Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities, and Metabolite Profiling of Selected Medicinal Plants of Nepal.

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, antiarthritic, and anti-inflammatory properties of extracts from the leaves of twelve different medicinal plants in Nepal. We then evaluated the total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents of the extract using in-vitro assays and characterized it using GC-MS analysis. Results revealed that most of the leaf extracts contained phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and saponins. Few plants also showed the presence of glycosides, phytate, and vitamin C. Among the studied plants, Neolamarckia cadamba exhibited the highest total phenolic and tannin contents, as 241.53 ± 0.20 µg of gallic acid equivalent/mg and 74.48 ± 1.081 µg of tannic acid equivalent/mg, respectively. Ipomoea batatas exhibited the highest total flavonoid content, as 53.051 ± 1.11 µg of quercetin equivalent/mg. Moreover, Raphanus sativus demonstrated significant ferrous ion chelating, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and total antioxidant activities with IC50 value of 4.76 ± 0.68 µg/mL, 5.84 ± 0.14 µg/mL, 6.89 ± 0.16 µg/mL, and 8.99 ± 0.20 µg/mL, respectively. Similarly, Colocasia esculenta and Cicer arietinum exhibited the highest hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide scavenging activities, measuring IC50 value of 7.22 ± 0.56 µg/mL and 9.06 ± 0.10 µg/mL, respectively. Among all the extracts, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius displayed significant human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization activity (IC50 = 6.22 ± 0.78 µg/mL). Furthermore, Raphanus sativus, Chenopodium album, Cicer arietinum, and Murraya koenigii exhibited the highest inhibitory activities against protein denaturation with bovine serum albumin, antiarthritic, lipoxygenase inhibitory, and proteinase inhibitory, measuring IC50 of 7.48 ± 0.48 µg/mL, 9.44 ± 1.62 µg/mL, 14.67 ± 1.94 µg/mL, and 28.57 ± 2.39 µg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the twelve leaf extracts' significant antioxidant, antiarthritic, and anti-inflammatory activities.

Effect of aqueous extract of barley and wheat grass in stress induced depression in Swiss mice.

BACKGROUND: The consumption of green juice of Barley and wheat grass is widely increases because of its therapeutic benefits. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate phytochemicals and evaluate the antioxidant and antidepressant activity of aqueous extract of barley and wheat grass. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included phytochemical screening, evaluation of antioxidant and antidepressant activities. Four groups consisting of six mice in each group. Negative control with stressed induced mice; imipramine group (100 mg/kg), barley and wheat extract group (400 mg/kg) respectively. Forced swim, tail suspension and elevated plus maize test were carried out to evaluate the antianxiety and antidepressant activity. RESULTS: Phytochemical screening of barley and wheat grass extract showed secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, Saponin, Tannins, Phenolic, Carbohydrate, Glycosides, Flavonoids, and Proteins. The mean total phenolic content of aqueous extract of barley and wheat grass was 160.996 ± 0.656, 135.63 ± 1.184 mg equivalent of GAE/g respectively. The total flavonoid content of aqueous extract of barley and wheat grass was 153.42 ± 0.40, 133.14 ± 0.43 mg equivalent of quercetin/g respectively. The extracts were proved to be an effective radical scavenger in all antioxidant assays. Forced swim and tail suspension test showed a significant (∗p < 0.05 and ∗∗p < 0.01) decrease in an immobility time. In elevated plus maize, there was a significant (∗∗p < 0.01) increase in average time spent on the open arm of the extract-treated group as compared to the negative control. CONCLUSION: It shows that barley and wheat grass extract has antidepressant effect.

Cardiovascular, psychiatric, and neurological phenomena seen in mad honey disease: A clinical case report.

Mad Honey Disease is characterized by intoxication symptoms secondary to over-ingestion of grayanotoxin found in honey produced from rhododendron nectar. Cardiovascular symptoms are common, but psychiatric and neurological phenomena are rarely seen in this condition. Our case details a patient who presented with florid symptomology in all three aforementioned areas.

Occupational Styrene Exposure on Auditory Function Among Adults: A Systematic Review of Selected Workers.

A review study was conducted to examine the adverse effects of styrene, styrene mixtures, or styrene and/or styrene mixtures and noise on the auditory system in humans employed in occupational settings. The search included peer-reviewed articles published in English language involving human volunteers spanning a 25-year period (1990-2015). Studies included peer review journals, case-control studies, and case reports. Animal studies were excluded. An initial search identified 40 studies. After screening for inclusion, 13 studies were retrieved for full journal detail examination and review. As a whole, the results range from no to mild associations between styrene exposure and auditory dysfunction, noting relatively small sample sizes. However, four studies investigating styrene with other organic solvent mixtures and noise suggested combined exposures to both styrene organic solvent mixtures may be more ototoxic than exposure to noise alone. There is little literature examining the effect of styrene on auditory functioning in humans. Nonetheless, findings suggest public health professionals and policy makers should be made aware of the future research needs pertaining to hearing impairment and ototoxicity from styrene. It is recommended that chronic styrene-exposed individuals be routinely evaluated with a comprehensive audiological test battery to detect early signs of auditory dysfunction.