Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant Activities of Justicia gendarussa Leaf Extract in Carbofuran-Induced Hepatic Damage in Rats.

In folk medicines, Justicia gendarussa (J. gendarussa) is used as a depurative herb for treating fever, pain, and cancer and as laxative for constipation. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of the leaf methanol extract of J. gendarussa leaf (J gMe) against carbofuran (CF)-intoxicated liver injuries in Sprague-Dawley rats, along with the antioxidant activity of this extract. For this purpose, levels of serum diagnostic markers, hepatic antioxidant enzymes, and liver histo-architecture were employed to justify the protective efficacy of J gMe. In addition, the phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were quantified, and antioxidant activity was investigated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl free radical scavenging assays. Results revealed that the leaf extract caused a significant (<0.05, <0.01) decrease of the level of hepatic enzymes, triglycerides, and bilirubin and an increase of the total protein. J gMe has also significantly (<0.05, <0.01) lowered the level of malonylaldehyde. Carbofuran markedly suppressed hepatic antioxidant enzymes, however, the leaf extract significantly augmented these enzymes. The hepatoprotective effect was demonstrated by the improvement in the histo-architectural features of liver sections of CF-intoxicated rats treated with J gMe at 500 mg/kg dose. In addition, J gMe showed moderate total phenolic and total flavonoid content, whereas the IC50 values of DPPH, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl free radical scavenging assays were 71.31 ± 0.42, 134.82 ± 0.14, 47.69 ± 0.38, and 118.44 ± 0.30 µg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, the present study suggests the protective role of J gMe against hepatic injury induced by CF, which may be attributed to its higher antioxidant properties and thereby scientifically justifies its traditional use.

A natural flavonoid lawsonaringenin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HT-29 colorectal cancer cells by targeting multiple signalling pathways.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy in the world having a high mortality rate. Flavonoids possess many biological activities including anti-cancer activity. lawsonaringenin (LSG) is a flavonoid isolated from leaves of Lawsonia alba Lam. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the anti-cancer potential of LSG in colorectal cancer for the first time. The HT-29 cells were treated with LSG or 5-fluoruracil, as a positive control, to determine its effect on cell cytotoxicity by a MTT cell proliferation assay, and cell cycle progression and apoptosis using flowcytometry. We also determined the mechanisms underlying LSG-mediated growth inhibition of HT-29 cells by by investigating the expression of key oncogenes and apoptosis genes using q-RT PCR and immunocytochemical analysis. The cell cytotoxicity data showed that the IC50 value of LSG was significantly less than the IC50 value of 5-FU (50 µM). The anti-proliferative effect of LSG was mediated by arresting cells in the S phase of the cell cycle which then led to the induction of apoptosis the q-RT PCR and immunocytochemical analysis showed that LSG reduced the expression of ß-catenin (non-phosphorylated) and its downstream signalling target c-Myc, whereas it increased the phosphorylation of ß-catenin. Furthermore, LSG also downregulated the expression of oncogene K-Ras and anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL. In conclusion, our data demonstrates that LSG exerted its anti-tumor activity by arresting the cell cycle in S phase, and by downregulating the expression of oncogenes including ß-catenin, c-Myc, K-Ras and anti-apoptosis proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. This study suggests a potential use of natural flavonoid, lawsonaringenin, to attenuate colorectal cancer growth; however, further pre-clinical/clinical studies are required to establish its role as a therapeutic agent.

Free radical scavenging, antidiarrheal and anthelmintic activity of Pistia stratiotes L. extracts and its phytochemical analysis.

In this phyto-pharmacological screening of Pistia stratiotes L leaf and root extracts each separately in two different solvents demonstrated its potential medicinal value. Apparent antioxidant value is demonstrated by DPPH, Nitric oxide scavenging and Ferric ion reducing method. Additionally, total flavonoid and phenolic compounds were measured. The leaf methanolic extract scavenged both nitric oxide (NO) and DPPH radical with a dose dependent manner. But the pet ether fraction of root was found to have highest efficacy in Fe(3±) reducing power assay. Flavonoid was found to contain highest in the pet ether fraction of root (411.35mg/g) in terms of quercetin equivalent, similarly highest amount (34.96mg/g) of total phenolic compounds (assayed as gallic acid equivalents) were found to contain in the same fraction. The methanolic fractions appeared less cytotoxic compared to pet ether extracts. The plant extracts caused a dose dependent decrease in faecal droppings in both castor oil and magnesium sulphate induced diarrhea, where as leaf extracts in each solvent appeared most effective. Also, the plant extracts showed anthelmintic activity in earthworm by inducing paralysis and death in a dose dependent manner. At highest doses (50 mg/ml) all fractions were almost effective as the positive control piperazine citrate (10 mg/ml). Thus, besides this cytotoxic effect it's traditional claim for therapeutic use can never be overlooked.

Assessment of toxic effects of the methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr. Fruit via biochemical and hematological evaluation in female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Citrus macroptera Montr. (C. macroptera) is locally known as Satkara. The fruit of this plant is used as appetite stimulant and in the treatment of fever. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the toxic effects of the fruit extract using some biochemical and hematological parameters in rat model. The effects of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr. fruit administered at 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight were investigated on hematological and biochemical parameters in Sprague-Dawley female rats. Moreover, histopathological study was performed to observe the presence of pathological lesions in primary body organs. The extract presented no significant effect on body weight, percent water content, relative organ weight and hematological parameters in rat. Significant decrease from control group was observed in the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein; thus leading to significant decrease of cardiac risk ratio, castelli's risk index-2, atherogenic coefficient and atherogenic index of plasma at all doses. 500 mg/kg dose significantly decreased alkaline phosphatase (P<0.05), 1000 mg/kg dose significantly increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.05) and 250 mg/kg dose significantly decreased the level of glycated hemoglobin (P<0.05) from the control group. There were no significant alterations observed with other serum biochemical parameters. Histopathological study confirmed the absence of inflammatory and necrotic features in the primary body organs. Study results indicate that methanolic fruit extract is unlikely to have significant toxicity. Moreover, these findings justified the cardio-protective, moderate hepato-protective and glucose controlling activities of the fruit extract.

Preliminary phytochemical screening, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Euphorbia milli.

Euphorbia milii is a Pakistani herb used for various infectious diseases. In this study we have carried out phytochemical, antibacterial and antioxidant investigation of different extracts/fractions. Phytochemical studies showed the presence of cardiac glycosides, steroids/phytosterols, anthocyanin, proteins, terpenoids, flavonoids and tannins. Susceptibility testing by well diffusion assay of its chloroform and methanol fractions revealed good antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumonia and Staph epidermis. Ethyl acetate fraction of roots also exhibited considerable antimicrobial activity against most of tested pathogens. Various fractions (Hexane, chloroform, methanol and water) of E. milii were screen for their antioxidant potential using DPPH radical scavenging assay at different concentrations among these, chloroform fraction exhibited good scavenging activity. The IR spectroscopy of the various extracts/fractions indicated the presence of OH, saturated CH stretching, C=C, C=O, NO2, C-N, Ar-O, C-O- and R-O-Stretching respectively. The findings provide helpful evidence for the use of E. milii in traditional medicines.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of leaf extract of Mallotus repandus (Willd.) Muell. Arg.

In folk medicine Mallotus repandus (Willd.) Muell. Arg. is used to treat muscle pain, itching, fever, rheumatic arthritis, snake bite, hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis. This study aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive as well as the anti-inflammatory activities of the methanol extract of leaf. The leaves were extracted with methanol following hot extraction and tested for the presence of phytochemical constituents. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using acetic acid induced writhing test, xylene induced ear edema, cotton pellet induced granuloma, and tail immersion methods at doses of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight. The presence of flavonoids, saponins, and tannins was identified in the extract. The extract exhibited considerable antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities against four classical models of pain. In acetic acid induced writhing, xylene induced ear edema, and cotton pellet granuloma models, the extract revealed dose dependent activity. Additionally, it increased latency time in tail immersion model. It can be concluded that M. repandus possesses significant antinociceptive potential. These findings suggest that this plant can be used as a potential source of new antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory candidates. The activity of methanol extract is most likely mediated through central and peripheral inhibitory mechanisms. This study justified the traditional use of leaf part of this plant.

Bioassay-guided isolation of urease and α-chymotrypsin inhibitory constituents from the stems of Lawsonia alba Lam. (Henna).

Seven constituents were isolated from the stems of Lawsonia alba Lam., following an activity-guided isolation, which include two new constituents, namely lawsorosemarinol (1) and lawsofructose (2), one known compound 2-(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-1, 4-naphthoquinone (3) and four compounds, 4-hydroxy coumarine (4), 3-(4-hyroxyphenyl)-triacontyl-(Z)-propenoate (5), 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-triacontyl-(Z)-propenoate (6) and 7-hydroxy-4-methyl coumarin (7) first time isolated from Lawsonia alba. Their structure elucidation was based on spectroscopic data analyses. Compounds 3 and 7 showed a moderate inhibition of urease activity, while rest of them showed less than 50% inhibition. These compounds did not show any significant inhibition against α-chymotrypsin.

Two new dioxin derivatives from the aerial parts of Lawsonia alba.

From the aerial parts of Lawsonia alba two new dioxin derivatives, namely 12-[2'-(1', 4'-dioxin-5', 6'-dione)-8''E-undecenyl-dodecanoate and 5-[1'-(docosa-2'E, 5'E-dienyl)]-1,4-dioxin-2,3-dione, were isolated and characterised on the basis of spectroscopic methods.