Asis Bala

Antitumor activity of Sansevieria roxburghiana rhizome against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice.

Context: Sansevieria roxburghiana Schult. & Schult. f. (Agavaceae) is a herbaceous perennial plant traditionally used for coughs, rheumatism; as an expectorant, febrifuge, purgative, and tonic. Objective: To evaluate the hydroalcoholic extract of S. roxburghiana rhizome (HASR) for antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice. Methods: Twenty-Four hours after intraperitoneal inoculation of tumor (EAC) cells in mice, HASR was administered at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight for nine consecutive days. On day 10 half of the mice were sacrificed and rest were kept alive for assessment of increase in life-span. The antitumor effect of HASR was assessed by evaluating tumor volume, packed cell count, viable and non-viable tumor cell count, median survival time and increase in life-span of EAC bearing hosts. Hematological profiles and serum biochemical parameters were estimated. Further, antioxidant properties were assessed by estimating lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Results and discussion: HASR showed a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable cell count and increased the life span of EAC bearing mice. Hematological and serum biochemical profiles were restored to normal levels in HASR treated mice as compared to EAC control. HASR treatment significantly (p <0.001) decreased lipid peroxidation and recovered GSH, SOD and CAT towards normal as compared to EAC control. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that S. roxburghiana rhizome exhibited remarkable antitumor activity in Swiss mice that is plausibly attributable to its augmenting endogenous antioxidant mechanisms.

Evaluation of antihyperglycemic activity of Cocos nucifera Linn. on streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The plant Cocos nucifera Linn. (Arecaceae) is commonly known as coconut. Traditionally the juice of the young spadix when fresh is used in diarrhea and diabetes. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of antidiabetic activity and effect on lipid profile as well as cardioprotective effect of hydro-methanol extract of Cocos nucifera (HECN) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS After 72 h of STZ (50 mg/kg, b.w. i.p.) administration, animals showing plasma sugar level more than 250 mg/dl were considered as diabetic rat. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were measured on 0th (after 72 h of STZ), 5th, 10th, and 15th day. On the 15th day all the animals were sacrificed and the serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzyme status were measured. RESULTS HECN treated animals showed a significant reduction in FBG level as compared with diabetic control group. Serum enzyme level (SGOT, SGPT, SALP), lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme level such as CAT, GSH, SOD and cholesterol and triglycerides in the HECN treated groups were restored towards normal level as compared to diabetic control groups and the values were comparable with the standard groups (glibenclamide). CONCLUSION Improvement in the FBG and the restoration of all other biomarker as well as enzymes indicates that HECN has very good antidiabetic activity with very low side effects and provides a scientific rationale for the use as an antidiabetic agent.

Antitumor Activity of Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. Leaves in Ehrlich's Ascites Carcinoma Cell-Treated Mice

Context. The plant Citrus maxima Merr. (Rutaceae), commonly known as shaddock or pomelo is indigenous to tropical parts of Asia. The objective of present study is to evaluate the methanol extract of Citrus maxima leaves for its antitumor activity against Ehrlichs Ascites Carcinoma cell in Swiss albino mice. Experimental design. The antitumor activity of methanol extract of Citrus maxima leaves (MECM) was evaluated against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line in Swiss albino mice. 2 × 106 cells were inoculated in different groups of animals. MECM (200 and 400 mg/kg BW i.p.) was administered for nine consecutive days. On day 10th half the animals of different groups were sacrificed for determination of tumor and haematological parameters and the rest half were kept with sufficient food and water ad libitum for determination of increase in life span. Result and Discussions. Oral administration of the extract at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly decreased tumor parameters such as tumor volume, viable tumor cell count and increased body weight, hematological parameters and life span in respect of the EAC control mice. Conclusion. Experimental design exhibits significant antitumor activity of the extract (MECM) in a dose dependant manner.

Evaluation of antihyperglycemic and antioxidant properties of Streblus asper Lour against streptozotocin–induced diabetes in rats

Abstract Objective To evaluate antidiabetic and antioxidant role of methanol extract of Streblus asper (S. asper) root bark in Wistar rats. Methods Diabetes was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg body weight). Three days after STZ induction, the diabetic rats were treated with S. asper orally at dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight daily for 15 days. Glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg, orally) was used as reference drug. The fasting blood glucose levels were measured on every fifth day during the 15-day treatment. Serum biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol total protein and serum triglycerides were estimated. Antioxidant properties were assessed by estimating liver and kidney thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, reduced glutathione and catalase. Results S. asper in STZ-induced diabetic rats, at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg bw produced reduction in blood glucose levels when compared with the STZ control group. Serum biochemical parameters antioxidant levels were significantly restored toward normal levels in S. asper treated rats as compared with STZ control. Conclusions The present study infers that the methanol extract of S. asper root bark demonstrated remarkable antidiabetic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The potential antidiabetic action is plausibly due to its underlying antioxidant role.

Free radical scavenging activity of Castanopsis indica in mediating hepatoprotective activity of carbon tetrachloride intoxicated rats

Objective To investigate the free radical scavenging activity of methanol extract of Castanopsis indica (C. indica) in mediating hepatoprotective activity of carbon tetrachloride intoxicated rats.

Antioxidant and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of Mimusops elengi leaves

Abstract Objective To assess the antioxidant and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of the alcoholic extract of Mimusops elengi L (M. elengi) leaves. Methods In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated for peroxynitrite, superoxide and hypochlorous acid scavenging activity. Total phenolic content also determined. Inhibition of protein denaturation and HRBC (Human Red Blood Cell) membrane stabilization method was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity. Results The leave extract of M. elengi exhibited dose dependent free radical scavenging property in peroxynitrite, superoxide and hypochlorous acid models and the IC50 value were found to be (205.53 ± 2.30), (60.5±2.3), (202.4±5.3) μg/mL respectively. Total phenolic content was found to be 97.3 μg/mg of extract. The maximum membrane stabilization of M. elengi L was found to be (73.85±0.80)% at a dose of 1 000 μg/0.5 mL and that of protein denaturation was found to be 86.23% at a dose of 250 μg/mL with regards to standards in the anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion From the result it can conclude that M. elengi extract show good antioxidant and in vitro anti -inflammatory activities.

Carbon tetrachloride: A hepatotoxin causes oxidative stress in murine peritoneal macrophage and peripheral blood lymphocyte cells

Context: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is frequently used as a chemical inducer of tissue damage. Their effects on mouse peritoneal macrophages and also in peripheral blood lymphocytes are still unknown. Objective: Therefore we tried to focus on intracellular oxidative stress produced by CCl4 in mouse macrophage and lymphocyte cells. Methods: Intraperitoneal administration of CCl4 induces intracellular superoxide anions production in mouse macrophages and peripheral blood lymphocytes and leads a subsequent lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. N-acetyl cystein (NAC) and vitamin C were administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 150 mg/kg and their effect on demodulating the oxidative stress is also checked. Result and discussion: Several in vitro approaches have already been established as a free radical scavenging models, but this free radical screening models is not always correlated with the in vivo screening models. NAC and vitamin C were administered intraperitoneally and significant reduction of the oxidative stress in term of scavenging of toxic superoxide anion observed in both the macrophages and lymphocytes. Conclusion: Therefore we are hopeful that our work will light a new insight into the screening of in vivo free radical scavenging model for evaluating anti-inflammatory compounds.

Evaluation of Antihyperglycemic Activity of Citrus limetta Fruit Peel in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

The present paper aims to evaluate antihyperglycemic activity of methanol extract of Citrus limetta fruit peel (MECL) in streptozotocin-induced (STZ; 65 mg/kg b.w.) diabetic rats. Three days after STZ induction, diabetic rats received MECL orally at 200 and 400 mg kg−1 body weight daily for 15 days. Glibenclamide (0.5 mg kg−1 p. o.) was used as reference drug. Blood glucose levels were measured on 0th, 4th, 8th, and 15th days of study. Serum biochemical parameters namely, SGOT, SGPT and ALP were estimated. The TBARS and GSH levels of pancreas, kidney, and liver were determined. MECL significantly (P < 0.001) and dose dependently normalized blood glucose levels and serum biochemical parameters, decreased lipid peroxidation, and recovered GSH as compared to those of STZ control. The present paper infers that in STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rats, C. limetta fruit peel demonstrated a potential antihyperglycemic effect which may be attributed to its antioxidant property.

Chemopreventive role of Indigofera aspalathoides against 20-methylcholanthrene-induced carcinogenesis in mouse

This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the chemopreventive effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Indigofera aspalathoides (HAIA) against 20-methylcholanthrene (20-MC)-induced carcinogenesis in mice. Tumor was induced by single subcutaneous administration of 20-MC (200 µg per mouse) in Swiss albino mice. After 24 h of 20-MC administration, HAIA was administered at the doses of 250 and 500 mg kg−1 body weight orally for 90 consecutive days. Mice of all groups were observed for 15 weeks to record tumor incidence (fibrosarcoma) and survival time. After 15 weeks the mice were sacrificed for the estimation of hematological profiles like hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), and liver biochemical parameters, namely lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). HAIA treatment markedly reduced tumor incidence and prolonged the life span of sarcoma-bearing mice as compared to 20-MC control mice. Hematological profiles were significantly (p < 0.001) restored to normal levels in HAIA-treated mice as compared to 20-MC control mice. HAIA treatment significantly (p < 0.001) modulated the aforesaid liver biochemical parameters as compared to 20-MC control. The results concluded that I. aspalathoides demonstrated a remarkable chemopreventive effect in chemical-induced carcinogenesis in mouse. The potential chemopreventive action may be due to its antioxidant and detoxifying properties.

Evaluation of antitumor activity of Mimusops elengi leaves on Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma-treated mice.

ABSTRACT Context: Mimusops elengi (M. elengi) Linn. (Sapotaceae) has been used as a folk medicine in wound healing, and the treatment of pain, and inflammation in many parts of India. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to explore the antitumor activity of methanol extract of M. elengi (MEME) in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell line. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four hours after intraperitoneal (i.p.) inoculation of tumor (EAC) cells in mice (n = 12), MEME was administered at 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight daily for 9 consecutive days. On day 10, half of the mice were dissected and the rest were kept alive for assessment of increase in life span. The antitumor effect of MEME was assessed by evaluating tumor volume, viable and nonviable tumor cell count, tumor weight, hematological parameter, and biochemical estimations. In vivo antioxidant parameters were assayed by estimating liver tissue enzyme. In vitro cytotoxicity assay of MEME was measured by using trypan blue exclusion method. Results and Discussion: MEME showed significant (p < .001) decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume, and viable cell count, and increased the life span of EAC bearing mice. Hematological, biochemical profile, and in vivo antioxidant parameters were significantly restored toward normal levels in MEME-treated mice as compared to EAC control. MEME also showed direct cytotoxicity on EAC cell line in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that M. elengi leaves exhibited antitumor activity in Swiss mice, which may be due to its cytotoxic effect and antioxidant properties.