Hepatoprotective potential of ethanolic extract of Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Mill roots against antitubercular drugs induced hepatotoxicity in experimental models

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of ethanolic (50%) extract of Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Mill (Z. oenoplia) root against isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) induced liver damage in animal models.@*METHODS@#Five groups of six rats each were selected for the study. Ethanolic extract at a dose of 150 and 300 mg/kg as well as silymarin (100 mg/kg) were administered orally once daily for 21 d in INH + RIF treated groups. The serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (SALP), and bilirubin were estimated along with activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, and hepatic melondialdehyde formation. Histopathological analysis was carried out to assess injury to the liver.@*RESULTS@#The considerably elevated serum enzymatic activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin due to INH + RIF treatment were restored towards normal in a dose dependent manner after the treatment with ethanolic extract of Z. oenoplia roots. Meanwhile, the decreased activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase were also restored towards normal dose dependently. In addition, ethanolic extract also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic melondialdehyde formation in the liver of INH + RIF intoxicated rats in a dose dependent manner. The biochemical observations were supplemented with histopathological examination of rat liver sections.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The results of this study strongly indicate that ethanolic extract of Z. oenoplia has a potent hepatoprotective action against INH + RIF induced hepatic damage in rats.

Comparative pharmacognostic evaluation of althaea officinalis and alcea rosea root

Althaea [Family Malvaceae], a small genus comprising about 15 species distributed in the temperate regions. The official drug Khatmi or Marshmallow, botanically equated to the roots of A. officinalis, the only species of this genus found in India. Alcea rosea L. syn. Althaea rosea [L.] Cav., a substitute of Khatmi is also grown as ornamental plant in Indian gardens. The root, constitute the drug Khatmi and used as demulcent and emollient. The roots are useful in inflammation, irritation of alimentary canal and urinary and respiratory organs The decoction of root is used as an expectorant in whooping cough, hoarseness of voice and bronchitis. It is also reported to be used for fomentation in inflammatory tumors, burns, bruises, sprains etc. as a poultice. Hence, in the present paper, comparative pharmacognostic evaluation of A. officinalis and A. rosea has been undertaken. The root of both the species can be identified on the basis of macro-microscopic characters, physicochemical parameters and TLC finger print profiles. The macroscopic studies showed that the root of A. officinalis are strongly longitudinally furrowed, often spirally twisted with short-medium fracture but in A. rosea these are finely longitudinally furrowed, straight with medium-hard fracture. Microscopically both these species can be differentiated on the basis of size and number of mucilage canals and distribution of fibres. The comparative TLC profiles showed common as well as differentiating bands for example 4 significant bands of orangish-brown colour at Rfs. 0.11, 0.13, 0.37 and 0.41 were only visible in A. officinalis

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of stem juice powder of Tinospora cordifolia Miers in experimental animals

The stem juice powder of Tinospora cordifolia Miers. [Menispermaceae, TIP] was studied for the possible activity of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive to rationalize the folkloric use of the plant juice as rasayana. TIP at the dose of 50-200 mg/kg caused a significant and dose dependent inhibition of swelling caused by the X carrageenin [1%] and histamine [10-3 g/ ml, 0.1 ml] induced paw edema in rats. The effect was comparable to the standard cycloxygenase inhibitor Ibuprofen 100 mg/kg and percent protection was 18.43% and 18.12% respectively. Administration of TJP [50-200 mg/kg] on analgesy-meter induced mechanical pain exhibited a moderate and dose dependent increase in the pain threshold. However TJP significantly prevented the pain reaction in acetic acid [0.6%] induced writhing in mice and the degree of percent inhibition was 16.98%-35.47%, which is equivalent to 36.67% produced by ibuprofen. These data indicate that the stem juice powder of Tinospora cordifolia rationalizes the traditional system of medicine