Antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic effect assessment of the leaves from Syzygium cumini (L. ) Skeels in Wistar rats

Syzygiumcumini(L.) Skeels wasadaptedto the climatic conditionsandsoil typesin Brazil. Its fruits, leaves andinner barkare usedin folk medicinedue to their highantioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenicandantidiabeticactivities mainlyassociated with the presenceof phenolic compounds. It is estimated thatat least300million peopleworldwide developdiabetesand approximately 11million peopleare carriersof the disease in Brazil.The objectiveof this workwas to evaluate thein vitro antioxidant activity, as well as thehypoglycemic actionofhydroethanolic extract(HEE), the ethyl acetate(EAF) andhydromethanolic(HMF) fractions from leavesofS.cumini(L.) Skeels in rats. All assays werecarried out in three replications. Data wereexpressed as meanSDand significance was evaluated by ANOVAand Bonferronitest (p < 0.05). The results indicatea significant(p < 0.05) total phenolcontent (207 ± 2.3GAE mg g-1) andantioxidant activity(EC50=9.05±0.170 µg mL-1) for EAF. HEE and its fractions showed no significant (p > 0.05) actionto modulateglucosebytheOGTT assayinnondiabetic micecompared to control. Thus the use of the plant against diabetes in individuals is not proven.

Contact dermatitis as an adverse reaction to some topically used European herbal medicinal products - part 4: Solidago virgaurea-Vitis vinifera.

This review focuses on contact dermatitis as an adverse effect of a selection of topically used herbal medicinal products for which the European Medicines Agency has completed an evaluation up to the end of November 2013 and for which a Community herbal monograph - now (since 2014) called a 'European Union herbal monograph' - has been produced. The present part 4 addresses species from Solidago virgaurea L. to Vitis vinifera L.

Avaliação dos efeitos da infusão das folhas de Syzygium cumini em um modelo experimental de resistência à insulina em Drosophila melanogaster / Evaluation of the effects of infusion of leaves of Syzygium cumini in an experimental model of insulin resistance in Drosophila melanogaster

Introdução: a utilização de plantas como recurso terapêutico é uma prática bastante antiga, e desde então tem sido alvo de estudos. Neste contexto existe o jambolão (Syzygiumcumini) que é uma planta pertencente à família Mirtaceae. as folhas possuem substâncias com ação antidiabética, exercendo função hipoglicemiante, mimetizando as ações da insulina, regulando os níveis glicêmicos. Objetivo: avaliara atividade antioxidante das folhas de Syzygiumcumini e os efeitos desta infusão em um modelo experimental de dieta enriquecida com altas concentrações de glicose em Drosophila melanogaster. Métodos: para verificar a atividade antioxidante do jambolão utilizou-se o método DPPH (2,2-difenil-1picrilhidrazila) segundo Brand­Willians et al. (1995). As Drosophilas foram separadas por sexo, pesadas e tratadas com infusão de folhas de jambolão com exceção do controle, por três dias e no quarto dia foram sacrificadas e pesadas para análises bioquímicas de GlicosePAP Liquiform triglicerídeos enzimático (Labtest). Resultado e Discussão: em relação aos machos, o efeito do jambolão foi extremamente significativo como fator protetor na dieta com 20% de sacarose e também na dieta com 30% de sacarose. Conclusão: este estudo demonstrou que a exposição a uma dieta rica em carboidratos foi prejudicial à D. melanogaster e que o chá de Syzygiumcumini (jambolão) teve efeito positivo nos parâmetros de glicose e triglicérides, validando este modelo de invertebrado como ferramenta para a investigação da Diabetes Melitus.

Introduction: the use of plants as a therapeutic resource is a very ancient practice, and has since been the subject of studies. In this context there is jambolan (Syzygiumcumini) whichis a plant belonging to the family Mirtaceae. The leave shave substance swith anti diabetic action, acting hypoglycemic function, mimicking the actions of insulin, regulating blood glucose levels. Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activityof the leaves of Syzygium cumini and the effects of this infusion on a diet enriched experimental model with high glucose concentrations in Drosophila melanogaster. Methods: to verify jambolan the antioxidant used the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1picrilhidrazila) second Brand-Williams et al. (1995). The Drosophila were separated by sex, weighed and treated with infusion jambolan leaves except for the control, for three days and on the fourth day were sacrificed and weighed to biochemistry Glucose PAP Liquiform enzymatic triglycerides (Labtest). Results and discussion: regarding males, jambolan effect was highly significant as a protective factor in the diet with 20% sucroseandalso in the diet with 30% sucrose. Conclusion: this study demonstrated that exposure to a high-carbohydrate diet was harmful to D. melanogaster and the Syzygiumtea cumini (jambolan) had a positive effecton glucose and triglycerides parameters, validating this invertebrate model as a tool for the investigation of Diabetes mellitus.

Cytotoxic, trypanocidal, and antifungal activities of Eugenia jambolana L.

Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is considered a public health problem. Nowadays, chemotherapy is the only available treatment for this disease, and the drugs currently used, nifurtimox and benzonidazole, present high toxicity levels. Alternatives for replacing these drugs are natural extracts from Eugenia jambolana, a plant used in traditional medicine because of its antimicrobial and biological activities. An ethanol extract from E. jambolana was prepared. To research in vitro anti-epimastigote activity, T. cruzi CL-B5 clone was used. Epimastigotes were inoculated at a concentration of 1×10(5)/mL in 200 µL of tryptose-liver infusion. For the cytotoxicity assay J774 macrophages were used. To examine antifungal activity, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei were used. This is the first record of trypanocide activity for E. jambolana. The effective concentration capable of killing 50% of the parasites was 56.42 µg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration was ≤1,024 µg/mL. Metronidazole showed a potentiation of its antifungal effect when combined with the ethanol extract of E. jambolana. Thus our results indicate that E. jambolana could be a source of plant-derived natural products with anti-epimastigote and antifungal modifying activity with moderate toxicity.

[Temporary tatooing: black henna or harkous?]. / Tatouage éphémère: henné noir ou harkous?

Contact sensitization to natural henna (Lawsonia inermis) long used as a skin dye in powder or paste form has rarely, if ever, been observed. Recently a number of anaphylactoid reactions to PPD contained in paints used for temporary tattoos have been described. The purpose of this article is to present 8 cases involving 4 children and 4 adults who developed contact dermatitis after temporary tattoo using "harkous" that contains no henna. The authors review the literature about temporary tattooing. "Harkous" is a mixture of nut gall and clove to which PPD is sometimes added. Many reports have described cases of contact dermatitis due to "black henna". Most of these cases have involved tourists returning from trips.

Histological effects of Eugenia jambolana seed extract on liver of adult albino rats.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic value of Eugenia jambolana, commonly known as 'Jamun' in Hindi, has been recognized in different system of traditional medicine for the treatment of various conditions. Its seeds are used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipedemia by reducing the lipid levels in the body; this action is presumed to be due to blocking the action of enzyme 3-hydroxyl methyl glutaryl (HMG-CoA reductase in the liver. Herbal drugs are getting into use with the notion that these are relatively harmless; the practice has shown that many of them also have toxic effects. Since hardly any work is available on the toxic aspect of Eugenia Jamblana, the present study was planed to see the effect-of ethanolic extract of Eugenia Jamblana on liver using albino rats as an experimental model. METHODS: The animals were divided into three groups A, B and C. Group A served as a control and received only distilled water comparable to the experimental animals calculated according to their body weight, where as B and C served as experimental groups. 100 and 200 mg of ethanolic extract of Eugenia Jamblana was dissolved in one ml of distilled water each and was given orally for 30 days/kg body weight. RESULTS: liver enzyme ALT and gamma GT were significantly raised when compared to the control group, p-value being < 0.05. Histological studies showed ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes, focal areas of hepatocytes necrosis with lymphocytic infiltration, providing supportive evidence for biochemical findings indicative of functional derangement. The effect of the extract was not dose dependent. Statistical analysis using ANOVA and chi-square showed statistically significant difference when the values from experimental animals were compared with those from the control, indicating that the ethanolic extract of Eugenia Jamblana seed possesses hepatotoxic effect. CONCLUSION: The ethanolic extract of Eugenia jambolana seed extract is toxic to liver as evident by derangement in liver enzyme levels and disturbed liver histology.

Syzygium cumini (L.) SKEELS (Myrtaceae) against diabetes--125 years of research.

Syzygium cumini (L.) SKEELS (syn. S. jambolanum DC, Eugenia jambolana LAM.) belongs to the medicinal plants most often recommended as an adjuvant therapy in type 2 diabetes. The plant was extensively studied during the last 125 years, approximately 100 case reports were reported already before the discovery of insulin. After the Second World War, research was concentrated on animal studies. Not all, but many of them reported some success in reducing type 2 diabetes symptoms. However, a state-of-the-art clinical study is still missing. In this review, historical literature dating back to the pre-insulin era was evaluated as were more recent in vitro-, animal-, and in vivo studies. Results were screened for information still useful today and compared to study results achieved in more recent decades. In view of the knowledge summarized here, a successful clinical study should use S. cumini seeds, seed kernels or fruit from India in fairly high doses. Reductions on blood sugar levels by about 30% seem reasonably to be expected. Adverse effects to be expected comprise gastrointestinal disturbances.

Effect of 50% ethanolic extract of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry. (clove) on sexual behaviour of normal male rats.

BACKGROUND: The flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry. (clove) has been used in Unani medicine since ancient times for the treatment of male sexual disorders. The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of 50% ethanolic extract of clove on general mating behaviour, libido, potency along with its likely gastric ulceration and adverse effects on sexually normal male albino rats. METHODS: The suspension of the extract was administered orally at the dose of 100, 250, and 500 mg / kg, to different groups of male rats (n = 6) once a day for seven days. The female albino rats involved in mating were made receptive by hormonal treatment. The general mating behaviour, libido and potency were determined and compared with the standard reference drug sildenafil citrate. The probable gastric ulceration and adverse effects of the extract were also evaluated. RESULTS: Oral administration of the extract significantly increased the Mounting Frequency, Intromission Frequency; Intromission Latency, Erections; Quick Flips, Long Flips as well as aggregate of penile reflexes and caused significant reduction in the Mounting Latency and Post Ejaculatory Interval. The most appreciable effect of the extract was observed at the dose of 500 mg/kg. The test drug was also found to be devoid of any conspicuous gastric ulceration and adverse effects. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the 50% ethanolic extract of clove produced a significant and sustained increase in the sexual activity of normal male rats, without any conspicuous gastric ulceration and adverse effects. Thus, the resultant aphrodisiac effectivity of the extract lends support to the claims for its traditional usage in sexual disorders.