In vitro and in vivo anti-seizure activity of hydromethanolic extract and fractions of Pterolobium stellatum.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Ethiopia, the whole plant juice of Pterolobium stellatum is used to treat seizures and epilepsy. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the antiseizure activity of hydromethanolic crude extract and fractions collected from leaves of P. stellatum using both in vitro, and in vivo seizure models in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh leaves of P. stellatum were collected from Awash Melka, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. An 80% crude methanol extract was further fractionated to produce petroleum ether, chloroform, butanol, and aqueous fractions. Anti-seizure activity of the crude extract and fractions (petroleum ether, chloroform, butanol, and water) were assessed at a concentration of 0.7 mg/ml using the in vitro 0 Mg2+ model of seizures in mouse brain slices prepared from 14- to 21-day-old C57BL/6 mice. The maximal electroshock seizure (MES) model and the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) seizure model for seizures were performed on male BALB/c mice using 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg of crude 80% methanol extract, as well as the four fractions described above. Diazepam and phenytoin were used as positive controls for PTZ and MES test respectively. RESULTS: Addition of 0.7 mg/ml of crude 80% methanol extract of P. stellatum prevented the onset of SLEs in most brain slices in the 0 Mg2+in vitro model of seizures, with similar efficacy to diazepam (3 µM). The same extract at 400 and 800 mg/kg was efficacious in reducing the hindlimb extension time in the MES model and delaying the onset of myoclonic convulsions in the PTZ model, although not to the same extent as phenytoin (10 mg/kg) or diazepam (5 mg/kg). The chloroform and water fractions of the crude extract also showed significant anti-seizure activity across all three models whilst the non-polar petroleum ether and butanol fractions did not. The UPLC-MS analysis indicated the presence of gallic acid, ellagic acid, kaempferol, myricitrin, isoquercitrin and quercitirin in the crude extract. Gallic acid and ellagic acid were observed in chloroform fraction and in the water fraction ellagic acid, kaempferol, myricitrin and isoquercitrin were detected. CONCLUSION: The crude hydromethanolic extract of P. stellatum has significant anti-seizure activity. The chloroform and aqueous fractions have antiseizure activity. The extracts have previously identified compounds with anticonvulsant activity which indicates the antiseizure potential of the plant.

Regenerative Potential of Stem Cells Derived from Human Exfoliated Deciduous (SHED) Teeth during Engineering of Human Body Tissues.

The current decade witnesses the regenerative potential of Stem Cells (SCs) based lifesaving therapies for the treatment of various disease conditions. Human teeth act as a reservoir for SCs that exist in high abundance in baby, wisdom, and permanent teeth. The collection of Stem cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous teeth (SHED) is considered a simple process as it offers the convenience of little or no pain. In comparison to the SCs from dental or bone marrow or other tissues, the SHED offers the benefit of higher cellular differentiation and proliferation. Massive in vitro and in vivo studies reveal the regenerative potential of SHED in the engineering of the dental pulp tissue, neuronal tissue, root, bio root, cardiovascular tissues, lymphatic tissues, renal tissues, dermal tissues, hepatic tissues, and bone tissues. The current review describes the methods of collection/ isolation/storage, various biomarkers, and types of SHED. This review highlights the regenerative potential of SHED in the engineering of different tissues of the human body. As per the available research evidence, the present study supports that SHED may differentiate into the endothelial cells, neurons, odontoblasts, pancreatic ß-cells, hepatocytes, renal cells, fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and many other types of cells. The present study recommends that further clinical trials are required before the clinical application of SHED-based therapies.