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Background: Hypercholesterolaemia is a major risk factor for systemic atherosclerosis and a well-known etiological factor for cardiovascular diseases and its complications which is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In a recent study, the antihyperlipidemic activity of dried leaves extract of Alternanthera brasiliana has been evaluated. Hence, the present study was undertaken to investigate the anti-atherosclerotic potential of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Alternanthera brasiliana L. Kuntz (MEAB) in high fat diet induced hypercholesterolemic rat model.Methods: Thirty (30) wistar albino rats of either sex were randomly divided into five groups: first two groups received normal diet and high fat diet respectively and the remaining three groups received high fat diet supplemented with methanolic extract of Alternanthera brasiliana (MEAB) administered orally daily at two different doses: 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg and Atorvastatin 10 mg/kg/day orally as standard respectively. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) was estimated after 12 weeks. Atherogenic index was calculated from the results of lipid profile. At the end, the aorta was removed for assessment of atherosclerotic plagues.Results: Our results showed that MEAB possessed significant cholesterol lowering potency as indicated by decrease in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) accompanied by an increase in serum high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and reduces the atherosclerotic lesion of aorta (p <0.05).Conclusions: These results strongly suggests that MEAB can prevent the progress of atherosclerosis likely due to the effect of A. brasiliana on serum lipoproteins and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It could be a potential therapy for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
RESUMO
Alternanthera brasiliana Kuntze is a neotropical native species used against inflammation, cough and diarrhea etc. Traditionally it is used as hemostatic in north east India, but its excellent wound healing activity in excision, incision, aged, burn, immunocompromised wound were reported by us. Keeping in mind the delayed healing of wound in diabetic patients and its complications, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the healing efficacy of topical application of Alternanthera brasiliana in experimentally induced diabetic wounds in Sprague Dawley rats. The animals were divided into three groups of six animals each. Group I is control, group II is treated with topical application of the extract and group III is used as standard. Prohealing activity was assessed by wound contraction, histopathological study, modulation of enzymatic and non enzymatic parameters. There was significant (P<0.05) increase in wound contraction, augmented levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, hydroxyproline, protein and ascorbic acid level in the treated group as compared to the control group. It can be hypothesized that A. brasiliana favours wound healing in diabetic animals, due to the presence of various phytoconstituents which are known for augmenting healing and its antioxidant activity as well. The study has paved the way for more detailed study of this highly medicinal plant considered as Brazilian penicillin or Joy wood in Brazil.
RESUMO
Anxiety related disorders are the most common mental illnesses and major cause of disability in man. Anxiolytic activity of methanol extract of leaves of A. brasiliana (L.) Kuntze (MEAB) was evaluated using hole board (HB), open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM) and light/dark exploration test (LDE) in mice. Its locomotor activity was studied using actophotometer and anticonvulsant effect was studied using maximal electroshock-induced seizures and pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice. Single oral administration of MEAB at different doses (100, 300 and 600 mg/kg, ip) significantly increased the number and duration of head poking in the HB test; rearing, assisted rearing and number of square traveled in the OF test; entries and time spent in open arm in the EPM test; time spent in lighted box, and numbers of crossings and transfer latency time in the LDE test. There was significant reduction in the time spent in close arm in the EPM test and time spent in dark box in LDE test. In the actophotometer, the activity count was reduced in MEAB and diazepam treated group than control group. All the three doses of the extract significantly reduced the duration of seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole (chemoshock convulsion). However, the extract did not show any appreciable effect in electroshock convulsion model. The results of the present study suggest promising anxiolytic and anticonvulsant activity of MEAB which might be accredited to different phytoconstituents like alkaloids, steroids and triterpenes present in the methanol extract of A. brasiliana.
RESUMO
Chemical study of three medicinal plants: from leaves of Piper renitens (Miq.) Yunck, Piperaceae, and Siparuna guianensis Aubl., Siparunaceae, and from flowers of Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze, Amaranthaceae, resulted in isolation of nine compounds: three steroids, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol from P. renitens and sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside from A. brasiliana, the diterpene kaurane ent-kauran-16α,17-diol from P. renitens, two derivatives kaempferol-methylether, kumatakenine (kaempferol-3,7-dimethylether) and kaempferol-3,7,3'-trimethylether from S. guianensis and three flavones, crysoeriol (5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxyflavone), tricin (5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyflavone) and 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-5,4'-dihydroxy-3'-methoxyflavone from A. brasiliana. Compounds structures were determinate using 1D and 2D ¹H NMR and 13C spectral data, mass and IR spectra, comparing with literature data.
RESUMO
Wound healing activity of methanol extract of Alternanthera brasiliana [5% (w/w) ointment] was evaluated in experimental burn wound model in rats. Healing potential was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, estimation of anti-oxidants like catalase, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, protein, vitamin C and hydroxyproline, along with histopathological examination on 8th day post wounding. The statistical data indicated that there was significant increase in wound contraction along with augmented level of antioxidants in granulation tissues in A. brasiliana treated group. Histopathological assessment of the granulation tissue revealed formation of epidermis with keratin layer and deposition of collagen fibers after treatment with the plant extract.
RESUMO
Alternanthera brasiliana e Bouchea fluminensis são plantas encontradas amplamente na América do Sul, sendo utilizada pela população pelas suas propriedades analgésicas e antiinflamatórias. O trabalho objetivou determinar o teor de cinzas totais e os elementos minerais em ambas espécies. O teor de cinzas totais das folhas de A. brasiliana e B. fluminensis foi de 13,23 por cento ± 0,47 e 8,28 por cento ± 0,07, respectivamente. Em relação à presença de macro e micronutrientes nas folhas observou-se uma maior concentração de nitrogênio (3,13 por cento) e manganês (0,296 por cento) para A. brasiliana e de cálcio (3,08 por cento) e ferro (0,256 por cento) para B. fluminensis. Os dados obtidos, cinzas totais, macro e microelementos, contribuem significativamente no controle de qualidade e padronização de ambas drogas vegetais, além de dar suporte ao uso como suplemento nutricional.
Alternanthera brasiliana and Bouchea fluminensis are plants widely distributed in South America. These plants are used by native populations as analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. The aim of this paper was to assay the total ashes and mineral content in both species. The levels of total ashes in leaves of A. brasiliana and B. fluminensis were 13.23 percent ± 0.47 and 8.28 percent ± 0.07, respectively. The analysis of macro and micronutrients content in leaves of A. brasiliana shown as main components, nitrogen (3.13 percent) and manganese (0.296 percent). However, in B. fluminensis they were calcium (3.08 percent) and iron (0.256 percent). These data are very useful for the quality control and standardization of the plant raw materials, and support their use as nutritional agents.