Evaluation of Diabetes Effects of Selenium Nanoparticles Synthesized from a Mixture of Luteolin and Diosmin on Streptozotocin-Induced Type 2 Diabetes in Mice.

The absence of a treatment efficient in the control of type 2 diabetes mellitus requires more functional products to assist treatment. Luteolin (LU) and diosmin (DIO) have been known as bioactive molecules with potential for the treatment of diabetes. This work aimed to establish the role that a combination of LU and DIO in selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) played in streptozotocin (STZ)- induced diabetes mice. Green synthesis of Se NPs was performed by mixing luteolin and diosmin with the solution of Na2SeO3 under continuous stirring conditions resulting in the flavonoids conjugated with SeNPs. The existence of flavonoids on the surface of SeNPs was confirmed by UV-Vis spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, and DLS graphs via Zetasizer. The average diameter of GA/LU/DIO-SeNPs was 47.84 nm with a PDI of -0.208, a zeta potential value of -17.6, a Se content of 21.5% with an encapsulation efficiency of flavonoids of 86.1%, and can be stabilized by gum Arabic for approximately 175 days without any aggregation and precipitation observed at this time. Furthermore, The C57BL/6 mice were treated with STZ induced-diabetes and were exposed to LU/DIO, SeNPs, and GA/LU/DIO-SeNPs for six weeks. The treatment by nanospheres (GA/LU/DIO-SeNPs) in the mice with diabetes for a period of 6 weeks restored their blood glucose, lipid profile, glycogen, glycosylated hemoglobin, and insulin levels. At the same time, there were significant changes in body weight, food intake, and water intake compared with the STZ- untreated induced diabetic mice. Moreover, the GA/LU/DIO-SeNPs showed good antioxidant activity examined by catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver and kidney and can prevent the damage in the liver evaluated by aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. The nanospheres exhibited a significant anti-diabetic activity with a synergistic effect between the selenium and flavonoids. This investigation provides novel SeNPs nanospheres prepared by a high-efficiency strategy for incorporating luteolin and diosmin to improve the efficiency in type 2 diabetes.

Spinacia oleracea Linn Considered as One of the Most Perfect Foods: A Pharmacological and Phytochemical Review.

BACKGROUND: Leaves of Spinacia oleracea have been widely used as vegetarian foods. Some studies on the chemical composition of spinach have shown that it contains a high content of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and has an important economic value with some agronomic advantages. S. oleracea in traditional medicine is reported to cure more than one health problem. OBJECTIVE: This review focuses on the ethnopharmacological uses and pharmacological and phytochemical studies of Spinacia oleracea. METHODS: Information on S. oleracea was obtained via electronic search of scientific databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scirus, Science Direct, Scielo, Web of Science, Medline, Springerlink, BioMed Central (BMC), and SciFinder for publications on this plant. In addition, books on medicinal herbs were also consulted. RESULTS: Approximately 100 chemical compounds were isolated and characterized from S. oleracea. The major active components of the plant are flavones, flavanols, methylenedioxyflavonol glucuronides, glucuronides, and carotenoids, which were extensively investigated. This review revealed potential pharmacological properties of these isolated compounds such as anti-obesity, anti-α-amylase, bileacid binding capacity, anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, cognitive and mood effect, hypoglycemic, and anti-hypertriglyceridemia. CONCLUSION: S. oleracea is an important edible plant also used for ethnomedical therapy of obesity, inflammation of lungs, lumbago, flatulence, and treatment of urinary calculi. Pharmacological and phytochemical studies of this plant including bioactives, which have been adequately studied, support its uses in traditional medicine. Additionally, prospects and future trends of this plant are proposed.

Anti-inflammatory Potential of Petiveria alliacea on Activated RAW264.7 Murine Macrophages.

BACKGROUND: Defense and protection to multiple harmful stimuli are the inflammation, when is self-amplified and uncontrolled is the basis of the pathogenesis of a wide variety of inflammatory illness. The aim of this study was to evaluate if Petiveria alliacea could attenuate inflammation in a murine model of RAW264 macrophages the involved model and its involved mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanol extract from P. alliacea was precipitated with water and supernatant was used for this study (PW). The anti-inflammatory effects of PW were investigated through evaluating of the production of several cytokines, chemokines, and expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Also was determined the ability to decrease the oxidative stress in RAW264.7 cells with carboxy-2',7'-dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate. RESULTS: PW significantly suppress the secretion of prostaglandin E2, leukotriene C4, interleukin (IL)-1 ß, IL-6, IL-10, interferon gamma nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase, IL-1 ß, IL-4, in RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, PW also markedly inhibited the transcriptional activity of NF-κB. PW produced significant anti-inflammatory activity through inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators through the NF-κB inactivation in the LPS-stimulated RAW24.7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: PW exerts significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and this effect can be attributed in part, to the presence of dibenzyl disulfide, dibenzyl trisulfide pinitol, coumarin, myricetin, glutamyl-S-benzyl cysteine, and petiveriins A and B. SUMMARY: Treatment with ethanol extract from Petiveria alliacea which was previously precipitated with water and supernatant (PE) was tested in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. PE suppressed the level of oxidative stress and the induction of proinflammatory mediators, as PGE2, LTC4, IL-1 ß, IL-6, IL-10, IFN- NO, iNOS, IL-1 ß, IL-4, in RAW264.7 macrophages through NF-B inactivation. These findings suggest that P. alliacea affords promising therapeutic in inflammatory diseases. Abbreviation used: COX-2: Ciclooxigenasa 2; DCFHDA: Carboxy-2',7'-dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium; FBS: Fetal bovine serum; HSP70: Heat shock protein; IFN-γ: Interferon gamma; IL-1 ß: Interleukin 1 ß, IL-6: Interleukin 6; IL-10: Interleukin 10; IL-4: Interleukin 4; iNOS: Nitric oxide synthase; KCl: Potassium chloride; LPS: Lipopolysaccharides; LTC4: leukotriene C 4; MgCl2: Magnesium chloride; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide; NF-κB: Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells or transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-kB; NO: Nitric oxide; PBS: Phosphate-buffered saline; PGE2: Prostaglandin E2, PMSF: Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride; PTC: Chloroform extract from Petiveria alliacea; PE: Ethanol extract from Petiveria alliacea; PTH: Hexane extract from Petiveria alliacea; PW: Supernatant of PTE precipitated with water; RAW264.7: Cell line murine macrophages; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor.

Hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activities of a oleanolic acid derivative from Malva parviflora on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

One new oleanolic acid derivative, 2α,3ß,23α,29α tetrahydroxyolean-12(13)-en-28-oic acid (1) was isolated from the aerial parts of Malva parviflora. Their structure was characterized by spectroscopic methods. The hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activities of 1 was analyzed in in streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetes in mice (MD) and type 1 diabetes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice (SD). Triterpene was administered orally at doses of 20 mg/kg for 4 weeks. Organ weight, body weight, glucose, fasting insulin, cholesterol-related lipid profile parameters, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum alkaline phosphatase (SALP), glucokinase, hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase activities and glycogen in liver were measured after 4 weeks of treatment. The results indicated that 1 regulate glucose metabolism, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, increased body weight, glucokinase and hexokinase activities inhibited triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins level, SGOT, SGPT, SALP, glycogen in liver and glucose-6-phosphatase. In addition, improvement of insulin resistance and protective effect for pancreatic ß-cells, also 1 may changes the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α levels) and enzymes (PAL2, COX-2, and LOX). The results suggest that 1 has hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, activities, improve insulin resistance and hepatic enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Hypoglycemic Effects of sesquiterpene lactones from Byrsonima crassifolia.

The novel dimeric guaianolides sesquiterpene lactone Byrsoninas A and B from seed hexane extract of Byrsonima crassifolia were identified. Streptozotocin-induced mildly diabetic and severely diabetic mice were treated with these oral administrations at a dosage of 20 mg/kg of body weight per day for 30 days. Also the protective effect in vitro in RIN-5F cells against oxidative stress was investigated and TNF-α and IL-6 levels were measured. Both Byrsonina types reduced blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, lipoprotein, and transaminase levels and increased HDL-cholesterol, antioxidant enzymes, and TBARS-reactive substance levels. Byrsoninas A and B both improved this glucose metabolism by reducing insulin resistance and by stimulating insulin production due to protection effect for pancreatic ß-cells against oxidative stress, lipid abnormalities were reduced and, chronic inflammation responses were alleviated producing a hepatoprotective role.

Effect of chronic administration of hexane extract of Byrsonima crassifolia seed on B-cell and pancreatic oxidative parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.

BACKGROUND: In Mexican traditional medicine, the seeds of Byrsonima crassifolia have been used in the treatment of diabetes, rheumatism and for wound healing. The aim was to evaluate the effect of seeds of B. crassifolia on insulin release from the pancreatic beta cells in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, we evaluated the beneficial effect of seeds B. crassifolia streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats. Insulin level; insulin sensitivity index, insulin content in pancreas, malonaldehyde, nitric oxide contents, oxidative stress parameters were assayed. Serum glucose levels were determined by the glucose oxidase method. To determine the insulin releasing activity, after extract treatment, the pancreas was excised. Pancreatic sections were processed for examination of insulin-releasing activity using an imunocytochemistry kit. RESULTS: Administration of the hexane extract (200 and 400 mg/kg), exhibited a significant reduction in serum glucose. Administration of streptozotocin decreased the number of beta cells with insulin secretory activity in comparison with intact rats; but treatment with the B. crassifolia seed extract increased significantly the activity of the beta cells in comparison with the diabetic control rats. The extract decreased serum glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and increased insulin release from the beta cells of the pancreas. CONCLUSION: These finding suggest that B. crassifolia seed has beneficial effect for diabetes through decreasing blood glucose and lipid levels, increasing insulin sensitivity index and insulin content, up-regulating antioxidant enzyme activity and decreasing lipid peroxidation.

Antidiabetic activity of Piper auritum leaves in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat, beneficial effect on advanced glycation endproduct.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, oxidative stress, insulin resistance and advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) formation of hexane extract from Piper auritum. METHODS: The streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Wistar rats were treated with the hexane extract from Piper auritum leaves for 28 days and a set of biochemical parameters were studied including glucose level, total cholesterol, triglycerides, lipid peroxidation, liver and muscle glycogen, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. The liver function was observed by determining glucose-6-phosphatase, glucokinase and hexokinase activities, and the effect of the hexane extract on insulin level and protein glycation. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in blood glucose level (P<0.05) in diabetic rats after 24 h of STZ injection. There was a significantly decreased in blood glucose in diabetic rats with hexane extract treatment (P<0.05). The serum biochemical parameters, hepatic enzymes, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, glycosylated hemoglobin, AGEs, and insulin level (P<0.01 or P<0.05) were restored to normal levels in STZ-diabetic rats treated with hexane extract. CONCLUSION: The hexane extract from Piper auritum leaves can efficiently inhibit insulin resistance, AGEs formation, improvement of renal function, lipid abnormalities and oxidative stress, indicating that its therapeutic properties may be due to the interaction of hexane extract components with multiple targets involved in diabetes pathogenesis.

Evaluation of antidiabetic, antioxidant and antiglycating activities of the Eysenhardtia polystachya.

BACKGROUND: Many diseases are associated with oxidative stress caused by free radicals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antidiabetic, antioxidant and antiglycation properties of Eysenhardtia polystachya (EP) bark methanol-water extract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: : The antioxidant capacities were evaluated by studying in vitro the scavenging of DPPH and ABTS free radical, reactive oxygen species such as RO2, O2·(-), H2O2, OH(.), H2O2, ONOO-, NO, HOCl,(1) O2, chelating ability, ORAC, ß-carotene-bleaching and lipid peroxidation. The antiglycation activities of EP were evaluated by haemoglobin, bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glucose, BSA-methylglyoxal and BSA-glucose assays. Oral administration of EP at the doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/g was studied in normal, glucose-loaded and antidiabetic effects on streptozotocin-induced mildly diabetic (MD) and severely diabetic (SD) mice. RESULTS: EP showed Hdonor activity, free radical scavenging activity, metal chelating ability and lipid peroxidation Antioxidant activity may be attributed to the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. EP is an inhibitor of fluorescent AGE, methylglyoxal and the glycation of haemoglobin. In STZ-induced diabetic mice, EP reduced the blood glucose, increased serum insulin, body weight, marker enzymes of hepatic function, glycogen, HDL, GK and HK while there was reduction in the levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, TBARS, LDL and G6Pase. CONCLUSIONS: Eysenhardtia polystachya possesses considerable antioxidant activity with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity and demonstrated an anti-AGEs and hepatoprotective role, inhibits hyperglycemic, hyperlipidemic and oxidative stress indicating that these effects may be mediated by interacting with multiple targets operating in diabetes mellitus.

Alkaloids from piper: a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology.

OBJECTIVE: Piper has been used for long timelike condiment and food, but also in traditional medicine around of the world. This work resumes the available and up to date work done on members of the Piperaceae family and their uses for therapeutic purposes. METHODS: Information on Piper genus was gathered via internet using scientific databases such as Scirus, Google Scholar, CAB-abstracts, MedlinePlus, Pubmed, SciFinder, Scopus and Web of Science. RESULTS: The largeleafed perennial plant Piper is used for its spicy aromatic scent and flavor. It has an important presence in the cuisine of different cultures. Another quality of these plants is their known medicinal properties. It has been used as emollient, antirheumatic, diuretic, stimulant, abortifacient, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antidermatophytic. A survey of the literature shows that the genus Piper is mainly known for its alkaloids with cytotoxic, chemopreventive, antimetastatic and antitumor properties in several types of cancer. Studies of its alkaloids highlight the existence of various potential leads to develop new anti-cancer agents. Modern pharmacology studies have demonstrated that its crude extracts and active compounds possess wide pharmacological activities, especially asantioxidant, anti-depressive, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, anti-obesity, neuropharmacological, to treat cognitive disorders, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-feedant, cardioactive, immuno-enhancing, and anti-inflamatory. All this evidence supporting its traditional uses. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review summarizes the up-to-date and comprehensive information concerning the botany, traditional use, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Piper together with its toxicology, and discusses the possible trend and scope for further research on Piper in the future.

Effect of the hexane extract of Piper auritum on insulin release from ß-cell and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.

BACKGROUND: The large-leafed perennial plant Piper auritum known as Hoja Santa, is used for its leaves that because of their spicy aromatic scent and flavor have an important presence in Mexican cuisine, and in many regions, this plant is known for its therapeutic properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, we investigated the effect of hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts from Piper auritum on cell culture system and the effect in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats treated by 28 days on the physiological, metabolic parameters and oxidative stress. RESULTS: The hexane extract of P. auritum (HS) treatment significantly reduced the intake of both food, water and body weight loss as well as levels of blood glucose, serum cholesterol, triglycerides and increase HDL-cholesterol. After 4-week administration of HS antioxidant enzyme as SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx in pancreas were determined. These enzyme increased significantly compared with those of the diabetic rats control and normal animals. For all estimated, the results of HS treated groups leading to a restoration of the defense mechanism. The treatment also improves pancreatic TBARS-reactive substance level and serum NO and iNOS. To determine the insulin releasing activity, after extract treatment the serum and pancreatic sections were processed for examination of insulin-releasing activity using an immunocytochemistry kit. The results showed that administration of the hexane extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) exhibited a significant increase in serum and pancreas tissue insulin. Administration of streptozotocin decreased the insulin secretory activity in comparison with intact rats, but treatment with the HS extract increased significantly the activity of the beta cells in comparison with the diabetic control rats. The extract decreased serum glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and increased insulin release from the beta cells of the pancreas. In cultured RIN-5F cells, we examined whether hexane extract of P. auritum would protect the pancreas-derived ß-cells from oxidative stress. Moreover, HS could protect pancreatic ß-cells from advanced glycation end products-induced oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: From these results, HS is suggested to show anti-diabetic effect by stimulating insulin-dependent and by protecting pancreatic ß-cells from advanced glycation end products-induced oxidative stress.

Attenuation of nonenzymatic glycation, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by chloroform leaf extract of Azadirachta indica.

BACKGROUND: The hypoglycemic effects of hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts of leaves of Azadirachta indica (AI) were evaluated by oral administration in streptozotocin-induced severe diabetic rats (SD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effect of chronic oral administration of the extract for 28 days was evaluated in streptozotozin diabetic rats. Lipid peroxidation, glycogen content of liver and skeletal muscles, insulin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels were determined. In addition, advanced glycation end product formation (AGEs) was evaluated. RESULTS: The most active extracts were obtained with chloroform. Chloroform extract from AI shows increased levels of SOD, GSH, GSSG and CAT, hepatic glycogen content, glucose-6-phosphatase and insulin plasma levels, which also decreased the glucokinase (GK), lipid peroxidation and insulin resistance. The chloroform extract exhibited significant inhibitory activity against advanced glycation end product formation with an IC(50) average range of 79.1 mg/ml. CONCLUSION: Azadirachta indica can improve hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinema in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats and, therefore, AI can be potentially considered to be an antidiabetic-safe agent.

Nephroprotective activity of Prosthechea michuacana against cisplatin-induced acute renal failure in rats.

In Mexican traditional medicine the orchid Prosthechea michuacana is highly valued as a food and in the treatment of various human diseases, including drug-related renal disease. Methanol, hexane, and chloroform extracts of bulbs of P. michuacana were studied in the cisplatin-induced renal injury model in rats. Results showed that treatment with cisplatin induced significant elevations in concentrations of blood urea and serum creatinine and in lipid peroxidation. Treatments with methanolic extract (200, 400 and 500 mg/kg) increased levels of biochemical markers of renal injury like reduced glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase and inhibited the increases in blood urea and serum creatinine concentrations and lipid peroxidation induced by cisplatin. Hexane and chloroform extracts did not show any effect. The results obtained in the present study indicate that this orchid can be a potential source of natural nephroprotective activity.

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of the methanol extract of the leaves of Satureja macrostema.

Satureja Macrostema is used both as a functional food and as a drug. In this study, the antioxidative potential of the methanol extract of Satureja Macrostema (SM) was evaluated using various antioxidant assays, including DPPH, superoxide, nitric oxide (NO), hydroxyl radical scavenging and iron-chelating activity. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of SM was also determined by a colorimetric method. The extract exhibited powerful free radical scavenging, especially against DPPH, hydroxyl radical scavenging and iron-chelating activity as well as a moderate effect on NO and superoxide anions. The protective effects of methanol extract of SM were studied in carbon tetrachloride-reduced biochemical markers of hepatic injury such as glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxalaoacetate transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum bilirubin, cholesterol alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. The increased level of HDL demonstrated dose dependant reduction in the in vivo peroxidation induced by CCl4. SM could protect from paracetamol-induced lipid peroxidation eliminating the deleterious effects of toxic metabolites from paracetamol. Degree of protection was measured by using biochemical parameters such as serum transaminase (GOT and GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) and bilirubin. Hexane and chloroform extracts did not show any effects. Results obtained in the present study suggest that S. Macrostema elicits hepatoprotectivity through antioxidant activity on carbon tetrachloride- and paracetamol-induced hepatic damage in rats.

Cardioactive agents from plants.

This review presents 201 compounds isolated and identified from plants that present cardioactive activity. These substances have been classified by chemical groups and each provides the most relevant information of its pharmacological activity, action mechanism, chemical structure, spectroscopic date and other properties. Chemical structures have been drawn to indicate the stereochemistry. In this review the summary of the scientific information of plants that present biological activity and the compounds responsible for this activity is presented, which introduces the reader to the study of medicinal plants and also provide bibliographic references, where a detailed study of pharmacology can be found.

Relaxant and antispasmodic effects of extracts of the orchid Encyclia michuacana on isolated guinea pig ileum.

The antispasmodic effects of hexane-, chloroform-, methanol- and water-extracts of the orchid Encyclia michuacana were studied in vitro on guinea pig ileum against three spasmogens: acetylcholine (Ach), histamine and barium chloride. The chloroform extract exerted a significant antispasmodic effect on ileum contractions induced by Ach, histamine and barium chloride (IC(50) = 90.64, 73.12 and 115.2 microg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, the chloroform extract of E. michuacana provoked a concentration-dependent inhibition of spontaneous contractions of guinea pig ileum with potencies comparable to those of papaverine. The antagonism against the spasmogens used suggests that the action of the chloroform extract of E. michuacana could be due mainly to the presence of gigantol. Hexane-, methanol- and water-extracts did not elicit any significant spasmolytic activity.

Psidium guajava: a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology.

Psidium guajava, is an important food crop and medicinal plant in tropical and subtropical countries is widely used like food and in folk medicine around of the world. This aims a comprehensive of the chemical constituents, pharmacological, and clinical uses. Different pharmacological experiments in a number of in vitro and in vivo models have been carried out. Also have been identified the medicinally important phyto-constituents. A number of metabolites in good yield and some have been shown to possess useful biological activities belonging mainly to phenolic, flavonoid, carotenoid, terpenoid and triterpene. Extracts and metabolites of this plant, particularly those from leaves and fruits possess useful pharmacological activities. A survey of the literature shows P. guajava is mainly known for its antispasmodic and antimicrobial properties in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery. Has also been used extensively as a hypoglycaemic agent. Many pharmacological studies have demonstrated the ability of this plant to exhibit antioxidant, hepatoprotection, anti-allergy, antimicrobial, antigenotoxic, antiplasmodial, cytotoxic, antispasmodic, cardioactive, anticough, antidiabetic, antiinflamatory and antinociceptive activities, supporting its traditional uses. Suggest a wide range of clinical applications for the treatment of infantile rotaviral enteritis, diarrhoea and diabetes.

Effect on capillary permeability in rabbits of iridoids from Buddleia scordioides.

The methanol soluble fraction of the leaves of Buddleia scordioides after column chromatography resulted in the isolation of two known iridoid glucosides, catalpol and methylcatalpol. The structures were elucidated by extensive 1D-2D-NMR spectroscopy. The structure of methylcatalpol was confirmed by single-crystal x-ray diffraction. These compounds showed protective activity against increased (both chloroform and histamine) skin vascular permeability in rabbits. The protective effect was measured as the reduction in leakage of Evans blue. The results showed that the iridoids produced a significant inhibition of microvascular permeability. A comparison was made between the action of the iridoids and a known inhibitor of vascular permeability, troxerutin (50 mg/kg). Methylcatalpol and catalpol were found to be less effective than troxerutin.

Raphanus sativus (Radish): their chemistry and biology.

Leaves and roots of Raphanus sativus have been used in various parts of the world to treat cancer and as antimicrobial and antiviral agents. The phytochemistry and pharmacology of this radish is reviewed. The structures of the compounds isolated and identified are listed and aspects of their chemistry and pharmacology are discussed. The compounds are grouped according to structural classes.