Effects of bromelain on motor responses following intra-medial forebrain bundle 6-OHDA injection in rat model of parkinsonism.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The conventional therapeutic measures which include the widely used L-DOPA therapy, are inefficient especially when dopamine loss is severe, and the physical symptoms are full blown. Since neuroinflammation is a core feature of PD, this raised the question of whether early treatment with an anti-inflammatory agent may provide a more efficient intervention for PD. In this study, we investigated the effect of bromelain (an anti-inflammatory drug) on motor responses and dopamine levels in a parkinsonian rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were lesioned stereotaxically with the neurotoxin 6-OHDA. The anti-inflammatory agent, bromelain (40 mg/kg i.p) was used to treat a subset of the rats prior to or 24 h post 6-OHDA lesion. Locomotor activity was assessed after 6-OHDA injection, using the cylinder and step tests. The cortical and striatal concentrations of dopamine were also measured. 6-OHDA injection resulted in marked motor impairment which was prevented by pretreatment with bromelain prior to the lesion. Also, the injection of 6-OHDA into the medial forebrain bundle resulted in a significant reduction in dopamine concentration in the striatum and PFC. Bromelain treatment did not alter the suppression of cortical and striatal dopamine levels. Pre-treatment with bromelain reduced the motor dysfunction in the parkinsonian rat model of PD. The efficacy of treatment with bromelain does not appear to be via preservation of the dopaminergic system. The efficacy of bromelain in 6-OHDA injected rats still remains unclear.

Micromorphology and Histology of the Secretory Apparatus of Diospyros villosa (L.) de Winter Leaves and Stem Bark.

Diospyros villosa is a perennial species prominently acknowledged for its local medicinal applications. The native utilisation of this species in traditional medicine may be ascribed to the presence of secretory structures and their exudate (comprised of phytochemicals). However, the morphological nature and optical features of the secretory structures in D. villosa remain largely unclear. This study was directed to ascertain the occurrence and adaptive features of structures found within the leaves and stem bark of D. villosa using light and electron microscopy techniques. The current study notes the existence of trichomes, and other secretory structures were noted. SEM indicated the presence of non-glandular hirsute trichomes with bulky stalk on both leaves and stem surfaces. Transverse stem sections revealed the existence of crystal idioblasts. Moreover, the presence of the main phytochemical groups and their localisation within the foliage and stem bark was elucidated through various histochemical tests. The trichomal length and density were also assessed in leaves at different stages of development. The results indicated that the trichomal density at different stages of development of the D. villosa leaves and stem bark was not significantly different from one another, F(3,39) = 1.183, p = 0.3297. The average length of the non-glandular trichomes in the emergent, young and mature leaves, as well as in the stem, was recorded to be 230 ± 30.6 µm, 246 ± 40.32 µm, 193 ± 27.55 µm and 164 ± 18.62 µm, respectively. The perimeter and circumference of the observed trichomes in the developmental stages of D. villosa leaf and the stem bark were not statistically different, F(3,39) = 1.092, p = 0.3615. The results of histochemical tests showed the existence of phenols alkaloids, which are medicinally important and beneficial for treatment of diseases. The findings of this study, being reported for the first time may be considered in establishing microscopic and pharmacognostic measure for future identification and verification of natural herbal plant. Trichomal micromorphology and histological evaluations could be utilised as a tool for appropriate description for the assessment of this species.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Diospyros villosa Extracts and Evaluation of Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anti-Quorum Sensing Potential.

The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Diospyros villosa leaves and stem bark extracts is described. The stem bark AgNPs of D. villosa synthesized at 80 °C (S80) showed good scavenging activity with a lower IC50 value of 8.75 µg·mL-1 compared to ascorbic acid (9.58 µg·mL-1). The total phenol content of the S80 AgNPs was measured and found to be 10.22 ± 0.14 mg.g-1 gallic acid equivalence (GAE). Bacterial growth inhibition (% GI) and violacein inhibition (% VI) of 10.08% and 58.83%, respectively, was observed against C.subtsugae CV017 with leaf AgNPs synthesized at 80 °C (L80) at 80 µg·mL-1. Stem bark AgNPs synthesized at room temperature (SRT) also indicated % GI of 13.83% and % VI of 65.97% against C. subtsugae CV017 at 160 µg·mL-1. Leaf AgNPs of D. villosa synthesized at room temperature (LRT), showed % GI of 29.07% and % VI of 56.53%, respectively, against C. violaceum ATCC 12472 at 320 µg·mL-1. The L80 and SRT at 160 µg·mL-1 and LRT at 320 µg·mL-1 may be considered as potential QS inhibitors following their activity against C. subtsugae CV017 and C. violaceum ATCC 12472, respectively. Therefore, D. villosa represents a potential source of antioxidants as well as an anti-quorum sensing therapeutic candidate for the control of Gram-negative bacterial infections.