Cytotoxicity Of Punarnava (boerhaavia Diffusa L.) In Breast Cell Line

The incidence of cancer especially breast cancer is increasing alarmingly worldwide with a high percentage of death especially in developing countries. The Ayurvedic system treasures a host of medicinal formulations that have been shown to possess cytotoxic effects on tumor cell lines. Recently herbal medicines are coming to play a more vital role in the reduction and prevention of cancer. Boerhaavia diffusa L. (Punarnava), an annual herb has been used for managing wide range of diseases including cancer. This herb was also screened for various pharmacological activities like anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-angiogenic, anti-metastatic activities and others. The decoction of root of Boerhaavia diffusa L. (Punarnava) was not scientifically evaluated for cytotoxicity. So the current study investigates the In vitro Cytotoxicity of root of decoction of Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa L.) in breast cell line (MCF-7). The five different concentrations of decoction of Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.) were used for In vitro Cytotoxicity by MTT assay at 24 hours and 48 hours. The test sample exhibits cytotoxicity of about 65.1±1.2at 800 µg/ ml concentration (48 hours) of incubation in MCF-7 breast cell line. The results were also analyzed statistically. It showed that there is highly significant difference in the percentage of inhibition of test sample in concentration from 50µg/ml -800µg/ml. The findings of this investigation concluded that the study drug Boerhaavia diffusa L. (Punarnava) has anti-cancer activity in MCF-7 breast cell line.

Antibacterial potential of fungal endophytes isolated from Boerhaavia diffusa L.

Boerhaavia diffusa L. is widely used for its ethno-medicinal properties. The present study assessed the antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi harbored in this plant. The endophytic fungi isolated belonged to various genera like Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Fusarium, Pestalotiopsis and Zygorhynchus and the overall colonization frequency of endophytic fungi was found to be 24%. Among the isolated fungi Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Fusarium sp. and Zygorhynchus sp. showed antibacterial activity in preliminary screening against one or all the test bacteria. Further, after fermentation, the ethyl acetate extracts of the selected endophytic fungi displayed variable antibacterial activity with maximum 54.75 mm and a minimum 27.50 mm zone of inhibition against test bacteria in disc diffusion assay. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 0.156 mg ml-1 in the broth dilution assay against a B. subtilis, S. typhi and S. aureus, while it was 0.312 mg ml-1 against E. coli which was offered by the ethyl acetate extracts of A. fumigatus.

Evaluation of the effect of Boerhavia diffusa on gentamicin‑induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Background: Ayurvedic literature claims that Boerhavia diffusa possesses rejuvenative properties especially related to the urinary system. Objective: To evaluate effect of aqueous extract of root of Boerhavia diffusa in gentamicin‑induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: Study was conducted in two parts, using 40 rats in each part. Rats were equally divided into five groups for each part. Group 1: Normal control, Group 2: Disease control and Groups 3, 4, and 5: α‑lipoic acid (ALA) and 200 and 400 mg/kg of B. diffusa, respectively. All groups, except Group 1, concomitantly received gentamicin 150 mg/kg/day for 10 days. Parameters measured in part I were blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, kidney malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels, kidney injury on histopathology; in part II, paraaminohippurate (PAH) clearance. Statistical Analysis: Mean ± SD of body weight, creatinine, BUN, MDA, GSH and PAH clearance were compared using parametric tests. Median histopathology scores were compared using Kruskal–Wallis test. ‘P’ value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: High dose of gentamicin caused significant elevation in BUN, serum creatinine and kidney MDA, fall in kidney GSH and histopathological damage in disease control group as compared with normal control (P < 0.05). Treatment with B. diffusa prevented changes in above parameters, comparable to ALA. Effects of both doses of B. diffusa were significantly better than disease control (P < 0.05). B. diffusa did not show significant improvement in PAH clearance, which was reduced due to gentamicin damage. Conclusion: B. diffusa exerted protection against structural and functional damage induced by gentamicin possibly due to its antioxidant properties.

BDP-30, a systemic resistance inducer from Boerhaavia diffusa L., suppresses TMV infection, and displays homology with ribosomeinactivating proteins.

Root extract of Boerhaavia diffusa L. induced systemic resistance in tobacco against Tobacco mosaic virus. A 30 kDa protein was isolated as the active component, called BDP-30 on the basis of the molecular weight and source plant. BDP-30, a glycoprotein, was found to be temperature and protease resistant. It was basic, possessing a pI greater than 9.0. In-gel proteolytic digestion of BDP-30 generated two peptides that possessed the amino acid sequence KLYDIPPLR and KVTLPYSGNYER by LC/MS/MS. Both peptides shared absolute sequence identity with trichosanthin, a ribosome-inactivating protein from Trichosanthes kirilowii, and a 78% and 100% homology respectively with an RIP from Bryonia dioica, bryodin. Further, effort was made to look at the fate of TMV in induced resistant Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi, a systemic host of the virus, at specified days after inoculation in control and treated plants. TMV coat protein (CP) was detected by immunoblot 7 days post inoculation up to 21 days in the control set, but not in treated resistant plants. TMV RNA was detected by RT-PCR using TMV-CP specific primers. Resistant tobacco did not show presence of TMV RNA up to 21 days of inoculation. This suggests that BDP-30 may be suppressing TMV replication.

Pharmacodynamic interaction of Boerhaavia diffusa with omeprazole in experimentally induced ulcers in rats .

The study evaluates the possible gastro protective of combination therapy of Omeprazole and Boerhaavia diffusa using three different gastric ulcer models. Gastric Ulcers in SD rats were induced by Indomethacin (25mg/kg), Pyrolus ligation model and stress-induced Ulcer. Various parameters like free acidity and total acidity, ulcer index, ulcer score, pepsin and mucin content, anti oxidant parameters like super oxide dismtase and catalase were evaluated. Omeprazole (2mg/kg) was used as the standard drug. Boerhaavia diffusa was administered at two dose levels, 200mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight. Statistical analysis was done by ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s Multiple Comparision test. P<0.05 was considerable statistically significant.Oral administration of combination of Omeprazole and Boerhaevia diffusa at 200 and 400 mg/kg produced significant (p<0.01 & p<0.001) decrease in acidity, ulcer index and severity of ulceration in the pylorus ligation model as well as protection against stress and Indomethacin induced ulcerations compared to control. It also shows significant (p<0.001) decrease pepsin content and significant (p<0.001) increase in mucin content compared to control pylorus ligation model. In Indomethacin induced model combination therapy at high level shows significant increase (p<0.001) in antioxidant parameters like SOD and catalase compared to control. The anti ulcer effects of combination of Omeprazole and Boerhaavia diffusa at both the dose levels were significantly higher than that of omeprazole alone. Combination therapy was found to be an effective anti ulcerogenic agent, minimizing any possible side effects. The result of the study suggests that combination therapy causes an inhibitory effect on release of gastric hydro chloric acid and protects gastric mucosal damage.

Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Boerhaavia diffusa against carbon tetrachloride induced liver toxicity in albino rats.

Background: Modern allopathic medicine has very little to offer for the treatment of liver disorders in spite of consistent effort for new drug discovery. Hence, this study was conducted to elucidate the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of traditional medicinal plant Boerhaavia diffusa against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced toxicity in male albino rats. Methods: The hepatoprotective effect of the aqueous extracts of B. diffusa was evaluated by biochemical parameters such as serum alanine transferases (ALT), serum asparate transferases (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total serum bilirubin, and serum protein, and confirmed by histopathology of liver. The toxicant CCl4 was used to induce hepatotoxicity and silymarin were used as control drug. The aqueous extracts of B. diffusa were administered at the doses of 250 mg/kg/day and 500 mg/kg/day orally for 4 days. One-way analysis of variance was used for the statistical analysis of data. A probability value of p<0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Administration of B. diffusa at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg orally demonstrated hepatoprotective activity by preventing the increase of ALT, AST, ALP, and serum bilirubin and also confirmed by histopathology of the liver. The results were comparable to that of silymarin®. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extracts of B. diffusa at doses of 250 mg/kg/and 500 mg/kg/against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats. However, the dose adjustments may be necessary to optimize the similar hepatoprotective efficacy in clinical settings.

Punarnavine, an alkaloid isolated from ethanolic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. reverses depression-like behaviour in mice subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress.

Punarnavine (20 and 40 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) per se administered orally for 14 successive days significantly decreased immobility periods of both unstressed and stressed mice in forced swim test. These drugs also significantly decreased sucrose preference in both stressed and unstressed mice as compared to their respective controls, indicating significant antidepressant-like activity. The drugs did not show any significant effect on locomotor activity of mice. The alkaloid also significantly decreased monoamine oxidase (MAO-A) activity, malondialdehyde levels in both unstressed and stressed mice; and significantly reversed the stress-induced decrease in reduced glutathione and catalase activity. It also significantly attenuated the stress-induced increase in plasma nitrite and corticosterone levels. Thus, punarnavine showed antidepressant-like activity in unstressed and stressed mice probably through inhibition of brain MAO-A activity, decrease in plasma nitrite levels and due to its antioxidant activity. In addition, punarnavine also showed antidepressant-like activity in stressed mice possibly through decrease in plasma corticosterone levels.

Behavioural and neuroendocrine effects of aqueous extract of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. in mice using tail suspension and forced swim tests – A preliminary study.

The present study was done to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of B. diffusa on depression in mice using behavioral models such as tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST). The extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, po) was administered for 14 successive days to Swiss young albino mice. On 14th day, 60 min after administration, mice were subjected to TST and FST. The administration of aqueous extract of B. diffusa (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, po) significantly decreased immobility period in both TST and FST, indicating significant antidepressant-like activity. The lowest dose (50 mg/kg) of the extract decreased the immobility period most significantly in FST, showing most potent antidepressant-like action. The efficacy of the extract (50 mg/kg) was comparable to fluoxetine (20 mg/kg). The extract did not show any significant effect on locomotor activity. The extract showed significant monoamine oxidase -A inhibitory activity. There was no significant effect of the extract on plasma corticosterone levels. Prazosin (α1-adrenoceptor antagonist), sulpiride (selective D2-receptor antagonist), baclofen (GABAB agonist), and p-CPA (tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor) significantly attenuated the extract-induced antidepressant-like effect, when tested in TST. The extract might produce antidepressant-like effect by interaction with α1-adrenoceptors, dopamine-D2 receptors, serotonergic, and GABAB receptors. Thus, aqueous extract of B. diffusa showed significant antidepressant-like activity in mice probably through involvement of monoaminergic and GABAergic systems.

Effect of hydrothermal processing on total polyphenolics and antioxidant potential of underutilized leafy vegetables, Boerhaavia diffusa and Portulaca oleracea

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of different processing methods on antioxidant properties of acetone extract of aerial parts from Boerhaavia diffusa and Portulaca oleracea.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteau and aluminum chloride method, respectively. FRAP, metal chelating activity, DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide, hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging activities, carotene/linoleic acid bleaching activity were used for the determination of antioxidant capacity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total phenolics in Boerhaavia diffusa (82.79-162.80 mg GAE/g extract) were found to be higher when compared to that of Portulaca oleracea (22.94-10.02 mg GAE/g extract). Hydrothermal processing enhanced the level of inhibition on synthetic radicals such as DPPH (3 439-309 549 mmol TE/g extract) and ABTS (17 808-53 818 mmol TE/g extract) as well as biologically relevant radicals such as superoxide anion (70%-90%) and nitric oxide (49%-57%). In addition, boiling of the vegetables were found to be maximum capacity of FRAP (6 404.95 mmol Fe (II)/g extract) and metal chelating activity (1.53 mg EDTA/g extract) than the respective raw samples.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The present investigation suggests that the processing enhance the functionality and improves the availability of bioactive substances of these vegetables. In addition, they also exhibited more potent antioxidant activity. Therefore these natural weeds from the crop land ecosystem could be suggested as cost effective indigenous green vegetables for human diet and potential feed resources for animals. Further extensive studies on role and importance of those weeds in sustaining the agro biodiversity are also needed.</p>

Effect of hydrothermal processing on total polyphenolics and antioxidant potential of underutilized leafy vegetables, Boerhaavia diffusa and Portulaca oleracea

Objective: To investigate the effect of different processing methods on antioxidant properties of acetone extract of aerial parts from Boerhaavia diffusa and Portulaca oleracea.Methods:The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteau and aluminum chloride method, respectively. FRAP, metal chelating activity, DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide, hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging activities, carotene/linoleic acid bleaching activity were used for the determination of antioxidant capacity.Results:The total phenolics in Boerhaavia diffusa (82.79-162.80 mg GAE/g extract) were found to be higher when compared to that of Portulaca oleracea (22.94-10.02 mg GAE/g extract). Hydrothermal processing enhanced the level of inhibition on synthetic radicals such as DPPH (3439-309549 mmol TE/g extract) and ABTS (17808-53818 mmol TE/g extract) as well as biologically relevant radicals such as superoxide anion (70%-90%) and nitric oxide (49%-57%). In addition, boiling of the vegetables were found to be maximum capacity of FRAP (6 404.95 mmol Fe (II)/g extract) and metal chelating activity (1.53 mg EDTA/g extract) than the respective raw samples. Conclusions: The present investigation suggests that the processing enhance the functionality and improves the availability of bioactive substances of these vegetables. In addition, they also exhibited more potent antioxidant activity. Therefore these natural weeds from the crop land ecosystem could be suggested as cost effective indigenous green vegetables for human diet and potential feed resources for animals. Further extensive studies on role and importance of those weeds in sustaining the agro biodiversity are also needed.

Antioxidant status in polycystic end-staged renal diseased patients and antihemolytic effect of Boerhaavia diffusa.

Chronic renal failure (CRF) induces anaemia by shortening the life-span of erythrocytes, due to an increase in oxidative stress, which is considered to be one of the major risk factors in CRF patients undergoing hemodialysis. In the present study, the antioxidant status of the end-staged renal disease (ESRD) patients was investigated. The antihemolytic activity of Boerhaavia diffusa on the erythrocytes of the patients was also studied. Protein, lipid peroxides (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were measured in the hemolysate from 55 polycystic ESRD patients (Group II) and compared with normal subjects (Group I). The antioxidant status was found to be significantly reduced in the patients as compared to normal healthy volunteers, due to increased oxidative stress. Also, aqueous extract of B. diffusa showed a significant antihemolytic activity on the erythrocytes of the polycystic ESRD patients.