Beneficial effects of Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standley fruit epicarp in animal models.

Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standley fruit (bottle gourd), a commonly used vegetable in India is described as cardiotonic and as a general tonic in Ayurveda. Keeping in view the presence of free radical scavenging activity in L. siceraria and involvement of free radicals in the development of various disorders, present studies were designed to evaluate the ethanolic extract of L. siceraria fruit against the disorders where free radicals play a major role in pathogenesis. The extract was found effective as hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, immunomodulatory, antihyperlipidemic and cardiotonic agent. The results showed that the radical scavenging capacity of L. siceraria fruit may be responsible for various biological activities studied.

Hepatoprotective activity of Haridradi ghrita on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats.

Haridradi ghrita, a ghee based polyherbal formulation, (50, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) significantly lowered marker enzymes (SGPT, SGOT, ALP) and bilirubin in serum and liver peroxide, superoxide dismutase and catalase in liver homogenate following CCl4 (0.7 ml/kg, ip) toxicity. The protective effect was further supported by reversal of CCl4 induced histological changes. The results demonstrate significant hepatoprotective action of H. ghrita in CCl4 damaged rats.

Antipyretic activity of diacetyl para-amino phenol.

Diacetyl para-amino phenol (DAPAP) was generated by interaction between aspirin and paracetamol in a mechanical shaker. It revealed antipyretic activity in albino rats. The antipyretic action was found to be having the same onset of action and duration as that of aspirin. This compound lacked ulcerogenic and analgesic activity. DAPAP therefore may have safety as an antipyretic drug in patients with history of peptic ulcer.

Influence of fatty acids on pressor responses to catecholamines.

Lauric, Myristic and Palmitic acids had no appreciable effect whereas Stearic, Oleic and Linoleic acids caused some reduction in dog blood pressure. Pressor responses to epinephrine and nor-epinephrine were potentiated whereas the depressor response to isoproterenol was reduced during the infusion of fatty acids in dogs. ACTH alone, which causes mobilization of free fatty acids had no appreciable effect on blood pressure responses to catecholamines, however, its administration followed by salicylate produced marked potentiation of the pressor responses to epinephrine and nor-epinephrine; the depressor response to isoproterenol was reduced.

Effect of Krebs cycle metabolites on frog heart.

All the Krebs metabolites except pyruvate, lactate, acetate and succinate reduced the force and rate of myocardial contractions and also decreased cardiac output in frog. Succinate on the contrary was found to augment the rate and force of heart. The cardiac stimulation produced by epinephrine was reduced by fumarate, malate, oxaloacetate and alpha-oxoglutarate, whereas transaconitate and citrate produced only a slight inhibition. Pyruvate, lactate, acetate and succinate did not alter cardiac response to epinephrine.