Narayan Dolai

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.

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.

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.

Evaluation of antitumor activity of Mimusops elengi leaves on Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma-treated mice.

ABSTRACT Context: Mimusops elengi (M. elengi) Linn. (Sapotaceae) has been used as a folk medicine in wound healing, and the treatment of pain, and inflammation in many parts of India. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to explore the antitumor activity of methanol extract of M. elengi (MEME) in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell line. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four hours after intraperitoneal (i.p.) inoculation of tumor (EAC) cells in mice (n = 12), MEME was administered at 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight daily for 9 consecutive days. On day 10, half of the mice were dissected and the rest were kept alive for assessment of increase in life span. The antitumor effect of MEME was assessed by evaluating tumor volume, viable and nonviable tumor cell count, tumor weight, hematological parameter, and biochemical estimations. In vivo antioxidant parameters were assayed by estimating liver tissue enzyme. In vitro cytotoxicity assay of MEME was measured by using trypan blue exclusion method. Results and Discussion: MEME showed significant (p < .001) decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume, and viable cell count, and increased the life span of EAC bearing mice. Hematological, biochemical profile, and in vivo antioxidant parameters were significantly restored toward normal levels in MEME-treated mice as compared to EAC control. MEME also showed direct cytotoxicity on EAC cell line in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that M. elengi leaves exhibited antitumor activity in Swiss mice, which may be due to its cytotoxic effect and antioxidant properties.

Apoptogenic effects of β-sitosterol glucoside from Castanopsis indica leaves

β-Sitosterol glucoside (BSSG) is a natural biologically active substance isolated from the Castanopsis indica leaves. This study explored the apoptogenic mechanistic studies of BSSG against Ehrlichs ascites carcinoma (EAC) treated mice through morphological study, comet assay, flow cytometry (FACS) and Western blotting assay method. AO/EB staining and FACS analysis showed that BSSG possessed apoptosis induction activities on EAC cells. Dose dependent induction of DNA damage was observed after BSSG treatment. Increase the expression of apoptotic protein p53 and p21 in EAC, multiple downstream factors contributing to apoptosis pathway. The increase of caspase-9 and caspase-3 activities revealed that caspase was a key mediator of the apoptotic pathway induced by BSSG, and up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 resulted in the decrease of Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Owing to the combination of significant antitumour activity by inducing apoptosis, BSSG holds the promise of being an interesting chemo-preventive agent active in cancer therapy.

Antitumor activity and antioxidant status of Streblus asper bark against Dalton's ascitic lymphoma in mice

Abstract Streblus asper Lour (Moraceae), commonly known as Siamee Rough Brush in English is widely distributed in subtropical Asia and traditionally used for several medicinal purposes. In the present study, the ethyl acetate fraction of the methanol extract from Streblus asper bark (EASA) was evaluated for antitumor effect against Dalton’s ascitic lymphoma (DAL) in Swiss albino mice. Twenty-four hours after intraperitoneal inoculation of DAL cells in mice, EASA was administered intraperitoneally at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight for 9 consecutive days. On the 10th day, half of the mice were sacrificed to determine the tumor growth parameters, and the rest were kept alive for survival assessment. Hematological, serum biochemical and tissue (liver, kidney) antioxidant profiles were also determined. EASA exhibited significant and dose dependent decrease in tumor growth parameters and increased survival of DAL bearing animals. EASA significantly and dose-dependently normalized the altered hematological, serum biochemical and tissue antioxidant parameters as compared with the DAL control mice. From the present study it may be concluded that S. asper bark possesses remarkable antitumor efficacy mediated by amelioration of oxidative stress by multiple mechanisms.

Correction to: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties Hymenodictyon excelsum bark

Unfortunately, one of the co-authors’ given name was incorrect in the original version of this article. The correct given name should be: Sanjib.

Methanolic extract of Anthocephalus cadamba induces apoptosis in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in experimental mice.

Objective: Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. (Family: Rubiaceae), a folk medicine commonly known as “Kadam” in Bengali, has been used for the treatment of tumor. The methanolic extract of A. cadamba (MEAC) showing antitumor activity on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells treated mice was already reported. This study was designed to study the apoptosis-inducing property of MEAC and its mechanism in EAC cells in mice. Materials and Methods: Apoptogenic morphology was determined by fluorescent DNA-binding double staining method using dyes acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB). Comet assay was estimated to check the DNA damage. Flow cytometry (fluorescence-activated cell sorting [FACS]) was used to detect the apoptotic rate quantitatively by double labeling techniques using annexin V FITC/propidium iodide staining. Apoptotic protein expression was done using Western blotting assay method. Statistical Analysis: Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA followed by Dunnetts post hoc test of GraphPad Prism software. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001 were considered statistically significant. Results: Apoptosis-inducing effect of MEAC on EAC cells was confirmed from AO/EB staining and FACS analysis. MEAC treatment showed dose-dependent induction of DNA damage. Apoptosis was induced by increasing the expression of multiple downstream factors such as pro-apoptotic protein p53 and p21 in EAC. Bax was up-regulated and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was down-regulated resulting in decrease of the Bcl-2/Bax ratio by MEAC treatment. Conclusion: Experimental results revealed that MEAC induces apoptosis by modulating the expression of some pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins in EAC and thus exerts its anti-tumor activity.