Development and evaluation of antimicrobial herbal formulations containing the methanolic extract of Samadera indica for skin diseases.

Samadera indica Gaetrn (Simaroubaceae) is claimed to possess various pharmacological activities like antioxidant, antifungal, antitumor, antiviral, and so on, but its taste is bitter. The aim of the present study is to investigate the toxicity of the methanolic extract and to develop suitable herbal formulations of the methanolic extract of Samadera indica, having efficient antimicrobial activity. The methanolic extract prepared from the dried leaves of Samadera indica by continuous hot percolation, were used to examine the toxicity, according to the OECD 423 guidelines, in Swiss Albino mice. Topical formulations were prepared by incorporating Samadera indica (5% w / w) in an emulsifying ointment and a carbopol gel base and evaluated for physical parameters and in-vitro antimicrobial activity (S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans). The study reveals that no animals under the study showed any clinical signs of toxicity or mortality when administered a dose of 5 - 2000 mg / kg body weight. Therefore, the maximum tolerated dose of the methanolic extract of Samadera indica was above 2000 mg / kg body weight. The formulated ointment and gel had acceptable physical parameters that showed that they were compatible with the skin, and in addition to this, these formulations passed the short-term stability studies. The in-vitro antimicrobial activity studies showed that the formulated ointment showed significantly strong (p < 0.05) activity against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans than the formulated gel. Thus, the present study concludes that the formulated ointment and gel are safe and efficient antimicrobial formulations for the topical delivery of the methanolic extract of Samadera indica.

In vitro antioxidant activity of roots of Thespesia lampas Dalz and Gibs.

The free radical scavenging potential of roots of Thespesia lampas Dalz and Gibs was studied by different antioxidant models. Free radicals are implicated for more than 80 diseases including Diabetes mellitus, arthritis, cancer, ageing etc. In the treatment of theses diseases, antioxidant therapy has gained an utmost importance. Current research is directed towards finding naturally occurring antioxidant of plant origin. In Indian system of medicine, Thespesia lampas is an important medicinal plant and its root juice has been used in various ailments and as health tonic. To understand the mechanisms of pharmacological actions, the in vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Thespesia lampas was investigated for the activity of scavenging superoxide anion radicals, nitric oxide radical and lipid peroxidation assay. In all the testing, a significant correlation existed between concentrations of the extract and percentage inhibition of free radicals, metal chelating, reducing power or inhibition of lipid peroxidation. These results clearly indicate that Thespesia lampas is effective against free radical mediated diseases.

Anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and spermatogenic effects of Amaranthus spinosus Linn. on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and spermatogenic effects were studies with methanolic extract of stem of Amaranthus spinosus Linn (Family: Amaranthaceae) in diabetic rats. In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, it was observed that both the standard drug (Glibenclamide) and methanolic extract of Amaranthus spinosus Linn. significantly exhibited control of blood glucose level on a 15 day model. Further, the methanolic extract also showed significant anti-hyperlipidemic and spermatogenic effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The methanolic extract has also accelerated the process of spermatogenesis by increasing the sperm count and accessory sex organ weights. The present investigation of the plant established some pharmacological evidence to support the folklore claim that it is used as an anti-diabetic.

Hepatoprotective effect of leaf extracts of Andrographis lineata nees on liver damage caused by carbon tetrachloride in rats.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Andrographis lineata (Acanthaceae) extracts in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats. Male Wistar rats with chronic liver damage, induced by subcutaneous injection of 50% v/v carbon tetrachloride in liquid paraffin at a dose of 3 mL/kg on alternate days for a period of 4 weeks, were treated with methanol and aqueous extracts of A. lineata orally at a dose of 845 mg/kg/day. The biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase were estimated to assess the liver function. Histopathological studies of the liver were also carried out to confirm the biochemical changes. Histopathological examinations of liver tissue corroborated well with the biochemical changes. The activities of extracts were comparable to a standard drug. Hepatic steatosis, hydropic degeneration and necrosis were observed in the carbon tetrachloride treated group, while these were completely absent in the standard and extract treated groups. A. lineata extracts exhibited hepatoprotective action against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury. The present investigation established pharmacological evidence to support the folklore claim that it is used traditionally as a hepatoprotective agent.

Protective effect of Indigofera aspalathoides against CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats.

The alcoholic extract of stem of Indigofera aspalathoides was evaluated for its antihepatotoxic activity against CCl(4)-induced hepatic damage in rats. The activity was evaluated by using biochemical parameters, such as serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin and gama glutamate transpeptidase (GGTP). The histopathological changes of liver sample were compared with respective control. The extract showed remarkable hepatoprotective effect.

Chemoprevention and cytotoxic effect of Bauhinia variegata against N-nitrosodiethylamine induced liver tumors and human cancer cell lines.

The chemopreventive and cytotoxic effect of ethanol extract of Bauhinia variegata (EBV) was evaluated in N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN, 200 mg/kg) induced experimental liver tumor in rats and human cancer cell lines. Oral administration of ethanol extract of Bauhinia variegata (250 mg/kg) effectively suppressed liver tumor induced by DEN as revealed by decrease in DEN induced elevated levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, gamma glutamate transpeptidase (GGTP), lipid peroxidase (LPO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). The extract produced an increase in enzymatic antioxidant (superoxide dismutase and catalase) levels and total proteins when compared to those in liver tumor bearing rats. The histopathological changes of liver samples were compared with respective controls. EBV was found to be cytotoxic against human epithelial larynx cancer (HEp2) and human breast cancer (HBL-100) cells. These results show a significant chemopreventive and cytotoxic effect of ethanol extract of Bauhinia variegata against DEN induced liver tumor and human cancer cell lines.

Effect of Caralluma attenuata in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats.

The hypoglycemic effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of whole plant Caralluma attenuata was investigated in both normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. The blood glucose levels were measured at 0, 1, 2 and 3 h after the treatment. The aqueous and alcoholic extracts of C. attenuata (100 mg/kg) reduced the blood glucose level of normal rat from 84.5 +/- 2.0 to 68.5 +/- 2.8 mg/dl and 82.6 +/- 1.8 to 67.4 +/- 2.8 mg/dl, respectively, 3h after oral administration (P < 0.001). Blood glucose levels in alloxan induced diabetic rats were also significantly lowered from 316 +/- 3.32 to 162 +/- 2.76 and 324 +/- 4.10 to 150 +/- 3.94 mg/dl, respectively, 3 h after oral administration (P < 0.001).

Antitumour activity of Bauhinia variegata on Dalton's ascitic lymphoma.

The antitumour activity of the ethanol extract of Bauhinia variegata (EBV) has been evaluated against Dalton's ascitic lymphoma (DAL) in Swiss albino mice. A significant enhancement of mean survival time of EBV-treated tumour bearing mice was found with respect to control group. EBV treatment was found to enhance peritoneal cell counts. After 14 days of inoculation, EBV is able to reverse the changes in the haemotological parameters, protein and PCV consequent to tumour inoculation.

Antihyperglycemic and hypoglycemic effect of Aporosa lindleyana in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats.

The hypoglycemic effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of root of Aporosa lindleyana was investigated in both normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. The blood glucose levels were measured at 0, 1, 2 and 3 h after the treatment. The aqueous and alcoholic extracts of A. lindleyana (100 mg/kg) reduced the blood glucose of normal rat from 80.4+/-2.7 to 69.8+/-2.0 mg% and 82.6+/-1.9 to 70.8+/-3.2 mg%, respectively 3 h after oral administration of the extract (P < 0.001) and also significantly lowered blood glucose level in alloxan induced diabetic rat from 306+/-3.37 to 160+/-2.46 and 328+/-4.15 to 152+/-3.86 mg%, respectively 3 h after oral administration of the extract (P < 0.001). The antihyperglycemic activity of A. lindleyana was compared with tolbutamide, an oral hypoglycemic agent.

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDIES ON LEAF OF Coldenia procumbens Linn.

The plant Coldenia procumbens Linn. is used commonly in Indian system of medicine for various ailments. The present paper deals with detailed pharmacognosy of the leaf of coldenia procumbens Linn. and includes its Macro/Micro morphological (vein islet, vein termination numbers and stomatal index) anatomical characters, Physico chemical standards such as ash values, extractive values, crude fibre content and fluorescence characters of various extracts and leaf powder after treatment with different chemical reagents under UV light. Prelimanary phytochemical tests on various extracts of the leaf have also been carried out.