Biswakanth Kar

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.

Antihyperglycemic activity and antioxidant role of Terminalia arjuna leaf in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Context: Terminalia arjuna Roxb. (Combretaceae), commonly known as Arjuna, is a large tree grown throughout the Indian peninsula and used traditionally for several medicinal purposes. Objective: To evaluate antihyperglycemic and antioxidant role of methanol extract of T. arjuna leaf (META) in Wistar rats. Materials and methods: Hyperglycemia was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg body weight). Three days after STZ induction, the hyperglycemic rats were treated with META orally at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight daily for 15 days. Glibenclamide (0.5 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 (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cholesterol, and total protein were estimated. Antioxidant properties were assessed by estimating hepatic lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT). Results and discussion: META at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg orally significantly (P < 0.001) and dose-dependently reduced and normalized blood glucose levels as compared with that of STZ control group. Serum biochemical parameters were significantly (P < 0.001) restored toward normal levels in META-treated rats as compared with STZ control. META treatment also significantly (P < 0.001) decreased lipid peroxidation and recovered GSH level and CAT activity toward normal as compared with STZ control. Conclusion: The present study infers that T. arjuna leaf demonstrated remarkable antihyperglycemic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The potential antihyperglycemic action is plausibly due to its underlying antioxidant role.

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.

Antitumor activity and antioxidant property of Curcuma caesia against Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma bearing mice

Abstract Context: Curcuma caesia Roxb. (Zingiberaceae), commonly known as “Kala Haldi” in Bengali, has been traditionally used for the treatment of cancer, bruises, inflammation and as an aphrodisiac. Objective: To evaluate the antitumor activity and antioxidant status of the methanol extract of Curcuma caesia (MECC) rhizomes on Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma (EAC)-treated mice. Materials and methods: In vitro cytotoxicity assay of MECC was evaluated by using Trypan blue method. Determination of in vivo antitumor activity was performed after 24 h of EAC cells (2 × 106 cells/mouse) inoculation; MECC (50 and 100 mg/kg i.p.) was administered daily for nine consecutive days. On day 10, half of the mice were sacrificed and the rest were kept alive for assessment of increase in lifespan. Antitumor effect of MECC was assessed by the study of tumor volume, tumor weight, viable and non-viable cell count, hematological parameters and biochemical estimations. Furthermore, antioxidant parameters were assayed by estimating liver and kidney tissue enzymes. Results: MECC showed direct cytotoxicity (IC50 90.70 ± 8.37 μg/mL) on EAC cell line. MECC exhibited significant (p < 0.01) decrease in tumor volume, tumor weight, viable cell count and percentage increased the lifespan (57.14 and 88.09%) of EAC-treated mice. Hematological profile, biochemical estimation, tissue antioxidant assay significantly (p < 0.01) reverted to normal level in MECC-treated mice. Conclusion: MECC possesses potent antitumor activity that may be due to its direct cytotoxic effect or antioxidant properties. Further research is in progress to find out the active principle(s) of MECC for its antitumor activity.

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.

In vivo anti–nociceptive and anti–inflammatory activities of Lippia alba

Abstract Objective To evaluate antinociceptive and anti–inflammatory activities of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown (Verbenaceae) leaves. Methods Soxhlet extraction method was used to obtain extracts using petroleum ether extracts (PELA); chloroform extracts (CELA); ethanol extracts (EELA) and aqueous extract (AELA). Antinociceptive activity was assessed on rats by tail flick latency using tail immersion method and anti–inflammatory activity was estimated by carrageenan induced paw edema method. PELA, CELA and AELA at a dose of 500 mg/kg.b.wt. and EELA at a dose of 460 mg/kg.b.wt were administered orally. Result Competing to control AELA was found to have a higher range of anti–nociceptive activity and showing maximum (79.66%) response at 60 min, where as CELA and EELA were found to have a maximum range of anti–inflammatory activity and CELA exhibit maximum (19.5%) response at 240 min. Conclusion The results suggest that the extracts of Lippia alba possess ant-inociceptive and anti–inflammatory activities, and its help to authenticates the use of the plant in the traditional treatment of ailments associated with pain and inflammation.

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.