Ficus hispida Bark Extract Prevents Nociception, Inflammation, and CNS Stimulation in Experimental Animal Model.

Background. Ficus hispida is traditionally used in the ailment of pain, inflammation, and neurological disorders. The present study set out to evaluate the in vivo antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and sedative activity of the ethanol extract of Ficus hispida bark (EFHB). Methods. The antinociceptive activity of EFHB was evaluated by using acetic acid induced writhing, formalin, hot plate, and tail immersion methods in Swiss albino mice. Its anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by using carrageenan and histamine induced rat paw oedema test in Wister rats. The central stimulating activity was studied by using pentobarbital induced hypnosis, hole cross, and open field tests in Swiss albino mice. Results. EFHB demonstrated antinociceptive activity both centrally and peripherally. It showed 62.24% of writhing inhibition. It significantly inhibited licking responses in early (59.29%) and late phase (71.61%). It increased the reaction time to the thermal stimulus in both hot plate and tail immersion. It inhibited the inflammation to the extent of 59.49%. A substantial increase in duration of sleep up to 60.80 min and decrease of locomotion up to 21.70 at 400 mg/kg were also observed. Conclusion. We found significant dose dependent antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and sedative properties of EFHB in experimental animal models.

Antioxidant and antidiarrheal activities of ethanol extract of Ardisia elliptica fruits.

CONTEXT: Ardisia elliptica Thunb Lam. (Myrsinaceae) is widely used traditionally in the treatment of diarrhea related health disorders in Bangladesh. OBJECTIVE: The crude ethanol extract of Ardisia elliptica fruits (EFA) was evaluated for its antioxidant and antidiarrhoeal activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DPPH radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, reducing power and Fe(++) ion chelating ability were used for determining antioxidant activities and animal models were used for antidiarrheal activities such as the castor oil and magnesium sulfate-induced diarrhea, enteropooling induced by the administration of castor oil and magnesium sulfate at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg. RESULTS: The extract possessed a significant DPPH free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 30.75 µg/ml compared to ascorbic acid (IC50: 7.89 µg/ml). The IC50 values of the extract and ascorbic acid were 51.72 and 38.68 µg/ml, respectively, in nitric oxide scavenging assay. The IC50 value of the extract for Fe(++) ion chelating ability (41.30 µg/ml) was also found to be significant compared to the IC50 value of EDTA (22.57 µg/ml). The EFA also showed a significant protection (p < 0.001) against experimentally induced diarrhea by castor oil and magnesium sulfate as evidenced by a decrease in the number of defecation with respect to control. The diarrhea induced by castor oil and magnesium sulfate enteropooling was prevented by all the tested doses. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the obtained results confirm the antioxidant and antidiarrheal activity of EFA and thus support the traditional uses of this plant as a modality for antioxidant and antidiarrheal activity.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Vernonia patula (Dryand.) Merr.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inflammatory and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extract of aerial part of Vernonia patula (Dryand.) Merr (EAV). METHODS: The anti-inflammatory activity of EAV was studied using carrageenan and histamine-induced rat paw edema test at different doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight). DPPH free radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, reducing power and Fe(2+) ion chelating ability were used for determining antioxidant activities. RESULTS: The EAV, at the dose of 400 mg/kg, showed a significant anti-inflammatory activity (P<0.01) both in the carrageenan and histamine-induced oedema test models in rats, showing 62.86% and 64.42% reduction in the paw volume comparable to that produced by the standard drug indomethacin (67.26% and 66.01%) at 5 h respectively. In DPPH free radical scavenging test, IC50 value for EAV was found fairly significant 36.59 µg/mL when compared to the IC50 value of the reference standards ascorbic acid 8.97 µg/mL. The IC50 values of the extract and ascorbic acid were 47.72 and 12.39 µg/mL, respectively in nitric oxide scavenging assay. The IC50 value of the EAV (33.59 µg/mL) as percentage of Fe(2+) ion chelating ability was also found significant compared to that of EDTA (9.16 µg/mL). The maximum absorbance for reducing power assay was found to be 1.928 at 100 µg/mL when compared to 2.449 for standard ascorbic acid. The total phenolic content was 198.81 mg/g of gallic acid equivalent. Acute toxicity test showed that the plant might be safe for pharmacological uses up to a dose level of 3 200 mg/kg of body weight in rats. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, the obtained results suggest the acute anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the EAV and thus provide the scientific basis for the traditional uses of this plant part as a remedy for inflammations.