ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the antispermatogenic and testicular antisteroidogenic activities of Feronia limonia fruit pulp southern India.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourty Wistar male albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were equally divided into four groups. Experimental groups were administered with the ethanolic extract of Feronia limonia (F. limoni) fruit pulp at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight once daily for 55 days. All treated rats had corresponding recovery groups. At the end of each treatment periods, various spermatological indices, tissue biochemicals and testicular enzymes levels were analysed. Blood profiles were also estimated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control, the F. limonia fruit pulp at both dose levels did not decrease body weight, which were associated with decline in epididymal sperm count, motility, viability and increased percent of abnormal sperm. Further, F. limonia fruit pulp at 500 mg/kg body weight markedly reduced the epididymal and testicular protein content by 24.58% and 29.86%, respectively, as well as the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and Δ(5)-3β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase) levels by 42.82% and 38.08%, respectively, while a significant elevation was observed in testicular cholesterol and ascorbic acid content. A gradual recovery of all parameters was observed after 55 days of treatment withdrawal. No significant alterations in haematological indices were observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The present findings indicate that F. limonia fruit pulp may have reversible antispermatogenic and antisteroidogenic properties, and could partially support the traditional use as male contraceptive.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Rats , Administration, Oral , Antispermatogenic Agents , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Ascorbic Acid , Chemistry , Cell Survival , Cholesterol , Chemistry , Fruit , Chemistry , Lethal Dose 50 , Plant Extracts , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Sperm Count , Sperm Motility , Spermatozoa , Testis , Metabolism , Toxicity Tests, Acute , Tracheophyta , ChemistryABSTRACT
Feronia limonia (Family Rutaceae, subfamily Aurantioideae), commonly known as kaitha or wood apple, is widely used as an ethnomedicine in India. Its leaves are prescribed for a wide variety of ailments like diarrhoea, urinary disorders, treatment of piles or haemorrhoids, acidity, ulcers, ringworm and other chronic skin infections. However, detailed scientific information is not available to identify the plant material and to ascertain its quality and purity. In the present communication, a qualitative fingerprinting of Feronia limonia (FL), extracts have been performed by HPTLC and HPLC methods, which provide qualitative insights into the bioactive constituents present in the extracts. Also, morphological anatomical and physico-chemical characters, along with phytochemical screening and fluorescence analysis of powdered crude drug were carried out for systemic identification and authentification of leaves. This study provides referential information for identification and characterization of FL leaf and its extracts.
Feronia limonia (Familia Rutaceae, subfamilia Aurantioideae), comúnmente conocida como kaitha o manzana de madera, y es extensamente usada como una ethnomedicina en India. Sus hojas son indicadas para una amplia variedad de dolencias como diarrea, desórdenes urinarios, el tratamiento de hemorroides, acidez, úlceras, tiña y otras infecciones crónicas de la piel. Sin embargo, la información científica detallada no está disponible para identificar el material de la especie y averiguar su calidad y pureza. En la presente comunicación, un análisis cualitativo de extractos de Feronia limonia (FL), se realizó por HPTLC y HPLC, lo que proporcionó información cualitativa de los componentes bioactivos presentes en los extractos. También, los caracteres anatómicos, fisico-químicos y morfológicos, junto con un examen fitoquímico y análisis de fluorescencia de la planta en polvo fueron realizados para la identificación sistémica y autentificación de las hojas. Este estudio proporciona la información de referencia para identificación y caracterización de las hojas de FL y sus extractos.
Subject(s)
Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Rutaceae/chemistry , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Chromatography, Thin Layer , Fluorescence , Rosales/chemistryABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the cytotoxicity and hepatoprotective potentials of extracts, fractions or isolated compound from the leaves of Feronia limonia (F. limonia).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Qualitative phytochemical analysis of extracts, fractions or compound was performed by means of thin layer chromatography and spectroscopic assays. The % purity of compound was measured by analytical HPLC. Extracts, fractions or compound have been individually evaluated for their cytotoxicity effects (10, 20, 100, 250, 500, 750 and 1 000 µg/mL). Based on the inhibitory concentration (IC50) obtained from the cell viability assay, graded concentrations of extracts, fractions or isolated compound were assessed (10, 20, 50, 100, 200 µg/mL) for its hepatoprotective potential against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity by monitoring activity levels of serum glutamatic pyruvatic transaminase (SGPT) and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results indicated that the methanol extract of F. limonia was non-toxic and hepatoprotective in nature as compared with the petroleum ether extract. The acetone fraction of methanolic extract also showed similar properties but the subsequent two fractions were cytotoxic. However, the pure compound isolated from the penultimate fraction of methanolic extract was non-toxic and hepatoprotective in nature. Biochemical investigations (SGOT, SGPT) further corroborated these cytological observations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It can be concluded from this study that F. limonia methanol extract, some fractions and pure isolated compound herein exhibit hepatoprotective activity. However, cytotoxicity recorded in the penultimate fraction and investigation of structural details of pure compound warrants further study.</p>