Semecarpus anacardium L, nuts inhibit lipopolysaccharide induced NO production in rat macrophages along with its hypolipidemic property.

Traditionally S. anacardium is used for rejuvenation, rheumatoid arthritis, fever and neurological disorders. In the present study it was observed that a fraction of S. anacacrdium at dose of 1 mg/100 g body wt, significantly reduced serum cholesterol from 378.87 mg/dl in the rats fed with atherogenic diet (AD) to 197.99 mg/dl (45-52%) in the rats fed with AD diet and increased serum HDL-cholesterol (33-37%). The same fraction also inhibited LPS induced NO production in the culture activated rat peritoneal macrophages in the dose dependent manner with IC50 value at 50 ng/ml of the culture medium. The drug in the above doses was completely safe and non-toxic, (no change in the enzymes), to liver and kidney functions.

Antioxidant property of Smilex china Linn.

Smilex china Linn. (Smilacaceae Syn Liliaceae) has special pharmacognostic feature as its root is multiseriate, with sclerenchymatic pericycle. The alcoholic extract of rhizome of S. china shows significant protection against FeSO4 induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate, but has no effect on the rate of oxidation of reduced glutathione. This fraction scavenges the superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, but the effect was more towards the removal of superoxide than that of hydroxyl radicals. Thus it could be concluded that rhizome of S. china has strong antioxidant property.

Effect of Semecarpus anacardium nuts on lipid peroxidation.

Alcoholic extract of pericarp showed significant protection against FeSO4 induced lipid peroxidation, as compared with whole native nut and seeds. Mechanism of action may be through metal chelation or activation of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, because the extract did not show hydroxyl and super oxide anion scavenging property. Further in vitro experiments against FeSO4, it did not maintain the level of reduced glutathione.

Molecular approach to ayurveda.

In ayurvedic system of medicine, it is considered that a living system is made of panch-mahabuta, in the form of Vata, pitta and kapha at the physical level and satwa, raja and tama at the mental level. This covers the psychosomatic constitution and commonly known as the Tridosh theory. The imbalance in these body humours is the basic cause of any type of disease manifestation. Till date, several objective parameters have been proposed to monitor the level of these basic humours but none of them is complete. In this exercise, now it is proposed to consider free radical theory of diseases as one of the objective parameters. To be more specific, vata can be monitored in terms of membrane bound signal transduction, pitta as the process of phosphorylation and de-phosphorylation of different proteins (signalling moieties and enzymes) and kapha can be viewed as the degree of gene expression as protein synthesis. This can be correlated with the ojas of the body or total body defence mechanism.

Role of alcoholic extract of shoot of Hypericum perforatum Linn on lipid peroxidation and various species of free radicals in rats.

The alcoholic extract of the shoot of H. perforatum shows strong antioxidant property. It possesses the iron chelation property with more affinity to the ferrous form. It has scavenging property for both superoxide and for hydroxyl radicals but the response is more towards the superoxide radicals. Thus in addition to the anti-depressant property it has strong antioxidant property also.

Comparison of the antioxidant action of the alcoholic extract of Rubia cordifolia with rubiadin.

The inhibition of FeSO4 induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver by alcoholic extract of Rubia cordifolia and by one of its constituent rubiadin (1, 3-dihydroxy-2-methyl anthraquinone) (pure form) has been compared. Both have been found to inhibit lipid peroxidation in a dose dependent manner. Whereas the former shows both oxidising and reducing properties with Fe2+ and Fe3+, the latter shows oxidising property only by converting Fe2+ to Fe3+. The former inhibits the oxidation of reduced glutathione while the latter does not.

Rubiadin, a new antioxidant from Rubia cordifolia.

Rubiadin, a dihydroxy anthraquinone, isolated from alcoholic extract of Rubia cordifolia, possesses potent antioxidant property. It prevents lipid peroxidation induced by FeSO4 and t-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP) in a dose dependent manner. The per cent inhibition was more in the case of Fe2+ induced lipid peroxidation. The antioxidant property of the preparation has been found to be better than that of EDTA, Tris, mannitol, Vitamin E and p-benzoquinone.

Antilipid peroxidative property of Nardostachys jatamanasi.

Antiperoxidative property of N. jatamanasi was tested by using iron induced lipid peroxidation in 5% rat liver homogenate. The degree of peroxidation was quantitated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) content. The extract provided protection against lipid peroxidation. The hexane fraction was more potent than the alcoholic extract. Results suggested antilipid peroxidative property of the plant.

Bacopa monniera Linn. as an antioxidant: mechanism of action.

Bacopa monniera, Linn. (Brahmi: Scrophulariaceae) an Ayurvedic medicine is clinically used for memory enhancing, epilepsy, insomnia and as mild sedative. For the first time the effect of alcohol and hexane fraction of Brahmi has been studied on FeSO4 and cumene hydroperoxide induced lipid peroxidation. Alcohol fraction showed greater protection with both inducers. Results were compared with known antioxidants tris, EDTA and a natural-antioxidant vitamin E. The effect of Brahmi was also examined on hepatic glutathione content. The mechanism of action could be through metal chelation at the initiation level and also as chain breaker. The results suggested that Brahmi is a potent antioxidant. The response of Brahmi was dose dependent. Tris, an hydroxyl trapper did not show any protection in comparison to Brahmi where as EDTA and vitamin E did protect against FeSO4. In experimental conditions 100 micrograms Brahmi extract (alcoholic) was equivalent to 247 micrograms of EDTA (0.66 microM) and 58 micrograms of vitamin E. Interestingly Brahmi only slightly protected the autooxidation and FeSO4 induced oxidation of reduced glutathione on lower doses 100 micrograms/ml and below, but on higher concentrations it enhanced the rate of oxidation.

Role of Tamra bhasma, an Ayurvedic preparation, in the management of lipid peroxidation in liver of albino rats.

Hepatoprotective effect of Tamra bhasma has been studied on cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) induced peroxidation, reduced glutathione content and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-in rat liver homogenate. The drug was orally given for 8 days which showed significant reduction in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) production at different concentrations of cumene hydroperoxide in vitro. Glutathione content was maintained upto seventy minutes and SOD activity was enhanced to 166%. These animals did not show any rise in serum GOT and GPT. On similar doses no histological changes were observed in liver. The results suggested that Tamra bhasma is a strong antioxidant drug and could be used in the management of lipid peroxidation with no detectable adverse effect.

Assessment of endocrine response of Inula racemosa in relation to glucose homeostasis in rats.

Alcoholic extract of the root of I. racemosa lowers blood glucose and enhances liver glycogen without increasing plasma insulin in rats. There is also no increase in degree of degranulation of the beta cells of pancreas. In similar conditions it does not show any effect on activity of adrenal gland. However, thyroid gland undergoes activation at the later stage (delayed response). It appears that hypoglycemic response of I. racemosa is not due to enhanced secretion/synthesis of insulin; the action may be at the peripheral level by potentiating the insulin sensitivity.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory property of Sandhika: a compound herbal drug.

The present study was envisaged to assess the rationality for the use of "Sandhika", a popular Ayurvedic drug in rheumatoid arthritis. This drug, when tested against carrageenan induced paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma, showed significant anti-inflammatory activity at the dose of 0.25 g/kg body weight. The antioxidant property was assessed by determining cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) induced lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione content in rat liver homogenate (in vitro). Experiments show the significant protection against lipid peroxidation at the dose of 80 micrograms/ml, measured as reduction in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) induced by 1.5 mM cumene hydroperoxide (CHP). This effect was accompanied by the maintained reduced glutathione (GSH) content in drug treated rats. Oral treatment of drug up to 2 g/kg body weight for 15 days did not show any rise in serum transaminases (SGOT and SGPT). The results suggest that "Sandhika" which is an indigenous drug for inflammation with no detectable adverse effect, might be acting through scavenging the free radicals.

Hepatoprotective and toxicological evaluation of hepatomed, an ayurvedic drug.

Hepatoprotective effect of Hepatomed (an ayurvedic drug containing water extract of 6 medicinal plants) has been studied on cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) induced lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione content in rat liver homogenate. In vitro experiments show significant reduction in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) induced by 1.5 mM cumene hydroperoxide(CHP). Glutathione content was almost maintained to normal in drug treated rats. Oral treatment of drug up to 3 ml/100 g body weight for 15 days did not show any rise in serum GOT and GPT. On similar doses, significant choleratic effect was observed without any adverse histological changes after 4 days treatment. The results suggest that 'Hepatomed' is a strong hepatoprotective ayurvedic medicine with no detectable adverse effects.

Protective effect of Rubia cordifolia on lipid peroxide formation in isolated rat liver homogenate.

Rubia cordifolia Linn. (Rubiaceae) is an important component of the ayurvedic system of medicine. It has a variety of uses such as blood purifier, immunomodulant, antiinflammatory and anti-PAF. In this report the anti-peroxidative property of the solvent free alcoholic extract of R. cordifolia has been studied in rat liver homogenate. It prevents the cumene hydroperoxide induced malondialdehyde formation in the dose and time dependent manner. This effect is accompanied by the maintained reduced glutathione level even in the presence of above toxin.

Anti-platelet activating factor property of Rubia cordifolia Linn.

Rubia cordifolia is clinically used for the purification of blood by the physicians of the Indian System of Medicine. For the first time, the effect of the partially purified fraction of this whole plant has been studied on rabbit platelets. It inhibits the platelet aggregation induced by PAF (platelet activating factor) but not thrombin. It also inhibits the binding of 3H-PAF to the platelets in the dose-dependent manner. Thus it appears that R. cordifolia inhibits action of PAF at its receptor level either by it's blocking or by desensitization.