ABSTRACT
To investigate the antitumor activity, brine shrimp lethality assay, antibacterial and antifungal activity of Methanol Extract [ME], Water Extract [WE], Acetone Extract [AE], Chloroform Extract [CE], Methanol-Water Extract [MWE], Methanol-Acetone Extract [MAE], Methanol-Chloroform Extract [MCE] of Ranunculus arvensis [L.]. Antitumor activity was evaluated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens [At10] induced potato disc assay. Cytotoxicity was evaluated with brine shrimp lethality assay. Antibacterial activity was evaluated with six bacterial strains including Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Micrococcus luteus and Streptococcus anginosus and antifungal screening was done against five fungal strains including Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. fumigates, Fusarium solani and Mucor species by using disc diffusion method. Best antitumor activity was obtained with ME and WE, having highest IC50 values 20.27+/-1.62 and 93.01+/-1.33µg/disc. Brine shrimp lethality assay showed LC50 values of AE, MAE and ME were obtained as 384.66+/-9.42µg/ml, 724.11+/-8.01µg/ml and 978.7+/-8.01µg/ml respectively. WE of R. arvensis revealed weak antimicrobial result against the tested microorganisms. On the other h and, the antifungal activity of the plant extracts was found to be insignificant. These findings demonstrate that extracts of R. arvensis possesses significant antitumor activity. Further extensive study is necessary to assess the therapeutic potential of the plant.
ABSTRACT
Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic diseases including Ischaemic heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Homocysteine [Hcy] is an intermediate formed during the catabolism of essential sulphur containing amino acid methionine, increased Hcy is associated with endothelial dysfunctions in healthy human. Plasma Hcy is significantly lower in premenopausal women than young men but after menopause basal homocysteinemia increases significantly in women approaching those in men. Several studies showed that hyperhomocysteinemia to be stronger risk factor for CHD [Coronary Heart Disease] in women than men. It seems likely that altered hormonal status and age related low folate intake are responsible for this. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of folic acid supplements for six months, on Hcy level in postmenopausal women. Hcy was estimated by Flourescence Polarization Immunoassay [FPIA]. There was a significant [p < 0.001] decrease in Hcy level after six months of folic acid supplements. Hcy is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic disease, this study favours the view that after menopause Hcy level increases significantly and a simple non Toxic and relatively inexpensive vitamin [folic acid] intervention might be useful in primary cardiovascular prevention in this high risk group because Hcy is a stronger risk factor for CHD in postmenopausal women than men