L. Iauk

Antiinflammatory, Analgesic and Antipyretic Activity in Rodents of Plant Extracts used in African Medicine

Antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities and toxicity of different extracts (decoction, petroleum ether, ethanol and aqueous extracts) of: Afrormosia laxiflora (Benth. ex Bak.) Harms (leaves), Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume (whole plant), Ficus glomerata Roxb. (leaves), Lantana camara L. (leaves), Lippia geminata H.B.K. (leaves), Lippia nodiflora (L.) Michx. (leaves) and Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn. (whole plant), were evaluated in pharmacological tests using rats and mice.

Antiulcer activity of Pteleopsis suberosa.

The bark Pteleopsis suberosa is commonly used in Mali for the treatment of gastric ulcers. The present study evaluated the antiulcerogenic property of chloroform, ethanol and aqueous extracts and of decoction of P. suberosa bark against ulcer lesions induced by ethanol and indomethacin in rats. The results tend to confirm the popular use of the plant.

Antiulcer activity of Vernonia kotschyana sch. bip.

Vernonia root is a herbal remedy used in Mali folk medicine for treatment of gastritis and gastroduodenal ulcer. The clinical trial conducted in Mali on a small number of patients gave encouraging results. In our studies, the aqueous extract of Vernonia, administered before or after an ulcerogenous agent, reduces the number and severity of ethanol-induced ulcers. The extract does not produce changes in volume, pH and total acid output in pyloric-ligated animals.

Antibacterial, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic effects of Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffmanns. et Link leaves' fractions

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the bioactivity of the methanol fraction (MF) and n-hexane fraction (HF) of Thymus capitatus leaves in relation to their constituents analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effects of T. capitatus on the growth of pathogenic bacteria associated with respiratory diseases (13 gram-positive and 4 gram-negative) were determined using a microdilution method. The MF was particularly effective on Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), ferric-reducing antioxidant power and β-carotene bleaching assays. A strong activity using β-carotene bleaching test was observed with the MF (IC50 of 0.7 μg/mL after 30 min of incubation). In the hypoglycaemic test, a selective α-amylase inhibitory activity was detected with the HF begging the most active (IC50 of 422.5 μg/mL). T. capitatus may represent a source of natural bioactive compounds.

Effect of berberine and Berberis aetnensis C. Presl. alkaloid extract on glutamate-evoked tissue transglutaminase up-regulation in astroglial cell cultures

Berberis aetnensis C. Presl. is a bushy‐spiny shrub common on Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy), containing various alkaloids with several pharmacological properties. This study assessed the effect of berberine and of the alkaloid extract of B. aetnensis roots on the glutamate‐evoked tissue transglutaminase (TG2) up‐regulation in rat astrocyte primary cultures, used as an in vitro model of excitotoxicity. The findings show that the alkaloid extract of B. aetnensis roots consists mainly of berberine. Furthermore, berberine and the alkaloid extract of B. aetnensis roots were able to restore the oxidative status modified by glutamate and the levels of TG2 to control values. It was found that berberine or the alkaloid extract of B. aetnensis roots are able to ameliorate the excessive production of glutamate, protein misfolding and aggregation, mitochondrial fragmentation, and neurodegeneration. Thus, it is suggested that berberine and the alkaloid extract of B. aetnensis roots, may represent a natural therapeutic strategy in the neuropathological conditions associated with excitotoxicity. Copyright

Antimicrobial activity of Rhus coriaria L. leaf extract

The antibacterial activity of Rhus coriaria leaf methanol extract was assayed against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria; antimycotic activity was assayed against some Candida species. MICs were determined by a broth microdilution assay in microlitre plates using Mueller–Hinton medium. MBCs were determined by plating 0.01 mL samples from clear 1 mL tubes onto agar plates.

Micromorphological study on leaves of someCordia (Boraginaceae) species used in traditional medicine

The genus Cordia (Boraginaceae) is made up of a great many species widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The leaves ofCordia myxa, as also those of many other species of the same genus, have been utilized in the traditional medicine of many countries for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Observed by light microscope and by scanning electron microscope the histological characteristics of the leaf ofCordia francisci, C. martinicensis, C. serratifolia andC. ulmifolia, species grown in Sicily, compared also with those of the leaves ofC. myxa originating from Africa, are described in detail. It has been possible to reveal some morphological elements that allow leaf identification and the differentiation of the drugs examined.RésuméLe genreCordia (Boraginaceae) est composé d’un trés grand nombre d’especes largement distribuisees dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales du monde. Les feuilles deCordia myxa, tout comme celles de nombreuses autres especes du méme genre, ont été utilisées dans la médicine traditionnelle de maints pays dans le traitement de diverses maladies. On a décrit en détail les caractéristiques histologiques de la feuille de Cordia francisci.,C. martinicensis, C. serratifolia etC. ulmifolia, espéces qui poussent en Sicile et qui ont été observées au microscope optique et au microscope electronique á balayage. On les a également comparées a celles des feuilles deC. myxa L., provenant de l’Afrique. Il a été possible de découvrir quelques éléments morphologiques qui ont permis l’identification de la feuille et la différentiation des drogues examinées.

Antibacterial activity of Helleborus bocconei Ten. subsp. siculus root extracts.

AIM OF THE STUDY Roots of Helleborus bocconei Ten. subsp. siculus (Schiffner) Merxm. & Podl. are widely used in veterinary folk medicine in Sicily (Italy) to diagnose and cure lower respiratory tract infections in cattle. This study intended to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of the methanolic root extract of Helleborus bocconei Ten. subsp. siculus, and of the bufadienolide and ecdysteroid fractions extracted from its roots, against strains belonging to species commonly associated with respiratory tract infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS The phytochemical screening of the previously prepared plant extracts was carried out by chemical, thin-layer chromatography and spectroscopic methods. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the extracts against seven different standard bacterial strains was evaluated by broth microdilution. RESULTS According to the present study, Helleborus bocconei Ten. subsp. siculus roots contain bufadienolides and ecdysteroids, and the extracts containing these compounds, as well as the crude methanolic root extract, show antibacterial activity against microorganisms responsible for respiratory infections. In particular, the bufadienolide extract has the highest inhibitory activity against all the tested organisms, and, as the other extracts, shows the lowest MIC values (100mug/ml) against Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae. CONCLUSIONS Since the roots of Helleborus bocconei Ten. subsp. siculus contain substances with antibacterial activity, the traditional use of this plant may also derive from its antibacterial properties.

Antioxidant Activity of Extracts of Momordica Foetida Schumach. et Thonn.

Momordica foetida Schumach. et Thonn. (Cucurbitaceae) is a perennial climbing herb with tendrils, found in swampy areas in Central Uganda. Antidiabetic and antilipogenic activities were reported for some Momordica species, however the mechanism of action is still unknown. Oxidative stress may represent an important pathogenic mechanism in obesity-associated metabolic syndrome. The present study evaluated free radical scavenging capacity of different concentrations of aqueous, methanolic and dichloromethane leaf extracts of Momordica foetida Schumach. et Thonn. and the ability of these extracts to inhibit in vitro plasma lipid peroxidation; in addition, healthy human adipose mesenchymal stem cell cultures were used in order to test the hypothesis that these extracts may affect adipocyte differentiation. Results obtained in this study suggested that aqueous extract might be useful in preventing metabolic syndrome.

Daphne gnidium L. bark and leaf extracts: skin damage by topical application

This study was performed in the rabbit to evaluate the tolerability of the methanol extracts of D. gnidium bark and leaves in single topical application, after repeated application and after UV exposure, as these preparations prove to have good antibacterial and antimycotic activities. The results of the acute primary irritation, phototoxicity and sensitization tests show that D. gnidium leaf extract has a good cutaneous tolerability, while the bark extract could not be used by topical application due to its capability to induce photochemical skin damage.