Mukund G. Tawar

Sponges are the rich sources of bioactive natural products from marine habitats. Since many sponges harbor diverse bacterial communities, it has long been suspected that many sponge‐derived compounds are of microbial origin. The present review gives a comprehensive overview of the source, taxonomy, country of origin or geographical position, chemical class, and biological activity of sponge-derived new natural products. Also this review aims at describing some of the most highly cited reviews of the last decade on sponge-derived bioactive compounds and the most promising substances extracted and isolated from marine sponges for pharmaceutical applications. Preset study gives new developments in the field of marine sponge metabolite research and important findings for bioactive compounds from in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies for therapeutic drug applications.

Plants have been an important source of medicines since the beginning of cultivation. There is a growing demand for plant-based medicines, health products, pharmaceuticals, food supplements, cosmetics etc. Bombax ceiba Linn. (Bombacaceae) is a tall tree buttressed at the base that is widely distributed throughout India, Ceylon and Malaya, upto 1500 m of altitude. Many parts of the plant (root, stem bark, gum, leaf, prickles, flower, fruit, seed and heartwood) are used by various tribal communities and forest dwellers for the treatment of a variety of ailments. The plant literature survey shows the plant possesses astringent, cooling, stimulant, diuretic, aphrodisiac, demulcent and tonic effects and also helps in dysentery. It also possesses important pharmacological activity such as aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory and hepato protective activity in addition to anticancer and anti-HIV activity, anti-Helicobacter pylori, antiangiogenic, analgesic and antioxidant activity and hypotensive, hypoglycemic and antimicrobial activity. It is reported to contain important phytoconstituents such as naphthol, naphthoquinones, polysaccharides, anthocyanins, shamimin and lupeol.

Natural materials used to close wounds include flax, hair, grass, cotton, silk, pig bristles, and animal gut. Agaves were the source of many essential items due to its high tensile strength. Agave fibers were investigated for it’s potential use to close the topical incisions in rat. Sutures were developed i.e. Agave suture from the isolated fibers of Agave americana L. var. americana (Agavaceae) plant and were coated with the ethanolic extract of Aloe vera. These were evaluated for Physical properties which proved good tensile strength, handling properties, low tissue drag, acceptable knot security, low microbial infiltration, toxicity and faster incision wound healing in rats compared to commonly utilized surgical sutures from market. Wound healing was evaluated by observing pus formation, inflammation, incision wound closure period, tensile strength measurement and histo-pathological evaluation of healed wound tissue. All the mentioned tensile strength tests were performed by a tensile strength testing apparatus, especially designed and constructed for our purpose. According to findings Agave suture shown acceptable results and hence for can be considered for further research and utilization.