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In-vitro Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extract of Medicinal Herbals Used in Athiyathi Kashayam: A Siddha Polyherbal Formulation

2026-09-18T06:28:36Z

Title: In-vitro Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extract of Medicinal Herbals Used in Athiyathi Kashayam: A Siddha Polyherbal Formulation Authors: Devappriya, B.T.M.; Sameem, M.L.M.; Ilham, F.M.; Sivasinthujah, S.; Sivarangini, S. Abstract: Antidiabetic drugs possess antioxidant properties that help to manage diabetic complications associated with oxidative stress. Athiyathi Kashayam (AK) is a polyherbal formulation consisting of Ficus racemosa, Syzygium cumini, Salacia reticulata, Cassia auriculata, and Cassia fistula. According to Siddha literature, it is utilized in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). There has been a study reported on the antioxidant potential of Kashayam in India. However, there has been no investigation done on methanol extract of the herbs used in AK. Objective: To evaluate antioxidant activity of methanol extract of medicinal herbals used in Athiyathi Kashayam using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and ferric reduction assay Methods: The fresh barks of F. racemosa, S. cumini, C. auriculata, C. fistula were collected from Kegalle District and S. reticulata was collected from Mullaithivu District. They were shade dried and powdered into fine powder. The crude drug was prepared according to the specified ratio, with equal amount of F. racemosa, S. cumini and S. reticulate and double amount of C. auriculata and C. fistula. The methanol extract of polyherbal formulation was prepared by the maceration process. The in-vitro anti-oxidant activity of polyherbal extract was evaluated through DPPH assay and ferric reduction assay using ascorbic acid as the standard. Results: The IC50 value of methanol extracts of AK was found to be 18.78 μg/mL, whereas in ascorbic acid it was 11.92 μg/mL. The ascorbic acid equivalents in ferric reduction assay for the formulation was 76.48 μg/mL, AAE/g at 200 μg/mL concentration. Conclusions: This study indicated that, methanolic extract of the polyherbal AK was found to exhibit strong antioxidant activity. Further studies are needed to understand the in-vivo antioxidant potential of the polyherbal formulation.

Antimicrobial Effects of Aqueous Seed Extract of Strychnos potatorum

2026-09-18T06:03:38Z

Title: Antimicrobial Effects of Aqueous Seed Extract of Strychnos potatorum Authors: Kalaichelvi, S.; Thavaranjit, A.C.; Tharmila, S.; Sivarangini, S. Abstract: Biologically active compounds in plant extracts play an important role in herbal medicine through their antimicrobial properties. Strychnus potatorum belongs to the family Loganiaceae. Seeds are alterative tonic, stomachic, demulcent, mild expectorant, astringent to the bowels, and diuretic, aphrodisiac emetic properties. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of seeds of Strychnus potatorum. Seeds were ground into fine powder and different concentrations (10 mg/100μl, 30 mg/100μl, 50 mg/100μl) of aqueous extracts were prepared by dilution method using sterile distilled water. Antibacterial activity was studied by agar well diffusion method and inhibition zone was measured against Gram positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella spp. Hence, antifungal activity was determined by agar disc method against Aspergillus sp, Fusarium spp and Penicillium spp. Streptomycin and sterile distilled water were used as standard and control respectively and the results were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) (P<0.05) followed by Turkey test. Antibacterial activity increased with increasing concentration of aqueous extracts of seeds. Klebsiella spp was highly inhibited (13 mm) than the other tested bacteria where there was no inhibition on P. aeruginosa. Standard showed the highest inhibition in all tested bacteria except P. aeruginosa. Growth of Fusarium spp was significantly inhibited (12 mm) while there was no inhibition on the growth of Aspergillus spp .The present study proved the in vitro control of tested microorganisms by aqueous extracts of seeds of S.potatorum.

Physical, physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical analysis of siddha poly herbal drugs used for treating diabetes mellitus in Northern province, Sri Lanka

2026-09-18T05:49:55Z

Title: Physical, physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical analysis of siddha poly herbal drugs used for treating diabetes mellitus in Northern province, Sri Lanka Authors: Merin Dinushiya, J.; Nilanusha, S.; Sugansika, M.; Sivasinthujah, S.; Sivarangini, S.; Ravimannan, N. Abstract: The Siddha system of medicine uses natural herbal products for the treatment of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). In Northern Province, Sri Lanka Madhumeha chooranam, Neerizhivu chooranam 1 and Neerizhivu chooranam 2 are famously used ones among the most prioritized drugs for DM. Therefore, this study aimed to formulate the crude drug, evaluate the physical properties, physiochemical properties and phytochemical screening of crude drugs as it is necessary to standardize this formulation for the safety of the stakeholders. Plant materials were collected in Jaffna and powdered. Madhumeha chooranam, Neerizhivu chooranam 1 and Neerizhivu chooranam 2 were prepared using siddha literature. Organoleptic properties, physical and physiochemical parameters were evaluated for the crude drug. The crude drug was macerated with methanol separately for 48 hours at room temperature and phytochemical were analysed for each crude extracts. The results of physical and physiochemical were analysed with one-way ANOVA using SPSS 23. All three drugs showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, tannins, steroids, proteins, amino acids, glycosides, phenol, terpenoids and anthraquinones. The results of physical and physiochemical parameters were confirned and can be used for setting standards for the selected drugs Madhumeha chooranam, Neerizhivu chooranam 1, and Neerizhivu chooranam 2.

Ethnobotanical study of the medicinal plants used for rheumatological disorders among patients attending rheumatology clinic in Teaching Hospital Jaffna

2026-09-18T05:38:28Z

Title: Ethnobotanical study of the medicinal plants used for rheumatological disorders among patients attending rheumatology clinic in Teaching Hospital Jaffna Authors: Christina, T.; Sathya, S.; Sivasinthujah, S.; Sivarangini, S. Abstract: Background: Rheumatological disorders, are common chronic conditions that significantly affect quality of life. Reliance on phytotherapy to relieve the symptoms highlights the importance of documenting ethnobotanical knowledge on medicinal plants used for rheumatological conditions. Therefore, systematic ethnobotanical surveys are needed to record plants used for managing rheumatological disorders among specific populations. Objective: to describe the ethnobotany of medicinal plants used for rheumatological disorders among patients attending rheumatology clinic in Teaching Hospital Jaffna. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among patients attending the rheumatology clinic of the Teaching Hospital Jaffna. Total population sampling was employed, and the data were collected using a validated structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Family Importance Value (FIV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were calculated using COUNTIF function in Excel to identify significant medicinal plant families and species used by the informants. Results: Among the 390 patients attending the clinic, 58 reported using medicinal plants for their ailment. A total of 22 species belonging to 18 families were documented, with a response rate of 100%. Vitex negundo L. (33 citations) was the most frequently reported species, followed by Pavetta indica Linn. (25 citations) and Ricinus communis L. (23 citations). The Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) ranged from 0.02 to 0.65, with Vitex negundo L. showing the highest value of 0.65. Among the families, Lamiaceae had the highest Family Importance Value (FIV) of 76.47. Leaves were the most commonly used plant part (88.17%), and poultice was the most frequent preparation method (68.67%). Conclusion: Medicinal plants were used by 14.87% of patients attending the clinic. Fourteen plant species used for rheumatological disorders were reported for the first time in Sri Lanka, contributing to the documentation of medicinal plants used for rheumatological disorders among patients at Teaching Hospital, Jaffna.