International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Review

The use of herbal extracts in the control of influenza

James B. Hudson

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British, Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 1-604-948-2131. Fax: 1-604-875-4351.

Accepted 15 November, 2020

Abstract

Influenza A virus poses a continuing threat to the health of humans and farmed animals, and predictions of impending pandemics are commonplace. This review discusses the unique combination of genetic features that make this virus such a threat, and explains why current control measures are inadequate. However, in spite of this, certain herbal extracts rich in polyphenols could play an important role in controlling influenza virus outbreaks and alleviating symptoms of the disease. One of the attractions of herbal treatment is the broad spectrum of potential viral targets, since components of these herbs can interact with different viral proteins and are not constrained by viral strain differences and drug-resistant mutations; consequently any influenza virus is susceptible. In addition these extracts often have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties, all of which would be beneficial during influenza infection.

Key words: Influenza virus, avian ‘flu, swine ‘flu, antiviral, pandemic, cytokines, anti-inflammatory, herbal extracts, polyphenols.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 10 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Review

RNA interference (RNAi) technology: a promising tool for medicinal plant research

J. Francis Borgio

PG and Research Department of Microbiology, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Bangalore - 560027, India. E- mail: [email protected]. Tel.: +91 9036112696.

Accepted 09 October, 2020

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process of dsRNA-mediated gene silencing. This dsRNA-triggered sequence- specific RNA degradation pathway has been termed post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) in plants. RNA interference technology has already had a major impact on the study and manipulation of plant secondary metabolites. To date RNAi has mainly been used as a readily available, rapid, reverse genetic tool to create medicinal plants with novel chemical phenotypes, and to determine the phenotypes of genes responsible for the synthesis of many pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites. This dsRNA- mediated gene silencing system has facilitated the improvement of specific medicinal plants for their greater exploitation to produce commercially valuable, plant-derived drugs, flavoring agents, etc.

Key words: Medicinal plants, RNA interference, post-transcriptional gene silencing, small interfering RNA.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 10 (1), pp. 001-023, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Ethnomedicinal, pharmacological properties and chemistry of some medicinal plants of Boraginaceae in India

R. A. Sharma*, B. Singh, D. Singh and P. Chandrawat

Medicinal Plants Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302055, India.

Accepted 16 November, 2020

Abstract

Different medicinal plants and their medicinal values are widely used for various ailments throughout the world. Various chemical constituents isolated and characterized from Boraginaceous plant species are described. These included pyrrolizidine alkaloids, naphthaquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids, triterpenoids and phenols. Some important biological and pharmacological activities reported from various parts of plant species and from these plants, the isolated constituents demonstrated antimicrobial, antitumour, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, contraceptive, antiplatelet, wound healing and prostaglandin inhibitory. Some experiments on transformation have been done in Boraginaceous plants. The review article will therefore, give a critical overview of different phytochemicals and various medicinal properties belonging mainly to family Boraginaceae.

Key words: Boraginaceae, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, naphthaquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids, triterpenoids, phenols.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (12), pp. 001-011, December, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antimicrobial effect analysis of Verbena officinalis, Malva sylvestris and Ageratum conyzoides on Gardnerella vaginalis and Candida spp. isolated from vaginal secretionin Palmas, TO, Brazil

Valdir Francisco Odorizzi¹, Mariana Caroline Tocantins Alvim^2*, Adriana Idalina Torcato de Oliveira³, Eliane Patrícia Lino Pereira Franchi⁴, Juliana Fonseca Moreira da Silva⁵ and Raphael Sanzio Pimenta⁶

¹Course of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus of Palmas, Brazil.[email protected]; +55 63 99999 6676.

²Course of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus of Palmas, Brazil.[email protected]; +55 63 99237 0177.

³Course of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus of Araguaína, Brazil.[email protected]; +55 63 99282 2101.

⁴Course of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus of Palmas, Brazil. [email protected]; +55 63 99915 7102.

⁵Laboratory of General and Applied Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus of Palmas, Brazil.[email protected]; +55 63 98409 8649.

⁶Laboratory of General and Applied Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus of Palmas, Brazil.[email protected]; +55 63 98445 5036.

Accepted 23 November, 2020

Abstract 

Vaginitis is a condition that involves vulva and vaginal inflammation or infection, caused mainly by imbalance of vaginal microbiota. Its treatment is performed by the use of antimicrobials which are related with the appearance of resistant microorganisms, adverse effects and high rates of recurrence. Thus, interest in plants with antimicrobial activity has grown exponentially in academic area. For the first time, the antimicrobial activity of gervao (Verbena officinalis), malva branca (Malva sylvestris) and mentrasto (Ageratum conyzoides) ethanolic extractsis evaluated against clinical specimens of Candida spp. and Gardnerella vaginalis– important microorganisms in the etiology of vaginitis. Although the extracts did not present antifungal activity against Candida spp. specimens, the combination of the three extracts at 50, 100 and 200 mg.mL^-1 exhibited antibacterial activity against all specimens of G. vaginalis. Gervao and mentrasto extracts combined at 50, 100 and 200 mg.mL^-1were also able to inhibit the bacterial growth. Besides, those extracts had the lowest values of MIC (6.25 mg.mL^-1), followed by the combination of mentrasto with malva branca– 6.25-25 mg.mL^-1– and the combination of the three extracts – 12.5-25 mg.mL^-1.Therefore, extracts of mentrasto and gervao are promising for the development of new strategies for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

Keywords:Verbena officinalis, Malva sylvestris, Ageratum conyzoides, Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida spp., antimicrobial activity.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (12), pp. 001-005, December, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Cnidium officinale Makino

Chung Yeol Lee¹, Yong Kyoung Kim², Young Seon Kim², Seung Yeon Suh², Sook Young Lee³ and Sang Un Park²*

¹Department of Plant Bioscience, College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, 627-706, Korea.

²Division of Plant Science and Resources, Chungnam National University, 220 Gung-Dong, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 305- 764, Korea.

³Research Center for Proteineous Materials, Chosun University, 375 Seosuk-Dong, Dong-Gu, Gwangju, 501-759, Korea.

Accepted 14 October, 2020

Abstract

The development of an efficient protocol for somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from immature flower cultures of Cnidium officinale Makino is reported. Embryogenic callus and somatic embryos induced from immature flower of C. officinale was cultured on medium supplemented with 2,4-D and BAP. The highest induction frequency of embryogenic callus (68%) and number of somatic embryos per explants (12.3) was obtained on MS medium containing 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/l BAP. The addition of cytokinins (BAP and Kinetin) and GA₃ in MS medium improved the plantlet conversion and shoot growth from somatic embryo culture of C. officinale. The optimal concentration of 0.1 mg/l BAP and 3.0 mg/l GA₃ was most suitable for the highest conversion rate of plantlet (74 and 75%) and shoot growth (3.6 and 4.1 cm). The rooted plants were hardened and transferred to soil with an 80% survival rate. The continuous production of C. officinale regenerated plants via somatic embryogenesis could be used as a possible micropropagation system and plant transformation.

Key words: Cnidium officinale Makino, embryogenic callus, micropropagation, plant regeneration, somatic embryogenesis.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (12), pp. 001-006, December, 2020. © International Scholars Journals