A. K. Nag Chaudhuri

Preliminary studies on the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of the methanolic fraction of the root extract of Tragia involucrata Linn

Tragia involucrata has been widely used in the traditional medicinal system for the treatment of a variety of diseases. The effect of methanolic extract of T. involucrata was studied in different experimental animal models and it was revealed that the extract possesses significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity.

Neuropsychopharmacological profile of the methanolic fraction of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract

Neuropharmacological studies were conducted in experimental animals (rats and mice) with the methanolic fraction of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract.

Studies on the anti-ulcer activity of a Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract in experimental animals

A methanolic fraction from an extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves was found to possess significant anti-ulcer activity in nine different experimental animals models. Premedication tests in rats revealed that the extract possessed significant protective action against the gastric lesions induced by aspirin, indomethacin, serotonin, reserpine, stress and ethanol. Significant protection with extract treatment was observed to occur for aspirin-induced ulcer in pylorus-ligated rats and for histamine-induced duodenal lesions in guinea pigs. Significant enhancement of the healing process was also found to occur in acetic acid-induced chronic gastric lesions in rats.

Preliminary studies on the antiinflammatory and analgesic activities of Calotropis procera root extract.

A chloroform-soluble fraction from Calotropis procera roots showed significant dose-related antiinflammatory activity in rats using the pharmacologic models of carrageenin-induced pedal oedema, cotton pellet granuloma and formaldehyde-induced arthritis. In addition, significant analgesic potential was demonstrated using acetic acid-induced writhing in mice.

Antiinflammatory evaluation of a Pluchea indica root extract

A methanolic fraction of a chloroform extract of defatted Pluchea indica roots was investigated for its antiinflammatory potential against several models of inflammation. The extract showed significant inhibitory activity against carrageenin-, histamine-, serotonin-, hyaluronidase- and sodium urate-induced pedal inflammation. The extract inhibited protein exudation and leucocyte migration. The extract also inhibited carrageenin- and cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation as well as turpentine-induced joint oedema and adjuvant-induced polyarthritis. The present observations establish the efficacy of the extract in the exudative, proliferative and chronic stages of inflammation.

Studies on the mechanism of anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer activity of Pluchea indica : probable involvement of 5-lipooxygenase pathway

The effect of the methanolic fraction of Pluchea indica Less. root extract was evaluated on various models of inflammation and ulcer in vivo to assess the role of P. indica on the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of prostaglandin synthesis. Studies presented here reveal significant antiinflammatory activity of the fraction on Arachidonic acid, Platelet activation factor and Compound 48/80-induced paw oedema. There was significant inhibition of spontaneous as well as compound 48/80-induced histamine release from mast cells. Ulcer studies revealed significant protective action of the fraction on indomethacin, alcohol and indomethacin-alcohol induced ulceration. There was significant decrease of gastric volume and acidity in pylorus ligated rats. Studies also showed, significant protective action of the same on gastric mucosa.

Effect of amitriptyline on gastric ulceration

Amitriptyline significantly inhibited alcohol, aspirin, indomethacin and cold‐restraint stress‐induced ulceration. Secretory studies conducted in pyloric‐ligated rats revealed that the drug, at the doses employed, significantly reduced total acidity and protein content. However, significant reductions of the gastric volume were only observed at the highest dose of the drug. In another set of experiments, when 50% alcohol (v/v) was administered to the pyloric‐ligated rats pretreated with amitriptyline, it was observed that the drug significantly reduced the pH, total acidity and protein content.

Studies on the Antiulcer Activity of the Chloroform Fraction of Calotropis procera Root Extract

Calotropis procera has been widely used in the Indian traditional medicinal system for the treatment of a variety of disease conditions. Earlier studies in our laboratory revealed that the chloroform fraction of C. procera root extract possesses significant analgesic, antipyretic and antiinflammatory activity. Further studies also revealed that, unlike the NSAIDs, C. procera simultaneously possesses significant antiulcer activity.

Studies on the possible mechanism of the gastric mucosal protection by Calotropis procera— involvement of 5‐lipoxygenase pathway

Summary— The role of chloroform fraction of Calotropis procera root extract on different experimental ulcer models in rats was investigated. The extract demonstrated significant anti‐ulcer activity against aspirin, indomethacin, ethanol, indomethacin + ethanol, or stress‐induced ulcerations. Significant inhibition of gastric secretory volume and total acidity in pylorus ligated rats were observed to occur with the extract. It was also observed that the root extract significantly inhibited arachidonic acid metabolism induced by soyabeian lipoxygenase. The results suggest that the anti‐ulcer activity of the extract might be attributable to the inhibition of 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LO).

Effect of dothiepin on gastric ulceration mediated by lipid derived eicosanoids.

Dothiepin, a tricyclic antidepressant, significantly inhibited the development of gastric ulcers induced by alcohol, aspirin, indomethacin and Shays pyloric ligation. Antisecretory studies in pyloric ligated rats revealed that the drug at a dose of 100 mg/kg significantly reduced total acidity, gastric output and protein content. In another set of experiments, dothiepin significantly reduced gastric output, total acidity and protein content in pyloric ligated rats which received 50% alcohol (v/v) 30 minutes after the administration of dothiepin.