Qualitative phytochemical screening and evaluation of anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of Microcos paniculata barks and fruits / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The main objectives of this study were to qualitatively evaluate the profile of phytochemical constituents present in methanolic extract of Microcos paniculata bark (BME) and fruit (FME), as well as to evaluate their anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Phytochemical constituents of BME and FME were determined by different qualitative tests such as Molisch's test, Fehling's test, alkaloid test, frothing test, FeCl3 test, alkali test, Salkowski's test and Baljet test. The anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of the extracts were evaluated through proteinase-inhibitory assay, xylene-induced ear edema test, cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation in mice, formalin test, acetic acid-induced writhing test, tail immersion test and Brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia in mice.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>M. paniculata extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and triterpenoids. All of the extracts showed significant (P<0.05, vs aspirin group) proteinase-inhibitory activity, whereas the highest effect elicited by plant extracts was exhibited by the BME (75.94% proteinase inhibition activity) with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 61.31 μg/mL. Each extract at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight showed significant (P<0.05, vs control) percentage inhibition of ear edema and granuloma formation. These extracts significantly (P<0.05, vs control) reduced the paw licking and abdominal writhing of mice. In addition, BME 400 mg/kg, and FME at 200 and 400 mg/kg showed significant (P<0.05, vs control) analgesic activities at 60 min in the tail immersion test. Again, the significant (P<0.05, vs control) post-treatment antipyretic activities were found by BME 200 and 400 mg/kg and FME 400 mg/kg respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Study results indicate that M. paniculata may provide a source of plant compounds with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities.</p>

Avaliação da toxicidade aguda do extrato aquoso de Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae), em camundongos e ratos / Assessment of acute toxicity of water extract from Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae) in mice and rats

O teste de toxicidade aguda estima a dose letal mediana (DL50 ) e classifica os toxicantes quanto à periculosidade, inclusive para extratos de plantas. A espécie Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae), conhecida como pau-de-jangada ou pente-de-macaco, é empregada popularmente como antirreumática, antiespasmódica e expectorante, embora seja desconhecida quanto aos seus efeitos tóxicos. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar o potencial de toxicidade aguda do extrato aquoso de A. tibourbou (EAT), administrado por gavagem, em camundongos fêmeas e ratos fêmeas, seguindo as diretrizes OECD Guideline 423/2001 e o screening hipocrático. Os camundongos fêmeas foram divididos em três grupos de três animais cada (C1 – controle, água filtrada, 0,25 mL; C2 –300 mg/kg de EAT; e C3 – 2000 mg/kg de EAT). Os ratos fêmeas foram divididos em dois grupos de três animais cada (R1 – controle, água filtrada, 0,5 mL; e R2 – 2000 mg/kg de EAT). O grupo C2 consumiu 28% de água a mais que o grupo C1 (p < 0,05); o grupo C3 produziu 31% de excretas a mais que o grupo C1 (p < 0,0001); o grupo R2 reduziu o consumo de ração e a produção de excretas em 20% e 28% em relação ao grupo R1 (p < 0,05), respectivamente. No screening hipocrático, nenhuma alteração motora e/ou sensorial foi observada. Não houve morte nem estado moribundo de nenhum animal. Conclui-se que o EAT possui DL50 estimada maior que 2000 mg/kg (Classe 5 de toxicidade, segundo o Globally Harmonized System – GHS, ONU), demonstrando reduzido potencial de toxicidade aguda.

The acute toxicity test estimates the median lethal dose (LD50) against a given test organism and classifies toxic substances, including plant extracts, according to their intrinsic toxicity. Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae), a tree known in Brazil as “raft-wood” or “monkey’s comb”, is popularly used as an antirheumatic, antispasmodic and expectorant agent, although its toxic effects are unknown. The objective of this research was therefore to investigate the potential acute toxicity to female mice and rats of a water extract of A. tibourbou leaves (WET), administered by gavage, following OECD Guideline 423/2001 and hippocratic screening. The female mice were divided into three groups of three animals each (C1 – control, given 0.25 mL filtered water; C2 – treated with 300 mg/kg WET; C3 – with 2000 mg/kg WET). The female rats were divided into two groups of three animals each (R1 – control, given 0.5 mL filtered water; R2 – 2000 mg/kg WET). Group C2 consumed 28% more water than group C1 (p < 0.05); group C3 produced 31% more excreta than group C1 (p < 0.0001); group R2 reduced food consumption and excretion by 20% and 28%, relative to group R1 (p < 0.05), respectively. During the Hippocratic screening, no motor and/or sensorial alterations were observed. Neither death nor symptoms of impending death were observed in any animals. It can be concluded that WET has an estimated LD50greater than 2000 mg/kg (Class 5 toxicity, according to the UN Globally Harmonized System – GHS), demonstrating low acute toxicity potential.

Seperation and structure elucidation of alkaloids from Chinese drug buzhaye, Folium Microcos / 药学学报

From the chloroform extracts of the dried Folium Microcos, four compounds were isolated by using repeated column chromatography on silica gel and recrystallization and their structures were elucidated by physicochemical properties and UV, MS and NMR, separately. They are N-methyl-6alpha-(deca-1', 3', 5'-trienyl)-3beta-methoxy-2beta-methylpiperidine, 6-(deca-1', 3', 5'-trienyl)-3-methoxy-2-methylpiperidine, N-methyl-6-(deca-1', 3', 5'-trienyl)-2, 3-dimethylpiperidine and N-methyl-6-(deca-1', 3', 5'-trienyl)-2-methylpiperidine, named as micropiperidine A, micropiperidine B, micropiperidine C and micropiperidine D, respectively. The latter three are new compounds.

Pharmacognostical evaluation of Grewia asiatica leaves

Grewia asiatica is a common medicinal plant in Ayurveda and it is used in several parts of the country for various medicinal properties. The present work attempts to demonstrate the pharmacognostical characters of the leaves. HPTLC histological colour reactions and fluorescence analysis as carried out in this study

Anti-hyperlipidemic effect and lipoidal constituents of grewia asiatica L. leaves

The aqueous ethanol extract, as well as, successive extracts of the dried powdered leaves of the plant were investigated for their anti-hyperlipidemic activity in induced-hyperlipidemic rats. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using Student's 't' test. Significant reduction in triglyceride and cholesterol levels were observed especially with the petroleum ether extract. Bioassay-guided fractionations have led to the fractionation of the petroleum ether extract by colunm chromatography. The hydrocarbon fraction was isolated and its components were identified by GC/MS analysis which revealed the identification of 50 compounds. Six triterpenes, two sterols, one diterpene and four fatty alcohol's were isolated and purified. They were identified by determination of their spectral data as: [1] beta-amyrin [2] alpha-amyrin [3] alpha-amyrone [4] friedelin [5] glutin-5-en-3-ol [6] lanost-9 [11]-en-12-one [7] stigmast-7-en-3-ol [8] beta- sitosterol [9] phytol [10] docosanol [11] hexacosanol [12] heptacosanol and [13] nonacosanol. The fatty acids fraction was prepared, methylated and its components were identified by GC/MS analysis which revealed the identification of 16 compounds. It is worth to mention that the antihyperlipidemic activity test, as well as, the isolation of the identified compounds from G. asiatica leaves are carried out for the first time in the present study

Efeitos da administração aguda e subcrônica da Luehea divaricata Martus et Zuccarini / Effects of acute and subchronic administration of Luehea divaricata Martus et Zuccarini

As cascas de Luehea divaricata Martus et Zuccarini (Tiliaceae) são usadas na medicina popular como antinflamatório e como anti-rumático. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o efeito toxicológico subcrônico do extrato bruto hidroalcoólico (70 por cento) (CHE) em ratos, pela via oral e intraperitonial.

The aqueous extract of Triumfetta semitriloba (Tiliaceae) does not inhibit the in-vitro hydrolytic activity of the major pancreatic enzymes

The aqueous extract of Triumfetta semitriloba is part of the Costa Rican folk pharmacopoeia. It shows no in-vitro inhibitory action on the hydrolytic activity of porcine pancreatic amylase, lipase or proteases, thus diminishing the concern of intestinal malabsorption in human beings.

Efecto de la calidad de la luz sobre la germinación de semillas en el ßrbol pionero tropical Heliocarpus appendiculatus (Tiliaceae) / Light quality effect on the seeds germination in tropical pioneer tree Heliocarpus appendiculatus (Tiliaceae)

The objective of this study was to determine whether seeds of the pioneer tree Heliocarpus appendiculatus possess photoblastic dormancy. Seeds from nine trees were collected in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. In order to test for the presence of photoblastic dormancy, germination experiments were carried out separately on seeds of each individual tree. The seeds from each tree were sown and subjected to four light treatments: fluorescent white light, red light (660 nm), far red light (730 nm), and darkness. A total of 50 seeds were sown in each plastic Petri dish (three replicates per treatment) on an agar solution. Experiments were carried out at a constant temperature of 20 degrees C, and a 12:12 hr (L:D) photoperiod. In addition, seeds of three individuals were sown on agar and subjected to a light quality gradient from red to far red (1.1-0.2). Results show that final germination percentages of seeds were unaffected by light quality in all individuals. Nevertheless, germination was delayed by 24 hr in the seeds of four individuals under the far red light treatment. By the end of fourth day, final germination did not differ among treatments. Further, germination of the three individuals under the red/far red gradient was unaffected. Seeds of H. appendiculatus lack photoblastic dormancy and germination behavior can not be used to explain the absence of seedlings below the canopy. We propose that this absence is due to the failure of the seedlings to establish themselves under the canopy.