Evaluation of antiproliferative and hepatoprotective effects of wheat grass (Triticum aestivum).

This study was aimed to evaluate the pharmacological potential of various extracts (hexane, chloroform, methanol and aqueous) of dried shoots of Triticum aestivum (wheat grass) in terms of antiproliferative and hepatoprotective potential of T. aestivum. The total chlorophyll content in dried shoots of T. aestivum was 0.54 ± 0.016 g/L (chlorophyll-a: 0.288 ± 0.05 g/L; and chlorophyll-b; 0.305 ± 0.05 g/L), while total carotene content was 0.42 ± 0.066 g/L. In addition, the chloroform extract of dried shoots of T. aestivum (250 µg/mL) exhibited 87.23% inhibitory effect with potent cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cancer cell line. Moreover, chloroform and methanol extracts significantly reduced the levels of SGOT, and SGPT enzymes, as well as total bilirubin content, while raised the level of total protein in a concentration-gradient manner, confirming the potent hepatoprotective effect of T. aestivum. A possible mechanism of apoptosis of the chloroform extract of dried shoots of T. aestivum in terms of its potent antiproliferative activity against HepG2 cancer cell line can also be proposed in this study. Our findings clearly demonstrate that T. aestivum has a significant pharmacological potential that night be used for antiproliferative and hepatoprotective purposes.

Anti-hyperglycemic potential of Lactobacillus spp. in alloxan-induced Wistar rats.

This research was aimed to investigate anti-hyperglycemic effects of two Lactobacillus spp. on alloxan induced diabetic rats. Alloxan was administered intraperitoneally to induce the diabetic conditions in experimental rats. Animals were treated with oral administration of Lactobacillus spp., such as L. plantarum and L. acidophilus at the dose of 108 CFU/ml. As a result, administration of Lactobacillus spp. significantly (P<0.05) lowered blood glucose levels in diabetic rats by (201-220mg/dl) as compared to diabetic control (265mg/dl). Also, both the Lactobacillus spp. were able to reduce body weight of experimental animals as compared to control group, suggesting potent anti-hyperglycemic effect of Lactobacillus spp. in terms of their anti-diabetic potential.

Phytochemical analysis and estimation of major bioactive compounds from Triticum aestivum L. grass with antimicrobial potential.

The aim of the present study was to investigate phytochemical analysis, and qualitative and quantitative determination of major bioactive compound present in various organic extracts of T. aestivum L. grass. Soxhlet apparatus was used for the extraction purpose using hexane, chloroform, methanol and distilled water as a solvent system. All the extracts derived from T. aestivum showed qualitative presence of major phytochemicals including alkaloids, steroids and cardiac glycosides tannins, flavonoids carbohydrates. Further, HPLC analysis revealed the presence of major bioactive compounds such as rutin, chlorogenic acid, tocopherol, chlorogenic acid, and gallic acid in various organic extracts responsible for the reported maximum antimicrobial activity of T. aestivum grass against pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholerae. These findings confirm that T. aestivum grass containing medicinally important bioactive compounds may have significant potential to be used in traditional medicine system for the treatment of various diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms.

In vivo anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of a medicinal plant, Caesalpinia bonducella F.

This research examined antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities of ethanolic extract of C. bonducella whole seeds in experimental albino rats. Three doses, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the whole seed ethanolic extract prepared as a suspension in 2 ml of 2% gum acacia were used. Acute inflammatory and antipyretic activities were evaluated in experimental animals by carrageenan induced paw edema and brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia models, respectively. A significant (p<0.05) reduction in paw volumes, and pyrexia was noted in experimental animals when compared with control animals. The ethanol see extract (400 mg/kg) displayed in vivo anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic in terms of reduction in paw edema, % writhes inhibition and rectal temperature by (0.24±0.03), (31.38%) and (36.2±0.1), respectively. Overall the whole ethanolic seed extract at all tested concentrations produced significant (p<0.05) anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic activities. The results obtained in this study clearly indicated the ethno-medicinal potential of C. bonducella in curing pain and inflammation related disorders, supporting its efficacy as a natural analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Antimycobacterial activity of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. against drug sensitive and drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and MOTT clinical isolates.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Citrullus colocynthis (Cucurbitaceae), a folk herbal medicine and traditionally used natural remedy for tuberculosis in India has been studied to validate its antitubercular activity against drug sensitive and drug resistant (including multidrug resistant) Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium other than tuberculosis (MOTT) bacilli. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inhibitory and bactericidal activities of crude extracts, fractions and compounds of Citrullus colocynthis plant, consisting of aerial parts and ripe deseeded fruits were performed against the drug sensitive standard strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (ATCC 27294), 16 drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and two MOTT strains, using radiometric BACTEC 460TB system. RESULTS: Methanolic extract of ripe deseeded fruit of Citrullus colocynthis has shown good activity (MIC ≤ 62.5 µg/ml), whereas among the bioactive fractions, FC IX demonstrated the best activity (MIC 31.2 µg/ml) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Bioactive FC III, IX and X also inhibited 16 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis consisting of seven non-multidrug resistants, eight multidrug resistants, one extensively drug resistant and two of MOTTs with MICs in the range of 50-125, 31.2-125 and 62.5-125 µg/ml, respectively. Ursolic acid and cucurbitacin E 2-0-ß-d-glucopyranoside were identified as the main biomarkers active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MICs 50 and 25 µg/ml respectively), as well as against the 18 clinical isolates. FC III and FC IX showed better inhibition of drug resistant and MOTT clinical isolates. Minimal bactericidal concentrations of extracts, fractions and compound C-2 were ≥ two-fold MIC values. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use of Citrullus colocynthis fruit in the treatment of tuberculosis. In addition, the study elucidates a broad spectrum antimycobacterial action of Citrullus colocynthis fruit, which can contribute to the development of improved preparation of an antitubercular natural drug for the treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis and MOTT infection as well.

Antioxidant ability and total phenolic content of aqueous leaf extract of Stevia rebaudiana Bert.

In the present study, we carried out a systematic research on relative antioxidant activity of aqueous leaf extract of Stevia rebaudiana. The DPPH activity of aqueous leaf extract (20, 40, 50, 100 and 200 µg/ml) was increased in a dose dependent manner, which was found in the range of 40.00-72.37% as compared to ascorbic acid 64.26-82.58%. The IC(50) values of aqueous extract and ascorbic acid in DPPH radical scavenging assay were obtained to be 83.45 and 26.75 µg/ml, respectively. Measurement of total phenolic content of the aqueous leaf extract of S. rebaudiana was achieved using Folin-Ciocalteau reagent containing 56.73 mg/g of phenolic content, which was found significantly potent when compared to reference standard gallic acid. The aqueous extract also inhibited the hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide and superoxide anions with IC(50) values of 100.86, 98.73 and 100.86 µg/ml, respectively. The greater amount of phenolic compounds leads to more potent radical scavenging effects as shown by the aqueous leaf extract of S. rebaudiana.

In vivo immunomodulatory activities of the aqueous extract of bonduc nut Caesalpinia bonducella seeds.

This study evaluated the in vivo immunomodulatory activities of the aqueous extract of Caesalpinia bonducella Fleming (Caesalpiniaceae) seeds. C. bonducella is a plant widely used in the traditional medicinal systems of India. In the present investigation, the aqueous extract of C. bonducella seeds was tested for its effect on cell mediated and humoral components of the immune system in rats. Administration of C. bonducella seed extract produced an increase of 93.03 +/- 4 mean hemagglutinating antibody (HA) titer and a change of 0.56 +/- 0.058 mm in delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) as compared to control at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight. Thus, the results of this study indicate that C. bonducella extract could be a promising immunostimulatory agent.

Studies on anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic properties of Caesalpinia bonducella F. seed oil in experimental animal models.

Caesalpinia bonducella FLEMING (Caesalpiniaceae) plant is well known for its medicinal and therapeutic values in Indian Ayurveda. However, to be clinically useful, more scientific data are needed. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of C. bonducella seed oil on acute and chronic inflammation. To assess the anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic activities, varied concentrations of the seed oil of C. bonducella (100, 200 and 400mg/kg orally) were tested in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema, brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia, acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate reaction time in experimental rats. The paw volumes, pyrexia and writhes in experimental rats were reduced significantly (p<0.05) as compared to that of control, and hot plate test showed significant licking effect in rats. These results clearly indicate that the oil of C. bonducella seeds could be a potential source for using as anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic agent.

Immunomodulatory activities of the ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia bonducella seeds.

UNLABELLED: Caesalpinia bonducella FLEMING (Caesalpiniaceae) is a plant well known for its medicinal value in Indian Ayurveda. However, to prove its efficiency for the clinical utilization, more experimental data will be beneficial. AIMS OF THE STUDY: The present study involved the investigation of immunomodulatory activities of ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia bonducella seeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neutrophil adhesion test, haemagglutinating antibody (HA) titre, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, phagocytic activity and cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression were determined by in vivo experiments. RESULTS: The evaluation of immunomodulatory potential by oral administration of ethanolic seed extract of Caesalpinia bonducella (200-500 mg/kg) evoked a significant increase in percent neutrophil adhesion to nylon fibers as well as a dose-dependent increase in antibody titre values, and potentiated the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction induced by sheep red blood cells. Also it prevented myelosuppression in cyclophosphamide drug treated rats and good response towards phagocytosis in carbon clearance assay. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in this study indicate that Caesalpinia bonducella possesses potential immunomodulatory activity and has therapeutic potential for the prevention of autoimmune diseases.

In vitro antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of ethanolic leaf extract of Stevia rebaudiana Bert.

The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro potential of ethanolic leaf extract of Stevia rebaudiana as a natural antioxidant. The DPPH activity of the extract (20, 40, 50, 100 and 200 microg/ml) was increased in a dose dependent manner, which was found in the range of 36.93-68.76% as compared to ascorbic acid 64.26-82.58%. The IC(50) values of ethanolic extract and ascorbic acid in DPPH radical scavenging assay were obtained to be 93.46 and 26.75 microg/ml, respectively. The ethanolic extract was also found to scavenge the superoxide generated by EDTA/NBT system. Measurement of total phenolic content of the ethanolic extract of S. rebaudiana was achieved using Folin-Ciocalteau reagent containing 61.50 mg/g of phenolic content, which was found significantly higher when compared to reference standard gallic acid. The ethanolic extract also inhibited the hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide, superoxide anions with IC(50) values of 93.46, 132.05 and 81.08 microg/ml, respectively. However, the IC(50) values for the standard ascorbic acid were noted to be 26.75, 66.01 and 71.41 microg/ml respectively. The results obtained in this study clearly indicate that S. rebaudiana has a significant potential to use as a natural antioxidant agent.

Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia bonducella seeds.

The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro potential of ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia bonducella seeds as a natural antioxidant. The DPPH activity of the extract (20, 40, 50, 100 and 200 microg/ml) was increased in a dose dependent manner, which was found in the range of 38.93-74.77% as compared to ascorbic acid (64.26-82.58%). The IC(50) values of ethanolic extract and ascorbic acid in DPPH radical scavenging assay were obtained to be 74.73 and 26.68 microg/ml, respectively. The ethanolic extract was also found to scavenge the superoxide generated by EDTA/NBT system. Measurement of total phenolic content of the ethanolic extract of C. bonducella was achieved using Folin-Ciocalteau reagent containing 62.50mg/g of phenolic content, which was found significantly higher when compared to reference standard gallic acid. The ethanolic extract also inhibited the hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide, superoxide anions with IC(50) values of 109.85, 102.65 and 89.84 microg/ml, respectively. However, the IC(50) values for the standard ascorbic acid were noted to be 70.79, 65.98 and 36.68 microg/ml respectively. The results obtained in this study clearly indicate that C. bonducella has a significant potential to use as a natural antioxidant agent.

Synthesis of Schiff bases of 2-amino-5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles and their evaluation for antimicrobial activities.

Twenty Schiff bases of 2-amino-5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles have been synthesized with different aromatic aldehydes. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by nitrogen analysis, IR and 13C-NMR spectral data. The antibacterial properties of the compounds were investigated against Proteus mirabilis (MTCC-425), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC-424), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC-619) and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC-96) using the broth dilution method. The most active compounds were 4c (64 microg/ml), 4f (68 microg/ml), 4m (64 microg/ml) and 4q (62 microg/ml). The antifungal screening of the compounds were carried out using Aspergillus niger (MTCC-1344) and Candida albicans (MTCC-227) using the broth dilution method. Active compounds were 4g (52 microg/ml), 4h (56 microg/ml), 4l (60 microg/ml), 4m (58 microg/ml).