Satyendra K. Prasad

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic activities of standardized root extract of Jasminum sambac.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The plant Jasminum sambac L. (Oleaceae) is cultivated throughout India. The leaves and roots of the plant are used traditionally in the treatment of inflammation, fever and pain. The leaves of the plant have been reported to posses significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. OBJECTIVE To scientifically validate anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic activities of roots from Jasminum sambac. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ethanol root extract of Jasminum sambac (EJS) was standardized using HPTLC and was subjected to acute oral toxicity study. Further, analgesic activity of EJS at 100, 200 and 400mg/kg, p.o. was evaluated using writhing test on Swiss albino mice and tail-flick test on Charles Foster albino rats. Anti-inflammatory activity of EJS was assessed by carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, cotton pellet-induced granuloma and Freund׳s adjuvant-induced arthritis models, while antipyretic activity was evaluated using Brewer׳s yeast induced pyrexia. In addition, biochemical parameters such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in blood serum and edematous tissue of rats exposed to acute (carrageenan) and granulomatous tissue in sub-chronic (cotton pellet granuloma) inflammation models were also evaluated. RESULTS Phytochemical analysis of EJS revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins and carbohydrates in major quantities, while the quantity of hesperidin in EJS (using HPTLC) was found to be 4.25%w/w. EJS at 400mg/kg, p.o. reduced writhing count up to 49.21%, whereas in tail-flick test, EJS in a dose dependent manner increased latency in flicking tail. EJS at 400mg/kg, p.o. showed significant anti-inflammatory activity after 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6thh of treatment in carrageenan-induced edema, while a 33.58% inhibition in cotton pellet induced granuloma formation was observed at same dose level. EJS significantly (p<0.001) inhibited adjuvant-induced arthritis and also showed significant antipyretic activity. Further, a significant reversal in alterations of all the biochemical parameters (except ALP) in tissues was also observed. CONCLUSIONS The study confirms the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity of EJS which may be attributed to the presence of various phytoconstituents quantified especially hesperidin which have already been reported for its significant role in the treatment of inflammation and associated problems.

A current update on the phytopharmacological aspects of Houttuynia cordata Thunb

The present review is an attempt to put an insight into a medicinal plant Houttuynia cordata Thunb, which is indigenous to North-East India and China. It is an aromatic medicinal herb belonging to family Saururaceae and is restricted to specialized moist habitats. The review provides detailed information regarding the morphology, distribution, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacological uses and also describes various pharmacological activities reported on the plant H. cordata. The review describes therapeutic efficacy of the whole plant and its extracts, fractions and isolated compounds in different diseased condition. Among the important pharmacological activities reported includes, anti-mutagenic, anti-cancer, adjuvanticity, anti-obesity, hepatoprotective, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging, anti-microbial, anti-allergic, anti-leukemic, chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps activities. Thus, the present review will act as a source of referential information to researchers to perform clinical studies on isolated compounds that may serve the society and will help in improving human health care system.

Antidiarrhoeal evaluation of root extract, its bioactive fraction, and lupinifolin isolated from Eriosema chinense.

The roots of the plant Eriosema chinense are traditionally used by the tribal people of North East India for treatment of diarrhoea. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to scientifically validate the traditional claim that these roots have an antidiarrhoeal effect. Ethanol extract along with three fractions, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and hexane, as well as isolated lupinifolin from the chloroform fraction, were screened for the normal faecal excretion rate and castor oil-induced diarrhoea model. The results demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in normal faecal output at ethanol extract 400, chloroform fraction 100, chloroform fraction 200, and lupinifolin 10 mg/kg p. o. after the 3rd, 5th, and 7th hours of treatment. Also, the same dose level of ethanol extract, chloroform fraction, and lupinifolin depicted maximum protection from diarrhoea in the castor oil-induced diarrhoea model showing a ceiling effect at chloroform fraction 100 mg/kg p. o. Ethanol extract at 400, its bioactive fraction chloroform fraction at 100, and lupinifolin at 10 mg/kg p. o. significantly inhibited peristaltic index, intestinal fluid volume, and PGE₂-induced enteropooling. They also restored alterations in biochemical parameters such as nitric oxide, total carbohydrates, protein, DNA, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and lipid peroxidation. The ethanol extract, chloroform fraction, and lupinifolin demonstrated a significant recovery from Na+ and K+ loss and a pronounced antibacterial activity against bacterial strains mainly implicated in diarrhoea. Phytochemical analysis revealed the ethanol extract and chloroform fraction to be highly rich in flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, and tannin contents, whereas lupinifolin (a prenylated flavanone), isolated and quantified by HPTLC for the first time, was found to comprise 6.480 % and 6.718 % (w/w) of the ethanol extract and chloroform fraction, respectively. The antidiarrhoeal activity of the chloroform fraction was found to be the highest, followed by those of the ethanol extract and lupinifolin, which may be due to the presence of lupinifolin along with other phytoconstituents. Thus, the study scientifically validated the antidiarrhoeal potential of the roots from E. chinense, which may be attributed to antimotility- and antisecretory-type effects with a potential antibacterial activity.

Gastroprotective activity of polyphenolic-rich extract of Potentilla mooniana

Abstract Context: Potentilla mooniana Wight. (Rosaceae) is a plant found in the Himalayan region where the root is traditionally used to treat stomach problems including gastric-ulcer. Objective: To scientifically validate the gastro-protective effect and derive the possible mechanistic activity of the ethanol root extract from P. mooniana (EPM). Materials and methods: The gastroprotective effect of EPM (100–400 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated on both the physical (Pyloric ligation, PL; Cold restrain stress, CRS) and chemical (absolute ethanol, EtOH; aspirin, ASP) ulcerogens induced ulceration in rats. The mechanistic activity of EPM was tested on various gastric-ulcer parameters, namely gastric pH, volume, acid–pepsin output, DNA content, histamine level, H+K+–ATPase activity, mucus content, microvascular permeability, antioxidant markers, and gastric-histopathological study. Results: EPM significantly reduces the ulcer score against all the four tested gastric-ulcer models. In the PL model, EPM showed significant reduction (p < 0.05) in acid–pepsin output and cell shedding; however, no significant effect was observed on gastric volume, cell proliferation, stomach glandular weight, and histamine levels. EPM (400 mg/kg, p.o.) when compared with ulcer control showed significant increase in gastric pH by 41.6% and decrease in H+K+–ATPase activity by 47.73%. In addition, EPM showed significant increase in mucus content by 58.60% and a decrease in the microvascular permeability of Evans Blue by 85.00%, justifying its protective effects. Furthermore, EPM also showed significant antioxidant activity and histopathologically possessed excellent cytoprotective effect. Conclusion: The gastro-protective effect of EPM is attributed mainly to the defensive mechanism owing to the presence of a good quantity of polyphenolic components.

Aldose reductase inhibitory potential of different fractions of Houttuynia cordata Thunb

Abstract Objective To evaluate the aldose reductase (AR) inhibitory activity of different fractions from Houttuynia cordata ( H. cordata ) which used as a medicinal salad for lowering of blood sugar level. Methods AR inhibitory activity along with protein content was evaluated in vitro in rat lens. Total phenol and flavonoid contents were also determined in all the fractions. Results All the four fractions were found to inhibit lens AR activity, but to different extent. From dose response curve (DRC), aqueous fraction (AQ) was found to be the most effective AR inhibitor followed by ethyl acetate (EA), chloroform (CL) and hexane fraction (HEX). The IC 50 values of AQ, EA, CL and HEX were calculated to be (64.62±3.90), (90.69±7.50), (134.59±4.90) and (151.58±3.30) μ g/mL respectively. Quercetin was taken as positive control which exhibited AR inhibition with an IC 50 value of (3.21±0.60) μ g/mL in a non-competitive manner. Conclusion These findings indicated that, AQ fraction of H. cordata exhibited significant inhibitory effect on AR in a non-competitive manner, which may be attributed to the presence of high phenolic and flavonoid contents. Thus, the plant H. cordata may act as a promising source in the treatment of secondary complications like cataract associated with diabetes.

Antidiarrhoeal activity of eriosematin E isolated from the roots of Eriosema chinense Vogel

BACKGROUND Roots of the plant Eriosema chinense Vogel (Fabaceae) is distributed mainly over the Eastern Himalayan region of India and China. The roots of the plant are used as a vegetable by the people of Northern Australia, China and North East India and are used traditionally by the tribal people of Meghalaya (India) for the treatment of diarrhoea. It has been reported to have significant antidiarrhoeal, cytotoxic and antimycobacterial activity. PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE The present investigation was undertaken to isolate a lead molecule responsible for the observed antidiarrhoeal activity. METHODS Eriosematin E, a prenylated flavanone, was isolated using column chromatography and was characterized by comparing its melting point and spectroscopic data (UV, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Mass Spectra) from literature. Eriosematin E (2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg p.o.) was then screened for normal faecal excretion rate and castor oil-induced diarrhoea models in rats. Further, it was examined for small intestinal transit, intestinal fluid accumulation and PGE2 induced enteropooling models in rats. Biochemical estimations and Na+ and K+ concentration in intestinal fluid were also determined along with colonic histopathological studies. RESULTS The results illustrated a significant (P< 0.05) reduction in normal faecal output at 10mg/kg p.o. after 5th and 7thh of treatment and also showed maximum protection of 69.43% from diarrhoea in the castor oil-induced diarrhoea model. Significant results were also observed at the maximum effective dose of eriosematin E (10mg/kg p.o.) in inhibiting peristaltic index (small intestinal transit) and reducing intestinal fluid volume of castor oil induced and PGE2 induced enteropooling models. Further, eriosematin E restored all the alterations in biochemical parameters such as nitric oxide, protein, DNA, superoxide dismutase, catalase and lipid peroxidation. It also significantly recovered Na+ and K+ loss from body and confirmed its protective nature through the histopathological studies. CONCLUSION The study corroborates the antidiarrhoeal potential of eriosematin E which may be attributed to its antisecretory and antioxidant potential.

Cryptocoryne spiralis, a substitute of Aconitum heterophyllum in the treatment of diarrhoea.

To scientifically validate the traditional substitution of roots of highly expensive Aconitum heterophyllum (AH) with rhizomes of Cryptocoryne spiralis (CS) in the treatment of diarrhoea.