Preliminary antinociceptive, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Leucas aspera root

The ethanolic extract of Leucas aspera root was subjected to acetic acid induced writhing inhibition, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and brine shrimp lethality bioassay for screening of antinociceptive, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity, respectively. The extract produced significant writhing inhibition in acetic acid induced writhing in mice at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg. The extract showed a significant free radical scavenging activity with an IC(50) of 8 microg/ml. The extract showed significant lethality to brine shrimp with an LC(50) value.     

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.     

Beneficial effect of Embelia ribes ethanolic extract on blood pressure and glycosylated hemoglobin in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

Embelia ribes (common name, Vidanga) is extensively used in traditional system of medicine for treatment of various disorders. It is described in Ayurveda, as a powerful anthelmintic, antifertility and antihyperlipidemic agent. The present study was undertaken to investigate modulatory effect of 6 weeks' chronic oral administration of E. ribes ethanolic extract on diabetes mellitus induced by a diabetogen, streptozotocin (STZ) with special reference to changes in glucose levels, glycated haemoglobin status and cardiac toxicity. STZ treatment (40 mg/kg iv) resulted in significant increase in blood glucose levels, glycated haemoglobin levels, heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Oral administration of E. ribes ethanolic extract in dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg significantly reduced the levels of blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin, heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in animals when compared with diabetic rats.     

Hypolipidemic activity of Acorus calamus L. in rats

The rhizomes of Acorus calamus are empirically used in the treatment of a wide variety of human diseases. Administration of the 50% ethanolic extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) as well as saponins (10 mg/kg) isolated from the extract demonstrated significant hypolipidemic activity. On the contrary, the aqueous extract showed hypolipidemic activity only at a dose of 200 mg/kg.     

Antidiabetic potential of Butea monosperma in rats

The antihyperglycemic activity of the ethanolic extract of Butea monosperma (BMEE) was studied in glucose-loaded and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Single dose treatment of BMEE (200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly improved glucose tolerance and caused reduction in blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Repeated oral treatment with BMEE (200 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks significantly reduced blood glucose, serum cholesterol and improved HDL-cholesterol and albumin as compared to diabetic control group.     

Hepatoprotective activity of Vitex negundo leaf extract against anti-tubercular drugs induced hepatotoxicity

Hepatoprotective (HP) activity of Vitex negundo (VN) leaf ethanolic extract was investigated against hepatotoxicity (HT) produced by administering a combination of three anti-tubercular drugs isoniazid (INH)-7.5 mg/kg, rifampin (RMP)-10 mg/kg and pyrazinamide (PZA)-35 mg/kg for 35 35 days by oral route in rats. V. negundo leaf ethanolic extract was administered in three graded doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg orally, 45 min prior to anti-tubercular challenge for 35 days. HP effect of V. negundo leaf ethanolic extract was evident in the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg as there was a significant decrease in TB, AST, ALT and ALP levels in comparison to control. Histology of the liver section of the animals treated with the V. negundo leaf ethanolic extract in the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg further confirms the HP activity.     

Antiinflammatory activity and acute toxicity of Dodonaea viscosa

The hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) of the leaves of Dodonaea viscosa, given by oral route at dose of 300 mg/kg, significantly inhibited the paw edema induced by carrageenin injection. The extract did not show any sign of toxicity in mice up to 5000 mg/kg p.o. This result seems to support the use of D. viscosa leaves ethanolic extract in relieving inflammation.     

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.     

Antitussive effect of Asparagus racemosus root against sulfur dioxide-induced cough in mice

The methanol extract of Asparagus racemosus root (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant antitussive activity on sulfur dioxide-induced cough in mice, the cough inhibition (40.0 and 58.5%, respectively) being comparable to that of 10–20 mg/kg of codeine phosphate (36.0 and 55.4%, respectively).     

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.     

Hypoglycemic and antidiabetic activities on the stem bark aqueous and ethanol extracts of Musanga cecropioides in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Daily oral administration of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Musanga cecropioides stem bark in normal and diabetic rats at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day, for 14 days significantly lowered the fasting plasma glucose levels in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats in dose-dependent fashion. The ethanol extract induced more significant antidiabetic effect than the aqueous extract.     

Effect of roots aqueous extract of Delphinium denudatum on morphine-induced tolerance in mice

The aqueous extract of Delphinium denudatum (Dd) roots showed a significant effect against morphine- (10 mg/kg) induced tolerance and dependence in mice. Oral administration of the extract (200-1600 mg/kg) showed a significant dose-dependent inhibition of naloxone- (1 mg/kg) induced withdrawal.     

CNS activity of Alstonia macrophylla leaf extracts: an ethnomedicine of Onge of Bay Islands

Methanol extract at 100-200 mg/kg p.o. and major nonpolar fraction B at 50 mg/kg of Alstonia macrophylla leaves caused a significant reduction in spontaneous activity, remarkable decrease in exploratory behavioural pattern, a reduction in muscle relaxant activity and also significantly potentiated phenobarbitone sodium-induced sleeping time. The phytochemical study of crude leaf extract revealed the presence of tannin, triterpenoid, flavonoid, sterol, alkaloid and reducing sugars. Further fractionation and purification of the n-butanol part of methanol extract yielded fraction A, fraction B and fraction C along with some minor fatty acids as the major compounds.     

Phytochemical and antimicrobial activities of the Daniellia oliveri leaves

The n-butanol soluble part and four chromatographic fractions of the aqueous ethanolic extract of the leaves of Daniellia oliveri were investigated for antimicrobial properties. All fractions showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus. A chromatographic fraction showed significant activity against the fungus Tricophyton rubrum.     

Evaluation of the antitussive effect of stigma and petals of saffron (Crocus sativus) and its components, safranal and crocin in guinea pigs

The antitussive activity of Crocus sativus stigma and petal extracts and its components, safranal and crocin, was evaluated using the nebolized solution of citric acid 20% in guinea pigs. The extract and agents were injected intraperitoneally. The ethanolic extract of C. sativus (100-800 mg/kg) and safranal (0.25-0.75 ml/kg) reduced the number of cough. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of petal and crocin did not show antitussive activity.     

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.     

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Leonurus sibiricus

The methanolic extract of Leonurus sibiricus aerial parts injected intraperitoneally at dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg showed a significant analgesic effect in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Moreover, when given orally to rats at dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg, it showed a significant anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenin induced rat paw edema in rats.     

Antinociceptive activity of Clausena excavata leaves

The ethanolic extract of Clausena excavata leaves, given orally at doses of 125.25 and 500 mg/kg body weight, showed significant antinociceptive activity on acetic acid induced writhing in mice.     

Antimicrobial activity of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract

The ethanolic extract of Gymnema sylvestre leaves demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Bacillus pumilis, B. subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and inactivity against Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli.     

Antinociceptive effect of Melastoma malabathricum ethanolic extract in mice

The antinociceptive effect of the ethanolic extract of Melastoma malabathricum (MME) was investigated using acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test and hot-plate test in mice. It was demonstrated that the extract (30-300 mg/kg, i.p.) strongly and dose-dependently inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing with an ED(50) of 100 (78-160) mg/kg i.p. It also significantly increased the response latency period to thermal stimuli. Furthermore, the nonselective opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone blocked the antinociceptive effect of the extract in both tests, suggesting that M. malabathricum may act both at peripheral and central levels.