Vandita Srivastava

Immunostimulant activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. (Oleaceae), a plant widely used in the traditional medicinal systems of India, has recently been reported to possess hepatoprotective, antileishmanial, antiviral and antifungal activities. In the present study strong stimulation of antigen specific and non-specific immunity, as evidenced by increases in humoral and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and in the macrophage migration index (MMI), has been demonstrated in mice fed with 50% ethanolic extract of seeds, flowers and leaves of this plant. Maximum activity was found in the seeds in which the active principle(s) appear to be mainly associated with lipids. In flowers and leaves, however, the major activity was found in the aqueous fraction of the 50% ethanol extract. The immunostimulant substance(s) found in N. arbor-tristis L. are likely to play a role in its antiamoebic, antileishmanial, antiviral and certain other activities.

Antimalarial Activity of Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh) against Plasmodium berghei NK 65 in Mastomys natalensis

Andrographis paniculata (kalmegh), a plant used extensively in the Indian traditional systems of medicine as a hepatoprotective and a hepatostimulative agent, was studied in a four day suppressive test against Plasmodium berghei NK 65 in Mastomys natalensis. A crude ethanol extract and fractions reduced the level of parasitaemia in a dose-dependent manner. Four diterpenes, isolated from the n-butanol fraction, also suppressed the parasitaemia level, but not in a dose-dependent manner. Chemoprophylactic activity of neoandrographolide was tested using different protocols. Fifteen days of therapy with neoandrographolide before infection suppressed the parasitaemia.

Antidiarrhoeal Activity of Diterpenes of Andrographis paniculata (Kal-Megh) against Escherichia coli Enterotoxin in in vivo Models

AbstractThe alcoholic extract of Andrographis paniculata exhibited significant antidiarrhoeal activity against E. coli enterotoxins in animal models. The activity was further located in n-butanol fraction, which led to the isolation of four diterpenes, andrographolide (7), neoandrographolide (2), deoxyan-drographolide (3), and andrographiside (4). Among the four diterpenes, andrographolide and neoandrographolide showed similar activity to loperamide against E. coli LT and LT/ST enterotoxins. Andrographolide was found to be superior against ST enterotoxin, the most common cause of epidemics of neonatal diarrhoea.

Antihepatotoxic Activity of Diterpenes of Andrographis Paniculata (Kal-Megh) Against Plasmodium Berghei-Induced Hepatic Damage in Mastomys Natalensis

AbstractAdministration of an alcohol extract of Andrographis paniculata (25 mg/kg) and two of its constituent diterpenes, andrographolide and neoandrographolide (6 mg/kg/day for two weeks) showed significant antihepatotoxic action in P. berghei K173- induced hepatic damage in M. natalensis. The increased levels of serum lipoprotein-X, alkaline phosphatase, GOT, GPT and bilirubin were markedly reduced by A. paniculata and its diterpenes. In the liver, these preparations decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation products and facilitated the recovery of superoxide dismutase and glycogen. The protective effects of andrographolide were comparable to those of neoandrographolide.

Therapeutic Action of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis against Caecal Amoebiasis of Rat

AbstractThe 50% ethanolic extracts of the seeds, leaves, roots, flowers and stem of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis were screened for antiamoebic activity. These extracts showed promising effect in clearing Entamoeba histolytica infections in rat caecum however, they were not active in vitro.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Pluchea lanceolata: Isolation of an Active Principle

AbstractThe ethanolic extract of Pluchea lanceolata exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity, which was further localized in the hexane fraction, from which ψPS-taraxasterol acetate was isolated which proved to be one of the active constituents.

Effect of Coleus forskohlii against Caecal Amoebiasis of Rats

AbstractColeus forskohlii is reported to possess medicinal properties against human gut ailments. Coleonol (forskolin), a diterpene from this plant, was amoebicidal for trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica at a cone, of 1000 /μg/ml. It showed therapeutic efficacy in clearing these amoebae from 50% infected rats at a high dose of 300 mg/kg body wt. Interestingly 67 and 64 % of rats respectively with caecal amoebiasis responded to treatment with dry root powder of this plant and its ethanolic extract fed at a dose of 900 mg/kg body wt.