Hepatoprotective potency of Litsea glutinosa (L.) C.B. Rob. leaf methanol extract on H2O2-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Leaves of Litsea glutinosa (L.) (Lauraceae) are traditionally used to treat hepatitis and liver injury by Bangladeshi folks. However, the hepatoprotective study of leaves of L. glutinosa has not been supported by any research. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of leaves of methanol extract of L. glutinosa using the HepG2 cell line. Phytochemicals were identified with the help of a GC-MS study followed by In-silico docking of the promising compounds to justify our hepatoprotective effect. MATERIALS & METHODS: The dried leaves of L. glutinosa (LGAO) were extracted by Soxhlet using methanol as solvent. Antioxidant effects were investigated using Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Reduced glutathione (GSH), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in HepG2 cells against H2O2 intoxicated group. The In-vitro hepatoprotective effect of LGAO (100 µg/ml) was determined in HepG2 cells as compared with the Silymarin-treated standard group (100 µg/ml) along with morphological changes of cells. Twelve numbers of phytochemicals were identified by GC-MS study. In-silico studies are performed for their inhibitory effects against Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) and Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-ß1) using AUTODOCK Tools-1.5.6 and Discovery studio 4.0. RESULTS: Methanol extract of L. glutinosa possesses (LGAO) significant (p < 0.0001) increase in SOD, GSH, and GPx levels and a decrease in MDA as compared with the control one. MTT assay in HepG2 cells showed a significant (p < 0.0001) increase in the percentage of cell viability in LGAO and Silymarin-treated group i.e., 71.98%, 88.59% respectively as compared with the H2O2 intoxicated group alone i.e., 22.74%. Restoration of cell architecture in HepG2 cells was obtained by the LGAO and Silymarin-treated group treated with H2O2. Further, the In-silico study of Neophytadiene compound showed the highest docking score -10.2 and -8.6 towards receptors. CONCLUSION: Methanol extract of leaves of L. glutinosa showed potential hepatoprotective effect In-vitro which justified our traditional claim. The presence of phytochemical Neophytadiene may be responsible for the said effect. Furthermore, molecular docking scores were consistent with the In-vitro results. They targeted the substantial inhibitory effects of Litsea glutinosa against receptors to establish the correlation between experimental and theoretical results.

A review on genus Millettia: Traditional uses, phytochemicals and pharmacological activities.

The genus Millettia belongs to Fabaceae includes 200 species which are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Plants belong to this genus are used as folkloric medicine, for the treatment of different ailments like in wound healing, boil, sores, skin diseases, snake bite, muscle aches, pains, rheumatic arthritis, and gynaecological diseases. The aim of the review is to provide updated, comprehensive and categorized information on the aspects of ethnobotanical, phytochemical, pharmacological uses and toxicity of genus Millettia in order to identify their therapeutic potential and generate space for future research opportunities. The present study comprises of isolated flavonoids, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, saponins, alkaloids, polysaccharides, terpenoids and resins and pharmacological activities of various Millettia species. The relevant data were searched by using the keyword "Millettia" in different scientific databases like, "Google Scholar"; "NISCAIR repository"; "Pub Med"; "Science Direct"; "Scopus" and the taxonomy is validated by "The Plant List". This review discusses the existing information of the traditional evaluation as well as phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of the extract and active constituents of the genus "Millettia". This review confirms that several Millettia species have emerged as a high-quality medicine in a traditional system for arthritis, wound healing, inflammation, skin diseases. Numerous conventional uses of Millettia species have been validated by modern pharmacology research. Intensive investigations of the genus Millettia relating to phytochemistry and pharmacology, especially their mechanism of action, safety, and efficacy could be the future research interests by the researcher in the area of phytomedicine.

Identification of bioactive constituents from different fractions of stems of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. using GC-MS.

The GC-MS analysis of fractions of methanol extract of stem of Cuscuta reflexa (Family Convolvulaceae) was carried out using a THERMO TRACE 1300 Gas Chromatograph equipped and coupled to a mass detector THERMO TSQ 8000 spectrometer with an TG 5MS (30 m × 0.25 mm, 0.25 µm) of capillary column. Database of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library was used to identify the components. GC-MS revealed two known compounds i.e. 2-Methoxy-4-vinyl phenol (6.80%) and Benzofuran-2,3-dihydro (20.89%) and other 12 unknown compounds such as 3,5-di-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (35.50%); Hexatriacontane (12.02%); n-Hexadecanoic acid (10.12%); Scoparone (7.97%); Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (5.22%); 1,3-Benzenediamine, N, N, N', N' tetramethyl- (15.43%); Phenol, 4(3-hydroxy1propenyl), 2-methoxy (9.31%); Phenol, 2,4 bis (1,1dimethylethyl); 2,3,5,6-Tetramethyl para phenylene diamine (14.18%); Retinoic acid-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro (20.46%); 2,4-Dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)furan-3-one (10.13%); 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2-Propyl-tetrahydro-pyran-3-ol (10.13%); Pregn-4-ene-18-oic acid (5.75%) as some of the major compounds in its different fractions. Retinoic acid-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro found as major compound may be responsible for blood glucose lowering potency.

Antidiabetic effects of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (Convolvulaceae) is traditionally used to treat diabetes mellitus by tribal people of north-east India and Bangladesh. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of methanol and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. in normal, glucose loaded and Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The methanol (MECR) and aqueous (AECR) extracts (200 and 400mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to normal and diabetic rats with Metformin and solvent control as comparison groups. Long term effects like FBG, OGTT, lipid profile, HbA1c, body weight, histopathology of major organs, etc. were investigated. RESULTS: MECR and AECR did not have hypoglycemic effects in normal rats. Both AECR and MECR (400mg/kg) treatments showed significant reduction in blood glucose during OGTT in diabetic rats at 3h. Single oral administration of methanol and aqueous extracts (400mg/kg) to diabetic rats significantly reduced (p<0.05) blood glucose level to 61.90% and 55.39% respectively as compared to the Metformin group i.e. 68.32% at the end of 8h. MECR (400mg/kg body weight for 30 days to diabetic rats) showed a significant decrease (p<0.01) of blood glucose level to 60.00% as compared to other groups. The treatment also resulted an improvement in body weights, decreased HbA1c and restored lipid profile. Histopathological injury was not observed, rather repair of beta cells was seen in extract treated diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: Methanolic extract of C. reflexa has significant antidiabetic effects and improves metabolic alterations thereby justifying its traditional folkloric claims.