Evaluation of diuretic activity of Amaranthus spinosus Linn. aqueous extract in Wistar rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional Siddha medicine literature claims that the Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (family: Amaranthaceae) whole plant possesses diuretic property. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the diuretic potential of Amaranthus spinosus aqueous extract (ASAE) in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Different concentrations of ASAE (200, 500, 1000, 1500mg/kg), thiazide (10mg/kg) and vehicle were orally administered to rats (n=6 animals per group) and their urine output was collected after 24h. Volume, pH, Na(+), K(+) and Cl(-) concentrations of urine were estimated. RESULTS: ASAE produced increase in Na(+), K(+), Cl(-) excretion, caused alkalinization of urine, showed strong saluretic activity and carbonic anhydrase inhibition activity. These effects were observed predominantly at 500mg/kg dose and there was no dose-response relationship. CONCLUSION: Our study strongly suggests that the Amaranthus spinosus is acting as a thiazide like diuretic with carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity which restates the claim as diuretic herb in Siddha medicine.

Evaluation of antiinflammatory and analgesic activities of alcoholic extract of Kaempferia galanga in rats.

Alcoholic extract of Kaempferia galanga was tested for analgesic and antiinflammatory activities in animal models. Three doses, 300 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg and 1200 mg/kg of the plant extract prepared as a suspension in 2 ml of 2% gum acacia were used. Acute and sub acute inflammatory activities were studied in rats by carrageenan induced paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma models respectively. In both models, the standard drug used was aspirin 100 mg/kg. Two doses 600 mg/kg and 1200 mg/kg of plant extract exhibited significant (P<0.001) antiinflammatory activity in carrageenan model and cotton pellet granuloma model in comparison to control. Analgesic activity was studied in rats using hot plate and tail-flick models. Codeine 5 mg/kg and vehicle served as standard and control respectively. The two doses of plant extract exhibited significant analgesic activity in tail flick model (P<0.001) and hot plate model (P<0.001) in comparison to control. In conclusion K. galanga possesses antiinflammatory and analgesic activities.

Efficacy and tolerability of Dianex in Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a non randomized, open label non-comparative study.

OBJECTIVE AND STUDY DESIGN: A nonrandomized open labeled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Dianex (a poly herbal formulation developed by Apex Laboratories [PVT] Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) in type 2 diabetes mellitus was carried out during a 6-month period. SETTING/LOCATION: This study was conducted in TMA Pai Hospital, Udupi, South India. SUBJECTS: A total of 40 patients were recruited for this study. Three patients dropped out of the study leaving a total of 37 patients (11 for monotherapy and 26 for add on therapy). OUTCOME MEASURES: Eighteen (18) clinical variables were investigated, including liver enzymes, kidney function tests, hematologic parameters, blood glucose, and insulin and lipid profiles. RESULTS: at the end of 12 weeks it was found that there was a significant decrease in the level of glycated hemoglobin, fasting plasma insulin level, insulin resistance, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. At the end of 24 weeks results were similar to those at 12 weeks. Dianex did not alter the liver function tests, hematological parameters, or kidney function tests. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, Dainex is found to be an effective adjuvant drug with either oral antidiabetic agents or insulin that can be used in the control of blood sugars in diabetic patients. Dianex is a safe drug that does not cause any clinical, hematological or biochemical alteration in major organ systems.

Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Ginkgo biloba in rats.

The mechanism of hepatoprotective effects of Ginkgo biloba (GB), an herbal preparation with wide variety of therapeutic application, on paracetamol (Pcml) induced hepatic damage in rats has been investigated. GB treatment restored the marker enzyme levels indicating the in vivo protective effects against Pcml induced liver damage both in preventive and curative aspects. GB also reversed the increased TBARS levels, and elevated the GSH content of the liver. The results obtained from the study indicate hepatoprotective nature of GB, which might be due to its ability to prevent lipid peroxidation and replenishing the gllutathione level. The effects of GB were comparable to that of silymarin.