Anti-obese activity of Butea monosperma (Lam) bark extract in experimentally induced obese rats.

To study the efficacy of ethanolic extract of B. monosperma bark in cafeteria and atherogenic diet fed rats and monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rats, different doses (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) of ethanolic extract of B. monosperma bark showed dose dependent decrease in body weight, daily food intake, glucose, lipids, internal organs’ weight and fat pad weight in cafeteria and atherogenic diet fed rats and monosodium glutamate obese rats. The results suggested that B. monosperma has significant anti-obese activity.

Role of endosulfan in mediating stress responses in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

Present study revealed the importance of endosulfan in mediating stress responses in Sorghum bicolor L. Moench (variety JP-1-1). The seeds treated with different concentrations (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%) of endosulfan showed a significant decrease in percent germination over control. As the concentration increased, the shoot length, root length and biomass decreased. The amount of chlorophyll-a and protein decreased gradually with the increase in endosulfan concentration, whereas phenol and proline contents increased from 1.08 to 1.57 mg g-1 and 0.18 to 0.98 mg g-1, respectively. Chlorophyll-b decreased in 0.2% (0.97 mg g-1) as compared to control and revealed a gradual increase in 0.4% (1.11 mg g-1) and 0.6 % (1.13 mg g-1). Endosulfan treatment suppressed the catalase and protease activity, but significantly increased the level of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, SOD and amylase enzymes. Lower dose (0.2%) of endosulfan stimulated the activity of amylases.