Spontaneous poisoning by Baccharis vulneraria Backer in cattle

ABSTRACT: Baccharis vulneraria Backer is a sub-shrub frequently found in southern Brazil, which leads to gastrointestinal tract intoxication. The objective of this study is to describe epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects of two cases of B. vulneraria poisoning in cattle. Two bovines from two different municipalities in the Itajaí Valley, Santa Catarina, Brazil were necropsied and performed the histopathological evaluation and botanical classification of the plant found in the pasture. Bovine 1 had dehydration, ruminal atony, diarrhea, congested mucous membranes and hypothermia for 20 hours, and died during clinical care. At necropsy, there was moderate multifocal detachment and reddening of the forestomachs mucosa. Bovine 2 presented anorexia, dry feces, ruminal atony, vocalization and muscle tremors for ten days, unresponsive to treatments, evolving to death. At necropsy were seen loosening of the mucosa with marked diffuse reddening and transmural edema. The microscopic exam revealed degeneration, necrosis, vesiculation, and detachment of the forestomachs’ mucosa, associated with moderate multifocal neutrophilic infiltrate (Bovine 1); marked diffuse transmural necrosis, edema, hemorrhage, and marked fibrinous exudation (Bovine 2). A large amount of B. vulneraria was found in the pastures, with signs of consumption. In this report, a case of subacute evolution of B. vulneraria poisoning was observed, since the poisoning by this plant is usually acute. More knowledge about poisoning by this plant is necessary for the prevention and control, avoiding new mortality cases.

Pharmacological Efficacy of Tamarix aphylla: A Comprehensive Review

Tamarix aphylla is a well-known species of the genus Tamarix. T. aphylla (Tamaricaceae) is a perennial tree in Asia, the Middle East, and Central Africa. It is used as a carminative diuretic in tuberculosis, leprosy, and hepatitis. Various pharmacological properties have been shown by T. aphylla, such as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, anticholinesterase, and wound-healing activity. However, T. aphylla has not received much attention for its secondary metabolites and bioactive constituents. Research has shown that this plant has hidden potential that needs to be explored. This review aims to cover botanical classification, geographical distribution, taxonomy, ethnobotanical uses, and the phytochemical compounds found in T. aphylla. The toxicology and pharmacological effects of T. aphylla are also discussed. We examined various scholarly resources to gather information on T. aphylla, including Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, Springer Link, PubMed, and Web of Science. The finding of this work validates a connection between T. aphylla in conventional medicine and its antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, antifungal, anticholinesterase, and other biological effects. T. aphylla’s entire plant (such as bark, leaves, fruits) and root extracts have been used to treat hypertension, stomach discomfort, hair loss, cough and asthma, abscesses, wounds, rheumatism, jaundice, fever, tuberculosis, and gum and tooth infection. The phytochemical screening revealed that noticeably all extracts were devoid of alkaloids, followed by the presence of tannins. In addition, different parts have revealed the existence of steroids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and byproducts of gallic acid and ellagic acid. T. aphylla has shown many valuable activities against different diseases and supports its traditional uses. Therefore, high-quality preclinical research and well-designated clinical trials are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of this plant in humans.

Controlled transitions between phyllotactic states of repulsive particles confined on the surface of a cylinder

Phyllotaxis is a botanical classification scheme that can describe regular lattice-like structures on cylinders, often as a set of helical chains. In this letter, we study the general properties of repulsive particles on cylindrical geometries and demonstrate that this leads to a model which allows one to predict the minimum energy configuration for any given combination of system parameters. We are able to predict a sequence of transitions between phyllotactic ground states at zero temperature. Our results are understood in terms of a newly identified global scale invariant, \(\alpha\), dependent on circumference and density, which \emph{alone} determines the ground state structure. This representation provides a framework within which to understand and create lattice structures on more complex curved surfaces, which occur in both biological and nanoscale experimental settings.

Phyto-Pharmacological Profile of Wrightia tinctoria

Wrightia tinctoria is a medium sized ever green tree grows up to 18 m tall and to 20 cm which produces milky white latex from the leaves which is directly applied on inflammation. Since from ancient period this plant constantly been used as a source of medicine. This plant shows a very important component of the health care system in India. In ayurvedic system the drug activity of W.tinctoria is defined as titka, kashaya, rooksha, sita and katu. Various parts of this plant such as stem bark, leaves, flowers also seed have been known to have medicinal assets. Phytochemical studies have shown that it contains alkaloids, triterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, phenolics, carbohydrates, lipids etc. Wrightia tinctoria has been allotted to have good analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antiulcer, antidysentric, antidiabetic, anticancer, antipyretic activities as well as active in the treatment of psoriasis. The present review primed to describe the botanical classification, vernacular names, species, Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical Properties and pharmacological activities of the plant Wrightia tinctoria.

Abhava pratinidhi dravya: A Comparative Phytochemical Study of Bharangi and Kantakari

Abhava pratinidhi dravya excites the scientific curiosity concerning the Ayurvedic principles behind selection of the substitute drug. Present study had reported a comparative phytochemical study of one such Ayurvedic substitution pair: Solanum surattense Burm.f., a substitute for Clerodendrum serratum L. The study was conducted to understand the logic behind the Abhava pratinidhi dravya (Drug substitution). The strategy was to scrutinize and compare their Ayurvedic properties by literary studies and test the phytochemical profile of these two herbs for biochemical similiarties and differences. On analyzing their Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna properties), findings show that both the drugs possess katu and tikta rasa, but Bharangi is katu rasa dominant and Kantakari is tikta rasa dominant drug. Along with this, both drug possess laghu, ruksha and ushna guna in common. Kantakari which contain different properties i.e. sara and tikshna guna. Both drug possess katu vipaka and ushna veerya. Both drugs had been stated to treat majority of respiratory ailments. Phytochemical observations suggest that in Bharangi root extract alkaloids and tannins was present whereas Kantakari root extract was rich in flavonoids content. Saponins was present in maximum amount in both the plant extracts. Despite taxonomically unrelated and morphologically dissimiliar, Bharangi has been substituted by Kantakari drug. In Ayurveda, more importance was given to pharmacological properties of raw drug rather than its botanical classification. Further comparative pre-clinical studies and bio-equivalence clinical studies has been needed to explore the different pharmacological properties.

Traditional Medicinal Plants as a Source of Antituberculosis Drugs: A System Review

Medicinal plants are the chief components in the different oriental formulations in different traditional medical systems worldwide. As a thriving source of medicine, the medicinal plants with antituberculosis (TB) properties inspire the pharmacists to develop new drugs based on their active components or semimetabolites. In the present review, the anti-TB medicinal plants were screened from the scientific literatures, based on the botanical classification and the anti-TB activity. The obtained anti-TB medicinal plants were categorized into three different categories, viz., 159 plants critically examined with a total 335 isolated compounds, 131 plants with their crude extracts showing anti-TB activity, and 27 plants in literature with the prescribed formula by the traditional healers. Our systemic analysis on the medicinal plants can assist the discovery of novel and more efficacious anti-TB drugs.

Medicinal Plants - Big Plantago (Planto Major)

The article provides information about the botanical classification, composition, medicinal properties and collection procedures of the medicinal plant - the- Big Plantago

Analysis and chemotaxonomic significance of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from two Boraginaceae species growing in Algeria

In the current study the pyrrolizidine alkaloid profiles of the species Echium sabulicola ssp. decipiens (Pomel) Klotz and Solenanthus lanatus DC were studied in various extracts. In addition, a chemotaxonomic study within the genus and the family was carried out. The analysis was carried out by using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and by comparing the Kovats Indices and molecular and fragment ions with literature data. Twenty-three alkaloids were tentatively identified. The results showed the presence of already reported compounds as well as previously unreported ones leading both to a confirmation of the botanical classification of the two studied species and to a brand new path in the chemotaxonomy of Boraginaceae family. The presence of some pyrrolizidine alkaloids sets limits for the usage of these plants for medicinal purposes. The identified compounds confirm the botanical classification of the studied species as members of the Boraginaceae family and their presence advices against their use in the ethnopharmacological field.

Phytochemical investigation of Pimpinella serbica

The plant species Pimpinella serbica (Vis.) Drude, endemic to West Balkans, belongs to the genus Pimpinella L. (Apiaceae) according to newer botanical classification. Initially, the plant has been described as Pancicia serbica Vis. and has long been considered as monotypic genus. Previous phytochemical investigations of this plant were limited to the essential oil analysis by GC-MS method. This is first study that includes LC-DAD-MS screening of the roots and aerial parts extracts, followed by the isolation of secondary metabolites using chromatographic techniques. Five compounds belonging to phenylpropanoids and polyacetylenes, well known for their bioactivities, were isolated and structurally determined by combined spectroscopic methods (UV, NMR, MS). Dillapiole (1), nothoapiole (2) and oplopantriol A 18-acetate (4) were found in both extracts, while falcarindiol (3) was isolated from the roots and dendrotrifidol (5) from the aerial parts only. The phytochemical profile of P. serbica L. supports its position in Pimpinella L. genus.