Anti-inflammatory activity of Dalbergia sissoo leaves

The possible anti-inflammatory activity of the 90% ethanolic extract of Dalbergia sissoo leaves (DSELE) was studied in different models of inflammation in rats after oral administration at doses of 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg. DSELE significantly inhibited carrageenin, kaolin and nystatin-induced paw oedema, as well as the weight of granuloma induced by a cotton pellet. It also inhibited dye leakage in acetic acid-induced vascular permeability test in mice. DSELE was devoid of ulcerogenic effect on the gastric mucosa of rats in acute and chronic tests. In acute toxicity studies, it was found to be safe up to 10.125 g/kg, p.o. in the rat. It was concluded that the D. sissoo leaf extract possessed significant anti-inflammatory activity (in acute, sub-acute and chronic models of inflammation) without any side effect on gastric mucosa.     

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.     

Antipyretic, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of Premna herbacea roots

The alcoholic extract of the roots of Premna herbacea was investigated for its antipyretic, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential in animal models. The extract, when administered orally to mice has been found to be safe up to a dose of 8.0 g/kg. A significant antipyretic effect has been observed in rabbits while mild antinociceptive effects were evidenced in mice when tested by chemical as well as thermal methods. The extract did not exhibit any anti-inflammatory activity in acute but significantly reduced the chronic inflammation.     

Anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer activity of Calligonum comosum in rats.

The 10% ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Calligonum comosum (50--400 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the increase in hind paw oedema induced by carrageenan in rats. Following sub-acute oral administration of the extract (50 and 100 mg/kg, daily for 14 days), a significant anti-inflammatory activity in the cotton pellet model was observed. Pre-treatment with the extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) produced a significant and dose-dependent inhibition to the acute gastric ulcers induced by phenylbutazone, indomethacin, 0.2 N NaOH and 80% ethanol.     

Studies on the anti-inflammatory properties of Entada abyssinica.

The defatted methanolic extract of Entada abyssinica was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic models of inflammation. The extract (50--200 mg/kg, p.o.) exhibited dose-dependent and significant inhibition of both the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema and granuloma tissue formation in rats. The extract (50--200 mg/kg, p.o.) was also found to inhibit the acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in a dose-dependent fashion in mice. This study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity of Entada abyssinica.     

Phytochemical compounds involved in the anti-inflammatory effect of propolis extract

Two ethanolic propolis extracts (EPE) with and without the caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), CAPE and galangin (major components of propolis) were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity in rats using carrageenin foot oedema, carrageenin pleurisy and adjuvant arthritis. In our experiments, EPE with CAPE and CAPE alone significantly inhibited carrageenin oedema, carrageenin pleurisy and adjuvant arthritis. In contrast EPE without CAPE and galangin did not exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in acute and chronic inflammation. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of propolis is due to CAPE.     

Anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic 2-arylbenzofurans from Morus wittiorum

Three new 2-arylbenzofurans named wittifuran H, wittifuran I and wittifuran U (1-3) were obtained during our ongoing investigation of an ethanol extract from the stem bark of Morus wittiorum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compound 2 displayed potent anti-inflammatory activity and selective cytotoxicity against human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 with an IC(50) value of 1.45μM.     

Chronic toxicity of Gynostemma pentaphyllum

The effect of water extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum was evaluated on 6-month chronic toxicity in Wistar rats. Control group received orally 10 ml kg(-1) day(-1). The extract was orally given to the five treatment groups at the doses of 6, 30, 150, 750 and 750 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 24 weeks. The last group served as the recovery group. The results showed that the extract did not produce any significant dose-related changes. Therefore, it is concluded that the extract of G. pentaphyllum at the given doses did not produce any significant toxic effect in rats during 6-month period of the treatment.     

Effects of methanolic extract and fractions from Litsea cubeba bark on the production of inflammatory mediators in RAW264.7 cells

Both the methanolic extract and its fractions (0.01 mg/ml) from Litsea cubeba bark were found to inhibit NO and PGE2 production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages without significant cytotoxicity at less than 0.01 mg/ml concentration. Moreover, L. cubeba bark extract and its fractions significantly decreased the activity of myeloperoxidase catalyzing oxidation of chloride to HOCl and O2- production was reduced by methanol extract (0.05 mg/ml), chloroform fraction (0.025-0.05 mg/ml) and butanol fraction (0.005 mg/ml). These findings suggest that L. cubeba is beneficial for inflammatory conditions and may contain compound(s) with anti-inflammatory properties.     

Antinociceptive activity of Zizyphus spina-christi root bark extract

The antinociceptive effect of the aqueous extract of Zizyphus spina-christi root bark was investigated in mice and rats. Acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin and thermal (hot plate) tests were used. The extract (50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) showed a dose-dependent analgesic effect in all the tests used. Its i.p. LD50 in mice was 2236.07 mg/kg.     

Antioxidant activity of extracts from the wood and bark of Port Orford cedar

Heartwood, sapwood, and inner and outer bark of Port Orford cedar were extracted with methanol, and the extracts evaluated for antioxidant activity. The total phenol content (TPC) of the extracts was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and expressed as gallic acid equivalent (GAE). Butylated hydroxytoluene was used as a positive control in the free-radical-scavenging activity tests and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dihydrate disodium salt served as a positive control in the metal-chelating activity assay. All wood extracts showed significant freeradical-scavenging activity. In the radical-scavenging assay of 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (the ABTS assay), the inner bark extracts exhibited the strongest free-radical-scavenging activity. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) in the radical-scavenging assay against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate radical (DPPH) of the heartwood, sapwood, and inner and outer bark extracts were 64.77, 29.03, 10.31, 19.87 μg·ml⁻¹, respectively. In the metal-chelating activity system, the sapwood extract demonstrated significant activity. The greatest TPC, 537.5 mg GAE/g dry extract, was detected in the inner bark. The lowest TPC of 136.9 mg GAE/g dry extract was observed in the heartwood dry extract. The results indicate that the antioxidant activities of the extracts are in accordance with the amounts of phenolics present; the inner and outer barks of Port Orford cedar are rich in phenolics and may provide good sources of antioxidants.     

Study of anti-inflammatory,analgesic and antipyretic activities of seeds of Hyoscyamus niger and isolation of a new coumarinolignan

A chemical and biological validation of the traditional use of Hyoscyamus niger seeds as anti-inflammatory drug has been established. The methanolic extract of seeds of H. niger (MHN) was evaluated for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities in experimental animal models at different doses. MHN produced significant increase in hot plate reaction time, while decreasing writhing response in a dose-dependent manner indicating its analgesic activity. It was also effective in both acute and chronic inflammation evaluated through carrageenin-induced paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma methods. In addition to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, it also exhibited antipyretic activity in yeast-induced pyrexia model. Furthermore, the bioactive MHN under chemical investigation showed the presence of coumarinolignans as major chemical constituent and yielded a new coumarinolignan, cleomiscosin A methyl ether (1) along with four known coumarinolignans, cleomiscosin A (2), cleomiscosin B (3), cleomiscosin A-9′-acetate (4) and cleomiscosin B-9′-acetate (5). The structure elucidation of 1 was done by spectroscopic data interpretation and comparative HPLC analysis. Cleomiscosin A, but not its isomer cleomiscosin B, reduced dry and wet weight of cotton pellet granuloma in mice. This suggests that cleomiscosin A is an important constituent of MHN responsible for anti-inflammatory activity.     

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.     

Neuropharmacological properties of Xylocarpus moluccensis

The methanolic extracts of the barks and pneumatophores of Xylocarpus moluccensis were assessed for their effects on the central nervous system (CNS) using a series of established pharmacological tests including pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time, open field, hole cross, hole-board and evasions tests in mice model. These extracts produced a dose-dependent reduction of the onset and duration of pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis, reduction of locomotor and exploratory activities in the open field, hole cross, head-dip and evasion tests. These results suggest that both the bark and pneumatophore extracts possess CNS depressant activity, the pneumatophore extract being more potent than the bark extract.     

Antioxidant properties and polyphenol contents of trembling aspen bark extracts

Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) bark was extracted with water and the crude extract fractionated with tert-butyl-methyl ether (TBME), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and n-butanol (BuOH) to obtain four different fractions. The antioxidant properties of the bark hot water extracts and its fractions were determined by three in vitro experiments: DPPH assay, phosphomolybdenum assay and canola oil thermoxidation assay by DSC analysis. Most of the results of the reported tests showed that the crude hot water extract and its fractions exhibited a strong antioxidant activity, higher than the synthetic antioxidant BHT. The results of this study confirm that antioxidant activity is a property that strongly depends on the oxidation conditions used in the particular oxidation test. Among the fractions separated from the aqueous extracts of bark, BuOH, TBME and EtOAc soluble fractions exhibited the best antioxidant efficiency, in phosphomolybdenum assay, DPPH assay and canola oil thermoxidation, respectively. Total phenol, flavonoid and flavanol contents were also evaluated and the results confirmed that the polyphenols contained in the hot water extract of this bark are mainly composed of non-flavonoid compounds.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of (+)-usnic acid.

(+)-Usnic acid, isolated from the lichen Roccella montagnei, showed a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity when tested on rats, employing acute and chronic models.     

Theacrine,a purine alkaloid with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of theacrine (1, 3, 7, 9-tetramethyluric acid), a purine alkaloid which is abundantly present in Camellia kucha, were investigated. Xylene-induced ear edema, acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and λ-carrageenan-induced paw edema were used to investigate anti-inflammatory activity, and acetic acid-induced writhing and hot-plate tests were used to determine analgesic effect. Oral administration of theacrine (8–32 mg/kg) induced dose-related anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. On the other hand, oral caffeine administration (8–32 mg/kg) did not show an inhibitory effect on the inhibition of inflammatory response or cause analgesia. Additionally, the result of the acute toxicity test showed that the LD₅₀ of theacrine was 810.6 mg/kg (769.5–858.0 mg/kg). The data obtained suggest theacrine possessed analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.     

Toxicity and anthelmintic efficacy of crude aqueous of extract of the bark of Sacoglottis gabonensis

The water extract of the stem bark of Sacoglottis gabonensis was evaluated for its preliminary acute toxicity and anthelmintic efficacy against gastro-intestinal nematodes of small ruminants and mice in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Intra-peritoneal administration of doses ranging from 400 to 3200 mg/kg of the aqueous stem bark extract produced varying degrees of toxicity manifested as depression, drowsiness and unsteady gait, paralysis of the hind limbs, dyspnoea, coma and death. The pathological lesions noted at necropsy were mainly congestion and edema of the lungs, bronchi and bronchioles and hepatomegally with focal necrosis of liver cells. The severity of the clinical symptoms and pathological lesions were dose-related. In the in vitro study, the extract significantly (P<0.05) reduced the hatching of strongyline nematode eggs from naturally infected small ruminants. The 100 mg/ml concentration of the extract produced the highest (94.4%) inhibition on nematode egg hatch and the result was comparable to similar effect produced by either levamisole (100% at 15 mg/ml) or albendazole (99.7% at 6.25 mg/ml). In rats experimentally infected with Heligmosomoides polygyrus, treatment with the S. gabonensis stem bark aqueous extract significantly (P<0.05) reduced adult worm burden and completely inhibited faecal egg output 5 days post treatment.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of the hydrosoluble fraction of Euphorbia royleana latex

The hydrosoluble fraction of Euphorbia royleana latex (AER), administered by gavage at doses of 50-200 mg/kg, showed dose-dependent anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects in different acute and chronic test models in rats and mice. It reduced the exudate volume and the migration of leukocytes and showed a poor inhibitory effect on the granuloma formation induced by cotton pellets, while it had a low ulcerogenic score. The oral LD(50) was more than 1500 mg/kg in both rats and mice.     

Antinociceptive activity of Ceriops decandra leaf and pneumatophore

The ethanol extract of Ceriops decandra leaf and pneumatophore, at the oral doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, showed a dose-dependent and significant inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. On the contrary, the bark extract was devoid of any significant activity.