Hepatoprotective potential of ethanolic extract of Pandanus odoratissimus root against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

BACKGROUND: Pandanus odoratissimus (Pandanaceae) is popular in the indigenous system of medicines like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy. In the traditional system of medicine various plant parts such as leaves, root, flowers, and oils are used as anthelmintic, tonic, stomachic, digestive and in the treatment of jaundice and various liver disorders. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of the root of P. odoratissimus against paracetamol (PCM) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatotoxicity was induced in male Wistar rat by PCM (2 g/kg b.w. p.o. for 7 days). The ethanolic extract of P. odoratissimus root was administered at the dose level of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg b.w. orally for 7 days and silymarin (100 mg/kg b.w. p.o.) as standard drug was administered once daily for a week. The hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract was evaluated by assessment of biochemical parameters such as serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, serum alkaline phosphatase, total and direct bilirubin and triglycerides. Histopathological study of rat liver was also done. RESULTS: Experimental findings revealed that the extract at dose level of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of b.w. showed dose dependant hepatoprotective effect against PCM induced hepatotoxicity by significantly restoring the levels of serum enzymes to normal that was comparable to that of silymarin, but the extract at dose level of 400 mg/kg was found to be more potent when compared to that of 200 mg/kg. Besides, the results obtained from histopathological study also support the study. CONCLUSION: From the results, it can be concluded that ethanolic extract of the root of P. odoratissimus afforded significant protection against PCM induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Antiinflammatory, Analgesic and Antipyretic Activities of Aerial Parts of Costus speciosus Koen.

In the present study, methanol extracts of Costus speciosus Koen. aerial parts were assessed for antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities in experimental animals. The antiinflammatory activity of methanol extract of Costus speciosus (400 and 800 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw oedema test. Analgesic effect was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing and Eddy's hot-plate models and antipyretic activity was assessed by Brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. The methanol extract of aerial parts of Costus speciosus in a dose of 400 and 800 mg/kg showed significant antiinflammatory activity (19.36 and 40.05% reduction) at 5 h postmedication. In analgesic models extract treated animals at (400 and 800 mg/kg) inhibited writhing's caused by acetic acid by 14.24 and 31.90%, respectively, and it also increased the latency period at both high and low doses which showed the mean reaction time at 16.60±0.355 s and 14.12±0.355 s, respectively, when compared to control in hot-plate test. It also reduces the rectal temperature of the animals at low and high doses significantly 37.03±0.108° and 36.63±0.098°, respectively, in Brewer's yeast induced pyrexia. The obtained results of the present investigation revealed that methanol extract of Costus speciosus has significant antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities.

Anti-inflammatory activity of an alkaloid from Solanum trilobatum on acute and chronic inflammation models.

The solasodine isolated from Solanum trilobatum has been examined for possible anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic inflammatory animal models. Solasodine (5, 30 and 75 mg kg⁻¹) exerted statistically significant and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema, which was similar to that of indomethacin (10 mg kg⁻¹), a known anti-inflammatory agent. At the dose of 75 mg kg⁻¹, solasodine inhibited the arachidonic acid-elicited rat paw oedema 1 h after arachidonic acid challenge. Topical application of solasodine significantly inhibited the ear inflammation induced by multiple applications of tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate. It also suppressed the volume of exudates, total leucocytes and amount of neutrophil migration into the rat pleural cavity. Administration of solasodine at a dose of 75 mg kg⁻¹ significantly inhibited the adjuvant-induced rat paw oedema. These results suggest that solasodine exerts anti-inflammatory activity, at least partly through the inhibition of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase pathways.

Hepatoprotective activity of leaves of Zanthoxylum armatum DC in CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Zanthoxylum armatum DC (Rutaceae) is extensively used in indigenous system of medicine as a tonic, carminative, stomachic and anthelmintic. In the present study, the hepatoprotective activity of the leaves ethanolic extract of Z. armatum (EEZA) was evaluated in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg registered a significant decrease in the levels of serum glutamyl oxalacetic acid transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamyl pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), and serum bilurubin (SBLN) and liver inflammation, which was supported by histopathological studies on liver, thus exhibited a significant hepatoprotective activity. The phytochemical screening of defatted ethanolic extract showed the presence of sterols, alkaloids, flavonoids, and reducing sugars.

Pharmacognostical studies on Zanthoxylum armatum leaves.

The present study deals with the Pharmacognostical investigations on the leaves of Zanthoxylum armatum along with fluorescence characteristics ash and extractive values with an aim to identify and differentiate if from its possible adulterants and / or substitutes.

Individual and combined effects of berberine and santonin on spore germination of some fungi.

Berberine and santonin were isolated from rhizomes of Berberis aristata and unexpanded flower buds of Artemisia maritima, respectively. Efficacy of these two chemicals individually as well as of their mixtures, was tested against spore germination of some saprophytic and obligate fungi. While berberine individually was effective against most of the fungi, Helminthosporium spp. were least affected even at the highest dose (1500 ppm). Santonin was equally effective against several fungi. Mixture of both alkaloids found to be more effective than individual ones. Keeping the dose of berberine constant and santonin at two different concentrations (viz. 250 and 500 ppm) the spore germination of Helminthosporium oryzae was stimulated. Increasing concentration of santonin inhibited the spore germination of all other fungi tested, Colletotrichum capsici being affected only by 20 and 5% (at berberine concentration of 250 and 500 ppm, respectively). On the other hand, santonin being constant and berberine at different concentrations, the mixture was effective against all the fungi.

Hepatoprotective activity of Annona muricata Linn. and Polyalthia cerasoides bedd.

The hepatoprotective effect of Annona muricata and Polyalthia cerasoides (Annonaceae) were monitored by estimating the serum transaminases (SGOT and SGPT), serum alkaline phosphatase (SALP), liver and brain lipid peroxidation (LOP) and their total protein content. Both drugs at a dose of 100 µg/kg significantly prevented the increase in serum transaminases, SALP, liver and brain LOP and decrease in liver and brain total protein content following carbontetrachloride (CCl) induced hepatoxicity in albino rats.

Effect of the extract of Annona muricata and Petunia nyctaginiflora on Herpes simplex virus.

Annona muricata (Annonaceae) and Petunia nyctaginiflora (Solanaceae) were screened for their activity against Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and clinical isolate (obtained from the human keratitis lesion). We have looked at the ability of extract(s) to inhibit the cytopathic effect of HSV-1 on vero cells as indicative of anti-HSV-1 potential. The minimum inhibitory concentration of ethanolic extract of A. muricata and aqueous extract of P. nyctaginiflora was found to be 1 mg/ml.

Effect of stress on immunity.

Immunological system is part of the complex component kapha of Ayurveda. Composed of an array of constituents, it acts as the internal surveillance system of the body. Diseases appear when immunity is compromised. This paper describes in detail the effect of stress on immunity.

Investigation on fagonia cretica -its effect on hormonal profile and immunomodulation in rats.

The effect of alcoholic extracts of the aerial parts of fagonia cretica on estrous cycle and implantation in female albino rats was studied, It induced random omission of heat phase in eh estrous cycle and exhibited 100% anti implantation activity without exhibiting any toxic manifestation, However it was found to have some strong androgenic antiprogestational activity, and immunostimulating property.

IDENTITY OF MOLLUGO STRICTA roots: A POSTENTIAL ANTIFERTILITY DRUG FOR FUTURE.

The salient diagnostic pharmacognostical characters of the roots of Mollugo strica which sows promise as an antifertility drug for future have been studied. The young root is di-to-tri-arch, diarch conditions being most common. The cork cambium arises in the outermost layer of cortex forming 2-3 layers of cork cells on the outside and phelloderm towards the innerside. In the nature root, two concentric stellar rings are formed around the central was the inner one being continuous where as the outer one is discontinuous. The central core of wood also show delignificant in the advanced stages. Starch and calcium oxalate are absent. Ash values and fluorescence analysis are also determined.

Immunomodulators of plant origin - a review.

The immunomodulatory property of plants is being studied with greater interest in recent years. This is more so because of the growing awareness regarding the need to modulate the immune system to achieve the desirable effects of preventing an infection rather than treating it at an advanced state. The recent advances in this field are summarized in this article.

Experimental studies on artemisia vulgaris - a possible antifertility drug.

The effect of alcoholic extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia vulgaris Linn on estrous cycle and implantation, in female albino rats, was studied. The drug induced an irregular estrous cycle with random disappearance of estrous phase and increase in the number of metestrus phases within the estrous cycle, observed for the total test period of 18 days. It exhibited 80% anti-implantation activity without showing any gross malformations in pups delivered, possibly due to its non-toxic nature even at the high dose of 3000 mg/kg p.o. These facts suggest the drug to possess some antifertility effect.

Antiulcer and cytoprotective action of wedelia calendulacea less.

The gastric antiulcer and ulcer healing effect of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the dried leaves of Wedelia calendulacea. Less was found to be significant. The effect of the aqueous extract was observed to be more pronounced in comparison with that of the ethanolic extract.