Neuropharmacological evaluation on four traditional herbs used as nervine tonic and commonly available as Shankhpushpi in India

Background: Shankhpushpi is an Ayurvedic drug, widely used for its actions on the central nervoussystem, especially to improve intellect and boost memory. Four botanicals viz. Canscora decussata Schult.(CD), Clitorea ternatea Linn. (CT), Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy. (CP) and Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. (EA)are considered as sources of Shankhpushpi by Indian practitioners on the basis of their morphologicaldescriptions given in ancient texts.Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the neuropharmacological effect of four herbscommonly identified as source of Shankhpushpi.Materials and methods: Methanol extracts of all four varieties were tested and evaluated in vitro and invivo for their neuropharmacological effects. Experiments such as protection against b-amyloid inducedneurotoxicity on brain cell line (Neuro 2A), antioxidant potential, AchE (acetylcholinesterase enzyme)inhibition, and 5-LOX (lipoxygenase) enzyme inhibition were conducted for in vitro evaluation. For in vivoevaluation, scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg i.p.) induced memory retrieval using pole climbing apparatus andMorris water maze were performed in rat models.Results: It was found that protective effects of EA and CD against b-amyloid induced neurotoxicity inNeuro 2A cells were significantly higher than CT and CP. EA proved to be superior than other varieties onthe basis of antioxidant activity, AchE inhibitory and LOX inhibitory activities. The preventive activity ofEA on scopolamine induced memory retrieval in pole climbing and Morris water maze task in rats wasfound to be higher than that of CD, CT and CP.Conclusion: EA has remarkable neuropharmacological effect as compared to other three varietiesof Shankhpushpi. This effect may be attributed due to the presence of steroids (stigmasterol and betulinicacid), coumarins (scopoletin) and flavonoids (b-carotene and chlorogenic acid). Hence it can be used as apromising lead in development and management of neuronal disorders including Alzheimer's disease.© 2017 Transdisciplinary University, Bangalore and World Ayurveda Foundation. Publishing Services byElsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Hepatoprotective effect of Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) ethanol extract and its fraction.

Ethanol extract and its ethanol fraction from aerial parts of P. daemia exhibited significant hepatoprotective effect against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, total protein and albumin in serum indicated hepatoprotective effect of the ethanol extract and its ethanol fraction. Histopathological examination of liver sections confirmed that, pre-treatment with ethanol extract and its ethanol fraction prevented hepatic damage induced by CCl4. The results were comparable with the standard hepatoprotective drug silymarin. The extract and its fraction showed no signs of toxicity up to a dose level of 2000 mg/kg. It is suggested that, the presence of flavonoids in ethanol extract and its ethanol fraction may be responsible for hepatoprotective properties. High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography profile of flavonoids of bio-active extracts was developed using quercetin-3-glucoside as a marker. Results indicate hepatoprotective properties of ethanol extract of P. daemia.

Evaluation of free radical scavenging activity of Butea monosperma Lam.

In the present study, ethyl acetate, butanol and aqueous fractions derived from total methanol extract of Butea monosperma flowers were evaluated for radical scavenging activities using different in vitro models like reducing power assay, scavenging of 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, nitric oxide radical, superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical and inhibition of erythrocyte hemolysis using 2, 2' azo-bis (amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH). Methanol extract along with its ethyl acetate and butanol fractions showed potent free radical scavenging activity, whereas aqueous fraction was found to be devoid of any radical scavenging properties. The observed activity could be due to the higher phenolic content in the extracts (16.1, 25.29, and 17.74% w/w in methanol extract, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions respectively). HPTLC fingerprint profile of the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions were developed which would serve as reference standard for quality control of the extracts.

Optimization of wedelolactone accumulation in shoot cultures of Eclipta alba.

Influence of different environmental factors on accumulation of wedelolactone, a potential anti-hepatotoxic principle of E. alba in shoot cultures was investigated. A significant increase in the content of wedelolactone due to kinetin treatment, temperature change and photoperiod alteration in shoot cultures was observed. Incorporation of phenylalanine in the medium also increased content of wedelolactone significantly in a dose-dependent manner.

In vitro regeneration of roots of Phyla nodiflora and Leptadenia reticulata, and comparison of roots from cultured and natural plants for secondary metabolites.

Adventitious roots, generated using leaf explants of P. nodiflora, and meristem explants of L. reticulata, were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with napthylacetic acid (2 microM) and indole butyric acid (3 microM) respectively. After 30 days, subculturing of roots in liquid MS medium with napthylacetic acid (1.5 microM) for P. nodiflora and indole butyric acid (3 microM) for L. reticulata afforded considerable increase in root mass. HPTLC profiles and microscopic examination of transverse sections of in vitro and naturally grown roots provided information on secondary metabolite accumulation vis-à-vis developmental stages of the root.