Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of Thymus pubescens extract

Thymus pubescens is an aromatic and medicinal plant, which has been widely distributed in Iran. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the T. pubescens aerial parts methanol extract were studied at doses of 50-400 mg/kg i.p. using carrageenan-induced edema, formalin, hot plate and writhing tests. The extract produced a significant decrease in the degree of swelling, 3 h after carrageenan injection and caused graded inhibition of both phases of formalin-induced pain. Moreover, in the hot plate test, it significantly raised the pain threshold. While in the writhing test produced a significant decrease in the number of writhing in comparison with the control group (P<0.001). The results of pharmacological tests performed in the present study suggest that the extract of T. pubescens presents analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.     

Screening of antioxidant activity of three Euphorbia species from Turkey

Euphorbia acanthothamnos, E. macroclada and E. rigida were investigated for their antioxidant activity. The antioxidant potential of extracts of E. acanthothamnos, E. macroclada and E. rigida was evaluated using different complementary antioxidant tests.     

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Trewia polycarpa roots

The alcoholic extract of Trewia polycarpa roots, when administered orally to rats at doses of 50-400 mg/kg, exhibited a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity in both acute and chronic models. It also showed a significant antinociceptive action mice in the dose range of 25-200 mg/kg. The extract did not reveal any toxicity in rats up to a dose of 3.2 g/kg (p.o.). It showed the presence of terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, quinones and glycosides on phytochemical screening.     

Triterpenoids of Euphorbia kansuensis Proch

Phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract of Euphorbia kansuensis Proch. led to the isolation of three new triterpenoids, along with ten known compounds. Their structures were established by extensive 1D and 2D NMR, as well as other spectrum analysis. Biological activities of the three new compounds against Hela cell, Hep-G2 cell, C. albicans ATCC10231 cell and SC5314 cell were evaluated. They showed strong anti-tumor and moderate anti-inflammatory activities with MIC values ranging from 13 to 25μg/ml and from 30 to 128μg/ml.     

Antimicrobial activity of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Euphorbia hirta and Asystasia gangeticum

The ethanolic extracts of the dry fruits of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, aerial parts of Euphorbia hirta and flowers of Asystasia gangeticum were tested for antimicrobial activity. The three plants exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, particularly against Escherichia coli (enteropathogen), Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.     

Anti-anaphylactic effect of Euphorbia hirta

The Euphorbia hirta ethanolic extract (EH A001) was found to possess a prominent anti-anaphylactic activity. A preventive effect of EH-A001 given by oral route at dose from 100 to 1000 mg/kg was observed against compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis. At the same range of dose, EH-A001 inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rat and active paw anaphylaxis in mice. A suppressive effect of EH-A001 was observed on the release of TNF-alpha and IL-6 from anti-DNP-HSA activated rat peritoneal mast cells.     

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.     

New anti-HBV caryophyllane-type sesquiterpenoids from Euphorbia humifusa Willd

Activity-guided fractionation of Euphorbia humifusa for anti-HBV activity led to the isolation of two novel sesquiterpenoids, named humifusane A (1) and humifusane B (2). Their structures were elucidated by spectral data to show that they have a caryophyllane-type precursor structure. The two new sesquiterpenoids showed anti-HBV activities through specifically inhibiting the secretion of HBsAg in HepG2.2.15.     

Antimicrobial activity of alkaloidal fraction from barks of Himatanthus lancifolius

The alkaloidal fraction from Himatanthus lancifolius barks demonstrated a broad-spectrum in vitro antimicrobial activity for most of the Gram (+) and Gram (-) tested microorganisms.     

Antimicrobial activity of 10-isobutyryloxy-8,9-epoxythymol isobutyrate

10-Isobutyryloxy-8,9-epoxythymol isobutyrate was found to be a major constituent of Inula helenium and Inula royleana root cultures. The compound showed moderate antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherischia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans.     

Ferulic acid esters from Euphorbia hylonoma

Octacosyl cis-ferulate (1), along with the trans isomer (2), cholest-5-en-3beta-ylhexadecanoate, chrysophanol and octadecanoic acid was isolated from the roots of Euphorbia hylonoma.     

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of the ethanolic extract and its fractions of Cleome rutidosperma

Oral administration of the ethanolic extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o) and its fractions (200 mg/kg each) of the aerial parts of Cleome rutidosperma produced significant analgesic activity in acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion tests, anti-inflammatory effect against carrageenin induced inflammation and adjuvant induced polyarthritis and antipyretic activity against yeast-induced pyrexia. Fractionation of the ethanolic extract potentiated the activities.     

Leishmanicidal activity of Maytenus illicifolia roots

In vitro evaluation of leishmanicidal activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Maytenus illicifolia against three species of Leishmania. The root extracts showed differential activity against parasites, whereas the aerial part of the extracts was inactive.     

Antifungal activity of the stem bark of Ailanthus excelsa

The methanol extract of stem barks of Alianthus excelsa was partitioned with chloroform. The chloroform extract showed fungistatic and fungicidal activity against Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, Penicillium frequentence, P. notatum and Botrytis cinerea.     

Molluscicidal evaluation of three common plants from India

Mortality caused by the aqueous extract of latex of Thevetia peruviana, Alstonia scholaris and Euphorbia pulcherrima against two harmful freshwater snails, Lymnaea acuminata and Indoplanorbis exustus, is reported. Latices of all the plants at high doses were also lethal to freshwater fish Channa punctatus, which shares the habitat with these snails, but within 24 h, LC90 of snail L. acuminata did not cause any mortality to fishes in a mixed population of snail and fish. Therefore, these plant extracts may eventually be of great value for the control of harmful aquatic snails and other molluscan pests.     

Lathyrane diterpenes from Euphorbia prolifera and their inhibitory activities on LPS-induced NO production

A new lathyrane diterpene (1), an unreported spectroscopic data lathyrane diterpenene (2), and two known analaogues (3 and 4) have been isolated from Euphorbia prolifera. Their structures were elucidated as (12E,2S,3S,4R,5R,6S,9S,11S,15R)-3-butyryloxy-5,15-diacetoxy-6,17-epoxylathyra- 12-en-14-one (1), (12E,2S,3S,4R,5R,6S,9S,11S,15R)-3-propionyloxy-5,15-diacetoxy-6,17- epoxylathyra-12-en-14-one (2), (12E,2S,3S,4R,5R,6S,9S,11S,15R)-3-benzoyloxy-5,15-diacetoxy -6,17-epoxylathyra-12-en-14-one (3), and 15-O-acetyl-17-hydroxyjolkinol (4) by spectroscopic methods (IR, ESIMS, HR-ESIMS, NMR, and X-ray crystallography). The inhibitory activities on LPS-induced NO production of these diterpenes were evaluated and compounds 1, 3 and 4 showed inhibitory effects.     

Antidepressant-like activity of the Gastrodia elata ethanol extract in mice

The hydroalcoholic extract of Gastrodia elata was evaluated for the antidepressant-like activity by means of behavioral models that included forced swimming, tail suspending and open-field tests. According to the results, G. elata extract is effective as an antidepressant drug.     

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.     

Antimicrobial activity of Centaurea diffusa

The methanol soluble fraction of the aqueous extract obtained from the dry heads of Centaurea diffusa demonstrated antimicrobial activity in twelve evaluated microorganisms.     

Antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants from India

The results of a preliminary antimicrobial screening of the methanol extracts of Zingiber officinale, Asteracantha longifolia, Citrus acida, Salacia microsperma and Tinospora cordifolia are reported.