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

Evaluation of hair growth activity of Buxus wallichiana Baill extract in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant and hair growth activities of Buxus wallichiana Baill [Buxaceae]. Petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts of Buxus wallichiana subjected to antioxidant activity by; 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl and nitric oxide methods. Methanol extract of Buxus wallichiana at 50, 100 mg/kg, ointment of methanol extract at 5 and 10% used for the evaluation of hair growth property. Methanol extract showed potential antioxidant activity. Methanol extract at 100 mg/kg showed consistent and significant increase in mean score of hair growth from day 3 to day 24. Whereas 50 mg/kg increased the mean score significantly, only from day 15 to day 24. When methanol extract at 10% applied topically, significant increase in mean hair score observed only from day 15, but at 5% showed considerable increase in mean hair score only from day 21 and 24, when compared to the control. Conclusion The result of this study suggests that Methanol extract of Buxus wallichiana possess good antioxidant and hair growth activity

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