RESUMO
Background@#Amoebiasis is a global health problem affecting poor regions in the world. Few drugs such as metronidazole are available to treat this disease; unfortunately, it is associated with several serious side effects. Tsaang gubat and ampalaya have been used by traditional healers from different cultures to treat dysentery.@*Objective@#The aim of this research was to provide evidence to validate the use of tsaang gubat and ampalaya leaf extracts for dysentery by determining their anti-amoebic activity.@*Methods@#The tsaang gubat and ampalaya leaves were sourced from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños and processed into a lyophilized aqueous extract. Anti-amoebic activity was determined in an in vitro assay using Entamoeba histolytica HK-9 strain against 10 dose levels (18-10,000 μg/mL). The amoeba and leaf extracts were incubated for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The trophozoites were stained with Trypan blue and dispensed into chambers of a Neubauer hemocytometer. The live trophozoites (unstained) were counted under a binocular microscope. The MIC and IC50 were determined. Metronidazole and DMSO served as positive and negative controls, respectively.@*Results@#Tsaang gubat and ampalaya leaves failed to show anti-amoebic activity and even had increased growth of amoeba at all dose levels. The IC50 of tsaang gubat and ampalaya leaf extracts were >500 μg/mL at 24, 48, and 72 hours. Metronidazole was able to eradicate the amoeba parasite at 24 and 72 hours, while exposure to DMSO did not result in inhibition nor death of the parasite.@*Conclusion@#Tsaang gubat and ampalaya aqueous leaf extracts did not exhibit any anti-amoeba activity.
Assuntos
Momordica charantia , AntiparasitáriosRESUMO
Objective: To investigate the hypoglycemic properties of Ampalaya and Sabila compared to Insulin and to determine which of them has a greater blood glucose-lowering effectDesign: Baseline blood sugar levels (BSL) were determined for all test animals (40 Swiss mice) after 12 hours of fasting and were recorded as the FBS. Hyperglycemia was induced by subcutaneous injection of Alloxan monohydrate (125 mg/100 gm BW) followed by intraperitoneal injection of 50% Glucose solution, after another 12 hours. Blood sugar levels recorded after 1 hour were taken as the hyperglycemic state. The animals were given the test plants; aqueous solution of Ampalaya fruit (1.5 mg/kg) PO, and decoction of dried sap of Aloe vera (500 mg/kg) PO, and the standard drug insulin SC (2 U/kg) for the positive and distilled water PO for the negative control groups respectively. Blood sugar levels were determined 1 hr., 2 hrs., 3 hrs., and 4 hrs. after induction of hyperglycemia. Descriptive statistics was used to determine if the test plants have blood glucose-lowering capacity comparable to insulin, and if such, which of the two has a more significant hypoglycemic effectSubjects: 40 healthy Swiss mice (20 males and 20 females), 6-8 weeks old, weighing 22-28 grams, purchased one week prior to the start of the experimentResults: There was a significant drop in blood glucose levels for those treated with Ampalaya decoction from the first to the fourth hour, though comparable to Insulin effect only on the first and second hours. Aloe vera did not lower down the blood sugar level on the first hour. But there was a significant decrease from the second to the fourth hour, though comparable to Insulin effect only on the third hour. There was no significant difference in the maximum change in blood sugar levels from the hypoglycemic state for both test plantsConclusion: Both ampalaya and aloe vera has blood glucose-lowering effects comparable to Insulin and are both promising antidiabetic agents in the futureStatement of Problem Under Investigation: Do the Ampalaya and Sabila exhibit hypoglycemic properties comparable to a standard antidiabetic drug (insulin)? And if such, which of the two has a greater blood sugar-lowering effect? (Author)