Recent Articles on Andrographis sp.

Studies on effects of indigenous plant extracts on filarial vector Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles

Parasitol Res. 2010 Apr 7. [Epub ahead of print]

Elango G, Rahuman AA, Kamaraj C, Zahir AA, Bagavan A.

Unit of Bioactive Natural Products, Post Graduate and Research
Department of Zoology, C. Abdul Hakeem College, Melvisharam, 632 509,
Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract

Mosquito control is facing a threat because of the emergence of
resistance to synthetic insecticides. Insecticides of botanical origin
may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future.
The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of leaf
ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of Aegle marmelos (L.)
Correa ex Roxb (Rutaceae), Andrographis lineata Wallich ex Nees.
(Acanthaceae), Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees.
(Acanthaceae), Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels (Menispermaceae), Eclipta
prostrata L. (Asteraceae) and Tagetes erecta L. (Compositae) on
ovicidal and oviposition-deterrent activities against Culex
tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae). The percentage of egg
hatching in methanol extracts of Andrographis lineata, Cocculus
hirsutus and T. erecta were 16, 12 and 16 exerted at 500 ppm,
respectively. The percentage of effective oviposition repellency was
97.77 at 500 ppm and the lowest repellency was 42.06 at 31.25 ppm in
methanol and acetone extracts of Andrographis lineata and Andrographis
paniculata, respectively. The oviposition activity index values
revealed that the solvent plant extracts have deterrent effect, and
they caused a remarkable negative response resulting in oviposition of
very few eggs. These results suggest that the leaf solvent plant
extracts have the potential to be used as an ideal ecofriendly
approach for the control of the Culex tritaeniorhynchus.

PMID: 20372924 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Enhancing bioavailability and hepatoprotective activity of andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata, a well-known medicinal food, through its herbosome

J Sci Food Agric. 2010 Jan 15;90(1):43-51.

Maiti K, Mukherjee K, Murugan V, Saha BP, Mukherjee PK.

School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India.

BACKGROUND: Andrographis paniculata is a health food used extensively in Southeast Asia, India and China and contains the pharmacologically important phytochemical andrographolide. Although andrographolide has antihepatotoxic activity, its bioavailability from A. paniculata is restricted by its rapid clearance and high plasma protein binding. The aim of this study was to formulate a herbosome of andrographolide with a naturally occurring phospholipid in order to enhance the bioavailability and hepatoprotective activity of andrographolide in rats.RESULTS: Andrographolide herbosome equivalent to 25 and 50 mg kg(-1) andrographolide significantly protected the liver of rats, restoring hepatic enzyme activities with respect to carbon tetrachloride-treated animals (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). The rat plasma concentration of andrographolide obtained from the complex equivalent to 25 mg kg(-1) andrographolide (C(max) = 9.64 microg mL(-1)) was higher than that obtained from 25 mg kg(-1) andrographolide (C(max) = 6.79 microg mL(-1)), and the complex maintained its effective plasma concentration for a longer period of time.CONCLUSION: The results proved that the andrographolide complex produced by this method has better bioavailability and hence improved hepatoprotective activity compared with andrographolide at the same dose. Andrographolide complexation is therefore helpful in solving the problem of rapid clearance and low elimination half-life associated with andrographolide from A. paniculata. Copyright (c) 2009 Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID: 20355010 [PubMed - in process]

Ancient medical practices on livestock still prove effective

Diseases affecting farm animals such as sheep are seasonal, endemic, and lead to severe economic loss, especially when say 10 to 40 animals die in a herd.

"Often poor management practices lead to such casualties. In many cases immediate veterinary attention may not be possible, as some villages are quite remote and contacting a local doctor from a nearby town takes time," says Mr. P. Vivekanandan, Executive Director, Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Voluntary Action (SEVA), Madurai.

Pilot study

Seva undertook a pilot study at Nallampalayam village, Erode district (1,028 sheep from 40 farmers), and the other at Vembur, Tuticorin district (1,357 sheep from 32 farmers), to test the effectiveness of ancient traditional management practices being practiced by sheep farmers in olden times.

These two places are famous for sheep husbandry and well known breeding tracts of two prominent sheep breeds — Meicherry and Vembur.

Every month farmers from the two areas under supervision from seva staff administered a mixture of several herbs (called masala bolus) and a herbal dewormer alternatively (first month masala bolus and next month herbal dewormer) for nearly six months to their animals.

At the end of the project more than 90 per cent of sheep farmers expressed satisfaction on their animals' health, compared to previous years' causalities, due to diseases such as Blue tongue and Foot and mouth disease.

Explaining the procedure for making the bolus Mr. Vivekanandan says:

The masala bolus, the size of big amla fruit, weighs about 20 gm and is made from (all Tamil names and Botanical names are italicized): Kandankathri (Solanum surattense), Thumbai (Leucas aspera), Kuppaimeni (Acalypha indica), Veeli leaves (Cadaba farinosa), Peruthumbai (Leucas martinicensis), Usilai (Albizia amara), Thulasi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), Avarampoo (Cassia auriculata), Moongil (Bambusa arundinacia), Puliampirandai (Vitis setosa), Thuthi (Abutilon indicum), Musumusukkai (Mukia maderaspatana), Kolunchi (Tephrosia purpurea), Manjanathi (Marinda tinctoria), Veliparuthi (Pergularia daemia), Nilavembu (Andrographis paniculata), Virali (Dodonaea viscosa)and Mavilangam (Crateva adansonii). (50 grams each of the above materials are taken, shade dried, pounded well and stored).

Addition

In addition, Thippili (Piper longum), Seeragam (Cuminum cyminum), Sombu (Foeniculum vulgare), Perungayam (Ferula asafoetida), Valmilagu (Piper cubeba), Sukku (Zingiber officinale – dried), Pepper (Piper nigrum), Chillis (capsicum annuum), Kasakasa (Papaver somniferum), Lavangam (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), Fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum), Omam (Trachyspermum ammi), Seeds of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) (10 grams each and pounded well).

Banana (Musa paradisica) one infloresence, unripe Kaleathi fruits (Ficus tinctoria), Guava bark (Psidium guajava), Sotru katralai (Aloe vera), Garlic (Allium sativum) and Kollankovaikilangu (Corollacarpus epigaeus) 100 grams each, Pirandai (Cissus quadrangularis) 500 grams, Onion (Allium cepa) 250 grams, Coconut (Cocos nucifera) one, are also used.

Shelf life

All the above mentioned materials are ground, mixed well, and made into boluses (weighing 100 grams) and dusted with turmeric powder. It is ideal to administer the bolus twice daily for three days in the morning and evening. (The shelf life is for three days).

"Before administering the bolus, a venous puncture is made with the help of sterile needle in the dark green vein visible on the ventral side of the tongue.

"Later using common salt and tamarind fruit (Tamarindus indica), rub the upper surface of the tongue. [This can be practised with the help of expert healer]," explains Mr. Vivekanandan.

"We recorded positive results in cows and an increase in milk yield (upto 3 litres a day) in Umbalachery cattle in Madurai, Thoothukkudi, and Nagapattinam districts," he says.

So far, more than 12,000 animals (both sheep and cattle) have been administered the masala bolus.

"This traditional practice existed many centuries ago, is cheaper than chemical treatment and many livestock keepers developed the skill of preparing and administering it," says Mr. Vivekanandan.

For more information contact Mr. P.Vivekanandan, at e-mail: vivekseva@gmail.com Phone: 0452 - 238 09 43 and 238 00 82 (off) and 0452- 238 36 19 (r).

Source: The Hindu
http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/article323802.ece