Effects of flavonoids from Martynia annua and Tephrosia purpurea on cutaneous wound healing.

OBJECTIVE: Martynia annua L. (M. annua), (Martyniaccae) has been traditionally used in the treatment of epilepsy, sore throat and inflammatory disorders. The leaf paste is used topically on Tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands and wounds of domestic animals. Tephrosia purpurea (T. purpurea), (Fabaceae) has been used traditionally as a remedy for asthma, gonorrhea, rheumatism and ulcers. This study aimed to evaluate the potential wound healing effects of different fractions ofethanol extract of M. annua leaves and aerial parts of T. purpurea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methanol fraction of M. annua (MAF-C) and ethyl acetate fraction of T. purpurea (TPF-A) were evaluated for healing potential in dead-space and burn wound models. An ointment (5% w/w) of MAF-C and TPF-A, pongamol (0.2 and 0.5% w/w) and luteolin (0.2 and 0.5% w/w) was applied topically twice a day. The effects were compared with Povidone Iodine ointment with respect to protein, collagen content, enzymatic assay and histopathological finding of granuloma tissues. RESULTS: Ethanol extracts of M. annua and T. purpureawere exhibited total flavonoid contents of 126.2 ± 4.69 and 171.6 ± 6.38 mg (quercetin equivalent), respectively. HPLC fingerprinting confirmed the presence of luteolin in M. annua and quercetin in T. purpurea. TPF-A and MAF-C ointments (5% w/w) significantly increases the hydroxyproline and protein contents. Luteolin and pongamol ointments were also found to be effective in both wound models. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that 5% w/w ointment of TPF-A and MAF-C fractions were more effective than isolated flavonoids in wound healing which may be due to synergistic interactions between the flavonoids and other constituents.

Effect of Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. Leaves on Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the nephroprotective and nephrocurative effects of Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. leaves against gentamicin-induced acute renal injury in albino rats. The maximum free radical scavenging activity of the ethanolic extract was the basis for the selection of this extract for the in vivo study. Gentamicin (40 mg/kg, s.c.) was administered to induce toxicity in the toxic group and the ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg p.o.) was administered in all treated groups. Blood urea and serum creatinine levels were monitored to assess the effects. The antioxidant potential was also evaluated by the estimation of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Gentamicin intoxication caused significant increases in blood urea and serum creatinine levels as compared to the normal control. In the preventive regimen, the extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant reductions in the elevated blood urea and serum creatinine. Histopathological changes were in accordance with the biochemical findings. Also in the curative regimen, the blood urea and serum creatinine levels revealed significant curative effects. In our in vivo antioxidant activity, the GSH level was significantly (P< 0.05) increased in the extract-treated groups, whereas MDA was reduced significantly (P< 0.05). Further thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) led us to ascertain the presence of rutin and quercetin in the extract. We were able to isolate and characterize an isolate from the ethanolic extract and characterize it on the basis of chromatographic, melting point, FTIR, NMR, and mass spectroscopic studies. The findings suggest that the ethanol extract of Tephrosia purpurea leaves possesses marked nephroprotective and curative activities without any toxicity. The proposed mechanisms for the claimed activity are antioxidant activity and the inhibition of an overproduction of NO and Cox-2 expression. These activities may be attributed to the presence of phenolics and flavonoidal compounds like rutin and quercetin. Thus, it can be said that Tephrosia purpurea could offer a promising role in the treatment of acute renal injury caused by nephrotoxins like gentamicin.

Effects of Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels fruit on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute oxidative damage in livers of rats and mice.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken with a view to validate the traditional use of Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels fruit as a hepatoprotective agent. METHODS: The 70% ethanolic extract of P. acidus fruit (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.), and reference drug silymarin (100 mg/kg, p.o.) were given to rats of different groups respectively once a day for 5 d and the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (2 mL/kg, subcutaneously) was given on days 2 and 3. Serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) and total protein (TP) were assessed along with liver histopathological examination. The effects on oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were also assessed in liver tissue homogenate to evaluate in vivo antioxidant activity. In addition, the effects on hexobarbitone-induced sleeping time were observed and the free radical-scavenging potential was determined by using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) in mice. RESULTS: P. acidus extracts and silymarin exhibited a significant hepatoprotective effect as evident from the decreases of serum AST, ALT and ALP levels and LPO and increases in the levels of TP, GSH, SOD, CAT, and GPx compared with control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The biochemical results were supplemented with results of histopathological sections of the liver tissues. P. acidus extracts considerably shortened the duration of hexobarbitone-induced sleeping time in mice compared with control group (P<0.01) and showed remarkable DPPH-scavenging activity. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that the hepatoprotective effect of P. acidus against CCl4-induced oxidative damage may be related to its antioxidant and free radical-scavenging potentials.

Nephroprotective activity of Momordica dioica Roxb. in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

In this study, the ethanol extract of Momordica dioica fruit extract (200 mg kg(-1)) was studied for nephroprotective and curative activities. Chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous extracts were prepared. In vitro antioxidant activity was made the basis for the selection of the ethanol extract for further studies. In DPPH free radical scavenging activity, the ethanolic extract has shown maximum inhibition (84.2%), followed by aqueous (74.8%), ethyl acetate (69.4%) and chloroform (59.7%) extract. On the other hand, in total antioxidant activity, the ethanol extract has shown 80.1% inhibition, followed by aqueous (71.9%), ethyl acetate (67.2%) and chloroform (53.2%) extracts. A single dose (5 mg kg(-1), i.p.) of cisplatin was administrated to induce nephrotoxicity. Blood urea and serum creatinine were analysed as biochemical markers of nephrotoxicity. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and the product of lipid peroxidation (MDA) were also measured in kidney tissues. A single dose of cisplatin resulted in significant reduction in body weight and increased the urea and creatinine levels. Extract administration has shown significant recovery in the levels of these biochemicals in curative (p < 0.001) and protective groups, whereas a single dose of cisplatin caused significant reduction in GSH and an increase in malondialdehyde production. Recovery was observed in treated groups. This study suggested that the nephroprotective and curative activities of M. dioica fruit extract are due to its antioxidant activity. It is further concluded that this antioxidant activity may be attributed to the phenolics, flavonoids and amino acids present in the extract.

Evaluation of anti-fertility activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata (Linn) R.Br. leaves in rats.

The aim of the present study was to assess the anti-fertility activity of ethanolic extracts of Tabernaemontana divaricata (TD) leaves in oestrogenic activity models in immature female rats. Mature green leaves of TD were collected and authenticated. Extractions of the dried leaves were carried out with ethanol in a Soxhlet's apparatus. For oestrogenic activity, the extracts were administered orally once daily at a dose of 200 and 400 mg kg(-1), and the activity was compared with the standard drug ethinyl oestradiol (0.02 mg). The extracts caused significant increase in uterine weight compared to the control. The ethanolic extract exhibited oestrogenic activity. The histological study of epithelium tissues with the 400 mg of TD extract-treated animals showed increases in the height of the luminal epithelium and loose edematous stroma when compared with the 200 mg of TD extract-treated group of animals. However, this was better than the control group of animals. Enhanced uterine weight and increase in the height of luminal epithelium and histological characteristics suggest that TD extract may be useful in anti-fertility therapy.

Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of in vitro free radical scavenging activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata Linn.

We evaluate the in vitro free radical scavenging activity of the leaves of Tabernaemontana divaricata Linn. Petroleum ether, ethanol and aqueous extracts of T. divaricata were prepared with successive extraction in a soxhlet apparatus. Each extract was selected to study the free radical scavenging activity by superoxide scavenging assay method. It was found that the aqueous extract contained carbohydrates, glycosides, amino acids, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and steroids, and the ethanolic extract contained glycosides, amino acids, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and steroids. The ethanolic extract of T. divaricata showed 58.7 +/- 0.62% inhibition in the superoxide scavenging model. The aqueous extract also showed almost similar activity (54.9 +/- 0.53% compared to the ethanolic extract), while petroleum ether extract showed poor inhibition of superoxide scavenging activity. All extracts showed the dose- and time-dependent inhibition of the superoxide scavenging activity.

Effect of Momordica dioica Roxb on gentamicin model of acute renal failure.

The ethanolic extract of the fruits of Momordica dioica was studied for its protective and curative effect against gentamicin-induced acute renal injury in albino rats of both sexes. Gentamicin intoxicated group showed significant increase in blood urea (69.48 +/- 4.34) and serum creatinine (3.017 +/- 0.208) from normal levels 33.72 +/- 1.92 and 0.818 +/- 0.073, respectively, in control group. In the preventive regimen, the extract at dose levels of 200 mg kg(-1) showed significant reduction in the elevated blood urea (47.93 +/- 2.46) and serum creatinine (2.067 +/- 0.1745), respectively. This treatment normalised the histopathological changes compared to the intoxicated group. In the curative regimen at 200 mg kg(-1) blood urea was found to be 48.21 +/- 2.36 and serum creatinine level was 2.050 +/- 0.183, which revealed significant curative effect. In vivo antioxidant and free radial scavenging activities were also determined. The maximum free radical scavenging activity with ethanolic extract was the basis of selection of this extract for in vivo study. Reduced glutathione (GSH) level was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the extract treated groups whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced significantly (p < 0.05). High content of flavonoids and phenolic compounds was found in ethanolic extract, which may be responsible for free radical activity. The findings suggest that the ethanol extract of Momordica dioica seeds possesses marked nephroprotective and curative activities without any toxicity due to its antioxidant activity and could offer a promising role in the treatment of acute renal injury caused by nephrotoxin-like gentamicin.

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Momordica dioica Roxb. leaves.

In present study, the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Momordica dioica Roxb. leaves were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic damage in rats. The extracts at dose of 200mg/kg were administered orally once daily. The substantially elevated serum enzymatic levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT), serum alkaline phosphatase (SALP) and total bilirubin were restored towards normalization significantly by the extracts. Silymarin was used as standard reference and exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride induced haptotoxicity in rats. The biochemical observations were supplemented with histopathological examination of rat liver sections. The results of this study strongly indicate that Momordica dioica Roxb. leaves have potent hepatoprotective action against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage in rats. Ethanolic extract was found more potent hepatoprotective. Meanwhile, in vivo antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities were also screened which were positive for both ethanolic and aqueous extracts. This study suggests that possible mechanism of this activity may be due to free radical-scavenging and antioxidant activities which may be due to the presence of flavonoids in the extracts.