Acute oral toxicity and anti-inflammatory evaluation of methanolic extract of Rotula aquatica roots in Wistar rats

Background: The plant Rotula aquatica Lour. was traditionally well known due to its large number ofpharmacological action and medicinal uses. The plant is a necessary component of many Ayurvedic drugpreparations since historical times. It is widely used as a crucial ancient drug for kidney and bladderstones.Objectives: The main objective of the study was to evaluate the acute toxicity and anti inflammatoryefficacy of methanolic extract of R. aquatica Lour. in in vivo models.Materials and methods: The qualitative phytochemical analysis and invitro antioxidant activity of theroots of methanolic extract of R. aquatica Lour. (MERA) was evaluated. The acute toxicity effect of MERAwas evaluated with two different doses (550, 2000 mg/kg body weight), were administrated orally toWistar rats. The rats were observed for sign and symptoms of toxicity and mortality for 14 days. Theparameters measured including relative organ weight, blood, biochemical and histopathological parameters of hepatic and renal toxicity. The anti-inflammatory effect of MERA was also evaluated incarrageenan and dextran-induced paw edema models.Results: The phytochemical evaluation of MERA shows the presence of secondary metabolites like alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics and tannins, phytosterols, reducing sugars, proteins and terpenoids. Theresults of in-vitro antioxidant evaluation of MERA reveal its capability to scavenging free radical at alower concentration. The MERA did not show any visible signs of toxicity up to the dose of 2000 mg/kgbody weight. The results obtained from our carrageenan and dextran-induced paw edema model studyalso proved the anti-inflammatory effect of MERA in rat model.Conclusion: The result shows the potential of MERA as an anti-inflammatory drug to reduce the signs ofinflammation devoid of any toxic effect.© 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Institute of Transdisciplinary Health Sciencesand Technology and World Ayurveda Foundation. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-NDlicense (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome in children: experience from two tertiary centres in South India

Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of episodes of vascular thrombosis, recurrent fetal loss and other clinical features in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical manifestations and immunologic profile of children presenting with APS.Methods: Authors did a retrospective case record study of patients admitted with thrombotic events between September 2013 and August 2018 and identified patients with positive antiphospholipid antibodies. Children who had clinical features of active lupus were not included.Results: The clinical and immunologic profile of 7 pediatric patients presenting with APS over 5 years from 2013 to 2018 were analysed. Symptoms secondary to vascular thrombosis were limb swelling, stroke, gangrene of toes and Budd Chiari syndrome.Conclusions:APS though rare should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children presenting with thrombotic events. They need long term anticoagulants to prevent further episodes.

Approach to metabolic syndrome in childhood cancer survivors.

The combined effects of optimized chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, stem cell transplantation regimens, and improved supportive care had drastically increased the survival rate of childhood cancer. Hence, the number of adult survivors of childhood cancer is on the raise and this subset of population is gaining more attention due to the late effects of their cancer therapy. There is growing evidence that pediatric cancer survivors are at a greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MS) or the MS component traits than the general population. There is currently no drug therapy to treat MS as a whole disease, as it is a cluster of symptoms that present uniquely among different individuals. Given the recent recognition of MS in adult survivors of childhood cancer, there is a scarcity of long‑term follow‑up studies of this group. Adherence to a healthy lifestyle with both dietary and physical activity is the only most powerful and most useful armor available now against obesity and its metabolic complications.

Antioxidant activity of Albizzia lebbeck (Linn.) Benth. in alloxan diabetic rats.

There is an increasing demand for natural anti-diabetic drugs, as continuous oral administration of insulin can culminate in many side effects and toxicity. In our endeavour to formulate some cost-effective herbal medicines for diabetes, we undertook this study to evaluate the antioxidant potential of aqueous extract of Albizzia lebbeck (ALL) in diabetic rats. The oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic rats was determined by estimating the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes (CD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in liver and kidneys. Activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione S transferase (GST) were assessed in diabetic as well as rats co-administered with ALL. Oxidative damage in the liver and kidneys of diabetic rats as evidenced by a marked increment in the levels of TBARS and CD, and also a distinct diminution in GSH content was nullified by ALL, as these parameters showed a tendency to retrieve towards normalcy on co-administration of the herbal drug. The antioxidant enzymes registered a decline in activity in diabetic rats thus revealing the damaging effects of free radicals generated due to alloxan exposure. The activities of these enzymes returned to normalcy in ALL-administered rats indicating the antioxidant efficacy of the drug in resisting oxidative insult. The findings provide a rationale for further studies on isolation of active principles and pharmacological evaluation.

Glutathione antioxidant status of frozen meat samples.

Lipid oxidation is a process, which results in rancidity and deterioration of fats posing a major problem in food industry. Antioxidants are of interest, which presumably protects food from oxidative deterioration during storage. The glutathione antioxidant system of different meat samples were noticed for six months under refrigerated storage. Activity of glutathione reductase (GR) and level of glutathione (GSH) decreased during six months storage in all the four meat samples. The glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity increased gradually during storage. It seems possible that glutathione antioxidant system protected the meat samples against quality loss during its storage.

Probing the anti-hyperlipidemic efficacy of the allspice (Pimenta officinalis Lindl.) in rats fed with high fat diet.

In this study, the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of aqueous extract of Pimenta officinalis (APO) was investigated in experimental rats fed with high fat diet (HFD). Hyperlipidemia in experimental rats was evidenced by a significant enhancement in the level of glycerol, triglycerides and phopholipids in serum, and also in liver and kidney tissues. HFD caused oxidative stress in these animals as shown by marked increment in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and diene conjugates (CD), and a distinct diminution in reduced glutathione (GSH) content in liver and kidneys. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) showed reduced activity in hyperlipidemic rats. All these biochemical parameters showed reliable signs of retrieving towards near-normalcy in APO-administered HFD fed rats. This study unveiled the anti-hyperlipidemic as well as antioxidant activity of APO.

Effect of Coscinium fenestratum on hepatotoxicity in rats.

Anti-hepatotoxic activity of methanol extract of Coscinium fenestratum stem (MEC) was investigated against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatopathy in rats. Hepatotoxic rats were treated with MEC for a period of 90 days (60mg/kg body weight, daily, orally by intubation). Anti-hepatotoxic effect was studied by assaying the activities of serum marker enzymes like aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, lactate dehydrogenase etc. and glucose (6) phosphate dehydrogenase in liver. We also estimated the concentrations of total proteins, total lipids, triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol in serum, liver and kidney. The activities of all the marker enzymes registered a significant elevation in carbon tetrachloride-treated rats, which were significantly recovered towards an almost normal level in animals co-administered with MEC. Other biochemical changes induced by carbon tetrachloride too showed reliable signs of retrieving towards the normalcy. Histopathological analysis confirmed the biochemical investigations. This study unravels the anti-hepatotoxic activity of MEC.

Antioxidant effect of Coscinium fenestratum in carbon tetrachloride treated rats.

Antioxidant effect of methanol extract of Coscinium fenestratum stem powder was examined using carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rat liver as the experimental model. Hepatotoxic rats were treated with the methanol extract for 90 days (daily, orally at the dose of 60 mg/kg body weight). Lipid peroxidation in carbon tetrachloride-administered rats was evidenced by a marked elevation in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and diene conjugates, and also a profound diminution in glutathione content in the liver. Rats co-administered with the methanol extract retained an almost normal level of these constituents. The decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rats, and its retrieval towards near-normalcy in the methanol extract co-administered animals revealed the effectiveness of Coscinium fenestratum in combating oxidative stress due to hepatic damage. The findings provide a rationale for further studies on isolation of active principles and its pharmacological evaluation.

Hepatoprotection by Elephantopus scaber Linn. in CCl4-induced liver injury.

The efficacy of the medicinal plant Elephantopus scaber Linn. (Asteraceae), to prevent carbon teterachloride (CCI4)-induced chronic liver dysfunction in the rats was examined by determining different biochemical markers in serum and tissues. In serum, liver function marker enzymes like aspartate aminotrasferase (AST), alanine aminotrasferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and also protein were evaluated. The concentrations of total lipid, cholesterol and phospholipids were studied in serum and the different tissues. The concentration of serum triglycerides was also studied. The biochemical changes induced by CCI4 in different tissues particularly in the liver tissue improved following treatment with E. scaber Linn. The results suggest the hepatoprotective effect of this medicinal plant.

Effect of nicotine administration on lipid metabolism in rats.

Administration of nicotine to rats resulted in increased concentration of cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides in the serum and tissues. HDL cholesterol decreased while the LDL + VLDL cholesterol increased. There was increased tissue cholesterogenesis as evident from the increased activity of HMG-CoA reductase and increased incorporation into tissue unesterified cholesterol. Increased triglyceride synthesis in the tissues was evident from the increased activity of lipogenic enzymes and increased incorporation of label. Hepatic degradation of cholesterol to bile acids was decreased. The uptake of circulating triglyceride rich lipoproteins (chylomicrons and VLDL) was also decreased as revealed by the decreased activity of extrahepatic lipoprotein lipase. Plasma LCAT activity also showed a decrease in the rats given nicotine. The changes produced in the metabolism of lipids on nicotine administration were thus similar to those observed on exposure of rats to cigarette smoke, and it is felt that nicotine may therefore contribute at least partly to the risk posed by cigarette smoking in the development of atherosclerosis.

Effect of nicotine on glycosaminoglycan metabolism in rats.

Cigarette smoking has been established as a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and also for lung cancer. Nicotine is one of the major components of cigarette smoke which is believed to be partly responsible for the deleterious effect of cigarette smoke. There was significant alteration in the concentration of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in rats exposed to cigarette smoke. Administration of nicotine to rats has been found to decrease many of GAG fractions in the aorta, liver and heart and increase in the lungs. The increase in GAG now observed in lung tissue in rats administered nicotine and those exposed to cigarette smoke may be involved in the increased incidence of lung cancer in smokers. Increased activity of many of GAG hydrolysing enzymes indicates increased degradation of GAG. Sulphate metabolism in the liver is also significantly altered by nicotine. Thus administration of nicotine to rats caused alteration in the metabolism of GAG which are similar to those observed on exposure of rats to cigarette smoke, indicating that nicotine content of the tobacco smoke may partly be responsible for the effect on GAG observed on exposure to cigarette smoke.