IJCRR

IJCRR - 5(2), January, 2013

Pages: 20-26

Date of Publication: 26-Jan-2013

MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE OF GENUS INULA- A REVIEW

Author: Samar Amin, Zahoor A Kaloo, Seema Singh, Tabinda Altaf

Category: General Sciences

Abstract:Genus Inula is important medicinally as it has anticancerous, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory properties. The species growing in East Asia are widely used by the local people for varied medicinal properties which have prompted many workers to study the phytochemistry of these species which has ultimately resulted in the extraction of a number of novel bioactive molecules. This emphasizes on the need of extensive study for revealing the medicinal importance of the other species of Inula.

Keywords: Alkaloids, Bioactive molecules, Himalaya, Medicinal plant, Sesquiterpenes.

Full Text:

INTRODUCTION

In Tunisia, anthocyanins are mainly manufactured from grape marc. Their extraction period is limited to that of the date of harvest which lasts from 15 to 21 days according to years'. The search for other products containing these compounds can be a significant objective. We were initially interested in vine leaves (7). The results showed that certain types contain a foliar anthocyanin compounds with high levels. So their leaves could represent a promising source. In addition, and according to type of vines, the dates of harvests of the raw material, marc and leaves, are not the same ones, which allows their use. Anthocyanin extraction from the leaves would be promising. However, the search for a biotechnological process or a mechanism producing these secondary metabolites is a significant objective. We developed a technique for anthocyanin production in grape leaves (Vitis vinifera L.) cuttings (8). But, this experimental technique presents disadvantages: If we don’t harvest the leaves and the stems induced at the convenient period, yellowing and disturbances of the leaves because of a calcium disorder may occur. Calcium disorder is reviewed (18). Certain plants express this disorder: the tip-burn development in lettuce leaves (1), the bitter-pit in apples (5, 17), the blossom-end rot in pepper fruit, the apex rot potato (4) and the apex necrosis of cabbages (14), the black core of celery (19). Calcium is far from being mobile in the phloem (6, 10, 16) and its distribution depends mainly on xylem (10, 11), which can lead to disorders particularly in fabrics supplied with phloem and in fabrics which transpire little (10). According to Palzkill et al., (14, 15), root pressure can promote water and ions absorption during the night, when there is little water loss following the closing of stomata. Calcium deficiencies of the vine are induced by hydroponic culture (3). Thus, it seems that the migration of calcium is a passive phenomenon assured mainly by transpiration and to some extent by root pressure. We report here to induct a calcium deficiency from the pretreatment by total darkness.