• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.124-126
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• 1999

A new natural product $stigmast-5-en-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ tetraacetate (1) along with known compounds $stigmast-5-en-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (2), stigmast-5-en-3-yl-cetate (3) and ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (4) have been isolated from the stems of Cuscuta reflexa. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2011

Isoflavonoid production in cell cultures of Pueraria tuberosa as influenced by an angiospermic parasite, Cuscuta reflexa, was studied. During the time course, maximum isoflavonoid content was recorded when Cuscuta elicitor was added on day 15 of culture. Among various concentrations of elicitor tried, $1g\;l^{-1}$ of Cuscuta elicitor was found to be the most effective. The optimized elicitation conditions were used in vessels of varying capacity where maximum yield of ${\sim}91mg\;l^{-1}$ of isoflavonoid was recorded in a 2-l bioreactor which was about 19% higher than the control cultures. In this case, puerarin content increased up to $11mg\;l^{-1}$ which was 580% higher that the value recorded in the control cultures. In the bioreactor, 8 days of elicitation was optimal for the high accumulation of isoflavonoid, giving productivity of ${\sim}4mg\;l^{-1}\;day^{-1}$. The study showed persistent high isoflavonoid yield even during scale-up. Use of a preparation of Cuscuta reflexa as an elicitor is reported for the first time. The increase in isoflavonoid content was elicitor dose-dependent and can be explored to trigger high yields of isoflavonoid/secondary metabolites in production.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2004

A number of plants from different geographical origins have been shown to possess antioxidant activity. Some of them have been developed as natural antioxidant formulations for food, cosmetic and other applications. Bangladeshi flora is a rich source of a range of plant species, many of which are medicinal plants, and have been used in the preparations of the Unani and Ayurvedic traditional medicines. There are no, or just a few, reports on any systematic screening of the extracts of Bangladeshi plants for free radical scavenging activity using DPPH assay available to date. As part of our on-going search for biological activity in Bangladeshi plants, Kadam (Anthocephalus chinensis), Goran (Ceriaps decandra), Swarnalata (Cuscuta reflexa), Gab (Diospyros peregrina), Sundari (Heritiera fomes), Dhundul (Xylocarpus granatum) and Possur (Xylocarpus mekongensis) have been selected for the assessment of their free radical scavenging activity, and studies on the contents of alkaloids, anthraqunones, flavonoids and tannins in these extracts. Most of these species have been used in traditional medicine in Bangladesh and other countries for the treatment of various illnesses ranging from common cold to cancer. All extracts, except the methanol extract of Cuscuta reflexa, displayed significant free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay $(RC_{50}$ values within the range of $2.75\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;to\;4.7\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/mL)$. Among these extracts, the methanol extract of Xylocarpus granatum exhibited the most potent activity $(4.7\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/mL)$ and that of Cuscuta reflexa had the least activity $(1.64\;{\times}\;10^{-1}\;mg/mL)$. While none of these plants showed positive tests with Dragendorff's reagent, presence of low to moderate amounts of phenolic compounds, e.g. anthraquinones, flavonoids and tannins was evident in all of these plants, except for the methanolic extracts of C. reflexa and the barks of D. peregrina, which did not display any evidence for the presence of flavonoids and anthraquinones, respectively.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2009

The antifertility activity of methanol extract of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. stem (MECR) and Corchorus olitorius Linn. seed (MECO) were studied on male Swiss albino mice. The extracts were found to decrease sperm count, percentage of motile sperm and testosterone level in treated mice when compared with vehicle control after 17 days of treatment. The weight of gonads, epididymis were decreased whereas no significant changes of the body weight of mice were observed after methanol extract treatments. The fertility test showed 100% negative result in MECR and MECO treated mice at medium and high dose level of treatment. MECR and MECO in low (25 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg, respectively), medium (50 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, respectively) and high (75 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg, respectively) dose level caused a simultaneous fall in testicular ${\Delta}5$-$3{\beta}$-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities which are involved in testicular steroidogenesis. Total cholesterol and ascorbic acid content in testis were increased significantly in gonads. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and ascorbic acid oxidase were reduced whereas that of carbonic anhydrase was increased significantly in the testis of MECR and MECO treated mice. All these observations indicate that the methanol extract of C. reflexa stem and C. olitorius seed produced antifertility activity in sexually matured male mice, which may be due to inhibition of gonadal steroidogenesis. This activity may be attributed due to the presence of flavonoids and steroids, respectively.

• CELLMED
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.14.1-14.9
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• 2021

Background: Cuscuta reflexa Roxb is a member of the Cuscutaceae family, and in Unani medicine, it is known as Aftimoon. It is a parasitic plant that can be found growing abundantly on various host plants in India up to 3000 metres in altitude during the rainy season. Unani physicians have been using it for years to cure a variety of illnesses, including psychiatric illnesses like melancholia, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. It has been used to cure hepatitis, palpitations, and skin disorders, among other things. Objective of the study: To evaluate anti-anxiety effect of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb in Swiss Albino mice of either sex. Materials and Methods: A total of 24 Swiss Albino mice weighing 25-35 g were used in this study. Animals were chosen at random and held in their cages for at least 7 days in a standard setting. Group A was given regular saline as a vehicle, Group B was given a hydro alcoholic extract of the lower dose of the test drug, Group C was given a hydro alcoholic extract of the higher dose of the test drug, and Group D was given the standard drug Diazepam 5 mg/kg orally. Aftimoon as hydro alcoholic extract (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body wt.) was given in single and double doses and observed for 7 days. Results: For each parameter in each category, mean and standard deviations were computed. For multiple group comparisons, a one-way ANOVA was used, followed by Turkey's post hoc test. (p<0.05) was used as the significance standard. Conclusion: These results advocate that the Aftimoon as double dose (400 mg/kg body wt.) revealed anti-anxiety effect similar to standard drug.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2011

A screening of Nepalese wild herbs for their antioxidant and antiobesity activity was carried out. The herbs including Allium hyposistum, Crateva unilocularis, Dryoathyrium boryanum and Cuscuta reflexa are widely used traditionally for various medicinal purposes in Nepal. The ethyl acetate fraction of D. boryanum showed polyphenol content of 266 ${\mu}g$GAE/mg with potent antioxidative activity assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging activity and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. The EtOAC fraction of D. boryanum also inhibited the lipid formation with 35% at 100${\mu}g/ml$ in 3T3-L1 cell model. Along with this, butanol fraction of C. reflexa also showed potent antioxidative activity and inhibition of 80% of lipid formation at the test concentration of 75 ${\mu}g/ml$ in 3T3-L1 cell line. This showed that these plant extracts have potential of antioxidant and antiobesity activity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.316-321
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• 2008

A total of 33 extracts representing 26 plant species belonging to 24 families were collected from different regions of Bangladesh, and screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against several pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains using the conventional disc diffusion method. The most potent activity was exhibited by the extracts of Aegiceras corniculatum, Alocasia fornicata, Ceriops decandra, Cuscuta reflexa, Lasia spinosa, Lantana camara, Pandanus foetidus and Xylocarpus granatum. The extracts of Abtilon indicum, Derris trifoliata, Dendrophthoe falcat, Ruellia tuberosa and X. moluccensis did not show any antibacterial properties at test concentrations.