Study of inhibitory potential and percent inhibition of oil of Syzygium aromaticum and leaves of Ocimum sanctum on ESBL enzyme from Escherichia coli in broilers of Jabalpur.

OBJECTIVE: The inhibitory potential and percent inhibition of Syzygium aromaticum oil and fresh juice of Ocimum sanctum leaves on beta-lactamase enzyme of cecal samples of healthy broilers were studied on samples phenotypically positive for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred cecal samples screened for ESBL-producing E. coli were collected from 38 poultry sale outlets located in Jabalpur. The effect of S. aromaticum oil and O. sanctum leaves was seen by colorimetric assay with CENTA and Nitrocefin as chromogenic substrate. RESULTS: Mean absorbance value was inversely propotional to the inhibitory potential. Syzigium aromaticum exhibited 0.4±0.02 and 0.41±0.03 mean absorbance value, 28 per cent and 27 per cent of inhibition with CENTA and Nitrocefin respectively. Ocimum sanctum mean absorbance value and per cent inhibition with CENTA and Nitrocefin was 2.03±0.02 and 10.0 ; 1.97±0.06 and 10.0 respectively (p>0.05) showing non- significant difference in CENTA and Nitrocefin activity. Tazobactum (100 µM) as standard control exhibited a mean absorbance value of 0.12 ± 0.01 and 0.13 ± 0.01 and percent inhibition of 99.88 and 98 against CENTA and Nitrocefin, respectively. Combination of Ocimum sanctum and Syzigium aromaticum showed range of 1.69±0.05 to 1.90±0.08 1.61±0.06 to 1.92±0.08 of absorbance value with per cent inhibition of 14 to 15.9 with CENTA and Nitrocefin respectively. CONCLUSION: The results depicted that the inhibition of beta-lactamase enzyme activity with S. aromaticum oil was higher than that of O. sanctum leaf juice, and combination of both the herbs showed not much difference in activity.

In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata leaf extract on male albino mice.

AIM: To study the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata leaf extract on male albino mice. METHODS: Aqueous decoction and methanol leaf extracts were tested for their ability to reduce croton oil-induced edema in the mouse ear after topical application. The methanol leaf extract dose-dependently inhibited the croton oil-induced ear edema in mice (ID50 <500 µg·cm(-2)). A bioassay-guided liquid-liquid fractionation of this methanol extract gave four active fractions: water insoluble (F1), hexane (F2), ethyl acetate (F3) and water (F4). RESULTS: The hexane fraction showed a very high activity (42.1% inhibition at 0.7 µg·cm(-2)) as compared to the control. The other fractions were less active (F1: 56.1% at 506.2 µg·cm(-2); F3: 57.3% at 289.3 µg·cm(-2); and F4: 31.9% for 203.8 µg·cm(-2)) while indomethacin gave 48.8% of inhibition at 90 µg·cm(-2). The activity of F1 and F3 may be at least in part explained by the presence of anti-inflammatory flavonoids, while the activity was not correlated to the tannin contents. No compounds were detected in the most active F2 fraction. CONCLUSIONS: The results give a rational support to the traditional use of T. divaricata in tropical India as anti-inflammatory agent.

Pharmacological evaluation and antifertility activity of Jatropha gossypifolia in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Pharmacological and antifertility activity evaluation of Jatropha gossypifolia in rats. METHODS: The antifertility activity of the extracts of Jatropha gossypifolia in rats was evaluated using two experimental animal models. Estrogenic activity was evaluated in immature female rats using ethinyl estradiol as standard. Anti-implantation and early abortifacient activity was performed in female Wistar rats by determining the number of implantations and implantation resorptions. RESULTS: In estrogenic activity evaluations, the ethanolic and aqueous extracts offered significant estrogen-like activity at 400 mg kg⁻¹ p.o. by increasing the uterine weight compared to vehicle control group. Ethanolic extract (400 mg kg⁻¹, p.o.) treatment significantly decreased the number of implants and increased the number of resorptions compared to vehicle control group. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study provide the evidence of the anti-fertility activity of Jatropha gossypifolia as claimed in the traditional use. The results are consistent with the literature reports related to the antifertility effect of flower extracts of Jatropha gossypifolia.

Antifertility effect of chronically administered Tabernaemontana divaricata leaf extract on male rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antifertility effect of chronically administered Tabernaemontana divaricata (T. divaricata) leaf extract on male rats. METHODS: The effect of 50% ethanol extract of T. divaricata leaves on reproduction was studied on male rats. The study was divided into four groups of five animals each. The first groups (I) received vehicle alone to serve as control. The second, third and fourth groups (II, II and IV) of animals were administered the leaf extract daily at 50 mg/kg body weight, p.o.,100 mg/kg body weight, p.o., and 200 mg/kg body weight, p.o., respectively, for a period of 60 days. RESULTS: Significant decreases in the weight of testes, epididymis, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate were observed. A dose related reduction in the testicular sperm count, epididymal sperm count and motility, number of fertile male, ratio between delivered and inseminated females and numbers of pups were observed. The testis showed a clear correlation between the dose and severity of lesions of seminiferous epithelium. In general, the seminiferous tubules appear reduced in size with a frequently filled eosinophilic material. Spermatogenesis arrested at the secondary spermatocyte stage. Pachytene spermatocytes were undergoing degeneration. Disorganigation and sloughing of immature germ cell were visible. Leydinf cells were atrophied. No morphological changes were observed in Sertoli cells. Significant reduction in serum concentration of luteinizing hormone and testosterone were observed. No distinct change in serum FSH concentration was recorded. The final body weights of all groups were elevated markedly. No alterations were recorded in any hematologiocal parameters. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the 50% ethanol extract of T. divaricata leaf produced dose related effect on male reproduction without altering general body metabolism.

Pharmacological evaluation of anti-fertility activity of ethanolic extract of Jatropha gossypifolia leaf in female albino mice

Objective: Anti-fertility activity of ethanolic extract of Jatropha gossypifolia leaf in female albino mice. Methods: Jatropha gossypifolia leaf extract, when administered orally, altered the estrous cycle pattern in female mice, prolong the length of estrous cycle with significant increase in the duration of diestrus stage and reduced significantly the number of litters in albino mice. Treatment of mice with extract of 250 and 450 mg/kg body weight/day for 21 days caused a prolonged estrous cycle with significant increase in the duration of diestrus phase and elongation of estrus stage in treatment with higher dose (450 mg/kg body weight/day). Results: The analysis of the principal hormones involved in estrous cycle regulation showed that the plant extracts altered gonadrotrophin release (LH, FSH and prolactinn) and estradiol secretion. Conclusions:The results indicated the anti-fertility effect of Jatropha gossypifolia leaf extract in female albino mice.

Evaluation of anti-fertility activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata (Linn) R.Br. leaves in rats.

The aim of the present study was to assess the anti-fertility activity of ethanolic extracts of Tabernaemontana divaricata (TD) leaves in oestrogenic activity models in immature female rats. Mature green leaves of TD were collected and authenticated. Extractions of the dried leaves were carried out with ethanol in a Soxhlet's apparatus. For oestrogenic activity, the extracts were administered orally once daily at a dose of 200 and 400 mg kg(-1), and the activity was compared with the standard drug ethinyl oestradiol (0.02 mg). The extracts caused significant increase in uterine weight compared to the control. The ethanolic extract exhibited oestrogenic activity. The histological study of epithelium tissues with the 400 mg of TD extract-treated animals showed increases in the height of the luminal epithelium and loose edematous stroma when compared with the 200 mg of TD extract-treated group of animals. However, this was better than the control group of animals. Enhanced uterine weight and increase in the height of luminal epithelium and histological characteristics suggest that TD extract may be useful in anti-fertility therapy.

Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of in vitro free radical scavenging activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata Linn.

We evaluate the in vitro free radical scavenging activity of the leaves of Tabernaemontana divaricata Linn. Petroleum ether, ethanol and aqueous extracts of T. divaricata were prepared with successive extraction in a soxhlet apparatus. Each extract was selected to study the free radical scavenging activity by superoxide scavenging assay method. It was found that the aqueous extract contained carbohydrates, glycosides, amino acids, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and steroids, and the ethanolic extract contained glycosides, amino acids, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and steroids. The ethanolic extract of T. divaricata showed 58.7 +/- 0.62% inhibition in the superoxide scavenging model. The aqueous extract also showed almost similar activity (54.9 +/- 0.53% compared to the ethanolic extract), while petroleum ether extract showed poor inhibition of superoxide scavenging activity. All extracts showed the dose- and time-dependent inhibition of the superoxide scavenging activity.