International Journal of Phytomedicine
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The Physico-Chemical studies of Khar-e-Khasak (Tribulus terrestris Linn.)
Full text linkKhar-e-Khasak (Tribulus terrestris Linn) commonly known as Gokhru is an important drug of Unani Medicine. It has been described as diuretic, carminative, antiseptic and widely used by Unani Physicians in various gastrointestinal ailments. In this paper studies carried out to determine the ash values, extractive values, fluorescence analysis and thin layer chromatographic parameters are reported which were performed to standardize the fruit of the plant for its purity
The Medicinal Properties of Paullinia pinnata Linn. Leaves
Full text linkPaullinia pinnata is a plant introduced to tropical Africa and has been reported to be useful in folkloric medicine. Different medicinal potentials of the leaves have been investigated some of which have corroborated reports in traditional medicine. Compounds have been isolated from extracts of the leaves which have been shown to have medicinal value. These compounds are from different classes of secondary metabolites including tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. Fatty acids have also been shown to be present. This report is set to enumerate the traditional use of the leaves of P.pinnata and research findings already documented
Effect of Abengourou forastero cocoa against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in experimental rats
Full text linkOxidative stress is a determining factor in the pathophysiology of heart disease. This study aimed at evaluating the protective activity of Abengourou Forastero cocoa in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Thirty (30) wistar rats divided into 5 groups were orally pretreated with distilled water, resveratrol (25 mg/kg/day) or defatted Abengourou Forastero cocoa powder (1000 and 1500 mg/kg/day) for sixty (60) consecutive days. A single dose of doxorubicin (15 mg/kg/day) was administered on day 59 by intraperitoneal route. The biochemical parameters were assessed and a histological examination of the heart was performed. This study showed that doxorubicin treated animals exhibited a significant increase of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, phosphocreatine kinases, creatine kinases, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol levels in serum. However, a decrease of HDL-cholesterol and an alteration of cardiac tissue were noticed. Preventive treatment with Abengourou Forastero cocoa at doses of 1000 and 1500 mg/kg significantly reduced the biochemical and histological alterations induced by doxorubicin. Results showed that Abengourou Forastero cocoa protects and prevents against doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage
In-vitro Anti-cercarial activity of extracts and steroidal alkaloids from the stem bark of Holarrhena floribunda (G. Don) Dur. & Schinz
Full text linkContext: Schistosomiasis continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the neglected tropical diseases. Apart from the high cost of chemotherapy, concerns over drug resistance and tolerance have been raised in the past decade. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the anticercarial activity of extracts and compounds from the stem bark of Holarrhena floribunda on cercaria of Schistosoma haematobium. Methods: Hydroethanolic and alkaloidal extracts from the stem bark of H. floribunda were tested on cercaria at concentrations between 500.00 and 15.625 μg/mL for 180 minutes and assessing the percentage viability at time intervals of 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. Praziquantel, used as reference drug, and the isolated compounds were tested at similar concentrations. The cercaria mortalities and IC50 of extracts and compounds were estimated after 30 minutes of incubation. Results: The 70 %v/v ethanol extract showed the highest activity (IC50=20.09±1.11 μg/mL) with praziquantel giving IC50 of 695.50±1.12. The alkaloids holonamine, holadienine and conessine, isolated from the stem bark, showed considerable cercaricidal activity with the latter recording an IC50 of 33.28±1.04. Conclusion: The study gives first-hand knowledge of the anti-cercarial activity of H. floribunda and its steroidal alkaloids. This gives credence to the traditional uses of the plant as an anti-parasitic agent
Zygophyllum album aqueous extract reduces oxidative damage in red blood cells and attenuates pro-inflammatory plasma markers in hypercholesterolemic-diabetic rats
Full text linkZygophyllum album (Z. album) is used in traditional medicine for a long time for its anti-diabetic activities. This study had to assess Z. album extract supplementation effects on redox and inflammatory statuses in hypercholesterolemic-diabetic rats. Male rats Wistar (n=36), weighing 200±10 g were divided into three groups (n=12). The first group was rendered hypercholesterolemic (HC) with a high cholesterol diet (1 %). The second group was rendered diabetic (D) by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg of body weight). The third group was rendered hypercholesterolemic-diabetic (HC-D); each group was divided into two groups (n=6), untreated groups (HC, D, HC-D) and treated groups with 1 % Z. album extract (HC-Za, D-Za and HC-D-Za). After 28 days, Z. album treatment lead to a decrease in RBC’s TBARS contents in HC-Za (-44 %), D-Za (-66 %) and HC-D-Za (-23 %) groups. An increase in the antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase) was observed in HC-Za, D-Za and HC-D-Za (p <0.05). IL-1 β and IL-6 concentrations were reduced by -44, -50 and -33 % and -49, 38 and -41 %, respectively in treated groups. A decrease in TNF-α as well as homocysteine and CRP was observed in Z. album treated groups (p <0,05). In conclusion, Z. album reduces radical attack and improves the anti-inflammatory proprieties in hypercholesterolemic-diabetic rats
Acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive investigations of extracts from Ampelocissus africana (Lour) Merr (Vitaceae) rhizomes
Full text linkAmpelocissus africana (Lour) Merr (Vitaceae) is a plant used in traditional medicine in Burkina Faso in the treatment of wounds, edema, drops, infections. This study focused on pharmacological investigations effects of methanolic and aqueous extracts from Ampelocissus africana (Lour) Merr rhizomes. The acute toxicity of the extracts from Ampelocissus africana was performed under OECD 423 guidelines. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in vivo using carrageenan-induced paw edema of mice at the doses to 50, 100, 200, 400, 600 mg/kg body weight (bw). The antinociceptive activity of the extracts was determined using acetic acid, formalin nociception models in mice at the doses to 50, 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg bw. The involvement of ATP-sensitive K+ channel pathway and opioid system were tested using glibenclamide, and naloxone respectively at the unique dose (400 mg/kg). No mortality of mice were observed at dose of 2000 mg/kg b.w. The lethal dose (LD50) value estimated to 5000 mg/kg b.w. The tests were showed that the extracts exerted significant dose-dependent anti-inflammatory responses in the paw induced by carrageenan (from 37 to 72.90 percent inhibition), antinociceptives in acetic-induced abdominal contractions (from 25.10 to 63.08%), and in formaldehyde-induced paw licking (from 9.27 to 71.77%) tests. The pretreatment with naloxone and glibenclamide did not affect the antinociceptives effects. The results suggested that the extracts from the rhizomes of Ampelocissus africana possessed anti-inflammatory and antinociception effects in mice. These effects could justify the uses of this plant in traditional medicine
Antitumoral properties of butanolic fraction from leaves extract of Chrysobalanus icaco L. in breast and lung cancer cell lines.
No full textInfusion of leaves from Chrysobalanus icaco L., known as Icaco or Abajeru, is widely consumed in Brazil due to its therapeutic effects, such as hyperglycemia regulation, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and against chronic diarrhea. The aqueous and hydroalcoholic extract from Icaco also present anti-cancer properties, including colon cancer and leukemia. However, the antitumoral activity of the butanolic fraction still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the antitumoral properties of butanolic fraction against breast and lung cancer cell lines. Breast and lung cancer cell lines were incubated with the butanolic fraction (0.5, 1 and 5 µg.mL-1) for 24h. WST-1 and Trypan blue exclusion assays evaluated cell viability. The reactive oxygen species generation was measured, and the cell death pathway was analyzed by flow cytometry. The phytochemical profile was determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. The butanolic fraction presents triterpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds as its major constituents. Cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and A549 were decreased by butanolic fraction (0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 µg.mL-1) treatment. Butanolic fraction (5.0 µg.mL-1) increase intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in MDA-MB-231, 118%, and in A549, 20%, cell lines. The loss of viability and reactive oxygen species increase was accompanied by apoptosis induction. The cellular migration of both cell lines was decreased by 13% in MDA-MB-231 and by 58% in A549 with the butanolic fraction of C. icaco. These results suggest that the butanolic fraction from Chrysobalanus icaco has anti-cancer properties against MDA-MB-231 and A549 cancer cells
Formulation and evaluation of fermented Ayurvedic formulation: Asava
Full text linkAsava, an Ayurvedic formulation is used since more than 3000 years for the treatment of various diseases. Due to accelerated commercialization, the assurances on safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic products have become an important issue. Growing awareness about harmful side effects of modern medicine has led to interest in Ayurveda at the international level as well as within India. It is prepared by using decoction of herbal drug and contains self generated alcohol. Although these formulations are mentioned in traditional literature and used regularly their scientific investigation and reporting is essential to strengthen Ayurveda in global market. Determination of qualitative as well as quantitative evaluation parameters of various asava is warranted to ensure the quality and safety of these preparations. Therefore, to achieve this, the world health organization advocates to undertake various standardization parameters. In present study attempt has been made for formulation and evaluation of prepared asava
Isolation of biologically active metabolites from Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. cultivated in Egypt
Full text linkBougainvillea spectabilis Willd. is an ornamental plant cultivated in tropical, subtropical regions and other places as Egypt. The present study aimed to perform bioassay guided fractionation and isolation of some of the bioactive compounds from the Egyptian cultivate. The total ethanol extracts of the leaves (T.ET.L.), stems (T.ET.S.) and flowers (T.ET.F.) were screened for some pharmacological activities viz. in vivo anti-oxidant and anti-hepatotoxic, in addition to in vitro cytotoxic activities. The anti-oxidant effect was assessed by measuring serum glutathione level (GSH) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The anti-hepatotoxic activity was evaluated via measuring serum markers level viz. alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. In vitro cytotoxicity of the different extracts was estimated for liver cancer cell line (HEPG2) adopting Sulforhodamine B stain assay. T.ET.L. exhibited significantly potent anti-oxidant and anti-hepatotoxic activities, while T.ET.S. showed the highest cytotoxic activity. Through biological guided fractionation, leaves and stems were subjected to successive solvent extraction, whereas the leaves ethyl acetate (Et.Ac.L.) and the stems ethanol 70% (Et.70%S.) extracts showed highly potent activities. Thus, different chromatographic techniques were performed on Et.Ac.L. and Et.70%S. extracts leading to the isolation of five bioactive metabolites. Three flavonoids were isolated from Et.Ac.L.; genistein-7-O-rutinoside (1), formononetin-7-O-rutinoside (2) and myricetin (3), while orobol-7-O-glucoside (4) and hesperidin (5) were isolated from Et.70%S. This work demonstrated the importance of the plant as a promising anti-oxidant, anti-hepatotoxic and cytotoxic product for nutraceutical use
Hypericum scruglii Bacchetta, Brullo & Salmeri, is it a possible natural resource against Fibromyalgia?
Full text linkFibromyalgia (FM) is today a serious public health issue. Tested treatments have shown limited efficacy. Oxidative stress probably interacting with the glutamatergic / gamma -Aminobutyric acid balance may play a role. Antidepressants improve sleep and mood especially those with double action on serotonin and norepinephrine, but these are also those with a greater risk of manic switch considering the high frequency of comorbidity with bipolar disorders. This narrative review tries to evaluate, on the basis of in vitro and animal studies, the potential utility in fibromyalgia of Hypericum Scruglii, an endemic species peculiar to the island of Sardinia. The studies that have verified the antidepressant efficacy of Hypericum Perforatum and the first attempts of its use in fibromyalgia are reported as well as the studies that found the phloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum longistylum (well-known in traditional Chinese medicine) that facilitate the differentiation of neural progenitor cells, and increase the efficiency of differentiation into serotonergic neurons. The advantage of Hypericum Scruglii may be represented by the anti-oxidant potential revealed to be greater than in other species of the same genus. The paper also describes new approaches to improving the oral bioavailability of very poor water-soluble molecules of hypericum extracts