S. H. Ansari

Withanolides from the stem bark of Withania somnifera

Abstract Phytochemical studies on the stem bark of Withania somnifera , collected from the southern region of New Delhi, resulted in the isolation of five new withanolides, namely withasomnilide, withasomniferanolide, somniferanolide, somniferawithanolide and somniwithanolide. Their structures have been established as (20 R , 22 R )-1-oxo-5 α , 8β-dihydroxywitha-6α, 7β-epoxide-2,24-dienolide, (20 R , 22 R )-1-oxo-8 β , 11β, 16β-trihydroxywitha-2,5,24-trienolide, (20 R , 22 R )-1-oxo-8 β , 11β-dihydroxywitha-16α, 17α-epoxy-2,5,24-trienolide, (20 R , 22 R )-1-oxo-8α,18,20β-trihydroxywitha-2,5,24-trienolide and (20 R , 22 R )-1-oxo-7 β , 18,20β,27-tetrahydroxywitha-2,4,24-trienolide, respectively, on the basis of spectroscopic techniques and chemical means.

Monoterpene phenolic compound thymol prevents high fat diet induced obesity in murine model

Abstract Context: Obesity has become a worldwide health problem. Most of the synthetic anti-obesity drugs have failed to manage the obesity due to either ineffectiveness or adverse effect. The research of prominent chemical constituents from herbal for the management of obesity has greatly increased. Objective: The main objective of the present study was intended to examine the effects of thymol in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in murine model. Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed HFD for 6 weeks to induce obesity. Thymol (14u2009mg/kg) administered orally twice a day to HFD-fed rats for 4 weeks. Alteration in body weight gain, visceral fat-pads weight and serum biochemical markers were assessed. Results: At the end of study, rats fed with HFD exhibited significantly (pu2009<u20090.001) enhanced body weight gain, visceral pad weight, lipids, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose, insulin and leptin levels compared with rats fed with normal diets. Thymol treatment showed significantly (pu2009<u20090.001) decreased body weight gain, visceral fat-pad weights, lipids, ALT, AST, LDH, BUN, glucose, insulin, and leptin levels in HFD-induced obese rats. Furthermore, thymol treatment showed significantly decreased serum lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant levels in HFD-induced obese rats. Discussion and conclusions: Thymol prevents HFD-induced obesity in murine model through several mechanisms including attenuation of visceral fat accumulation, lipid lowering action, improvement of insulin and leptin sensitivity and enhanced antioxidant potential.

New Compounds from Zizyphus vulgaris

A lanostane-type triterpene, zizyphulanostane-21-oic acid, and a terpenic δ-lactone, zizyphulanostan-18-oic acid, have been isolated from the roots of Zizyphus vulgaris Lam. (syn. Z. sativa Gaertn., Z. mauritina. Lam.) and characterized as lanosta-25 (26)-en-9α-ol-21-oic acid and lanosta-25 (26)-en-22β-ol-18-oic acid 3(19)-olide, respectively, on the basis of spectroscopic techniques and chemical means.

Antihyperglycemic Activity of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Beans on Blood Glucose Levels in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract The effect of administering an ethanol extract of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba. Linn. (Leguminosae) beans on blood glucose levels in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats was evaluated in this study. The ethanol extract of beans at 250 mg/kg body weight significantly reduced the blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats within 3 h of administration. Continued administration of the extract at the same dose daily for 10 days produced a statistically significant reduction in the blood glucose levels, whereas marginal activity was seen in normal and glucose-loaded rats.

Levosimendan suppresses oxidative injury, apoptotic signaling and mitochondrial degeneration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Diabetic cardiomyopathy plays a major role in morbidity and mortality among cardiovascular disorder-related complications. This study was designed to explore long-term benefits of Levosimendan (LEVO) along with Ramipril and Insulin. Diabetic cardiomyopathy was induced using streptozotocin (STZ) at the dose of 25u2009mg/kg/body weight/day for three consecutive days in Wistar rats. Rats were randomly divided into 10 groups and treatments were started after 2 weeks of STZ administration. A gradual but severe hyperglycemia (§§§pu2009<u20090.001) was observed in all STZ-treated groups except those received insulin (2u2009u2009U/day). LEVO alone and in combination with Ramipril and Insulin normalized (**pu2009<u20090.01) mean arterial pressure and heart rate, restored catalase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, glutathione level and also attenuated (***pu2009<u20090.001) the raised serum levels of creatine kinase-heart type, lactate dehydrogenase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, C-reactive protein, and caspase-3 level in heart tissue altered after STZ treatment. Myofibril degeneration, mitochondrial fibrosis and vacuolization occurred after STZ treatment, were also reversed by LEVO in combination with Ramipril and Insulin. The combination of LEVO with Ramipril and Insulin improved hemodynamic functions, maintained cardiac enzymes and ameliorated myofibril damage in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Characterization of Volatile Constituents of Mango ‘Qalmi’ (Mangifera indica L.) Fruit

Abstract The composition of the fruit oil of Mangifera indica L., ‘Qalmi’ from India is reported. The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oil was characterized by high amount of monoterpenes constituents. α-Pinene (34.5%) was the predominant component, followed by sabinene (13.9%), β-pinene (12.6%) and limonene (9.1%).

New Ursane-Type Triterpenes from Zizyphus vulgaris. Roots

Abstract Two new ursane-type triterpenes, zizyphursolic acid (1), and isozizyphursolic acid (2), have been isolated from the roots of Zizyphus vulgaris. Lam. (syn: Z. sativa. Gaertn.; Z. mauritiana. Lamk.) and characterized as 18β.H-urs-20 (30)-en-3β.-ol-28-oic acid and 18β.H-urs-20 (30)-en-2α.-ol-28-oic acid, respectively. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic (UV, IR, NMR, and MS) methods and chemical reactions.

Radio-decontamination efficacy and safety studies on optimized decontamination lotion formulation

Objective of the present study was to optimize decontamination lotion and to evaluate its relative decontamination efficacy using three radio-isotopes (Technetium-99m, Iodine-131 and Thallium-201) as contaminants with varying length of contaminant exposure (0-1h). Experiments were performed on Sprague Dawley rats intact skin and human tissue equivalent models. Rats hair was removed by using depilator after trimming with scissors. Relative decontamination efficacy of the optimized lotion was investigated and compared with water as control. Static counts were recorded before and after decontamination using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Measured decontamination efficacy (DE) values were analyzed using one way ANOVA and Students t-test (p value<0.05) and were found statistically significant. Decontamination efficacy of the lotion was observed to be 90 ± 5%, 80 ± 2% and 85 ± 2%, for the (131)I, (201)Tl and (99m)Tc radio-contaminants respectively on skin. Reduced contaminant removal was recorded for the skin which was cleaned by depilator (50-60%). Skin decontamination was found more efficacious for rat skin decontamination than the human tissue equivalent model. Decontamination efficacy of the lotion against (99m)Tc was recorded 70 ± 15% at 0-1h on the tissue equivalent model. In vitro chelation efficacy of the lotion was also established by using the instant thin layer chromatography-slica gel (ITLC-SG) and >95% of (99m)Tc was recorded. Neither erythema nor edema was scored in the primary skin irritancy test visually observed for two weeks.

Simple spectrophotometric method for estimation of disodium edetate in topical gel formulations

A simple, sensitive, cost-effective and reproducible UV-spectrophotometric method has been developed and validated for the estimation of disodium edetate in topical gel formulations. Solution of disodium edetate reacts with ferric chloride to form complex in 0.1 N HCl giving λmax at 270 nm. Beers law was obeyed in the concentration range of 5–50 μg/mL (r2= 0.9997). The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were found to be 1.190 and 3.608 μg/mL, respectively. The results show that the procedure is accurate, precise, and reproducible (relative standard deviation < 1%), while being simple and less time consuming. The study concluded that the UV-spectrophotometric method could be used for the quantification of disodium edetate in pure form as well as in pharmaceutical formulations.

Amelioration of Inflammation Induced Oxidative Stress and Tissue Damage by Aqueous Methanolic Extract of Nigella sativa Linn. in Arthritic Rats

Pathology of rheumatoid arthritis suggests autoimmunity linked to inflammation. This study is an attempt to identify targets of inflammation in joints and amelioration of the disease process by a natural product.Wistar rats were immunised with collagen, disease developed after 13±1 days post induction. Nigella sativa Linn. aqueous methanolic extract was given at two diffferent dosages, viz. 400 and 500 mg/kg daily until the 20th day. The analysis of inflammation and associated protease activation was evaluated by myeloperoxidase (MPO) and articular elastase (ELA). Post inflammatory generation of various free radicals was checked by evaluating several enzymatic and non enzymatic parameters (GSH, SOD and catalase), including peroxidation of membranes. Finally, articular nitrite content was estimated as to highlight the tissue injury evidenced by histology caused by autoimmunity.Nigella sativa decreased MPO and associated elastase activity dose dependently (p < 0.001). Moreover, Nigella sativa decreased the lipid peroxidation (p < 0.001) with replenishment of GSH (p < 0.001) confirming their inverse nature. SOD activity increased significantly (p < 0.01), with a parallel increment in catalase activity (p < 0.01). Consistent with these findings, articular nitrite content was reduced (p < 0.01), which was further confirmed by the histological findings. Our study suggests autoimmune stimulation of inflammatory cells and associated oxidative stress as a putative mechanism of RA and possible prevention by N. sativa.