Arvind Kumar Goyal

Evaluation of antioxidative, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of methanolic extract of Myrica nagi leaves - an animal model approach

Myrica nagi (family Myricaceae) is commonly known as Kathphal (Hindi) and Bayberry (English) and it has a long history of usage in traditional medicine. It is popular actinorhizal plant for its symbiotic relationship with Frankia. This study was taken in force to estimate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities of methanolic extract of Myrica nagi (MMN) in an animal model. Anti-oxidative property of MMN was assessed by free radical scavenging assay (DPPH method). The acute toxicity test of methanolic extract of MMN revealed that the median lethal dose (LD50) was found to be 2080xa0mg/kg body weight in mice. The anti-inflammatory property was evaluated by carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in rats by measuring rat paw volume at different time intervals and toxicological analysis using mice. The analgesic effect was measured in Wistar rats using the acetic acid-induced writhing test and MMN at 200xa0mg/kg BW showed 54.56xa0% inhibition of writhing. MMN showed higher anti-oxidant activity in DPPH assays as compared to standard. High dose of MMN showed a significant reduction (21.71xa0%) in inflammation after 4xa0h of treatment, which was comparable to diclofenac (10xa0mg/kg BW; 32.75xa0%)-treated group. Significant reduction (pu2009<u20090.05) in the levels of inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β and TNF-α) markers were also observed in serum of MMN-treated animals as compared to control. Taken together, the phenolic compounds of MMN may serve as potential herbal drug for amelioration of acute inflammation due to their modulatory action on free radicals.

Toxicological Evaluation of Emblica officinalis Fruit Extract and its Anti-inflammatory and Free Radical Scavenging Properties

Background: Emblica officinalis (Euphorbiaceae), popularly known as Indian gooseberry or “Amla” in India, is used in Ayurveda as “rejuvenating herb” since ancient times. Objective: This study was carried out to estimate toxicity, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative activities of the methanolic extract of Emblica officinalis fruit (MEO) in an animal model. Materials and Methods: Antioxidative property of MEO was assessed by in vitro assays such as phosphomolybdenum assay (total antioxidant capacity), free radical scavenging assays 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2’-azino-bis and 3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (DPPH and ABTS method) and lipid peroxidation assay (LPO). The anti-inflammatory property was evaluated by carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in rats by measuring rat paw volume at different time intervals and toxicological analysis using mice. Results and Discussion: High performance liquid chromatography studies revealed the presence of gallic acid (2.10%), mucic acid (4.90%), ellagic acid (2.10%), quercetin (28.00%), rutin (3.89%), and β-glucogallin (1.46%). MEO showed highest antioxidant activities by using DPPH (17.33–89.00%), ABTS (23.03–94.16%), nitric oxide scavenging activity (12.94–70.16%), LPO (56.54%), and phosphomolybdenum assay (142 ± 6.09 μg/ml). The LD50 was found to be approximately 1125 mg/kg (p.o). High dose of MEO showed significant reduction (72.71%) in the inflammation after 4 h of treatment, which was comparable to diclofenac (10 mg/kg) (61.57%) treated group. Significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α) markers were also observed (57.25% and 35.41%, respectively) in serum of MEO treated animals as compared to control. Conclusion: Taken together, phenolic compounds of MEO may serve as a potential herbal drug for amelioration of acute inflammation due to their modulatory action on free radicals. SUMMARY The methanolic extract of Emblica officinalis fruit (MEO) has potent antioxidant activity as assessed by DPPH, ABTS and LPO assays MEO has potent anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced paw edema model The phenolic compounds of MEO might be a potential herbal drug for amelioration of acute inflammation. Abbreviations used: ROS, reactive oxygen species; RNS, reactive nitrogen species, LPO, lipid peroxidation, NO, nitric oxide, IL, interleukin; TNF α tumor necrosis factor alpha; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs; AA, ascorbic acid; MEO, methanolic extract of Emblica officinalis fruit; ABTS+; 2,2’ azino bis 3 ethylbenzthiazoline 6 sulphonic acid; DPPH, 1,1 diphenyl 2 picrylhydrazyl; HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; MDA, malondialdehyde; DMSO, dimethyl sulphoxide; ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

In silico exploration of cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity of natural compounds found in Myrica nagi using LC-MS

The process of inflammation is associated with several disorders such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and arthritis. Cyclooxygenase (COX) receptors play an important role in inflammation. COX-2 is an endogenous enzyme which catalyses and converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandins and thromboxanes. The prediction of the docking of small molecules at the active site, i.e. receptor binding site, and the projection of the binding affinity of the complex is a crucial part of computer-aided drug design. The current study evaluates the COX-2 inhibitory activity of compounds detected in Myrica nagi, an actinorhizal plant, using an in-silico approach. Liquid chromatography (LC-MS) studies of M. nagi leaf extract revealed the presence of 21 compounds. The known COX-2 inhibitor Celecoxib was used as reference. Silico docking studies were carried out using iGemdock and verified by discovery studio and autodock software. Three important parameters—binding energy, inhibition constant and intermolecular energy—were determined. The results showed that all selected compounds showed binding energies between −28.19xa0kcal/mol to −63.13xa0kcal/mol in iGEMDOCK. Myricetin (−63.13xa0kcal/mol) showed the best binding energy compared with the Celecoxib reference (−62.35xa0kcal/mol). Discovery studio and autodock also calculated the same patterns of binding energy. All selected compounds displayed COX inhibitory activity, probably due to their structural parameters. These molecular docking analyses may lead to the further development of potent COX inhibitors for the treatment of inflammation.

Morphological phylogeny among 15 accessions of bamboos growing in Kokrajhar district of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts, Assam

Bamboo is nature’s wonderful gift historically associated with the rural population of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts. However, indiscriminate use of the resource and the ambiguity in the identification of bamboos in the absence of flowering characters pose a potential risk to the bamboo germplasm. Therefore, we considered revising the taxonomic positions and phylogenetic relationships among 15 tropical bamboo species using 35 key morphological descriptors (MD) to assess the reliability of vegetative characters in identifying species. The phylogenetic tree constructed from the similarity matrix, derived from an unweighted pair group method of analysis (UPGMA) of the 35 MDs, marginally deviated from the conventional taxonomic positions of the bamboo species. While the two varieties, one forma of Bambusa vulgaris (var. Vittata, var. Vulgaris, fo. Waminii) and two species of the genus Dendrocalamus (D. giganteus and D. hamiltonii) clustered together in a single clade, and D. strictus was distantly placed from their congeners. This discrepancy with the conventional classification might have ensued since only vegetative characters such as culm anatomy, culm sheath, leaf, and leaf sheath were considered in the present study. While the phylogenetic relationship among the 15 tropical bamboos (computed from exhaustive MDs) grossly corroborate the conventional taxonomic grouping, a molecular-marker-based multidisciplinary approach should resolve the remaining conflicts in bamboo identification.

Analysis of toxic, antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Bambusa balcooa Roxb. leaf extracts in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Bambusa balcooa (Poaceae) is native to India and has been used traditionally by the tribes of Northeast India to treat diabetes. The present investigation was aimed to evaluate the toxicity, anti-diabetic activity along with in vitro antioxidant activity of the leaf of B. balcooa in alloxan-induced diabetic rats and also identify active compounds by using HPLC. The acute toxicity test of aqueous extract of B. balcooa leaf revealed that the median lethal dose (LD50) of B. balcooa aqueous extract (BAQE) was 5.18xa0g/kg body weight in mice. Administration of BAQE at 100 and 200xa0mg/kg in alloxan-induced diabetic rats showed significant reduction in fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin while plasma insulin level was elevated compared to diabetic control. Both the doses were effective when compared to diabetic glibenclamide rats. The BAQE treated diabetic rats showed significant increase in the endogenous antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and decrease in malondialdehyde levels. HPLC analysis of BAQE showed the presence of rutin, gallic acid and β sitosterol. Thus, it can be inferred from this study that BAQE possess antidiabetic and in vivo antioxidant activity. The overall activity might be possibly due to the presence of potential antioxidants.

Bamboo shoots as a nutritive boon for Northeast India: an overview.

With about 136 species, India is one among the richest countries in bamboo resources that help mankind in more than 1500 diverse ways. Although the utilization of juvenile shoots of bamboo in tribal diet of Northeast India is a very old observable fact, its numerous health benefits and potentiality remains uncharted. Apart from being delicious, the bamboo shoots are also rich in minerals and nutrient components such as carbohydrates, proteins, fiber and are low in fat and sugar which could be helpful in mitigating the problem of malnutrition. Few studies also revealed the health benefits of bamboo shoots for the treatment of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, weight loss and to improve digestion. Over and above the nutritional values of different species of bamboo shoots, the increasing inclinations towards health awareness among the consumers have emphasized its utilization in modern diet as a health food for boosting the nutritional security. Thus, in the present review, the nutraceutical potentiality of bamboo shoots is explored alongside its various qualities.