Aneela Maalik

Inhibitory mechanism against oxidative stress of caffeic acid

The purpose of this article is to summarize the reported antioxidant activities of a naturally abundant bioactive phenolic acid, caffeic acid (CA, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid), so that new avenues for future research involving CA can be explored. CA is abundantly found in coffee, fruits, vegetables, oils, and tea. CA is among the most potential and abundantly found in nature, hydroxycinnamic acids with the potential of antioxidant behavior. Reactive oxygen species produced as a result of endogenous processes can lead to pathophysiological disturbances in the human body. Foods containing phenolic substances are a potential source for free radical scavenging; these chemicals are known as antioxidants. This review is focused on CAs structure, availability, and potential as an antioxidant along with its mode of action. A brief overview of the literature published about the prooxidant potential of caffeic acid as well as the future perspectives of caffeic acid research is described. CA can be effectively employed as a natural antioxidant in various food products such as oils.

Pharmacological importance of an ethnobotanical plant: Capsicum annuum L.

Capsicum annuum L., a fruit plant from tropical and subtropical regions, contains a range of essential nutrients and bioactive compounds which are known to exhibit a range of bioactivities including free radical scavenging (antioxidant), antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. This review aims to give a comprehensive overview of the literature published on pharmacological behaviours of C. annuum L.

Gastrointestinal Motility and Acute Toxicity of Pistagremic acid Isolated from the Galls of Pistacia integerrima.

BACKGROUND Pistacia integerrima has many medicinal uses in therapeutic as well as folk medicine. P. integerrima has been used for the treatment of different ailments such as blood purifier, anti-inflammatory, and as remedy for gastrointestinal disorders such as vomiting and diarrhea, expectorant, cough, asthma and fever. OBJECTIVE The main objective of this research work was to evaluate the effect of pistagremic acid (PA) isolated from the galls of Pistacia integerima in acute toxicity and gastrointestinal (GIT) motility tests. METHODS Compound 1 namely pistagremic acid (PA) (at 10, 50, 100 mg/kg i.p) were assessed for their in-vivo gastrointestinal motility test using charcoal screening model. RESULTS Results revealed that pretreatment of PA exhibited substantial safety in acute toxicity test up to the dose of 500 mg/kg p.o. However, when studied in charcoal meal GI transit test, PA caused significant (p < 0.05) attenuation of GIT motility and an increase in intestinal transit time, comparable to atropine (a muscarinic receptor blocking agent). CONCLUSION In conclusion, PA displayed a strong dose-dependent reduction in GIT motility with considerable safety.

Evaluation of antinociceptive potential of methanolic extract of different parts of Ehretia serrata Roxb and Ehretia obtusifolia in vivo

Background: The antinociceptive potential study of different parts of Ehretia serrata Roxb and Ehretia obtusifolia are least explored till now. These plant parts are usually used as fodder and wood in Asia. The aim of this work was to find the antinociceptive effects of the methanolic extracts of leaves, fruits and stem barks of these plants in mice. Methods: The antinoceceptive activity of methanolic extract of leaf, fruit, and stem bark of E. serrata and E. obtusifolia in mice was carried out by means of the hot plate method and by using diclofenac sodium as a standard. Twenty groups of 12 h starved mice were prepared where each group comprised of five mice only. While all these starved mice were allowed free access to clean water. In this study, both male and female Albino mice were used. Analgesiometer was used for this bio-essay. Results: The results showed that the dose significantly (P<0.05) reduced the time spent in pain behaviour in all assessment times (0 min, 30 min and 60 min) hence indicating that the plant possesses antinociceptive potential. Conclusion: It is confirmed through the findings that E. serrata and E. obtusifloia exhibit strong antinociceptive action in animal model of hot plate which needs verification in other paradigms too.