Synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles from leaf of Litchi chinensis and its biological activities

Objective:To synthesize and isolate silver and gold nanoparticles from Litchi chinensis leaf methanolic extract,and to evaluate its comparative biological activities including muscles relaxant,analgesic,anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal.Methods:The gold and silver nanoparticles were synthesized by dissolving methanolic extract in gold chloride and silver nitrate solution separately which were confirmed by colour change and UV-Vis spectroscopy,and pellets were collected through centrifugation.Biological activities of the extract were conducted on BALB/c mice through various standard methods and the data were subjected to One-way ANOVA.Results:The colorless gold chloride solution changed to purple soon after the addition of plant extract,demonstrating that the reaction took place and gold ions were reduced to gold nanoparticles,while colorless silver nitrate solution changed to light and dark brown that was indicative of silver nanoparticles.The muscles relaxant activity showed that silver nanoparticles were more effective than gold nanoparticles and methanolic extract in traction test.The analgesic activity showed that silver and gold nanoparticles showed highest percentage decrease in acetic acid induced writhing at the doses of 50,100 and 150 mg/kg b.w.The highest anti-inflammatory activity was produced by gold nanoparticles followed by silver nanoparticles,while low activity was observed in methanolic leaf extract.Only the crude methanolic extract showed significant antidiarrheal activity as compared to the standard drug atropine sulphate,while antidiarrheal activities of gold and silver nanoparticles were non-significant.Contusions:The present work concludes that isolated silver and gold nanoparticles from leaf methanolic extract shows strong muscles relaxant,analgesic and antiinflammatory activities while crude methanolic extract possesses good antidiarrheal activity.

Synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles from leaf of Litchi chinensis and its biological activities

Objective: To synthesize and isolate silver and gold nanoparticles from Litchi chinensis leaf methanolic extract, and to evaluate its comparative biological activities including muscles relaxant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal. Methods: The gold and silver nanoparticles were synthesized by dissolving methanolic extract in gold chloride and silver nitrate solution separately which were confirmed by colour change and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and pellets were collected through centrifugation. Biological activities of the extract were conducted on BALB/c mice through various standard methods and the data were subjected to One-way ANOVA. Results: The colorless gold chloride solution changed to purple soon after the addition of plant extract, demonstrating that the reaction took place and gold ions were reduced to gold nanoparticles, while colorless silver nitrate solution changed to light and dark brown that was indicative of silver nanoparticles. The muscles relaxant activity showed that silver nanoparticles were more effective than gold nanoparticles and methanolic extract in traction test. The analgesic activity showed that silver and gold nanoparticles showed highest percentage decrease in acetic acid induced writhing at the doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg b.w. The highest anti-inflammatory activity was produced by gold nanoparticles followed by silver nanoparticles, while low activity was observed in methanolic leaf extract. Only the crude methanolic extract showed significant antidiarrheal activity as compared to the standard drug atropine sulphate, while antidiarrheal activities of gold and silver nanoparticles were non-significant. Conclusions: The present work concludes that isolated silver and gold nanoparticles from leaf methanolic extract shows strong muscles relaxant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities while crude methanolic extract possesses good antidiarrheal activity.

Hyalinizing Cholecystitis: A Rare Subtype of Chronic Cholecystitis

Hyalinising cholecystitis is rare form of chronic cholecystitis. It comprises about 1.6% of the cholecystectomy specimens. Hyalinising cholecystitis is said to be associated with risk of gallbladder cancer. We hereby present a case of a 54-year-old woman who came with chief complain of pain in right upper abdomen. She was diagnosed as a case of chronic cholecystitis on ultrasonography. For this the patient underwent cholecystectomy during which the gallbladder was removed. The final diagnosis of hyalinising cholecystitis was given on histopathology.

Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies of Zanthoxylum armatum DC

The pharmacognostic and phytochemical investigations on the leaf, stem bark, and fruit of Zanthoxylum armatum were carried out. Macroscopic study of leaf, stem bark, and fruit of Z. armatum revealed some of the characteristic features like size, shape, color, odor and taste of the crude drug. Distinguishing fragments were identified from the powder drug. Leaf, bark, and fruit powder of this plant have higher values of total, acid insoluble, and water soluble ash as compared to the powder of this plant exhausted with ethanol and n- hexane. Extraction values in methanol were highest for leaves [20.10%] and fruit [11%], while bark showed highest value in chloroform [8.5%]. The extractive values varied among other parts with different solvents. Fluorescence analysis of the Z. Armatum leaf, stem bark, and fruit powder with various reagents showed characteristic coloration at day and under UV light. Quantitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of many bioactive constituents in leaves, such as alkaloids [15.60+/-0.10 mg/g], sterols [71.60+/-0.10mg/g], saponins [21.57+/-0.12mg/g], tannins [34.43+/-0.21mg/g], phenols [11.66+/-0.33mg/g] and flavonoids [13.68+/-0.66mg/g]. Alkaloids [19.60+/-0.10mg/g], sterols [33.83+/-0.29mg/g], saponins [14.78+/-0.10mg/g], tannins [28.62+/-0.13mg/g], phenols [16.48+/-1.33mg/g] and flavonoids [18.33+/-1.22mg/g] were reported form the bark, while fruits were reported to have alkaloids [25.07+/-0.21mg/g], sterols [164.92+/-0.14mg/g], saponins [28.60+/-0.10mg/g], tannins [35.5+/-0.5mg/g], phenols [21.68+/-0.44mg/g] and flavonoids [22.8+/-1.33mg/g]. Z. armatum is an important medicinal plant, traditionally used for various ailments. This study will be helpful in the future pharmacognostic standardization of this important plant

Antinociceptive, antioxidant and phytochemical studies of Pakistani medicinal plants

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of the selected Pakistani medicinal plants [Chenopodium botrys, Micromeria biflora and Teucrium stocksianum] in-vivo followed by their antioxidant potential against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhidrazyl [DPPH] in-vitro. The results demonstrated profound antinociceptive effect of both the crude methanolic extract of Chenopodium botrys [CBM] and subsequent aqueous fraction [CBW] of C. botrys with 80.76% and 84% pain relief in acetic acid induced writhing test at 100 mg/kg i.p respectively. Similarly the crude methanolic extract of Micromeria biflora [MBM] and its subsequent aqueous fraction [MBW] with 66.46% 78.08% pain reversal in acetic acid induced writhing test respectively at 100mg/kg i.p. However, the crude methanolic extract and isolated water fraction of Teucrium stocksianum [TS] did not show any significant effect at test doses. Both the crude extracts and aqueous fractions of selected medicinal plants exhibited marked scavenging effects on DPPH and therefore strongly support the antinociceptive activity. Phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of various classes of natural products [alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids etc.] and thus the current finding can be attributed to the presence of these compounds. In short, our findings provide a strong scientific background to the folk uses C. botrys and M. biflora in the management of various painful conditions

In vivo antinociceptive and muscle relaxant activity of leaf and bark of Buddleja asiatica L.

The current study was designed to assess the antinociceptive and skeleton muscle relaxant effect of leaves and barks of Buddleja asiatica in animal models. In acetic acid induced writhing test, pretreatment of ethanolic extract of leaves and barks evoked marked dose dependent antinociceptive effect with maximum of 70% and 67% pain relief at 300mg/kg i.p. respectively. In chimney test, the ethanolic extract of leaves and barks evoked maximum of 66.66% and 53.33% muscle relaxant effect after 90min of treatment at 300mg/kg i.p respectively. In traction test, the ethanolic extract of leaves and barks caused maximum of 60% and 73.33% muscle relaxant effect after 90min of treatment at 300mg/kg i.p respectively. In short, both leaves and barks demonstrated profound antinociceptive and skeleton muscle relaxant effects and thus the study provided natural healing agents for the treatment of said disorders

In vivo screening of essential oils of Skimmia laureola leaves for antinociceptive and antipyretic activity

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the screening of essential oils of Skimmia laureola leaves (SLO) for acute toxicity, antinociceptive, antipyretic and anticonvulsant activities in various animal models.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SLO were extracted using modified Clevenger type apparatus. Acute toxicity test was used in mice to observe its safety level. Antinociceptive activity of SLO was evaluated in acetic acid induced writhing and hot plate tests. Yeast induced hyperthermic mice and pentylenetetrazole induced convulsive mice were used for the assessment of its antipyretic and anticonvulsant profile respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Substantial safety was observed for SLO in acute toxicity test. SLO showed a high significant activity in acetic acid induced writhing test in a dose dependent manner with maximum pain attenuation of 68.48% at 200 mg/kg i.p. However, it did not produce any relief in thermal induced pain at test doses. When challenged against pyrexia evoked by yeast, SLO manifested marked amelioration in hyperthermic mice, dose dependently. Maximum anti-hyperthermic activity (75%) was observed at 200 mg/kg i.p. after 4 h of drug administration. Nevertheless, SLO had no effect on seizures control and mortality caused by pentylenetetrazole.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In vivo studies of SLO showed prominent antinociceptive and antipyretic activities with ample safety profile and thus provided pharmacological base for the traditional uses of the plant in various painful conditions and pyrexia. Additional detail studies are required to ascertain its clinical application.</p>