Faculty of Siddha Medicine

Present Situation of Medicinal Plants Grown in Kiranchi, Kilinochchi District in Sri Lanka and Conservationr Strategies

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Present Situation of Medicinal Plants Grown in Kiranchi, Kilinochchi District in Sri Lanka and Conservationr Strategies Sathiyaseelan, V. All cultures from ancient times to the present day have used plants as a source of medicine. Today, according to the world health organization (WHO), as many as 80% of the world's people depend on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs. The greater part of traditional therapy involves the use of plant extract or their active ingredients. The paper reviews the status of medicinal plants grown in Kiranchi and their uses in indigenous medicine. The Kiranchi area map was used to locate and count the medicinal plants. The pH of the soil at Kiranchi was 8.4, which was found to be suitable for growing various medicinal plants. A total of 180 species of medicinal plants were recorded. This comprises perennials (75%), annuals (20%), and biennials (5%). Nine poisonous plants were also recorded at Kiranchi. Out of 180 plants, 19 used for diabetic mellitus, 16 for skin diseases, 10 for treating respiratory diseases and 8 for fever. Further, grouping based on morphology revealed herbs (38%), shrubs (11%), trees (36%), lianas (3%), climbers (6%), creepers (2%), cactai (3%), and holo parasite (1%) accounted for the total. Based on the usage of plant parts, plants species were grouped as whole plant (30), leaves (60), seeds (16), flowers (13), young pods (7), roots (25), root barks (4), stems (6), dry fruits (14), barks (4), rhizomes (3), gums (2), and galls (1). Out of 180 species, 19 were spinaches. In addition, economically viable medicinal plants such as Solanum virinianum, Acorus calamus, Andrographis paniculata, plumbago zeylanica, and Phyllanthus emblica were also found growing at Kiranchi. Grouping of the valuable and potential medicinal plants used in indigenous medicine into different categories will help to conserve and promote cultivation of medicinal plants and provides database on the existence of medicinal plants to be used by herbalist doctors in Kiranchi. Such in situ conservation should be achieved both by setting aside areas as nature reserves and national parks (collectively termed " protected areas") and by ensuring that as many wild species as possible can continue to survive in managed habitats, such as farms and plantation forests.

Antibacterial Activity of Coscinum Fenestratum and Berberis Ceylanica -A Comparative Study

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Antibacterial Activity of Coscinum Fenestratum and Berberis Ceylanica -A Comparative Study Sathiyaseelan, V.; Niranjan, K. As many infections are resistant to synthetic drugs, an alternate therapy is much needed. Decoctions of Coscinum fenestratum (Family: Menispermaceae, Sinhala: Veniwel, Tamil: Maramanjal) and an endemic plant in Sri Lanka Berberis ceylanica (Family: Berberidaceae, Sinhala; Dharuharithra, Tamil: Mudkhala,) were prepared separately by boiling one part of the above mature plant stems with four parts of water until the volume was reduced to quarter of the initial volume. The filtered decoctions were kept in the refrigerator until use. In-vitro screening of the above two decoctions for antibacterial activity was carried out with Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulance, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia sp. and Streptomycin, using agar well diffusion method in triplicate. The results (diameter of the zone of inhibition in cm which includes the well diameter of 6 mm) were subjected to one-way ANOVA followed by LSD test. Streptomycin showed higher inhibition than both decoctions for B. subtilis, B. coagulans, P. aeruginosa, Klebsiella sp. and Serratia sp. However, C. fenestratum showed higher inhibition than Streptomycin for E. coli, (2.50 ± 0.10), P. vulgaris (3.00 ± 0.10) and S. aureus (2.43 ± 0.23). When the antibacterial effect of C. fenestratum was compared with B. ceylanica, C. fenestratum showed greater inhibition which differed significantly (p < 0.05) for all tested bacteria except Klebsiella sp. (1.43 ± 0.06 for both decoctions). Decoction of B. ceylanica did not show any activity against Pseudomonas, however, inhibition was observed for E. coli (2.33 ± 0.06), P.vulgaris (2.37 ± 0.06) and S. aureus (2.00 0.00). Though C. fenestratum decoction is commonly used for infections, obtaining a mature stem takes as much as 100 years and it is an imported and expensive commodity in Sri Lanka. The current study revealed that the decoction of mature stem of B. ceylanica (harvested after 5 years) can be used as a substitute for C. fenestratum. The public should be made aware of the use of B. ceylanica in preventing infections, for treatment of fever and tetanus, as well as the possibility of its cultivation in areas of high elevation.

Antimicrobial And Anatomical Screening of The Bark of Salvadora Persica Linn

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Antimicrobial And Anatomical Screening of The Bark of Salvadora Persica Linn Sathiyaseelan, V.; Niranjan, K.; Ravimannan, N. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the anatomical and antimicrobial prop- erties of Salvadora persica. This is widely used in Siddha Ayurveda and Traditional medicine for a variety of purposes. Salvadora persica 'Ugha' in Tamil, and 'Pilu' in Sinhala and "Tooth brush tree' in English. This is a small much branched erect tree, found in dry region of Sri Lanka. The bark of the above plant was collected from Elephant pass region and authenticated by the taxonomist attached to the Dept. of Ayurveda. Antimicrobial screening was done using agar well diffusion method using strephtomycin as positive control and triplicates were made for each test. Anatomi- cal screening was done with the help of steriomicroscope after staining the tangential longitudinal sections with saffranin. There is difference in the inhibition among tested bacteria. Klebsiella sp. (15.00 1.41 mm) was highly inhibited by water extract of bark. Inhibition effect of bark extract on Pseudomonas sp. (13.00±0.00 mm) and on E. coli (12.5 ± 1.73 mm) did not differ significantly and the effect was slightly less for Proteus sp (9.00 +0.00). Bacillus sp. was not at all inhibited by water extract of bark. Ethanol extract of bark has no effect at all on all the tested bacteria. The anat- omy of the bark shows the presence of high percentage of fiber. According to the Siddha Ayurveda system of medicine the bark decoction is useful in low fever. The bark is also used as a tooth brush to strengthen the gums. Therefore the water decoction can be given in condition like cold and mild fever and it can be used in the manufacture of brush. It is interesting to note that the bark consists of uniseriate and multiseriate parenchyma (in TLS) which is a characteristic feature of this bark. This feature gives flexible property to the fiber which may be beneficial in the production of tooth brush.

Effectiveness of Acorus Fume Sticks in Controlling Mosquitoes

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Effectiveness of Acorus Fume Sticks in Controlling Mosquitoes Sathiyaseelan, V.; Niranjan, K. We planned to invent natural herbal products with our previous knowledge of traditional medicine. We selected and collected some important medicinal plant raw materials according to the Siddha text. The fume ingredients were Acorus calamus, Azadirecta indica, Ocimum sanctum, Ocimum americanum, Trachispermum ammi, styrax officinale shorea robesta and some bamboo sticks. These ingredients dried well in shadow ground, and then made in to powder. All powders were mixed together. Powder: Citrenella oil: neam oil mixed in the ratio 500g:75ml:25ml and the paste obtained was applied to bamboo sticks. The paste can be used for fragrances as well as for preven- tion of mosquito bites. The formulation is safe, eco friendly, cheap, easy to use and has maximum repellence against mosquitoes. In addition these homemade herbal repellents are very less harm- full to ever health that the coils available in the market. This stick is effective for longer than 30 minutes 100% pure herbs used. Due to some unwanted effects of chemical repellents, there is an increasing demand for natural herbal preparations to be used as repellents and controlling agents. Mosquitoes were bred in straw soaked clear water and the 3rd instar larvae were selected and fed with fish mash. Emerged adults were picked with the help of aspirator and fed with 10% glucose solution until the assay was carried out. Mosquitoes having characteristics of Dengue causing ones were selected and treated with fumes from acorus sticks and live mosquito count was taken after 1hrs, 12 hrs and 24 hrs after treatment and compare with control. All were continuously fed with glucose meal. After I hour of treatment almost all the mosquitoes were found alive (95%) but not actively fly. After 12 hrs, 90% of the mosquitoes were found dead and after 24 hrs all most all mosquitoes were found dead. In control not a single dead mosquito was recorded during the period from 1- 24 hrs. Fume was also tried in open space in houses during 6-7.30 p.m. when the mosquitoes are abundant and effective repellent ability of fume from acorus sticks was observed. Mosquito controlling ability of bio active components in the fumes from herbal produce assures its usage in different forms of mosquito repellents which are eco friendly with no side effects. Trial in open space further assures the ability of bioactive components in plants which is used as a major ingredient in the preparation of that produce is the reason for mosquito repellent and mosquitocidal effect of that fume sticks and not by suffocation by fume itself. Also it has an acceptable smell with no other harm to human.