Comparative analgesic evaluation of Himalrandia tetrasperma and Wendlandia exserta of family Rubiaceae after induction of pain in mice

Himalrandia tetrasperma and Wendlandia exserta medicinal plants belong to family Rubiaceae commonly known as coffee family were investigated by quantitative analysis of major bioactive compounds and analgesic effect. The analgesic potential was accessed using different parts of H. tetrasperma and W. exserta by induced acetic acid writhing and hot plate test method. Methanolic extracts of these two plants satisfactorily possesses analgesic activity. All the extracts showed good results as compared to standard drug, i.e. aspirin. Seeds of H. tetrasperma possess maximum, i.e. 86.73% inhibition at first phase where as aspirin possesses 52.73%. In second phase, leaves possess 99.8 % inhibition respectively. Hot plate analgesic activity of bark extract displayed maximum activity at 4.5h stage, i.e. 8.6 +/- 0.40. W. exserta methanolic extract of bark possesses 97.3% inhibition respectively in first phase and 99.8% in second phase. Bark extract displayed maximum activity at 4.5h stage, i.e., 9.7 +/- 0.5. Quantitative analysis of bark of H. tetrasperma possesses highest value of saponins, i.e. 30.21 +/- 0.8 where as flavonoids 17.50 +/- 1.2, phenolic compounds 23.25 +/- 0.5 and tannins 12.32 +/- 0.4. The leaf extracts of H. tetrasperma contains maximum value of phenols, i.e. 15.10 +/- 0.7 where as W. exserta bark possesses significant value of alkaloids, i.e. 16.41 +/- 0.4 and leaf extracts possesses flavonoids, i.e. 14.51 +/- 0.3, saponins 12.22 +/- 0.1 and phenolic compounds 11.31 +/- 0.4. The seeds of both plants possess significant value of tannins, i.e. 07.60 +/- 0.3

Lonicera quinquelocularis: a rich source of antioxidant for protection against chronic diseases

The purpose of the research work was to examine the in vitro antioxidant activity of the different aqueous and organic fractions of Lonicera quinquelocularis Hardwicke. The methanol extract was dissolved in distilled water and fractioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, successively. The antioxidant potential of the remaining aqueous and organic fractions was determined by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical [DPPH] scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] assay, ferric thiocyanate assay and total phenolics method. Among these fractions ethyl acetate fraction displayed the maximum antioxidant activity with IC[50] of [11.13+/-0.12micro g/ml]. It also exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity [0.595+/-0.00], FRAP value [128.2+/-4.54micro g/mL] and total phenolic contents [66.89+/-7.73micro g/g] as compared to other organic fractions. Phytochemical investigation of the above mentioned fractions showed the presence of flavanoids, phenolics, terpenoids, sugars, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and cardiac glycosides in appreciable amounts, which have major contribution towards antioxidant activity

Potent AChE enzyme inhibition activity of Zizyphus oxyphylla: a new source of antioxidant compounds

The purpose of this study was to assess the antioxidant potential and enzyme inhibition of various fractions of Zizyphus oxyphylla. The plant metabolites were extracted in methanol and partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol successively. Phytochemical screening showed presence of alkaloids, terpenoids and flavonoids in ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions. The antioxidant potential and acetylcholine esterase assay of all these fractions and remaining aqueous fraction was evaluated by using reported methods. The results revealed that chloroform soluble fraction exhibited highest percent inhibition of DPPH radical as compared to other fractions. It showed 95.01 +/- 0.37% inhibition of DPPH radical at a concentration of 120microg/mL. The IC[50] of this fraction was 13.20 +/- 0.27microg/mL, relative to butylated hydroxytoluene [BHT, a reference standard], having IC[50] of 12.10 +/- 0.29microg/mL. It also showed highest total antioxidant activity i.e. 1.723 +/- 0.34 as well as highest FRAP value [339.5 +/- 0.57TEmicroM/mL] and highest total phenolic contents [142.65 +/- 1.20 GAE mg/g] as compared to the other studied fractions. The fractions were also studied for Acetylcholine esterase enzyme [AChE] enzyme inhibition activity and n-butanol soluble fraction exhibited maximum inhibition [95.5 +/- 0.13mg/mL with IC[50] =9.58 +/- 0.08mg/mL relative to galanthamine [13.26 +/- 0.73mg/mL], while n- hexane soluble fraction [165.15 +/- 0.94mg/mL] showed non-significant. We are still working to isolate pure compounds for active fractions targeting potent inhibition responsible for some activities

Pyrus pashia: a persuasive source of natural antioxidants

Pyrus pashia Buch. and Ham. was subjected to extraction with methanol. Methanolic extracts of fruit, bark and leaf were partitioned separately with four organic solvents in order of increasing polarity, asn-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol after dissolving in distilled water. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolics, flavonoides, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides in large amount in chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol soluble fractions. The antioxidant activity of crude methanolic extracts, all the obtained fourorganic fractions and remaining aqueous fractions was evaluated by different methods such as: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] assay and total antioxidant activity by phosphomolybdenum complex method as well as determination of total phenolics. The results of antioxidant activity exhibited that chloroform soluble fraction of fruit showed the highest value of percent inhibition of DPPH [48.16 +/- 0.21 microg/ml] at the concentration of 10microg/ml. Ethyl acetate soluble fraction displayed the lowest antioxidant activity having/C[50] value of bark as [8.64 +/- 0.32microg/ml] relative to butylated hydroxytoluene [BHT], having IC[50] of 12.1 +/- 0.92microg/ml. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction of bark revealed the highest FRAP[s] value [174.618 +/- 0.11 TE microM/ml] among all the three parts. This fraction also showed the highest value of total antioxidant activity as [1.499 +/- 0.90], determined by phosphomolybdenum complex method. Moreover, this fraction also conferred the highest phenolic content [393.19 +/- 0.72] as compared to other studied fractions of fruit and leaf

In vitro assessment of relief to oxidative stress by different fractions of Boerhavia procumbens

Methanolic extract of Boerhavia procumbens Bank ex Roxb. was partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol sequentially after dissolving in distilled water. Phytochemical screening showed presence of phenolics, flavonoides and cardiac glycosides in large amount in chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol soluble fraction. The antioxidant activity of all these fractions and the remaining aqueous fraction was evaluated by four methods such as: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] assay, total antioxidant activity and ferric thiocyanate assay. Total phenolics were also determined. Some fractions showed noteworthy antioxidant activity. The results of the antioxidant activity revealed that the ethyl acetate soluble fraction showed the highest value of percent inhibition of DPPH [82.54 +/- 0.62] at the concentration of 125 micro g/ml. The IC[50] of this fraction was 37.11 +/- 0.23 micro g/ml, compared with butylated hydroxytoluene [BHT], which have IC[50] of 12.1 +/- 0.92 micro g/mL. It also showed the highest FRAP value [251.08 +/- 1.46 micro g of trolox equivalents] as well as the highest value of lipid peroxidation inhibition [57.21 +/- 52%], the highest total antioxidant activity [0.549 +/- 0.08] and also the highest total phenolic contents [77.1 +/- 0.6] as compared to the studied fractions. Phytochemical screening showed high percentage of phenolics, flavonoides and cardiac glycosides in this fraction

Cotinus coggyria: a rich source of antioxidants

Methanolic extract of Cotinus coggyria Scop. was mixed in distilled water and partitioned first with the n-hexane, then with chloroform, then ethyl acetate and at the end with n-butanol. The phytochemical screening of plant showed presence of the phenolics, cardiac glycosides and flavonoides in large amount in the chloroform, n-butanol and ethyl acetate soluble fraction. Antioxidant activity of these four fractions and the left behind aqueous fraction was measured by four methods such as: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] free radical scavenging activity, ferric thiocyanate assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] assay and total antioxidant activity. Total phenolics were also measured. Noteworthy antioxidant potential was shown by the chloroform, n-butanol and ethyl acetate soluble fraction showed. Ethyl acetate fraction showed highest% inhibition of the DPPH radical when compared with the other studied fractions i.e. 81.64 +/- 1.29% inhibition of the DPPH radical at the concentration of 30 microg/ml. Its IC[50] value was found to be 15.58 +/- 0.09 microg/ml, comparative to the butylated hydroxytoluene [BHT], which has IC[50] value 12.6 +/- 0.85microg/mL. This fraction also showed the highest lipid peroxidation inhibition [61.41 +/- 1.16%], as well as highest values of FRAP [697.76 +/- 1.98 microg of trolox equivalents] total antioxidant activity [1.02 +/- 0.09] and total phenolic contents [229.34 +/- 0.57] comparative to the other studied fractions. The chloroform and n-butanol soluble fraction also showed good results for all the studied antioxidant assays

Preparation of new formulations of balm as a remedy of flu and their efficacy

Influenza, called the flu, is an acute, highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract, which commonly occurs in children or adults of any age mostly in the winter. In the present study three new formulations of petroleum jelly and essential oils based balm were prepared for the treatment of flu and their efficacy was studied on different age group people i.e. infants, adults, and old age. Results showed that the prepared balms not only gave relief from headache, fever, cough etc., but also they reduced the intensity of viral infection