In vitro alpha-amylase inhibition and antioxidant activities of methanolic extract of amaranthus caudatus Linn

The present study was aimed to investigate the alpha-amylase inhibition and antioxidant activities of methanolic extract of Amaranthus caudatus Linn [MeAc]. Methanolic extract of Amaranthus caudatus was screened for alpha-amylase inhibition activity by CNPG3 method [2-chloro-p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltotrioside] and antioxidant activity was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazile [DPPH] free radical scavenging, superoxide dismutase [SOD] scavenging, hydroxyl free radical scavenging, nitric oxide [NO] radical scavenging, and 2.2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazole-6-sulfonic acid [ABTS] radical scavenging assays. MeAc was also screened for non enzymatic hemoglycosylation. The methanolic extract of Amaranthus caudatus showed potent alpha-amylase inhibition activity [IC50 19.233 micro g/ml]. MeAc showed significant antioxidant activity in all the in vitro antioxidant models. Furthermore, the MeAc was found to be extremely effective in scavenging ABTS radical activity [IC50 48.75 +/- 1.1 micro g/ ml] when compared to DPPH [IC50 77.5 +/- 0.4 micro g/ml], SOD [IC50 62.5 +/- 2.1 micro g/ml], hydroxyl [IC50 88.50 +/- 1.8 micro g/ml] and NO [IC50 67.5 +/- 2.2 micro g/ml] scavenging activity. The methanolic extract of A. caudatus showed potent alpha-amylase inhibition and antioxidant activities

Antipyretic and analgesic activity of malvastrum coramandelianum linn

The effect of ethanol and acetone extracts of Malvastrum coramandelianum were investigated for antipyretic analgesic activity. The model used for antipyretic studies was pyrexia-induced rat model and for analgesic studies was tail tlick method in rats. These studies indicate that both extracts were showing significant antipyretic and analgesic properties. The preliminary phytochemical investigation indicates the presence of saponins and steroids

Formulation and HPTLC standardization of safoof-e-kasir-e-reeh, a unani formulation

Safoof-e-Kasir-e-Reeh is a Unani preparation containing Cumin [Zira safed], Ajowan [Ajwain], Black salt [Namak-e-Siyah], and Black Pepper [Filfll Siyah] used as carminative and antiflatulent. The Safoof [powder] was prepared by blending all the powdered ingredients after passing through 100 mesh sieve. The Safoof was extracted with methanol and filtered. The filtrate was used for estimation of piperine by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic technique using silica gel 60 F HPTLC plates [Merck]. Benzene: Ethyl acetate: Diethyl amine [60:30:10] was used as mobile phase for piperine. The detection was performed at the wavelength of 254 nm. The piperine content was found to be 2.284%. This estimation technique is very much useful for the standardization of Unani formulations containing black pepper

Effect of polyherbal formulation on gastrointestinal tract

Polyherbal tablet formulation eontains aqueous extracts of Terminalia chebula Retz., Amaranthus spinosus Linn., and Linum usitatissimum Linn. The above plants are traditionally used as laxative. The above plants were collected, extracted, formulated in the form of tablets and screened for its effect on gastrointestinal tract [laxative and gastrointestinal motility]. The present study indicates that the polyherhal formulation possesses significant effect on gastrointestinal tract as compared to that of standard drug Senna