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Variations in antioxidant and anti-viral activities (against Influenza AP/R/8 (H1N1) virus) between the leaves and stem bark of selected medicinal plants were studied. Malin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were used for the viral infection and the antiviral activity of the extracts was studied using sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay. The stem bark of the plants including Strychnos minor, Diotacanthus albiflorus, Strychnos nux-vomica and Chloroxylon swietenia showed higher flavonoid contents as well as 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging activity when compared with their leaves. In case of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity, the stem bark of S. nux-vomica and leaf extract of C. swietenia showed the highest activity. Based on the IC50 values, the stem bark extracts of Cayratia pedata (20.5 μg/mL) and S. minor (22.4 μg/mL) showed high antiviral activity. In the mean-time S. nux-vomica, C. swietenia and C. swietenia bark extracts showed cytotoxicity to the MDCK cells. When comparing the stem bark and leaves the content of gallic acid, ferulic acid, o-coumaric acid, total flavonoids (TFC) and total phenols (TPC) was higher in stem bark and hence their anti-viral activity was high. Further study based on the metabolites against H1N1 can reveal the potential of therapeutic compounds against the viral disease.

A survey for documentation of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants used by the Malayali traditional healers in Peddanaickenpalayam block of Salem district, Tamil Nadu, southern India has been conducted during June 2010 to November 2010. Ethnoveterinary information was gathered through individual interviews and observations among the Malayali tribals. A total of 40 species of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants belongs to 27 families and 36 genera were recorded in the study with the help of nine ethnoveterinary traditional healers. Among the plant parts used by the Malayali tribals for their domestic animals, leaves are most commonly used for the preparation of medicine. Of the plants recorded Abrus precatorius, Andrographis paniculata, Cassia fistula, Dendrocalamus strictus, Gymnema sylvestre, Strychnos nux-vomica and Wattakaka volubilis are recognized as very commonly used ethnoveterinary medicinal plants. Our study suggested that, documenting the medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge can be used for conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants in the area and for validation of these plant preparations for veterinary treatment. [Medicinal Plants 2011; 3(3) : 00-00]

Stevia rebaudiana is and an important non-caloric sweetening herb contains diterpene glycosides need to be explored for its commercialization. The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites in recent years has resulted in a great demand in the Pharma industry. Callus cultures were established from nodal and leaf explants. Leaf explants showed better callus initiation than nodal explants. Maximum callus biomass was observed in MS medium supplemented with 2, 4-D 1.0 mg/l. Further screening of callus culture was carried out on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with different concentration and combinations of 2, 4-D, NAA, IAA, IBA, BA and KN individually and in combinations. Remarkable callus biomass of 11.6 g/l dry weight (182.3 g/l fresh weight) was observed in MS media containing 0.5 mg/l 2, 4-D, 0.5 mg/l NAA and 1.0 mg/l KN. The harvested cell biomass was subjected to extraction of active principles. In this study, cell biomass extracts were compared with extracts from leaves of mother plants of Stevia rebaudiana. HPLC analysis of these extracts showed that the main components of the active principles namely Stevioside were present in sufficiently large amounts in the undifferentiated cultured cells. Keywords: In vitro culture; Biomass; Stevia rebaudiana; Stevioside DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v45i3.6532Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 45(3), 243-248, 2010