Siddhartha Pal

Preliminary studies on the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of the methanolic fraction of the root extract of Tragia involucrata Linn

Tragia involucrata has been widely used in the traditional medicinal system for the treatment of a variety of diseases. The effect of methanolic extract of T. involucrata was studied in different experimental animal models and it was revealed that the extract possesses significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity.

Neuropsychopharmacological profile of the methanolic fraction of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract

Neuropharmacological studies were conducted in experimental animals (rats and mice) with the methanolic fraction of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract.

Studies on the anti-ulcer activity of a Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract in experimental animals

A methanolic fraction from an extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves was found to possess significant anti-ulcer activity in nine different experimental animals models. Premedication tests in rats revealed that the extract possessed significant protective action against the gastric lesions induced by aspirin, indomethacin, serotonin, reserpine, stress and ethanol. Significant protection with extract treatment was observed to occur for aspirin-induced ulcer in pylorus-ligated rats and for histamine-induced duodenal lesions in guinea pigs. Significant enhancement of the healing process was also found to occur in acetic acid-induced chronic gastric lesions in rats.

Effect of amitriptyline on gastric ulceration

Amitriptyline significantly inhibited alcohol, aspirin, indomethacin and cold‐restraint stress‐induced ulceration. Secretory studies conducted in pyloric‐ligated rats revealed that the drug, at the doses employed, significantly reduced total acidity and protein content. However, significant reductions of the gastric volume were only observed at the highest dose of the drug. In another set of experiments, when 50% alcohol (v/v) was administered to the pyloric‐ligated rats pretreated with amitriptyline, it was observed that the drug significantly reduced the pH, total acidity and protein content.

Pharmacological studies on Indian black tea (leaf variety) in acute and chronic inflammatory conditions

Infusions of Indian black tea (BTI), when administered orally, produced significant inhibition of rat paw oedema, induced with carrageenin (pre and post treatment) and arachidonic acid. BTI was also found to inhibit peritoneal capillary permeability and caused a marked reduction of lipopolysaccharide induced PGE2 generation. In these models, the observed antioedema effect was similar to that of BW755C (a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and 5‐lipoxygenase enzymes). BTI was found to scavenge superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, and also protected rat erythrocytes from the damaging effects of hydrogen peroxide. In chronic studies, BTI inhibited granuloma formation along with the reduction of both lipid peroxidation and hydroxyproline content (in the granuloma tissue). Significant antiarthritic activity was observed with regular administration of BTI in the Freunds adjuvant induced model of arthritis. Chronic treatment with BTI (in arthritic rats) resulted in a decrease of paw diameter and tissue lipid peroxidation, along with a restoration of GSH, catalase and superoxide dismutase levels. Copyright

Studies on the Antiulcer Activity of the Chloroform Fraction of Calotropis procera Root Extract

Calotropis procera has been widely used in the Indian traditional medicinal system for the treatment of a variety of disease conditions. Earlier studies in our laboratory revealed that the chloroform fraction of C. procera root extract possesses significant analgesic, antipyretic and antiinflammatory activity. Further studies also revealed that, unlike the NSAIDs, C. procera simultaneously possesses significant antiulcer activity.

Effect of dothiepin on gastric ulceration mediated by lipid derived eicosanoids.

Dothiepin, a tricyclic antidepressant, significantly inhibited the development of gastric ulcers induced by alcohol, aspirin, indomethacin and Shays pyloric ligation. Antisecretory studies in pyloric ligated rats revealed that the drug at a dose of 100 mg/kg significantly reduced total acidity, gastric output and protein content. In another set of experiments, dothiepin significantly reduced gastric output, total acidity and protein content in pyloric ligated rats which received 50% alcohol (v/v) 30 minutes after the administration of dothiepin.