Antidiabetic activity of standardized dried tubers extract of Aconitum napellus in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

India has got rich cultural inheritage in the forms of Ayurveda texts which are a rich and ample source of herbs, shrubs, trees and affluent in medicinally active phytoconstituents. Aconitum napellus is used for the cure of many ailments including rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica and gout. The present work attempts to evaluate the physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical studies on the tubers of Aconitum napellus along with its antidiabetic activity. The herbal standardization was carried out on the basis of organoleptic properties, physical characteristics and physicochemical properties. The body weight of ACON-I (1.25 mg/kg) and ACON-II (2.5 mg/kg) was recorded as 190.40 and 209.40 g, respectively, compared with 163.00 g in diabetic rats at day 28. The body weight of ACON-I and ACON-II was significantly increased compared with diabetic rats (p < 0.01). However, the body weight of ACON-I and ACON-II was decreased significantly (p < 0.01) compared with normal group (222.60 g). The blood glucose levels of diabetic rats and ACON-I group were recorded as 277.800 and 152.400 mg/dl, respectively, compared with 83.600 mg/dl in normal rats (p < 0.01). However, the HbA1c levels of diabetic rats and ACON-I group were recorded as 11.306 and 6.936% Hb, respectively, compared with 4.539% Hb in normal rats. The glucose and HbA1c levels of diabetic and ACON-I groups were significant compared with normal group (p < 0.01). The results of antidiabetic activity showed that the plant can be used as a potent source for the treatment of diabetes and its complications. The results of this work provided the referential information for the identification and standardization of Aconitum napellus along with its role as a hypoglycemic agent.

Association of Nat2 Gene Polymorphism with Antitubercular Drug-induced Hepatotoxicity in the Eastern Uttar Pradesh Population.

Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are more than 20 drugs available for TB treatment. Hepatotoxicity is the most serious adverse drug reaction of anti-TB drugs. Various pathogenesis and genetic factors are associated with antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATDIH). Antituberculosis drugs (ATDs) are mostly metabolized by N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2). Therefore, in this study, we aim to evaluate the role of the NAT2 genotype in ATDIH in the eastern Uttar Pradesh population. Methods A total of 100 TB patients who had been treated with anti-TB drugs were enrolled in this studied. In this group, 70 TB patients did not develop drug-induced hepatotoxicity (tolerant control group) and 30 TB patients developed ATDIH (ATDIH group). The genetic polymorphisms of the NAT2 genes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Genotype and allele frequencies were evaluated by the t-test and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the strength of the associations. Results There is a high percentage of slow acetylators in the Eastern Uttar Pradesh population. Four percent of people are fast acetylators, 34% are intermediate acetylators, and 62% are slow acetylators. The frequency of slow acetylators in the NAT2 genotype was commonly present and was not significantly different between the ATDIH (73.33%) and tolerant control groups (61.40%). However, the genotypic distribution of variants of slow-acetylator genotypes (NAT2*6/7, NAT2*5/7, and NAT2*5/6) was also not significantly different in ATDIH. Conclusion In the present study, the slow acetylators of the NAT2 genotype did not contribute to the elevated risk of ATDIH development in tuberculosis patients.

Evaluation of the potential effect of Allium sativum, Momordica charantia, Eugenia jambolana, Ocimum sanctum, and Psidium guajava on intestinal p-glycoprotein in rats.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: This study was evaluated synergistic effect of a polyherbal formulation (PHF) of Allium sativum L., Eugenia jambolana Lam., Momordica charantia L., Ocimum sanctum Linn., and Psidium guajava L. on p-glycoprotein (Pgp) of intestine. These five herbs were traditionally used for diabetes. These herbs are commonly present in Ayurvedic product as antidiabetics in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PHF was prepared by five indigenous herbs. Different doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) of were orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats of different groups for multiple weeks except control groups. Alteration in Pgp expression was evaluated by real-time-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting while modulation in activity of Pgp was evaluated using rhodamine 123 (Rh123) as transport substrate by in-situ absorption and everted gut sac method. RESULTS: In PHF, pretreated group received 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day for 7 days, mRNA level decreased by 1.75, 2.45 and 2.37-fold, respectively, as compared to control. Similarly, when PHF at dose of 100 mg/kg/day was given consequently for 4 weeks, maximum decrease in Pgp expression level was observed only after 1 week and further increase in the treatment duration did not produce significant decrease compared to the 1st week treatment. Pgp mediated transport of Rh123 was significantly decreased with everted gut sac prepared from PHF pretreated rats (1 week) compared to those prepared from vehicle treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: We report that PHF pretreatment downregulated the expression of intestinal Pgp and this downregulated intestinal Pgp would result in decreased functional activity. In addition, this downregulated Pgp expression might affect the bioavailability of antidiabetic Pgp substrate drugs.

Evaluation of the synergistic effect of Allium sativum, Eugenia jambolana, Momordica charantia, Ocimum sanctum, and Psidium guajava on hepatic and intestinal drug metabolizing enzymes in rats.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: This study was to investigated the synergistic effect of polyherbal formulations (PHF) of Allium sativum L., Eugenia jambolana Lam., Momordica charantia L., Ocimum sanctum Linn., and Psidium guajava L. in the inhibition/induction of hepatic and intestinal cytochrome P450 (CYPs) and Phase-II conjugated drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs). Consumption of these herbal remedy has been extensively documented for diabetes treatment in Ayurveda. METHODOLOGY: PHF of these five herbs was prepared, and different doses were orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats of different groups except control group. Expression of mRNA and activity of DMEs were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and high performance liquid chromatography in isolated liver and intestine microsomes in PHF pretreated rats. RESULTS: The activities of hepatic and intestinal Phase-II enzyme levels increased along with mRNA levels except CYP3A mRNA level. PHF administration increases the activity of hepatic and intestinal UDP-glucuronyltransferase and glutathione S-transferase in response to dose and time; however, the activity of hepatic sulfotransferase increased at higher doses. CONCLUSIONS: CYPs and Phase-II conjugated enzymes levels can be modulated in dose and time dependent manner. Observations suggest that polyherbal formulation might be a possible cause of herb-drug interaction, due to changes in pharmacokinetic of crucial CYPs and Phase-II substrate drug.