Wound healing effect of flavonoid rich fraction and luteolin isolated from Martynia annua Linn. on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate wound healing potential of flavonoid fractions of Martynia annua (M. annua) Linn. leaves in diabetic rats on the basis of folkloric information and preliminary study. METHODS: The flavonoid compound luteolin and apigenin were isolated from dried leaves of plant by column chromatography. The two concentrations (0.2% and 0.5% w/w) of luteolin and flavonoid fraction were selected for topically applied as ointment on diabetic wound. The Povidone Iodine Ointment USP was used as a reference. On 18th days, protein content, hydroxyproline and antioxidants (SOD, CAT and GSH) level in granuloma tissues were determined. RESULTS: The results showed that, percent wound contraction were observed significantly (P<0.01) greater in MAF fraction and 0.5% w/w of luteolin treatment groups. Presence of matured collagen fibres and fibroblasts with better angiogenesis were observed in histopathological studies. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our findings suggest that flavonoid fraction (MAF) and luteolin (0.5% w/w) may have potential benefit in enhancing wound healing in diabetic condition, possibly due to free-radical scavenging activity of plant.

Protective role of Beta vulgaris L. leaves extract and fractions on ethanol-mediated hepatic toxicity.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective action of Beta vulgaris Linn. (BV, Chenopodiaceae) leaves against ethanol-mediated hepatotoxicity. Rat hepatocyte culture and rats were used as in vitro and in vivo screening models, respectively. In the in vitro studies, different extracts (i.e., petroleum ether, ethanol and aqueous) and fractions derived from ethanol extract (i.e., chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol) of BV leaves were screened. In vivo hepatoprotective activity was assessed in rats intoxicated with ethanol. Levels of serum markers enzymes together with antioxidants were measured to evaluate the extent of hepatic protection. Silymarin was taken as reference drug. In the in vitro studies, n-butanol fraction of BV leaves (BVBF) was found to be more potent than others. Moreover, in the in vivo evaluation, BVBF at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg showed marked protective action against ethanol-induced hepatic toxicity as evident by restoration of biochemical changes caused by ethanol. The present study concluded that BVBF possess potent hepatoprotective effect against ethanol-induced hepatic toxicity and it may have a great potential role in the management of alcoholic liver disease.

Protective effects of Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels leaf extracts on acetaminophen and thioacetamide induced hepatic injuries in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the hepatoprotective effects of crude ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels (P. acidus) leaves on acetaminophen (APAP) and thioacetamide (TAA) induced liver toxicity in wistar rats. Silymarin was the reference hepatoprotective agent. METHODS: In two different sets of experiments, the P. acidus extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg, body weight) and silymarin (100 mg/kg, body weight) were given orally for 7 days and a single dose of APAP (2 g/kg, per oral) or TAA (100 mg/kg, subcutaneous) were given to rats. The level of serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin and total protein were monitored to assess hepatotoxicity and hepatoprotection. RESULTS: APAP or TAA administration caused severe hepatic damage in rats as evident from significant rise in serum AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin and concurrent depletion in total serum protein. The P. acidus extracts and silymarin prevented the toxic effects of APAP or TAA on the above serum parameters indicating the hepatoprotective action. The aqueous extract was found to be more potent than the corresponding ethanolic extract against both toxicants. The phenolic and flavonoid content (175.02±4.35 and 74.68±1.28, respectively) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) [IC(50) = (33.2±0.31)µg/mL] scavenging potential was found maximum with aqueous extract as compared to ethanolic extract. CONCLUSIONS: The results of present study suggests that the aqueous extract of P. acidus leaves has significant hepatoprotective activity on APAP and TAA induced hepatotoxicity, which might be associate with its high phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant properties.

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.

Erythropoietic activity of Asteracantha longifolia (Nees.) in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Asteracantha longifolia Nees. (Family-Acanthaceae) is a wild herb commonly used in traditional ayurvedic medicine as Kokilaaksha and the Unani drug as Talimakhana in India and Srilanka for various medicinal uses as aphrodisiac, tonic, sedative and blood diseases etc. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the current study was to validate and explore the folk use of Asteracantha longifolia Nees. (AL) (Leaf part) on pharmacological grounds using haloperidol induced iron deficiency anemia for the assessment of erythropoietic activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Determination of iron in plant extracts was carried out using spectrophotometric method. Plant extract was obtained from crude drugs using extraction with ethanol. In vivo study, haloperidol induced iron deficiency anemia model was used in experimental studies. RESULTS: An administration of ethanolic extract of AL at the doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight, i.p., demonstrated a significant (P<0.05) increase in erythrocyte count, haemoglobin count, serum iron and serum protein etc. This effect may be due to the presence of iron (622 microg/50 mg) in extract estimated by spectrophotometric method. CONCLUSION: An ethanolic extract of AL effectively restored the hematological parameters, serum iron and serum protein and normalized the microcytic (smaller in size), anisocytosis (disturbed shape) and hypochromic RBCs. These observations could justify the inclusion of this plant in the management of iron deficiency anemia due the presence of iron and other constituents as flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, lupeol and betulin.