Evaluation of immune response in challenged chickens vaccinated with Newcastle disease vaccine using gums from Cedrela odorata and Khaya senegalensis as delivery agents.

Immune response of challenged chickens following previous vaccinations with Newcastle disease vaccine using gums from Cedrela odorata and Khaya senegalensis as delivery agent were evaluated. Two hundred and fifty-two one-day old chickens were divided into vaccine-gum oral (GVOR), vaccine-gum ocular (GVOC), vaccine oral (VOR), vaccine ocular (VOC), gum oral (GOR), gum ocular (GOC), No-gum-no-vaccine/challenged (NGNV/C), and No-gum-no-vaccine/unchallenged (NGNV/U) groups. They were vaccinated at days 21 & 42 and challenged at day 84. Trachea and intestinal washings were collected at intervals as well as weekly serum samples. These were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test for mucosal and systemic IgG response (MA and SA). Statistical analysis was done using Omnibus one-way ANOVA. MA and SA were not different (P > 0.05) post first and second vaccination although gum-vaccine groups were marginally higher post second vaccination. Post Infection (PI), there was an early and sustained spike in both MA and SA for the GV groups especially GVOR (P < 0.05). MA and SA for the Gum alone (especially GOR) groups also spiked PI (P < 0.05). Therefore, phytogenic polymers used could be said to possess immunopotentiating property with a possible induction of immunologic memory mechanism.

Hydroethanolic extract of the inner stem bark of Cedrela odorata has low toxicity and reduces hyperglycemia induced by an overload of sucrose and glucose.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cedrela odorata L. (Meliaceae) is a native plant of the Amazon region and its inner stem bark is used in the treatment of diabetes in the form of maceration in Brazilian popular medicine. Until now, there is no scientific study on this activity. The present study was aimed at evaluating the anti-hyperglycemic activity, anti-diabetic, toxicity, antioxidant and potential mechanism of action of hydroethanolic extract of the inner stem bark of Cedrela odorata. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The inner stem bark extract of Cedrela odorata was prepared by maceration in 70% ethanol for 7 days to obtain hydroethanolic extract of Cedrela odorata (HeECo). The preliminary phytochemical analysis was performed according to procedures described in the literature. Selected secondary metabolites detected were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Acute toxicity of HeECo was investigated in male and female mice with oral administration of graded doses of HeECo from 10 to 5000 mg/kg. Subchronic oral toxicity study was done by oral administration of HeECo (500 mg/kg) and vehicle for 30 days to both sexes of Wistar rats. Clinical observations and toxicological related parameters were determined. Blood was collected for biochemical and hematological analyses, while histological examinations were performed on selected organs. Anti-hiperglycemic and antidiabetic effects were evaluated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In acute evaluation, the animals received pretreatment with 250 and 500 mg/kg of HeECo, before carbohydrate overload. For subchronic effect, the antidiabetic activity of HeECo was evaluated using the same doses for 21 days. At the end of the treatments, the levels of triacylglycerols, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant status, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were evaluated in the plasma. RESULTS: The extract showed low acute toxicity. HeECo exhibited inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and caused a lowering in the peak levels of blood glucose in animals that received glucose overload by 36.7% and 24.1% in the area under the glucose curve (AUC). When the overload was sucrose, HeECo reduced the blood glucose level by 44.4% without affecting AUC. Treatment with HeECo of the blood glucose of the diabetic animals for 21 days did not lead to improvement in weight gain and regularization of the blood glucose level, but reduced the triacylglycerol and malondialdehyde levels by 36.6% and 48.1%, respectively. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased when compared to diabetic control rats. HPLC analysis showed the presence of polyphenols, such as gallic acid, (-)- gallocatechin and (+)- catechin, the latter is present in higher quantity. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these data showed that HeECo could blunt the postprandial glycemic surge in rats; possibly through inhibition of alpha-glucosidase and positive modulation of antioxidant enzymes. Our findings confirmed the anti-hiperglycemic activity of HeECo in STZ- diabetic rats. Cedrela odorata is effective in diminishing glucose levels in vitro and in vivo and in ameliorating oxidative damage that occurs in diabetes and/or due to hyperglycemia in rats. According to our results, the efficacy of Cedrela odorata preparation could be due to the presence of active principles with different mode of actions at the molecular level, including α-glycosidases and glucose transporter inhibitors and antioxidant property.

Phytochemical screening and anti-oxidant activity of the two plants Ziziphus oxyphylla Edgew and Cedrela serrata Royle.

Phytochemical studies of medicinal plants are a basic and helping tool for the isolation of active secondary metabolites. The isolation of active compounds is made easy by the help of preliminary phytochemical studies, which shows the presence of a specific class or group of compounds present in these medicinal plants. Ziziphus oxyphylla and Cedrela serrata are medicinal plants with valuable local uses. The present study is for the first Phytochemical investigation of these two medicinal plants which consists of, Quantitative tests showing very good results except Ziziphus oxyphylla plants which does not showed the results for Ester value and Peroxide value. Color reactions are studied for all the crude extracts showing the presence of a number of chemical groups belonging to the class of Alkaloids, Phenol compounds, Phenothiazines, Aromatic compounds, Amino acids, Sulfur compounds etc. Brine shrimp activity was performed which showed a LD50 value of 45.74 and 53.36 in the case of Ziziphus oxyphylla roots and Cedrela serrata bark respectively, which is comparable to the standard drug Cyclophosphamide results of 16.09. Insecticidal activity did not show any promising result indicating the absence of any insect killing potency. Antioxidant activity was very positive for all the extract particularly, the Ziziphus oxyphylla roots, which showed even better results than the standard drug Ascorbic acid used in various dilutions.

New triterpenoids with protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibition from Cedrela odorata.

Two new apotirucallane-type triterpenoids, cedrodorols A-B (1 and 2), along with seven known compounds (3-9), were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Cedrela odorata. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant inhibitory activity against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) with the IC50 values of 13.09 and 3.93 µg/ml, respectively.

Design and evaluation of cedrela gum based microparticles of theophilline / Diseño y evaluación de micropartículas de goma de cedrela basados en teofilina

Aim: The purpose of this study was to develop microparticles of theophylline employing Cedrela gum, a novel natural gums, as a polymer by spray drying method. Materials and Methods: The process parameters were different spray drying temperatures of 110º, 130º and 150ºC. The microparticles were evaluated for characteristics like particle size, incorporation efficiency, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and in vitro drug release. Results: The microparticles were spherical with distorted surface morphology. The particle size ranged from 35.6 to 58.0 μm depending on the spray drying temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies revealed that theophiline was molecularly dispersed at all operating temperatures. The release of drug from the microparticles was immediate with no lag time with complete release obtained from the microparticles prepared at the highest temperature. Conclusion: Cedrela gum could serve as a carrier for solid dispersion of drugs such as Theophilline by means of spray drying at a temperature as low as 110ºC. Microspheres obtained at this temperature were smaller, more free flowing and less susceptible to agglomeration

Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar micropartículas de teofilina empleando goma de Cedrela, unas gomas naturales novedosos, como un polímero por pulverización método de secado. Material y Método: Los parámetros del proceso fueron aerosol de secado diferente temperaturas de 110º, 130º y 150ºC. Las micropartículas fueron evaluadas para características tales como tamaño de partícula, la eficiencia de incorporación, análisis térmico, análisis de rayos X de difracción (XRD) e in vitro de liberación del fármaco. Resultados: Las micropartículas eran esféricas con morfología de la superficie distorsionada. El tamaño de partícula oscilarón desde 35,6 hasta 58,0 μm dependiendo de la temperatura de secado por pulverización. Calorimetría diferencial de barrido (DSC) estudios revelaron que la teofilina fue dispersado molecularmente a todas las temperaturas de funcionamiento. La liberación del fármaco desde las micropartículas fue inmediata sin tiempo de retraso con liberación completa obtenida a partir de las micropartículas preparadas en la temperatura más alta. Conclusión: La goma de Cedrela podría servir como un vehículo para la dispersión sólida de fármacos tales como Teofilina por medio de secado por pulverización a una temperatura tan baja como 110ºC. Microesferas obtenidas a esta temperatura eran más pequeños, más de flujo libre y menos susceptible a la aglomeración

New limonoids and a dihydrobenzofuran norlignan from the roots of Toona sinensis.

Two new limonoids, toonins A (1) and B (2), and one new dihydrobenzofuran norlignan, toonin C (3), were isolated from the roots of Toona sinensis together with the ten known compounds 4-methoxy-6-(2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methylphenyl)-pyran-2-one (4), bourjotinolone A (5), proceranone (6), matairesinol (7), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzene-ethanol (8), syringic acid (9), isoscopoletin (10), lyoniresinol (11), aloeemodin (12), and ß-sitosterol (13). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of one- and two-dimensional spectroscopic analysis. Isolation of compounds 4, 6-13 from this plant is reported here for the first time.

Antifungal activity of 10 Guadeloupean plants.

Screening of the antifungal activities of ten Guadeloupean plants was undertaken to find new extracts and formulations against superficial mycoses such as onychomycosis, athlete's foot, Pityriasis versicolor, as well as the deep fungal infection Pneumocystis pneumonia. For the first time, the CMI of these plant extracts [cyclohexane, ethanol and ethanol/water (1:1, v/v)] was determined against five dermatophytes, five Candida species, Scytalidium dimidiatum, a Malassezia sp. strain and Pneumocystis carinii. Cytotoxicity tests of the most active extracts were also performed on an HaCat keratinocyte cell line. Results suggest that the extracts of Bursera simaruba, Cedrela odorata, Enterolobium cyclocarpum and Pluchea carolinensis have interesting activities and could be good candidates for developing antifungal formulations.

Stimulation of activity and expression of antioxidant enzymes by solvent fractions and isolated compound from Cedrela sinensis leaves in HepG2 cells.

Cedrela sinensis has been widely used in traditional Oriental medicine to treat a variety of diseases. However, little is known about the cellular actions by which this plant mediates its antioxidant effects. In this study, activity-guided fractionations of C. sinensis leaves were performed using column chromatographic techniques as well as biological assays with HepG2 cells. The ethanol (95%) extract of C. sinensis leaves was sequentially extracted with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), butanol, and water, and the fractions were screened for their antioxidant potentials for scavenging radicals as well as inducing antioxidant enzyme activity and expression. The most potent antioxidant EtOAc fraction was further separated using chromatographic techniques including open column and high-performance liquid chromatography. Compound 1 from the EtOAc fraction showed strong radical scavenging activity with a 50% scavenging concentration value close to that of ascorbic acid and induced both the activity and expressions of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Inhibitory effects on the phosphorylations of upstream mitogen-activated protein kinases such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and p38 were also observed after treatments with compound 1. Compound 1 was identified as quercitrin by (1)H- and (13)C-nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Taken together, our findings demonstrated for the first time that C. sinensis leaves appear to be a useful source of a cytoprotective and chemopreventive agent that can stimulate the activity and expression of crucial antioxidant enzymes in cells.

Trypanocidal activity of limonoids and triterpenes from Cedrela fissilis.

Chagas' disease is an illness that affects millions of people in Central and South America. The search for both a prophylactic drug to be added to human blood as well as a safe and reliable therapeutic drug are greatly needed to control such disease. Herein, we report the trypanocidal activity of 15 crude extracts and 14 compounds (limonoids and triterpenes) as well as the isolation of 25 known compounds (6 limonoids, 12 triterpenes, 1 sesquiterpene, 5 steroids, and 1 flavonoid) from Cedrela fissilis. The present study shows that this plant is a promising source of active compounds for the control of Chagas' disease. The inhibitory activity found for odoratol indicates that it is potentially useful as an alternative for the chemoprophylactic gentian violet.

Toona sinensis Roem tender leaf extract inhibits SARS coronavirus replication.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a life-threatening disease caused by the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The development of new antiviral agents for SARS-CoV is an important issue. We tried to find potential resource from Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for development of new drugs against SARS-CoV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our team recruited the potential TCM formulae (also known as Kampo) from two TCM books, Shang-Han Lun (Discussion of Cold-Induced Disorders) and Wen-Bing Tiau-Bein (Differential Management of Febrile Diseases). Several herbs, which were believed to be beneficial for SARS by experienced TCM doctors were also recruited. In addition, a vegetable polular in Taiwan, China and Malaysia, the tender leaf of Toona sinensis Roem (also known as Cedrela sinensis, belongs to the family Meliacceae) was also recruited under the suggestion of botanic experts. These TCM products and plant extrats were then tested for the effectiveness against SARS-CoV in vitro. RESULTS: Only TSL-1, the extract from tender leaf of Toona sinensis Roem was found to have an evident effect against SARS-CoV with selectivity index 12 approximately 17. CONCLUSION: This paper reports for the first time that extract from a vegetable, the tender leaf of Toona sinensis Roem, can inhibit SARS-CoV in vitro. Thererfore, the tender leaf of Toona sinensis Roem may be an important resource agninst SARS-CoV.

[Experimental studies on hypoglycemic effects of total flavonoid from Toona sinensis].

OBJECTIVE: To study hypoglycemic effects of total flavonoid from Toona sinensis (TSTF) on diabetic mice model. METHODS: To confect alloxan 0.02 g/ml with NS and injected alloxan into abdominal cavity to induce diabetic model, and all rats were fed bid with glucose for 2 consecutive days, then the blood glucose was detected by glucose oxidizes, when hypoglycemic point >11.00 mmol/L the rats were successful model made. 100 model rats were divided into 5 groups as contrast groups (distilled water), model control control groups, hight doses group (0.12 g/kg) and low doses group (0.6 g/kg) of TSTF, positive control groups of phenformin (0.10 g/kg); In addition to set 20 natural rats (distilled water), and all groups were fed qd for 15 consecutive days, and then the blood glucose were detected by glucose oxidizes in the sixteenth day. RESULTS: The blood glucose levels of the diabetic rats in TSTF groups significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: TSTF can significantly decrease the blood glucose levels of diabetic mice induced by alloxan.

Apotirucallane and tirucallane triterpenoids from Cedrela sinensis.

Nine new triterpenoids, 1-9, were isolated from the cortex of Cedrela sinensis (Meliaceae), together with six known compounds, sapelin E acetate, grandifoliolenone, azadirone, bourjotinolone A, piscidinol A, and hispidol B. The structures of 1-9 were determined by the 2D NMR experiments, chemical methods, and X-ray crystallography.

Hydroxylated gedunin derivatives from Cedrela sinensis.

Four new limonoids, 11alpha-hydroxygedunin (1), 11beta-hydroxygedunin (2), 7-deacetoxy-7alpha,11alpha-dihydroxygedunin (3), and 7-deacetoxy-7alpha,11beta-dihydroxygedunin (4), were isolated from the cortex of Cedrela sinensis, together with three known compounds, gedunin (5), 7-deacetoxy-7alpha-hydroxygedunin (6), and 11-oxogedunin (7). The structures of 1-4 were determined by a combination of 2D NMR experiments and chemical methods and by X-ray crystallography of 1 and 2.

The fractionated Toona sinensis leaf extract induces apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells and inhibits tumor growth in a murine xenograft model.

OBJECTIVE: Aqueous extract from the leaves of Toona sinensis Roem. has been shown to have an anti-proliferative effect on human lung cancer cells. In this study, we analyzed the anti-cancer activity/effect of different extraction fractions of the extract from T. sinensis leaves on ovarian cancer cells. METHODS: Cell viability was determined by XTT cell proliferation assay and cell survival assay. Apoptotic effect was detected by morphological analysis and immunoblotting. Cell cycle effect was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis and immunoblotting. In vivo therapeutic effect was evaluated by the subcutaneous inoculation of SKOV3 cells in nude mice (Foxnlnu/Foxnlnu) model. RESULTS: TSL2 of T. sinensis was more cytotoxic than other fractions and exhibited selectivity for ovarian cancer cell lines. TSL2 arrested SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells at the G2/M phase and induced cancer cells go through apoptotic pathway. Ex vivo xenograft study of nude mice showed that intraperitoneal injection of TSL2 was able to suppress the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells without significant nephrotoxicity, liver toxicity, or bone marrow suppression.

12alpha-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one: a new bioactive steroid from Toona ciliata (Meliaceae).

In a bioassay guided phytochemical investigation of Toona ciliata (Fam. Meliaceae), a new hydroxy steroidal ketone, 12alpha-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one (1) was isolated from the petroleum ether extract of the plant together with two known steroids and three C-methyl coumarins. The structure of 1 was established by means of spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 was found cytotoxic in a brine shrimp lethality bioassay with LC50 of 9.9 microg/ml and it also showed significant antitumor activity with Ti50 value of 14.1 microg/ml in a potato disc bioassay.