Preliminary evaluation of hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of Prosopis ruscifolia Griseb. leaves extract in mice

Liver and kidney are vital organs for body homeostasis and are exposed to damage or injury of various origins. Many medicinal plants have proved to be effective for hepatic and renal diseases. This study aimed to test the effect of Prosopis ruscifolia Griseb. leaves extract on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity and gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. The experiment was carried out in mice, 300 mg/kg of acetaminophen, i.p., and 135 mg/kg of gentamicin were used to induce liver and kidney damage, respectively. Silymarin was used as protective control drug. For estimating the liver function, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST or GOT), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT or GPT) were measured; and creatinine, urea, and uric acid were determined in order to verify kidney functionality. The results showed that the extract has both hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effect. This is evidenced by reduced values of the level of GOT, GPT, and ALP, in mice co-administered, p.o., with P. ruscifolia; and by the reduction of serum creatinine in mice with gentamicin induced kidney damage. These values showed statistically significant difference when compared with those of pathological group. The alcoholic extract of P. ruscifolia denoted hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects.

Assessment of General effects and gastrointestinal prokinetic activity of Baccharis crispa in mice

Baccharis crispa is commonly known to be used in the treatment of several digestive disorders and the primarypurpose of this study was to detect its acute toxicity. Its influence on general behavior, sleeping time and intestinaltransit activity in mice were followed as a mean of initial validation for popular use. The gastrointestinal effectwas determined by testing the influence of B. crispa (Bc) on both intestinal motility (in vivo) and spontaneouscontractile response of isolated ileum (in vitro). Oral administration of Bc showed low toxicity and induced asignificant shortening of sleeping time in mice. After in vitro evaluation on isolated ileum, doses of 5.10−4; 10−4and 5.10−3 mg/mL of Bc potentiated the contractile response to acetylcholine. The intestinal propulsive activityincreased with oral doses of 1, 5 and 50 mg/kg of Bc. After in vitro and in vivo gastrointestinal evaluations ofBc extract, it was clear that an efficient prokinetic activity and a significant increase in spontaneous contractioninduced by acetylcholine in isolated mouse ileum occurred. These results partially support and justify thetraditional use of B. crispa to treat gastrointestinal disorders.