Ethnopharmacological and Phytopharmaceutical Evaluation of Prosopis cineraria: An Overview and Future Prospects.

BACKGROUND: Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce ('khejri') is an important tree that occurs worldwide in arid regions. It has been mentioned in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicines as having several clinical properties. Different parts of this plant are used in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Iran for treating various ailments such as leprosy, leucoderma, dysentery, asthma, bronchitis, piles, jaundice and muscular tremors. Since all parts of the tree are useful, it is called 'Kalp Taru' or 'Wonder Tree' in India. Phytochemical studies of P. cineraria have underlined the presence of various classes of phytochemicals, such as flavone derivatives (prosogerin A, B, C, D and E), alkaloids (spicigerine and prosophylline), tannins (gallic acid), steroids (stigmasterol, campesterol and sitosterol, etc.), fatty acids and amino acids, etc., that have been obtained from different parts of the plant. METHODS: We undertook a comprehensive, critical and systematic literature survey on ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of P. cineraria. Efforts were made to establish/corroborate the scientific reasons of ethnomedicinal use with the help of published modern studies. RESULTS: Based on in-depth analysis of more than 200 studies, we were able to corroborate a large number of facts pertaining to uses of different parts of this plant for treating various maladies. Further, it yielded several new insights on phyto-pharmacological aspects of P. cineraria. CONCLUSION: Results of this study are useful for commercialization of the products derived from phytochemicals of P. cineraria.

Co-administration of zinc and n-acetylcysteine prevents arsenic-induced tissue oxidative stress in male rats.

Arsenic is a widespread environmental toxicant that may cause neuropathy, skin lesions, vascular lesions and cancer upon prolonged exposure. Improving nourishment like supplementation of micronutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and amino acids could be able to halve the risk in those who were previously the poor nourished. The present study was planned to investigate the preventive effects of zinc and n-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation either alone or in combination with arsenic on selected biochemical variables indicative of oxidative stress and liver injury in male rats. For 3 weeks 25 male wistar rats were exposed to arsenic as sodium arsenite (2 mg/kg, orally through gastric intubation) either alone or in combination with NAC (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), zinc (5 mg/kg, orally) or zinc plus NAC. Animals were sacrificed 24h after the last dosing for various biochemical parameters. Concomitant administration of zinc with arsenic showed remarkable protection against blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity as well as providing protection to hepatic biochemical variables indicative of oxidative stress (like thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, catalase) and tissue injury. NAC supplementation on the other hand, was moderately effective in protecting animals from the toxic effects of arsenic. Interestingly, concomitant administration of zinc and NAC was most effective compared to zinc or NAC in eliciting above-mentioned protective effects. The above results suggest significant protective value of combined zinc and NAC administration in acute arsenic exposure.