Hepatoprotective activity of Beta vulgaris against CCl4-induced hepatic injury in rats

Ethanolic extract of Beta vulgaris roots given orally at doses of 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg/kg exhibited significant dose-dependent hepatoprotective activity against carbontetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Hepatotoxicity and its prevention were assessed by serum markers viz. cholesterol, triglyceride, alanine amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase.     

Hepatoprotective activity of the Leucas lavandulaefolia on D(+)galactosamine-induced hepatic injury in rats

The chloroform extract of Leucas lavandulaefolia at an oral dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg exhibited a significant protection on D(+)galactosamine induced liver damage in rats. Silymarin (25 mg/kg), a known hepatoprotective drug used as a standard also exhibited a significant activity.     

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).     

Hepatoprotective effect of Ginkgoselect Phytosome in rifampicin induced liver injury in rats: evidence of antioxidant activity

The protective effects of Ginkgoselect Phytosome((R)) (GBP) on Rifampicin (RMP) induced hepatotoxicity and the probable mechanism(s) involved in this protection were investigated in rats. Liver damage was induced in Wistar rats by administering rifampicin (500 mg/kg, p.o.) daily for 30 days. Simultaneously, GBP at 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, and the reference drug silymarin (100 mg/kg) were administered orally for 30 days/daily to RMP treated rats. Levels of marker enzymes (SGOT, SGPT and SALP), albaumin (Alb) and total proteins (TP) were assessed in serum. The effects of GBP on lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were assayed in liver homogenates to evaluate antioxidant activity. GBP (25 and 50 mg/kg) and silymarin elicited a significant hepatoprotective activity by lowering the levels of serum marker enzymes and lipid peroxidation and elevated the levels of GSH, SOD, CAT, GPX, GR, Alb and TP in a dose dependant manner. The present findings suggest that the hepatoprotective effect of GBP in RMP induced oxidative damage may be related to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging 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.     

Hepatoprotection of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis against experimentally induced liver injury in rats

The hexane extract of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis (200 and 100 mg/kg) showed significant hepatoprotection on carbon tetrachloride and thioacetamide induced liver damage in rats. The protective effect was evident from serum biochemical parameters and histopathological analysis. Rats treated with P. maderaspatensis remarkably prevented the elevation of serum AST, ALT and LDH and liver lipid peroxides in CCl(4) and thioacetamide treated rats. Hepatic glutathione levels significantly increased by the treatment with the extracts. Histopathological changes induced by CCl(4) and thioacetamide were also significantly reduced by the extract treatment. The activity of hexane extracts of P. maderaspatensis was comparable to that of silymarin, the reference hepatoprotective drug.     

Hepatoprotective activity of Calotropis procera flowers against paracetamol-induced hepatic injury in rats

Hydro-ethanolic extract (70%) of Calotropis procera flowers was prepared and tested for its hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol-induced hepatitis in rats. Alteration in the levels of biochemical markers of hepatic damage like SGPT, SGOT, ALP, bilirubin, cholesterol, HDL and tissue GSH were tested in both treated and untreated groups. Paracetamol (2 g/kg) has enhanced the SGPT, SGOT, ALP, bilirubin and cholesterol levels and reduced the serum levels of HDL and tissue level of GSH. Treatment with hydro-ethanolic extract of C. procera flowers (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) has brought back the altered levels of biochemical markers to the near normal levels in the dose dependent manner.     

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.     

Molluscicidal activity against Bulinus truncatus of Croton campestris

The bark of Croton campestris provided three furano-clerodane named, respectively, velamone, velamolone acetate and velamolone. Fractions containing these diterpenoids were investigated for their molluscicidal activity against Bulinus truncatus, one of the aquatic snail vectors of schistosomiasis. A dichloromethanic extract of root barks, rich in furano-clerodane and molluscicidal at 20ppm was promising as natural molluscicide. Enriched fraction with velamone gave 80% mortality from 25ppm, while its LD(100) was at 50ppm. The LD(80) was ca. at 45ppm, while LD(100) was at 60ppm for the enriched fraction containing velamolone acetate. The velamolone-enriched fraction was less efficient and gave a mortality of 90% at 90ppm. The pure compounds, velamone and velamolone acetate were active at 100% at 3 and 6ppm, respectively. Velamolone showed a molluscicidal activity at 20ppm.     

Insect growth regulatory activity of Vitex trifolia and Vitex agnus-castus essential oils against Spilosoma obliqua

Essential oils of Vitex trifolia and Vitex agnus-castus were evaluated against Vth instar larvae of Spilosoma obliqua, when applied topically on the dorsal side of mesothoracic region, for insect growth regulatory activity. This treatment caused extended larval period and pupal period, increase in larval mortality and adult deformity and decrease in adult emergence, fecundity of female and egg fertility of test insect.     

Insecticidal activity of Vitex mollis

Organic extracts from the leaves of Vitex mollis were assessed for their toxic effect on fall armyworm neonate larvae (Spodoptera frugiperda), an important insect pest of corn. The extracts showed insecticidal and insect growth regulatory activity, being CHCl(3)-MeOH (1:1) extract the most active, also found to be toxic in the Artemia salina test.     

Antibacterial activity of hydroxyalkenyl salicylic acids from sarcotesta of Ginkgo biloba against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus

A chloroform fraction prepared from the sarcotesta of Ginkgo biloba showed potent inhibitory activity against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). The active compounds were elucidated to be 2-hydroxy-6-(8-pentadecenyl) salicylic acid (1) and 2-hydroxy-6-(10-heptadecenyl) salicylic acid (2) based on their spectral analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant antibacterial activities against VRE.     

Biological activity of Schinus molle on Triatoma infestans

Hexanic extracts from leaves and fruits of Schinus molle were tested for repellent and insecticidal properties against first instar nymphs and eggs of Triatoma infestans, the vector of Chagas' disease. Leaf and fruit extracts were highly repellent for first nymphs. Fruit extracts had also ovicidal activity.     

Antimicrobial activity of Diospyros anisandra

Leaves, root and stem bark of Diospyros anisandra were screened against two strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, one resistant and one susceptible to antibiotics, using the microplate Alamar blue assay test. The lypophylic fractions of the root and bark showed significant inhibitory activity against both strains, with the hexane fraction of the bark showing the strongest activity (MIC 6.25 microg/ml) against the resistant strain and a significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The bioassay-guided purification of the bioactive hexane fraction resulted in the isolation and identification of the naphthoquinone plumbagin as one of the metabolites responsible for the biological activity.     

COX-2 and sPLA2 inhibitory activity of aqueous extract and polyphenols of Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove)

The aqueous extract of Rhizophora mangle bark and its polyphenolic fractions showed remarkable in vitro antiinflammatory activity in a preliminary study. The low molecular weight fraction exhibited cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory activity while the total aqueous extract and the low molecular weight fraction showed secretory phospholipase A(2) inhibitory activity.     

Antimicrobial activity of Hedychium spicatum

Extracts from rhizomes of Hedychium spicatum were tested for their antibacterial and antifungal activity. Essential oil, petroleum ether and chloroform extracts showed inhibitory activity against Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacterial cultures, including a strain of methicillin and vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and fungal cultures.     

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.     

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Cleome viscosa and Gmelina asiatica

The ethanolic extracts of the leaves and flowers of Cleome viscosa and roots of Gmelina asiatica were tested for antimicrobial activity. The two plants exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, particularly significative against Escherichia coli , Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The leaf extract of C. viscosa showed moderate activity against pathogenic fungi.     

Antibacterial activity of Abies webbiana

The methanol extract of the dried leaves of Abies webbiana was evaluated for antimicrobial activity. The methanol extract showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity.     

Antioxidant activity of Punica granatum fruits

Arils, juice and rinds of Punica granatum fruits and their aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts displayed good antioxidant activity.