Antiulcer activity of methanol extract of melastoma malabathricum leaves in rats

To determine the potential antiulcer activity of methanol extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves [MEMM] using various established rat models. Ten groups of rats were used and orally administered 10% DMSO [negative control], 100 mg/kg ranitidine [positive control] or MEMM [50,250 and 500 mg/kg] followed by gastric ulcer induction either using ethanol or in-domethacin. The stomachs were collected and subjected to macroscopic and microscopic analyses. MEMM exhibited significant [p < 0.05] antiulcer activity in the ethanol, but not in the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer model. The percentage of antiulcer activity for 50-500 mg/kg MEMM ranged between 3 and 75%, respectively. The gross observations were supported by histological findings. MEMM also aggravated the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer, leading toan increasein ulcer area formation and ulcer score. The M. malabathricum leaves showed antiulcer activity, which could be attributed to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This requires further in-depth studies

Bixa orellana leaves extract inhibits bradykinin-lnduced inflammation through suppression of nitric oxide production

The present study was conducted to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of a crude aqueous extract of Blxa orellana leaves [AEBO] and to examine the possible involvement of nitric oxide [NO] in its anti-inflammatory mechanism. The air-dried, powdered leaves were soaked in distilled water [1:20 w/v] at 50°C for 24 h and the supernatant obtained was freeze-dried [yield 8.5% w/w]. The dosage was recorded as the mass of extract per kg b.w. of rats in all inflammatory assays [bradykinin-in-duced paw edema, peritoneal vascular permeability and NO assay]. Pretreatment with AEBO for 4 consecutive days exhibited significant inhibitory activity against inflammatory models, the bradykinin-induced hind paw edema model and bradykinininduced increased peritoneal vascular permeability at both doses in dose-dependent manner. In addition, AEBO was also found to significantly suppress the production of NO at doses of 50 and 150 mg/kg. This study provides scientific data to support the tradi-tional use of B. orellana leaves in treating inflammation. Results from this study suggest that AEBO exerts anti-inflammatory effects. Part of this anti-inflammatory effect may be associated with its antibradykinin activity and may be related to a reduction of the NO production

In vivo antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of dried and fermented processed virgin coconut oil

The present study was carried out to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of virgin coconut oil [VCO] produced by theMalaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute [MARDI] using various in vivo models. Two types of VCOs, produced via standard drying [VCOA] and fermentation [VCOB] processes were used in this study. Both VCOA and VCOB were serially diluted using 1% Tween 80 to concentrations [v/v] of 10, 50 and 100%. Antinociceptive and anti- inflammatory activities of both VCOs were examined using various in vivomodel systems. The antinociceptive activity of the VCOs were compared to those of 1% Tween 80 [used as a negative control], morphine [5 mg/kg] and/or acetylsalicylic acid [100 mg/kg]. Both VCOA and VCOB exhibited significant [p < 0.05] dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Both VCOs also exerted significant [p < 0.05] antinociceptive activity in both phases of the formalin and hot-plate tests. Interestingly, the VCOs exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in an acute [carrageenan-induced paw edema test], but not in a chronic [cotton-pellet-induced granuloma test] model of inflammation. The MARDI-produced VCOs possessed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Further studies are needed to confirm these observations