@article {1492, title = {Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Leaf and Fruit of Capsicum frutescens (Solanaceae)}, journal = {Pharmacognosy journal}, volume = {6}, year = {2014}, month = {8th April 2014}, pages = {14-22}, type = {Original Article}, abstract = {

Introduction: Capsicum frutescens is a well known spice. Leaves and fruits of the species are used in Ayurveda, Unani and Traditional system of medicines to cure various disorders. Therefore the study was aimed to investigate pharmacognostic parameters of C. frutescens leaf and fruit. Methods: Pharmacognostic studies were carried out in terms of morphological, microscopic characters and physicochemical parameters of C. frutescens samples using standard methods. Results: Smaller fruit size and color of C. frutescens was the distinguishing morphological character observed in the present study. The detailed microscopy of leaf confirmed the presence of rod shaped calcium oxalate crystals, oleoresin cells, pitted parenchyma and fruits with specified oleoresin, sclereid and stone cells with unicellular trichomes on persistent calyx. Physicochemical parameters like ash values, extractive values and nutritive values were determined. Fluorescence analysis of both leaf and fruit powder was determined using organic and inorganic solvents. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, carbohydrates and proteins. Conclusion: Observed pharmacognostic characters in this study may help in identification and standardization of C. frutescens leaf and fruit.

Key words: African chili, Powder microscopy, Physico-chemical analysis, Thin layer chromatography.

}, keywords = {African chili, Physico-chemical analysis, Powder microscopy, Thin layer Chromatography}, author = {Shruti V. Hegde, and Ganesh R. Hegde, and Gangadhar S. Mulgund, and Vinayak Upadhya} } @article {1526, title = {Physico Chemical Characterization and Anti Inflammatory Activity of Stem Extracts Of Berberis aristata DC and Cosinium fenestratum Linn in Carrageenan Induced Wistar Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {6}, year = {2014}, month = {26th May 2014}, pages = {72-77}, type = {Research Article}, abstract = {

An initial study on the physico-chemical properties of Berberis aristata and Cosinium fenestratum, both used as Daruharidra by the Ayurvedic drug industry, recorded all the tested parameters within the limits of Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India. Also, analysis of secondary metabolite of the plants was carried out focusing on the presence and quantification of berberine in the samples. Further, the potential difference in the anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous and methanolic stem extracts of the two species was compared using carrageenan induced Wistar rats model. At a dose of 25 mg/kg, the aqueous and methanolic crude extracts of both the plant species showed significant inhibition of rat paw edema at various time intervals viz.,0, 30, 60, 120 and 240 minutes as against the control standard drug indomethacin (p\<0.01, p\<0.001).

Key words: antiinflammation, Berberine, Berberis aristata, Cosinium fenestratum, Physico-chemical analysis.

}, keywords = {Antiinflammation, Berberine, Berberis aristata, Cosinium fenestratum, Physico-chemical analysis}, author = {S.Tamilselvi and Padma Venkatasubramanian and N.S. Vasanthi} }