Anju Puri

Immunostimulant activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. (Oleaceae), a plant widely used in the traditional medicinal systems of India, has recently been reported to possess hepatoprotective, antileishmanial, antiviral and antifungal activities. In the present study strong stimulation of antigen specific and non-specific immunity, as evidenced by increases in humoral and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and in the macrophage migration index (MMI), has been demonstrated in mice fed with 50% ethanolic extract of seeds, flowers and leaves of this plant. Maximum activity was found in the seeds in which the active principle(s) appear to be mainly associated with lipids. In flowers and leaves, however, the major activity was found in the aqueous fraction of the 50% ethanol extract. The immunostimulant substance(s) found in N. arbor-tristis L. are likely to play a role in its antiamoebic, antileishmanial, antiviral and certain other activities.

Immunostimulant activity of dry fruits and plant materials used in Indian traditional medical system for mothers after child birth and invalids.

Products of certain plants given to mothers after child birth or to invalids were studied for immunostimulant activity using the macrophage migration index (MMI) as a parameter of macrophage activation and cell-mediated immunity and haemagglutinating antibody (HA) titres and plaque-forming cell (PFC) counts as parameters of humoral immunity. Feeding of Prunus amygdalus (Almond(1)) and Buchanania lanzan (Chirronji(1)) significantly stimulated both CMI and humoral immunity in BALB/c mice as evidenced by the enhancement of MMI, HA titres, and PFC counts. Euryale ferox (Tel makhana(1)), Phoenix dactylifera (Chhohara(1)) and Zingiber officinale (Sonth(1)), however, stimulated humoral immunity to a greater extent than CMI. The observation provides scientific basis for feeding the products of above plants to mothers after child birth and to invalids with a relatively poor immune status.

Modulation of inflammatory mediators by ibuprofen and curcumin treatment during chronic inflammation in rat.

Inflammation is a protective tissue response occurring in three distinct phases, acute, subacute and a chronic proliferative phase. We undertook the present study to understand the overall immune response of the body during adjuvant induced chronic inflammation in rat and the effect of ibuprofen and curcumin on this response. Inflammatory mediators were estimated on day 21 and day 35 after adjuvant injection. The level of C-reactive protein increased to 200% on day 21 and then reduced to 50% on day 35 compared to control. Curcumin and ibuprofen further reduced the increased levels at both the time intervals. Haptoglobin level decreased to 42% on day 21 but increased to 5 times of control on day 35.Curcumin and ibuprofen reduced the increased levels at day 35. No significant change was observed in Prostaglandin-E2 and Leukotriene-B4 levels and in Lymphocyte proliferation. The level of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α increased by three folds on day 21, but came down to 88% on day 35. Ibuprofen treatment decreased the raised level on day 21 and increased the reduced level on day 35. Interleukin-1β increased to 2 folds on day 21 and 10 folds on day 35 which were significantly brought down by curcumin and ibuprofen. Nitric oxide level was reduced at both the time intervals, which were increased by drug treatment.

Synthesis and antihyperlipidemic activity of novel coumarin bisindole derivatives.

A series of novel coumarin bisindole heterocycles were synthesized following an uncommon method and evaluated for their antihyperlipidemic activity in hyperlipidemic hamster model. Among 12 compounds tested, the compound 5e showed potent antihyperlipidemic activity and was found to decrease the plasma triglyceride levels (TG) by 55%, total cholesterol (TC) by 20%, accompanied by an increase in HDL-C/TC ratio by 42% in hyperlipidemic rats to a greater degree than some of the reference statins.

Immunostimulant principles from Curculigo orchioides.

Curculigo orchioides Gaerten belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae. The rhizomes of the plants are used for the treatment of decline in strength, jaundice and asthma. Its methanolic extract has been shown to enhance phagocytic activity of macrophages. Present studies have led to the isolation of two phenolic glycosides and a purified glycoside fraction. These were studied for their effect on macrophage migration index (MMI), haemagglutination (HA) titre, plaque forming cell (PFC), PHA-induced blast transformation of lymphocytes (BTL) and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). Significant immunostimulant activity was found in purified glycoside-rich fraction isolated from the ethyl acetate extract. The exact structure of the active glycoside is yet to be determined. The enhancement of HA titre and PFC count on one hand and that of DTH response on the other indicates that glycoside fraction stimulates both humoral and Cell-mediated immune responses. Glycoside fraction stimulates immune response by acting both on macrophages and the lymphocytes.

Synthesis of novel triterpenoid (lupeol) derivatives and their in vivo antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activity.

The triterpenoid, lupeol (1) has been isolated from the leaves extract of Aegle marmelos. Few novel derivatives (2-13) were synthesized from the naturally occurring lupeol (1) and screened for their antihyperglycemic activity (2-11) and antidyslipidemic activity (2-4 and 12-13). The derivative 4 lowered the blood glucose levels by 18.2% and 25.0% at 5h and 24h, respectively, in sucrose challenged streptozotocin induced diabetic rats (STZ-S) model at the dose of 100mg/kg body weight. The compound 4 also significantly lowered 40% (P <0.001) in triglycerides, 30% (P <0.05) in glycerol, 24% (P <0.05) in cholesterol quantity and also improved the HDL-cholesterol by 5% in dyslipidemic hamster model at the dose of 50mg/kg b.wt.

Management of Giardiasis by a herbal drug `Pippali Rasayana': a clinical study

Pippali Rasayana (PR), an Indian ayurvedic drug prepared from Palash (Butea monosperma (Lamk) Kuntze; Leguminaceae) and Pippali (Piper longum L.; Piperaceae), was administered at a dose of 1 g p.o. three times daily for a period of 15 days to patients (25 treated, 25 placebo controls) suffering from giardiasis with clinical signs and symptoms, and stools positive for trophozoites/cysts of Giardia lamblia. After 15 days of drug treatment there was a complete disappearance of G. lamblia (trophozoites/cysts) from the stools of 23 out of 25 patients. General signs and symptoms of ill health and abdominal discomfort, presence of mucus, pus cells and RBCs were significantly reduced. There was a marked improvement in the clinical and haematological profile of the patients. Spontaneous recovery in 20% cases was recorded in placebo controls.

Antidyslipidemic and antioxidant activities of different fractions ofTerminalia arjuna stem bark

Terminalia arjuna (T. arjuna) stem bark was successively extracted with petroleum ether (A), solvent ether (B), ethanol (C) and water (D). The lipid lowering activity of these four fractions A, B, C, and D was evaluatedin vivo in two models viz., triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipemia in rats as well as fructose rich high fat diet (HFD) fed diabetic- dyslipidemic hamsters. Hyperlipidemia induced by triton caused marked increase in the plasma levels of total cholesterol (Tc), triglyceride (Tg) and phospholipids (PL) in rats. After treament withT. arjuna fractions A, B, C, and D at the doses of 250 mg/kg per oral (p.o.),only the ethanolic fraction (C) exerted significant lipid lowering effect as assessed by reversal of plasma levels of Tc, Tg and PL in hyperlipidemic rats. In another experiment, feeding with HFD produced marked dyslipidemia as observed by increased levels of plasma Tc, Tg, glucose (Glu), glycerol (Gly) and free fatty acids (FFA) in hamsters. After treatment withT. arjuna fractions at the doses of 250 mg/kg p.o. only two fraction (B and C) could exert significant lowering in the plasma levels of lipids and Glu. in dyslipidemic hamsters.In vitro experimentT. arjuna fractions at tested concentrations (50–500 μg/ml) inhibited the oxidative degradation of lipids in human low density lipoprotein and rat liver microsomes induced by metal ions. These fractions when tested against generation of oxygen free radicals at the concentrations (50–500 μg/ml), counteracted the formation of superoxide anions (O−2) and hydrodyl radicals (OH) in non enzymic test systems. The efficacy ofT. arjuna fractions as antidyslipidemic and antioxidant agents was found, fraction C> fraction B> fraction A.

Discovery and synthesis of novel substituted benzocoumarins as orally active lipid modulating agents

The synthesis of a series of benzocoumarin keto-enamine schiff bases is reported. The novel compounds were evaluated for their antihyperlipidemic activity in the hyperlipidemic hamster model. The compound 11 at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight significantly lowered the plasma triglyceride levels (TG) by 70%, total cholesterol (TC) by 47%, accompanied by an increase in HDL-C/TC ratio by 80% in hyperlipidemic hamsters to a greater degree than the reference drugs atorvastatin and lovastatin.

Protection of mice against Plasmodium berghei infection by a tuftsin derivative

In Plasmodium berghei infections, the mortality rate and parasitaemias were significantly reduced and the mean survival time was considerably enhanced by pretreating the animals with a tuftsin derivative, Thr‐Lys‐Pro‐Arg‐NH‐(CH2)2‐NHCOC15H31. This effect of the modified tuftsin was further increased upon its incorporation in the liposome bilayer. These results indicate that tuftsin and its derivatives may prove useful in enhancing nonspecific host resistance against protozoan infections.