Dose-Dependent Protective Effect of Hygrophila auriculata Seeds on Cyproterone Acetate-Induced Testicular Dysfunction.

Infertility affects 15% of global population. This study was designed to search out the most effective dose of chloroform fraction of hydro-ethanolic extract of Hygrophila auriculata seed to ameliorate cyproterone acetate (CPA)-treated male subfertility. The rats were made subfertile by CPA at the dose of 2.5 mg/100gm body weight for 45 days. The male subfertility represented by low sperm concentration, less motile, less viable, and less hypo osmotic tail swelled spermatozoa in CPA-treated group. Serum LH, FSH, and testosterone levels were significantly decreased in CPA-treated group in respect to control. Androgenic key enzyme Δ5,3ß-HSD, 17ß-HSD activities and gene expression pattern were also decreased significantly in respect to control. These antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic activities of CPA were significantly recovered after the treatment of Hygrophila auriculata at the dose of 2.5 mg, 5mg, and 10 mg/100gm body weight. CPA also generate oxidative free radical that indicated by altered catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase activities and protein expression pattern along with conjugated diene and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels in testis. Expression pattern of Bax and Bcl2 genes were deviated from control after CPA treatment. Significant diminution of body weight, organo-somatic indices, and SGOT, SGPT activities were observed in CPA-treated group. All these biomarkers significantly recovered towards control after the treatment of Hygrophila auriculata at different doses. More significant recovery was observed in 5 mg and 10 mg of chloroform fraction-treated group and 5 mg dose, i.e., the minimum therapeutic dose to recover the CPA-induced subfertility.

In vitro spermicidal effect of Thevetia Peruviana leaves on human spermatozoa.

An in vitro spermicidal effect of aqua-methanolic (2:3) extract of Thevetia peruviana leaves on human spermatozoa was evaluated in a dose-dependent manner (20, 40, 80 and 160 mg/ml) at a 1:1 ratio. Sperm motility, viability, hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) and acrosomal status and function tests were performed immediately (20 s), and after 5 and 10 min of exposure of the spermatozoa to the extract of Thevetia peruviana leaves at different dose concentrations. Nuclear chromatin decondensation (NCD) test, DNA fragmentation test and sperm revival test were also evaluated. The sperm motility was affected immediately at a dose of 20 mg/ml and reduced gradually at doses of 40 and 80 mg/ml of Thevetia peruviana extract. Complete immobilisation of spermatozoa was observed at 160 mg /ml dose of this extract treatment within 5 min. 50% immobilisation of spermatozoa (EC50) was observed at 28 mg/ml dose of Thevetia peruviana extract within 20 s. The sperm viability decreased significantly at a higher concentration of extract, and all spermatozoa were found to be non-viable after 10 min when treated with 160 mg/ml dose of Thevetia peruviana extract. HOS and NCD of spermatozoa also reduced gradually at a higher concentration of extract administration. The percentage of DNA damage in spermatozoa was four times greater than in the control group. The findings indicate that the hydro-methanolic extract of Thevetia peruviana leaves possesses appreciably potent spermicidal activity through an in vitro model, which may explore an effective vaginal contraceptive.

Gastroprotective effect of hydromethanolic extract of Ayapana triplinervis leaves on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in male Wistar rats.

This study investigated the gastroprotective effect of Ayapana triplinervis leaves against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in male albino rat. Gastric ulceration was developed by single oral dose of indomethacin (30 mg/kg). Experimental rats were pretreated with omeprazole (positive control 20 mg/kg), hydromethanolic extract of A. triplinervis (200 mg/kg) for 28 days just before the indomethacin treatment. Free acidity, total acidity, pepsin activity and gastric volume, gastric pH, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) in stomach and serum prostaglandin E2 levels were assessed in control, ulcerated group and A. triplinervis pretreated groups. Oxidative stress biomarkers, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum also evaluated. All the parameters were deviated from control in indomethacin-treated group but significantly protected in A. triplinervis-pretreated group. The active ingredient(s) present in the A. triplinervis have antioxidant and gastroprotective properties that prevent the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: A. triplinervis has been widely consumed from earlier time as traditional medicine for the treatment of gastric problem and gastric ulcer in India. This is the first report that hydromethanolic extract of A. triplinervis has potent therapeutic properties against gastric ulcer. This work will provide a clue to the pharmaceutical industry to develop an effective gastroprotective agent.

Protective effect of ethanolic extract of Hygrophila auriculata seeds in cyproterone acetate-induced sexual dysfunction in male albino rats.

Male infertility has become a global concern. Different conventional medicines with some side effects generally are used for the management of male infertility. To search out the potent aphrodisiac agent without side effect, an approach has been taken to prevent the cyproterone acetate (CPA)-treated male infertility by ethanolic extract of seed of Hygrophila auriculata in albino rat. CPA is used for the treatment of prostate cancer. It has anti-androgenic properties and suppresses the spermatogenesis process. Count, motility and viability of spermatozoa, number of hypo-osmotic tail swelled spermatozoa and serum testosterone level were significantly decreased in CPA-treated rat. CPA also caused significant diminution of activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and elevation of malondialdehyde and conjugated dienes levels. All parameters were significantly restored after the treatment of H. auriculata extract to the CPA-treated rats. Histological study revealed significant rectification of seminiferous tubular diameter and spermatogenic cells in extract-treated group. Body weight, organo-somatic indices, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activities were significantly recovered towards control in H. auriculata-treated group. It is concluded that ethanolic extract of H. auriculata has androgenic and antioxidant properties that can improve male infertility without metabolic toxicity.

Prevalence of undernutrition among Kora-Mudi children aged 2-13 years in Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal, India.

BACKGROUND: nutritional status of tribal children in West Bengal has not been investigated adequately. The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting in Kora-Mudi children of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India. METHODS: a cross sectional study was undertaken in two villages of the Paschim Medinipur District. Of 119 children aged 2-13 years, 59 boys and 60 girls were studied. Height and weight measurements were made by standard techniques. Children were considered as underweight, stunting and wasting if their weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height Z-scores <-2.0 SD of the National Center for Health Statistics reference standards. RESULTS: the overall prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was 52.9%, 49.6% and 22.7%, respectively. About 16.0%, 24.4% and 1.7% of children were found to be severely underweight, stunted and wasted. The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was higher in preschool children than in school going children. The chance of underweight, stunting and wasting was 1.80, 1.10 and 1.58 times greater in preschool children than in school going children. Moreover, the prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was higher in boys than in girls. The boys had 1.45, 1.66 and 2.02 times greater risk to be underweight, stunted and wasted. According to the WHO classification of severity in malnutrition, the overall prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was as high as ≥ 30%, ≥ 40 and ≥ 15%. CONCLUSIONS: the nutritional status of Kora-Mudi children in West Bengal is critical. Appropriate measures should be taken by the respective authorities to improve childhood health and nutritional status.

Correction of protein metabolic disorders by composite extract of Musa paradisiaca and Coccinia indica in streptozotocin-induced diabetic albino rat: an approach through the pancreas.

OBJECTIVE: The study focused on the ability of the extracts of Musa paradisiaca and Coccinia indica on protein metabolic disorders in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. METHODS: Wistar strain rats were divided into 6 groups as control, control + composite extract treated, STZ-induced diabetes, diabetic + composite extract treated, composite extract-pretreated diabetes, and composite extract-pretreated diabetes + composite extract treated. Protein metabolic status was assessed by serum levels of urea, uric acid, albumin, and creatinine along with urine urea and albumin levels. Diabetic therapeutic ability was assessed by blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and serum insulin levels. Histology of the pancreas, liver, and kidney was evaluated. RESULTS: Indices of protein metabolic disorders were deviated from control in STZ-induced diabetes, which were protected significantly after the treatment of composite extract of M. paradisiaca and C. indica. This protection was more prominent when the extract-pretreated animals were subjected to diabetes induction by STZ. CONCLUSION: The composite extract has a protective therapeutic effect against diabetes through beta-cell regeneration capacity.

Protection of testicular dysfunctions by MTEC, a formulated herbal drug, in streptozotocin induced diabetic rat.

Single injection of streptozotocin (STZ) resulted diabetes mellitus which was reflected here by the levels of fasting blood glucose and serum insulin. Moreover, this experimental diabetes also resulted testicular dysfunctions evaluated by count, viability and motility of sperm as well as by the activities of key enzymes for androgen synthesis. Diabetes induced testicular oxidative stress has been indicated here by the monitoring of testicular peroxidase and catalase activities as well as by quantification of TBARS and CD of testis. Testicular glucose was increased and leydig cell nuclear area was decreased in STZ induced diabetes. Treatment of herbal formulated drug named as MTEC consist of aqueous-methanol extract of Musa paradisiaca, Tamarindus indica, Eugenia jambolana and Coccinia indica to streptozotocin induced diabetic rat at the ratio of 2:2:1:1 at the dose of 60 mg/d for two times a day for 14 d resulted a significant protection in fasting blood glucose and serum insulin levels (p<0.05) along with correction of testicular above parameters towards the control level (p<0.05). This herbal formulated drug has no general toxic effects on the body weight, as well as on the activities of serum glutamate and pyruvate transaminases in serum. The results support the validity of this herbal drug for the management of testicular disorders noted in diabetic state.

Antihyperglycemic effects of separate and composite extract of root of Musa paradisiaca and leaf of Coccinia indica in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male albino rat.

We evaluated the antihyperglycaemic properties of aqueous-methanolic (40:60) extract of root of Musa paradisiaca and leaf of Coccinia indica in separate as well as in composite manner by conducting experiment on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. We measured food and water intake ability, the fasting blood glucose level, glucose tolerance, activities of important carbohydrate metabolic enzymes like glucose-6-phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase in liver along with quantification of glycogen in liver and in skeletal muscle and serum insulin level. We noted that after treatment of aqueous methanolic extract of above plant parts in separate as well as in composite manner at a concentration of 80 mg/100 g body weight/day to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat resulted in a significant remedial effect on blood glucose level as well as carbohydrate metabolic enzymes and the quantity of liver and skeletal muscle glycogen. Serum insulin level that was diminished in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat recovered significantly after the co-administration of extract of above plant parts. All the above parameters showed a more potent remedial effect after composite extract treatment with respect to separate treatment and none of the extract has any general metabolic toxicity induction.