E. M. Galati

Antiulcer activity of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae): ultrastructural study.

In Sicily folk medicine, Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. cladodes are used for the treatment of gastric ulcer. We studied the effect of administration of lyophilized cladodes on experimental ethanol-induced ulcer in rat. In this paper, we report the ultrastructural observations of gastric mucosa. The ultrastructural changes were observed by trasmission electronic microscopy (TEM) confirming the protective effect exercised by administration of lyophilized cladodes. Pre-treatment test in rats revealed a protective action against ethanol-induced ulcer. Probably, the mucilage of Opuntia ficus indica is involved.

Biological effect of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) waste matter Note I: diuretic activity

In this work we studied in rat the diuretic activity of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) waste matter. The cladodes, flowers and non commerciable fruits were collected in S. Cono (CT, Sicily) cultivation. Acute and chronic diuretic activity of 15% infusion of cladodes, flowers and fruits were assayed. Natriuresis, kaliuresis and the activity on fructose-induced hyperuricemia was also studied. The results show that O. ficus indica cladode, fruit and flower infusions significantly increase diuresis. This effect is more marked with the fruit infusion and it is particularly significant during the chronic treatment. The fruit infusion shows also antiuric effect. In all experiments cladode, flower and fruit infusions showed a modest but not significant increase in natriuresis and kaliuresis.

Study on the increment of the production of gastric mucus in rats treated with Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. cladodes

Opuntia ficus indica cladodes are used in traditional medicine of many countries for their cicatrisant activity. The major components of cladodes are carbohydrate-containing polymers, which consist of a mixture of mucilage and pectin. In this paper we studied the cytoprotective effects of cladodes on experimental ethanol-induced ulcer in rat. The O. ficus indica cladodes administration gives rise to cytoprotection phenomena by breaking up the epithelial cells and stimulating an increase in mucus production. When O. ficus indica cladodes are administered as a preventive therapy, keep the gastric mucosa under normal condition by preventing mucus dissolution caused by ethanol and favouring mucus production. An increase of mucus production is also observed during the course of the curative treatment. The treatment with O. ficus indica cladodes provokes an increase in the number of secretory cells. Probably, the gastric fibroblasts are involved in the antiulcer activity.

Endogenous reverse transcriptase as a mediator of ursolic acid’s anti-proliferative and differentiating effects in human cancer cell lines

Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound that is widely distributed in the plant kingdom and has a broad range of biological effects. Here, we examined the effects of UA on the proliferation and differentiation of human tumor cell lines from melanoma (A375), glioblastoma (U87) and thyroid anaplastic carcinoma (ARO), and on the proliferation of a non-transformed human fibroblast cell line (WI-38). The results show that UA inhibits tumor cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Consistent with this finding, UA treatment promotes differentiation of all of the analyzed tumor cell lines. Interestingly, we found that UA inhibits the endogenous reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in tumor cells, which has recently been shown to be involved in the control of proliferation and differentiation of neoplastic cells. Considering these findings, we suggest that the observed anti-proliferative and differentiating effects of UA may be related to this target.

Effects of Teucrium divaricatum Heldr. ssp. divaricatum decoction on experimental ulcer in rats.

The effects of chronic intragastric administration of the aerial parts decoction of Teucrium divaricatum Heldr. ssp. divaricatum (Labiateae) on experimental acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-induced ulcer were studied in rats. The ulcer index and histological mucosa regeneration were evaluated. The ulcer index significantly decreased (U.I. 1.7+/-1.5; P<0.05) after treatment with a lyophilized decoction of T. divaricatum (500 mg/kg os), once daily for 7 days, compared to the control (U.I. 11.4+/-2.3). The ultrastructure modifications of gastric mucosa were observed by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) confirming the antisecretory effect exercised by administration of the T. divaricatum decoction. Treatment with T. divaricatum seems to block up parietal cell acid secretion and to stimulate in the chief cells the formation of zymogen granules.

ESSENTIAL OIL COMPOSITION OF NEPETA ARGOLICA BORY ET CHAUB. SUBSP. ARGOLICA

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from the herbal parts and different plant parts of Nepeta argolica Bory et Chaub. subsp. argolica was examined by GC and GC–MS. Sixty-two con-ystituents were identified. The major constituents were found to be stereoisomers of nepetalactones (94.5–68.0%). 4aα,7α,7aβ-nepetalactone was isolated and identified by 1H- and 13C-NMR. Copyright

Analgesic and Antipyretic Effects of Mucuna Pruriens

AbstractAlcohol Extracts Of Leaf and Fruit Trichome Of Mucuna Pruriens Dc, An African Traditional Plant, Were Screened For Analgesic and Antipyretic Activity In The Rat. The Extracts Were Administered By Gavage and Found To Increase The Pain Threshold and Decrease Body Temperature, When Pyrexia Was Induced By Injecting A Yeast Suspension. The Extracts Also Showed Anti-Inflammatory Activity, As They Were Able To Inhibit Carrageenin-Induced Edema.

Biological activity of Opuntia ficus indica cladodes. II: Effect on experimental hypercholesterolemia in rats

The influence of a daily administration of lyophilized cladodes of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) on lipid metabolism was investigated in hypercholesterolemic rats. The preparation was administered either for 15 or 30 days (by gavage at a dose of 1 g/kg in aqueous vehicle in a volume of 1.5 ml/100 g b.w.). Cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride plasma levels were assayed. Statistically significant reductions in cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride plasma levels were found. The treatment was more effective after 30 days. The effects are probably due to the high fiber content of the cladodes, but other active ingredients could be operating in conjunction with this.

Salvadora persica L.: hypolipidemic activity on experimental hypercholesterolemia in rat.

Stems of Salvadora persica are widely used as tooth cleaning sticks in Arabic countries and decoctions show hypocholesterolemic properties. The effects of prolonged administration of a lyophilized stem decoction of Salvadora persica were evaluated in diet-induced rat hypercholesterolemia. The preparation was administered for 15 and 30 days (by gavage at a dose of 500 mg/kg in an aqueous vehicle in a volume of 0.5 ml/100 g b.w.). Cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride plasma levels were assayed. The results showed that the S. persica decoction significantly lowered cholesterol and LDL plasma levels in rats, proving to be more active at 30 days of treatment. The systemic administration of Triton results in a rise in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The results obtained show that S. persica decoction was inactive at 18 hr after treatment, whereas at 27 hr, it was able to reduce cholesterol and LDL plasma levels. In all experiments HDL and triglycerides were unchanged.

Antiulcer activity of Salvadora persica L.: structural modifications.

In previous work we observed that the decoction of Salvadora persica L. possessed significant protective action against ethanol and stress-induced ulcers. This study was designed to confirm the antiulcer activity of Salvadora persica decoction using optical microscopy. The elements of gastric mucosa tended to be reestablished normally in treated rats.