Effect of ethanolic extract of root of Pongamia pinnata (L) pierre on oxidative stress, behavioral and histopathological alterations induced by cerebral ischemia--reperfusion and long-term hypoperfusion in rats.

Possible effect of an ethanolic root extract of Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre (P. pinnata) on oxidant-antioxidant status and histopathological changes in acute ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat forebrain have been investigated. Further, its effect was also assessed on long-term cerebral hypoperfusion-induced changes in anxiety, cognitive and histopathological parameters. Cerebral post-ischemic reperfusion is known to be associated with generation of free radicals. In the present study, bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) for 30 min followed by 45 min reperfusion produced increases in lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and a fall in the total tissue sulfhydryl (T-SH) levels. The ethanolic extract of roots of P. pinnata (50 mg kg(-1), po for 5 days) attenuated the ischemia-reperfusion-induced increase in lipid peroxidation, SOD activity and a fall in T-SH levels. The extract also ameliorated histopathological changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in the frontoparietal region of the rat brain. The extract (50 mg kg(-1), po for 15 days) was also found to alleviate the long-term hypoperfusion-induced anxiety and listlessness (open field paradigm). There was an improvement of learning and memory deficits (Morris' water maze testing). It also attenuated reactive changes in forebrain histology like gliosis, lymphocytic infiltration, astrocytosis and cellular edema. Results suggest protective role of P. pinnata in ischemia-reperfusion injury and cerebrovascular insufficiency states.

Neuroprotective effect of Azadirachta indica on cerebral post-ischemic reperfusion and hypoperfusion in rats.

We assessed the effect of Azadirachta indica (A. indica), a plant that has been reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic properties, on cerebral reperfusion injury and long term cerebral hypoperfusion. When blood flow to brain region that has undergone critical period of ischemia is re-established, additional injury is to be expected from the reperfusion. In the present study, bilateral common carotid artery (BCCA) occlusion for 30 min followed by 45 min reperfusion resulted in increase in lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and fall in total tissue sulfhydryl (T-SH) groups. A. indica pretreatment (500 mg/kg/day x 7 days) attenuated the reperfusion induced enhanced lipid peroxidation, SOD activity and prevented fall in T-SH groups. Moreover, A.indica per se increased brain ascorbic acid level, which was unchanged during reperfusion insult. Long-term cerebral hypoperfusion induced by permanent BCCA occlusion has been reported to cause behavioral and histopathological abnormalities. In the present study, as tested by open field paradigm and Morris' water maze, a propensity towards anxiety and disturbances of learning/memory were observed in animals subjected to hypoperfusion for 2 weeks. A. indica (500 mg/kg/day x 15 days) significantly reduced these hypoperfusion induced functional disturbances. Reactive changes in brain histology like gliosis, perivascular lymphocytic infiltration, recruitment of macrophages and cellular edema following long term hypoperfusion were also attenuated effectively by A. indica. We conclude that our study provides an experimental evidence for possible neuroprotective potentiality of A. indica.

Evaluation of antioxidant and neuroprotective effect of Ocimum sanctum on transient cerebral ischemia and long-term cerebral hypoperfusion.

Free radicals are implicated in causation of cerebral reperfusion injury and chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats is associated with functional and histopathological disturbances. Ocimum sanctum (OS), a plant widely used in Ayurveda, has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cognition-enhancing properties. In the present study, we investigated the effect of methanolic extract of OS leaves in cerebral reperfusion injury as well as long-term hypoperfusion. Occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries (BCCA) for 30 min followed by 45 min reperfusion caused increase in lipid peroxidation and up-regulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity accompanied by fall in tissue total sulfhydryl groups (TSH) in rat forebrains. Ascorbic acid levels were unchanged, however. OS pretreatment (200 mg/kg/day for 7 days) prevented this reperfusion-induced rise in lipid peroxidation and SOD activity. OS pretreatment also stabilized the levels of TSH during reperfusion. Long-term cerebral hypoperfusion (a model of cerebrovascular insufficiency and dementia) induced by permanent occlusion of BCCA for 15 days demonstrated altered exploratory behavior in open-field testing and memory deficits as tested by Morris' water maze. Histopathological examination of hypoperfused animals revealed reactive changes, like cellular edema, gliosis and perivascular inflammatory infiltrate. OS treatment (200 mg/kg/day for 15 days) significantly prevented these hypoperfusion-induced functional and structural disturbances. The results suggest that OS may be useful in treatment of cerebral reperfusion injury and cerebrovascular insufficiency states.

Effect of Azadirachta indica on paracetamol-induced hepatic damage in albino rats.

Azadirachta indica, a plant used widely in Ayurveda, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and adaptogenic properties. The present study evaluates its hepatoprotective role. Fresh juice of tender leaves of Azadirachta indica (200 mg/kg body wt. p.o.) inhibited paracetamol (2 g/kg body wt. p.o.)-induced lipid peroxidation and prevented depletion of sulfhydryl groups in liver cells. There was an increase in serum marker enzymes of hepatic damage (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase) after paracetamol administration. Azadirachta indica pretreatment stabilized the serum levels of these enzymes. Histopathological observations of liver tissues corroborated these findings.

Pharmacological activity of Abies pindrow.

The widely known tree Abies pindrow (Talisapatra) (family: Pinaceae), famous for its diverse clinical uses in Ayurvedic medicines, was investigated to rationalise some of the ancient claims. The petroleum ether (PE), benzene (BE), chloroform (CE), acetone (AE) and ethanol (EE) extracts of A. pindrow leaf were found to have mast cell stabilizing action in rats. The EE, AE and BE extracts offered bronchoprotection against histamine challenge in guinea-pigs. The BE, CE and PE extracts had protective role in aspirin-induced ulcer in rats. The results suggest that while terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides and steroids are involved in mast cell protection, terpenoids and flavonoids are brochoprotective against histamine-induced bronchospasm. The ulcer protective action of PE, BE and CE fractions of A. pindrow may be attributable to steroids contents only because though all the extracts tested positive for glycosides, the extracts EE and AE did not have any ulcer protective role.

Pharmacological activity of Elaeocarpus sphaericus.

Elaeocarpus sphaericus fruits are used in Ayurveda for mental diseases, epilepsy, asthma, hypertension, arthritis and liver diseases. Sequential petroleum ether (PE), benzene (BE), chloroform (CE), acetone (AE) and ethanol (EE) extracts (50-200 or 200 mg/kg, ip, or 200 mg/kg, po) of dried Elaeocarpus sphaericus fruits, pretreatment time 30-45 min, showed significant antiinflammatory action against both acute and sub-acute models, analgesic, barbiturate-hypnosis potentiation and antiulcerogenic activities in rats. All the extracts, except PE and EE decreased swim stress immobility in mice indicating some degree of antidepressant activity. All the extracts protected guinea-pigs against bronchospasm induced by histamine and acetylcholine aerosols. Chemically, the extracts showed the presence of glycosides, steroids, alkaloids and flavonoids.

Studies on extracts of Elaeocarpus sphaericus fruits on in vitro rat mast cells.

Elaeocarpus sphaericus (Syn: E. ganitrus), in Ayurvedic Medicine commonly known as Rudraksha is known to have wide range of pharmacological activities. We reported previously the protective action of E. sphaericus in experimental bronchial asthma. The present study on rat mesenteric mast cell was undertaken to investigate the effect of E. sphaericus fruits on autacoid release. The petroleum ether (PE), benzene (BE), chloroform (CE), acetone (AE) and ethanol (EE) extracts of E. sphaericus fruits were found to have mast-cell stabilizing activity, substantiating the efficacy of E. sphaericus against bronchial asthma.

Anxiolytic activity of Indian Abies pindrow Royle leaves in rodents: an experimental study.

Putative anxiolytic activity of ethanolic extract of Indian A. pindrow Royle leaf was investigated in rats using various experimental paradigms of anxiety viz. open field exploratory behaviour, elevated plus maze (EPM) and elevated zero maze (EZM) tests. Pilot studies indicated that single dose administration of extract had little to no acute behavioural effects, hence the extract was administered orally at different dose levels once daily for three consecutive days, while lorazepam (LR) (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered acutely. Ethanolic extract of A. pindrow (AP) leaves (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant anxiolytic effects on all the paradigms of anxiety. The results indicate that AP and LR induced a significant increase in open field ambulation and slight increase in rearings and activity in center, whereas grooming and faecal droppings remain unchanged. In EPM, significant augmentation of open arm entries, and time spent on open arms was noted in AP treated rats. In EZM test, significant increase in time spent on open arms and entries in open arms was observed, whereas slight increase in head dips and stretched attend postures was also observed. The AP extract showed consistent and significant anxiolytic activity in all the tests. The effects induced by ethanolic extract of AP were less marked than those of lorazepam were.

Pharmacological actions of Pongamia pinnata roots in albino rats.

Pongamia pinnata root has been advocated in Ayurveda for treatment of various inflammatory and infective conditions including ulcers. Sequential petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, acetone and ethanolic extracts of P. pinnata roots when administered in the dose of 50 mg/kg, i.p. in rats was found to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic activity while pentobarbitone-induced 'sleep time' was reduced by all the extracts except petroleum ether which, however, enhanced it. They were also found to possess antiulcer effects when administered either by i.p. (45 min before) or oral route (45 min before or for 4 days) against restraint-stress or pylorus-ligated gastric ulcers in rats, the maximum protection being afforded by petroleum ether and ethanol extracts. The mechanism of antiulcer effect could either be due to decrease in acid-pepsin secretion and augmentation of mucin secretion as observed with ethanol extract, while petroleum ether extract might be producing the effect by virtue of its anti-stress activity.

Pharmacological actions of Pongamia pinnata seeds--a preliminary study.

Direct ethanolic and sequential petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone and ethanolic extracts (50-100 mg/kg, i.p.) of P. pinnata seeds given 30-60 min before revealed anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-ulcerogenic activities in rats. The activities were present maximum in petroleum ether and chloroform extracts. However, the extracts also showed shortening of pentobarbitone induced 'sleep time' in rats.

Neuropharmacological studies on Fusarium toxins-III: Neurochemical investigations on total toxin extracts from F. moniliforme and F. oxysporum.

Neurochemical effects of different fusarial toxins elaborated from F. moniliforme (FM) and F. oxysporum (FO) were investigated. FM showed significant nonspecific and irreversible monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition which was qualitatively comparable to that induced by nialamide, a nonselective MAO inhibitor. FO did not exhibit any significant MAO inhibitory effect. FM produced a dose related increase in monoamine concentrations (dopamine, noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine) in different rat brain areas namely, diencephalon-midbrain, caudate nucleus and pons-medulla. FO, on the contrary, produced marked increase in dopamine concentration in the caudate nucleus with concomitant reduction in noradrenaline levels in diencephalon-midbrain and pons-medulla with little effect on 5-HT concentration. The neurochemical effects of FM and FO are consonant with the earlier reports on the neuropharmacological profile of these toxins. Thus, FM was reported to have nialamide like activity, whereas FO actions were dopaminergic in nature.

Anxiolytic activity of Azadirachta indica leaf extract in rats.

Putative anxiolytic activity of leaf extract of A. indica, was investigated and compared with that of diazepam in rats using elevated plus maze and open field behaviour test paradigms of anxiety. Doses (10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) of freshly prepared leaf extract of A. indica and diazepam (1 mg/kg) were administered (po) once, 45 min prior to behavioural testing. Low doses (10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) of A. indica leaf extract produced significant antianxiety effects both in plus maze and open field test. However, the higher doses of leaf extract (400 and 800 mg/kg) did not show anxiolytic activity. The effects induced by low doses (10, 20, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg) of extract were comparable to those of induced by diazepam (1 mg/kg).

Antiulcerogenic and antiinflammatory studies with shilajit.

In folk medicine, shilajit has been used to treat diverse clinical conditions ranging from peptic ulcer to bone healing. The present study was conducted to evaluate the possible antiulcerogenic and antiinflammatory activities of shilajit obtained from the rocky mountains of Zarlek, Badekshan, Afghanistan. Shilajit increased the carbohydrate/protein ratio and decreased gastric ulcer index, indicating an increased mucus barrier. Shilajit was found to have significant antiinflammatory effect in carrageenan-induced acute pedal oedema, granuloma pouch and adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. The results of the present study thus substantiate the use of shilajit in peptic ulcer and inflammation.