Antidiarrhoeal activity of Strychnos potatorum seed extract in rats

The antidiarrhoeal activity of the methanol extract of the dried seeds of Strychnos potatorum (MESP) has been evaluated out in rats using different models (castor oil-induced diarrhoea, effects on gastrointestinal motility and on PGE(2)-induced gastric enteropooling. MESP (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (P<0.001) inhibited the frequency of defaecation and reduced the wetness of faecal droppings in castor oil-induced diarrhoea, decreased the propulsion of charcoal meal through the gastrointestinal tract, and also reduced the PGE(2)-induced enteropooling.     

Analgesic activity of Amorphophallus campanulatus tuber

The methanol extract of Amorphophallus campanulatus tuber, given orally at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, showed significant analgesic activity in mice.     

Passiflora alata and Passiflora edulis spray-dried aqueous extracts inhibit inflammation in mouse model of pleurisy

The aqueous leaves extracts of Passiflora alata (100-300 mg/kg, i.p.) and Passiflora edulis (100-1000 mg/kg, i.p.) possess a significant antiinflammatory activity on carrageenan-induced pleurisy in mice. Treatment with the extracts inhibited leukocyte migration and reduced the formation of exudate. Moreover, a significant inhibition of myeloperoxidase and adenosine-deaminase activities was observed at the doses tested (100 or 250 mg/kg, i.p.). At the same doses, a significant decrease of serum C-reactive protein was observed.     

Analgesic activity of Enhydra fluctuans

The methanol extract of Enhydra fluctuans, given orally at the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg, was evaluated for its analgesic activity using the acetic acid induced writhing and the tail-flick methods. The extract showed promising activity in both tests.     

CNS activity of Alstonia macrophylla leaf extracts: an ethnomedicine of Onge of Bay Islands

Methanol extract at 100-200 mg/kg p.o. and major nonpolar fraction B at 50 mg/kg of Alstonia macrophylla leaves caused a significant reduction in spontaneous activity, remarkable decrease in exploratory behavioural pattern, a reduction in muscle relaxant activity and also significantly potentiated phenobarbitone sodium-induced sleeping time. The phytochemical study of crude leaf extract revealed the presence of tannin, triterpenoid, flavonoid, sterol, alkaloid and reducing sugars. Further fractionation and purification of the n-butanol part of methanol extract yielded fraction A, fraction B and fraction C along with some minor fatty acids as the major compounds.     

Antinociceptive activity of Polygonum hydropiper

The hexane, ethylacetate and methanol extracts of Polygonum hydropiper whole plant administered to mice at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, showed a significant activity on acetic acid-induced writhing. Within the tested extracts, the ethylacetate one showed the most significant activity.     

Protective properties of Leucas lavendulaefolia extracts against D-galactosamine induced hepatotoxicity in rat

Different extracts of the leaves of Leucas lavendulaefolia were tested against D-galactosamine (D-GalN) induced liver toxicity in rats. The methanol extract (100 mg/kg, p.o.) which exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity seems to support the claim of folk medicine.     

Analgesic activity of methanol extract of Aegle marmelos leaves

The methanol extract of leaves of Aegle marmelos at a dose level of 200 and 300 mg/kg showed significant analgesic activity on acetic acid-induced writhing and tail flick test in mice.     

Beneficial effects of Zingiber officinale on goldthioglucose induced obesity

Goldthioglucose induces in mice a significant increase in body weight, glucose, insulin and lipid levels. Treatment with 250 mg/kg of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Zingiber officinale for 8 weeks produces significant reduction in body weight, glucose, insulin and lipid levels as compared to obese control mice. The reduction in elevated glucose along with elevated insulin levels indicates that the treatment with Z. officinale improves insulin sensitivity.     

Antinociceptive activity of Helicteres isora

Helicteres isora root extracts were studied for antinociceptive activity on acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice, at a dose of 250 mg/kg. Petroleum ether, chloroform and aqueous ethanol extracts have shown significant activity.     

Anti-diabetic activity of flowers of Hibiscus rosasinensis

The ethanol extract of flowers of Hibiscus rosasinensis at doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg significantly reduced the blood glucose level in both acute (1, 3, 5 h) and sub acute (1, 3, 5, 7 days) treatments.     

Antiinflammatory and analgesic activities of Zizyphus lotus root barks

The root barks of Zizyphus lotus were extracted with water, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol to determine their antiinflammatory and analgesic activities. Aqueous extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) given intraperitoneally (i.p.) showed a significant and dose-dependent antiinflammatory and analgesic activity.     

Antiinflammatory and analgesic effects of Carthamus lanatus aerial parts

Fractions of methanol, dichloromethane, water extracts and volatiles of Carthamus lanatus aerial parts given by oral route at a dose of 2 mg/kg showed significant antiinflammatory activities in rats. On the contrary, only the water fraction of MeOH extract possesses a significant analgesic activity.     

Effects of the exopolysaccharide fraction (EPSF) from a cultivated Cordyceps sinensis on immunocytes of H22 tumor bearing mice

In order to explore the effects of exopolysaccharide fraction (EPSF) from one of the anamorph strains of Cordyceps sinensis on immunocyte activity of H22 tumor bearing mice, ICR mice were treated with EPSF for 7 days by intraperitoneal injection at doses of 15 mg/kg (low-dose), 30 mg/kg (mid-dose) and 60 mg/kg (high-dose) after H22 tumor cells were implanted. At the end of the experiments, the tumor weight of each mouse was measured. Phagocytosis of mouse peritoneal macrophages was tested by neutral red uptake. The TNF-alpha expression of macrophages was assayed by ELISA. Proliferation ability and cytotoxicity of spleen lymphocytes were determined by MTT methods. The mRNA levels of cytokine TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma mRNA of spleen lymphocytes were detected by RT-PCR. The results indicated that EPSF not only significantly inhibited the H22 tumor growth, but also significantly elevated immunocytes' activity. It significantly enhanced the phagocytosis capacity of peritoneal macrophages and proliferation ability of spleen lymphocytes at all the three doses; it significantly promoted macrophages' TNF-alpha expression and spleen lymphocytes' cytotoxicity. EPSF also significantly elevated TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma mRNA expression of splenic lymphocytes. This experimental finding suggests that EPSF could elevate the immunocytes' activity in H22 tumor bearing mice.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of Pothomorphe peltata leaf methanol extract.

The methanol extract of Pothomorphe peltata leaves, orally administered at the dose of 20 mg/kg (equivalent to 2.50 g dry plant/kg) body weight, exhibited a significant anti-inflammatory activity, comparable with phenylbutazone (80 mg/kg, p.o.), against adjuvant-carrageenan-induced edema in rats.     

Anti-diarrheal activity of methanol extract of Litsea polyantha bark in mice

The anti-diarrheal activity of methanol extract of dried bark and aerial parts of Litsea polyantha (MELP) has been evaluated in mice using different models (castor oil-induced diarrhea and propulsive gut motility in mice). MELP (50, 75, 100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (P<0.01) reduced the onset of diarrhea, fecal excretion and also showed a significant (P<0.001) reduction in gastrointestinal motility on charcoal meal test in mice. The results of the study support the folklore use of the plant for diarrheal remedies.     

Hepatoprotective activity of Vitex negundo leaf extract against anti-tubercular drugs induced hepatotoxicity

Hepatoprotective (HP) activity of Vitex negundo (VN) leaf ethanolic extract was investigated against hepatotoxicity (HT) produced by administering a combination of three anti-tubercular drugs isoniazid (INH)-7.5 mg/kg, rifampin (RMP)-10 mg/kg and pyrazinamide (PZA)-35 mg/kg for 35 35 days by oral route in rats. V. negundo leaf ethanolic extract was administered in three graded doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg orally, 45 min prior to anti-tubercular challenge for 35 days. HP effect of V. negundo leaf ethanolic extract was evident in the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg as there was a significant decrease in TB, AST, ALT and ALP levels in comparison to control. Histology of the liver section of the animals treated with the V. negundo leaf ethanolic extract in the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg further confirms the HP activity.     

Wound healing potential of Tragia involucrata extract in rats

The methanol extract of the roots of Tragia involucrata topically tested at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg exerted significant wound healing effect in Staphylococcus aureus-induced excision wound in rats.     

Evaluation of analgesic, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of lycorine from Sternbergia fisheriana (Herbert) Rupr

The present study reports the potential antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of lycorine from Sternbergia fischeriana (Herbert) Rupr. (Amaryllidaceae). Lycorine was evaluated on mice by using acetic-acid induced writhing and tail-flick tests. Lycorine exhibited stronger inhibition than aspirin in acetic-acid induced abdominal stretching at 1.0 mg/kg dose. Lycorine also showed antinociceptive activity at 1.0 mg/kg dose in tail-flick test. The anti-inflammatory activity of lycorine was not found to be significant at dose of 0.5 mg/kg. However, at doses of 1.0 mg/kg and 1.5 mg/kg, i.p. showed a significant reduction with 53.45% and 36.42%, respectively in rat paw oedema induced by carrageenan against the reference anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin (3 mg/kg, i.p.) (95.70%). The ED₅₀ of lycorine was determined as 0.514 mg/kg. Hepatoprotective activity of lycorine on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced acute liver toxicity following biochemical parameters were also evaluated. Rats were treated with lycorine at doses of 1.0 mg/kg and 2.0 mg/kg, i.p. Results of biochemical tests were confirmed by histopathological examination. Lycorine exhibited significant hepatoprotective effect at dose of 2.0 mg/kg i.p. dose.     

Hepatoprotective activity of the Indian medicinal plant Polygala arvensis on D-galactosamine-induced hepatic injury in rats

The suspensions of chloroform extract of leaves in 0.3% carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) was evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in Wistar albino rats by inducing hepatic injury with d-galactosamine (400 mg/kg). The chloroform extract of Polygala arvensis at an oral dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg exhibited a significant (P<0.001, P<0.01 and P<0.05) protection effect by normalizing the levels of aspartate amino transferase (ASAT, GOT), alanine amino transferase (ALAT, GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGL), albumin, total protein (TP) which were significantly (P<0.001) increased in rats by treatment with 400 mg/kg i.p. of d-galactosamine. Silymarin (25 mg/kg), a known hepatoprotective drug used for comparison exhibited significant activity (P<0.001).