Studies on anti-diarrhoeal activity of Ficus hispida. Leaf extract in rats

Methanol extract of Ficus hispida L. showed significant inhibitory activity against castor oil-induced diarrhoea and PGE(2)-induced enteropooling in rats. It also showed a significant reduction in gastro-intestinal motility on charcoal meal test in rats. The results obtained establish the F. hispida leaf extract as an anti-diarrhoeal agent.     

Antidiarrhoeal activity of carbazole alkaloids from Murraya koenigii Spreng (Rutaceae) seeds

The bioassay guided fractionation of the n-hexane extract of the seeds of Murraya koenigii Spreng (Rutaceae) resulted in the isolation of three bioactive carbazole alkaloids, kurryam (I), koenimbine (II) and koenine (III). The structures of the compounds were confirmed from their ¹H-, ¹³C-, and 2D-NMR spectral data. Of the three compounds (I) and (II) exhibited significant inhibitory activity against castor oil-induced diarrhoea and PGE₂-induced enteropooling in rats. The compounds also produced a significant reduction in gastrointestinal motility in the charcoal meal test in Wister rats.     

Antidiarrheal activity of dehydroleucodine isolated from Artemisia douglasiana

Dehydroleucodine (DhL), a sesquiterpene lactone obtained from Artemisia douglasiana, was screened for antidiarrheal effects. DhL inhibited castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice by judged by a decrease in the number of wet faeces in the DhL-treatment groups. DhL significantly reduced intestinal transit in mice. Yohimbine and phentolamine counteracted the inhibitory effect of DhL. It is suggested that alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors mediate the effect of DhL in intestinal motility. DhL reduced also intraluminal accumulation of fluid. Thus, the antidiarrheal activity of DhL is possibly related, at least in part, to its inhibitory action against gastrointestinal motility and the inhibition of enteropooling property.     

Effect of methanolic extract of Cassia nigricans leaves on rat gastrointestinal tract

The effects of the methanolic extract of Cassia nigricans leaves were investigated on experimentally-induced diarrhoea and ulceration in rat. The extract dose-dependently reduced both the small intestinal propulsive movement (P<0.01-0.001), and castor oil-induced fluid accumulation (P<0.05-0.001). Its inhibitory effects on intestinal propulsive movement and fluid accumulation were significantly (P<0.05) antagonised by yohimbine. However, castor oil-induced diarrhoea was increased. The extract also reduced significantly (P<0.05-0.001) the ulcers induced by both indomethacin and ethanol. The results indicate that the observed antidiarrhoeal effect might in part be due to alpha(2)-adrenoceptor stimulation.     

Effect of aqueous Euphorbia hirta leaf extract on gastrointestinal motility

The aqueous leaf extract of Euphorbia hirta decreased the gastrointestinal motility in normal rats and decreased the effect of castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice.     

Antidiarrhoeal activity of Rhus javanica ripen fruit extract in albino mice

The antidiarrhoeal effects of the methanolic extract of Rhus javanica ripen fruits (MERJ) were investigated by employing four experimental models of diarrhoea in Swiss albino mice. MERJ treated mice, showed significant reduction in the faecal output and protected them from castor oil-induced diarrhoea. The extract also reduced the intestinal fluid secretion induced by MgSO4 and gastrointestinal motility after charcoal meal administration in the albino mice. No mortality and visible signs of general weakness was observed in the mice following the test extract administration up to 2000 mg/kg dose.     

Antidiarrhoeal activity of the bark extract of Careya arborea Roxb

The methanol extract of the Careya arborea Roxb. bark significantly reduced castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice. This effect supports the local traditional use of the plant against diarrhoea.     

Antidiarrhoeal activity of root extracts from Roureopsis obliquifoliolata and Epinetrum villosum

The methanol extracts of Roureopsis obliquifoliolata and Epinetrum villosum root significantly reduced castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice. This effect supports the use of these plants in Congolese folk medicine as antidiarrhoeal remedies.     

Purgative effect of the methanol extract of Morinda lucida

The purgative effect of a methanol extract of the leaves of Morinda lucida is reported. The oral treatment (12.5–100 mg/kg) caused a pronounced increase in the number of wet faeces in rats and a potentiated castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice.     

Pharmacological studies on the leaf of Psidium guajava

The methanol extract of the leaves of Psidium guajava was found to inhibit paw oedema induced by carrageenan in rats and pain induced by acetic acid in mice, and exhibited an antipyretic effect. Oral administration of the extract reduced intestinal transit time and prevented castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice. A CNS depressant activity was exhibited by the extract by potentiating the phenobarbitone sleeping time in mice.     

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.     

Antidiarrhoeal activity of Cyperus rotundus

The methanol extract of Cyperus rotundus rhizome, given orally at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w., showed significant antidiarrhoeal activity in castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. Among the fractions, tested at 250 mg/kg, the petroleum ether fraction (PEF) and residual methanol fraction (RMF) were found to retain the activity, the latter being more active as compared to the control. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) did not show any antidiarrhoeal activity.     

蓖麻油聚氨酯丙烯酸酯复合乳液的研制

采用甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)与蓖麻油水性聚氨酯共聚反应制备蓖麻油聚氨酯丙烯酸酯(CPUA)复合乳液,研究了蓖麻油添加量、MMA添加量和引发剂种类对合成CPUA复合乳液及涂膜性能的影响,并应用傅立叶红外光谱(FT-IR)测定反应产物的结构.研究发现随着蓖麻油和MMA添加量增大,CPUA复合乳液胶粒平均粒径增大,粘度减小,涂膜光泽度下降,机械性能和耐水性增强,确定了合适的蓖麻油和MMA含量,分别为体系总固体质量的20%～25%和20%～30%.采用偶氮二异丁腈(AIBN)和过硫酸钾(KPS)复合引发剂可提高单体的转化率;性能测试表明,本研究合成的CPUA复合乳液具有优异的物理机械性能和耐水性.     

Analgesic and antidiarrheal properties of Ocimum selloi essential oil in mice

Ocimum selloi essential oil (2, 20, and 200 mg/kg; p.o.) reduced, in a dose-dependent way, the abdominal contraction induced by acetic acid (0.6%; i.p.) and the diarrhea episodes induced by castor oil in mice. At the higher dose (200 mg/kg; p.o.), the essential oil significantly reduced intestinal transit (P<0.05) in the charcoal meal test. The main component detected in O. selloi essential oil was methyl chavicol (98%; GC and GC/MS).These effects seems to support the use of O. selloi against diarrhea, intestinal spasm and visceral pain.     

Scopoletin suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines and PGE2 from LPS-stimulated cell line, RAW 264.7 cells

Scopoletin (1-50 microg/ml) inhibited the release of PGE2, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 and suppressed the expression of COX-2 in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that scopoletin might suppress the production of such pro-inflammatory cytokines and exert inhibitory activity on LPS-induced PGE2 production through the depression of COX-2 expression.     

Studies on preventive and curative effects of berberine on chemical-induced hepatotoxicity in rodents.

Berberis aristata is an edible plant employed in the South Asian Traditional Medicine, particularly its fruits being used as a tonic remedy for liver and heart. In this investigation, berberine, a known compound from this plant, was studied for its possible antihepatotoxic action in rats. Pretreatment of animals with berberine (4 mg/kg; orally twice daily for 2 days) prevented the acetaminophen- or CCl4-induced rise in serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aminotransaminases (AST and ALT), suggestive of hepatoprotection. Post-treatment with three successive oral doses of berberine (4 mg/kg every 6 h) reduced the hepatic damage induced by acetaminophen, while CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was not modified, suggesting a selective curative effect against acetaminophen. Pretreatment of animals with a single oral dose of berberine (4 mg/kg) induced prolongation of the pentobarbital (60 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced sleeping time as well as increased strychnine (0.3 mg/kg; i.p.)-induced toxicity, suggestive of inhibitory effect on microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes, cytochrome P450s (CYPs).     

Antinociceptive and antidiarrhoeal activity of Zanthoxylum rhetsa

The methanolic extract of the Zanthoxylum rhetsa Roxb. stem bark, given by oral route to mice at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, significantly reduced the abdominal contraction induced by acetic acid and the diarrhoeal episodes induced by castor oil in mice.     

Tiliroside and gnaphaliin inhibit human low density lipoprotein oxidation

Two flavonoids, gnaphaliin and tiliroside, isolated from Helichrysum italicum, were studied in vitro for their capacity to inhibit Cu(2+)-induced human low density lipoprotein (LDL) and diluted plasma oxidation. LDL oxidation was monitored by conjugated diene, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation and electrophoretic mobility on agarose gel. Gnaphaliin and tiliroside increased the lag-phase for diene conjugate production in a dose-dependent manner. The reduction of TBARS production confirmed the antioxidant activity of gnaphaliin and tiliroside with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values of 8.0+/-3.9 microM and 7.0+/-2.6 microM respectively. Furthermore, the flavonoids negated the Cu(2+)-induced increase in electrophoretic mobility of LDL. Antioxidant activity of gnaphaliin and tiliroside was significantly different when diluted plasma was oxidised by adding 1 mM CuSO(4). Although both flavonoids again reduced the TBARS production, tiliroside showed higher activity than gnaphaliin (IC(50)=10.6+/-2.5 microM vs. IC(50)>50 microM). In conclusion, tiliroside and gnaphaliin are antioxidants against in vitro Cu(2+)-induced LDL oxidation in the same order of magnitude compared to that of the reference drug, probucol.     

Effects of Morus alba leaf extract on the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 and cytokines in RAW264.7 macrophages

Morus alba leaf methanolic extract and its fractions (chloroform, butanol, and aqueous fractions) were found to inhibit NO production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages without an appreciable cytotoxic effect at concentration from 4 to 100 microg/ml. LPS-induced PGE2 production was significantly reduced only by butanol fraction. In addition, M. alba leaf extract and its fractions significantly decreased the production of TNF-alpha. These findings suggest that M. alba leaf extract seems to be able in suppressing inflammatory mediators. Moreover, the inhibitory activities on COX-2 and iNOS of its butanol fraction are warranted for further elucidation of active principles for development of new antiinflammatory agents.     

温度对蓖麻籽压榨制油的影响

以蓖麻籽为原料进行螺旋压榨,研究了入料温度对其出油率及粘度的影响。结果表明:入料温度对蓖麻油的动力粘度及油脂品质均有显著影响,理论最佳入料温度为70.8℃,此时蓖麻籽出油率可达62%;当入料温度达到70℃时,蓖麻油粘度很低,饼残油率较低,油脂颜色变浅及酸值降低。因此,入料温度的调控对于提高油料压榨制油的效率及其质量具有重要意义。