Enzymatic Spectrum of Herbal Plants Plumbago Linn.

Abstract

The family Plumbaginaceae have been surveyed for enzymatic

screening in roots of the plants Plumbago Linn. In the present

enzymatic screening all the four species of Plumbago were used

viz., Plumbago indica, or Plumbago rosea, Plumbago zeylanica,

Plumbago capensis and Plumbago albus or Plumbago europea etc.

The root extracts of the selected plants are used in ayurvedic digestive

formulations, have shown effect of gastro-intestinal flora normaliser.

The investigations were directed into the possibilities of

the presence of some powerful enzyems, viz., hydrolases, invertase,

proteases, oxido-reductases, glucoxidase in the root power of Plumbago

species.

The statistical data show the presence of the above enzymes in

the ratio maximum 10.35 and minium 1.35 units per dry weight in

Plumbago zeylanica, Plumbago capensis, Plumbago rosea and

Plumbago albus respectively. The Plumbago zeylanica Linn. bearing

white flowers shows greater effect on digestive stimulus activity,

due to high concentration of enzymes, than the other Plumbago

species, in albino mice and albino rats etc.