Pratibha Sahu

This research provides a detailed comparison of leaf anatomical traits of adaptations of xerophytic and halophytic medicinal plants that have adapted specialized structural traits to overcome adverse conditions. Xerophytes that inhabit dry areas have adaptations such as thick cuticles, decreased stomatal density, and waterstoring tissues that minimise water loss and their ability to store water. Halophytes, however, which are found in saline environments, have developed mechanisms like salt glands, epidermal thickenings and vascular salt compartmentalization that help to regulate it and prevent toxicity. Apart from being useful for the plants’ survival, these anatomical structures contribute to the accumulation of bioactive compounds with significant medicinal use such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial and other therapeutic compounds. The research points out the roles of sustainability of the plants in the environment and their medicinal properties, which also imply that knowledge of survival strategies may lead to the discovery of new techniques in exploitation of medicinal plants to drugs and agriculture.

Ancient medicinal plants have been in use across cultures for the treatment of microbial infections. The recent upsurge in antibiotic resistance has created interest in the discovery of plant-based remedies with antimicrobial activity. In this research, the phytochemical profile and antimicrobial potential of three traditional medicinal plants, Azadirachta indica (Neem), Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), and Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), which are well known for their ethnomedicinal uses, were examined. The objective was to evaluate their potential as alternative antimicrobial agents. Phytochemical screening presented the existence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins in different concentrations in the plant extracts. Antimicrobial activity was determined by the agar well diffusion method, and statistical analysis proved differences in antimicrobial potency among the plant extracts to be significant. Withania somnifera showed the greatest antimicrobial activity, with Ocimum sanctum showing intermediate activity, while Azadirachta indica showed the lowest activity. There was a high positive correlation between the content of alkaloids and antimicrobial activity.

Today Pharmacognosy functions as an essential scientific basis for discovering anticancer medications through research of natural medicating plants alongside additional natural resources. The article evaluates the vital role which pharmacognosy plays when developing compounds that act as cancer treatments. The article describes extraction techniques alongside screening and characterization protocols that help researchers find anticancer compounds among bioactive plant principles. The discovery of pharmacological agents’ taxol and camptothecin and vinca alkaloids stands as one of the primary outcomes alongside their subsequent development into medicinal drugs. The scope includes modern screening procedures linked with molecular docking approaches along with biotechnological growth that enhances both efficiency and pharmaceutical research outcomes in pharmacognosy. The review addresses difficulties alongside existing trends and future guidance about employing natural products for developing oncological drugs.

The medicinal plants Cinnamomum cassia, Berberis vulgaris, Curcuma longa, Vitex agnus-castus and Glycyrrhiza glabra have shown potential in treating PCOS symptoms effectively with limited unwanted consequences. The review demonstrates an extensive analysis of PCOS pathophysiology together with an assessment of established treatment methods and an examination of rising herbal therapy significance. More extensive clinical trials need to be conducted to confirm suitable treatment dosages and determine long-lasting safety norms and reveal treatment mechanism details of herbal medicine. The combination of proven herbal treatments with conventional therapy alongside personalized medical care would establish an advanced method for treating PCOS that enhances the effectiveness of reproductive and metabolic health management.

The study reports the anticancer activity of the methanolic extract of Eclipta alba on two human colon cancer cell lines, namely HCT-116 and HT-29. In simple terms, the objectives of the research include the cytotoxic efficacy of the extract, its capability to inhibit cellular migration, and its importance in colony formation. The extract showed significant cytotoxic effects on its subordinates with IC₅₀ values ranging between 200 to 400 μg/mL in an array of assays used, such as MTT, wound healing, and clonogenic assays. There is impressive selectivity toxicity since it can spare the normal fibroblast cells-WI-38. This is a proof that it can be especially defined as an anticancer drug. Furthermore, the results have established that the extract has the ability to inhibit cancer cell migration and colony formation; therefore, it can functionally represent such a potential for the very crucial cancer treatment and prevention of metastasis. These observations are consistent with the previous study, and this fosters the vision that Eclipta alba is a potentially useful drug from nature as a natural medicinal drug. For further studies, its application should be developed for cancer therapy with research based on its bioactive combinations, subatomic components, and in vivo adequacy.