Inhibitory effect of two Indian medicinal plants on aldose reductase of rat lens in vitro

OBJECTIVE@#To assesse the inhibitory effect of alcoholic extract of two Indian medicinal plants namely Ceasalpinia digyna Rottler and, Alangium lamarckii Thwaits on aldose reductase (AR) of rat lens.@*METHODS@#Rats lens were enucleated through posterior approach and their homogenate was prepared and centrifuged to obtain a clear supernatant for the determination of AR activity and protein content.@*RESULTS@#The alcoholic extract of Ceasalpinia digyna and Alangium lamarckii had a potent inhibitory effect on the lens AR enzyme. The IC(50) values of alcoholic extract of the selected plants were calculated and were (46.29±11.17) and (106.00±5.11) μg/mL, respectively. Quercetin was used as a positive control and its IC(50) value was (2.95±1.53) μg/mL.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Thus, it is concluded that alcoholic extracts of the selected plant exhibit significant inhibitory effects on AR in the rat lens in vitro.

Antidiabetic activity of alcoholic leaves extract of Alangium lamarckii Thwaites on streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced type 2 diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate antidiabetic potential of alcoholic leaves extract of Alangium lamarckii (A. lamarckii) on streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced type 2 diabetic rats.@*METHODS@#Oral glucose tolerance test was done by inducing hyperglycemic state via administration of glucose in water (2g/kg). Single dose of alcoholic leaves extract of A. lamarckii (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered to normoglycemic, hyperglycemic rats. Type 2 diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of nicotinamide (110 mg/kg) followed by streptozotocin (65mg/kg). The study also included estimations of blood plasma glucose, lipid profile, liver glycogen, body weight and antioxidant status in normal and diabetic rats.@*RESULTS@#Admistration of alcoholic extract of A. lamarckii at two dosage 250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o. did not showed any significant change in blood glucose level of normoglycemic rats (P>0.05), whereas, oral glucose tolerance test depicted reduction in blood glucose level (P<0.05). The streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats, significantly decreased the blood plasma glucose level (P<0.001) comparable to glibenclamide (10 mg/kg), restored the lipid profile and showed improvement in liver glycogen, body weight and antioxidant status in diabetic rats.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Present finding demonstrated the significant antidiabetic activity of alcoholic leaves extract of A. lamarckii.

Rapid identification of cortex dictamni pieces and its counterfeit alangium Chinense by spectral imaging method / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The spectral imaging method was used to quickly identify the Cortex Dictamni pieces and its counterfeit alangium Chinese, which is a potential method would be applied to control the quality of the Cortex Dictamni pieces.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Standard sample, 5 cortex dictamni samples and its counterfeit alangium Chinese of different sources were tested by the liquid crystal imaging instrument. The spectrum resolution was 5 nm, the spectral range was from 405 nm to 680 nm, and the spatial resolution was 50 lp x mm(-1). The characteristic spectrum curves were picked up from spectral cube and principal analysis method was used to analyze the results.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The identification results by the spectral imaging method accorded well with the results by the traditional biology and chemistry analysis method.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The spectral imaging analysis method can be used to identify the cortex dictamni pieces and its counterfeit alangium Chinense. The testing course is convenient, quick and noninvasive.</p>

The pathological observation of acute intoxication by Alangium Chinese in mice / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the pathological change of mice organ intoxicated by Alangium Chinese and its poisoning mechanism.@*METHODS@#Mice were intoxicated by gavage with extract of Alangium Chinese. Then the histopathologic examination was made for evaluating the pathological changes in the organs of the poisoned mice by HE staining.@*RESULTS@#The main pathological changes included alveolar hemorrhage, pulmonary interstitial hemorrhage, sinus hepaticus expansion and congestion, hepatocyte edema, subarachnoid hemorrhage, congestion and hemorrhage of other organs.@*CONCLUSION@#The main target organs or tissue of Alangium Chinese are the lungs, liver and vascular smooth muscle. There is correlation between the toxic effect and the dosage.

Antifungal activity and local toxicity study of Alangium salviifolium subsp hexapetalum.

Alangium salviifolium subsp hexapetalum is a medicinal plant which has been traditionally used for tonic and treatment of hemorrhoid. This plant showed promising antimicrobial activity in our preliminary experiments, this study was, therefore, conducted to investigate its inhibitory effect against dermatomycotic organisms and its toxicity. The lyophilized powder extract (4.59%) of pulverized wood was tested for its inhibitory effect by agar disc diffusion test. The extract gave inhibitory zone diameters of 25.23 and 14.78 mm against 26 and 14 isolates of dermatophytes and Candida albicans, respectively. Ketoconazole, used as a reference antifungal agent, had inhibitory zone diameters of 33.15 and 27.93 mm against dermatophytes and C. albicans, respectively. There was no significant difference between the extract and ketoconazole in their inhibition against dermatophytes (p > 0.01), but their difference was significant against C. albicans (p < 0.01). Using Buehler' s method, different amounts of extract (3, 6, and 9 mg/inch2 gauze pad) were tested in five male New Zealand white rabbits. All tested amounts of extract did not induce dermatitis among those rabbits within 1 week. The results demonstrated the inhibitory effect of Alangium salviifolium subsp hexapetalum against fungi without any local toxicity; a tendency to further develop a herbal preparation for the treatment of some dermatomycotic infections.