The results obtained from standardization of leaves estabilished the macro and microscopic parameters, physicochemical parameters, HPTLC and HPLC profiles that characterize the genuine plant drug Vitex agnus castus.These parameters can be utilized for quick identification of drug and are particularly useful in case of powdered materials.The findings reveal significant activity of plant in acute, sub-acute and chronic models for inflammation.Also, probable mechanism of inflammation has been elucidated by IL- 6 and TNF- estimation.The findings also reveal significant antioxidant activity of plant assessed by various in-vitro and in-vivo models.The findings also established the correlation between antioxidant and chronic antiinflammatory activity and possible chemical mediators involved for antioxidant and antiinflammatory activity.The extracts also showed inhibition of IL-6, TNF- .The antioxidant property makes it suitable for chronic and prolonged administration required for treatment of chronic inflammatory process.The toxicity profile of the plant can be used for designing preclinical and clinical studies.

Increase in scientific investigations into indigenious wealth of herbal medicines gives ample evidence of medicinal plants as sources of drugs. Hepatocellular Carcinoma represents about 4% of all malignancies worldwide.Plants contain chemopreventive agents like phenolic compounds, nitrogen compounds and some other endogenous metabolites, which are rich in antioxidant activity. Thioacetamide, a model hepatotoxicant, initiates hepatocellular necrosis and further hepatocarcinogenesis. Thioacetamide thus produces oxidative stress on liver and causes hepatocellular carcinoma. This oxidative stress can be reversed by the use of antioxidants. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the anticancer activity of hydroalcoholic extract prepared from Casearia esculenta, correlating the biochemical and histological changes in thioacetamide induced hepatocellular carcinoma in female Sprague Dawley rats. This research work should help shed some light on cancer research and experimental model development for hepatocellular carcinoma, and should be especially useful to research scholars, scientists and students working on hepatocellular carcinoma in experimental animals.

Over the past few years, extensive research is being carried out on the potential therapeutic benefits of medicinal plants. One such medicinal plant of interest is that of Glycyrrhiza glabra, commonly known as 'Licorice'. This book, provides the information and data of the preclinical studies carried out on Glycyrrhiza glabra. Toxicity studies carried out included, acute toxicity, subchronic toxicity and fish toxicity. Glycyrrhiza glabra was also evaluated for its anti-obesity, anti-fertility, anti-microbial and anti-cancer activity. The book, therefore provides some data which will be useful in areas of herbal drug industry, Indian system of medicine and homeopathy, complementary medicine and drug discovery.

Medicinal plant preparations have found widespread use particularly in the case of diseases not amenable to treatment by modern methods. Semecarpus anacardium (SA) linn (Family: Anacardiaceae), is a plant well-known for its medicinal value in ayurvedic and siddha system of medicine. Chemical and phytochemical analyses of Semecarpus anacardium nut reveal the presence of biflavonoids, phenolic compounds, bhilawanols, minerals, vitamins and amino acids. The results of preclinical and toxicity study provide the necessary data for further clinical trials in immunomodulatory disorders with SA nut as an 'add on' therapy to established immunomodultory agents. Semecarpus anacardium can be a potential complementary in drug therapy as immunomodulator in cancer therapy.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma represents about 4% of all malignancies worldwide. A number of chemopreventive phytochemicals have been identified which react with prooxidants and prevent damages to DNA thereby preventing the onset of various diseases. Thioacetamide, a model hepatotoxicant, undergoes metabolic activation to form thioacetamide sulfoxide and further metabolized to form thioacetamide-S, S, - oxide thus initiating hepatocellular necrosis and further hepatocarcinogenesis. Thioacetamide thus produces oxidative stress on liver and causes hepatocellular carcinoma. This oxidative stress can be reversed by the use of antioxidants. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the anticancer activity of hydroalcoholic extract prepared from Oroxylum indicum, correlating the biochemical and histological changes in thioacetamide induced hepatocellular carcinoma in female Sprague Dawley rats. This research work should help shed some light on cancer research and experimental model development for hepatocellular carcinoma, and should be especially useful to research scholars, scientists and students working on hepatocellular carcinoma in experimental animals.