Pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies of Atibala (Abutilon indicum [Linn.] sweet) fruit.

Background: Abutilon indicum (Linn.) Sweet (Malvaceae), generally called as "Atibala" is a plant of high medicinal importance. The plant possesses several beneficial effects such as cooling, laxative, digestive, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, antihelmintic, aphrodisiac, and demulcent which is widely used in the Ayurveda system of medicine. Aim: The current study is aimed to establish the macroscopy, powder microscopy and physicochemical analysis of A. indicum fruits. Materials and methods: The Pharmacognostical studies on A. indicum fruits, including parameters such as morphological evaluation, powder microscopy, ash values, foreign organic matter, extractive value, phytochemical, fluorescence studies, and high-performance thin-layer chromatography fingerprint profile, are established in the current study. Results: Fruit powder microscopy has shown diagnostic characteristics such as stellate hairs of different sizes, testa, lignified endocarp, and palisade cells. The loss on drying value of fruit powder was 7.7% w/w. The total ash values of the drug were found to be 10.5% and acid insoluble ash 2.4% w/w with respect to the air-dried crude drug. Water-soluble and alcohol-soluble extractives were found to be 9.64% w/w and 9.04% w/w, respectively. Conclusion: Phytochemical characterization of aqueous, alcoholic extracts of A. indicum fruit revealed the presence of proteins, carbohydrates, phenols, flavonoids, saponins, and steroids. The powder microscopical and phytochemical studies observed in this study can serve as a valuable resource for the authentication of A. indicum fruits.

Evaluation of glucose utilization capacity of bioactivity-guided fractions of Barleria prionitis Linn and Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit in isolated rat hemidiaphragm.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease characterized by high blood glucose levels due to absolute or relative circulating insulin levels. Plants represent a major potential source of drugs for treating diabetes. The study of plants having antidiabetic activity may give a new approach in the treatment of DM. AIM: This study was aimed to investigate the glucose utilization capacity of bioactivity-guided fractions of Barleria prionitis and Hyptis suaveolens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The dried coarse powdered plant material was extracted in aqueous ethanol by cold maceration; further, ethanolic extracts were fractionated using solvents of varying polarity and were investigated in isolated rat hemidiaphragm using 0.1% and 0.2% concentrations of plant extracts. RESULTS: The tested fractions of both plants showed significant and dose-dependent increased glucose uptake capacity and was found to be maximum with petroleum ether and aqueous ethanolic extracts of both plants; 0.2% concentration of both plant extracts is superior in activity when compared to 0.1% of the test extracts. H. suaveolens has produced more glucose utilization capacity when compared to B. prionitis. CONCLUSION: The activity of H. suaveolens is comparable to standard insulin (P < 0.01). Both the plant materials have some extra pancreatic mechanism like glucose uptake by peripheral tissue.

Evaluation of antinociceptive effects of Tragia plukenetii: A possible mechanism.

Tragia plukenetii R.Smith. (Euphorbiaceae) is an erect, prostate herb with sparsely hispid stinging hairs. In the present study, ethanolic extract and its fractions of T. plukenetii aerial parts were evaluated for antinociceptive and central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects. Among all the extracts, chloroform extract has produced significant analgesic activity at a test dose of 250 mg/kg in acetic acid induced writhing test and Eddy's hotplate test. The analgesic effect of chloroform extract (68.83% inhibition) is comparable with aspirin (72.09% inhibition) in acetic acid induced writhing test. Chloroform extract significantly increased the latency time in hotplate test. In the study of CNS depressant effect, the chloroform extract was found to produce a significant (P < 0.01) reduction of the exploratory capacity and depressant effect in locomotor activity. From the point of CNS depressant and good protective effect on chemical and thermal pain stimuli, indicates that T. plukenetii chloroform extract may have morphinomimetic properties. The naloxone is not able to alter the T. plukenetii induced antinociceptive effect in writhing and hotplate test. Thus, the observed antinociceptive activity of T. plukenetii might have resulted from the activation of peripheral receptors.

Influence of piperine on ibuprofen induced antinociception and its pharmacokinetics.

Piperine (CAS 94-62-2), an alkaloid obtained from Piper nigrum and P. longum, is a known inhibitor of various enzymes (CYP isozymes) responsible for biotransformation of drugs. By inhibiting the metabolism of drugs, piperine improves the bioavailability of drugs. In the present study piperine (10 mg/kg) significantly increased the dose-dependent antinociceptive activity of ibuprofen evaluated by both acetic acid writhing and formalin test, when it was administered with ibuprofen. Ibuprofen plasma concentration was also increased when it was administered with piperine. The synergistic antinociception activity of ibuprofen when administered with piperine can be attributed to increased plasma concentration of ibuprofen. From this study it can be concluded that piperine can be used as a bioenhancer along with ibuprofen.

Antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Helicteres isora roots in alloxan-induced diabetic rats: a possible mechanism of action.

The antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of Helicteres isora Linn. (Sterculiaceae) root extracts were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats and a possible mechanism of the blood glucose lowering action was studied. Alloxan-induced diabetic rats experienced 69.13 and 51.14%, 22.60 and 21.89%, 30.12 and 19.96%, and 50.05 and 34.29% reduction in blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and urea levels following oral administration of butanol and aqueous ethanol extracts of H. isora root, respectively, at 250 mg/kg for 10 days. The beneficial effects of these extracts were supported by evidence from histological examinations of the liver, pancreas, and kidney. Following the treatment with both extracts, the degenerative changes caused by alloxan in pancreatic cells were restored, particularly with the butanol extract. Histological examination convincingly showed the restoration of pancreatic islets, kidney glomeruli, and liver to its normal size. These results suggest that H. isora roots possess antidiabetic principles and can be useful for treatment of diabetes.

Antinociceptive activity of Helicteres isora.

Helicteres isora root extracts were studied for antinociceptive activity on acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice, at a dose of 250 mg/kg. Petroleum ether, chloroform and aqueous ethanol extracts have shown significant activity.

Effect of Helicteres isora root extracts on glucose tolerance in glucose-induced hyperglycemic rats.

The ethanol, ethyl acetate and butanol extracts of Helicteres isora root showed significant oral hypoglycemic activity on glucose loaded rats at a dose of 250 mg/kg. The butanol extract showed maximum antihyperglycemic activity and effect being comparable to that of glibenclamide.

Antinociceptive activity of Wrightia tinctoria bark.

The ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of Wrightia tinctoria bark showed antinociceptive activity on acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice, their effects being comparable to that of acetylsalicylic acid.