0.05)effect on the lipid oxidative stability as the treated products exhibited significantly(p<0.05)lower TBARS(mg malonaldehyde/kg)values in comparison to control.A significant(p<0.05)effect was also observed on the microbial stability as T.arjuna incorporated products showed significantly(p<0.05)lower values for total plate count(log cfu/g),psychrophilic count(log cfu/g),yeast and mould count(log cfu/g)and FFA(%oleic acid)values.Significantly(p<0.05)higher scores were observed for various sensory parameters of the products incorporated with T.arjuna during refrigerated storage.T.arjuna successfully improved the lipid oxidative stability and storage quality of the model meat product and may be commercially exploited as a novel preservative in muscle foods.

Identification of <i>Alternaria</i>spp. as Pathogenic on the Native Species <i>Terminalia australis</i>and <i>Salvia guaranitica</i>

This work is the result of activities included in the cooperative project between Asociación Ribera Norte (ARN) and the Department of Plant Pathology, School of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires. ARN is a non-governmental organization created in 1993 mainly for the management of the Reserva Ecológica Municipal Ribera Norte, a preservation area located in San Isidro (North of Buenos Aires), within the Provincia Paranaense region. The aims were to identify diseases in native plant species growing there. Light brown leaf spots with thin brown margins and narrow yellow halos were observed on Terminalia australis (mean disease severity: 25%). The pathogen was isolated, inoculated on healthy plants, reisolated from infected leaves and identified as Alternaria tenuissima. Similarly, another leaf-spot disease was observed on Salvia guaranitica, characterized by reddish brown large spots developed from the apexes and margins towards the centre of the leaves, reaching the veins in some cases (mean severity: 20%). Pathogen isolation, inoculation and reisolation led to the identification of A. alternata as the causal agent of the disease. Unusual heavy rain is analyzed as disease conductive.

The Genus Terminalia(Combretaceae):An Ethnopharmacological,Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review

Terminalia Linn,a genus of mostly medium or large trees in the family Combretaceae with about 250 species in the world,is distributed mainly in southern Asia,Himalayas,Madagascar,Australia,and the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa.Many species are used widely in many traditional medicinal systems,e.g.,traditional Chinese medicine,Tibetan medicine,and Indian Ayurvedic medicine practices.So far,about 39 species have been phytochemically studied,which led to the identification of 368 compounds,including terpenoids,tannins,flavonoids,phenylpropanoids,simple phenolics and so on.Some of the isolates showed various bioactivities,in vitro or in vivo,such as antitumor,anti HIV-1,antifungal,antimicrobial,antimalarial,antioxidant,diarrhea and analgesic.This review covers research articles from 1934 to 2018,retrieved from SciFinder,Wikipedia,Google Scholar,Chinese Knowledge Network and Baidu Scholar by using“Terminalia”as the search term(“all fields”)with no specific time frame setting for the search.Thirty-nine important medicinal and edible Terminalia species were selected and summarized on their geographical distribution,traditional uses,phytochemistry and related pharmacological activities.

Analgesic Activities of Methanol Extract of <i>Terminalia chebula</i>Fruit

Pain is a sensation which in many cases represents the only symptom for the diagnosis of several disorders. Throughout ages man has used many different remedies for pain relief, among which medicinal herbs are most common due to their efficacy and relative safety due to their natural origin. In present study methanol extract of Terminalia chebula fruit was evaluated for its analgesic effects in albino mice. The extract was prepared using whole dried powdered fruit with seeds in absolute methanol. It was then subjected to rotary evaporator under reduced pressure to get concentrated extract;different doses (300, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) were assessed for analgesic activity by tail immersion technique and acetic acid induced writhing test. Similar doses of Aspirin were used as standard drug (positive control) for comparison. Results of both tail flick method and acetic acid induced writhing test revealed that T. chebula fruit extract possessed varying degree of analgesic activity significant at 300 mg/kg and highly significant at 500 and 1000 mg/kg in comparison to control. The results were almost similar to standard drug. In acetic acid induced writhing test, maximum inhibition of writhing was observed at 1000 mg/kg where the number of writhes decreased from 14.1 to 5.2 indicating 63.1% inhibition. Above findings suggest that T. chebula fruit extract possesses significant analgesic activity in albino mice with reference to positive and negative control groups;however further studies on a large number of animals with clinical trials are required to confirm safe and effective use of this fruit extract in humans for analgesic purpose.

Termitomenins F and G,Two New Lignan Glucosides from Terminalia chebula var.tomentella(Kurz)C.B.Clarke

The extensive chemical investigation on the branches and leaves of Terminalia chebula var.tomentella(Combretaceae)led to the isolation of two new lignan glucosides with a furofuran skeleton,termitomenins F(1)and G(2).In addition,19 known compounds including five lignan glucosides(3-7),six hydrolyzable tannins(8-13)and eight simple phenolics(14-21)were also identified.Their structures were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses.It is noted that 8 and 9 were C-glycosidic hydrolyzable tannins with one hexahydroxydiphenoyl and one gallagyl group linked to an open-chain glucosyl C-1/O-2/O-3 and O-4/O-6,respectively,which were rarely found in plants.Nine known compounds,6-9,13,and 18-21,were procured from the titled plant for the first time,while 3-5,10-12 and 14-17 were also found in the fruits.Notably,the known hydrolyzable tannins 8-13 exhibited strongerα-glucosidase inhibitory activities with IC_(50) values ranging from 0.10 to 3.12μM,than the positive control,quercetin(IC_(50)=9.38±0.33μM).

Antimicrobial Activity of <i>Terminalia catappa</i>L. Leaf Extracts against Some Clinically Important Pathogenic Microbial Strains

Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate in-vitro antimicrobial activity of methanol, acetone and N, N-dimethylformamide extracts from leaf of Terminalia catappa L. (Combretaceae). Methods: In vitro antimicrobial activity of all the extracts was done by agar disc diffusion assay. 91 clinically important strains were used for the study, which were both clinical isolates as well as identified strains. Piperacillin and gentamicin were used as standards for antibacterial assay, while nystatin and flucanazole were used as standards for antifungal assay. Antimicrobial activity was determined by measurement of inhibition zone around each paper disc. For each extract three replicate trials were conducted against each organism. Results: The antibacterial activity was more pronounced against bacteria than fungal strains. The Gram positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram negative bacteria. The methanol extract showed best antibacterial activity. T. catappa leaf extracts showed better antibacterial activity than commercially used antibiotics. Conclusion: Demonstration of antimicrobial activity of T. catappa provides the scientific basis for the use of this plant in the traditional treatment of diseases and may help to discover new chemical classes of antibiotic substances that could serve as selective agents for infectious disease chemotherapy and control. This investigation has opened up the possibility of the use of this plant in drug development for human consumption possibly for the treatment of various infections caused by microbes.

Effects of harvesting intensities and techniques on re-growth dynamics and quality of Terminalia bellerica fruits in central India

Terminalia bellericaRoxb. （Belleric myrobalan） is one of the important multipurpose trees in central India. The fruits of the tree are highly valued for medicinal uses, with the greatest demand coming from the pharmaceutical industry. This has resulted in overexploitation and present harvesting practices have led to a significant decline in natural regeneration for this tree species. Our study was conducted from 2006 to 2009 in Chhattisgarh （India） to standardize suitable harvesting practices for sustainable management for this valuable species. Experiments were conducted at four different sites located in Dhamtari, Sarguja, and Rai-garh forest divisions of the state, covering both protected and open forest in a complete randomized block design （RCBD）. At each site, linear transects of 200 m× 100 m （2 ha） were randomly selected to sample the initial population and study the effects of two harvesting methods （tradi-tional and nondestructive） and four harvesting intensities （60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%） on the sustainability ofT. bellerica. Fruits were collected and analyzed for their tannin and gallic acid content. Significant increase in tannin and gallic acid content was found with the maturity of fruits （September to December）. This is the first study to experimentally assess the consequences of harvesting ofT. bellericafruits in central India. Our findings reveal that harvesting intensity, time, and method are key factors for maintaining the population. Nondestructive harvesting meth-ods were found to be superior to traditional harvesting in terms of regen-eration, recruitment, and concentration of active ingredients. When the fruits were harvested through non-destructive means at maturity, the population of species increased. The study concludes that 70% harvest of T. bellerica fruits through non-destructive means maintains the sustain-ability and provides quality raw material for the pharmaceutical industry.