Sagnik Haldar

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.

Regulation of apoptosis through bcl-2/bax proteins expression and DNA damage by Zanthoxylum alatum

Abstract Context: Many of the major chemotherapeutic agents are secondary metabolites found in nature. Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb. (Rutaceae) is traditionally used in the treatment of various diseases. Objective: The present study evaluates the apoptotic activity of methanol extract of Z. alatum (MEZA) on Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) in Swiss albino mice. Materials and methods: The presence of flavonoids in MEZA was standardized by HPLC. The in vitro cytotoxicity of MEZA was measured by the MTT assay. The in vivo antitumor activity of MEZA (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w., i.p. for 9 days) was also evaluated. On the 10th day, EAT tumor volume, cell viability, and hematological parameters were assayed. Apoptotic morphology was determined by acredine orange/ethedium bromide using fluorescence microscopy. Apoptosis percentage was measured by flow cytometric analysis using annexine-V-FITC. Also, DNA damage and bcl-2/bax were estimated by UV-method and western blot, respectively. Results and discussion: HPLC analysis revealed presence of three flavonoids, rutin, myricetin, and quercetin. MEZA showed satisfactory cytotoxicity in MTT assay (IC50 = 111.50 µg/ml). The extract significantly (p < 0.01) changed the tumor volume, viable, non-viable cell count, and hematological parameters towards the normal. Apoptotic activity of MEZA was confirmed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, annexin-V-FITC staining, DNA fragmentation, and Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Conclusion: The study showed that MEZA has antitumor activity which may be due to the presence of flavonoids in the extract.

In vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of Zanthonitrile isolated from Zanthoxylum alatum

The present study evaluates the antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of Zanthonitrile isolated from Zanthoxylum alatum leaves. The structure of Zanthonitrile [{4-[(3-Methyl-2-buten-1-yl) oxy] phenyl} acetonitrile] was elucidated form the data obtained from UV, IR, Mass, and NMR. The in vitro antioxidant activity of Zanthonitrile was estimated by standard 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil radical (DPPH) scavenging assay method. In vitro cytotoxicity was determined in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells by MTT assay. The compound exhibited antioxidant activity in a dose dependent manner. The IC50 value of Zanthonitrile for DPPH was estimated to be 7.86 ± 0.23 μg/mL. Zanthonitrile showed satisfactory cytotoxic potential in MTT assay with the IC50 value 57.28 ± 0.64 μg/mL. Satisfactory results of both the studies correlate each other and further investigations will focus on in vivo models and cell cycle to determine the role on intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways.