Chemopreventive agents can act to prevent or stop genetic mutation that can lead to cancer. Several promising chemopreventive agents include vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, all of which are obtained from plants. Natural products derived from plants continue to be a fertile source of cure for cancer. In this study, selected Philippine plants were tested for their ability to inhibit chromosomal damage induced by tetracycline in the in vivo micronucleus test (MT). The methanolic extract of Canarium ovatum Engl., locally recognized as pili, showed the most promising activity by reducing the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes by 54.41% in the preliminary MT screening. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the crude methanol extract of C. ovatum leaves have identified the most active portion in the hexane fraction. Further isolation and purification will be done to determine the constituent/s responsible for the observed antimutagenic activity in C. ovatum. Identification and characterization of the bioactive compound/s in this plant could be a starting point in the search for other chemopreventive substances, and for the possible synthesis and development of more efficacious agents.

Hepatoprotective potential of methanolic extract of Clerodendrum infortunatum Linn. (MECI), which was widely used in Indian indigenous system of medicine, was studied against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Methanol extract at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg was administered daily along with carbon tetrachloride once in 72 hours for 14 days. The study was evaluated by assaying the serum biochemical parameters glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin and total protein. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level, as well as reduced glutathione (GSH) content and catalase activity (CAT) was determined to explain the possible mechanism of the activity. The substantially elevated serum enzymatic levels of AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin were restored towards normalization significantly by the extract. Silymarin was used as standard reference and exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride induced haptotoxicity in rats. MDA concentration was decreased, while the liver antioxidative enzyme activity was elevated in all the MECI treated rats. All the results were compared with standard drug silymarin. In addition, histopathology of liver tissue was investigated to observe the morphological changes, showed the reduction of fatty degeneration and liver necrosis. The results of this study revealed that methanol extract of C. infortunatum has moderate hepatoprotective activity. This effect may be due to the ability of the extract to inhibit lipid peroxidation and increase in the anti-oxidant enzymatic activity.

Several physico-chemical properties such as fruit weight and dimensions, skin width, external and internal fruit color, vitamin A, vitamin C, acidity, pH, soluble solid content, antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of twenty five selected promising cactus pear accessions were determined. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of fruits were determined by β-Caroten bleaching and Folin-Ciocalteu assays. The results showed great qualitative and quantitative differences in the physico-chemical characteristics of cactus pear accessions. Vitamin A (beta carotene) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content of genotypes were found between 2.64 and 25.13 (μg/g) and 18.04 and 37.31 mg/100 g. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of cactus pear genotypes were between 45.5-76.8% and 19.4-49.4 mg gallic acid equivalent per g dry weight basis. The results provide important information on how to make the best use of cactus pear genotypes investigated for different uses, which is of significance for both technological research and processing practice.

In present study, three known pentacyclic triterpenoids namely lupeol, betulinaldehyde, and betulinic acid and a steroidal compound stigmasterol were isolated from the seeds of Holarrhena pubescens (Buch. Ham.) (Apocynaceae); commonly known as Kurchi in commerce. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidences and comparison with the authentic samples.

Rhizomes of Alpinia calcarata Roscoe (Family: Zingiberaceae) is a common medicinal plant cultivated in Asian countries including Sri Lanka. The aim of this study is to evaluate the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activities of A. calcarata which are not investigated so far. This was tested in normoglycemic and streptozotocin (STZ) - induced diabetic rats using oral administration of the hot water extract (HWE) and the hot ethanolic extract (HEE). In normoglycemic rats both HWE and HEE significantly lowered the blood glucose levels in a dose - dependent manner. Further, both HWE and HEE markedly improved the oral glucose tolerance in rats. The hypoglycemic activity of the HEE was generally higher than that of the HWE. However, the HWE or the HEE failed to reduce blood glucose levels of STZ - induced diabetic rats. Further, the HEE significantly inhibited the glucose absorption from the small intestine and increased the glycogen accumulation in both liver and skeletal muscle. It is concluded that A. calcarata rhizomes possess strong hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activities.

The antioxidant activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stigma and its constituents, crocin and safranal were evaluated using deoxyribose, erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation and liver microsomal non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation methods in vitro. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts in different concentrations (10, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 µg/ml), crocin and safranal at 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM were tested. Results showed that test compounds could diminish the extent of MDA generation in three methods (P<0.01 VS control). The effect of crocin at 1,2 mM and ethanolic extract at 500 and 1000 µg/ml in liver microsomal lipid peroxidation were similar to BHT 100 µM in liver microsomal lipid peroxidation (P>0.05). Crocin the main carotenoid in saffron extracts probably and relatively safranal may have an important role in antioxidant properties of the extracts.

The hydro-alcoholic extracts of five Ayurvedic medicinal plants, pericarp of Terminalia chebula, rhizome of Acorus calamus, stem bark of Bauhinia variegate, whole plant of Phyllanthus amarus, root of Glycyrrhiza glabra were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity on fourteen cancer cell lines. These plant extracts were tested by sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay for its anti proliferative activity and four extracts except Glycyrrhiza glabra were found active against prostrate cancer cell line (DU145. In addition to this Terminalia chebula exhibited activity against leukemia cancer cell line (K562).

Effect of Allium sativum bulb extract (AsBE) on the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEP) and pyruvate kinase (PK) activity of Haemonchus contortus was studied.Maximum level of inhibition in both PEPCK and PK activities were observed in worms treated at 10 mg ml^-1 concentration of AsBE after 8 h incubation. This inhibition in the enzyme activity affects the energy generating process, which ultimately proves fatal to the parasite.

The natural remedies include the chloroform extract of Malva sylvestris Linn flowers (4%), the ethanol extract of Punica granatum Linn flowers (2%), aqueous extract of Achillea kellalensis Boiss flowers (2%), and honey (2%) were used to evaluate the wound-healing activity on male Wistar rats (150-200 g) using excision and incision wound models. A 1.0×1.5-cm full thickness excision wound was made in the dorsal area of the rats. The animals were divided randomly into three groups of nine each. Group 1 was treated with nitrofurazone ointment and served as a reference standard (200 mg/kg/day); Group 2 was treated topically with the simple ointment prepared from natural remedies (200 mg/kg/day); Group 3 (control) was treated topically with the simple ointment (200 mg/kg/day). The treated animals by natural remedies showed reduction in the wound area when compared with nitrofurazone and control. Histological studies of the tissue obtained on days 6, 9, and 16 from natural remedies showed increased well-organized bands of collagen, more fibroblasts, and a few inflammatory cells when compared with the nitrofurazone and control which showed inflammatory cells, scanty collagen fibers, and fibroblasts. Enhanced wound contraction and histological findings suggest the use of natural remedies in the management of wound-healing.

Antifungal activity of green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis L.), sampled 3 different harvest time (May, July and September) from Rize region in Turkey, against a number of fungi (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida kruseii, Candida parapsilosis and Candida dubliensis) has been investigated. In addition, the catechin-based flavonoids in green tea leaves such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC) and epicatechin (EC) were determined. All methanol extract of green tea samples showed a broad-spectrum antifungal activity against all Candida species in broth microdilution bioassays. However maximum activity of methanol extract (>17 mm inhibition zone) was observed against Candida albicans at 3rd harvest time. In general, antifungal activity increased from 1 ^st harvest time to 3 ^rd harvest time. Catechin-based flavonoids have also increased from 1st harvest to 3rd harvest indicating a correlation with antifungal activity.