Humberto Joaquín Morris Quevedo

Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activity of a New Tablets Formulation from Tamarindus indica L.

Hepatotoxic chemicals damage liver cells primarily by producing reactive oxygen species. The decoction of the leaves of Tamarindus indica L. is used for liver disorders. In this work we evaluated the hepatoprotective activity of a tablet formulation of this plant. Thirty-five Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 7). First group (I) is control group, fed with standard diet. Groups II to V (hepatotoxic groups) were subjected to a subcutaneous injection of CCl4 (0.5 mL/kg). Group II was negative control, fed with standard diet; group III was subjected to administration of Silymarin 150 mg/kg and groups IV and V were treated with tablets in dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Lipid peroxidation and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione were evaluated. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamine transferase, alkaline phosphatase, and a lipid profile were evaluated too. The tablets inhibit lipid peroxidation. The redox balance (SOD-CAT-GSH) remains normal in the experimental groups treated with tablets. The liver function using dose of 200 mg/kg of tablets was better than the other experimental groups. These results justify, scientifically, the ethnobotanical use of the leaves of Tamarindus indica L.

Leukocyte-stimulating effect and phytochemical screening of Trichilia hirta extracts.

Trichilia hirta (Family Meliaceae) is a tree traditionally used in the folk medicine of Cuba to treat asthma, cancer, and ulcers. The objective of this study was to determine the phytochemical composition of ethanol extracts obtained from leaves, roots, and stem bark and to evaluate the leukocyte-stimulating effect of T. hirta root extracts on BALB/c mice. The chemical composition of the extracts was determined by phytochemical screening. Saponins, tannins, flavonoids, and coumarins were detected in extracts of T. hirta. The leukocyte-stimulating effect was evaluated by oral application of ethanol extracts (81.8 and 976 mg/kg) in BALB/c mice for 7 days. The application of 976 mg of extract/kg increased the total leukocyte count up to 15-33%; this effect was significant for neutrophil counts compared with control animals (P<.05). In addition, a dose of 82 mg/kg significantly increased total leukocytes at day 4 of the study (P<.05). The results indicated that T. hirta extracts contain phytochemicals reported as immunostimulants. The administration of these extracts to BALB/c mice indicated that ethanol extract could exhibit leukocyte-stimulating properties and makes it a promising alternative for the development of an immunoprotective agent.