Anti-carcinogenic potential of Euphorbia neriifolia leaves and isolated flavonoid against N-Nitrosodiethylamine-induced renal carcinogenesis in mice.

Anti-carcinogenic potential of hydro-ethanolic extract of Euphorbia neriifolia (EN) leaves and an isolated flavonoid (ENF) was investigated against N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DENA)-induced renal carcinogenesis in mice. Experimental mice were pretreated with 150 and 400 mg/kg body wt of EN, 0.5% and 1% mg/kg body wt of butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) as a standard antioxidant and 50 mg/kg body wt of ENF for 21 days prior to the administration of a single dose of 50 mg/kg body wt of DENA. Levels of renal markers (urea and creatinine), xenobiotic metabolic enzymes (Cyt P450 and Cyt b5), lipid peroxidation (LPO), antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GST and GSH) and other biochemical parameters — AST, ALT, ALP, total protein (TP), and total cholesterol (TC) were measured to determine the renal carcinogenesis caused by DENA. DENA administration significantly (p<0.001) decreased the body weight and increased the tissue weight. It significantly (p<0.001) enhanced the levels of Cyt P450, Cyt b5 and LPO and decreased the levels of SOD, CAT, GST and GSH content. The activities of AST, ALT and ALP and the TP content and renal markers were also significantly decreased (p<0.001), while TC level was markedly increased after DENA administration, as compared with the normal control group (p<0.001). Pretreatment with EN and ENF counteracted DENA-induced oxidative stress (LPO) and exerted its protective effects by restoring the levels of antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GST and GSH), biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, ALP, TP and TC), renal markers (urea and creatinine) and xenobiotic enzymes (Cyt P450 and Cyt b5) in renal tissue. In conclusion, the present study showed significant anti-carcinogenic potential of the hydro-ethanolic extract of E. neriifolia and ENF against DENA-induced renal carcinogenicity.

Protective effect of Withania somnifera roots extract on hematoserological profiles against lead nitrate-induced toxicity in mice.

The in vivo protective role of hydro-methanolic root extract of Withania somnifera (WS) was evaluated in alleviating lead nitrate (LN)-induced toxicity in male Swiss albino mice by measuring hematoserological profiles. The lead-treated (20 mg/kg body wt, p.o.) albino mice (25-30 g) concurrently received the root extract (200 and 500 mg/kg body wt, p.o.) once daily for the duration of six weeks. Animals exposed to LN showed significant (P<0.001) decline in haemoglobin content, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, packed cell volume and insignificant decrease in mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin content, while mean corpuscular volume and platelet count were increased. A significant elevation (P<0.001) in serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and total cholesterol were also observed, when compared with control mice. Thus, the study demonstrated that the concurrent daily administration of root extract of WS protected the adverse effects of LN intoxication in mice.

Ameliorative effect of Docosahexaenoic acid and gamma-linolenic acid on blood glucose level in lead treated Swiss albino mice during gestation and lactation.

Numbers of studies in animal models have shown changes in blood glucose level after lead administration. In the present study, ameliorative effect of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) on random blood glucose level of normal and lead exposed pregnant and lactating Swiss albino mice were compared. Pregnant females were exposed to heavy metal lead orally on diet containing 4.5% lead nitrate and 4.5% lead acetate trihydrate during gestation to 3rd week of lactation. Blood glucose level was examined on 15th day of gestation and 10th day of lactation. The results indicated that in lead intoxicated pregnant females, blood glucose level increased. It can be concluded that not only lead exposure during gestation can severely affect the growth and development of pups but can also produce adverse effect on one already having increased blood glucose or diabetes. DHA and GLA showed ameliorative effect on blood glucose level in Swiss albino mice.

Protective role of coriandrum sativum (coriander) extracts against lead nitrate induced oxidative stress and tissue damage in the liver and kidney in male mice.

The present study describes antioxidant effect of Coriandrum sativum against lead nitrate induced toxicity in mice. Oxidative stress was induced in mice by a daily dose of lead nitrate (40 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage) for seven days. From day eight, after lead nitrate treatment, experimental animals received an oral dose of coriander extracts (aqueous extract - 300 mg/kg body weight and 600 mg/kg body weight; ethanolic extract - 250 mg/kg body weight and 500 mg/kg body weight) daily. The effect of these treatments in influencing the lead induced changes on hepatic and renal oxidative stress and biochemical changes along with histopathological alterations in soft tissues was studied. The data showed significant increase in liver and kidney LPO levels in animals treated with lead nitrate while the effect was attenuated by the plant extracts. Also, lead caused a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity and this effect was reversed in groups treated with plant extract. Treatment with coriander significantly reduced the adverse effects related to most of biochemical parameters altered in animals treated with lead, related to hepatic and renal oxidative stress. Oral administration of Coriander to lead treated mice attenuated the deranged histopathological changes to some extent. It can be concluded from these results that Coriandrum sativum protects against lead toxicity and warrants the identification and isolation of active compounds responsible for its antioxidant effects.

Elucidation of Analgesic and Antipyretic activities of Ficus bengalensis linn. Leaves in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic, antipyretic properties of the various (chloroform, ethanol and water) extracts from leaf of Ficus bengalensis (Moraceae) in rats. Dose of the different extracts 200mg/kg, i.p. were significantly reduced (p<0.05). The analgesic activity of leaf of Ficus bengalensis was studied using hot-plate method and tail-immersion method in rats. The antipyretic activity of leaf of Ficus bengalensis was studied in Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. Ethanolic extract of leaf of Ficus bengalensis showed more significant activity, while, chloroform extract and water extract does not showed significant (p<0.05) analgesic activity as compared to standard drug using hot-plate method and by tail-immersion method. Extracts obtained were also subjected to evaluate antipyretic activity by yeast induced fevered rats. Aspirin (100mg/kg) was taken as standard drug. Water and chloroform extract showed significant decrease in elevated body temperature, while ethanol extract did not showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in elevated body temperature as compared to standard drug.

Female adnexal tumour of probable Wolffian origin.

A 56-year-old woman presented with gradually increasing lower abdominal lump since 1 year. She was subjected to laparotomy and a solid and cystic mass was removed from right broad ligament with pan-hysterectomy. Mass on histopathological examination was proved to be tumor of Wolffian origin. This is a condition rarely reported in Indian literature.

Retrospective and prospective study of ovarian tumours and tumour-like lesions.

Two hundred and thirty three cases of ovarian tumours and tumour like lesions were studied. Of these 233 cases, 96 cases were of ovarian tumours and 137 were tumour like lesions of the ovary. Of the 96 cases of ovarian tumours, 72.9% were benign, 4.1% were borderline and 22.9% were malignant. Histologically surface epithelial tumours were the commonest (48.8%) followed by germ cell tumours (23.9%), sex cord stromal tumours (8.3%) and metastatic tumours (2.0%). Ultrasound guided FNAC done in cases of ovarian tumours showed an accuracy of 100% for malignant lesions and 100% for benign and borderline lesions when compared with histopathological diagnosis. Of the non neoplastic lesions follicular cysts and corpus leuteal cysts were commonest (80.2%). Tuberculosis constituted (2.9%) cases and was the major cause of clinical diagnostic pitfalls for cases in which a clinical diagnosis of ovarian neoplasm was made.