Shameem Ara Begum

Anxiolytic activity of methanol leaf extract of Achyranthes aspera Linn in mice using experimental models of anxiety

Objective: To study the anxiolytic activity of methanol extract of Achyranthes aspera Linn (Amaranthaceae). Materials and Methods: Male Swiss albino mice were used. Methanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera (MEAA) was administered in the doses of 100, 300 and 600 mg/kg p.o. Hole board (HB), open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM) and light/dark exploration (LDE) tests were used for determination of anxiolytic activity. Results: The methanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera significantly increased the number and duration of head poking in HB test. The extract also significantly increased the time spent and the number of entries in open arm in EPM. In LDE test, the extract produced significant increase in time spent and number of crossings and decreased the duration of immobility in light box. In OFT, the extract showed significant increase in number of rearing, assisted rearing and the squares crossed. Conclusion: In the present study, MEAA exhibited anxiolytic activity which might be attributed to its phyto-constituents viz. alkaloid, steroid and triterpenes. Since Achyranthes aspera is ubiquitous and abundantly grown, it could be a fairly economical therapeutic agent for management of anxiety disorders.

In vivo wound-healing efficacy and antioxidant activity of Achyranthes aspera in experimental burns.

Context: The floral richness of the North-East Indian region cannot be neglected in context to its medicinal importance. Achyranthes aspera Linn. (Amaranthaceae; Prickly Chaff flower) is an indigenous plant species of this region. Although the local traditional healers have ethnomedical knowledge on the use of this plant, there is no scientific study on wound-healing activity of this plant. Objective: The healing efficacy of methanol leaf extract of A. aspera (MEAA) in granulation tissue of burn wound and its antioxidant activity are investigated. Materials and methods: Methanol extract of leaves of A. aspera was used for compounding 5% (w/w) ointment, which was applied topically twice daily in experimental burn wound in rats. Healing potential was assessed by rate of wound contraction, antioxidant and biochemical assay which was supported by gelatin zymography and histopathology. Results: In the present study, 5% ointment of A. aspera showed significant (p < 0.05) wound healing, which was evident by wound contraction, elevation of various antioxidant enzymes viz. SOD, catalase, vitamin C and prohealing and biochemical parameters like hydroxyproline and protein content than the control animals. Up-regulated expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and 9) was also observed by gelatin zymography. Histopathological examination of the granulation tissues in the A. aspera-treated animals showed collagen deposition, fibroblast proliferation and formation of epidermis. Discussion and conclusion: The methanol leaf extract of A. aspera showed excellent wound-healing activities which has great potential for development of plant-based product.

Influence of Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze on Altered Antioxidant Enzyme Profile during Cutaneous Wound Healing in Immunocompromised Rats

Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze (Amaranthaceae) is a herbaceous plant used against inflammation, cough, and diarrhea in Brazilian popular medicine. In our preliminary study, promising wound healing activity of methanol extract of leaves of A. brasiliana (MEAB) was observed in normal excision and incision wound models. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the wound healing activity along with the antioxidant enzyme profile during cutaneous excision immunocompromised wound after topical application of 5% w/w ointment of MEAB in rats. Immunocompromised state was induced by pretreatment with hydrocortisone (HC) at 40 mg/kg body weight (i.m.) in male rats. Following one-week pretreatment with HC, wounds were created. The vehicle, 5% (w/w) ointment of MEAB, or standard drug (Himax) was applied topically twice daily. Healing potential was evaluated by the rate of wound contraction, estimation of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants like catalase, SOD, GSH, protein, vitamin C, and hydroxyproline content, which was supported by histopathological study on the 8th day following wounding. There was significant increase in the enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant parameters in the extract-reated group as compared to control group. Histopathological study revealed collagen deposition, fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, and development of basement membrane in A. brasiliana group. The results of the present investigation revealed significant wound healing activity of MEAB.

Hematobiochemical and pathological alterations due to chronic chlorpyrifos intoxication in indigenous chicken

Objective: The present study investigates the effect of oral administration of chlorpyrifos (CPF) in indigenous chicken. Materials and Methods: The birds were divided into two groups I and II. Group I served as control and group II was treated with CPF (0.36 mg/kg) orally daily up to 12 weeks. Blood samples were assayed for hemoglobin (Hb), total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), differential leukocyte count, and biochemical constituents like alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholinesterase (CHE), total protein and uric acid. Representative pieces of tissues from liver and kidney were collected weekly for histopathological examination. Results: A significant (P < 0.01) increase of Hb, TEC, TLC, and heterophil percent and decrease of lymphocyte percent was observed. Serum ALP, AST, ALT, and uric acid increased significantly and CHE values decreased significantly in CPF treated birds. The protein level remained similar. Uric acid level was found to be increased significantly in the treated group. The results indicate that chronic CPF intoxication produces hematological, biochemical, and pathological changes in treated birds.

Hematobiochemical alterations of acute chlorpyriphos intoxication in indigenous chicken

Aim: The present investigation was undertaken to elaborate hematobiochemical alterations of acute chlorpyriphos (CPF) toxicity in indigenous chicken. Since there is no available literature on the detailed hematobiochemical changes of CPF in indigenous chicken, hence, the present study was designed to establish toxicological effect of CPF on blood biochemical parameters of indigenous chicken which are at a great risk of exposure to pesticides. These will help physiologist, pathologist, and poultry scientists for effective production strategy as well as disease control regime. Materials and Methods: The birds were divided into two major Groups I and II. Group I served as control and Group II was treated with CPF (36 mg/kg). Blood samples were assayed for hemoglobin (Hb), total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), differential leukocyte count, and biochemical constituents such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholinesterase (CHE), total protein, and uric acid. Results: Hb, TEC, and TLC levels increased significantly (p<0.01) in toxin fed birds, whereas, lymphocyte percent decreased significantly, and heterophil percent increased significantly. Serum ALP, AST, ALT, and uric acid increased significantly in CPF treated birds. Decreased serum CHE values were observed in CPF fed group. The protein level remained almost same. Uric acid level was found to be increased significantly in the treated group compared to control. Conclusion: The results indicated that acute CPF intoxication produce changes in hematology and biochemical constituents of the treated birds.

Pathological and histochemical alterations of acute chlorpyriphos intoxication in indigenous chicken

Chlorpyriphos (CPF; diethyl 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothionate) is a broad-spectrum organophosphorus (OP) insecticide used extensively in agriculture throughout the world because of its high efficacy against pests. In veterinary practice CPF is widely used for the control of pests, mites, flies and lice affecting livestock and poultry. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of oral (p.o.) administration of CPF induced pathological alterations in indigenous chicken. The birds were divided into two major groups -Group I and Group II which served as control and treated with CPF (32 mg/kg) respectively. Detailed post mortem examinations of the dead birds were conducted and representative tissues were collected for histopathological examination. Microscopically, liver tissue of CPF intoxicated chickens showed degeneration, necrosis, congestion, hemorrhages, dilatation of sinusoids and mild fatty changes. The kidneys showed hemorrhages, vacuolar degeneration of tubular epithelia and focal coagulative necrosis. Brain showed satellitosis, neuronophagia and degeneration of Purkinje cells. The results indicated that acute CPF intoxication produces histopathological and ultrastructural changes of the treated birds.

Healing efficacy of methanol extract of leaves of Alternanthera brasiliana Kuntze in aged wound model

The methanol extract of Alternanthera brasiliana Kuntze (Family: Amaranthaceae) leaf was investigated for its wound healing effect by excision wound model (in vivo) in aged Sprague Dawley rats. In excision wound model, compared to the control group, percent contraction of wound was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in A. brasiliana-treated group (5% w/w ointment). The collagen, elastin, and hydroxyproline contents of the granulation tissue of A. brasiliana-treated group increased significantly (P < 0.01) compared to the control group, indicating better wound healing activity of the test plant. These findings were also confirmed by histopathological examination. The results suggested that methanol extract of A. brasiliana possesses significant wound healing potential in aged animal wound model.