Potential interaction of green tea extract with hydrochlorothiazide against doxorubicin-induced myocardial damage.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of ischemic hypertensive patients with hydrochlorothiazide can precipitate cardiac arrhythmias. Green tea, by virtue of its antioxidant potential, is responsible for cardio-protective activity. OBJECTIVE: The present study was under taken to evaluate the pharmacodynamic interaction of green tea extract with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced myocardial toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were treated with high (500 mg/kg, p.o.) and low (100 mg/kg, p.o.) dose of green tea extract in alone and interactive groups for 28 days. Standard, high and low dose of interactive groups received hydrochlorothiazide (10 mg/kg, p.o.) for the last 7 days. Apart from normal controls, all other groups were subjected to DOX (3 mg/kg, i.p.) toxicity on Days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28, and the effect of different treatments was evaluated by changes in electrocardiographic parameters, serum biomarkers and tissue antioxidant levels. Apart from that, lipid profile and histological studies were also carried out. RESULTS: Compared with the DOX control group, both high and low dose of green tea exhibited a significant decrease in serum biomarkers and increase in tissue antioxidant levels. Green tea treatment was also responsible for significant improvement in ECG parameter, lipid profile and histological score. Incorporation of high and low dose of green tea with HCTZ exhibited significant protection compared with the HCTZ alone treated group. CONCLUSION: The present findings clearly suggest that the green tea extract dose-dependently reduces DOX-induced myocardial toxicity. Green tea when combined with HCTZ can reduce the associated side-effects and exhibits myocardial protection.

Potential Interaction of Green Tea Extract with Hydrochlorothiazide on Diuretic Activity in Rats.

Treatment of ischemic hypertensive patients with hydrochlorothiazide can precipitate cardiac arrhythmias. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the diuretic potential of green tea alone and its effects on hydrochlorothiazide in interactive groups. Rats were treated with high (500 mg/kg, p.o.) and low (100 mg/kg, p.o.) dose of green tea extract in alone and interactive groups for 30 days. Standard, high, and low dose interactive groups received hydrochlorothiazide (10 mg/kg, p.o.) on the day of experiment. Effect of different treatments was that assessed by evaluating diuretic action, diuretic activity, percentage of saline load excreted, and sodium and potassium levels in urine. Green tea in both high and low doses showed significant diuretic potential and when it is combined with hydrochlorothiazide resulted in significant improvement in the activity compared to hydrochlorothiazide alone treated group. It can be concluded that green tea extract when combined with hydrochlorothiazide showed significant increase in diuretic activity. Most important observation of the present study is even though the combination increases the diuretic potential, it is responsible for decrease in urinary potassium loss.

Hepatoprotective activity of Hepax-a polyherbal formulation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of Hepax, a polyherbal formulation, against three experimentally induced hepatotoxicity models in rats. METHODS: Hepatoprotective activity of Hepax was studied against three experimentally induced hepatotoxicity models, namely, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), paracetamol and thiocetamide induced hepatotoxicity in rats. RESULTS: Administration of hepatotoxins (CCl4, paracetamol and thiocetamide) showed significant morphological, biochemical and histological deteriorations in the liver of experimental animals. Pretreatment with Hepax had significant protection against hepatic damage by maintaining the morphological parameters (liver weight and liver weight to organ weight ratio) within normal range and normalizing the elevated levels of biochemical parameters (SGPT, SGOT, ALP and total bilirubin), which were evidently showed in histopathological study. CONCLUSIONS: The Hepax has highly significant hepatoprotective effect at 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o. on the liver of all the three experimental animal models.

Evaluation of Tectona grandis leaves for wound healing activity.

The frontal leaves of Tectona grandis (Verabinaceae) are widely used in the folklore for the treatment of various kinds of wounds, especially burn wound. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of hydrochloric extract of Tectona grandis on experimentally induced wounds in rats and compare the effects observed with a known wound healing agent, Aloe vera. The models selected were excision wound, incision wound, burn wound and dead space wound. A suitable gel formulation was selected for the application using cellophane membrane penetration. In the excision wound and burn wound models, animals treated with Tectona grandis leaf extract showed significant reduction in period of epithelisation and wound contraction 50%. In the incision wound model, a significant increase in the breaking strength was observed. Tectona grandis leaf extract treatment orally produced a significant increase in the breaking strength, dry weight and hydroxyproline content of the granulation tissue in dead space wound. It was concluded that Tectona grandis leaf extract applied topically (5% and 10% gel formulation) or administered orally (250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight) possesses wound healing activity.

Effect of hexane extract of Boswellia serrata oleo-gum resin on chemically induced liver damage.

The hexane extract of oleo-gum-resin of Boswellia serrata (BSHE) was evaluated for its effect on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride, paracetamol or thioacetamide. The BSHE was given in two different doses (87.5 mg/kg p.o. and 175 mg/kg p.o.). Silymarin, a known hepatoprotective agent was used as standard. The lower dose of BSHE (87.5 mg/kg p.o.) significantly reduced the elevated levels of serum marker enzymes and prevented the increase in liver weight in all three models of liver injury, while the higher dose showed mild hepatoprotective activity. The hepatoprotective effect of lower dose of BSHE was supported by changes in histopathology. It was concluded that hexane extract of oleo-gum-resin of Boswellia serrata plant in lower doses possess hepatoprotective activity.

Hepatoprotective activity of Psidium guajava Linn. leaf extract.

The study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of P. guajava in acute experimental liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride, paracetamol or thioacetamide and chronic liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride. The effects observed were compared with a known hepatoprotective agent, silymarin. In the acute liver damage induced by different hepatotoxins, P. guajava leaf extracts (250 and 500mg/kg, po) significantly reduced the elevated serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. The higher dose of the extract (500 mg/kg, po) prevented the increase in liver weight when compared to hepatoxin treated control, while the lower dose was ineffective except in the paracetamol induced liver damage. In the chronic liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride, the higher dose (500 mg/kg, po) of P. guajava leaf extract was found to be more effective than the lower dose (250 mg/kg, po). Histological examination of the liver tissues supported the hepatoprotection. It is concluded that the aqueous extract of leaves of guava plant possesses good hepatoprotective activity.

Pro-healing effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark.

The ethanol extract of the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum was evaluated for wound healing activity in Wistar rats. The extract was administered by the oral route at a dose of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight (1/8 and 1/4 of LD(50), respectively) for all the wound models selected, excision, incision and dead space wounds. The extract significantly enhanced the wound breaking strength in the case of incision wound, the rate of wound contraction and the period of epithelization in the case of excision wound. The granulation tissue weight, its breaking strength and its hydroxyproline content was also increased by the extract in the dead space wound.

Preliminary study on antifertility activity of Calotropis procera roots in female rats.

The effect of ethanolic extract of the roots of Calotropis procera has been studied in albino rats to explore its antifertility and hormonal activities. A strong antiimplantation (inhibition 100%) and uterotropic activity was observed at the dose level of 250 mg/kg (1/4 of LD(50)). No antiestrogenic activity could be detected.