Neuroprotective activity of Stereospermum suaveolens against global cerebral ischemia rat model.

CONTEXT: Stereospermum suaveolens DC. (Bignoniaceae) is a medicinal tree species native to India. Traditionally, the whole plant is used for various diseases including neuronal disorders. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the neuroprotective activity of Stereospermum suaveolens against global cerebral ischemia in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neuroprotective activity was carried out by global cerebral ischemia on Sprague-Dawley rats and divided into five groups of eight rats each; sham and control groups received normal saline (10 ml/kg) and treated groups received methanol extract of Stereospermum suaveolens (MES) orally (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) for 10 days prior to the experiment. Global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral carotid artery (BCA) occlusion for 30 min followed by 4-h reperfusion. The antioxidant enzymatic and non-enzymatic levels were estimated by UV spectroscopic method along with cerebral infarction area; histopathological studies were carried out. RESULTS: LD50 of MES was found to be 5000 mg/kg of body weight. The entire test was performed at dose levels 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg of body weight. The results of the study indicate that the Stereospermum suaveolens methanol extract showed neuroprotective activity by a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation (p < 0.001) and an increase in superoxide dismutase (p < 0.01), catalase (p < 0.01), glutathione (p < 0.001), and total thiol (p < 0.001) levels in extract-treated groups as compared to control group. Measurement of cerebral infarction area and histopathological studies further supported the protective effect of the extract. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a potential protective role of Stereospermum suaveolens against global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury.

Anti-allergic activity of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) in mast cell mediated allergy model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Chamomile is most popular used medicinal plant and extensively consumed as a tea or tisanes. Traditionally this plant was used for treatment of many ailments such as allergy disorders and inflammatory mediated diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: We investigated the effects of anti-allergic activity of Matricaria recutita L. on mast cell mediated allergic models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protective effect of methanol extract of Matricaria recutita against compound 48/80 induced anaphylaxis and pruritis models for acute phase of hypersensitivity reactions were carried out. The late phase hypersensitivity reactions by compound 48/80 induced mast cell degranulation and histamine release from blood along with serum nitric oxide (NO), rat peritoneal fluid nitric oxide (NO) and bronchoalveolar fluid nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured. RESULTS: The methanol extract of Matricaria recutita L. showed inhibitory effects on anaphylaxis induced by compound 48/80 and significant dose dependent anti-pruritis property was observed by inhibiting the mast cell degranulation. Mast cell membrane stabilization activity was also observed in compound 48/80 induced mast cell activation. Dose dependent reduction in the histamine release, along with decreased release of serum, rat peritoneal and BAL fluid nitric oxide (NO) levels were observed. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the methanol extract of Matricaria recutita showed potent anti-allergic activity by inhibition of histamine release from mast cells.