RESUMEN
Objective: The medicinal plant Betula alba has been used for prevention and treatment of kidney stones. Betulin is one of the main phytochemicals of Betula alba. The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidant and antiurolithiatic activity of betulin in vitro and in silico. For antioxidant activity, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total reducing capacity, nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging assay, and superoxide radical scavenging assay were studied. Method: In order to study antiurolithiatic activity, three assays such as crystallization, nucleation, and aggregation of oxalate crystal in urine were performed. In silico experiments were performed by using AutoDock 4.2 tools in order to establish affinity of phytochemicals toward antioxidant enzyme and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2 and 9). Results: The results obtained clearly demonstrate the significant scavenging activity of betulin and cystone against DPPH, NO, and superoxide radicals in comparison to standard antioxidant L-ascorbate (L-AA). It has also been observed that betulin has the capacity to inhibit the crystallization, nucleation, and aggregation in comparison to cystone. On the other hand, betulin and L-AA showed strong affinity toward antioxidant enzymes and matrix metalloproteinase as determined by in silico experiments. Conclusions: From this, it may be concluded that the antiurolithiatic activity of betulin is, at least in part, mediated by its antioxidant property.
Asunto(s)
Oxalato de Calcio/química , Triterpenos/química , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Ácido Ascórbico/química , Compuestos de Bifenilo , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Simulación por Computador , Enzimas/metabolismo , Depuradores de Radicales Libres/química , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Modelos Biológicos , Óxido Nítrico , PicratosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The plant Arnica montana is used in folk medicine to alleviate pain, inflammation and swelling of muscles and joints associated with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of action of A. montana flower methanol extract (AMME) against both inflammation and oxidative stress in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model. RESULTS: Oral administration of AMME was found to reduce clinical signs and improve the histological and radiological status of the hind limb joints. AMME-treated rats had lower expression levels of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukins (IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-12) and titer of anti-type II collagen antibody compared with untreated CIA rats. Furthermore, by inhibiting these mediators, AMME also contributed towards the reversal of disturbed antioxidant levels and peroxidative damage. CONCLUSION: The alleviation of arthritis in rats was very likely due to the combined action of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, the major constituents identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. The study also shed some light on mechanisms involved in diminution of inflammatory mediators and free radical-generating toxicants and enhancement of the antioxidant armory, thereby preventing further tissue damage, injury and synovial hyperproliferation in arthritis.
Asunto(s)
Arnica/química , Artritis Experimental/tratamiento farmacológico , Flores/química , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Fitoquímicos/uso terapéutico , Extractos Vegetales/uso terapéutico , Animales , Antioxidantes , Citocinas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Femenino , Mediadores de Inflamación/antagonistas & inhibidores , Óxido Nítrico/sangre , Fitoterapia , Extractos Vegetales/química , Ratas , Ratas WistarRESUMEN
This study was carried out to assess the spermicidal action of hexane extract from the fruits of Piper longum Linn. The sperm immobilisation studies showed that 20 mg/mL of hexane extract was able to immobilise sperms completely within 20 s. The sperm revival test revealed that the effects were spermicidal as sperm immobilisation effect was irreversible. There was also a significant reduction in sperm viability in the treated group in comparison to the control. The hypo-osmotic swelling of these sperms was significantly reduced, indicating that the hexane extract may probably cause injury to the sperm plasma membrane. Hence, this study showed that the hexane extract of P. longum possesses potential contraceptive spermicidal activity in vitro.