Current Issue : July-September Volume : 2010 Issue Number : 3 Articles : 18 Articles
This article is an overview of epidemiological and treatment studies suggesting those deficits in dietary-based essential fatty acid (EFA)-alpha linolenic acid (ALA), the parent fatty acid of omega-3 family and linolenic acid (LA), the parent fatty acid of omega-6 may make an etiological contribution to various disorders. Eating a well-balanced diet is a major step towards good health and wellness, but many people find it challenging to include the right amount of healthy fats in the diet. Low crab diets such as the South Beach Diet encourage lean meats and protein and are often lacking in healthy fats. High fat and high protein diets such as the Atkins plan also do not contain a balance of healthy fats, providing many unhealthy saturated fats instead. Vegetarian diets can easily become unbalanced with adequate sources of protein and nutrition, and since most are naturally low in fat, supplementing the diet with essential fatty acids is recommended. Omega 3s from flax and its oil’s is important for cardiovascular health, skin, bone and keeping the brain in good shape. Furthermore flax lignans appear to play role in protecting against Brest, colon, prostate, and perhaps skin cancer....
Oxalis corniculata (family: Oxalidaceae) is widely used as a medicinal plant. We evaluated the analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of whole plant of Oxalis corniculata. The analgesic activity of the extract was evaluated by using Acetic acid-induced writhing method, Eddy’s hot plate method and Tail immersion test. The percentage inhibition of writhers or percentage protection were found to be 44% and 47% for extract at a dose 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively, in the acetic acid-induced writhing method (P<0.01) when compared with control. The percentage increase in reaction time at 60 minutes were 166% and 200% for extract at a dose of 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively, in Eddy’s hot plate method (P<0.001) when compared with control. The percentage increase in reaction time at 60 minutes were 120% and 240% for extract at a dose of 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively in tail immersion test (P<0.01, P<0.001) when compared with control. Keywords: Oxalis corniculata, analgesic activity, acetic acid-induced writhing, eddy’s hot plate, tail immersion test...
The aim of present study was to investigate anticonvulsant effect of the ethanolic extract of leaves of Morringa olefera on electrically and chemically induced seizers. The for its anticonvulsant effect on maximal electroshock –induced seizers and pentylenetetrazole induced seizers .The latency of tonic convulsions and number of animals protected from tonic convulsions ware noted. Ethanolic extract of Moringa Oleifera Lam (200&400 mg /kg p.o.), Significantly reduced the duration of seizers induced by maximal electroshock (MES). However only 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract confirmed protection (41.34% and 59.82% respectively) in pentylenetetrazole induced tonic seizers. It exert Anticonvulsant effect via non-specific mechanisms since it reduces the duration of tonic flexion, increases the duration of tonic extension, and increases the latency and onset of clonus of produced by maximal electroshock as well as delayed onset of death produced by pentylentetrazole....
Effects of the butanolic, methanolic, petroleum ether and aqueous extracts of the roots of Eranthemum roseum on the glucose and lipid profile were investigated in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Butanolic extract showed a significant reduction (P<0.01) in blood glucose and serum lipid profile in alloxan induced diabetes and also lowered the blood glucose (P<0.01) in oral glucose tolerance test at a dose of 250mg/kg bw p.o. Glibenclamide at the dose of 5mg/kg was used as standard drug. In vitro screening of the extracts for antioxidant activity using DPPH, TBARS and reducing power assay showed that the butanolic extract exhibited potent free radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibitory effects as compared with other extracts. The phytochemical investigation showed that the roots contain steroidal saponin glycosides. The results suggest that the butanolic fraction had good antihyperglycemic, antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities, which can be attributed to its saponin content....
The roots of the custard apple tree, Annona squamosa L. (Annonaceae) were investigated for antidiabetic properties. Diabetes mellitus was induced with streptozotocin and graded doses of the ethanol root extracts were then administered to normal and experimental diabetic rats for 12 days. Effect of the root extract was also studied on various biochemical parameters namely fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TCH), HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), serum glutamate oxaloacetate and pyruvate transaminases (SGOT and SGPT), and serum insulin levels were evaluated in normal and in diabetic rats. The diabetic groups treated with the ethanol root extract were compared with standard glibenclamide. The findings showed the significant antidiabetic potential of the extract in ameliorating the diabetic conditions in diabetic rats. No significant effects were found in the normal rats....
This project was undertaken to investigate the antihyperglycemic potential of roots of Zingiber officinale Linn. in Streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced hyperglycemic rats. In this study 95% ethanolic extract of roots of Zingiber officinale (commonly known as Ginger) was prepared with the help of soxlet apparatus. The two doses 250 and 500 mg/kg of body weight were selected by acute toxicity study. The higher dose was found to be more effective as it caused the maximum lowering of the fasting blood glucose in Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide induced Type II diabetic rats. The effect was noticed in both acute and sub-acute antihyperglycemic models. Administration of the effective dose of the extract to diabetic rats in chronic models (for 30 days) showed favorable effects not only on fasting blood glucose, but also on glycosylated hemoglobin and liver glycogen levels. The extracts also reflect high margin of safety, as no mortality was observed even after the administration of the extract at the dose of 2g/kg of body weight. Thus Zingiber officinale root appears to be a promising candidate for developing a new Anti-diabetic remedy....
momordica charantia Roxb fruit is most widely distributed through out India, Srilanka and other countries. The present study describes the anti-microbial activity of microwave-assisted extract of momordica charantia Roxb fruit against various Gram-positive and Gram- negative Microorganisms. For this purpose microwave-assisted extract of fruit were prepared and tested by “Disc Diffusion Method”. As a result of this study it was found that the microwave assisted extract of fruit generally revealed anti-microbial activity against both gram-positive bacteria (B. subtils, S. aureous and S.epidermis) and gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, S. flexineria and P. auriginosa)....
The antipyretic activity of Calotropis gigantean linn extract is investigated for its, potential on normal body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia in albino rats. The whole plant of Calotropis gigantean linn at doses of 200 mg/kg body weight p .o. showed significant reduction in normal body temperature and yeast-provoked elevated temperature in a dose-dependent manner. The effect also extended up to 4 hours after the drug administration. The anti-pyretic effect of whole plant extract was comparable to that of paracetamol (150 mg/kg p.o.,), a standard anti-pyretic agent....
The genus, Viburnum Linn. belonging to the family, Adoxaceae (formerly positioned under the family - Caprifoliaceae), has been surveyed to cover about 200 species, in the world, and about 17 of them in India, especially, at an altitude from 800 – 2500 ft, habitat such as Himalaya and Nilgiri hills. The stem parts of these species claim to contain an appreciable quantity of therapeutically valuable phenolic compounds like anthocyanins, phenolic acids, flavones, flavonols and biflavone, and their glycosides. A few of them have been reported to exhibit uterine sedative, antiasthamtic, anti-oxidant, astringent, anti-spasmodic and antimicrobial activities. Based on the above facts on records, the present study has been under taken with an objective of screening the antiulcer potentials o 75% v/v aqueous ethanolic stem extracts of some three species of this genus, namely: V.punctatum, V.coriaceum and V.erubescens by aspirin plus pylorus ligation model in rats, using Ranitidine 50 mg/ kg b.w (p.o) as the positive reference drug. From the findings of ulcer score, histo-pathological features and the status of biochemical parameters of gastric contents, it is concluded that extract of V.coriaceum at a dose level of 500 mg/kg.b.w possessed a significant antiulcer activity (p<0.01, p<0.001). However, the magnitude of antiulcer potential among the species was not far different....
The present study was designed to investigate the analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of Nympheaeae stellata thalamus in experimental models. The peripheral and central analgesic activity of ethanolic extract was studied using acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate method in healthy mice respectively. The extract was used in the doses of 250mg/kg and 400mg/kg of body weight i.p.,morphine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and acetyl salicylic acid (250mg/kg, i.p.) as standard drugs in the study for comparing analgesic effects for hot plate method and acetic acid induced writhing method respectively. The ethanolic extract of dose 400mg/ kg showed a greater analgesic effect. The results of present study suggested that extracts of N. stellata posses significant analgesic activity in dose dependant manner acting peripherally, feeble effect acting through centrally analgesic activity....
Present study was undertaken to explore the interaction potential of Glycyrrhiza glabra with Adhatoda vasica on antimicrobial activity. To derive possible magnitude of interaction at various combinations, Checkerboard microtitre test was performed and Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Combination Index values (FICI) were used to analyze and compare the different combination effects between the herbs tested.The results showed that antibacterial effects of 80% ethanolic extract both of both herbs against S abony, E. coli, B. Pumulus, P.aeruginosa, M. luteus were concentration dependant. Both the extracts showed significant (P< 0.01) antibacterial activity as compared to control. In present study two-fold serial dilution technique was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Adhatoda vasica extract (AVE) and Glycyrrhiza glabra extract (LE) against the selected bacterial strains. The results revealed that the AVE have antibacterial effects against S abony, E. coli, B. Pumulus, P.aeruginosa, M. luteus at concentration levels of 750, 1000, 750, 1000 and 1000 µg/ml, respectively. While LE have antibacterial effects against S abony, E. coli, B. Pumulus, P.aeruginosa, M. luteus at concentration levels of 250, 500, 125, 500 and 250µg/ml, respectively. Results of checkerboard assays suggested that MIC of LE combined with AVE was remarkably decreased. Moreover, Bacterial susceptibility to AVE and LE was enormously improved by combination. FIC indices indicated the synergism between AVE and LE against S abony, E. coli, B. Pumulus, P.aeruginosa, M. luteus, with an FIC index of 0.467, 0.5, 0.467, 0.5 and 0.425 respectively. In conclusion, we suggest the combination of AVE and LE for the treatment of S abony, E. coli, B. Pumulus, P.aeruginosa, M. luteus may reduce the efficacious dose of AVE and LE alone and thus minimize the side-effects. Further in vivo experiments are necessary to assess the potential for therapeutic application....
Methanolic extract and its acetone fraction of Citrus limon leaves were evaluated for antibacterial activity against some pathogenic bacterial strains namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 424), Escherichia coli (MTCC 40), Salmonella typhimurium (MTCC 98), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 619), Klebsiella pneumonia (MTCC 432) and Aeromonas culicicola (MTTC 3249) by using agar - well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Among all the test organisms methanolic extract was most potent. The results were compared with Streptomycin, the standard drug. The extract showed significant inhibitory activity against all the tested organisms at concentration dependent manner. Methanolic extract showed most susceptible activity against B. subtilis and S. aureus (Zone of growth inhibition was 14.8 and 14.5mm) respectively while most resistant bacteria is E. coli (Zone of growth inhibition was 12mm) at the concentration of 200µg/ml. The MIC values of the methanolic extract against bacteria Bacillus subtilis (500µg/ml), Staphylococcus aureus (500µg/ml), E.coli (750µg/ml), K. pneumonia (650µg/ml) and Salmonella typhimurium (500µg/ml) were determined. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of mainly tannins, alkaloids and steroids, which may be the active compounds. Methanolic extract of Citrus limon leaves showed strong activity against all the tested bacterial strains. Hence, this plant can be used to discover bioactive natural products that may serve as leads in the development of new pharmaceuticals that address unmet therapeutic needs....
Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats by administration of alloxan monohydrate (130 mg/kg i.p.) and insulin resistance by dexamethasone (10 mg/kg s.c. once daily for 10 days). The rats treated with alloxan monohydrate produced cardinal signs of diabetes mellitus like loss of body weight, polyuria, polydipsia and increased blood glucose level. Dexamethasone produced insulin resistance in rats with increased serum glucose and lipid profiles. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts (at 200 and 400 mg/kg of each) and pioglitazone (30 mg/kg) were administered orally to alloxan induced diabetic rats of respective groups. Fasting blood glucose, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol levels, body weight, urine output, water intake & glycogen content were evaluated. Experimental findings showed significant antihyperglycemic activity in terms of reduction of blood glucose level, lipid profiles, water intake and urine output and prevented the loss of bodyweight. Significant increase in the glycogen content of muscle and liver as compared to diabetic control group was observed. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts produced decrease in glucose levels in dexamethasone induced insulin resistance in rats. The results suggest that Malvastrum coromandelianum possesses potential antihyperglycemic activity with improvement in lipid profile and glycogen content of insulin dependent tissues....
Objective:The objective of the present study was to evaluate CNS depressant, anxiolytic and nootropic activity of ayurvedic formulation “Dhasara” of Acorus calamus root in mice. Material and Methods: Acorus calamus root was collected, dried and ayurvedic formulation Dhasara of Acorus calamus (DHAC) was prepared freshly at each time. Female swiss albino mice weighing between 20-25 gm were used. CNS depressant activity of DHAC (100 mg/kg, p.o.) was measured by Open field behavior model using diazepam (2 mg/kg, p.o) as a reference standard. Anxiolytic activity of DHAC (100 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated by Elevated plus maze (EPM) model using diazepam (2 mg/kg, p.o.) as a reference standard. Nootropic activity of DHAC (100 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated by Elevated plus maze (EPM) model using piracetam (150 mg/kg, p.o.) as a reference standard and on third-day Scopolamine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) was given to induce amnesia. Result: In open field model, DHAC showed significant reduction in number of square crossed and number of rearing as compared to control group. In Elevated plus maze model, DHAC showed significant increase in time spent in open arm as compared to control group and for nootropic activity DHAC increase the latency period for entry into close arm as compared to control group. It also decrease latency period after giving scopolamine. Conclusion:In short, Ayurvedic formulation “Dhasara” of Acorus calamus (DHAC) shows CNS depressant, anxiolytic and nootropic activity in mice....
Azadirachta indica is the most useful medicinal plant in india. Each part of plant has some medicinal property. It is now considered as a valuable source of unique natural products for development of medicines against various diseases. In present study focus on the in vitro hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous and methanolic extract of the leaves of the plant. In present study extract was added to the suspension of freshly isolated rat hepatocytes incubated in the calcium free Hank’s buffer pH 7.4 before the addition of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Both the aqueous extract and methanolic extract in (10, 50 and 100 µg/ml) shows protective effect against CCl4 induced cytotoxicity. Hepatocyte exposed to CCl4 the shows reduction of hepatocyte viability. The hepatocyte preincubated with aqueous and methanolic extract shows dose dependant protection from cytotoxicity produced by CCl4. In addition glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate transaminase activity in aqueous and methanolic extract were found lesser than that observed with hepatocyte treated with CCl4 alone. Additionally reduced glutathione levels in hepatocyte incubated with aqueous and methanolic extract in different dose were found to be higher than that observed with CCl4 alone. Our result suggested that aqueous and methanolic extract shows hepatoprotective effect in vitro rat hepatocyte....
Tephrosia calophylla is an undershrub with tuberous root which belongs to the family Fabaceae. Folklore of southern part of India claims it potentiality in treating various ailments like diabetes, inflammation, ulcers and jaundice. Chemically the plant is found to be a rich source of flavonoids. In the present work a diligent study on the pharmacognostical standardization of the tuberous root is carried out. These evaluation techniques help in ensuring the identity, quality and purity of crude drugs. The detailed anatomical studies revealed the presence of rhytidome, fibres, vessels and parenchymatous cells. The presence of collapsed and non collapsed phloem was found to be tissues of diagnostic importance. The linear measurements performed will assist in distinguishing its varieties. The parameters like proximate and fluorescence analysis were carried out. The constants obtained for these experiments will guide in the identification of the exact species. The qualitative chemical tests showed the presence of different chemical constituents in all the four extracts. This comprehensive pharmacognsotic report will help in the development of a suitable plant profile for Tephrosia calophylla ....
The present study was aimed at Standardization of the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni & it’s herbal formulation (Bio-sweet tablet). For standardization, physicochemical parameters were measured for the plant & formulation. The phytomarker-Stevioside have been isolated by developed isolation method from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana & identified by spectral data. Also estimation of stevioside in plant & formulation was carried out using HPTLC....
Achyranthes aspera Linn. Known as Chirchira (Hindi), Apamarga (Sanskrit) and Agadha (Marathi) is an indigenous herb found in India. The herb has been reported to have variety of activities like antifertility, immunomodulatory, anticarcinogenic, diuretic and cardiotonic, analgesic-anti-inflammatory, hypnotic, antifungal and antibacterial activity. It is the content of many herbal formulations like Cystone tablets (Antidiarrhoeal), Diezo churna (Digestive, Appetizer) at the same time being used as nutritional supplement in folk medicine. Its hypoglycemic and antihyperlipidemic properties may have promising role in control of diabetes and prevention of its complications. In the present study we made an attempt to study and confirm its antidiabetic and lipid lowering effects which may be useful in minimizing morbidity and mortality associated with diabetic complications. Present study was designed to evaluate antidiabetic and lipid lowering effects of ethanolic extract of A. aspera (EEAA) and to find the phytochemical responsible for these activities with possible mode of its activity. The antidiabetic and lipid lowering effects of A. aspera were studied in alloxan induced diabetic albino rats. Effect of EEAA on BSL, body weight, serum triglycerides and total cholesterol was estimated on ‘0’-day and after 14 days of EEAA treatment .The extract was given orally at a dose of 400 mg/kg. Values reported are expressed as mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using student-‘t’ test. The values were considered significant when P < 0.05. Phytochemical and HPTLC screening of EEAA revealed presence of alkaloids, triterpenoids, saponins and flavonoids as major constituents. The result of the study reflected that EEAA (400 mg/kg i.p.) exhibit significant hypoglycemic (P< 0.05) and lipid lowering activity (P< 0.05) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats....
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