Pharmacological assay of Cordia verbenacea V: oral and topical anti-inflammatory activity, analgesic effect and fetus toxicity of a crude leaf extract

Cordia verbenacea D.C. (Borraginaceae) is a perennial bush plant that grows widely along the southeastern coast of Brazil. Its leaves have been used in folk medicine for their anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory and cicatrizing activities. We have already described the anti-inflammatory properties of C. verbenacea and its low toxicity in different acute animal models. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity in sub-chronic animal models of a crude leaf lyophilized extract when administered by oral route or topically applied, and concomitantly, its analgesic potency and toxicity to the fetus. Topical administration of the extract inhibited nystatin-induced edema proportionally to the doses used, and this effect at a dose of 4.56 mg/kg body wt. was similar to that observed with 6.0 mg/kg body wt. of naproxen. In miconazole-induced edema, the leaf extract at a dose of 1.24 mg/kg body wt., orally administered, has a very similar effect as compared to nimezulide (2.5 mg/kg body wt.) and dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg body wt.). At an oral dose of 2.48 mg/kg body wt. the extract showed a very low analgesic effect, and total absence of fetus toxicity at doses of less than 7.44 mg/kg body wt.     

Hepatoprotective effect of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri on nimesulide-induced oxidative stress in vivo

Nimesulide (NIM), an atypical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is also used as analgesic. In the present study, we evaluated its effect on the prooxidant-antioxidant system of liver and the hepatoprotective potential of aqueous extract of the herb Phyllanthus niruri (PN) on NIM-induced oxidative stress in vivo using a murine model, by determining the activities of hepatic anti-oxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (expressed as malonaldialdehyde, MDA). Aqueous extract of PN at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg body wt was administered either intraperitoneally or orally for 7 days, before NIM administration at a dose of 8 mg/kg body wt twice daily for 7 days in mice. Animals were sacrificed 24 h after administration of final dose of NIM. In another set of experiments, both aqueous extract of PN (at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg body wt) and NIM (8 mg/kg body wt) were administered simultaneously for 7 days. Animals were sacrificed 24 h after administration of final dose of the extract and NIM, liver tissues were collected, and the activities of SOD and CAT and levels of GSH and lipid peroxidation end-product (as MDA), were determined from the livers of all the experimental animals. Appropriate NIM control was maintained for all sets of experiments. NIM administration (8 mg/kg body wt) for 7 days caused significant depletion of the levels of SOD, CAT and reduced GSH, along with the increased levels of lipid peroxidation. Intraperitoneal administration of the extract at a dose of 50 mg/kg body wt for 7 days,. prior to NIM treatment, significantly restored most of the NIM-induced changes and the effect was comparable to that obtained by administering 100 mg/kg body wt of the extract orally. Thus, results suggested that intraperitoneal administration of the extract could protect liver from NIM-induced hepatic damage more effectively than oral administration. Antioxidant property of the aqueous extract of PN was also compared with that of a known potent antioxidant, vitamin E. The PN extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg body wt along with NIM was more effective in suppressing the oxidative damage than the PN extract at a dose of 50 mg/kg body wt. Results suggested that beneficial effect of the aqueous extract of PN, probably through its antioxidant property, might control the NIM-induced oxidative stress in the liver.     

Solanum paniculatum L. (Jurubeba): potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion in mice.

Solanum paniculatum L. is used commonly in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of liver and gastrointestinal disorders. The freeze-dried aqueous extracts (WEs) obtained from distinct parts of the plant (flowers, fruits, leaves, stems and roots) were tested to determine their antiulcer and antisecretory gastric acid activities using mice. The aqueous extracts of roots, stems and flowers inhibited gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated mice with ED50 values of 418, 777 and 820 mg/kg body wt. (i.d.), respectively. Extracts of leaves (0.5-2 g/kg body wt., i.d.) did not affect gastric secretion, whereas fruit extracts (0.5-2 g/kg body wt., i.d.) stimulated gastric acid secretion. The stimulatory effect of the fruit extract was inhibited by pretreatment with atropine (5 mg/kg body wt., i.m.) but not with ranitidine (80 mg/kg body wt., i.p.) suggesting that the fruit extract activates the muscarinic pathway of gastric acid secretion. In contrast, administration of the root extract into the duodenal lumen inhibited histamine- and bethanechol-induced gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated mice. In addition, the aqueous extract of roots (ED50 value, 1.2 g/kg body wt., p.o.) protected the animals against production of gastric lesions subsequent to the hypersecretion induced in mice by stress following cold restraint. This effect was not reproduced when the lesions were induced by blockade of prostaglandins synthesis via subcutaneous injection of indomethacin. Thus, antiulcer activity of the plant extracts appears to be related directly to a potent anti-secretory activity. No toxic signs were observed following administration of different extracts up to 2 g/kg body wt., p.o. Collectively, the results validate folk use of Solanum paniculatum L. plant to treat gastric disorders.     

Anti-inflammatory effects of the products from Wilbrandia ebracteata on carrageenan-induced pleurisy in mice.

Wilbrandia ebracteata Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae) is commonly known in Brazil as "Taiuia". The roots are employed in folk medicine for the treatment of several diseases, such as rheumatic disease. This study has evaluated the anti-inflammatory action of dicloromethane fraction (F-DCM), purified fraction (PFIII) and Cucurbitacin B extracted from crude extract of W. ebracteata in experimental models in vivo. The F-DCM (0.3 to 10 mg.kg(-1), i.p. or 3 to 30 mg.kg(-1) p.o.) produced significant but not dose-dependent inhibition of the carrageenan-induced cell influx and exsudate leakage in the pleural cavity of mice. The F-DCM 0.01 to 10 mg.kg(-1), i.p. or 0.1 to 10 mg.kg(-1) p.o.) decreased the levels of PGE2 in the exsudate leakage induced by carrageenan in the pleural cavity after 4 h with a calculated ID50 of 0.01 (0.002-0.09, i.p.) and 0.29 (0.05-1.45, p.o.) mg.kg(-1). The PFIII (3 mg.kg(-1), i.p.) inhibited 80% of cell migration (1.50 +/- 0.09 x 10(6) cells/cavity) and exsudate leakage by about 50% (3.09 +/- 0.71 microg/ml) in relation to the control group. Cucurbitacin B (0.1 mg.kg(-1), i.p.), the main compound of PFIII, reduced significantly the levels of PGE2 in the exsudate leakage by 40.7% (10.41 +/- 2.67 ng.ml(-1)). These data show that the active principle(s) present in the F-DCM of W. ebracteata elicited pronounced anti-inflammatory effects when assessed by i.p. or p.o. routes, as well as PFIII. The F-DCM was also able to prevent PGE2 formation in exsudate leakage induced by carrageenan, as well as Cucurbitacin B, its active principle. These results indicate that the anti-inflammatory activity of Wilbrandia ebracteata can be related with the inhibition of the production of PGE2.     

Analgesic and antiinflammatory effects of chalcones isolated from Myracrodruon urundeuva allem?o.

The present work showed analgesic and antiinflammatory activities from a fraction containing three dimeric chalcones (chalcone enriched fraction - CEF), isolated from the stem-bark ethyl acetate extract of Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemao (Anacardiaceae). M. urundeuva is a popular medicinal plant used widely in Northeast Brazil, mainly as a topical female genital tract antiinflammatory. We observed that the CEF (5 and 10 mg/kg body wt., i.p. or p.o.) inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal contractions in mice. In the formalin test, the CEF (5 and 10 mg/kg body wt.) was more effective intraperitoneally and inhibited predominantly the second phase of response. Naloxone reversed this effect, indicating an involvement of the opioid system. The CEF (10 and 20 mg/kg body wt.) also increased the reaction time to thermal stimuli in the hot-plate test in mice, after i.p. but not after p.o. administration. In the carrageenan-induced paw edema test in mice, the CEF (20 and 40 mg/kg body wt.) decreased paw volume significantly, after i.p. administration 2-4 hours after carrageenan injection. The CEF (40 mg/kg body wt.) was also active orally during the same period of time. The present work is the first report on peripheral and central analgesic effects and antiinflammatory activity of natural dimeric chalcones.     

Evaluation of the analgesic activity of extracts of Miconia rubiginosa (Melastomataceae)

The analgesic effects of the hexane, methylene chloride and ethanol extracts of Miconia rubiginosa were evaluated in mice and rats using the acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate tests. The extracts (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body wt.) and indomethacin (5 mg/kg body wt.) produced a significant (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing. These same extracts (200 mg/kg body wt.) showed a significant (p < 0.05) antinociceptive effect, lower than that produced by morphine (4 mg/kg body wt.). The fractionation of the methylene chloride extract yielded ursolic and oleanoic acids as the major compounds. Using only gas chromatography, it was possible to identify the following triterpenes in the hexane extract: alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, lupeol and beta-sitosterol.     

Anti-inflammatory effects of a triterpenoid isolated from Wilbrandia ebracteata Cogn

Wilbrandia ebracteata (WE), a Brazilian medicinal plant used in folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatic diseases, displays anti-inflammatory properties and constitutes a rich source of cucurbitacins and cucurbitacin-related compounds. The current study investigated the potential anti-inflammatory properties of Dihydrocucurbitacin B (DHCB), a cucurbitacin-derived compound isolated from roots of WE, in some in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Intraperitoneal treatment of mice with DHCB reduced both carrageenan-induced paw edema (0.3, 1 and 3 mg/kg caused inhibitions of 26, 44 and 56 % at 2 h after stimulation, respectively) and pleurisy (10 mg/kg inhibited leukocyte numbers and LTB(4) levels in the pleural fluid by 51 and 75% at 6 h after cavity challenge, respectively). In vitro, DHCB (up to 10 microg/mL) failed to modify LTB(4) production by human neutrophils or PGE(2) production by COS-7 cells transfected with COX-1, but PGE(2) production by COX-2 transfected COS-7 cells was markedly inhibited (by 72%). The levels of COX-1 or COX-2 proteins in IL-1alpha-stimulated NIH3T3 cells were unaffected by DHCB. The results corroborate the potential anti-inflammatory properties ascribed to W. ebracteata Cogn. in folk medicine and suggest that they might be attributed, at least in part, to the capacity of one of this plants main constituents, DHCB, to inhibit COX-2 activity (but not its expression) during inflammation.     

Effect of Wen-Pi-Tang extract on lung damage by influenza virus infection

The effect of Wen-Pi-Tang extract on influenza virus infection in mice was investigated. The administration of Wen-Pi-Tang extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg body wt. for 8 consecutive days to influenza virus-infected mice reversed the lack of body wt. gain and prevented the increase in lung weight caused by the infection in comparison with uninfected mice, while allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibitor, did not show these effects. The serum levels of uric acid and allantoin in influenza virus-infected mice were reduced by Wen-Pi-Tang extract administration. Moreover, Wen-Pi-Tang extract reduced the uric acid level more as the dose increased, although it exerted lower activity than allopurinol. The XOD activity of the lungs was elevated by influenza virus infection, but Wen-Pi-Tang extract administration inhibited this activity, indicating prevention of lung damage by oxygen free radicals generated by XOD. After the administration of Wen-Pi-Tang extract to influenza virus-infected mice, the lung superoxide dismutase activity was not significantly different from that of uninfected mice, whereas lung catalase activity was lower in the former than the latter, but slightly higher than that of influenza virus-infected mice, suggesting that Wen-Pi-Tang extract may prevent the generation of highly toxic hydroxyl radicals in the lung. In addition, the administration of both Wen-Pi-Tang extract and allopurinol reduced the degree of lung consolidation caused by influenza virus infection. In particular, Wen-Pi-Tang extract reduced the consolidation score in a dose-dependent manner and more markedly than allopurinol did. This study suggests that Wen-Pi-Tang extract could improve pathological conditions of the lungs induced by influenza virus infection.     

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of Rheedia longifolia Planch & Triana

Rheedia longifolia Planch et Triana belongs to the Clusiaceae family. This plant is widely distributed in Brazil, but its chemical and pharmacological properties have not yet been studied. We report here that leaves aqueous extract of R. longifolia (LAE) shows analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Oral or intraperitoneal administration of this extract dose-dependently inhibited the abdominal constrictions induced by acetic acid in mice. The analgesic effect and the duration of action were similar to those observed with sodium diclofenac, a classical non-steroidal analgesic. In addition to the effect seen in the abdominal constriction model, LAE was also able to inhibit the hyperalgesia induced by lipopolysaccharide from gram-negative bacteria (LPS) in rats. We also found that R. longifolia LAE inhibited an inflammatory reaction induced by LPS in the pleural cavity of mice. Acute toxicity was evaluated in mice treated with the extract for seven days with 50 mg/kg/day. Neither death, nor alterations in weight, blood leukocyte counts or hematocrit were noted. Our results suggest that aqueous extract from R. longifolia leaves has analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity with minimal toxicity and are therefore endowed with a potential for pharmacological control of pain and inflammation.     

Effect of aqueous leaf extract of Azadirachta indica on the reproductive organs in male mice

Effect of oral administration (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight/day, for 28 days) of aqucous leaf extract of neem (Azadirachta indica) on the male reproductive organs of the Parkes (P) strain mice was investigated. The treatment had no effect on body weight and the reproductive organs weight. In treated mice, testes showed both normal and affected seminiferous tubules in the same sections; the affected seminiferous tubules showed intraepithelial vacuolation, loosening of germinal epithelium, marginal condensation of chromatin in round spermatids, occurrence of giant cells, mixing of germ cell types in stages of spermatogenesis and degenerated appearance of germ cells. In severe cases, the tubules were lined with Sertoli cells only, Sertoli cells and rare germ cells, or with Sertoli cells and several germ cells but without cellular association patterns. Also, the frequency of affected seminiferous tubules in testes of the extract-treated mice was significantly higher than the controls, though this remained unaffected in mice treated at 50 mg/kg body weight of the extract. Doses at 50 or 100 mg/kg body weight of neem leaf extract did not cause appreciable alterations in histological appearance of the epididymis, while a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight caused marked alterations both in histological appearance and the level of sialic acid in the duct. The treatment also had adverse effects on motility, morphology, and number of spermatozoa in the cauda epididymidis, level of fructose in the seminal vesicle, and on litter size. After 42 days of withdrawal of the treatment, the alterations induced in the reproductive organs recovered to control levels. Our results suggested that treatment with neem leaf extract caused reversible alterations in the male reproductive organs of P mice.     

沙棘籽渣水提物对正常和糖尿病小鼠血糖的影响

本文研究了沙棘籽渣水提物(Aqueous extract of seabuckthorn seed residues,ASSR)对正常及糖尿病小鼠血糖、血脂代谢的影响。首先采用ASSR灌胃昆明种小鼠的急性毒性试验评价了ASSR的安全性;继而以250mg/kg和500 mg/kg剂量的ASSR连续灌胃正常小鼠3周;以250、500和800 mg/kg剂量的ASSR连续灌胃Al-loxan诱导的糖尿病小鼠3周,监测血糖,测定体重、血清胰岛素、总胆固醇和甘油三酯水平。结果显示:ASSR的LD50大于9.8 g/kg体重;连续给药3周,ASSR对正常小鼠的血糖和血脂代谢没有明显影响,但能明显降低糖尿病小鼠的血清葡萄糖和甘油三酯水平。上述结果表明:ASSR的LD50大于5 g/kg体重,按WHO急性毒性分级标准属于实际无毒级,其在实验性1型糖尿病小鼠模型上具有降血糖和降甘油三酯活性。     

Psychopharmacological profile of hydro-alcoholic extract of Euphorbia neriifolia leaves in mice and rats

The leaf extract of E. neriifolia significantly reduced apomorphine-induced stereotypy in mice at all doses (100, 200, 400 mg/kg body weight) in mice and rats and was devoid of catalepsic effect thereby, suggesting specific dopaminergic receptor modulating activity. The extract (400 mg/kg) potentiated pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis. It showed protection against maximal electro-shock-induced convulsion at 400 mg/kg. E. neriifolia leaf extract had anxiolytic action at 400 mg/kg by increasing the percentage of time spent in open arm in elevated plus-maze. The extract did not reverse scopolamine-induced amnesia on elevated plus-maze. It increased transfer latency at 200 and 400 mg/kg and also in combination with scopolamine. These results indicated anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic and anti-convulsant activity of E. neriifolia leaf extract in mice and rats. Phytochemical study showed the presence of steroidal saponin, reducing sugar, tannins, flavonoids in the crude leaf extract     

Protective effect of ethanolic and water extracts of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) against the toxic effects of mustard gas

Ethanolic extract of H. rhamnoides L. leaf (HL-EOH), water and ethanolic extract of H. rhamnoides fruit (HF-W and HF-EOH), and H. rhamnoides flavone from fruit (HR-flavone) were evaluated against percutaneously administered sulphur mustard (SM), a chemical warfare agent. The animals administered with SM (9.7, 19.3 and 38.7 mg/kg) died at various days depending upon the dose and there was a significant reduction in the body weight. The H. rhamnoides extracts (1 g/kg; 3 doses; po) significantly protected the lethality, with a protective index of 2.4, 1.7, 1.7 and 2.2 for HL-EOH, HF-W, HF-EOH and HR-flavone respectively. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutalthione (GSSG) levels were reduced, and malondialdehyde (MDA) was elevated after percutaneous administration of SM. Oral administration of HL-EOH and HR-flavone significantly protected the body weight loss. Recovery in the levels of GSH, GSSG and MDA were also observed following oral administration of HL-EOH and HR-flavone. All the extracts were non-toxic and the LD50 was more than 5 g/kg. The present study shows that percutaneous administration of SM induces oxidative stress and ethanolic extract of leaf of H. rhamnoides and H. rhamnoides flavone from fruit can significantly protect it.     

Anti-hyperglycemic effects of ginseng: Comparison between root and berry

Previous studies demonstrated that both ginseng root and ginseng berry possess anti-diabetic activity. However, a direct comparison between the root and the berry under the same experimental conditions has not been conducted. In the present study, we compared anti-hyperglycemic effect between Panax ginseng root and Panax ginseng berry in ob/ob mice, which exhibit profound obesity and hyperglycemia that phenotypically resemble human type-2 diabetes. We observed that ob/ob mice had high baseline glucose levels (195 mg/dl). Ginseng root extract (150 mg/kg body wt.) and ginseng berry extract (150 mg/kg body wt.) significantly decreased fasting blood glucose to 143 +/- 9.3 mg/dl and 150 +/- 9.5 mg/dl on day 5, respectively (both P < 0.01 compared with the vehicle). On day 12, although fasting blood glucose level did not continue to decrease in the root group (155 +/- 12.7 mg/dl), the berry group became normoglycemic (129 +/- 7.3 mg/dl; P < 0.01). We further evaluated glucose tolerance using the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. On day 0, basal hyperglycemia was exacerbated by intraperitoneal glucose load, and failed to return to baseline after 120 min. After 12 days of treatment with ginseng root extract (150 mg/kg body wt.), the area under the curve (AUC) showed some decrease (9.6%). However, after 12 days of treatment with ginseng berry extract (150 mg/kg body wt.), overall glucose exposure improved significantly, and the AUC decreased 31.0% (P < 0.01). In addition, we observed that body weight did not change significantly after ginseng root extract (150 mg/kg body wt.) treatment, but the same concentration of ginseng berry extract significantly decreased body weight (P < 0.01). These data suggest that, compared to ginseng root, ginseng berry exhibits more potent anti-hyperglycemic activity, and only ginseng berry shows marked anti-obesity effects in ob/ob mice.     

Pharmacological study of Stachytarpheta cayennensis Vahl in rodents

Freeze-dried aqueous extracts (AEs, 0.1–1 g/kg body wt., p.o.) obtained from entire or selected parts of Stachytarpheta cayennensis were tested for their effects on gastric secretion, gastric motility, inflammation and pain in rodents, with the purpose of validating the plant's ethnomedical uses. The AE-Total, AE-Flowers and AE-Leaves but not AE-Stems inhibited the gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats with varying potency. Purification of AEs yielded the semipurifed fractions EtFs rich in iridoids. All the EtFs with exception of EtF-Stems inhibited gastric acid secretion of pylorus ligated mice. While AE-Total stimulated the intestinal transit of mice by 43%, AE-Leaves delayed it by 38%. These effects on intestinal transit were not observed when the EtFs were tested. Only AE-Leaves and AE-Flowers altered the gastric emptying of semisolids, increasing it by 45% and 69%, respectively. These results indicate that the compounds related to inhibition of gastric acid secretion and gastrointestinal motility are different. The AE-Total reduced abdominal writhing induced by acetic acid potently (ED₅₀ VALUE=700 mg/kg, p.o.) without altering the writhes induced by acetylcholine. Attempts to identify the mechanism of analgesia were unsuccessful since the AE-Total did not show analgesic effects when tested in different models of pain such as formalin and capsaicin or the tail-flick test. Pretreatment of animals with AE-Total did not show antiinflammatory activity in any of the acute (paw edema induced by carrageenin, dextran or histamine, pleurisy induced by carrageenin and capsaicin-induced mouse ear edema) or chronic (air pouch) models used. No toxic signs were observed after administration of the different extracts up to 2 g/kg body wt., p.o.

Collectively, the results confirmed folk information indicating presence of analgesic, mild laxative and potent inhibition of gastric secretion activities in the aqueous extracts of S. cayennensis. The results do not, however confirm the folk use of the plant as an antiinflammatory medicine.     

Alleviation of lindane induced toxicity in testis of Swiss mice (Mus musculus) by combined treatment with vitamin C, vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid

Mitigation of lindane induced toxicity in testis of Swiss mice by combined treatment with vitamin C, vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid has been evaluated. Male healthy mice (40), 8-10 weeks old were randomly selected and divided into 4 groups, control (C); lindane (L); antioxidant (A) and antioxidant plus lindane (A+L). Group C animals were administered only the vehicle (olive oil); in group L lindane was administered orally at a dose of 40 mg/kg body wt.; in group A combination of antioxidants at a dose of 125 mg/kg body wt.(vitamin C: 50 mg/kg body wt., vitamin E: 50 mg/kg body wt. and alpha-lipoic acid: 25 mg/kg body wt.) was administered orally; in group A+L both antioxidants (125 mg/kg body wt.) and lindane (40 mg/kg body wt.) were administered at their respective doses. In group A+L antioxidants were administered 1 h prior to lindane administration. All treatments were continuously given for 60 days. Histopathological changes due to lindane intoxication indicated shrunken and distorted seminiferous tubules, sparse Leydig cells and blood vessels and atrophy in the tissue. The testis weight also decreased significantly. Lindane treated group showed increased lipid peroxidation, whereas glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and protein were significantly decreased compared to control. Lindane induced damage was minimized by administration of antioxidants. Results suggest that combined pretreatment with antioxidants can alleviate the damage caused to testis by lindane.     

Evaluation of anti-tussive activity of Bergenia ciliata Sternb. rhizome extract in mice.

The methanol extract of the rhizome of Bergenia ciliata Sternb. (Saxifragaceae) has been evaluated for its potential in a cough model induced by sulphur dioxide gas in mice. The extract exhibited significant anti-tussive activity in a dose-dependent manner, as compared with control. The antitussive activity of the extract was comparable to that of codeine phosphate (10 mg/kg body wt.), a standard anti-tussive agent. The extract at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body wt. (p.o.) showed significant inhibition of cough reflex by 28.7, 33.9 and 44.2%, respectively, within 90 min of the experiment.     

Gastroprotective effects of ‘Amla’ Emblica officinalis on in vivo test models in rats

An ethanol extract of 'Amla' Emblica officinalis Gaertn. was examined for its antisecretory and antiulcer activities employing different experimental models in rats, including pylorus ligation Shay rats, indomethacin, hypothermic restraint stress-induced gastric ulcer and necrotizing agents (80% ethanol, 0.2 M NaOH and 25% NaCl). Oral administration of Amla extract at doses 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg significantly inhibited the development of gastric lesions in all test models used. It also caused significant decrease of the pyloric-ligation induced basal gastric secretion, titratable acidity and gastric mucosal injury. Besides, Amla extract offered protection against ethanol-induced depletion of stomach wall mucus and reduction in nonprotein sulfhydryl concentration. Histopathological analyses are in good agreement with pharmacological and biochemical findings. The results indicate that Amla extract possesses antisecretory, antiulcer, and cytoprotective properties.     

Modulatory influence of Brassica compestris Linn var sarson on phase-II carcinogen metabolizing enzymes and glutathione levels in mice

The present study reports the modulatory influence of 95% ethanolic extract from the seeds of B. compestris on the activity of phase-II enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase (GST), DT-diaphorase (DTD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) level in the skin, lung, kidney and forestomach of the mouse. Oral treatment with the seed extract at 800 mg/kg body wt. for 15 days significantly elevated GST in lung and forestomach and DT-diaphorase in forestomach and skin and GSH level in lung, kidney forestomach and skin. The lower dose 400 mg/kg body wt was effective only in inducing GST and DT-diaphorase activity in forestomach and reduced glutathione level in lung. The findings suggest that B. compestris seed extract may block or suppress the events associated with chemical carcinogenesis at least in part, by inducing metabolic detoxification of the carcinogen.     

In vivo growth inhibitory effect of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on a transplantable mouse tumor, Sarcoma 180.

Withania somnifera is a medicinal plant used in the treatment of a variety of ailments in the Ayurvedic system. Alcoholic extract of the root of the plant was injected(ip) at daily doses of 200 to 1000 mg/kg body wt for 15 days starting from 24 hr after intradermal inoculation of 5 x 10(5) cells of S-180 in BALB/c mice. Solid tumor growth was monitored for 100 days. Doses of 400 mg/kg and above produced complete regression of tumor after an initial growth, the percentage of complete response (CR) increasing with increasing drug dose. A 55% CR was obtained at 1000 mg/kg drug administration, but this dose also produced some mortality among the animals. A significant increase in the volume doubling time and growth delay was seen when the drug dose was increased from 500 to 750 mg/kg body wt, but further increase in drug dose to 1000 mg/kg did not produce any significant increase in these responses. Cumulative doses of 7.5 to 10 g at daily doses of 500 or 750 mg/kg seems to produce a good response in this tumor.