Phytochemical profiling and anti-fibrotic activities of Plumbago indica L. and Plumbago auriculata Lam. in thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

This study aimed at investigating the chemical composition and the hepatoprotective activities of Plumbago indica L. and P. auriculata Lam. LC-MS/MS analyses for the hydroalcoholic extracts of the aerial parts of the two Plumbago species allowed the tentative identification of thirty and twenty-five compounds from P. indica and P. auriculata, respectively. The biochemical and histopathological alterations associated with thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis in rats were evaluated in vivo where rats received the two extracts at three different dose levels (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o, daily) for 15 consecutive days with induction of hepatotoxicity by TAA (200 mg/kg/day, i.p.) at 14th and 15th days. Results of the present study showed a significant restoration in liver function biomarkers viz. alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase and total bilirubin. The liver homogenates exhibited increased levels of antioxidant biomarkers: reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT), accompanied with decline in malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, treated groups exhibited a significant suppression in liver inflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interlukin-6 (IL-6), and fibrotic biomarker: alpha smooth muscle relaxant. Histopathological examination of the liver showed normality of hepatocytes. Noteworthy, P. indica extract showed better hepatoprotective activity than P. auriculata, particularly at 200 mg/kg. To sum up, all these results indicated the hepatoprotective properties of both extracts, as well as their antifibrotic effect was evidenced by reduction in hepatic collagen deposition. However, additional experiments are required to isolate their individual secondary metabolites, assess the toxicity of the extracts and explore the involved mechanism of action.

Antiviral Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Mediated by Plumbago indica L. Extract Against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1).

INTRODUCTION: Plumbago indica L. is considered a valuable source in the Plumbaginaceae family for various types of active compound such as alkaloids, phenolics and saponins. To promote the usage of P. indica in the bionanotechnology field, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were biosynthesized by using its alcoholic extract. The inhibitory effects of ZnONPs and the plant extract were also evaluated against HSV-1. METHODS: ZnONPs were described by the following techniques, UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The phenolic and flavonoid contents of P. indica extract, which are accountable for bioreduction, formation and stabilization of the nanoparticles, were analyzed by HPLC technique. The antiviral assessment was implemented on both agents by using Vero cell lines. RESULTS: DLS revealed that the average size of ZnONPs was 32.58 ± 7.98 nm and the zeta potential was -20.8 mV. The observation of TEM analysis revealed that the particle size of ZnONPs varied from 2.56 to 8.83 nm. The XRD analysis verified the existence of pure crystals of hexagonal shapes of nanoparticles of ZnO with a main average size of 35.28 nm that is approximating to the values of particle size acquired by SEM analysis (19.64 and 23.21 nm). The HPLC analysis of P. indica ethanolic extract showed that gallic acid, chlorogenic acid and rutin were the major compounds, with concentrations equal to 8203.99, 2965.95 and 1144.99 µg/g, respectively. Regarding the antiviral assessment, the synthesized uncalcinated ZnONPs were found to exhibit a promising activity against HSV-1, with CC50 and IC50 values equal to 43.96 ± 1.39 and 23.17 ± 2.29 µg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSION: The green synthesized ZnONPs are considered promising adjuvants to enhance the efficacy of HSV-1 drugs.

Analgesic activity of Gleditsia triacanthos methanolic fruit extract and its saponin-containing fraction.

CONTEXT: Gleditsia triacanthos L. (Leguminosae) pods are used in folk medicine for pain relief as anodyne and narcotic. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate analgesic activity of Gleditsia triacanthos methanolic fruit extract (MEGT) and its saponin-containing fraction (SFGT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral analgesic activity was assessed using the acetic acid-induced writhing model in mice at doses of 140, 280, and 560 mg/kg and formalin test in rats at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg doses. Central analgesic activity was evaluated using the hotplate method in rats (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg). RESULTS: In the writhing test, six mice groups treated with MEGT and SFGT found ED50 values 268.2 and 161.2 mg/kg, respectively, displayed a significant decrease in writhing count compared with the group treated with standard drug indomethacin (14 mg/kg). SFGT (280 and 560 mg/kg) showed 64.94 and 70.78% protection, respectively, which are more than double % protection caused by indomethacin (31.82%). In the formalin test, MEGT and SFGT (ED50 values 287.6 and 283.4 mg/kg for phase I as well as 295.1 and 290.4 mg/kg for phase II, respectively) at 400 mg/kg showed significant % inhibition in both phase I (18.86 and 52.57%) and phase II (39.36 and 44.29%) with reference to 10 mg/kg indomethacin (56.0 and 32.29%). MEGT and SFGT caused significant delay in responses in hotplate model (ED50 values 155.4 and 200.6 mg/kg, respectively) compared with that of 10 mg/kg indomethacin at 30, 60, and 120 min. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Central and peripheral analgesic activities induced by Gleditsia triacanthos fruits might account for its uses in folk medicine.