Acute toxicity studies and protective effects of Cinnamon cassia bark extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The medicinal properties of Cinnamon cassia (C. cassia) bark have been reported for their clinical importance for many diseases including diabetes. However, there is no clear evidence so far regarding dose selection for its hepato- and nephroprotective effect in diabetic condition. Hence, the present study aims at evaluating in vitro antioxidant activity, the acute toxicity, and dose fixation of C. cassia bark for their effective medicinal values in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rats. All the extracts exhibited potential in vitro antioxidant activity and showed a dose-dependent (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 mg/kg BW) acute toxicity by in vivo model. The levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea, and creatinine showed a significant elevation in animals treated with the highest dose. In further studies along with histopathological studies, animals treated with STZ (60 mg/kg BW) followed by a different dose (300, 400, and 500 mg/kg BW) of ethanolic extract of the C. cassia bark and glibenclamide (3 mg/kg BW) revealed that the altered level of mitochondrial enzymes, hepatic, and renal marker in STZ-induced animals were restored in C. cassia bark extract-treated group as of control. These results could be of scientific support for the use of the ethanolic extract of the C. cassia bark in folk medicine for the management of diabetes and its associated complications.

Psidium guajava Leaf Extracts and Their Quercetin Protect HepG2 Cell Lines Against CCL4 Induced Cytotoxicity.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro cytoprotective effects of Psidium guajava and their isolated quercetin fraction to reduce the CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride) induced toxicity in HepG2 cell lines (Hepatocellular carcinoma G2). Silymarin was used as a standard drug to compare the protective effects of plant extracts in infected cell lines. MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay, cell viability assay, leakage parameters [Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)], lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were used to find out the protection of human derived HepG2 cells against CCl4-induced damage. The levels of cytotoxicity, viability and GSH were reduced. While the activities of AST, ALT, LDH and lipid peroxidation was increased in CCl4-treated groups. The treatment of P. guajava and their isolated quercetin fractions (100, 200, 300 µg/mL) decreased the elevated levels of all these parameters. The results of the present study suggest that the ethanolic extract of P. guajava leaf and their isolated quercetin fractions can able to reduce the CCl4-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cell lines.

Anti-diabetic and hypolipidemic effects of Cinnamon cassia bark extracts: an in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approach.

The present investigation was aimed to study the anti-diabetic and hypolipidemic potential of Cinnamon cassia (Lauraceae family) bark in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The preliminary phytochemical analysis (hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol, methanol, and aqueous extracts), GC-MS analysis (ethanol), in vitro (aqueous, ethanol and methanol), in vivo (ethanol) and in silico anti-diabetic activity with hypolipidemic effect of C. cassia bark was analysed. The ethanolic extract of the C. cassia bark has a fine inhibitory activity than the aqueous and methanolic extract. Out of 20 different compounds identified, seven compounds were biologically active, and 9-octadecenoic acid has highly interacted with PPARα/γ in docking studies. The levels of diabetic markers, enzymes, and lipid profiles were altered in STZ-induced rats, but after the treatment of C. cassia, the levels were returned to the normal. The study may prove the ethanolic extract of C. cassia has a powerful anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity.

Phytotherapeutic efficacy of the medicinal plant Terminalia catappa L.

Diabetes is a chronic, lifelong condition due to inadequate production of insulin or the cells does not properly respond it. Recently, the significance and effectiveness of herbal drugs associated with diabetes has emerged. The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-diabetic effects of Terminalia catappa L. leaves on streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. Two different concentrations of ethanolic leaf extract (300 and 500 mg/kg) of T. catappa were used to treat diabetic rats, and biochemical parameters were analyzed in blood samples. The results of herbal treatments were compared with the standard drug, glibenclamide. The ethanol extract (500 mg/kg) had significant anti-diabetic activity by altering blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, liver glycogen, glucose 6-phosphatase, fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, glucokinase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, urea, uric acid and creatinine levels while increasing insulin levels. Thus, the present study suggests that the supplementation of the diabetic patients with T. catappa leaves can lead to recovery from diabetic effects.

Warming in the Arctic Captured by productivity variability at an Arctic Fjord over the past two centuries.

Arctic fjords feature among some of the most climate-sensitive regions on the planet. The site of this study-Kongsfjorden-is one such fjord in which sedimentation and sediment geochemistry reflect climate-mediated changes in glacial melt and marine primary productivity. Here, we have shown that the fjord is particularly sensitive to the changing melt dynamics of the surrounding glaciers which are a direct consequence of warming/cooling in the region and is reflected in the productivity at the fjord. Warming increases meltwater influx into the fjord leading to enhanced turbidity which results in lower productivity. A multi-proxy study (sedimentary organic matter content, carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, and microfossil abundance) using a 21 cm long sediment core from the Kongsfjorden helped us reconstruct warming driven melt-dynamics history for the past two centuries. Proxy data show a general decreasing trend in productivity along with a few excursions over the last two centuries. Warming driven glacial-melt dynamics appears to be the dominant control on productivity throughout the span of the core.

Hypolipidemic Effect of Psidium guajava Leaf Extract Against Hepatotoxicity in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Plant-based natural extracts cure several diseases in human. However, the extract of Psidium guajava leaf is not yet evaluated on changes of lipid profile in hepatic disease affected rats. OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed to evaluate the mitigation effect of the ethanolic extract of P. guajava leaf and its isolated quercetin fraction on hepatotoxic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was injected to rats for hepatic disease induction and silymarin drug was used as positive control to compare plant ethanolic extract. The lipid profiles were assessed in both plasma and liver tissue of diseased and control rats. RESULTS: Levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were increased and the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was decreased in CCl4-induced hepatotoxic rats. The treatment of P. guajava (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg, bw) and isolated quercetin fraction (20 mg/kg, bw) doses decreased the elevated levels of all these parameters in diseased rats and restored the normal concentration of HDL-C. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study concluded that the P. guajava leaf and its isolated quercetin fraction can significantly regulate lipid metabolism in CCl4-induced hepatotoxic rats and decrease the disease rate. SUMMARY: Psidium guajava leaf extract reduces the hepatotoxicity and disease rate in ratsQuercetin fraction of leaf extract significantly regulates lipid profile in hepatic diseased rats. Abbreviations used: CCl4: Carbon tetrachloride; FFA: Free fatty acids; HDL-C: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LCAT: Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase; LDL-C: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; PL: Phospholipids; TC: Total cholesterol; TG: Triglycerides; VLDL-C: Very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Effects of a medicinal plant Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.formulation (MUF) on obesity-associated oxidative stress-induced liver injury.

Obesity is a global health burden due to lifestyle modifications that have a strong association with a high incidence of diseases, such as dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and cancer. The aim of the present study is to investigate the protective effects of a Macrotyloma uniflurom formulation (MUF) against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in obese rats. Male albino Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet for 6 weeks to facilitate fat-induced oxidative stress and were simultaneously treated with MUF (400 mg/kg b.w.) through oral gavage from the third week onwards during the treatment phase. At the end of the experimental period, hepatic and oxidative stress markers were examined. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory marker genes [Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6)] were also determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in liver tissue. Hepatic marker enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyl transferase) and lipid peroxidation markers (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and LOOH) were significantly increased in HFD-fed rats, and administration of MUF resulted in remarkable suppression of these markers. Administration of MUF to HFD rats enhanced the activity of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase and non-enzymatic (vitamin E, vitamin C and glutathione) antioxidants compared to HFD-fed rats. An anti-inflammatory effect of MUF was demonstrated by attenuating gene expression of TNF-α and IL-6. Therefore, the results of this study indicate that MUF could be a strong herbal therapeutic alternative for the protection of the liver as well as prevention and treatment of high-fat-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.

Volatiles obtained from whole and ground grain samples by supercritical carbon dioxide and direct helium purge methods: observations on 2,3-butanediols and halogenated anisoles.

Volatile compounds were obtained from whole and ground grain samples by two methods. In the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method, volatiles were extracted from the grain with supercritical carbon dioxide, trapped at -78 degrees C, and then transferred via a purge-and-trap instrument to a gas chromatograph with mass and infrared detectors (GC-MS/IR) for separation and identification. In the direct-helium-purge method (DHP), volatiles were purged directly from the grain into the purge-and-trap instrument for subsequent transfer to the GC-MS/IR system. With SFE, extraction of volatiles was favored by ground grain, low pressures (

Use of an autosampler for dynamic headspace extraction of volatile compounds from grains and effect of added water on the extraction.

An autosampler attached to a purge and trap instrument was used to aid routine analyses of grain samples for volatile compounds associated with off-odors. Trapped volatiles were transferred to a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer instrument for separation and detection. Dynamic extraction of volatiles from approximately 18 g of whole grain at 80 degrees C was accomplished by purging helium through a sample vial with a Teflon-lined septum on each end. The autosampler automatically added internal standard to the sample before purging began, which required the addition of 1 mL of water for complete transfer of the standard to the sample. The added water enhanced extraction of 1-octen-3-ol, 1-octen-3-one, and some other compounds from soybeans but not from starchy grains such as corn and wheat. Addition of a free radical scavenger, such as citric acid, greatly diminished the recovery of 1-octen-3-ol and 1-octen-3-one from soybeans.

Route to neo-inguinal canal: Our experience.

AIM: The objective of this study was to stress the importance and value of this route to neo-inguinal canal creation for undescended testis management laparoscopically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Coimbatore Medical College, was taken. Retrospective study was undertaken for the period 2004 to 2008. Here the surgical technique and outcome of the treatment are recorded for children aged 1 year to 12 years. RESULTS: A total of 126 children underwent laparoscopic stage II surgery by this route (medial to the medial umbilical ligament). Right-sided undescended testis (UDT) was present in 76 (60%) patients. Left-sided UDT was present in 45 (35%) patients. Bilateral UDT was present in 5 (5%) patients. There were 90 (71%) patients aged less than 2 years and 36 (29%) patients aged more than 2 years. The eldest patient was 12 years of age. The overall hospital stay was 1 day. There were no complications seen in the follow-up. In all cases, the testis could not be brought down in a single stage. CONCLUSION: Creation of neo-inguinal canal medial to the medial umbilical ligament and just lateral to the bladder has the advantage of gaining more length on the vessels and vas to bring the testis to scrotum. The laparoscopic management of undescended testis in stage II by this innovative new route is simple, less complicated and well tolerated.