Belsem Marzouk

Screening of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Citrullus colocynthis from southern Tunisia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Inflammations and immune-related diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis are growing global concerns. Most of the drugs from plants which have become important in modern medicine had a folklore origin and are traditional in systems of medicine. Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. (cucurbitaceae), endemic in Southern Tunisia, is used in folk medicine to treat many inflammation diseases. AIM OF STUDY To evaluate the acute toxicity of different parts of Citrullus colocynthis and then to screen the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extracts from roots and stems of the plant and from fruits and seeds at different maturation stages. MATERIALS AND METHODS After identification and acute toxicity assay Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. aqueous extracts were screened for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities using, respectively, the acetic acid writhing test in mice and the carrageenan-induced paw edema assay in rats. RESULTS All extracts displayed analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities at different doses without inducing acute toxicity. Topic results were obtained with immature fruits followed by seeds. The stem and root extracts were shown to possess the less significant inhibitory activity against analgesic and anti-inflammatory models. CONCLUSIONS Based on this study, we confirmed that Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. is a potentially useful drug suitable for further evaluation for rheumatoid arthritis, and its folk medicinal use as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents is validated.

Antibacterial and anticandidal screening of Tunisian Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. from Medenine.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Resistance to current antibacterial drugs and the rise of opportunistic fungal infections are growing global concerns. Traditional medicine is a potential source of new antibacterials and antifungals. Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) endemic in Southern Tunisia, is used in folk medicine against dermatological, gynaecological and pulmonary infections. AIM OF STUDY To assess in vitro antibacterial and anticandidal activity of aqueous and diluted acetone extracts of Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. MIC and MBC/MFC were determined for plant organs at different maturation stages. MATERIALS AND METHODS Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. was harvested and its identification was verified. Aqueous and diluted acetone extracts (from the plants roots, stems, leaves and three maturation stages of its fruit and seeds) were screened for activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis)-and various Candida spp. (Candida glabrata, Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida kreusei). RESULTS All extracts showed activity against all strains. The highest MICs and MBCs/MFCs were obtained from the fruit aqueous extracts (MIC 0.10mg/ml against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, 0.20mg/ml against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), lowest activity from the root extracts. CONCLUSIONS Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. shows antibacterial and anticandidal properties. The folk medicinal use as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent is validated.

Antimicrobial and anticoagulant activities of Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. leaves from Tunisia (Medenine)

Traditional medicine is a potential source of new drugs. Citrullus colocynthis is a Tunisian plant used in folk medicine against dermatological, gynaecological and pulmonary infections; and against inflammations and cardiovascular and immune-related diseases. The present study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial and anticoagulant properties of leaf extracts from an endemic plant, C. colocynthis Schrad. The extracts were screened for antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and against four Candida spp. using the microdilution method. The anticoagulant property was evaluated using the prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time tests. The antimicrobial test results showed that polar extracts using ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol from this species strongly inhibited the growth of microorganisms while petroleum ether and chloroform extracts had moderate antibacterial and anticandidal activities. Investigation of the coagulant activity of different extracts showed that C. colocynthis leaves reduced or prolonged the PT and activated or inhibited partial thromboplastin time tested on plasma according to plant extracts and dilution degrees. This indicates that this species possesses both procoagulant and anticoagulant activities. From these results, we confirmed the traditional use of C. colocynthis .

Pharmacological activities of the organic extracts and chemical fatty acids composition of the petroleum ether extract from Haplophyllum tuberculatum leaves

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Haplophyllum tuberculatum is used in traditional medicine to treat many disorders including inflammation and pain. The aim of this study is to investigate the organic extracts from H. tuberculatum leaves against inflammation, gastric ulcer and pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS Acute toxicity was studied in vivo to determine the toxic doses of the organic extracts. Anti-inflammatory activity was also evaluated in vivo using carrageenan-induced paw edema in Wistar rats. Gastroprotective activity was tested using the HCl/ethanol-induced gastric ulcer test in rats. Peripheral and central analgesic activities were assessed using the acetic acid-induced writhing test and the hot-plate method, respectively. The chemical composition of the fatty acids in the petroleum ether (PE) extract was determined with GC-MS. RESULTS At 25, 50 and 100mg/kg PE extract was the most active against inflammation. Percentages inhibition 5h after carrageenan-injection were 51.12; 86.71% and 96.92%, respectively. The same extract at 100mg/kg showed good analgesic activities using the acetic acid-induced writhing test and the hot-plate method. The chloroform, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and butanolic (n-BuOH) extracts exhibited strong anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and analgesic activities at 100mg/kg. The GC-FID analysis revealed that the PE extract was rich in γ-linolenic acid (45.50%) followed by palmitic acid (18.48%), linoleic acid (10.73%), erucic acid (4.72), stearic acid (3.96%) and oleic acid (2.57%). CONCLUSION The results of the present study support the traditional use of the leaves of H. tuberculatum and may possibly serve as prospective material for further development of safe new phytochemical anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and/or analgesic agents.