Cardio-protective effect of Cocculus hirsutus in experimental hypertension in rats.

BACKGROUND: Ayurdvedic derived medicines are most promising and effective in the treatment of several cardiovascular diseases. Cocculus hirsutus (CH) has been reported for broad spectrum of activities like anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, cardiotonic and hypotensive etc. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to find the cardio-protective effect of CH in experimental hypertension in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For acute renal hypertension, CH animals were pre-treated with CH-1 (250 mg/kg) and CH-2 (500 mg/kg) p. o. for 14 days. On the 15th day, hypertension was induced by renal occlusion and the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was recorded. For CAL pretreatment of CH-1 and CH-2 was given for 7 days on the 8th day animals were operated on for ligation. The MABP and the time of onset of ventricular tachycardia (VT), premature ventricular systole (PVS) were recorded. For induction of hypercholesterolemia, animals were fed with a high cholesterol diet (CD) with CH-1 and CH-2 for 21 days. The antioxidant potential of CH was done using the assay of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). RESULTS: CH treatment significantly decreases the MABP, the onset of VT and PVS. The histology show intact cardiac muscle with minimum necrosis and inflammation. CH treatment shows significant decrease in cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose while HDL levels are significantly increased. The aortic section of CH-treated animals shows the intact layers of the artery, normal thickness and restoration of antioxidant enzymatic activity. CONCLUSION: The study shows significant cardio protective effect of CH in experimental animals.

Bioactive role of plant stress hormone methyl jasmonate against lipopolysaccharide induced arthritis.

The current investigation was carried out to screen antiarthritic potential of Methyl Jasmonate (MJ) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced arthritis. Cartilage damage was induced in experimental animals by intraplantar administration of LPS (1 mg/kg) and antiarthritic effect of MJ was screened in two doses of MJ-1 (20 mg/kg), MJ-2 (40 mg/kg) by intraperitoneally administration. Indomethacin (30 mg/kg p.o.) was used as standard drug. The severity of arthritis was evaluated by assessing arthritis score, secondary lesions, motility test, stair climbing ability, and dorsal flexion pain score method. The estimation of blood cytokine tumor necrosis factor- aplha (TNF-α),interleukine (IL-2 and IL-6) and thymus/spleen index was carried out to access the severity of inflammation. Estimation of hepaticenzymatic antioxidant activity superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)and radiological examination was carried out on 28th day. Results indicated that MJ showed significant reduction in severity of arthritis by decreasing arthritis score, secondary lesions where as significant increase in motility, climbing ability and flexion pain score was observed. Significant decreased in blood cytokine viz. TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6 andthymus/spleen index was observed in MJ treated animals in dose dependent manner. MJ treated animals showed significant increased and restoration of hepatic antioxidant enzymatic activityof SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx where asradiological examination indicates protective effect on joint structure as compared to LPS treated rats. These current studies conclude that MJ has protective role in arthritis.

Molecular mechanism of plant stress hormone methyl jasmonate for its anti-inflammatory activity.

Plant stress hormones (Phytohormones/PTH) are abundantly present in numerous vascular plants. Several classes of plant stress hormones like auxins (AU) & gibberellins (GA), cytokinins (CK), abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), salicylic acid (SA), jasmonates (JA), brassinosteroids (BR) and strigolactones are synthesized within specialized plant cells. Among them, jasmonate are prominent class of stress hormones involved in survival of plants in stressful conditions. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is ester of jasmonic acid is extensively studied for its potential clinical benefits. MeJA is used as an effective antimicrobial agent, food preservative, antioxidant in food and agricultural sectors. The clinical benefits of MeJA have been related to their prominent interactions with inflammatory NF-κB pathways, inhibition of enzymes, gene expression for synthesis of inflammatory mediators, signaling molecules, oxidative stress and modulation of pain perception/nociceptive responses. The objective of the present review is to provide an cohesive relation of MeJA in inflammation with reference to past and recent in-vivo and in-vitro investigations in broad perspectives.

Methyl jasmonate a stress phytohormone attenuates LPS induced in vivo and in vitro arthritis.

The objective of present study was to screen the effect of methyl jasmonate (MJ) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced in vivo and in vitro arthritis. Arthritis was induced in wistar rats by intraplantar administration of LPS (1 mg/Kg) and effect of MJ was screened in two doses (20, 40 mg/Kg, IP), indomethacin (30 mg/Kg p.o) was used as standard. The anti-nociceptive effect was evaluated through behavioral assessment viz. cold allodynia, Paw thermal hyperalgesia and Tail cold hyperalgesia on 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day. The Myeloperoxidase (MPO), Cathepsin D (CAT-D), articular elastase (ELA), and nitrite levels were estimated in articular cartilage tissues on the 28th day. Rat paw was subjected to histopathology after radiological examination on 28th day. In vitro effect of MJ was evaluated for three concentrations (5, 10, 20 µg/ml) in LPS (1 µg/ml) stimulated CHNO001 cells. Estimation of pro-inflammatory mediators was carried using ELISA. Significant reduction in pro-inflammatory mediators was observed in MJ treated chondrocyte cells. % proteinase inhibition was assessed for 10, 50, 100, 250, 500 µg/mL and IC50 was found 266.15. MJ significantly reducesnociceptive response against hot and cold allodynia. Significant reduction in MPO, ELA, and nitrite levels was observed. The CAT-D levels significantly restored. Minimum focal mild infiltration of lymphocytes was observed at synovial area in standard and MJ treated rats. These current studies conclude that MJ has protective role in arthritis.