Antiulcer Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Salvadora indica (W.) Leaves on Albino Rats.

BACKGROUND: Ulcer can be developed inside the inner lining of the stomach (gastric ulcer) or the small intestine (duodenal ulcer). Both the ulcers are also cumulatively referred as peptic ulcers. It affects nearly 10% of world population. AIM: To investigate the antiulcer activity of ethanolic extract of Salvadora indica W. leaves (ESIL) on albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was carried by pylorus ligation, ethanol and cysteamine induced ulcer models in albino rats. The antiulcer activity of ESIL (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg p.o. for 7 days) was compared with standard drugs (Ranitidine). In pyloric ligation induced ulcer model, the studied parameters were gastric volume, pH, total acidity, free acidity, and ulcer index whereas in ethanol and cysteamine induced ulcer model, the ulcer index was determined for severity of ulcers. The parameters studied were ulcer index, gastric juice volume, pH, free acidity and total acidity. RESULTS: In pyloric ligation model; the volume of gastric content, total/free acidity and pepsin activity was significantly decreased at p<0.05 and p<0.01 and pH of the gastric juice was significantly increased at p<0.05 and p<0.01 in ESIL treated groups as compared to control group. All the doses of ESIL showed dose dependent antiulcer effect as well as significant (p<0.05 and p<0.01) reduction in the ulcer index as compared to control group in all the experimental models. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that the ESIL have better potential against ulcer which supports the traditional claims in folklore medicine.

In vitro and In vivo Antioxidant Evaluation and Estimation of Total Phenolic, Flavonoidal Content of Mimosa pudica L.

OBJECTIVE: Mimosa pudica Linn. (Mimosaceae) is traditionally used as a folk medicine to treat various ailments including convulsions, alopecia, diarrhea, dysentery, insomnia, tumor, wound healing, snake bite, etc., Here, the study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of M. pudica leaves extract against 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (in vitro) and its modulatory effect on rat brain enzymes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total phenolic, flavonoid contents, and in vitro antioxidant potential against DPPH radical were evaluated from various extracts of M. pudica leaves. In addition, ethyl acetate extract of Mimosa pudica leaves (EAMP) in doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day were administered orally for 7 consecutive days to albino rats and evaluated for the oxidative stress markers as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) from rat brain homogenate. RESULTS: The ethyl acetate extract showed the highest total phenolic content and total flavonoid content among other extracts of M. pudica leaves. The percentage inhibition and IC50 value of all the extracts were followed dose-dependency and found significant (P < 0.01) as compared to standard (ascorbic acid). The oxidative stress markers as SOD, CAT, and GSH were increased significantly (P < 0.01) at 200 and 400 mg/kg of EAMP treated animals and decreased significantly the TBARS level at 400 mg/kg of EAMP as compared to control group. CONCLUSION: These results revealed that the ethyl acetate extract of M. pudica exhibits both in vitro antioxidant activity against DPPH and in vivo antioxidant activity by modulating brain enzymes in the rat. This could be further correlated with its potential to neuroprotective activity due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic contents in the extract. SUMMARY: Total phenolic, flavonoid contents and in-vitro antioxidant potential were evaluated from various extracts of M. pudica leaves. Again, in-vivo antioxidant evaluation from brain homogenate on oxidative stress markers as TBARS, SOD, CAT and GSH from rat was investigated. Our findings revealed that M. pudica possesses both in-vitro and in-vivo antioxidant activity due to presence of phenolics and flavonoids.

Lactogenic activity of Teramnus labialis (Linn.) fruit with special reference to the estimation of serum prolactin and cortisol level in nursing rats.

AIM: The objective of the study was to investigate the lactogenic activity of methanolic extract of Teramnus labialis (L.) fruit (MTLF) on rats. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Nursing rats (200-250 g) with their suckling pups were selected and were divided into five groups (n = 6). Group I treated as control (distil water); Group II treated as standard (domperidone), and Group III, IV, and V were orally administered with MTLF at 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively and continued for l4th day of parturition. Milk yield, the pups as well as mother's weight were measured daily. On 15th day, the total protein/carbohydrate contents from mammary tissue and serum prolactin/cortisol level from blood sample were measured and compared with control. RESULTS: Oral administration of MTLF increases the milk yield, body weight of pups as well as mother rat, glycogen, and protein content as well as serum prolactin and cortisol level as compared to the control animals. In addition, the lactogenic effect of MTLF was followed dose-dependent manner as compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: The present study was revealed that the MTLF possesses significant lactogenic activity by enhancing milk production and prolactin concentration in nursing rats.

Antidiarrhoeal investigation of Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) by modulation of Na+K+ATPase, nitrous oxide and intestinal transit in rats.

BACKGROUND: Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) is an annual herb with traditional appreciation for various pharmacological properties; however, the scientific information on this herb is insufficient. The aim of the present investigation was undertaken to evaluate flavonoidal fraction of A. leptophyllum fruit (FFALF) against diarrhoea on albino rats. METHODS: The antidiarrhoeal study was conducted by castor oil induce diarrhoea, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induced enteropooling and intestinal transit by charcoal meal test. The rats were divided into five groups (six/group). Group I served as control and received orally 2% acacia suspension; Group II served as standard and received orally loperamide (3 mg/kg) or atropine sulphate (5 mg/kg); Group III, IV and V served as test groups and received the FFALF at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg orally, respectively. RESULTS: In castor oil-induced diarrhoeal model, the FFALF significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the frequency of diarrhoea, defecation and weight of faeces as well as increased the sodium-potassium ATPase (Na+K+ATPase) activity and decreased nitric oxide (NO) content in the small intestine. In prostaglandin induced enteropooling model, it significantly (p < 0.01) and dose dependently slowed the intestinal fluid accumulation by decreasing the masses and volumes of intestinal fluid where as in charcoal meal test, it decreased charcoal meal transit in gastrointestinal tract as compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals that the FFALF possess anti-diarrhoeal properties mediated through inhibition of hyper secretion and gastrointestinal motility which support the traditional use of the plant.

Pharmacological evaluation of Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) on bronchial asthma.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was to investigate the antiasthmatic potential from the flavonoid fraction of Apium leptophyllum fruit (FFALF) to validate its traditional claim. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antiasthmatic activity of FFALF was evaluated by histamine or acetylcholine-induced bronchospasm model in guinea pigs, compound 48/80 induced mast cell degranulation in albino rats and histamine-induced tracheal contraction in guinea pig. The preconvulsion dyspnea time at 0th and 7th day at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg in guinea pig's bronchospasm model, the percentage of granulated and degranulated mast cell at the dose of 500, 750, and 1000 µg/ml in rats and tracheal contraction at the dose of 500, 750, and 1000 µg/ml in guinea pig were measured and compared with respective control groups. RESULTS: The treatments of FFALF were significantly (P < 0.001) decreased the histamine/acetylcholine-induced bronchospasm, mast cell degranulation, and histamine-induced tracheal contraction as compared to inducer group. In addition, FFALF showed dose-dependent antiasthmatic activity in all the animals. CONCLUSION: Hence, this study suggested that the FFALF showed antiasthmatic activity probably by membrane stabilizing property as well as suppressing antibody production and inhibiting of antigen induced by histamine and acetylcholine.

Chemopreventive potential of Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) against DMBA induced skin carcinogenesis model by modulatory influence on biochemical and antioxidant biomarkers in Swiss mice.

AIM: The study was designed to investigate the chemopreventive potential of flavonoidal fractions of Apium leptophyllum fruits (FFALF) on Swiss mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Skin tumor or papilloma was developed by topical application of DMBA (25 µg in 0.1 ml acetone) on intrascapular region of mice, twice weekly for 8 weeks. The animals were divided into six groups: Group I (vehicle control); group II (FFALF control, 5 mg/kg); group III (carcinogenic control, DMBA treated initially for 8 weeks); and group IV, V and VI as pre-treated group (FFALF 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg respectively for 16 weeks along with DMBA treatment). After the 16(th) week of treatment; the tumor morphology, skin histopathology, and biochemical and antioxidant biomarkers were measured and compared with carcinogenic control as well as vehicle control. RESULTS: The co-administration of FFALF with DMBA-treated groups showed significant (P ≤ 0.001) prevention against skin papilloma and normalized the status of lipid peroxidation with antioxidant biomarkers in a dose-dependent manner as compared to carcinogenic control. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the present study suggests that the FFALF is non-carcinogenic and has chemopreventive potential on DMBA-induced carcinogenesis in mouse, which may be due to the modulation of cutaneous lipid peroxidation or enhancement of total antioxidant capacity.

Anti-diarrhoeal investigation from aqueous extract of Cuminum cyminum Linn. Seed in Albino rats.

BACKGROUND: Cuminum cyminum Linn. (Umbelliferae), commonly known as Jeera. It is native from mediterranean region, but today widely cultivated in Asian countries. It has been reported to possess various medicinal properties and an important food ingredient. The seed of the plant are claimed for treatment of diarrhoea by various traditional practitioners. OBJECTIVES: Hence, the present investigation was undertaken to evaluate aq. extract of C. cyminum seeds (ACCS) against diarrhoea on albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The animals were divided into five groups and the control group was applied with 2% acacia suspension, the standard group with loperamide (3 mg/kg) or atropine sulphate (5mg/kg) and three test groups administered orally with 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg of ACCS. The antidiarrhoeal effect was investigated by castor oil induce diarrhoea model, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induced enteropooling model, intestinal transit by charcoal meal test. RESULTS: The ACCS showed significant (P < 0.001) inhibition in frequency of diarrhoea, defecation time delaying, secretion of intestinal fluid as well as intestinal propulsion as compared to control and the graded doses of tested extract followed dose dependent protection against diarrhoea. CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals that the ACCS is a potent antidiarrhoeal drug which supports the traditional claim.

Aphrodisiac activity of polyherbal formulation in experimental models on male rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the aphrodisiac potential of polyherbal formulations prepared from different parts of Tribulus terrestris, Curculigo orchioides, Allium tuberosum, Cucurbita pepo, Elephant creeper, Mucuna pruriens, and Terminalia catappa in Albino rats in specified ratio as suspension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The different concentrations of prepared polyherbal formulations i.e. 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg and sildenafil citrate as standard (5 mg/kg) and vehicle (control) were administered orally to rats (n = 6 animals per group) for 3 weeks. Mating behavior parameters in male rats was monitored in first week and third week week of treatment pairing with receptive females. After termination of drug treatment, the mating performance, hormonal analysis, sperm count, and testes-body weight ratio were also evaluated. RESULTS: The polyherbal formulation showed a significant increase in mating behavior as well as mating performance, serum hormonal levels, sperm count, and testes-body weight ratio with dose-dependent relationship as compared to vehicle control. But the dose of 600 mg/kg of polyherbal formulation assumes closer resemblance of above parameters with the standard used. CONCLUSION: The results of the study strongly suggest that the polyherbal formulations have a good aphrodisiac activity on rats in the above experimental models, which may be an alternative weapon for various sexual dysfunctions in future.