Kilambi Pundarikakshudu

The genus Euphorbia is unique, which covers highly reputed medicinal plants useful in various treatment of diseases like asthma, bronchitis, hay fever, cancer and inflammation. The present study includes comparative pharmacognostic and phytochemical standardization of aerial parts of two Euphorbia species i.e. E. hirta L. and E. thymifolia L. The comparisons of both species were carried out by various standardization parameters such as macroscopy, microscopy, powder study, leaf constant, physicochemical analysis, mineral content, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening and TLC study. The results of the present study showed various distinguished characters in two species which could serve as an indicator for authentification and identification of E. hirta and E. thymifolia based on their standardization parameters.

Andrographis paniculata is an important medicinal plant in Indian and Chinese systems of medicine used for a number of ailments. Andrographolide (AP), a diterpene lactone, has been reported to be responsible for many of the activities. A number of methods are available for the isolation of AP.  However, they are time consuming and not cost effective. We employed five relatively simpler methods for the isolation of AP. The identities and purity of the compounds isolated by these five methods were established by thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), melting point, ultraviolet (UV), infrared (FTIR), mass, and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectra. Treatment of the extracts with activated charcoal proved to be quite effective in removing all coloring matter and resulted in isolation of pure AP. Of the five methods, prior maceration with methanol for 16 h followed by refluxing for 1h yielded 0.6%w/w of AP and was found to be quite satisfactory. This method does not need prior extraction of the powder with toluene nor does it require washing of the concentrated extract with toluene.  In this method only methanol (MeOH) was employed. All the spectral data and melting point of andrographolide isolated by this method confirmed its purity. This method is simple as it involves only three steps and has the potential for commercial scale up.

Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh, family: Acanthaceae) is used extensively in the Indian traditional system of medicine as a hepato-protective and hepato-stimulative agent. Osmotic drug delivery systems are the best amongst promising strategy based reliable drug delivery systems employed for controlled drug delivery. Floating drug delivery systems is one of the important approaches to achieve gastric retention to obtain sufficient drug bioavailability. Pre-formulation studies are the first step in the rational development of dosage form of a drug substance. Different quantities of cetosteryl alcohol ranging from 50 mg to 200 mg have been checked for floating lag.