Actividad inmunomoduladora de la Bauhinia racemosa Lam / Immunomodulatory activity of Bauhinia Racemosa Lam

Objetivo: Evaluar la actividad del extracto metanólico de la corteza del tallo de la Bauhinia Racemosa Lam en ratones albinos suizos. Material y métodos: La inmunidad humoral específica fue evaluada mediante el ensayo de hemaglutinación de antincuerpos ( H.A. Titer) y la inmunidad no específica fue evaluada mediante el test de aclaramiento de carbono y el test de adhesión de neutrofilos. Resultados: se encontró que el extracto del tallo de Bauhinia racemosa (MEBR) era efectivo para el incremento del H.A Titer. La respuesta primaria y secundaria no mostró un ascenso significativo en el H.A Titer en el grupo con estado inmune normal al compararlo con el grupo control. Sin embargo, en el grupo de inmunodeprimidos donde la inmunidad estaba suprimida mediante ciclofosfamida se observó un aumento significativo en el H.A Titer (p<0.01) a dosis de 200mg/kg cuando se comparaba con la ciclofosfamida. El extracto del tallo de Bauhinia racemosa mostró un aumento significativo (p<0,05) en la actividad fagocítica a dosis de 200mg/kg (p.o) en el test de aclaramiento de carbón. En el test de adhesión de neutrófilos el extracto del tallo de Bauhinia racemosa mostró un aumento significativo (p<0,01) del porcentaje de adhesión de neutrófilos a dosis de 200mg/kg (p.o) Conclusión: El presente estudio sostiene al MEBR como un prometedor agente inmunomodulador(AU)

Aim: To evaluate immunomodulatory activity of methanolic extract of stem bark of Bauhinia racemosa Lam swiss albino mice. Material and Methods: The specific humoral immunity was assessed by performing hemagglutinating antibody titer (H.A.Titer) and the non-specific immunity was assessed by performing carbon clearance test and neutrophil adhesion test. Results: The methanolic extract of stem bark of Bauhinia Racemosa (MEBR) was found effective in increasing the H.A.Titer. Primary and secondary antibody response showed no significant rise in H.A.Titer in normal immune status group when compared with control group, whereas in immunosupressed group, where immunity was suppressed by cyclophosphamide, significant rise in H.A.Titer (p<0.01) was observed at dose of 200 mg/kg (p.o.) when compared with cyclophosphamide. MEBR showed significant increase (p<0.05) in phagocytic activity at dose of 200 mg/kg (p.o.) in carbon clearance test. In neutrophil adhesion test MEBR showed significant (p<0.01) rise in percentage neutrophil adhesion at dose of 200 mg/kg (p.o.). Conclusion: Present study, therefore, reveals that MEBR) holds promise as immunomodulatory agent(AU)

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of protocatechuic acid in rats and mice.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of protocatechuic acid (PCA), a natural product, was evaluated in different rat models (viz., carrageenan-induced paw oedema, cotton pellet-induced granuloma and Freund's adjuvant arthritis) of inflammation and chemical and heat induced mouse models of pain. Treatment with PCA inhibited significantly different biological parameters like hind paw oedema, granuloma exudates formation and arthritis index in carrageenan oedema, cotton pellet granuloma and Freund's adjuvant arthritis, respectively. The biochemical changes viz., glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, lipid peroxidation and NO in oedematous or in liver tissues and serum alanine aminotransferase and lactic dehydrogenase occurred during different types of inflammation were either significantly restored or inhibited with PCA pretreatment. Present experimental findings demonstrate promising anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of PCA which is comparable with that of standard drugs used.

DPP IV inhibitors: successes, failures and future prospects.

The dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) enzyme is a novel target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Several DPP IV inhibitors are in the clinical development, since they are safe and tolerable with no increased risk of adverse events compared to placebo and have a low risk of hypoglycemia. They are flourishing as monotherapy and also in combination with commonly prescribed antidiabetic agents and are appropriate for once-daily oral dosing. However, further studies are needed to validate both long-term ß-cell preservation and the role of these agents in the management of diabetes. The present review gives an inside out of the DPP IV inhibitors for its success, failure and future prospects in the treatment of diabetes and associated complication.

Stem bark extraction of Ficus bengalensis Linn for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity in animal models.

In the present study, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of aqueous extract of Ficus bengalensis (AEFB) and methanolic extract of F. bengalensis (MEFB) was evaluated in animal models. Preliminary results indicated that MEFB treatment possesses significant anti-inflammatory potential as compared to AEFB. The anti-inflammatory activity of MEFB exhibited in both acute (carrageenan induced hind paw edema and acetic acid induced vascular permeability) and subchronic (cotton pellet-induced granuloma) models of inflammation was found to be significant. In addition, the extract also showed significant analgesic activity in acetic acid induced writhing. Pretreatment with MEFB during inflammatory condition (both acute and sub-chronic) prevented increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and myeloperoxidase activity in edematous as well as granulomatous tissue. Further, serum marker enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) increased in inflammatory conditions were also inhibited with MEFB treatment. Hence, the anti-inflammatory activity observed in the present study with MEFB could be attributed largely to its antioxidant and lysosomal membrane stabilizing effects.

Hepatoprotective activity of Luffa acutangula against CCl4 and rifampicin induced liver toxicity in rats: a biochemical and histopathological evaluation.

Hepatoprotective activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Luffa acutangula (HAELA) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and rifampicin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was evaluated and probable mechanism(s) of action has been suggested. Administration of standard drug- silymarin and HAELA showed significant hepatoprotection against CCl4 and rifampicin induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Hepatoprotective activity of HAELA was due to the decreased levels of serum marker enzymes viz., (AST, ALT, ALP and LDH) and increased total protein including the improvement in histoarchitecture of liver cells of the treated groups as compared to the control group. HAELA also showed significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) formation, increased activity of non-enzymatic intracellular antioxidant, glutathione and enzymatic antioxidants, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Results of this study demonstrated that endogenous antioxidants and inhibition of lipid peroxidation of membrane contribute to hepatoprotective activity of HAELA.

Purification and partial characterization of thermostable serine alkaline protease from a newly isolated Bacillus species HSRB08 from hotspring.

The purpose of the research was to study the purification and partial characterization of thermostable serine alkaline protease from a newly isolated Bacillus species HSRB08, which was isolated from hotspring. The enzyme was purified in a 2-step procedure involving ammonium sulfate precipitation and Sephadex G-200 chromatography. The enzyme was shown to have molecular weight of 66 kD by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Gelatin Zymogram and was purified 15.3-fold with a yield of 7.5%. It was most active at 45 degrees C, pH 9.0, with casein as substrate. It was strongly activated by metal ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+. Enzyme activity was inhibited strongly by phenylmethyl sulphonyl fluoride (PMSF) but was not inhibited by ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), while a slight inhibition was observed with beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-ME). The compatibility of the enzyme was studied with commercial and local detergents in the presence of 10 mM CaCl2. The addition of 10 mM CaCl2 individually and in combination, was found to be very effective in improving the enzyme stability. This enzyme improved the cleansing power of various detergents. It removed blood stains completely when used with detergents in the presence of 10 mM CaCl2.

Simultaneous spectrophotometric estimation of Hydrochlorothiazide, Atenolol and Losartan potassium in tablet dosage form.

Two simple, accurate and reproducible spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the simultaneous estimation of Hydrochlorothiazide (Hctz), Atenolol (Atn) and Losartan potassium (Los) in combined tablet dosage forms. The first method involves determination using the simultaneous equation method, the sampling wavelengths selected are, 272.5 nm, 224 nm and 250 nm over the concentration ranges of 0.5-30 microg/ml, 1-50 microg/ ml and 1-60 microg/ml for Hctz, Atn and Los respectively. The second method is the First order derivative method, the sampling wavelengths selected for estimation of Hctz, Atn and Los are 280.5 nm, 233 nm and 244 nm with linearity in the concentration ranges of 0.5-30 microg/ ml, 1-50 microg/ml and 1-60 microg/ml respectively. The results of the analysis were validated statistically and recovery studies were carried out as per ICH guidelines.

Cardioprotective effect of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. on isoprenaline induced myocardial infarction in rats.

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective potential of aqueous leaf extract of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (AI) on the basis of haemodynamic, biochemical and histopathological parameters in isoprenaline induced myocardial infarction in rats and to compare with vitamin E, a known cardioprotective antioxidant. A significant (p<0.01) decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial blood pressure (DAP) and increase in heart rate (HR) were observed in isoprenaline control group. Isoprenaline showed significant decrease in the level of cardiac marker enzymes [Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Serum Glutamate Oxalotransaminase (SGOT)] in the heart homogenate with a corresponding increase in their level in serum. In vitamin E control group significant (p<0.05) increase in LDH in heart homogenate and decrease of SGOT and LDH in serum was observed. In isoprenaline control group, significant (p<0.01) increase in total cholesterol and triglycerides levels while decrease in high-density lipoproteins (HDL) was observed. On histopathological examination, myocardial damage in isoprenaline control group further confirmed cardiotoxic effect of isoprenaline. Our data showed that AI (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly restores most of the haemodynamic, biochemical and histopathalogical parameters. Finally we concluded that AI leaf extract exerts equipotent cardioprotective activity in the experimental model of isoprenalin induced myocardial necrosis in rats as compared to vitamin E, a known cardioprotective antioxidant.