Study on medicinal plants of the Thachin basin with an emphasis on the chemical and biological properties
1990
Thanit Pewnim | Somkiat Thadaniti (Silpakorn Univ., Nakhon Pathom (Thailand). Faculty of Science. Dept. of Chemistry)
Number of medicinal plants has been playing an increasing role in maintaining good health of the Thai population. Medicinal plants also contribute to export earnings totalling a few hundred million bahts per year. The aim of this study is to explore the many potentials of medicinal plants of the Thachin Basin. The Sterculia foetida seeds contained protein at a level as high as 17.40 percent. The carbohydrate of the seeds had glucose and galactose as the main constituents. When peroxidase was investigated in a number of medicinal plants Gynura pseudochina contained the enzyme at high levels. The activity in the roots, stems and leaves were 1600, 625 and 90 units/mg protein, respectively. The levels of peroxidase in the plants, raised in tissue culture, was higher than the plant grown in nature. Furthermore, the isoenzyme patterns were also different. Other medicinal plants were investigated for their wound-healing properties, garlic (Allium sativum), Cassia tora, and Rhinacanthus nasutus exhibited antibacterial activities. Studies on Eupatorium odoratum showed the presence of isosakuranetin and acacetin. The existence of these flavonoids implicated the medicinal nature of this plant which warrants further investigation.
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