Isolation of compound and CNS depressant activities of Mikania scandens Willd with special emphasis to brain biogenic amines in mice.

Mikania scandens, a twining herb that grows as a weed in India and Bangladesh is used as vegetables and is a good source of vitamin A, C, B complex, mikanin, sesquiterpenes, betasitosterin, stigmasterol and friedelin. The present communication reports CNS depressant activities with special emphasis to brain biogenic amines in mice. Ethanol extract of leaves of M. scandens (EEMS) was prepared by Soxhalation and analyzed chemically. EEMS potentiated sleeping time induced by pentobarbitone, diazepam and meprobamate and showed significant reduction in the number of writhes and stretches. EEMS caused significant protection against pentylene tetrazole-induced convulsion and increased catecholamines and brain amino acids level significantly. Results showed that EEMS produced good CNS depressant effects in mice.

Antioxidant and Antitumor Activity of Plumeria acuminata in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Bearing Swiss Albino Mice.

Aim: This study was designed to determine the antitumor and antioxidant properties of crude methanol extract from the leaves of Plumeria acuminata (Apocynaceae) (MEPA) against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) bearing Swiss albino mice. Study Design: Study design is methodology, mentioned below. Place and Duration of Study: Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India between 2006 and 2007. Methodology: The extract was administered at the doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg per day for 14 days, after 24 hr of tumor inoculation. After the administration of the last dose followed by 18 hr fasting, mice were then sacrificed for observation of antitumor activity. The effect of MEPA on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of EAC bearing host, viable and non-viable cell count, packed cell volume, hematological profile and biochemical parameters such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione content (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were estimated. Results: MEPA caused significant (P<0.01) decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable count; and it prolonged the life span of EAC-tumor bearing mice. Hematological studies reveal that the Hb content and RBC count were decreased in EAC treated mice, whereas the restoration to near normal levels was observed in extract treated animals. MEPA significantly (P<0.05) decreased the levels of LPO and significantly increased the levels of GSH, SOD and CAT. Moreover the MEPA was found to be devoid of conspicuous short-term toxicity in the mice when administered daily for 14 days at the doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg Conclusion: The results suggested that the methanol extract of Plumeria acuminata leaves exhibited antitumor effect by modulating lipid peroxidation and augmenting antioxidant defense system in EAC bearing Swiss albino mice.

Biotransformation of 3-hydroxydibenzo-alpha-pyrone into 3, 8 dihydroxydibenzo-alpha-pyrone and aminoacyl conjugates by Aspergillus niger isolated from native shilajit

Shilajit is a panacea in Ayurveda, the Indian traditional system of medicine. The major bioactives of shilajit have been identified as dibenzo-alpha-pyrones (DBPs), its oligomers and aminoacyl conjugated derivatives. These bioactive compounds play a crucial role in energy metabolism in all animal cells including those of man. 3-hydroxydibenzo-alpha-pyrone (3-OH-DBP), a key DBP component of shilajit is converted, among other products, to another active DBP derivative, viz. 3,8-hydroxydibenzo-alpha-pyrone, 3,8(OH)2-DBP, in vivo, when its precursor is ingested. 3,8(OH)2-DBP is then involved in energy synthesis in the mitochondria in the reduction and stabilization of coenzyme Q10 in the electron transport chain. As the chemical synthesis of 3,8(OH)2-DBP is a complex, multi-step process and economically not readily viable, we envisioned the development of a process using microorganisms for bioconversion of 3-OH-DBP to 3,8(OH)2-DBP. In this study, the biotransformation of 3-OH-DBP is achieved using Aspergillus niger, which was involved in the humification process on sedimentary rocks leading to shilajit formation. A 60 percent bioconversion of 3-OH-DBP to 3,8(OH)2-DBP and to its aminoacyl derivatives was achieved. The products were characterized and estimated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high performance flash chromatography (HPFC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. Among the Aspergillus species isolated and identified from native shilajit, A. niger was found to be the most efficient for this bioconversion.