Evaluation of in vitro enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant properites of leaf extract from Alpinia Purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants of leaf extract from Alpinia purpurata. METHODS: One gram of fresh leaf of Alpinia purpurata was grinded in 2 mL of 50% ethanol and centrifuged at 10,000×g at 4°C for 10 min. The supernatant obtained was used within 4 h for various enzymatic antioxidants assays like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), ascorbate oxidase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as vitamin C, total reduced glutathione (TRG) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). RESULTS: The leaf extract of Alpinia purpurata possess antioxidants like vitamin C 472.92±6.80 µg/mg protein, GST 372.11±5.70 µmol of 1-chloro 2,4 dinitrobenzene (CDNB)-reduced glutathione (GSH) conjugate formed/min/mg protein, GPx 281.69±6.43 µg of glutathione oxidized/min/mg protein, peroxidases 173.12±9.40 µmol/g tissue, TRG 75.27±3.55 µg/mg protein, SOD 58.03±2.11 U/mg protein, CAT 46.70±2.35 µmol of H2O2 consumed/min/mg protein in high amount whereas ascorbate oxidase 17.41±2.46 U/g tissue, LPO 2.71±0.14 nmol/L of malondialdehyde formed/min/mg protein and PPO 1.14±0.11 µmol/g tissue in moderate amount. CONCLUSION: Alpinia purpurata has the potential to scavenge the free radicals and protect against oxidative stress causing diseases. In future, Alpinia purpurata may serve as a good pharmacotherapeutic agent.

Leaf extract of Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum screened for its phytochemical constituents and antibacterial and anticancer activities.

OBJECTIVE: The study was formulated with the objective to assess phytochemical constituents, antibacterial activity and anticancer activity of Alpinia purpurata. METHODS: The leaves of A. purpurata were washed thoroughly by tap water, shade dried and powdered. The plant powder was extracted with successive solvent system. Phytochemical constituents were evaluated, antibacterial activity was carried out by disc diffusion method and anticancer activity of the ethyl acetate leaf extract was evaluated by using 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. RESULTS: The ethyl acetate extract of A. purpurata showed most of the phytochemicals. The extract exhibited antibacterial activity with a zone of inhibition from 5 to 14 mm at various concentrations and the extract showed potential anticancer activity against PA1 ovarian cancer cell line at the 48 h with half maximal inhibitory concentration value of 110.25 µg/mL and exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in cell count for all the concentrations tested. CONCLUSION: The present study scientifically proved that ethyl acetate leaf extract of A. purpurata is a good source of phytoconstituents, showing antibacterial and anticancer activities.

Protective effect of Mollugo nudicaulis Lam. on acute liver injury induced by perchloroethylene in experimental rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effect of ethanol extract of Mollugo nudicaulis (M. nudicaulis) against perchloroethylene-induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS: The hepatoprotective activity of the ethanol extract of M. nudicaulis (200 mg/kg body wt) was studied in percholoroethylene (1 000 mg/kg body wt) induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. The serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, bilirubin and the liver content of SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, GSH, vitamin C were assessed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of the extract. The activity of the extract was compared with silymarin, a standard reference drug. In addition, serum urea, uric acid and creatinine levels were measured to evaluate the kidney function. The histopathological examination of the liver tissues was observed to support the biochemical parameters. RESULTS: The results revealed that the extract significantly (P<0.05) restored the serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, bilirubin and significantly (P<0.05) increased the antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, GSH, vitamin C in perchloroethylene-induced rats to its normalcy. The biochemical observations were supported by the histopathological studies of the liver tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The results led to the conclusion that M. nudicaulis possess hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities against perchloroethylene-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Protective effect of Emilia sonchifolia (L.) against high protein diet induced oxidative stress in pancreas of Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: The present study was undertaken to investigate the oxidative damage, the biochemical and histopathological changes in the pancreas of the Wistar rats which was fed high protein diet and the recovery after the oral administration of the n-hexane extract of the herb, Emilia sonchifolia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats fed with high protein diet for a period of 30 days and treated with n-hexane extract of Emilia sonchifolia (250 mg/kg body weight). Body weight, pancreatic weight, serum amylase, lipase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, urea, uric acid, creatinine, DNA and RNA content of the pancreas, pancreatic enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, and vitamin C were evaluated. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: At the end of the study the rats gained less body weight and showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in serum levels of amylase, lipase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, urea, uric acid, creatinine, tissue DNA, and RNA content and showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the pancreatic antioxidants. Treatment with the n-hexane extract ameliorated the damage caused by high protein diet. This was also evidenced by histopathological studies. CONCLUSION: From the results, it was suggested that the n-hexane extract of Emilia sonchifolia has an effective medicinal property and can act as a pancreato-protective herb.

Secondary metabolite credentials of Evolvulus alsinoides by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC).

Plants and plant-based products are the bases of many modern pharmaceuticals that are current in use today for various diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the biochemical constituents and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) finger printing of the ethanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides. Phytochemical screening was done by standard procedures and HPTLC method was also established to analyze alkaloids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds from the ethanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed that ethanol extracted more secondary metabolites than other solvents. HPTLC fingerprinting analysis showed the presence of various alkaloids, flavonoids and phenols (quercetin) in the ethanolic extract. It can be concluded that Evolvulus alsinoides may serve as a source of potent antioxidants that may be used in the prevention of various diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases due to the presence of phenolic compounds. HPTLC finger print of Evolvulus alsinoides may be useful in the differentiation of the species from adulterants and act as a biochemical marker for this medicinally important plant in the pharmaceutical industry and plant systematic studies.

Leaf extract of Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum screened for its phytochemical constituents and antibacterial and anticancer activities / 中西医结合学报

The study was formulated with the objective to assess phytochemical constituents, antibacterial activity and anticancer activity of Alpinia purpurata.

Effect of Emilia sonchifolia (Linn.)DC on alcohol-induced oxidative stress in pancreas of male albino rats.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of n-hexane extract of Emilia sonchifolia (E. sonchifobia) against ethanol induced pancreatic dysfunction in the young Wistar albino rats. METHODS: The rats were divided into four groups. Control rats in group received distilled water orally, group received oral administration of 20% (w/v) ethanol dissolved in drinking water, group received oral administration of 20% (w/v) ethanol in distilled water+n-hexane extract of E. sonchifolia (250 mg/kg body weight), and group received oral administration of n-hexane extract of E. sonchifolia (250 mg/kg body weight) alone. Liver marker enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), pancreatic enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, non-enzymatic antioxidants glutathione and vitamin C were measured and compared. RESULTS: Administration of 20% ethanol for 16 weeks significantly increased the liver marker enzymes AST, ALT(P<0.05), reduced the pancreatic enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione and vitamin C(P<0.05). Histopathological examination showed that the ethanol provoked the oxidative stress which was demonstrated as pancreatic necrosis and oedema. Simultaneous administration of n-hexane extract of E. sonchifolia (250 mg/kg body weight) protected the pancreas against the damage induced by ethanol which was confirmed by the histopathological studies and the normalization of biochemical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Thus n-hexane extract of E. sonchifolia shows a promise in therapeutic use in alcohol induced oxidative stress.

Amelioration of nitrobenzene-induced nephrotoxicity by the ethanol extract of the herb Euphorbia hirta.

BACKGROUND: Euphorbia hirta (L.) (Euphorbiaceae) is a very popular herb amongst practitioners of traditional medicine and used in the treatment of female disorders, respiratory ailments, tumors, jaundice, digestive problems, wounds, etc. We aimed to evaluate the protective effect of E. hirta against nitrobenzene-induced nephrotoxicity in albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The nephroprotective activity of the ethanol extract of E. hirta (400 mg/kg body weight) was studied in nitrobenzene-induced albino rats (1000 mg/kg body weight). The activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), total thiols and vitamin C in the kidney tissues were determined. Histopathologic investigation was performed in the kidney tissue samples. RESULTS: Nitrobenzene administration significantly (P < 0.01) enhanced the lipid peroxidation and significantly (P < 0.05) depleted the levels of SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, GSH, total thiols and vitamin C. Treatment with the ethanol extract of E. hirta significantly normalized the antioxidant levels. The nephroprotective activity was also supported by histopathologic studies of kidney tissue. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the ethanol extract of E. hirta ameliorates renal dysfunction and could be used as an effective protector against nitrobenzene-induced nephrotoxicity, primarily through its antioxidant capacity.