As a follow-up of the articles of R. Brindha and S. Parvathy, ASL, XXII, 2003, 166-168, fifteen edible plants of South Asian ecosystem, commonly used in Sri Lankan cuisine, are dealt with in view of their ethnobotanical and ehtonomedical value. Their vernacular names (Sanskrit, Sinhala, and Tamil given here) often reveal different botanical features and medicinal properties.

Indigofera tincoria  leaf extract has been evaluated for its anti-hepatotoxic activity on Rats. Isoniazid is a first line agent for treatment of tuberculosis. Acute ingestion by adults with little dose can lead to mild liver toxicity. In our study, administration of isoniazid (100mg/Kg of the body weight) to normal albino rats for 15 days, results in the induction of hepatitis, which is reversed by the leaf extract of Indigofera tincoria . Two different dose volumes of Indigofera tincoria  (5ml/kg of the body weight and 10ml/kg of body weight) were given to determine the hepatoprotective efficacy. The effect of the extract was found to be dose dependent and the altered levels of AST, ALT, ALP and other serum parameters such as total protein, total bilirubin are showing normal values. Indigofera tinctoria  provided significant protection against most of the biochemical alterations produced by isoniazid in test animals

Antibacterial activity pf various parts (stem, leaf and fruits) of solvent extracts (petroleum ether, alcohol and acetone) of Solanum xanthocarpum  against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi  and Bacillus cereus  were detected by zone of inhibition. The extracts of Solanum xanthocarpum  showed high sensitivity to Kiebsiella pneumoniae  and Salmonella typhi,  moderate sensitivity to Escherichia coli  and less sensitivity and resistant to Bacillus cereus.  In control, there is no inhibitory zone observed.

Mentha arvensis  Linn, a plant used as traditional medicine and in perfumery, has now been explored for its pharmacological activities as an anti-inflammatory and also as sedativehypnotic plant drug. The methanolic extract of the leaves after being processed, was taken for the pharmacological study. Anti-inflammatory activity was carried out on albino rats. Further, the activity was compared to that of a standard anti-inflammatory drug - nimesulide and the percent inhibition of oedema determined. The sedative hypnotic activity, when carried out on mice, showed the potentiation of pentobarbitone induced sleeping time. The data of average recovery time was analyzed to show the standard deviation from the mean.

Caesalpinia span heartwood  is used in folklore in India. The present work attempts to summarize the pharmacognostical characters of the heartwood of this plant. Ash and extractive values, phytochemical tests, HPTLC and fluorescence analysis were carried out. The present work contributes for the standardization of this medicinal heat wood.

The ethanolic extract and its chloroform soluble and chloroform insoluble fractions of the roots of Baliospermum montanum  were investigated in albino rats to evaluate the analgesic activity. Tailo - flick animal model was employed to test analgesic activity and compaired with a standard drug, Diclofenac sodium. The results indicate that the ethanolic extract and its chloroform soluble fraction are significantly effective (p<0.05) with respect to standard. The activity was found to be dose dependant. Results of present study justify the folklore use of B.montanum  as analgesic drug.

The effect of Shilajit on blood chemistry was studied in normal human volunteers. Administration of two gms of Shilajit for 45 days did not produced any significant change in physical parameters i.e. blood pressure, pulse rate and body weight and similarly no charge was observed in hematological parameters. A signification reduction in Serum Triglycerides, Serum cholesterol with simultaneous improvement in HDL Cholesterol was seen, besides Shilajit also improved antioxidant status of volunteers. Results of study suggest hypolipidemic and strong antioxidant activity of Shilajit.

The present study includes antimicrobial activity of Memecylon umbellatum  Alcoholic extract showed maximum antibacterial activity Staphylococcus aureus. (gram positive) and it also showed antibacterial activity against gram negative bacteria and also alcoholic extract alone showed slight antifungal activity.

The present paper deals with the study of biomass production of manures in the greens such as Amaranthus polygamus  and Amaranthus viridis  of the family Amaranthaceae  and Spinacea oleracea l of the family Chenopodiaceae. The medicinal uses and pharmaco - phytochemical analysis were also carried out for the plant species which are widely used as greens.