Effect of activit, a herbomineral formulation, on experimentally- induced gastric lesions in rats.

Activit, a herbomineral formulation, containing extracts derived from Mucuna pruriens, Withania somnifera, Argyreia speciosa, Centella asiatica, Tribulus terrestris, Asparagus racemosus, Piper longum, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Nux vomica, Tinospora cordifolia and Shring bhasma, was studied for its protective effect against gastric lesions induced by ethanol and pylorus-ligation. The formulation was tested at the doses of 125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight (p.o.) in rats for its effect on various gastric and antioxidant parameters. The reduction in ulcer index in both the models; along with the reduction in volume and total acidity, and an increase in the pH of gastric fluid in pylorus-ligated rats proved the anti-ulcer activity of Activit. The increase in the levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH)] along with membrane bound enzymes (Ca2+ATPase, Mg2+ATPase and Na+K+ATPase) and a decrease in lipid peroxidation (MDA) in both the ulcer models by Activit demonstrated its antioxidant effect. Thus it can be concluded that Activit possesses anti-ulcer activity, which can be attributed to its antioxidant mechanism of action.

Modification of biochemical parameters of gentamicin nephrotoxicity by coenzyme Q10 and green tea in rats.

The present study was designed to investigate the possible potential protective role of coenzymeQ10 (CoQ10; 10 mg/kg/day, ip) and/or green tea (GT; 25mg/kg/day, po) against gentamicin (GM) nephrotoxicity. Marked increase in the level of serum urea. creatinine and lipid peroxidation (LPO) content was found after administration of gentamicin (80 mg/kg/day, ip) for eight days along with significant decrease in the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) as well as brush border enzymes (Na+/K+ ATPase, Mg(+2)ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase).Treatment with CoQ10 or green tea alone with GM showed significant decrease in serum urea, creatinine and tissue LPO content and significant increase in antioxidant and membrane bound enzymes. Combined treatment with CoQ10 and green tea was more effective in mitigating adverse effect of GM nephrotoxicity. The present work indicated that CoQ10 and green tea due to their antioxidant activity modified the biochemical changes occurred during gentamicin nephrotoxicity and thus had a potential protective effect.

Anti-ulcer and antioxidant activity of Normacid, a herbomineral formulation.

Effect of various doses (125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg, po) of Normacid was studied on gastric secretion and gastric ulcers in pylorus-ligation and on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. The reduction in ulcer index in both the models along with the reduction in total acidity and an increase in the pH of gastric fluid in pylorus-ligated rats proved the anti-ulcer activity of Normacid. The increase in the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and membrane bound enzymes like Ca2+ ATPase, Mg2+ ATPase and Na+K+ ATPase and decrease in lipid peroxidation in both the models showed the antioxidant activity of the formulation. Thus it can be concluded that the anti-ulcer activity shown by Normacid may be due to the modulation of defensive factors by improvenent in gastric cytoprotection and partly due to antioxidant property.

Effect of lead with vitamin E, C, or Spirulina on malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes and hydroperoxides in rats.

Lead (100 ppm) was given in doubly deionised water for 30 days to one group of rats. The other groups received lead along with exogenous antioxidants like vitamin E (50 IU/kg), vitamin C (800 mg/kg) or Spirulina (1500 mg/kg) in food for a similar period. Levels of lipid peroxidation products such as malondialdehyde, conjugated diene and hydroperoxide were measured in liver, lung and kidney of treated rats. In lead treated animals there was a significant increase in the levels of these lipid peroxidative products. Administration of exogenous antioxidants in the lead treated animals reduced the levels of malondialdehyde, conjugated diene and hydroperoxide. It indicated that vitamin E, vitamin C and Spirulina had significant (P < 0.001) antioxidant activity thereby protecting the animals from lead induced toxicity.

Effect of cadmium on contractile response to spasmogens in vascular and nonvascular tissues.

In rat isolated aorta low concentration of CdCl2 (4.8 x 10(-8) M) produced a significant increase in pD2 value of KCl and noradrenaline (NA) with an increase in the maxima, while higher concentration of CdCl2 (1.44 x 10(-5) M) produced a significant rightward shift of the dose-response curve with a depression of maxima. In rat isolated portal vein 4.8 x 10(-7) M CdCl2 produced a significant increase in the pD2 value of KCl with an increase in the maxima, while higher concentration of CdCl2 (4.8 x 10(-5) M) produced a significant rightward shift of the dose-response curve of KCl and NA with a depression of maxima. In rat isolated vas deferens and anococcygeus muscle 4.8 x 10(-8) M CdCl2 produced a significant increase in pD2 value of KCl with an increase in the maxima, while higher concentrations of CdCl2 (4.8 x 10(-6) M and 1.44 x 10(-5) M) produced a significant rightward shift of the dose-response curve of KCl and NA. It is suggested that enhancement and reduction of response to KCl and NA, in presence of different concentrations of CdCl2 might be due to the alteration in the fluxes of calcium ion since these spasmogens produce their action by increasing the availability of calcium ions for the contractile machinery.