Vasorelaxation and antispasmodic effects of Kaempferia parviflora ethanolic extract in isolated rat organ studies

The ethanolic extract of Kaempferia parviflora (KP) rhizomes dose-dependently relaxed both aortic rings and ileum precontracted with phenylephrine and acethylcholine, respectively.     

Studies on antidepressant and antinociceptive effects of ethyl acetate extract from Piper laetispicum and structure-activity relationship of its amide alkaloids

Piper laetispicum C.DC. (Piperaceae), is an endemic climbing, glabrous plant distributed in the southern part of China. A novel alkaloid amide, Laetispicine, from it has been proven to possess antidepressant activity. In this present study, antidepressant and antinociceptive effects of the ethyl acetate extract (EAE) of P. laetispicum have been studied in forced swimming, open field, acetic acid writhing and formalin tests in KM mice. A significantly antidepressant-like effect was showing at doses of higher than 60 mg/kg, which was not due to an increase in locomotive activity. The EAE also presented an analgesic effect, in our studies. At lower doses (30 mg/kg) the antinociceptive effect was likely mediated via peripheral inflammation and changes in central processing, and at higher doses (120 mg/kg) that was due to both central and peripheral pathways. We also quantitatively analyzed the major components of EAE by HPLC and approached the structure–activity relationship between structure of amide alkaloids and its antidepressant activities. The antidepressant effective components of EAE might be Leatispiamide A and Laetispicine. In their molecular structures, the isolated double bond from benzene ring and conjugated double bond located at 2–3 and 4–5 were necessary for its antidepressant activity.     

Effects of Pithecellobium clypearia Benth extract and its main components on inflammation and allergy

The ethanol extract of Pithecellobium clypearia Benth (PCE) was characterized to be rich in polyphenols by HPLC analysis, and investigated for its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities. In our assay, PCE showed anti-inflammatory activity in both acute and auto-immune inflammation animal models. Administration of PCE can effectively inhibit the croton oil-induced ear edema and capillary permeability, the carrageenin-induced paw edema, and the liver injury caused by propionibacterium acnes plus lipopolysaccharide. PCE was also found to possess anti-allergic activity in inhibiting the DNFB-induced delayed hypersensitivity reaction. Meanwhile, seven main components (1–7) from PCE were studied for their effect on histamine release stimulated by compound 48/80 from rat peritoneal mast cells in vitro. Compound 2 ((−)-epigallocatechin-7-gallate), 3 ((−)-5, 7, 3′, 4′, 5′-pentahydroxyflavan), and 5 ((−)-tetra hydroxyflavan-7-gallate) showed significant inhibition effect on histamine release.     

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.     

Root diseases in bareroot and container nurseries of the Pacific Northwest: epidemiology, management, and effects on outplanting performance

In forest and conservation nurseries in the Pacific Northwest USA, seedling production can be limited by root diseases caused by fungi in the genera Fusarium Link:Fr., Cylindrocarpon Wollenw., Phytophthora de Barry, and Pythium Pringsh. Fusarium, Cylindrocarpon, and Pythium are the most ubiquitous, whereas incidence of Phytophthora is mostly associated with coastal bareroot nurseries. All of these root pathogens are encouraged by water saturated soils or media. Seedlings infected with Fusarium, Phytophthora, or Pythium often appear chlorotic or necrotic with extensive root decay. Cylindrocarpon often causes serious root decay without shoot symptoms. The best approach to mitigate losses from these diseases is to use a holistic integrated pest management program. This program should combine chemical controls with cultural practices, particularly those that increase soil permeability and drainage and reduce potential sources of inoculum, especially by disinfesting seeds and containers reused for crops. In general, we found that seedlings meeting nursery specifications for outplanting on forest soil (proper height, root collar diameter, healthy shoot color, lack of disease symptoms) but having these disease organisms on their root systems perform as well as non-infected seedlings.     

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.     

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of ethyl acetate fraction from Zanthoxylum armatum in mice

Zanthoxylum armatum DC. is a traditional Chinese medicine that is prescribed to alleviate pain and treat inflammatory disorders. This species is distributed mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of China. In the present study, we found that ethyl acetate fraction of ethanolic extract of Z. armatum could significantly decrease acetic acid-induced writhing numbers, and suppress formalin induced licking times in the first phase at the highest dose and in the second phase at all tested doses. This observation revealed that Z. armatum extract possessed powerful antinociceptive activity. The mechanisms of the antinociceptive effect might be mainly involved in the periphery inflammatory analgesic. In addition, the ethyl acetate fraction also inhibited xylene-induced ear swelling in a dose-dependent manner in mice. Eight lignans [eudesmin, horsfieldin, fargesin, kobusin, sesamin, asarinin, planispine A, and pinoresinol-di-3,3-dimethylallyl] were identified as major components of the ethyl acetate fraction. Considering related studies reporting the anti-inflammatory activity for the identified lignans, lignan might be responsible for its anti-inflammatory activity. Our results confirm that the traditional use of Z. armatum in the treatment of inflammation and pain is warranted.     

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.     

Effects of Erigeron breviscapus ethanol extract on neuronal oxidative injury induced by superoxide radical

Antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract of Erigeron breviscapus (EEEB) were studied by using neuron oxidative injury model induced by superoxide radical. EEEB at the dose of 10-140 mug/ml reduced significantly the lipid peroxidation levels and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release from neuron exposed to superoxide radical (generated by xanthine and xanthine oxidase). These results suggest that neuroprotective actions of EEEB may be due to its antioxidant or radical scavenging activity.     

Isolation and partial characterization of a pectic polysaccharide from the fruit pulp of Spondias cytherea and its effect on peritoneal macrophage activation

The total carbohydrate content of the intact pulp of Spondias cytherea was 41%. Polysaccharides were obtained via hot aqueous extraction after defatting with organic solvents. The aqueous extract was treated with excess ethanol to form a precipitate, which was then solubilized in water. The material precipitated upon acidification when HCl was removed. The resulting supernatant fraction was submitted to freeze-thawing treatment yielding a soluble fraction (sFTS). This fraction had Ara, Rha, Gal and GalA in its structure as determined by GC-MS. 13C NMR analysis showed signals assigned to alpha-L-Araf, beta-D-Galp, alpha-D-GalpA and alpha-L-Rhap units, in addition to galacturonic acid units, which were present also as methyl ester. These results suggest a type I rhamnogalacturonan with arabinogalactan branches. Cell eliciting activity in a dose-depending pattern was observed in vitro on peritoneal macrophages treated with sFTS.     

Structural features of a new heteropolysaccharide from the fruit bodies of Melia azedarach and its effect on cytotoxic activity

Water-soluble polysaccharides were extracted from the fruit pulps of Melia azedarach and some columns were undertaken to isolate the major polysaccharide (MPS-III). Its structural features were elucidated by IR analysis, carbohydrate analysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, methylation analysis and NMR spectroscopy. Then it was evaluated for the cytotoxic activity in vitro against four human cell lines, using the sulphorhodamine B assay. The data obtained indicated that MPS-III contains a α(1→4) main chain backbone composed of arabinose, mannose in a molar ratio of 1.31:1.0 and has α(1→6) branch structure. And MPS-III showed a strong cytotoxic activity in the BGC-823 cell line.     

Effects of Pinus massoniana bark extract on the adhesion and migration capabilities of HeLa cells

Pinus massoniana Lamb is a Chinese red pine species used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of human health disorders. Recent studies have shown that P. massoniana bark extract (PMBE) has an anti-proliferation effect on cancer cells. However, it is not clear if PMBE affects cancer cell migration and/or invasion. We tested the effect of PMBE, which has B-type procyanidin as its main constituent, on the adhesion and migration capabilities of HeLa cells, a human cervical cancer cell line, cultured in vitro. Our results showed that PMBE has no significant effect on the adhesion capability of HeLa cells, but strongly inhibits their migration. This finding suggests that PMBE could be a potential therapeutic agent for metastatic cancer.     

Antinociceptive effect and acute toxicity of the Hyptis suaveolens leaves aqueous extract on mice

The aqueous extract of Hyptis suaveolens leaves was studied for their antinociceptive property in chemical and thermal models of nociception in mice. Oral administration of the aqueous extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced the number of writhings induced by acetic acid, decreased the licking activity of the early phase in formalin test and increased the reaction time in hot-plate test. The antinociceptive effect was significantly antagonized by naloxone (3 mg/kg; i.p.). Preliminary acute toxicity study showed that no animal death with doses up to 5 g/kg (p.o.).     

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.     

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of aqueous extract of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) seeds

Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) seeds aqueous extract was screened for antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The antioxidant activities (reducing power, DPPH and liposome model system) showed a good antioxidant activity. The extract was also found to possess antibacterial activity with a MIC values with respect to Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica found to be 750 and 1000 ppm, respectively. The antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of the extract implicate its potential for natural preservation.     

Hypotensive and vasorelaxant effects of ethanolic extract from Jatropha gossypiifolia L. in rats

The present work was carried out to examine the hypotensive effects of ethanolic extract (EE) from Jatropha gossypiifolia L. The oral administration of EE (125 or 250 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) caused a significant and dose-dependent reduction of the systolic blood pressure. The concentration-response curves to norepinephrine (NE) or Ca(2+) were non-parallelly shifted to the right and the maximum contractile responses were concentration dependently depressed by EE (0.1 or 0.5 mg/ml) in endothelium-deprived mesenteric artery. The cumulative additions of EE (0.1-30 mg/ml) caused a concentration-dependent relaxant response in endothelium-deprived mesenteric artery precontracted with NE or Ca(2+). In conclusion, our results have shown that the EE from J. gossypiifolia L. can elicit hypotension, by oral via, in conscious normotensive rats and vasorelaxant activity on rat mesenteric rings precontracted with NE or Ca(2+).     

Protective effect of Piper longum fruit ethanolic extract on radiation induced damages in mice: a preliminary study

The radioprotective property of an ethanolic extract of Piper longum fruits (EEPLF) was investigated in Swiss mice. The white blood cell (WBC) count in irradiated control mice was drastically reduced to 1900 cells/mm3 on third day but in treated animals the count was 2783.3 cells/mm3. The number of bone marrow cells and alpha-esterase positive cells was also enhanced by the EEPLF administration (16.7 x 10(6) cells/femur and 946.5/4000 cells, respectively) when compared to the radiation exposed control animals (12.2 x 10(6) cells/femur and 693.5/4000 cells, respectively). EEPLF reduced the elevated levels of glutathione pyruvate transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in liver and serum of radiation treated animals. The extract administration also increased the reduced glutathione (GSH) production to offer the radioprotection.     

Antifungal properties of methanol extract and its active compounds from Brickellia rosmarinifolia Vent

A new isocoumarin, 7-hydroxyl-4-methyl isocoumarine (1), together with three known monoterpenes, (3R, 4R, 6S)-3, 6-dihydroxy-1-menthene (2), (+)-(1R, 3S, 4R, 6S)-6-hydroxymenthol (3) and 4-isopropyl-1-methylcyclohex-2-ene-1, 6-diol (4), was isolated from the methanol extract of Brickellia rosmarinifolia. The structures were determined by spectroscopic means. Compounds 1, 2, 3 and 4 showed antifungal activities against Colletotrichum musae and Peronophythora litchii in vitro.     

Biomass production of tree fallows and their residual effect on maize in Zimbabwe

The rotation of maize (Zea mays) with fast-growing, N₂-fixing trees (improved fallows) can increase soil fertility and crop yields on N-deficient soils. There is little predictive understanding on the magnitude and duration of residual effects of improved fallows on maize yield. Our objectives were to determine the effect of fallow species and duration on biomass production and to relate biomass produced during the fallow to residual effects on maize. The study was conducted on an N-deficient, sandy loam (Alfisol) under unimodal rainfall conditions in Zimbabwe. Three fallow species — Acacia angustissima, pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), and Sesbania sesban — of one-, two-, and three-year duration were followed by three seasons of maize. Pigeonpea and acacia produced more fallow biomass than sesbania. The regrowth of acacia during post-fallow maize cropping provided an annual input of biomass to maize. Grain yields for the first unfertilized maize crop after the fallows were higher following sesbania (mean = 4.2 Mg ha^–1) than acacia (mean = 2.6 Mg ha^–1). The increased yield of the first maize crop following sesbania was directly related to leaf biomass of sesbania at the end of the fallow. Nitrogen fertilizer did not increase yield of the first maize crop following one- and two-year sesbania fallows, but it increased yield following acacia fallows. Nitrogen fertilizer supplementation was not required for the first maize crop after sesbania, which produced high-quality biomass. For acacia, which produced low-quality biomass and regrew after cutting, N fertilizer increased yield of the first post-fallow maize crop, but it had little benefit on yield of the third post-fallow maize crop.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of deer and mice on seedling survival in a temperate mixed forest of Japan

To detect the magnitude of indirect positive effects of deer and mice on seedling survival of some woody species in a Japanese temperate forest, we analyzed the data from an earlier field experiment using a hierarchical Bayesian approach. The forest studied was inhabited by sika deer (Cervus nippon) and mice (Apodemus spp.), and the floor was covered with dwarf bamboo, Sasa nipponica, which negatively affected tree seedlings and was in turn negatively affected by deer and mice. The field experiment was designed as the combination of exclusion or removal of these factors: deer, mice and dwarf bamboo. A hierarchical Bayesian model was constructed and the parameters were estimated by the Markov chain Monte Carlo method. The model successfully showed the indirect positive effects of deer and mice, which improved the survival rate of five cohorts of the seedlings of three tree species by ameliorating the direct negative effect of dwarf bamboo. The cohorts studied were formed by the seedlings of Abies homolepis that emerged in 1997 and 2002, those of Fraxinus lanuginosa f. serrata that emerged in 1998 and 2002, and those of Fagus crenata that emerged in 1999. The positive indirect effect was especially large in F. crenata, which is known to be severely affected by dwarf bamboo. The total effect of deer was shown to be positive for all cohorts except the A. homolepis cohort that emerged in 1997, at which time the dwarf bamboo had not yet fully recovered from the browsing pressure of deer. The total effect of mice was shown to be positive for all of the cohorts. We conclude that these positive effects were due to the large negative effect of dwarf bamboo on the seedlings.