Antidiabetic activity of Pseudarthria viscida aqueous root extract in neonatal streptozotocin-induced NIDDM rats

The antidiabetic activity of the aqueous root extract of Pseudarthria viscida (L.) Wight & Arn., Fabaceae, was investigated in normal and neonatal streptozotocin (n2-STZ)-induced non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats and compared with glibenclamide as a reference standard. Two different doses (250 and 500 mg/kg) of the extract were administered to normal and experimental diabetic rats for 21 days. Fasting blood glucose levels, serum lipid profiles and changes in body weight were evaluated in normal and diabetic rats while serum insulin, glycated hemoglobin, urea, creatinine, magnesium, protein, albumin and glycogen, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in kidney and liver were evaluated additionally in diabetic rats. Treatment with extract at both dose levels was found to exhibit antidiabetic activity, with the higher dose showing more significant activity.

In vitro antioxidant studies of Sphaeranthus indicus (Linn).

The free radical scavenging potential of the plant S. indicus was studied by using different antioxidant models of screening. The ethanolic extract at 1000 microg/ml showed maximum scavenging of the radical cation, 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) observed upto 41.99% followed by the scavenging of the stable radical 1,1-diphenyl, 2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) (33.27%), superoxide dismutase (25.14%) and nitric oxide radical (22.36%) at the same concentration. However, the extract showed only moderate scavenging activity of iron chelation (14.2%). Total antioxidant capacity of the extract was found to be 160.85 nmol/g ascorbic acid. The results justify the therapeutic applications of the plant in the indigenous system of medicine, augmenting its therapeutic value.

Antioxidant and antiulcer activity of aqueous extract of a polyherbal formulation.

The aqueous extract of Hingwashtak churna was evaluated for gastroprotection in rats using the ibuprofen and ethanol induced ulcer models. Efficacy was assessed by determination of mean ulcer size, ulcer number and ulcer index. Oral administration of the aqueous extract (750 mg/kg) significantly protected against gastric lesions by 84.96% and 91.12% as compared to ranititidine (95.54 and 95.2%) in the ibuprofen and alcohol induced ulcer models respectively. The findings suggest that the significant gastroprotective activity could be mediated by its antioxidant activity which was evaluated by using different antioxidant models of screening.

In vitro antioxidant studies of Annona squamosa Linn. leaves.

The free radical scavenging potential of the leaves of A. squamosa was studied by using different antioxidant models of screening. The ethanolic extract at 1000 microg/ml showed maximum scavenging of the radical cation, 2,2-azinobis- (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) observed upto 99.07% followed by the scavenging of the stable radical 1,1-diphenyl, 2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) (89.77 %) and nitric oxide radical (73.64%) at the same concentration. However, the extract showed only moderate scavenging activity of superroxide radicals and antilipid peroxidation potential, which was performed using rat- brain homogenate. The findings justify the therapeutic applications of the plant in the indigenous system of medicine, augmenting its therapeutic value.

Effect of lupeol isolated from Crataeva nurvala Buch.-Ham. stem bark extract against free radical induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Lupeol, isolated from Crataeva nurvala stem bark in doses 40 and 80 mg/kg body weight, po, for 10 days, decreased the concentration of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and lipid peroxidation and increased glutathione and catalase activities in cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight, ip) induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The increased glutathione and catalase activities are indicative of antioxidant properties of lupeol.

Wound healing property of ethanolic extract of leaves of Hyptis suaveolens with supportive role of antioxidant enzymes.

Ethanolic extract of leaves of Hyptis suaveolens was evaluated for its wound healing activity in ether-anaesthetized Wistar rats at two different doses (400 and 800 mg/kg) using incision, excision, and dead space wound model. Significant increase in skin breaking strength, granuloma breaking strength, wound contraction, hydroxyproline content and dry granuloma weight and decrease in epithelization period was observed. A supportive study made on granuloma tissue to estimate the levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase recorded a significant increase in the level of these antioxidant enzymes. Granuloma tissue was subjected to histopathological examination to determine the pattern of lay-down for collagen using Van Gieson and Masson Trichrome stains. Enhanced wound healing activity may be due to free radical scavenging action of the plant and enhanced level of antioxidant enzymes in granuloma tissue. Better collagenation may be because of improved antioxidant studies.

Protective effect of Pongamia pinnata flowers against cisplatin and gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Ethanolic extract of flowers of Pongamia pinnata was studied for its protective effect against cisplatin and gentamicin induced renal injury in rats. When the extract (300 & 600 mg kg(-1)) was administered orally for 10 days following cisplatin (5 mg kg(-1) i.p.) on day 5, toxicity of cisplatin, as measured by loss of body weight, elevated blood urea and serum creatinine declined significantly. Similarly in gentamicin (40 mg kg(-1) s.c.) induced renal injury, the extract (600 mg kg(-1)) normalized the raised blood urea and serum creatinine levels. Reversal of cisplatin and gentamicin renal cell damage as induced by tubular necrosis ie, marked congestion of the glomeruli with glomerular atrophy, degeneration of tubular epithelial cells with casts in the tubular lumen and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the interstitium was confirmed on histopathological examination. In the preventive regimen, co-administration of the extract with gentamicin significantly prevented the renal injury both functionally and histologically. Ethanolic extract of flowers had a marked nitric oxide free radical scavenging effect, suggesting an antioxidative property. Two flavonoids, known for their antioxidant activity viz. kaempferol and 3, 5, 6, 7, 8-pentamethoxy flavone were isolated from the extract. The results suggested that the flowers of Pongamia pinnata had a protective effect against cisplatin and gentamicin induced renal injury through antioxidant property.