Razina Rouf

Antinociceptive activity of the ethanolic extract of Ficus racemosa Lin. (Moraceae)

The ethanolic extract of Ficus racemosa Lin. (Moraceae) bark and fruit were tested for its possible antinociceptive activity study on acetic acid induced writhing method in mice. Both the bark and fruit extracts at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight showed significant antinociceptive activity on the experimental animals. The fruit extract showed most potent inhibition of acetic acid induced writhing in mice (61.38%, P < 0.001) where as the bark extract showed inhibition only 42.6% (P < 0.001) and all the result were statistically significant.

Central nervous system depressant activity of Diospyros peregrina bark

The methanol extract of Diospyros peregrina bark was studied for its effect on the central nervous system (CNS) using the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time test, the open field test and the hole cross test in Swiss albino mice. The present investigation revealed that the extract, at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, significantly prolonged the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time in mice though the onset of sleep was delayed as compared to the control. In open field test, the depressing effect was prominent from the second observation period (30 min) and persisted throughout the entire experimental period (240 min). In the hole cross test, the depressing effect was observed from the second observation period (30 min) and persisted up to fifth observation period (120 min) for 250 mg dose group and up to sixth observation period (180 min) for 500 mg dose group. These results support the finding that D. peregrina bark extract at the above doses has CNS depressing effects and indicate that D. peregrina bark may contain biologically active constituent(s) having CNS depressant activity.

Antinociceptive activity of some Bangladeshi medicinal plant extracts

The extracts of some Bangladeshi medicinal plants, Possur (Xylocarpus mekongensis), Dhundul (Xylocarpus granatum), Gab (Diospyros peregrina), Kadom (Anthocephalus chinensis) and Sundari (Heritiera fomes), were assessed for their possible antinociceptive activity using acetic acid induced writhing model in mice. Most of these plants have been used in traditional medicine in Bangladesh as well as in other countries for the treatment of various ailments ranging from common cold to cancer. All these extracts significantly inhibited the acetic acid induced writhing in mice at the oral dose of 500 mg/kg body weight. The extract of Anthocephalus chinensis bark showed the most potent writhing inhibition (69.47%, P

Screening of some Bangladeshi medicinal plants for in vitro antibacterial activity

SUMMARY A total of 33 extracts representing 26 plant species belonging to 24 families were collected fromdifferent regions of Bangladesh, and screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity againstseveral pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains using the conventionaldisc diffusion method. The most potent activity was exhibited by the extracts of Aegicerascorniculatum, Alocasia fornicata, Ceriops decandra, Cuscuta reflexa, Lasia spinosa, Lantana camara,Pandanus foetidus and Xylocarpus granatum. The extracts of Abtilon indicum, Derris trifoliata,Dendrophthoe falcat, Ruellia tuberosa and X. moluccensis did not show any antibacterial properties attest concentrations.Key words: Antibacterial activity; Medicinal plants; Disc diffusion method; Bangladesh INTRODUCTION Natural products have long been utilized as anindispensable source for the discovery anddevelopment of new drugs. One of the majorsources of these natural products is medicinalplants that have been used traditionally in manycountries to combat various diseases, includinginfections. The healthcare systems in manydeveloping countries like Bangladesh still relysignificantly on the uses of medicinal plants.Bangladesh is one of the South Asian countries thathave a rich and prestigious heritage of medicinalplants’ uses to treat various diseases. As aconsequence, medicinal plants have traditionallyoccupied an important status in the socio-cultural,spiritual and medicinal arena of rural and triballives on Bangladesh. A conservative estimate wouldinclude at least 500 species of medicinal plants thathave been used in Bangladeshi traditional medicines(Ghani, 1998). A survey conducted in 1990 indifferent villages in Bangladesh revealed that onaverage of 14% of people suffering from illnessesapproach qualified allopathic doctors, 29% contactunqualified village doctors, 10% contact mullahs,

Comparative study of neuropharmacological, analgesic properties and phenolic profile of Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari cultivars of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)

In addition to the rich nutritional value, date palm is also used in various ethnobotanical practices for the treatment of various disease conditions. Present investigation was undertaken to examine the neuropharmacological and antinociceptive effect of the ethanol extract of three date cultivars growing in Saudi Arabia, namely Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari. Neuropharmacological effect was observed by pentobarbitone induced sleeping time, open field, and hole board test. Antinociceptive activity was tested by acetic acid induced writhing and hot plate test. The date extracts were also subjected to HPLC analysis to detect the presence of common bioactive polyphenols. All the three date extracts extended the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time, reduced locomotor activity in open field test and reduced exploratory behaviour in hole board test in mice. The extracts also reduced acetic acid induced writhing and delayed response time in hot plate test. The activities were stronger for Ajwah than the other two date cultivars. HPLC analysis indicated the presence of trans-ferulic acid in all three cultivars, while (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin only in Ajwah and Safawy. The observed neuropharmacological and analgesic activity could be partly due to the presence of (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin and trans-ferulic acid, three important plant polyphenols well known for their neuroprotective activity and their ability to exert antioxidant activity on brain cells. Present investigation also supports the ethnobotanical use of date palm to provide ameliorating effects in pain and CNS disorders.

Single-Step Purification of Cyclotides Using Affinity Chromatography.

Cyclotides are considered promising scaffolds for drug development owing to their inherent host defence activities and highly stable structure, defined by the cyclic cystine knot. These proteins are expressed as complex mixtures in plants. Although several methods have been developed for their isolation and analysis, purification of cyclotides is still a lengthy process. Here, we describe the use of affinity chromatography for the purification of cyclotides using polyclonal IgG antibodies raised in rabbits against cycloviolacin O2 and immobilized on NHS‐activated Sepharose columns. Cycloviolacin O2 was used as a model substance to evaluate the chromatographic principle, first as a pure compound and then in combination with other cyclotides, that is, bracelet cyclotide cycloviolacin O19 and Möbius cyclotide kalata B1, and in a plant extract. We demonstrate that single‐step purification of cyclotides by affinity chromatography is possible but cross reactivity may occur between homologue cyclotides of the bracelet subfamily.

Analgesic Activity, Chemical Profiling and Computational Study on Chrysopogon aciculatus

Present study was undertaken to evaluate the analgesic activity of the ethanol extract of Chrysopogon aciculatus. In addition to bioassays in mice, chemical profiling was done by LC-MS and GC-MS to identify phytochemicals, which were further docked on the catalytic site of COX-2 enzymes with a view to suggest the possible role of such phytoconstituents in the observed analgesic activity. Analgesic activity of C. aciculatus was evaluated by acetic acid induced writhing reflex method and hot plate technique. Phytochemical profiling was conducted using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In docking studies, homology model of human COX-2 enzyme was prepared using Easy Modeler 4.0 and the identified phytoconstituents were docked using Autodock Vina. Preliminary acute toxicity test of the ethanol extract of C. aciculatus showed no sign of mortality at the highest dose of 4,000 mg/kg. The whole plant extract significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited acetic acid induced writhing in mice at the doses of 500 and 750 mg/kg. The extract delayed the response time in hot plate test in a dose dependent manner. LC-MS analysis of the plant extract revealed the presence of aciculatin, nudaphantin and 5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,22-diene-3β-ol. Three compounds namely citronellylisobutyrate; 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-(2H)-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one and nudaphantin were identified in the n-hexane fraction by GC-MS. Among these compounds, six were found to be interacting with the binding site for arachidonic acid in COX-2 enzyme. Present study strongly supports the traditional use of C. aciculatus in the management of pain. In conclusion, compounds (tricin, campesterol, gamma oryzanol, and citronellyl isobutyrate) showing promising binding affinity in docking studies, along with previously known anti-inflammatory compound aciculatin can be held responsible for the observed activity.

Cytotoxicity and antinociceptive activity of Jasminum sambac leaves

SUMMARY The ethanolic extract of Jasminum sambac leaves were tested for its cytotoxicity and possibleantinociceptive activity in experimental animals. The extract showed potent cytotoxic activity inbrine shrimp lethality assay and the LC 50 was found only 25 mg/ml. The extract significantly anddose dependently inhibited the acetic acid induced writhing in mice (56.83%, P < 0.001 and43.17%, P < 0.001 for 500 and 250 mg/kg body weight, respectively). The results supported itstraditional uses.Key words: Jasminum sambac; Cytotoxicity; Antinociceptive; Brine shrimp INTRODUCTION Jasminum sambac (Family: Oleaceae), commonlyknown as ‘Beliphul gachh’, is a scandent shrubwith opposite leaves pubescent branches, fragrantflowers, grown as an ornamental plant in gardenall over the country (Ghani, 2003). Traditionally theaerial parts are used as CNS depressant, hypotensiveand in treating insanity and weakness of sight.Root is used as an emmenagogue and leavesextract is used against indolent ulcer and breasttumours (Ghani, 2003). The plant has been reportedto contain essential oil linalool, cis-jasmone, leavescontain iridoid glycosides and flower buds possessb-primeveroside and b-rutinoside glycosides (Junjiet al., 1995; Ghani, 2003). As a part of our on-going pharmacological screeningof randomly selected Bangladeshi medicinal plants(Shilpi et al., 2004; Uddin et al., 2004, 2005), we nowreport on the investigation of cytotoxicity andantinociceptive activity of Jasminum sambac leavesextract.

Analgesic activity of the ethanolic extract of Aphanamixis polystachya bark

Ethanolic extract of Aphanamixis polystachya bark was used to investigate its analgesic activity by acetic acid induced writhing in mice. The bark extract exhibited statistically significant and dose dependent analgesic activity in mice. The bark extract at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight showed 40.69% and 62.07% writhing inhibition respectively in mice whereas diclofenac-Na produced 75.17% writhing inhibition as a positive control.