Animal Models

This paper has reviewed and compared the antioxidant and cytotoxicity properties of ethanol extracts of some Ayurvedic herbs, namely, Withania somnifera, Calotropis procera, and Semecarpus anacardium judged by the currently described pharmacological findings. The antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and a total phenolic content (TPC) test; cytotoxicity through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay versus cultured tumor cell lines. Major differences in the bioactivity were observed: Calotropis procera and Semecarpus anacardium displayed high cytotoxic effects (IC 50 1.4-1.60g/mL), as reported in the literature. Withania somnifera exhibited moderate antioxidant potential, in vitro cytotoxicity (apoptotic and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation seen in A549 lung carcinoma cellular models). The comparison analysis makes note of the therapeutic potential of the medicinal plants as sources of bioactive compounds that might be utilized in the drug development efforts by leveraging natural products and in their chemopreventive potential uses. Implications, limitations, and future research directions in studies are presented.

This study is a quantitative assessment of the alkaloid and flavonoid content of the wild and cultivated varieties of a well-known and richly endowed medicinal plant, Rauvolfia Serpentina. Total alkaloids, specific indole alkaloids (reserpine, rescinnamine and ajmaline), and total flavonoids were determined by standardized field sampling, solvent extracts, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and UHPLC of roots and leaves in 15 wild and 15 cultivated plants. Metabolite Profiles Thin-Layer chromatography (TLC) was used as qualitative confirmation of metabolite profiles. Findings demonstrated that all targeted compounds were more concentrated in wild plants and extract yields were greater in those plants than in cultivated ones. Soil analysis identified that there was a high positive relationship between organic matter and amount of metabolites and a negative relationship between soil pH, which shows that acidic and organic rich soils support the production of secondary metabolites. Two-way ANOVA indicated that the condition of growth and type of tissue had significant effects on the levels of phytochemicals, and the effect of the interaction between them was moderate, whereas PCA allowed the differentiation of wild and cultivated samples by high loadings of reserpine, rescinnamine, and total alkaloids. These discoveries establish the importance of wild R. serpentina population ecologically and agronomically and such reflection of improvement lends scientific support to sustainable harvesting, better cultivation processes through replication of wild traits and quality in herbal medicinal which is drug manufacturing process.

Western Ghats in India which has been globally accepted as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO serves as a hotspot of biological diversity, having a rich diversity of endemic medicinal plants with pharmacological value. The purpose of the current literature was to isolate and characterize new bioactive agents in some of the endemic plants, Coscinium fenestratum, Plectranthus vettiveroides and Garcinia indica. The used plant materials were obtained with a professional and ethical standard of collection of both conservation and ethical standards, extracted via solvent partitioning and then chromatographically separated. The presence of that structure was elucidated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry ( HR MS) analysis. Screening of the bioactivity was done on antimicrobial, anticancer and antioxidant activities. It was found that there were three new alkaloids plus two flavonoid glycosides and a hitherto unknown Xanthone derivative. Such substances demonstrated a strong in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, high antioxidant properties in assays of DPPH and ABTS, and selective human breast cancer cell lines cytotoxicity (MCF-7). These results add to the fact that the flora of the Western Ghats has significant potential in novel drug discovery.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens are emerging and becoming a dire concern, and researchers are dependent on innovative solutions to the problem to reestablish antibiotic susceptibility. This paper examined synergisitc influences of plant-derived agents chosen to comprise of a conventional antibiotic against MDR pathogens. Phytochemicals had moderate anti-microbial activity against the same bacteria when administered separately, and their combination with antibiotics resulted in marked elevation of antimicrobial activity, decreased minimum inhibitory effect (MIC) and postponed resistance development. Bactericidal activity was demonstrated to be sustained over time by time-kill assays and cytotoxicity testing showed positive safety ratios at synergistic concentrations. These results were also justified statistically. Generally, these findings indicate the therapeutic potential value of phytochemical-antibiotic combination in curbing the menace of antimicrobial resistance as a cost effective and a sustainable method of managing this global emergency.

This review explores the neuroprotective potential of Ginkgo biloba extracts, particularly the standardized formulation EGb 761, through a pharmacognostic lens. With the global rise in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ischemic stroke, there is an urgent need for safe, effective, and multi-targeted therapeutic options. The review begins by outlining the botanical characteristics, traditional uses, and global cultivation patterns of Ginkgo biloba, establishing its importance as a medicinal plant. It then examines a range of preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) and clinical studies, which collectively highlight the extract’s ability to enhance memory, reduce oxidative stress, lower inflammatory markers, and improve mitochondrial function. These effects are largely attributed to its active constituents—flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol) and terpenoids (ginkgolides, bilobalide)—which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neurovascular actions. The review also presents key mechanisms of action, discusses findings from behavioural and biochemical assessments, and synthesizes the therapeutic relevance of Ginkgo biloba in both early and moderate stages of cognitive impairment. Despite promising results, challenges such as inconsistent clinical trial methodologies, limited long-term data, and a lack of head-to-head comparisons with conventional drugs are noted.