Hepatoprotective and hepatocurative effects of Spilanthes acmella Murr against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity

Hepatotoxicity is appreciably escalating health dilemma worldwide and the degree of the problem has encouraged importance in the exploration for hepatotherapeutic agents from plants. In the current research work, the hepatoprotective/hepatocurative activity of methanolic extract of Spilanthes acmella Murr aerial parts in paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity was investigated in rabbits by the analysis of different liver enzymes including ALT, AST, ALP along with histopathological investigations. In first phase of the study, paracetamol toxicated rabbits were treated with extract and standard drug jatepar TM. The hepatotoxicant [paracetamol] significantly increased the levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase compared to normal control. Spilanthes acmella Murr at [400 mg/kg] reversed the elevation in the level of ALP, AST and ALT caused by the hepatotoxicants and jetepar[R] TM [standard] also reversed the deleterious effects of the hepatotoxicants. In second phase of this study, extract of Spilanthes acmella Murr was given to rabbits for ten days then paracetamol was administered in one group and level of liver parameters was paralleled with regular control group and the group that was receiving the extract. It is concluded that methanolic extract of Spilanthes acmella Murr aerial parts possesses hepatocurative and hepatoprotective activity

Enzymatic degradation study of 111In-labeled minigastrin peptides using cathepsin B enzyme and AR42J cancer cell line for the development of neuroendocrine tumor imaging radiopharmaceuticals

Neuroendocrine tumors [NET] are the rare tumors which often impose graveyard threat. These tumors are characterized by the overexpression of various G-protein coupled receptors including cholecystokinin [CCK] receptors-1 and 2 [A or B]. Minigastrin peptides are being investigated for theranostic purposes of CCK-2 receptor positive NET. The minigastrin analogue [APHO70] was modified by engineering enzyme susceptible tetrapeptide sequence into APHO70 peptide to reduce the random degradation by lysosome enzymes which pave the way to random trafficking in patient's body and dipeptide addition at c-terminus. All the four modified minigastrin peptides [MG-CL1-4] were investigated for lysosome cathepsin B [catB] enzyme susceptibility and fate into AR42J cancer cell line. The indium-111 labeled MG-CL1-4 peptides were also studied for target [tumor] and non-target saccumulation by using tumor induced mice. The RP-HPLC analysis result showed nonspecific cleavage of standard 111In-APH070 and 111In-MGCL1 while specific cleavage was noted in case of 111In-MGCL [2-4]. The effect of specific and non-specific cleavage on biodistribution in tumor induced nude mice model indicates the promising accumulation of 111In-MGCL2, 111In-MGCL3, and 111In-MGCL4 radiotracers while 111In-MGCL1 showed less accumulation. 111In-MGCL2 and 111In-MGCL3 showed highest target-to-kidney ratio [T/K] i.e. 1.71 and 1.72, respectively whereas standard compound showed T/K 1.13. In conclusion, the two indium-111 labeled analogues i.e. 111In-MGCL2 and 111In-MGCL3 showed promising sensitivity for tumor and could be tested for further investigation to reach pre-clinical studies

Investigation of musa paradisiaca l. for brine shrimp lethality, phytotoxicity and insecticidal potential

Natural plant products contain diversity of molecules that have different biological, pharmacological and toxicological properties. The present study was carried out to investigate the brine shrimp lethality, insecticidal and phyto-toxic potentials by using the Musa paradisiaca L. bract, flower, trachea [flowering stalk] and tracheal fluid. Brine shrimp lethality assay was determined by using the salina species of artemia and results showed that all four extracts were found inactive at low concentration while little activity was found in each part at high concentration. Phyto-toxic potential was studied on the Lemna minor L. and dose dependent phytotoxic potential of all four extracts were observed. While insecticidal activity was determined by using the direct contact method which indicated that these parts of Musa paradisiaca L. possesses no such kind of activity?

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous-methanolic extract of Aerva javanica

The present study was aimed to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous methanolic extract of Aerva javanica. For measuring analgesic activity, writhing test, hot plate method and formalin test were performed and abdominal writhing was induced by intra-peritoneal injection of 0.2ml of 3% acetic acid. While in formalin test, pain was experimentally induced by injecting 25 micro l of 2.5% formalin in left hind paw. In hot plate method, pain was induced thermally by keeping the animals on a hot plate with temperature of about 51[degree]C. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by carrageen an induced mice paw edema. The results showed that the extract had significant analgesic activity [p<0.05- p<0.001] and anti-inflammatory activity [p<0.01-p<0.001]. Therefore, it was concluded from this study that the extracts of Aerva javanica may be used against pain and inflammation

Evaluation of nephroprotective activity of Musa paradisiaca L. in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity

The objective of the study was to investigate the nephroprotective activity of methanolic extract of different morphological parts [bract, flower, trachea and tracheal fluid] of Musa paradisiaca L. [Family: Musaceae] against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. Gentamicin produced significant changes in biochemical [increased levels of blood urea nitrogen level, blood urea, and serum creatinine], and histological parameters in mice. Treatment with methanolic extract of bract [100 and 250mg/kg, b.w] and flowering stalk [trachea] [250 and 500mg/kg, b.w] significantly prevented biochemical and histological changes produced by gentamicin toxicity. The extracts of M. paradisiaca[bract and flowering stalk] could contribute a lead to discovery of a new drug for the treatment of drug-induced nephrotoxicity

Antibacterial activity of sea buckthorn [Hippophae rhamnoides L.] against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA]

Objective of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of Sea buckthorn [Hippophae rhamnoides L.] berries and leaves against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] by using the standard disc diffusion method. Chloroform, n-hexane and aqueous extract of the plant parts were used. Doses of 2mg/ml, 4 mg/ml and 6mg/ml were tested against the microorganism, and the zone of inhibition was compared against the standard drug vancomycin. Results indicated that n-hexane and chloroform extracts of berries and n-hexane extract leaves showed significant [p<0.05] antibacterial activity comparable with vancomycin. It was concluded from the study that extracts berries and leaves of Hippophae rhamnoides have antibacterial activity against MRSA

Phytochemical and dermatological investigations of tribulus terrestris l.

Tribulus terrestris extracts were prepared using solvents of different polarities and their irritant inducing effects were assessed in vivo on rabbit's ears

The result indicates that the polar components were in higher yield than the others and amounts of the extracted material were directly proportional to the polarities of solvents. Preliminary phytochemical screening shows diversity of compounds and comparative TLC analytical behaviour further indicated the resolution of mostly five compounds from the non-polar, intermediate polar and highly polar materials by different solvent systems. Irritant potency of water extract was assessed on rabbit's ears using a known method that was proved to be the most potent irritant [with +++ response, propagated in an area of 2.70 cm[2] diameter]

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic activities of Thymus linearis

The present study was aimed to investigate the antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous methanolic and n-hexane extract of Thymus linearis. For measuring analgesic activity, writhing test, hot plate method and formalin test were performed and abdominal writhing was induced by intra-peritoneal injection of 0.2 ml of 3% acetic acid. While in formalin test, pain was experimentally induced by injecting 25 micro l of 2.5% formalin in left hind paw. In hot plate method, pain was induced thermally by keeping the animals on a hot plate with temperature of about 51[degree]C. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by carrageenan induced mice paw edema. For determination of antipyretic activity, pyrexia was induced by subcutaneous injection of 15% yeast. The results showed that both the extracts had significant analgesic activity [p<0.05]; anti-inflammatory activity [p<0.05] and anti-pyretic activity [p<0.05]. Therefore, it was concluded from this study that the extracts of Thymus linearis may be used against pain, pyrexia and inflammation

Epigenetic therapy for cancer

Epigenetics means the study of alterations in the genetic material that affect the phenotype but does not affect the genotype. Epigenetics cause alterations in cell properties, which are inherited; but it does not cause alterations in DNA sequence. Epigenetic mediated silencing of gene is of four types, which are DNA methylation, histone deacetylation, RNA associated silencing and Genomic imprinting. Other factors [environmental and xenobiotics] can also cause gene silencing but DNA methytlation and changes in histones of chromatin are two important changes, which are responsible for malignant diseases. Two groups of drugs are under development, which corrects the epigenetic alterations. These are histone deacetylation [HDAC] inhibitors and DNA methytransferase [DNMT] inhibitors. These drugs may be used in cancer because in cancer, hypermethylation of cancer suppressor gene causes gene silencing. Epigenetic therapy scope is likely to increase in future.

Dengue fever: Natural management

Dengue fever is caused by the mosquito-borne dengue virus [DENV] serotypes 1-4, and is the most common arboviral infection of humans in subtropical and tropical regions of the world. Dengue virus infections can present with a spacious range of clinical signs, from a mild feverish illness to a life-threatening shock syndrome. Till now, there is no approved vaccine or drug against this virus. Therefore, there is an urgent need of development of alternative solutions for dengue. Several plant species have been reported with anti-dengue activity. Many herbal/natural drugs, most of which are commonly used as nutritional components, have been used as antiviral, larvicidal, mosquitocidal and mosquito repellents that may be used against dengue. The objective of this review article was to provide current approaches for the treatment and management/prevention of dengue fever by targeting viral proteins involved in replication cycle of the virus and different developmental stages of mosquito

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic activities of aqueous ethanolic extract of Tamarix aphylla L. [Saltcedar] in mice

The objective of the study was to investigate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic activity of aqueous ethanolic extracts of Tamarix aphylla. The powdered plant was extracted by the method of cold maceration using aqueous ethanol [70:30] as solvents. Analgesic activity was assessed by Eddy's hot plate method, formalin-induced paw licking and acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carageenan-induced mice paw edema. The anti-pyretic activity was determined by yeast-induced pyrexia in mice. The aqueous ethanolic extract of Tamarix aphylla showed 42% inhibition [p<0.005] of acetic acid-induced writhing, 63% reduction [p<0.005] in formalin-induced paw licking, and 42% increase [p<0.05] in reaction time as compared to normal control. The extract did not show significant anti-inflammatory activity. However, it showed significant antipyretic effect [p<0.005]. The results of this study demonstrate that aqueous ethanolic extract of Tamarix aphylla exhibit analgesic and antipyretic activity but lacks anti-inflammatory activity