ABSTRACT
The study deals with the evaluation of antimycobacterial activity of betulinol, a dry birch bark extract (BBE), on a model of infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT). It has established the inhibitory action of betulinol on the in vitro and in vivo growth of MBT and its positive effect on reparative processes in the lung, liver, and spleen of tuberculosis-infected mice.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Betula , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/drug effects , Phytotherapy/methods , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy , Animals , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BLABSTRACT
The interferon-inducing activity of dry birch bark extract containing betulin and its effect on hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced infection were studied in the cultured cells. All samples of the extract induced increased interferon (IFN) production when it was orally and intraperitoneally administered. The dose-dependence of the production of IFN showed a direct relation of the extract to interferon induction. There is strong evidence for that the extract can decrease the antigenic and infective activity of HCV in both in vitro experiments and HCV-induced infection in mice. The preventive effect of the extract was found in both the HCV-infected cell cultures and the HCV-infected mice.
Subject(s)
Betula , Hepacivirus , Hepatitis C/blood , Hepatitis C/drug therapy , Interferon Inducers/administration & dosage , Interferons/blood , Triterpenes/administration & dosage , Administration, Oral , Animals , Cell Line , Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Hepacivirus/drug effects , Hepacivirus/physiology , Hepatitis C/virology , Injections, Intraperitoneal , Interferon Inducers/pharmacology , Mice , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Triterpenes/pharmacology , Virus Replication/drug effectsABSTRACT
Study was performed by counting cells with chromosomal aberrations in C57Bl/6 mice. Bark dry extract was given perorally in doses of 50, 150, 450, and 1500 mg/kg. Mutagens dioxidine and cyclophosphamide were injected intraperitoneally in doses of 200 and 20 mg/kg, respectively. Bark dry extract in doses of 150 and 1500 mg/kg did not possess cytogenetic activity. Bark dry extract in doses of 50, 150, and 450 mg/kg significantly decreased the cytogenetic effect of mutagens under various regimens of treatment with the preparation (single combined administration, 5-day pretreatment, and 5-day combined administration). Our results indicate that bark dry extract possesses antimutagenic properties.
