Evaluation of biological activities and in vivo amelioration of CCl4 induced toxicity in lung and kidney with Abutilon pannosum (G.Forst.) Schltdl. in rat.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Abutilon pannosum is used in Pakistan for bladder inflammation, diuretic, lung disorders, diabetes and in lowering pyrexia. METHODS: Amount of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and HPLC analysis of APM for the presence of polyphenolics were carried out. Antioxidant activity was determined by using different in vitro antioxidant assays. Amelioration effects of APM (200 mg/kg body weight and 400 mg/kg body weight) against CCl4 induced kidney and lung toxicity in rat was assessed by determining level of antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation products, cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-2), comet assay and histological analysis. RESULTS: HPLC-DAD studies of APM indicated the presence of rutin (0.635 ± 0.011 µg/mg dry extract), gallic acid (1.07 ± 0.043 µg/mg dry extract) and catechin (0.246 ± 0.08 µg/mg dry extract) and considerable quantity of total phenolic (55.485 ± 0.85 mg GAE/g dry extract) and total flavonoid content (19.90 ± 0.58 mg Rutin/g dry extract). During in vitro antioxidant assays APM showed significant (p < 0.05) activity for iron chelation, reducing potential, inhibition of ß-carotene oxidation while moderate potential for scavenging of DPPH, hydroxyl, nitrite and phosphomolybdenum radical. Administration of CCl4 to rat severely depleted the activity level of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration while appreciably increased the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), H2O2, nitrite, TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-2 in lung and kidney tissues of rat. Comet length, % DNA in tail and tail moment significantly (p < 0.01) increased in lung and kidney cells of CCl4 intoxicated rat. Further, injuries in lung and kidney tissues were recorded with CCl4 induced toxicity in rat. The rats treated with APM along with CCl4 exhibited an appreciable level of restoration of the altered parameters towards the control animals. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested the protective potential of APM in CCl4 intoxicated rats for kidney and lung injuries.

Abutilon pannosum stem bark enhances the aphrodisiac activities and spermatogenesis in rat.

Abutilon pannosum (Forst.f.) Schlecht. is used for male sexual performance. In this study, we have investigated aphrodisiac potential of A. pannosum stem bark methanol extract (APM) in rat. Male rats were administered with APM (400 mg/kg) on daily basis for 5, 10 and 15 days. Time interval for mount latency, intromission latency and post-ejaculatory interval was decreased (p < .05) while time of ejaculatory latency, mount frequency, intromission frequency and ejaculatory frequency after 15 days were (p < .05) enhanced as compared to control rats. APM also increased (p < .05) penile erection index, copulatory rate and mount bout against control rats. Total count of spermatozoa was nonsignificantly increased whereas per cent of live spermatozoa and motile spermatozoa were increased (p < .05) in APM treated group after 10 and 15 days. Weight of testes, seminal vesicle, prostate and epididymis, and level of testosterone in serum increased (p < .05) after 10 and 15 days of APM administration to rat. Qualitative characterisation of APM indicated existence of alkaloids, terpenoids, coumarins, cardiac glycosides, phenols, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and sterols. Results of this study indicated aphrodisiac potential of A. pannosum in rat and may be used to enhance sexual performance in human.