Nirmal Chandra Sukul

Cestocidal activity of Acacia auriculiformis.

The cestocidal activity of Acacia auriculiformis was evaluated using rats each harbouring a single adult worm of Hymenolepis diminuta. The ethanol extract (300 mg/kg/day) and the saponins (200 mg/kg/day) obtained from the funicles of A. auriculiformis, were administered orally to two groups each of 10 rats, respectively, on day 20 after oral inoculation with a single cysticercoid of H. diminuta. Adult worms were expelled within 5 days from rats treated with the ethanol extract and within 3 days from those treated with saponins. No appreciable side effects were observed in the treated rats.

Antifilarial effect of Zingiber officinale on Dirofilaria immitis.

Dogs, naturally infected with Dirofilaria immitis, were treated with the residues of the alcoholic extracts of the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale (ginger). Twelve subcutaneous injections of the extract given at 100 mg/kg reduced microfilarial concentration in blood by a maximum of 98%. Fifty five days after the last injection there was 83% reduction in microfilarial concentration suggesting partial destruction of adult worms. Half of the treated dogs showed some lethargy at the beginning of treatment possibly due to the mass annihilation of microfilariae in blood.

Prolonged cataleptogenic effects of potentized homoeopathic drugs

The four homoeopathic drugs, Gelsemium, Cannabis Indica, Graphites and Agaricus Muscarius, administered orally in 30th and 200th potencies on white rats, enhanced restraint-induced catalepsy in a similar manner to the two standard drugs pilocarpine and haloperidol (IP injection at 5 mg/kg). All the drugs tested differed from each other in the duration of cataleptogenic effect, which was more prolonged with Cannabis, Graphites and Agaricus than with Gelsemium and the two non-homoeopathic drugs used. The 200th potency of any homoeopathic drug tested acted longer than its 30th potency.

Filaricidal properties of a wild herb, Andrographis paniculata.

Water decoction of the leaves of Andrographis paniculata killed in vitro the microfilaria of Dipetalonema reconditum in 40 min. Three subcutaneous injections of the extract into infected dogs at 0.06 ml per kg body-weight reduced the number of microfilariae in blood by more than 85%. The larvae were not totally eliminated with more infections but the reduced microfilarial level persisted. No toxic effect of the extract was observed in rabbits. The treated dogs became lethargic initially for a week, probably due to the mass killing of microfilariae.

Strychnos nux-vomica extract and its ultra-high dilution reduce voluntary ethanol intake in rats.

OBJECTIVES To see whether Strychnos nux-vomica extract (mother tincture [MT]), its potency Nux 30c, and its principal alkaloid, strychnine, could reduce voluntary ethanol intake in rats. To analyze the solution structure of Nux MT, Nux 30c, 90% ethanol, and ethanol 30c by means of electronic (ES) and nuclear nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. DESIGN Potentially alcoholic rats were first given 20% ethanol and then kept on a two-choice bottle, one with 20% ethanol and another with tap water. These rats were given the following oral treatments for 15 days: group 1, control; group 2, strychnine at 0.36 mg/kg per day; group 3, ethanolic extract of S. nux-vomica seeds (Nux MT) at 3.6 mg/kg per day; and group 4, Nux 30c at 0.05 mL/d per rat. Nux 30c was prepared by successive dilution of Nux MT and 90% ethanol (1:100) and sonication at 20 kHz for 30 seconds in 30 steps. RESULTS Both Nux MT and Nux 30c significantly reduced ethanol intake and increased water intake in rats. ES of two dilutions of Nux MT and Nux 30c showed intersections at more than one point suggesting existence of molecular complexes. ES of Nux MT in CCl4 showed a red shift when 90% ethanol was added indicating molecular complexation and charge transfer interaction between ethanol and Nux compounds. NMR spectra of Nux MT, 90% ethanol, ethanol 30c, and Nux 30c indicated a change in solution structure of the medium (90% ethanol) of Nux 30c. CONCLUSION Nux MT and Nux 30c could reduce ethanol intake in rats. The altered solution structure of Nux 30c is thought to mimic Nux MT and produce ethanol aversion in rats.

Salicylic acid enhances resistance in cowpea against Meloidogyne incognita

Salicylic acid (10 mM) sprayed on cowpea leaves inoculated with Meloidogyne incognita reduced nematode infection and promoted plant growth. Salicylic acid did not kill nematodes in an in vitro test and induced expression and accumulation of pathogenesis related-1 protein in the leaves of sprayed plants. The presence of Tween-20 enhanced the effect of salicylic acid on the accumulation of pathogenesis related-1 protein.

Reduction in the number of infective Trichinella spiralis larvae in mice by use of homeopathic drugs.

Background: Trichinellosis caused by the gastrointestinal nematode Trichinella spiralis occurs in humans, domestic animals and wild animals. It is difficult to control the muscle phase of the parasite. Homeopathic drugs such as Cina and Santoninum have anthelmintic properties. We have observed that in material doses, the homeopathic drug Podophyllum also has nematotoxic properties. We have also observed that homeopathic potency can influence the water permeability of cells. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether potentized homeopathic drugs such as Cina 30, Santoninum 30 and Podophyllum mother tincture can affect the muscle phase of the parasite T. spiralis in mice. Another objective was to see whether trichinellosis and its treatment with the 3 named homeopathic drugs could alter the water content in the muscle tissue of mice. Materials and Methods: Cina 30 and Santoninum 30 were prepared from the mother tincture of the flowering tops of Artemisia nilagirica and its active principle santonin, in each case by successive dilution (1:100) with 90% ethanol and sonication in 30 steps following the single glass method (K30). Ethanol 30 was prepared by successive dilution of 90% ethanol with 90% ethanol (1:100) followed by sonication in 30 steps. In each step, the dilution was sonicated at 20 KHz for 30 s. We have observed before that sonication is a more uniform, measurable and effective process of mechanical agitation of a liquid than manual succussion. Experimentally infected mice were orally treated with an aqueous Podophyllum suspension at 60 mg/kg/day. Each potentized drug was diluted 1:20 with distilled water and administered orally at 0.05 ml/mouse/day. Each mouse was inoculated with T. spiralis larvae at a dose of 200 larvae/mouse by esophageal intubation. Treatment was started on day 7 post-infection and continued for 120 days. After completion of treatment, the mice were sacrificed and the larvae were extracted from muscles by HCl-pepsin digestion. The water content of the muscles was measured by determining the difference between fresh weight and dry weight of the tissue. Results: Podophyllum ?, Cina 30 and Santoninum 30 reduced the larval population in the studied mice by 68.14%, 84.10% and 81.20%, respectively, as compared to the untreated control group. Ethanol 30 achieved no significant reduction in the larval population compared to the untreated control group. The water content of the muscle tissue in the untreated control group and the Podophyllum-treated groups was significantly higher than in the Ethanol 30-, Cina 30- and Santoninum 30-treated groups. Conclusions: (1) Podophyllum ?, Cina 30 and Santoninum 30 were effective in the muscle phase of T. spiralis infection and significantly reduced the larval population in the treated mice. The potencies were more effective than the mother tincture, an effect which was not due to the medium ethanol. (2) The potencies significantly reduced the water content of the muscle tissue which might have affected the larvae. The effect of Podophyllum ? might be due to the direct toxic effect of the drug on the larvae.

Cation-Mediated Orientation of Nematodes Under Electrical Fields

The larvae of the wheat nematode Anguina tritici, released between platinum electrodes at 0.06 mA of current for 30 min in sand media saturated with tap water, migrated to the cathode. Similar migration to the cathode occurred in solutions of FeCl3 at 2 X 10 -3 to 4 X 10 -3 g lit. -1 , CoCl 2 , NiCl 2 , MnCl 2 , CrCl 3 , ZnCl 2 and BaCl 2 at 2 ×10 -3 to 6 X 10 -3 g lit. -1 , NaCl and KCl at 6 X 10 -3 tot 8 X 10 -3 g lit. -1 . Orientation was lost when a uniform magnetic field of 750 Oe was applied in a direction perpendicular to the electrical field in ferro- and para-magnetic salt solutions having high magnetic susceptibilities. The charges of the cations at concentrations that elicited maximum galvanotactic response were almost similar ranging from 2.33 X 10 -3 to 3.14 X 10 -3 Faradays/1. of the solutions for all the nine salts tested. It is concluded that the affinity for the cathode in nematodes depends on the density of cations in water and also on the amount of charge carried by the cations. It is suggested that the amphids of nematodes contain large negatively charged organic molecules of low water solubility that attract cations in water. The nematodes may sense the potential change resulting from any disturbance of the ionic atmosphere of the anionic amphidial molecules under an applied electrical field.

Potentized Mercuric chloride and Nux vomica facilitate water permeability in erythrocytes of a fresh-water catfish Clarius batrachus under acute ethanol intoxication.

OBJECTIVES The primary biomolecular target of a homeopathic potency is unknown. If it is a plasma membrane protein such as water-channel protein, the drug would alter water permeation in cells. Therefore, the objective is to see if potentized homeopathic drugs like Mercuric chloride 30c and Nux vomica 30c could alter permeation of water through the erythrocytes of a fresh water fish under acute ethanol intoxication. LOCATION The work was carried out in the Zoology Laboratory of Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India. SUBJECT Live freshwater catfish. DESIGN Erythrocytes collected from fish with and without ethanol intoxication were incubated in distilled water at 30 degrees C for 30 minutes with Ethanol 30c (control), Merc cor 30c (test 1), and Nux vomica 30c (test 2). Merc cor 30c and Nux vom 30c were prepared by successive dilution of the respective mother tinctures with 90% ethanol (1:100) followed by sonication at 20 kHz for 30 seconds in 30 steps. Ethanol 30c was prepared in the same way from 90% ethanol diluted with 90% ethanol. In another experiment, fish were pretreated with Ethanol 30c and Nux vom 30c followed by ethanol injection at 2 g/kg of body weight. Then their erythrocytes were tested in vitro with the same potencies. After centrifugation of blood samples, fluid part was removed, erythrocyte pellets dried in a BioChemical Oxygen Demand (BOD; Atlas Surgical, New Delhi, India) incubator at 90 degrees C for 12 hours and intracellular water content measured. RESULTS Red blood cells (RBCs) from ethanol-injected fish permeated more water than those from normal fish. Water permeation was enhanced with Merc cor 30c and Nux vom 30c. RBCs from fish pretreated with Nux vom 30c imbibed more water in in vitro treatments than those from fish pretreated with Ethanol 30c. CONCLUSION Because water channel proteins or aquaporins are mainly responsible for water transport through the plasma membrane of RBCs, it is thought that potentized drugs interact with these proteins, thereby facilitating water influx in the cells.

Antifilarial Effect of Solamargine Isolated from Solatium khasianum

AbstractAn active principle isolated from the ripe berries of Solarium khasianum is a steroidal alkaloid glycoside, solamargine, which killed in vitro 100% adults and microfilariae (mf) of Setaria cervi at a 4 mg/ml concentration in 60 and 88 min, respectively. The drug, when administered orally at 100 mg/ kg to rats, in which S. cervi adults were implanted intraperitoneally, reduced the blood mf count by more than 30% after the first phase of treatment for 10 days. The mf count showed an increase of 72% after the second phase of treatment. Following the third and the fourth phases of treatments, the mf density was reduced by more than 90%. One hundred percent reduction of mf count was obtained 15 days after the fourth and final phase of treatment which was of 5 days duration. At the evaluated dose (100 mg/kg × 4 phases), solamargine killed 100% of adult worms without incident toxicity.