Modulatory effects of methanolic fruit fraction of Pedalium murex on sulphasalazine-induced male reproductive disruption.

Pedalium murex is widely practiced in Ayurveda for the treatment of sexual disorders, but their detailed scientific evaluations are still unexplored. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the effect of methanolic fruit fraction of P. murex (MfPm) against sulphasalazine (SSZ) induced male reproductive disruption. MfPm and Clomiphene citrate were orally administered to SSZ (100 mg/kg b.wt) induced infertile rats at the dose of 50 and 10 mg/kg b.wt, respectively, for 60 days. MfPm treatment promoted a significant (p < 0.01) improvement in fertility (~70%), sperm motility (21%), and sperm density (11.20% and 12.30%). MfPm administration restored the serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone levels back to their normal range in a significant (p < 0.01) manner and also significantly (p < 0.01) altered the level of biochemical parameters in treated rats. Furthermore, histological examination showed an improvement in spermatogenesis, as well as regeneration in the testicular architecture observed with increased germinal and interstitial cell count in response to MfPm treated rats. In conclusion, the results suggest that MfPm showed a significant modulatory effect against SSZ induced male reproductive disruption via possible mode of action such as spermatogenic and androgenic nature, therefore, justifying the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of reproductive disruption.

In vitro and in vivo antidiabetic activity of isolated fraction of Prosopis cineraria against streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes: A mechanistic study.

A rapidly increasing incidence of Diabetes mellitus throughout the world is a major concern in both developed and developing countries and the drawbacks associated with currently available treatments led to switching researcher's attention towards naturopathy. Since ancient time, herbal plants have been traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes as they consider to be less toxic and free from side effects than synthetic ones. In our previous studies, we had isolated two new compounds (Methyl 5-tridecyloctadec-4-enoate and Nonacosan-8-one), together with three known compounds (Lupeol, ß-sitosterol and Stigmasterol) from chloroform fraction of stem bark of P. cineraria (CfPc). The present study aimed to determine the in vivo and in vivo antidiabetic activity of CfPc in streptozotocin induced experimental diabetes and also evaluated their possible mode of action. CfPc was orally administrated to STZ (55 mg/kg b.wt) induced diabetic rats at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg b.wt for 21 days. Treatment of CfPc significantly (p < 0.05) lowered the level of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and also restored body weight, liver glycogen content and serum insulin level in diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner. A significant (p < 0.05) reduction in serum lipid profile markers and elevation in HDL-C after treatment with CfPc, also signifying the protective effects of CfPc in diabetes-associated complications. In addition, CfPc also promoted a significant inhibition of α-amylase enzyme activity with an IC50 value of 40.29 µg/ml. Results indicate that CfPc possess a potential in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic activity and this effect could be due to multitarget mode of action that includes antihyperglycemic, postprandial hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and insulin secretory actions. Therefore, it could be used as a safer complementary drug in the management of diabetes and associated complications.