Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology

Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology
Abbreviation: Medicinal Aromatic Plant Sci. Biotech.
Print: ISSN 1752-3389
Frequency and Peer status: Biannual, Peer reviewed
Scope and target readership: Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology will provide a complete analysis and
understanding of all aspects of medicinal and aromatic plant science and biotechnology.
Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology primarily wishes to examine:
1) Cultural practices (greenhouse growth, hydroponics, aeroponics, organic farming);
2) In vitro propagation (micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, tissue culture, bioreactor system production);
3) Mycorrhizal symbioses (and effects on plant physiology, productivity, reproduction and disease resistance);
4) Novel techniques for analysis (genetic, biochemical, biophysical);
5) Physiology, genetics, molecular biology, structural botany (integrated, pure and applied);
6) Pathology;
7) Production of secondary metabolites, organic and inorganic biochemistry, and phytochemistry; pharmacological properties;
8) Storage of valuable genetic material (cold-storage or cryopreservation).
For publication in Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology the research must provide a highly significant new
contribution to our understanding of medicinal and aromatic plants (from any climactic or geographic origin) and must generally be
supported by a combination of either: physiological, biochemical, genetic or molecular analyses. All areas of study are welcome and the
experimental approaches used can be wide-ranging. Results that simply provide a description without an integrated multi-disciplinary
approach might not be considered, as might descriptive or overly-localized studies and reports on conventional propagation without a
wide impact. Manuscripts pertaining to breeding, post-harvest technology, nutritional aspects or influences on human health of medicinal
and aromatic plants will also be considered.
Editor-in-Chief
Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva, Kagawa University, Japan
Technical Editor
Kasumi Shima, Japan
Statistics Advisor
Marcin Kozak, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland
Editorial Board and Advisory Panels (Listed alphabetically)
Khalid Ali Khalid Ahmed, National Research Centre, Egypt
Noureddine Benkeblia, The University of the West Indies,
Jamaica
Debprasad Chattopadhyay, Indian Council of Medical Research,
India
Sashi Kanta Dash, Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology,
India
Alberto Dias, Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Patricia Dias Fernandes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil
Manuel Fernandes-Ferreira, Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Harzallah-Skhiri Fethia, Higher Biotechnology Institute of
Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia
Ashoke Kumar Ghosh, Bengal Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, India
C. Gopi, K. S. Rangasamy College of Technology, India
Mazuru Gundidza, University of Zimbabwe/University of Fort
Hare, Zimbabwe/South Africa
Nirmal Joshee, Fort Valley State University, USA
Natchimuthu Karmegam, VMKV Engineering College/Vinayaka
Missions University, India
Ara Kirakosyan, The University of Michigan, USA
Shao-ping Li, University of Macau, China
Pavol Mártonfi, P. J. Šafárik University, Slovakia
Ákos Máthé, Szent István University, Hungary
Paraskev T. Nedialkov, Medical University-Sofia, Bulgaria
Majeti Narashima Vara Prasad, University of Hyderabad, India
Chandi Charan Rath, North Orissa University, India
Alberto Ritieni, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Mohammad Jamal Saharkhiz, Shiraz University, Iran
Sabuj Sahoo, Utkal University, India
Ivan Salamon, Presov University, Slovak Republic
Sanjai Saxena, Thapar University, India
Mohd. Shahid, Aligarh Muslim University, India
Junjie Shan, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology,
China
Chunmeng Shi, Third Military Medical Univeristy, China
Neeta Shrivastava, B. V. Patel Pharmaceutical Education and
Research Development (PERD) Centre, India
Perumal Siddhuraju, Bharathiar University, India
Angelina Subotić, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša
Stanković", Serbia
Sivaramakrishnan Sudhakaran, AIMST University, Malaysia
Klára Szentmihályi, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary
Ilias S. Travlos, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Greece
Rong Tsao, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Canada
Supayang P. Voravuthikunchai, Prince of Songkla University,
Thailand
Anand K. Yadav, Fort Valley State University, USA

Global Science Books, Ltd.
Editorial Office
Miki cho Post Office, Kagawa ken, Kita gun
Miki cho, Ikenobe 3011-2, P.O. Box 7
761-0799, Japan
®
Head Office: Isleworth, United Kingdom
Accounting: Lagos, Portugal
GSB homepage: www.globalsciencebooks.info
Journals web-page: http://www.globalsciencebooks.info/Journals/GSBJournals.html
MAPSB web-page: http://www.globalsciencebooks.info/Journals/MAPSB.html
GSB Japan web-page: http://www17.plala.or.jp/gsbjapan
GSB is a trademark of Global Science Books, Ltd.
Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology ©2008 Global Science Books, Ltd.
All rights reserved. No parts of this journal may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise without written permission from
Global Science Books, Ltd.
For additional copies, photocopies, bulk orders, or copyright permissions, please refer requests in writing to the above
address, or apply online.
Cover photos/figure: Top: Coleus blumei (Nagpal et al., pp 1-17); Center: Parent nucleus of oleanane-type triterpene from
Folium Eriobotryae (Chen and Li, pp 18-23); Bottom: morphogenesis in P. graveolens cultures (Aly and Hanafy, pp 24-28).
Disclaimers: All comments, conclusions, opinions, and recommendations are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the publisher, or the Editor(s). GSB does not specifically endorse any product mentioned in any
manuscript, and accepts product descriptions and details to be an integral part of the scientific content. Furthermore GSB
does not take any responsibility from any liabilities arising from any practice, treatment, through action or consequence,
arising from any manuscript published in Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology. Furthermore all
submissions to this journal will require signed declarations of conformation to International ethical codes and principles.
Printed in Japan on acid-free paper.
Published: June, 2008.

CONTENTS
Avinash Nagpal, Balwinder Singh, Sanjeev Sharma, Gita Rani, Gurdeep Singh Virk (India) Coleus spp.: Micropropagation
and In Vitro Production of Secondary Metabolites
Jian Chen, Wei-lin Li (China) Progress in Studies on Phytochemistry and Biological Activity of Folium Eriobotryae
Usama Aly, Moemen Hanafy (Egypt) Geranium Oil Production in Suspension Cultures of Pelargonium graveolens L.
Ali Kemal Ayan, Cüneyt Çırak (Turkey) Detection of Hyperforin in Turkish Species of Hypericum (Guttiferae)
Gilles Ines Dongmo Fomekong, Claudia Edwedje Noumessing Momo, Julius Enyong Oben (Cameroon)
Antihyperglycemic and Hypoglycemic Effects of Aqueous and Hydroethanolic Extracts of Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth on
Wistar Rats: Inhibition of α-Amylase
Gilles Ines Dongmo Fomekong, Jules-Roger Kuiate (Cameroon) Effects of Essential Oil of Zingiber officinalis Roscoe on
Some Biochemical Parameters, Body Weight and Food Intake on Wistar Rats
Buyisile Mayekiso, Ntombovuyo Madlokazi, Micheal Libala Magwa (South Africa) Antimicrobial Activity of
Schistostephium heptalobium Leaf Extracts
Sonia Malik, Shashi Bhushan, Subash C. Verma, Naina Sharma, A.K. Sinha, Madhu Sharma, P.S. Ahuja (India)
Production of Naphthoquinone Pigments in Cell Suspension Cultures of Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnston: Influence of pH
on Growth Kinetics and Acetylshikonin
K. Padmalatha, K. Jayaram, M.N.V. Prasad (India) A Rapid Protocol for the Isolation of Polysaccharide- and
Polyphenolic-Free Genomic DNA for RAPD Analysis of Threatened Medicinal Plants
Jin-ichi Sasaki, Chihiro Sutoh, Ayako Norigami, Tomomi Satoh, Nana Kumaki, Hidemitsu Uchisawa, Shinya Yamaguchi
(Japan), Vachik Lazarian (USA) Emission of Odor in Plants: A Strategy to Fight Infection?
Klára Szentmihályi, Mária Hajdú, Mária Then (Hungary) Inorganic Biochemistry of Medicinal Plants
Pasupuleti Sreenivasa Rao, Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad (India) Extraction, Purification and Characterization of Indole
Alkaloids from the South Indian Strychnos wallichiana L. – an Endangered Medicinal Plant
P. S. Sujan Ganapathy, H. V. Sudeep, S. Padmalatha Rai, Y. L. Ramachandra (India) Screening of Crude Extracts of
Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall. Against Clinically Important Pathogenic Strains
1
18
24
29
31
35
40
43
50
54
57
63
68

Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology
Avinash Nagpal, Balwinder Singh, Sanjeev Sharma, Gita Rani, Gurdeep Singh Virk (India) Coleus spp.: Micropropagation
and In Vitro Production of Secondary Metabolites (pp 1-17)
ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Coleus spp. have long been prized for their colorful foliage, which may combine shades of green, yellow, pink,
red and maroon. They are plants for all locations. Besides their ornamental nature, Coleus spp. are also valued in folk medicine.
C. blumei Benth., a natural hybrid of several Coleus spp. is an ornamental plant growing all over the world in an enormous
number of different cultivars that vary in color and shape of the leaves, and is also known for its medicinal properties, in
particular rosmarinic acid, one of its most important secondary compounds. Rosmarinic acid has been shown to exhibit
antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antiallergic activities in mammalian systems. C. forskohlii Briq. is a medicinally important
plant valued for the production of forskolin, a diterpenoid, present in root tubers of the plant and known to lower blood pressure
and intraocular pressure. C. parviflorus Benth. (country potato) has the potential of developing into a crop similar to potato. An
ample amount of work has been reported on micropropagation of different Coleus spp. from different explants like shoot tips,
leaf segments, nodal and internodal segments, etc. Furthermore, large-scale production of rosmarinic acid and forskolin from
cell cultures of C. blumei and C. forskohlii, respectively, has also been reported. Genetic transformation using Agrobacterium
has been reported to enhance rosmarinic acid and forskolin production in transformed cultures of C. blumei and C. forskohlii.
Jian Chen, Wei-lin Li (China) Progress in Studies on Phytochemistry and Biological Activity of Folium Eriobotryae (pp 18-23)
ABSTRACT
Invited Mini-Review: Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. is widely planted as a fruit tree, specifically in China and Japan, and
its dried leaves (Folium Eriobotryae) is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Many compounds including essential oil,
triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, tannins and megastigmane glycosides have been isolated from Folium Eriobotryae,
and showed anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, antiviral, cytotoxic and antimutagenic properties. In the
present paper we review the research results on phytochemical constituents and biological activities of Folium Eriobotryae in
the hope that it would be helpful to better understand and use traditional Chinese medicine.
Usama Aly, Moemen Hanafy (Egypt) Geranium Oil Production in Suspension Cultures of Pelargonium graveolens L. (pp
24-28)
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Studies were conducted on the morphogenetic potential and secondary metabolite production by P.
graveolens L. cell culture. Leaf segments excised from field grown plants, which showed the most intensive growth of callus on
B 5 medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BA and 2.0 mg/l NAA, were used to initiated callus and cell suspension cultures. The
effect of initial concentrations of two of the major medium components, sucrose and nitrate, on the growth, biosynthetic and
biochemical characteristics of essential oils was examined. Callus developed most on B 5 medium containing 4% sucrose and
normal level of nitrate (2500 mg/l). Maximum essential oil was produced from plants grown on M7 medium containing 8%
sucrose.
Ali Kemal Ayan, Cüneyt Çırak (Turkey) Detection of Hyperforin in Turkish Species of Hypericum (Guttiferae) (pp 29-30)
ABSTRACT
Short Communication: In the present study, six Hypericum species from the Turkish flora were investigated for the presence
of hyperforin namely H. heterophyllum Vent, H. hyssopifolium L., H. linarioides Bosse, H. orientale L., H. scabrum L. and H.
triquetrifolium Turra. For this purpose, the aerial parts were collected at full flowering, dissected into floral, leaf and stem tissues,
air-dried at room temperature and then assayed for hyperforin by HPLC. Hyperforin was detected only in flower tissues of H.
hyssopifolium (29.2 mg/g DW) and H. linarioides (6.28 mg/g DW). This data could be useful for elucidation of the
chemotaxonomical significance of hyperforin and for the phytochemical evaluation of H. hyssopifolium and H. linarioides.
Gilles Ines Fomekong Dongmo, Claudia Edwedje Noumessing Momo, Julius Enyong Oben (Cameroon)
Antihyperglycemic and Hypoglycemic Effects of Aqueous and Hydroethanolic Extracts of Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth on

Wistar Rats: Inhibition of α-Amylase (pp 31-34)
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: This study reports on the antihyperglycemic and hypoglycemic properties of Pentaclethra
macrophylla Benth on Wistar rats. The inhibition of α-amylase was also determined using 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mg/mL of plant
extracts. The aqueous and hydroethanolic extract showed a pronounced antihyperglycemic activity (P

µM) and the same medium was used for raising cell suspension cultures. An acidic pH (i.e. 5.0-6.50) of the medium helped cell
growth, while that having alkaline pH (7.25-9.50) favoured pigment production. Almost double cell biomass (198.67g, FW.L -1 )
was recorded in medium at physiological pH (5.70), when compared to neutral (138.55 g FW.L -1 ) or alkaline levels (130.56 g
FW.L -1 ). Acetylshikonin (I) was found to be the major shikonin derivative in these cultures. The maximum content i.e., 2.049%
was recorded at alkaline pH (9.5) in comparison to 0.803% at acidic pH level (5.75) on a fresh weight basis, as revealed by
HPLC analysis of the cell suspension cultures. Microscopic examination of the cell suspensions grown at different pH revealed
that higher pH adversely affected growth and morphology of the cells. Importantly, the induction of pigment in the alkaline range
of pH was independent of the growth phase and pH showed a regulatory role in its biosynthesis.
K. Padmalatha, K. Jayaram, M.N.V. Prasad (India) A Rapid Protocol for the Isolation of Polysaccharide- and
Polyphenolic-Free Genomic DNA for RAPD Analysis of Threatened Medicinal Plants (pp 50-53)
ABSTRACT
Techniques Paper: Many procedures in molecular biology require the isolation of high quality genomic DNA which is difficult in
most plant species because of the presence of secondary metabolites that interfere with DNA isolation which effects
downstream applications such as DNA restriction, amplification and cloning. Here we describe a modified procedure based on
the hexadecyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB) method to isolate DNA from leaf tissues containing high levels of
polysaccharides, polyphenols, gums, tannins and secondary metabolites. This modified CTAB (2%) protocol includes the use of
a combination of polyvinypyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP), 0.2% β mercaptoethanol for Pterocarpus
marsupium and use of 2 M NaCl, 1% PVPP, and 1% β-mercaptoethanol for other selected medicinal plants with an initial
prolonged chloroform:isoamylalcohol (24:1) step (30 min shaking) repeated twice, RNAse treatment for 1 hr and avoiding the
incubation and precipitation steps in isopropanol. The yield was approximately 20 µg DNA/200 mg of initial fresh leaf tissue.
This method solved the problem of DNA degradation and co-precipitation of the secondary metabolites. The isolated DNA
proved amenable to restriction digestion and PCR amplification. The technique is fast, reproducible and can be applied for
further molecular approaches.
Jin-ichi Sasaki, Chihiro Sutoh, Ayako Norigami, Tomomi Satoh, Nana Kumaki, Hidemitsu Uchisawa, Shinya Yamaguchi
(Japan), Vachik Lazarian (USA) Emission of Odor in Plants: A Strategy to Fight Infection? (pp 54-56)
ABSTRACT
Techniques Paper: The bacteriocidal potency of odor was studied by the Petri dish method using eight types of plant odors
from Hiba tree/Japanese cypress (Thujopsis dolabrata var. hondae), garlic (Allium sativum), onion (Allium cepa), horseradish
(Armoracia rusticana), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), dokudami (Houttuynia cordata), clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
and sage (Salvia officinalis). Target bacteria in the test were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus natto, enterohemorragic
Escherichia coli O157:H7, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Candida albicans. Seven out of eight plant
odors showed antibacterial activity with a different spectrum of activity against the above described bacteria. Odor released
from Hiba tree, garlic, onion, horseradish and dried whole clove demonstrated the strongest antibacterial activity, followed by
dried cinnamon and dokudami, but the odor of dried sage did not show any activity against these bacteria. Gas chromatography
analysis clarified the presence of 15 composites in fresh garlic odor, but two of them were unidentified in an analysis 24 hours
later. When viewed by scanning electron microscopy, the bacteria surface became fluffy due to exposure to Hiba odor
accompanied with bleb formation on the surface, which may have been caused by protein degeneration, while formaldehyde (a
representative disinfectant)-exposed bacteria maintained a smooth surface without any formation of blebs. These results
suggest that anti-bacteria mechanisms of odor vary depending on the odor (i.e. chemical(s) included) emitted from plants. One
of the significances of plant odor might be the protection from attacks by harmful agents such as bacteria and insects in
environmental surroundings.
Klára Szentmihályi, Mária Hajdú, Mária Then (Hungary) Inorganic Biochemistry of Medicinal Plants (pp 57-62)
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Most medicinal plants are flowering plants and they also serve as ornamental plants. Measurement
of trace element content in medicinal plants, drugs and extracts may be relevant in view of e.g. human health, animal health and
environmental relations. This fact has a great significance since about half of the plant drugs available in the trade originate
from natural habitats and the element content of herbs may originate from soil or air pollution, or relate to the soil type on which

the plant grows. Microelements in extracts may be relevant in nutritional point of view or for therapeutic purposes.
Pasupuleti Sreenivasa Rao, Majeti Narsimha Vara Prasad (India) Extraction, Purification and Characterization of Indole
Alkaloids from the South Indian Strychnos wallichiana L. – an Endangered Medicinal Plant (pp 63-67)
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Strychnos wallichiana (Loganiaceae) is a critically endangered medicinal plant, commonly used in
several native medical practices. The majority of members of the Strychnos genus shares a similar chemical composition and
contains common indole alkaloids. Purification of strychnine and brucine from a few species of Strychnos have already been
reported; however, we have purified and quantified these alkaloids for the first time from this native Indian variety by isocratic
RP-HPLC from roots and seeds. The structural identity of HPLC-purified strychnine and brucine was reaffirmed by IR, 1 H-NMR,
13 C-NMR and LC-MS spectral analysis. The present study reveals that South Indian S. wallichiana possesses indole alkaloids
in a significant proportion, and that it is an alternative source for strychnine and brucine.
P. S. Sujan Ganapathy, H. V. Sudeep, S. Padmalatha Rai, Y. L. Ramachandra (India) Screening of Crude Extracts of
Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall. Against Clinically Important Pathogenic Strains (pp 68-71)
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: The crude ethanol, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts of Holarrhena antidysenterica (stem
bark, leaf and inflorescence) were tested against 18 clinically isolated strains including identified strains using the agar-well
diffusion method. Of all the extracts the activity was more pronounced against Gram-negative bacteria than against
Gram-positive ones. Amongst the evaluated extracts, the ethanolic stem bark extract showed the strongest antibacterial effect.
The inhibitory effect of the extracts was compared with standard antibiotic Ciprofloxacin. Our results offer a scientific basis for
the traditional use of H. antidysenterica in the treatment of infectious diseases.