Assessment of the Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity, and Hepatoprotective Effect of Andrographis paniculata against CCl4-Induced Liver Dysfunction in Wistar Albino Rats.

Recent studies have highlighted the necessity to thoroughly evaluate medicinal plants due to their therapeutic potential. The current study delves into the phytochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, and hepatoprotective effect of Andrographis paniculata. The investigation specifically targets its effectiveness in mitigating liver dysfunction induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in Wistar albino rats, aiming to uncover its promising role as a natural remedy for liver-related ailments. A. paniculata leaf extract was screened for phytoconstituents and antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects in Wistar albino rats against CCl4-induced liver dysfunction. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds in all extracts. The phenolic concentration ranged from 10.23 to 19.52 mg gallic acid per gram of the sample, while the highest flavonoid concentration was found in the ethanol fraction (8.27 mg rutin equivalents per gram). The antioxidant activity varied from 10.23 to 62.23. GC-MS analysis identified several phytochemicals including octadecanoic acid, stigmasterol, phenanthrenecarboxylic acid, and others. Effects of the ethanol extract of A. paniculata were evaluated in four groups of animals. Biochemical estimations of serum glutamine oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamine pyruvate transaminase, and serum bilirubin were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the CCl4-treated group. Treatment with 300 mg/kg b.w. of the ethanol extract of A. paniculata significantly (p < 0.05) decreased these serum enzymes. Lipid peroxidation levels in carbon tetrachloride-treated animals showed a substantial (p < 0.05) rise when compared to untreated animals, while the lipid peroxidation levels were considerably (p < 0.05) reduced after treatment with ethanol extract at 300 mg/kg b.w. Liver biochemical catalase activities were significantly reduced in the carbon tetrachloride-treated animals. The results of this study conclusively demonstrate that A. paniculata extracts are a rich source of phytochemicals and possess significant antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and hepatoprotective properties.

Flavonoid and cardenolide glycosides and a pentacyclic triterpene from the leaves of Nerium oleander and evaluation of cytotoxicity.

A pentacyclic triterpene, oleanderocioic acid, two flavonoidal glycosides, quercetin-5-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)]-ß-D-glucopyranoside and kaempferol-5-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside, and a cardenolide, oleandigoside, together with 11 known compounds, were isolated from the leaves of Nerium oleander. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The growth inhibitory and cytotoxic activities of eight compounds were evaluated against the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line using a sulforhodamine B assay. Three compounds, oleandrin, odoroside A and B were further assayed using a panel of 57 human cancer cell lines.

Variation of major limonoids in Azadirachta indica fruits at different ripening stages and toxicity against Aedes aegypti.

The azadirachtin, salannin, nimbin, deacetylnimbin, azadiradione and epoxyazadiradione contents were determined by HPLC in the fractions prepared from the kernel of neem fruits (Azadirachta indica) collected at different ripening stages. The fully mature fruit (yellow fruits) kernels contained the highest concentration of azadirachtin, nimbin and salannin, whereas the concentration of azadiradione (NC) and epoxyazadiradione (NL) was high in the unripe green berries. The toxicity of the fractions (KEA-1 to KEA-5) obtained from the kernels collected at successive intervals, as well as of the pure limonoids referred to above was evaluated against 3rd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti L. (wild strain). It was observed that the toxicity of these fractions increased with the maturity of the fruits. An interesting observation was that the toxicities of KEA-3 to KEA-5 are comparable and the concentration of all the major limonoids is optimum in KEA-3, which suggested that these exert a joint effect against Aedes aegypti.