• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.252-258
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• 2009

Shade-dried flowers of Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight Syn (SBF) belonging to Asclepiadaceae yielded a rare flavonol glycoside viz., Quercetin 5a prenyl, 3-O-glucosyl, 7-O-(4c-p-coumaroyl) neohesperidoside which were characterized based on chemical and spectral (including 2D NMR) studies. The ethyl acetate fraction of alcoholic concentrate (test sample) of flowers of this plant (SBF) was evaluated for its hepatoprotective and inhibition of lipid peroxidation activities to investigate the scientific basis of the traditional uses. The oral administration in varying doses viz., 125 and 250 mg/kg of aqueous suspension of SBF to rats for 7 days produced significant (P < 0.01) hepatoprotective effect comparable to that of standard drug silymarin. The SBF afforded good hepatoprotection against $CCl_4$ induced elevation levels of serum marker enzymes, serum bilirubin and liver weight. The free radical scavenging effects of SBF and flavonol glycoside (SA) were assigned by $Fe^{2+}$/ascorbate induction method (in vitro), which revealed the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The SBF and SA showed prominent anti-lipid peroxidation activity ($IC_{50}$ about $\sim$180 mg/ml and 11.0 mg/ml respectively), which was comparable to standard drug curcumin ($IC_{50}$ about $\sim$8.25 mg/ml). Thus the hepatoprotective activity of SB could be correlated to the free radical scavenging property of the flavonol glycoside.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.67-74
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• 2009

An efficient micropropagation protocol based on multiple shoot induction and callus regeneration has been standardized in Sarcostemma brevistigma, a rare medicinal plant. The nodal cuttings were cultured on MS medium supplemented with BA ($0.5-8{\mu}M$) or Kn ($0.5-8{\mu}M$) alone or in combination with NAA ($0.5-1.5{\mu}M$). Maximum multiple shoot induction was observed on MS medium supplemented with $4{\mu}M$ BA. On this medium, 100% cultures responded with an average number of 11.3 shoots per explant. However, the average shoot length was limited to only 0.9 cm on this medium. The addition of $1{\mu}M$ NAA along with $4{\mu}M$ BA gave rise to an average number of 10.9 shoots with an average shoot length of 1.8 cm. Luxuriantly growing callus was obtained on MS medium supplemented with BA ($5{\mu}M$) and 2,4-D ($2{\mu}M$). The callus was subcultured on MS medium supplemented with BA ($2-15{\mu}M$) or Kn ($2-15{\mu}M$) alone or in combination with NAA ($0.5-2{\mu}M$) for shoot organogenesis. Optimum callus regeneration was obtained on MS medium supplemented with $10{\mu}M$ BA and $1{\mu}M$ NAA. On this medium, 100% cultures responded with an average number of 13.4 shoots per culture. The shoots obtained via multiple shoot induction and organogenesis were rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with NAA ($1-7{\mu}M$) or IBA ($1-7{\mu}M$). IBA was better than NAA in terms of both the percentage of cultures that responded and the average number of roots per explant. The rooted shoots were successfully transplanted to soil with 86% success. This standardized protocol will help to conserve this rare medicinal plant.