Hepatoprotective effects of ethanolic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa against oxaliplatin induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats.

The hepatoprotective effects of Boerhaavia diffusa was studied against the hepatotoxicity induced by oxaliplatin. Male Wistar rats were divided in three groups.Group N* control group (0.9% normal saline), Group NP0 oxaliplatin treated group and Group NP2 were prophylactically treated with Boerhaavia diffusa and then with oxaliplatin in order to assess the protective effects of Boerhaavia diffusa against the toxicity of oxaliplatin. The levels of liver enzymes ALT, AST and γ-GT were significantly reduced in the group prophylactically treated with Boerhaavia diffusa (NP2) compared with the group treated with oxaliplatin (NP0). Boerhaavia diffusa was effective in reducing risk of hypercholestremia associated with oxaliplatin. Histopathological examination of rat liver revealed that prophylactically treated group with Boerhaavia diffusa was effective in reducing oxidative stress induced steatohepatitis by oxaliplatin.

Neuro-pharmacological evaluation of anticonvulsant and neuroprotective activity of Cocculus laurifolius leaves in wistar rats.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the anticonvulsant and neuroprotective activity of Cocculus laurifolius D.C leaves in albino wistar rats against strychnine induced convulsions. Initially the extract was investigated for acute oral toxicity testing in order to examine any signs of toxicity and mortality. For anticonvulsant activity, the ethanolic extract was evaluated at doses 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. against strychnine induced convulsions model, at 1, 7, 15 and 30th day of treatment. Meanwhile, the neuroprotective effect of the extract was investigated via histopathological assessment. Cocculus laurifolius (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) exhibited anticonvulsant activity as indicated by significant delay in the onset of convulsions and time to death after strychnine induced convulsions. Similarly, significant reduction in the duration of convulsions and percentage of mortality was observed by ethanolic extract (200 and 400 mg/kg p.o.) at 1, 7, 15 and 30th day of test sessions. Furthermore, Cocculus laurifolius leaves (200 and 400 mg/kg p.o.) also exhibited neuroprotective effect with considerable preserved neuronal structures and significant decrease in neuronal apoptosis, in comparison with control. The results obtained from the present study indicate that ethanolic extract of Cocculus laurifolius leaves possess potential anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effect against strychnine induced convulsions. Therefore, it can be concluded that Cocculus laurifolius leaves may be a valuable in management of epilepsy, however further studies are required on large number of animals to confirm these findings.