We report the isolation and characterization of four compounds from a cytotoxic fraction F-17, isolated from the DCM extract of C. odorata by bioactivity guided fractionation.

plant kingdom has been described as a reservoir of many novel biologically active molecules of medicinal value. [2] Recently there has been a surge of interest in the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants as antioxidants in reducing free radical-induced tissue injury. Alstonia scholaris belongs to the family apocyanaceae which consists of about 250 genera and 2000 species of tropical trees, shrubs and vines. [3] Almost all parts of this plant are used in medicine and the bark has antihelminthic and astringent properties. It has been used in treating chronic diarrhea, dysentery and abnormal bowel movements. [4] The objective of the present study was to screen the phytochemicals and assess the antioxidant activity of the solvent extracts of bark and leaf of Alstonia scholaris. Free radical scavenging ability of the extracts were tested using antioxidant assays, viz., DPPH assay, ABTS assay and FRAP assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS The bark and leaves of Alstonia scholaris were collected from VIT University campus, Vellore and authenticated by Plant Biotechnology division, VIT University, Vellore. The samples were washed thoroughly and dried. The dried samples were pulverized and 100g of the powered samples were refluxed with ethyl acetate, butanol and water in the ratio 1:10(w/v). The extracts were then concentrated using rotary flash

Purpose:To evaluate the use of this plant in Ayurvedic formulation for treating various inflammation related ailments.Method:TLC, HPTLC and GCMS studies of the fraction confirmed the presence of terpenes. BSA denaturation inhibition, HRBC membrane stabilization and Platelet aggregation inhibition studies showed the antiinflammatory activity of the terpene fraction. MTT assay (on HCT15) and DNA fragmentation assay and Acridine orange Ethidium bromide staining was used for checking anti proliferative activity and apoptosis inducing capacity of the fraction.Result:The phytochemical studies proved the presence of terpenes. The anti inflammatory assays showed the positive effect of the fraction on inflammatory conditions and proliferative studies showed the apoptosis inducing capacity of the fraction.Conclusion:Our studies thus corroborated the use of this plant in various formulations used in Ayurveda. And further studies are being performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of the terpenoid fraction on the cancer cells.

The plant Plectranthus hadiensis is a rich source of many bioactive phytochemicals, especially terpenoids. The terpenoid fraction was isolated and phytochemical characterization was done using GC-MS. The aim of the present study was to find out the antiproliferative activity and the mechanism of cell death induction by the terpenoid fraction on human colon cancer cells (HCT-15). MTT assay was performed with different concentrations of the fraction (10, 20, and 50 µg/mL) to obtain IC50 value for 24 h to induce cell death. The induction of apoptosis were studied by Hoechst staining, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, Comet assay, DNA fragmentation, and caspase-3 activity assays. The mechanism of apoptosis induction was studied by expression analysis of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and proapoptotic Bax using RT-PCR and also by Western blot analysis of proteins involved in the apoptotic pathway. The terpenoid fraction induced significant morphological changes and DNA fragmentation in the cells. Positive Hoechst staining and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining indicated apoptosis induction by the fraction. DNA fragmentation, which is a characteristic feature of apoptosis, was also observed. Upregulation of caspase-3 activity and proapoptotic Bax, and the downregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and COX-2 confirmed that the apoptosis induction was via the mitochondria-dependent pathway.

The herbal renaissance has been taking place throughout the world over the last few years. Over the period, herbal medicines have moved from an empirical basis to its present as an increasingly scientifically based system of healing, being referred as phytotherapy. Although the traditional medicinal systems adopt a holistic approach while using herbs or their combinations, knowledge of individual constituents facilitates in developing quality control methods, extraction procedures, understanding of pharmacological activity and pharmacokinetics. In tune with this effort, our current study focuses on the phytochemistry of the methanolic extract of the shoot part of Plectranthus hadiensis, a plant used in Ayurvedic preparations as well as other traditional systems of medicine. The preliminary phytochemical studies had revealed the presence of terpenes in the extract. TLC, HPTLC, GC-MS and NMR studies confirmed the presence of mono-, sesqui-and diterpenes in the extract. The terpene-rich methanolic extract when tested for its cytotoxicity using brine shrimp lethality assay showed an LC50 of 145µg/mL. The presence of terpenes thus supported the use of this plant in various medicinal preparations.