Wound healing potential of flowers extracts of Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz.

Wound healing or repair is the body’s natural process of regenerating dermal and epidermal tissue. Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz (Family: Lythraceae) is used traditionally in wound healing by the tribals of Chhattisgarh district. However, there is a paucity of scientific data in support. In this study, we evaluated antimicrobial activity of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanolic and aqueous extracts against a diverse range of gram +ve and gram -ve bacteria along with pathogenic fungi. The wound healing activity of ethanolic extract was also evaluated at dose levels of 250 and 500 mg/kg body wt in rats by excision, incision and dead space wound healing models along with histopathology of wound area of skin. The ethanolic extract showed potent wound healing activity, as evident from the increase in the wound contraction and breaking strength in dose-dependent manner. Treatment with ethanolic extract (250 and 500 mg/kg body wt) showed significant dose-dependently decrease in epithelization period and scar area. Hydroxyproline, hexuronic acid and hexosamine contents, the important constituents of extracellular matrix of healing were also correlated with the observed healing pattern. During early wound healing phase, pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels were found to be upregulated by the ethanolic extract treatment. The ethanolic extract exhibited a strong and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity, as compared to other extracts. It showed very low Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and inhibited the growth of E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans in concentration of 2.5 µg/disc. Thus, the results of the present study demonstrated the strong wound healing potential and antimicrobial activities of W. fruticosa, flowers, supporting the folklore use of the plant by the tribal people of Chhattisgarh district.

Pharmacological evaluation of hyperin for antihyperglycemic activity and effect on lipid profile in diabetic rats.

Antihyperglycemic potential of hyperin at 25 and 50 mg/kg doses for 30 days to streptozotocin induced diabetic rats has been reported. In oral glucose tolerance test, hyperin treated rats showed a significant reduction in blood glucose level after 120 min. It was found that hyperin exhibited dose dependent and significant antihyperglycemic activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats which were nearly similar with standard drug glybenclamide. Activities of glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, glycogen phosphorylase, glycosylated haemoglobin and level of serum urea and creatinine were significantly decreased in hyperin supplemented diabetic rats, dose dependently. Activities of hexokinase and glycogen synthase were increased with augmentation in liver glycogen, insulin and haemoglobin content in hyperin treated diabetic rats. General hematological parameters did not show any significant change in hyperin treated diabetic rats hence it is safe at these doses. Histopathological studies showed significant morphological changes in pancreatic β-cells of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. A decreased number of secretory granules of β- cells were observed in diabetic rats and these pathological abnormalities were normalized after treatment with hyperin and standard drug glybenclamide. Further, hyperin decreases significant in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein levels coupled with elevation of high density lipoprotein in diabetic rats. These results suggest that hyperin has a pivotal role in blood glucose level in streptozotocin induced hyperglycemia by improving the function of pancreatic islets and increasing glycolysis and decreasing gluconeogenesis.

Antihyperglycemic activity of Woodfordia fruticosa (Kurz) flowers extracts in glucose metabolism and lipid peroxidation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The ethanolic extract of W. fruticosa flowers (250 and 500 mg/kg) significantly reduced fasting blood glucose level and increased insulin level after 21 days treatment in streptozotocin diabetic rats. The extract also increased catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase activities significantly and reduced lipid peroxidation. Glycolytic enzymes showed a significant increase in their levels while a significant decrease was observed in the levels of the gluconeogenic enzymes in ethanolic extract treated diabetic rats. The extract has a favourable effect on the histopathological changes of the pancreatic β- cells in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The results suggest that W. fruticosa possess potential antihyperglycemic effect by regulating glucose homeostasis and antioxidant efficacy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

A serological study of human cysticercosis in Pondicherry, South India.

The present study was carried out to determine the extent of the problem of cysticercosis in Pondicherry by assessing the antibody response to porcine cysticercus antigen by the indirect haemagglutination (IHA) in people residing in and around Pondicherry and in patients clinically suspected to have cysticercosis. Serum samples were collected from 1442 persons apparently normal in respect to cysticercosis, 91 cases of clinically suspected cases of cysticercosis, and 100 normal healthy students and blood donors. These sera were tested for cysticercus antibodies by IHA test using whole porcine cysticercus antigen sensitised RBCs. An antibody titre of 1:64 and above by the IHA was considered to be diagnostic of cysticercosis. At this diagnostic titre, 88 (6.10 %) of 1442 apparently normal population sera were seropositive. Of these 88 seropositive subjects, 16 (18.18 %), 33 (37.5 %) and 32 (36.36 %) were in the age groups of 1-13 yrs, 14-40 years and above 40 years respectively. 52 (59.1%) were males and 36 (40.9 %) were females. Twenty (21.97%) out of 91 clinically suspected cases were found to be seropositive out of which 14 (70 %) were males and 6 (30 %) females. 4 cases were in the age group of 6-13 years, 14 cases in 14-40 years and 2 cases were in the age group of 40 years and more. Cysticercus antibodies were not detected in any of the sera from healthy peoples including students. A positive antibody response in 6.1 % of population residing in and around Pondicherry and in 21.97 % of patients clinically suspected cases of cysticercosis show that cysticercosis may be more common in Pondicherry than believed.