Preliminary study on antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipaemic effects of Butea monosperma in NIDDM rats

Oral administration of the ethanolic extract of the Butea monosperma seeds (300mg/kg b.w.) exhibited significant antidiabetic, hypolipaemic and antiperoxidative effects in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus rats.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of Butea monosperma flowers

Methanolic extract of Butea monosperma flowers (MEBM) was studied for anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenin induced paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma in albino rats. In carrageenin induced paw edema, MEBM at oral doses of 600 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg, dose-dependently inhibited the paw edema. In cotton pellet induced granuloma, MEBM at the same doses was found to significantly inhibit granuloma tissue formation, including significant reduction in levels of serum lysosomal enzymes (SGOT, SGPT and ALP) and lipid peroxides as compared to control.     

In vivo anthelmintic activity of Butea monosperma against Trichostrongylid nematodes in sheep

Seeds of Butea monosperma administered as crude powder (CP) at doses of 1, 2 and 3 g/kg to sheep naturally infected with mixed species of gastrointestinal nematodes exhibited a dose and a time-dependent anthelmintic effect. The maximum reduction of 78.4% in eggs per gram of feces (EPG) was recorded on day 10 after treatment with 3 g/kg. Levamisole (7.5 mg/kg), a standard anthelmintic agent, exhibited 99.1% reduction in EPG.     

Effects of Butea superba on reproductive systems of rats

The effects of Butea superba on the reproductive system in male Wistar rats were investigated. The animals were fed daily with the powdered crude drug suspended in distilled water by a gastric tube at the dose of 2, 25, 250 and 1250 mg/kg body weight for 8 weeks. Rats fed with 1 ml of distilled water were used as a negative control. The weights of all vital organs in all treated groups were not different from the control. The percentage weight ratios of body weights of seminal vesicles and prostate glands were not different from the control, except that the testis of the group fed with 1250 mg/kg was significantly different from the control and the other treated groups. In addition, the sperm counts in this group showed about 16% more than the control group. Hematology as well as the liver and kidney function of all treated groups showed no difference from the control. B. superba, drug at 250 mg/kg which was 100 times more than the Thai FDA recommended dose for humans appeared to be safe in rats. The crude drug has demonstrated an increase tendency on testis weight and sperm counts in rat. The information from the present study can be used to explain the Thai folklore application of this plant in Thailand.     

Antidiabetic properties of aqueous barks extract of Parinari excelsa in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The aqueous extract of the Parinari excelsa barks at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg/day for 7 days has a significant antihyperglycemic effect on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. At the same dose the acute oral administration of aqueous extract of the P. excelsa barks (100 and 300 mg/kg) induced a significant decrease of blood glucose on glucose-loaded normoglycaemic rats. Our results seem to confirm the rational bases for its use in traditional medicine.     

Antidiabetic potential of Phyllanthus reticulatus in alloxan-induced diabetic mice

The plant Phyllanthus reticulatus is claimed to have antidiabetic activity in tribal area. To validate the tribal claim, the petroleum ether and ethanolic extracts of leaves of the P. reticulatus were orally tested at 500 and 1000 mg/kg for hypoglycemic effect in alloxan induces diabetic mice. It shows antidiabetic activity at the dose of 1000 mg/kg. The phytochemical screening of the residues revealed the presence of terpenoids glycosides, protein, carbohydrates and absence of alkaloids and steroids.     

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.     

Type 2 antidiabetic activity of bergenin from the roots of Caesalpinia digyna Rottler

Bergenin, a major constituent of Caesalpinia digyna Rottler (Leguminosae) was isolated from its roots and was characterized by comparing its melting point and spectroscopic data (IR, (1)H, (13)C, Mass Spectra) with standard bergenin. Isolated bergenin was then evaluated for antidiabetic (Type 2) activity in streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats. Bergenin was administered at doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg; p.o. to normal rats which were subjected to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Bergenin at same dose level was given to diabetic rats and fasting blood glucose level was estimated on 0th, 7th and 14th day of treatment while plasma lipids, antioxidant enzymes and liver glycogen level in diabetic rats were estimated on 14th day of treatment followed by histopathological studies of pancreas. Bergenin at 10mg/kg; p.o. was found to reduce blood glucose level significantly in OGTT (P<0.01) while it showed a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose level in diabetic rats at same dose level only on 14th day of treatment. Bergenin in all dose levels reversed plasma lipid (reduced elevated TC, LDL-C and increased HDL-C level) profile to normal values except TG. However, bergenin showed no significant effect on liver glycogen at all dose level. The decrease in lipid peroxides and increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in liver illustrated the antioxidant potential of bergenin. Histopathological studies demonstrated the regenerative effect of bergenin on pancreatic β cells. Hence, bergenin isolated from C. digyna possesses significant antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity in Type 2 diabetic rats.     

Antidiabetic activity of Caesalpinia bonducella seed extracts in rats

The seed extracts of Caesalpinia bonducella were subjected to screening of antidiabetic activity in alloxan induced hyperglycemia. The oral administration of the extracts (300 mg/kg) produced significant antihyperglycemic action as well as it lowered the BUN levels significantly. In the same study the action of the extracts on diabetes induced hyperlipidemia was analyzed where the extracts significantly lowered the elevated cholesterol as well as LDL level. The antihyperglycemic action of the extracts may be due to the blocking of glucose absorption. The drug has the potential to act as antidiabetic as well as antihyperlipidemic.     

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.     

Hepatoprotective activity of Clerodendrum inerme against CCl4 induced hepatic injury in rats

The ethanolic extract of Clerodendrum inerme leaves were screened for its hepatoprotective activity in CCl(4) (0.5 ml/kg, i.p) induced liver damage in Swiss albino rats at a dose of 200 mg /kg bw. The ethanolic extract of C. inerme significantly (P<0.001) decreases the serum enzyme alanine amino transferase (ALT), asparate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphates (ALP), triglycerides (TGL), total cholesterol (TC) and significantly increased the glutathione level. Silymarin (25 mg/kg), a known hepatoprotective drug used for comparison exhibited significant activity (P<0.001). The extract did not shown any mortality up to a dose of 2000 g/kg bw.     

Evaluation of anxiolytic potential of Celastrus oil in rat models of behaviour

The Celastrus oil, extracted from seeds of Celastrus paniculatus tested at 2 dose levels (1 and 1.5 g/kg), exhibited significant anxiolytic activity and did not produce tolerance. The non-sedative nature and reversal of buspirone induced behaviour (in open field exploration) point to the serotonergic mechanism underlying the anxiolysis, inspiring further research.     

Acute toxicity and diuretic studies of Rungia repens aerial parts in rats

Ethanolic extract of Rungia repens aerials parts (300 and 600 mg/kg p.o) showed diuretic activity in rats. The acute toxicity, orally evaluated in mice, was found to be higher than 3000 mg/kg.     

Alpha-amylase inhibitors from Brazilian seaweeds and their hypoglycemic potential

The acetone crude extract of Lobophora variegata did not show any alpha-amylase inhibition activity. On the contrary, acetone crude extract of both Spatoglossum schroederi and Caulerpa racemosa inhibited the enzyme activity, with an ED(50) of 0.58 and 0.09 mg/ml.     

Antidiabetic activity of hydro-ethanolic extract of Cyperus rotundus in alloxan induced diabetes in rats

In light of the traditional claim of Cyperus rotundus in the treatment of diabetes, investigations were carried out to evaluate its effect on alloxan induced hyperglycemia in rats. Oral daily administration of 500 mg/kg of the extract (once a day for seven consecutive days) significantly lowered the blood glucose levels. This antihyperglycemic activity can be attributed to its antioxidant activity as it showed the strong DPPH radical scavenging action in vitro.     

Novel indole C-glycosides from Isatis indigotica and their potential cytotoxic activity

Two novel indole C-glycosides, which were the first reported alkaloids C-glycosides from Isatis indigotica, together with five known alkaloids were isolated. The novel alkaloids were elucidated to be indole-3-acetonitrile-4-methoxy-2-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and N-methoxy-indole-3-acetonitrile-2-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. 1 exhibited significant cytotoxic activities against human myeloid leukemia HL-60 and human liver cancer HepG2 cells with the IC₅₀ of 1.3 ± 0.1 and 2.1 ± 0.3 μM, respectively. 2 showed potential cytotoxic activities against HL-60 and human myeloid leukemia Mata cells with the IC₅₀ of 5.1 ± 0.4 and 12.1 ± 0.8 μM, respectively.     

Anti-hyperglycemic action of apigenin-6-C-β-fucopyranoside from Averrhoa carambola

A stimulatory effect of apigenin-6-C-β-fucopyranoside (1) on glucose uptake was observed when rat soleus muscle was incubated with 1, 10 and 100μM of this flavonoid glycoside. The presence of specific insulin signaling inhibitors, such as wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), RO318220, an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), PD98059, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK), and HNMPA(AM)(3), an insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity inhibitor showed that apigenin-6-C-β-fucopyranoside triggers different metabolic pathways in skeletal muscle. The oral administration of crude extract, fractions and isolated flavonoids (apigenin-6-C-β-fucopyranoside (1) and apigenin-6-C-(2″-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-fucopyranoside (2)) from Averrhoa carambola leaves exhibited a potential hypoglycemic activity in hyperglycemic normal rats. Additionally, both flavonoids significantly increased the muscle and liver glycogen content after an acute treatment. The results indicate that A. carambola can be regarded as a potent antihyperglycemic agent with insulin secretagogue and insulin mimetic properties.     

Hypoglycemic activity of Nymphaea stellata leaves ethanolic extract in alloxan induced diabetic rats

The ethanolic extract of leaves of Nymphaea stellata given by oral route to diabetic rats at dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day for seven days reduced significantly by 31.6 and 42.6 % the plasma glucose level increased by intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/day of alloxan. Moreover, the treatment significantly affected the plasma level of cholesterol and triglyceride.     

Investigation of in vitro anthelmintic activities of Pycnanthus angolensis and Sphenocentrum jollyanum

Extracts from Pycnanthus angolensis stem bark, and fruits and seeds of Sphenocentrum jollyanum, when tested in vitro, showed potent anthelmintic activity on the earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae. Methanolic extract of P. angolensis was more active than its chloroform extract (P<0.001), while fruit ethanolic extract of S. jollyanum was also more potent than the seed extract. When compared with other worms, S. jollyanum fruit extract showed the greatest activity on wireworms when tested at 80 mg/ml.     

Red pine harvest debris as a potential source of inoculum of Diplodia shoot blight pathogens

A high incidence of Diplodia shoot blight (site means ranging 85-100%) was observed on recently planted red pine (Pinus resinosa) seedlings where mature red pine stands previously had been clearcut. An investigation of the potential of harvest debris as a source of inoculum of Diplodia pathogens then was conducted. Cones, bark, needles, stems from shoots bearing needles, and stems from shoots not bearing needles (both suspended above the soil and in soil contact) were collected from harvest debris left at sites where clearcutting occurred. Conidia were quantified, and their germination rate was assessed, and Diplodia species were identified using PCR. Conidia of Diplodia species were found at all study sites and conidia counts increased from samples collected from 6 to 18 months after harvest. Germinable conidia were obtained from debris collected 6 months to 5 years after harvest. Fewer conidia were obtained from debris collected at intervals of up to 4-5 years after harvest and the percentage of germinable conidia was lower after longer intervals following harvest. More conidia were obtained and a greater percentage germinated from debris collected above the soil than from debris in soil contact. The host substrate also influenced the number of conidia and the percentage that germinated. Planting red pine seedlings next to debris infested with Diplodia pathogens could provide a persistent source of inoculum. Results should prompt further consideration by land managers and researchers of the potential forest health risks, in addition to benefits, that may be associated with harvest debris.