Effects of angipars on oxidative inflammatory indices in a murine model of periodontitis

There are strong evidences linking overproduction of reactive oxygen species and periodontal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy of Angipars a natural potent anti oxidative agent on markers of the oxidative damages and periodontal inflammation in the rat. Periodontitis was induced by single injection of lipopolysaccharide [LPS] from E. coli [10 micro g/micro l saline] into rat mandibular gingiva. After 10 days, animals in the test group received Angipars [2.1 mg/kg] by gavage once a day and those of control group received same amount of vehicle. The amount of interleukin [IL]-1beta, lipid peroxidation [LPO], and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine [8-OHdG] were measured in gingival biopsy samples and the degree of apical migration of junctional epithelium [JE], alveolar bone resorption, and the number of polymorphonuclears [PMN] were evaluated by histological analysis of block samples of the left mandibular first molars. Periodontitis group showed a significant increase in periodontal IL-1beta, LPO, 8-OHdG, apical migration of JE, alveolar bone resorption and number of PMNs. Angipars treatment resulted in a significant decrease in gingival IL-1beta, LPO, 8-OHdG and the apical migration of JE; however, the reduction of alveolar bone resorption was not significant. The number of PMN increased significantly after treatment with Angipars. While intake of vehicle resulted in a significant decrease in gingival IL-1beta and LPO, the reduction of 8-OHdG, apical migration of JE, and alveolar bone resorption were not significant. Interestingly, PMNs were increased in groups received Angipars or the vehicle. From the results of this study, it seems that Angipars is beneficial in periodontitis by reduction of inflammatory and oxidative damage. Unexpected increase of PMN count by Angipars strengthens the hypothesis that chronic inflammatory disorders like periodontitis may need more time to get best advantage of anti oxidative drugs like Angipars. Regarding role of microbes in pathogenesis of periodontitis, further studies should be focused on antimicrobial effects of Angipars

Effects of semelil [ANGIPARS[TM]] on focal cerebral ischemia in male rats

Cerebral ischemia is one of the main causes of long term disability and death in aged populations. Many herbal drugs and extracts have been used for the treatment of cerebral ischemia induced insults. This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Semelil [ANGIPARS[tm], a new herbal drug, on focal cerebral ischemia in male rats. Male rats were divided into five groups: sham-operated, ischemic animals treated with distilled water as vehicle, ischemic animals treated with 1.10 and 100 mg/kg of Semilil respectively. Middle cerebral artery occlusion [MCAO] model was used in NMRI rats and neuronal injury analyzed in hippocampal CA1 sector after 48 hrs of Middle Cerebral Artery [MCAO]. Results of this study showed that treatment with semelil attenuated ischemic damages and has positive effects on focal cerebral ischemia

In vitro anti-inflammatory effects of different solution fractions of ethanol extract from Melilotus suaveolens Ledeb / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Melilotus suaveolens Ledeb (M. suaveolens Ledeb) has long been used as a folk medicine in inflammation-related therapy. This study was undertaken to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of the plant.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Petroleum ether fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, n-butanol fraction, aqueous fraction were obtained from ethanol extract of M. suaveolens Ledeb and evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). While dexamethasone (DM) was used as a positive control, the effects of different solution fractions of ethanol extract on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) mRNA, COX-2 and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were studied by real-time PCR, Western blot analysis and immunocytochemical assay, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Coumarin was one of the main ingredients in different solution fractions of ethanol extract except the aqueous fraction with no inflammatory effect. The petroleum ether fraction, ethyl acetate fraction and n-butanol fraction of ethanol extract could inhibit the production of TNF-alpha mRNA, COX-2 mRNA and NF-kappaB to some extent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Different solution fractions of ethanol extract from M. suaveolens Ledeb had similar anti-inflammatory effect as did dexamethasone except the aqueous fraction. Coumarin was likely to be essential to the anti-inflammatory effect, and other ingredients might attribute to their different anti-inflammatory effects from the HPLC fingerprint.</p>

[Effect of aqueous extract of origanum vulgare and melilotus officinalis on production of nitric oxide [No] in cultured vascular endothelial cells [mouse endothelioma F-2 cell line]]

During recent years, nitric oxide [NO] has been considered as a molecule involved in migraine headaches. This free radical involves in initiation of migraine headaches via NO/cGMP signaling pathway and vascular relaxation specially big intracranial arteries. Therefore, we studied the effects of aqueous extract of Origanum vulgare and Melilotus officinalis prescribed in migraine treatment in traditional and modern medicine, on NO level in cultured endothelial cells. Each crude herb [25g] was mixed with 200 ml distilled water. End extract obtained after filtering and drying. Endothelial cells propagated in DMEM medium containing 10% FCS and 1-2% penicillin-streptomycin. The nitrite concentration was measured as an indicator of nitric oxide production according to the Griess reaction and with ELISA in 540 nm. Concentrations of 100, 200 and 400 g/ml of Origanum vulgare, reduced NO levels compared with control to 13.1% [p<0.05], 25.8% [p<0.01] and 33.9% [p<0.001] respectively. However, despite our expectation melilotus officinalis increased NO level. The concentrations of 100, 200 and 400 g/ml of the herb, increased NO levels to 12.7 [p<0.05], 36.5% [p<0.001] and 72.9% [p<0.001] respectively. We concluded that aqueous extract of Origanum vulgare probably decreases migraine headaches by reducing NO and aqueous extract of Melilotus officinalis does not act through this mechanism

Interference of three weed extracts on uptake of nutrient in three different varieties of paddy through radio tracer techniques.

Interference of three dominant weed extracts viz., Ageratum conyzoides L., Melilotus indica All. and Parthenium hysterophorus L. were examined on seed germination, seedling growth, and nutrient uptake (32P and 65Zn) in three different varieties (PD-10, PD-12 and PB) of paddy (Oryza sativa L.). Among the three different varieties irrespective of weed extracts, PD-10 and PD-12 were resistant and PB was susceptible in terms of seed germination, radicle length and plumule dry weight; and PD-12 and PB were resistant and susceptible, respectively, in terms of plumule length and total seedling dry weight. A. conyzoides caused maximum reduction in seed germination and M. indica in seedling growth in different varieties of paddy. The weed extracts interfered in uptake of both 32P and 65Zn and there was a gradual decrease in uptake of both nutrients with increasing concentration of extracts in both root and shoot. The uptake of 32P and 65Zn was more inhibitory with the extracts of A. conyzoides and M. indica, respectively in different varieties. The inhibition in seed germination, seedling growth and nutrient uptake may be due to the presence of phenolics and other secondary metabolities. The phenolics such as gallic, vanillic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids were identified from these weed extracts.