Abstract

SCREENING OF THIRTY SIX MEDICINAL PLANTS OF NORTH EAST REGION OF INDIA FOR IN VITRO ANTI THIAMINE ACTIVITY

Prasenjit Mitra, Tanaya Ghosh and Prasanta Kumar Mitra*

ABSTRACT

Leaves of 36 medicinal plants of North East region of India were screened for in vitro anti thiamine activity. Leaves of the plants were collected, identified by the taxonomist, washed thoroughly, shade dried and powdered. In vitro anti thiamine activity was measured by standard method by incubating 1 g of the powdered leaves with 100 mg thiamine hydrochloride at 300C for 1 h in 10 ml M/15 phosphate buffer at pH 6.5. Residual thiamine hydrochloride was estimated by standard thiochrome method. Results showed that eight plants could inactivate thiamine in the in vitro experiments. Range of inactivation of thiamine varied from 31.8% to 43.0%. As these medicinal plants are widely used in traditional medicine and few of them are used in diet, the present study may be a caution to those who are very often using these plants.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, north east region, in vitro anti thiamine activity.