Seema Akbar

Acylated flavonol glycosides from Epimedium elatum, a plant endemic to the Western Himalayas

Herba Epimedii is a well-known Botanical preparation used over long time in traditional Chinese medicine. The extracts and chemical constituents from Epimedium species are aphrodisiac as well as to treat many ailments. Chemical investigation of lonely species growing in Kashmir Himalaya Epimedium elatum was undertaken to evaluate its chemical profile. Two unusual substituted acylated flavonol glycosides named Elatoside A (1) and Elatoside B (2) have been isolated from the ethanolic extract of E. elatum along with 23 previously known ones (3-25). All isolates were evaluated for antimicrobial and PPAR-γ ligand binding activity, and some of them appeared to be modestly active.

Antidiabetic Activity of Artemisia amygdalina Decne in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Artemisia species have been extensively used for the management of diabetes in folklore medicine. The current study was designed to investigate the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of Artemisia amygdalina. Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, and hydroethanolic extracts of Artemisia amygdalina were tested for their antidiabetic potentials in diabetic rats. The effect of extracts was observed by checking the biochemical, physiological, and histopathological parameters in diabetic rats. The hydroethanolic and methanolic extracts each at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg b. w significantly reduced glucose levels in diabetic rats. The other biochemical parameters like cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins (LDL), serum creatinine, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), and alkaline phosphatise (ALP), were found to be reduced by the hydroethanolic and methanolic extracts. The extracts also showed reduction in the feed and water consumption of diabetic rats when compared with the diabetic control. The histopathological results of treated groups showed the regenerative/protective effect on β-cells of pancreas in diabetic rats. The current study revealed the antidiabetic potential of Artemisia amygdalina being effective in hyperglycemia and that it can effectively protect against other metabolic aberrations caused by diabetes in rats, which seems to validate its therapeutic traditional use.

β-Cell protective efficacy, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of extracts of Achillea millifolium in diabetic rats

Abstract Aim To evaluate the therapeutic uses of Achillea millifolium in diabetic rats. Methods Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared solution of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg·kg−1 body weight) in Wistar rats of 150-200 g body weight. In this study, the aqueous and methanolic extract of Achillea millifolium was studied for its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties. The rats were divided into several groups, serving as Normal group, Diabetic Control group, Diabetic treated with glibenclamide, and extract treated groups. The blood serum collected from the various groups of rats was analysed for its various biochemical parameters like glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL, SGOT, SGPT and ALP. On the 14th day of the experiment the rats were scarified and pancreas was collected for histopathological studies. Results The extracts at dose levels of 250 and 500 mg·kg−1 body weight showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in blood glucose level, TGL, VLDL, cholesterol, SGOT, SGPT, and ALP in diabetic rats. The extracts prevented the β-cells of pancreas from the cytotoxic effects of Alloxan monohydrate. Conclusion The results indicate that the extracts as mentioned above are effective in hyperglycemia and can effectively protect against other metabolic aberrations caused by alloxan monohydrate.

Antioxidant potential in callus culture of Artemisia amygdalina Decne.

This study was conducted to analyse the free radical scavenging potential of callus obtained from nodal segments and leaf explants of Artemisia amygdalina Decne. The explants were inoculated on MS medium augmented with various concentrations of BAP, Kn, NAA and 2,4-D for callus induction. In this study, 12.42 g of callus developed from the leaf explant on MS (NAA 10 + BAP 7.5 µM) and 8.81 g of callus developed from nodal explant on NAA 2 µM+BAP 2 µM. Callus raised from both explants on all treatments seemed non-regenerative but BAP 2 µM produced 7.33 shoots and BAP 15 µM produced callus and 5 shoots per nodal segment. Callus was analysed for antioxidant activity via DPPH, riboflavin photoxidation and DNA damage assays. Methanol and aqueous extracts show more scavenging in DPPH, deoxyribose assay and in contrast, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts show higher activity in riboflavin photoxidation assay. Tocopherol, ascorbic acid and BHT were used as controls.

5, 6-Dihydropyranobenzopyrone: a previously undetermined antioxidant isolated from Polygonum amplexicaule.

AIM To study the chemical constituents and their bioactivity of Polygonum amplexicaule. METHODS The isolation of compounds was achieved by chromatographic techniques and structure of the isolates was established by UV, IR, HRESI-MS and NMR including 1D and 2D experiments. RESULTS Bioassay-guided fractionation of an ethanolic extract of Polygonum amplexicaule led to the isolation of a hitherto unidentified compound, 5, 6-dihydropyranobenzopyrone (1) along with nine previously known compounds (2-10). Compounds 2-10 were identified as amplexicine (2), catechin (3), rutin (4), quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (5), chlorogenic acid (6), galloyl glucose (7), caffeic acid (8), gallic acid (9) and scopletin (10). CONCLUSION Compound 1 is new. Compounds 1-10 exhibited considerable antioxidant activity in a 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging assay.

Comparative GC–FID and GC–MS analysis of the mono and sesquiterpene secondary metabolites produced by the field grown and micropropagated plants of Artemisia amygdalina Decne

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the leaves of micropropagated plants of Artemisia amygdalina was analyzed by capillary GC–FID and GC–MS and compared with that obtained from the leaves of field growing parent plants. The oil yield from the micropropagated plants was lower (0.05% v/w) than the oil yield obtained from field-grown plants (0.2% v/w). The major constituents of the field-grown plants were p-cymene (21.0%), 1,8-cineole (24.9%), α-terpineol (5.9%), β-caryophyllene (4.7%), germacrene D (4.0%), while as the major constituents from the micropropagated plants were p-cymene (11.3%),1,8-cineole (10.2%), borneol (7.9%), α-longipinene (5.5%), α-copaene (5.5%) and β-caryophyllene (17%). The essential oil from field-grown plant was dominated by the presence of oxygenated monoterpenes (41.5%), monoterpene hydrocarbons (35.9%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (16.3%) while as the essential oil of micropropagated plants was characterized by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (40.0%), oxygenated monoterpenes (25.2%) and monoterpene hydrocarbons (21.6%).

Scientific Validation of Gentiana kurroo Royle for Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Potential

Gentiana kurroo Royle is a critically endangered medicinal plant species endemic to the northwestern Himalayas. This plant was studied for the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory potential. Carrageenan paw edema model was used to study the potential of the drug in inflammation in Wistar rats. SRBC specific haemagglutination titre and DTH assays were carried out in Balb/C mice for observing the effect of test drugs on immune system. The plant extracts were found to be active against inflammation. The methanolic fraction was observed to be the most effective in inhibition of paw edema with the inhibitory potential of 47.62%. In immunomodulation studies the plant extracts showed the immunosuppressant activity. Methanolic fraction was observed to have maximum potential for the suppression of both humoral (57.57% and 54.05%) and cell mediated immunity (65.27% and 75%). From these studies, it can be concluded that the extracts of plant are having anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant activity. Since in chronic inflammation like arthritis there is the involvement of immune system, this plant may serve as an alternative for the treatment of autoimmune diseases like arthritis.

Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective Potential and Chemical Profiling of Propolis Ethanolic Extract from Kashmir Himalaya Region Using UHPLC-DAD-QToF-MS

The aim of this study was to examine hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract of propolis (KPEt) from Kashmir Himalaya against isoniazid and rifampicin (INH-RIF) induced liver damage in rats. Hepatic cellular injury was initiated by administration of INH-RIF combination (100 mg/kg) intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection for 14 days. We report the protective effects of KPEt against INH-RIF induced liver oxidative stress, inflammation, and enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. Oral administration of KPEt at both doses (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) distinctly restricted all modulating oxidative liver injury markers and resulted in the attenuation of INH-RIF arbitrated damage. The free radical scavenging activity of KPEt was evaluated by DPPH, nitric oxide, and superoxide radical scavenging assay. The components present in KPEt identified by ultra high performance liquid chromatography diode array detector time of flight-mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-DAD-QToF-MS) were found to be flavonoids and phenolic acids. The protective efficacy of KPEt is possibly because of free radical scavenging and antioxidant property resulting from the presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids.

Phytochemical screening, physicochemical properties, acute toxicity testing and screening of hypoglycaemic activity of extracts of Eremurus himalaicus baker in normoglycaemic Wistar strain albino rats.

In the present study EtOAc, MeOH, and aqueous extracts of Eremurus himalaicus were evaluated for hypoglycaemic effect in normal rats using both oral glucose tolerance test and 14-day oral administration study. Phytochemical and physicochemical screening was also done. In oral glucose tolerance test the aqueous and MeOH extracts of Eremurus himalaicus at a dose level of 500 mg/kg body weight prior to glucose load resulted in a significant fall in blood glucose level within 150 min. of glucose administration. The aqueous extract at a dose level of 250 mg/kg body weight and 500 mg/kg body weight also showed good hypoglycaemic response (P < 0.001); this was followed by MeOH extract at a dose level of 500 mg/kg body weight (P < 0.05), while MeOH extract at dose level of 250 mg/kg body weight and ethyl acetate extract at dose level of 250 mg/kg body weight and 500 mg/kg body weight exhibited insignificant effect. Phytochemical screening of extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and flavonoids. The results indicate that aqueous extract possess significant hypoglycaemic activity in normoglycaemic rats which may be attributed to the above-mentioned chemical constituents.

Free radical scavenging potential of in vitro raised and greenhouse acclimatized plants of Artemisia amygdalina

AIM Artemisia amygdalina Decne. (Asteraceae) is a critically endangered and endemic herb of Kashmir Himalayan sub-alpine region and Pakistan. Scientific research throughout the world has evidence to support the tremendous medicinal utility of the genus Artemisia. The natural resources of medicinal plants are being reduced day by day. This study provides the alternative way for medicinal resource utilization and conservation of A. amygdalina. METHODS In vitro-raised plants and greenhouse acclimatized plants were obtained by culturing wild explants on Murashige and Skoogs medium. Plant extracts were obtained and subjected to different antioxidant assays: DPPH assay, riboflavin photo-oxidation assay, deoxy ribose assay, ferric thiocyanate assay, thiobarbituric acid assay, post mitochondrial supernatant assay and DNA damage on agarose gel. RESULTS In vitro grown plants, as well as those acclimatized in the greenhouse reveals antioxidant activity against hydroxyl, superoxide, and lipid peroxyl radicals. CONCLUSION This preliminary study revealed the free radical scavenging potential of tissue culture-raised plant extracts of A. amydalina.