Potential antiamoebic property of the roots of Piper longum Linn

In an earlier study we reported the effect of ethanol extracts of Piper longum fruit against caecal amoebiasis in rats. A follow-up study to determine whether the roots possess similar antiamoebic activity was carried out. The ethanolic extract of roots was amoebicidal at 1,000 microg/mL in vitro and cured 88% of caecal amoebiasis cases, suggesting that both the root and fruit of P. longum possess antiamoebic activity to approximately the same extent.     

Effects of Piper longum fruit, Piper sarmentosum root and Quercus infectoria nut gall on caecal amoebiasis in mice

The anti-amoebic effects of crude methanol extracts of Piper longum fruit, Piper sarmentosum root and Quercus infectoria nut gall against Entamoeba histolytica infecting the caecum of mice were studied. Caecal amoebiasis in mice was induced by injection of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites directly into the caecum. The mice were then treated orally with the extract, a standard drug (metronidazole), or vehicle p.o. for five consecutive days, beginning 24 h after the infection and were examined on the sixth day. At a dose of 1000 mg/kg per day, the extracts of Piper longum fruit, Piper sarmentosum root and Quercus infectoria nut gall had a curative rate of 100, 40 and 26%, respectively. At a concentration of 500 and 250 mg/kg/day, extract from Piper longum fruit was still effective in 93 and 46% of the cases, respectively, while extract from Piper sarmentosum root at a dose of less than 1000 mg/kg per day did not cure any mice from amoebiasis. Extract of Quercus infectoria nut gall at a concentration of 500 and of 250 mg/kg per day cured 26 and 13% of mice, respectively. Metronidazole at a concentration of 125 and of 62.5 mg/kg per day had a curative rate of 100 and 60%, respectively. The severity of caecal wall ulceration was reduced in mice which received the extract and metronidazole as compared to the control animals.     

Immunomodulatory and antitumor activity of Piper longum Linn. and piperine

Alcoholic extract of the fruits of the plant Piper longum and its component piperine was studied for their immunomodulatory and antitumor activity. Alcoholic extract of the fruits was 100% toxic at a concentration of 500 microg/ml to Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) cells and 250 microg/ml to Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. Piperine was found to be cytotoxic towards DLA and EAC cells at a concentration of 250 microg/ml. Alcoholic extract and piperine was also found to produce cytotoxicity towards L929 cells in culture at a concentration of 100 and 50 microg/ml, respectively. Administration of alcoholic extract of Piper longum (10 mg/dose/animal) as well as piperine (1.14 mg/dose/animal) could inhibit the solid tumor development in mice induced with DLA cells and increase the life span of mice bearing Ehrlich ascites carcinoma tumor to 37.3 and 58.8%, respectively. Administration of Piper longum extract and piperine increased the total WBC count to 142.8 and 138.9%, respectively, in Balb/c mice. The number of plaque forming cells also enhanced significantly by the administration of the extract (100.3%) and piperine (71.4%) on 5th day after immunization. Bone marrow cellularity and alpha-esterase positive cells were also increased by the administration of Piper longum extract and piperine.     

In vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of the crude extract and fractions from Rosa canina L. fruits

The aqueous and ethanol extracts of Rosa canina L. (Rosaceae) fruits and the fractions prepared from the latter were investigated for their anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities in several in vivo experimental models. The ethanolic extract was shown to possess significant inhibitory activity against inflammatory models (i.e., carrageenan-induced and PGE(1)-induced hind paw edema models, as well as on acetic acid-induced increase in a capillary permeability model) and on a pain model based on the inhibition of p-benzoquinone-induced writhing in mice. Hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, n-butanol and the remaining water fractions were obtained through bioassay-guided fractionation. Ethylacetate and n-butanol fractions displayed potent anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities at a dose of 919 mg/kg without inducing acute toxicity. Further attempts to isolate and define the active constituent(s) were inconclusive, possibly due to the synergistic interaction of components in the extract.     

Effect of Plantago major on cell proliferation in vitro

Plantago major (Plantaginaceae) is popularly used to treat tumors, infections and as a blood purifier. Aqueous, methanol, chloroform and hexane extracts of the aerial parts (leaves and seeds) were added to CD(1) mice bone marrow and spleen cultures incubated at 37 degrees C for 72h, and also added to Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans cultures, while methanol extract dilutions were added to HTC-15, OVCAR, UISO and KB cell line cultures. Doses of 0.4 and 0.2 mg/mL of aqueous and methanol extracts increased the bone marrow cell concentration by 2.70- and 3.15-fold, respectively, and increased the spleen cell concentration by 3.38- and 6.39-fold, respectively (p < 0.001). Aqueous extract inhibited Bacillus subtilis growth from 78 to 21%; hexane extract inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, and methanol and chloroform extracts weakly inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, respectively. Methanol extract (1 microg/mL) decreased the UISO and OVCAR cell concentrations to 59 and 82%, respectively. Data demonstrate for the first time that Plantago major has hematopoietic activity in vitro.     

Muscle relaxant activity of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. fruit seeds in mice

Muscle relaxant effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. (Elaeagnaceae) fruit seeds was studied in mice using traction test. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts (i.p) induced a muscle relaxant effect in a dose dependent manner as effective as diazepam (1 mg/kg). The aqueous extract was partitioned with methanol-chloroform (MeCh) and n-butanol (Bu.) saturated with water. The MeCh and Bu. fractions did not show activity. Preliminary phytochemical tests showed that the extract contains flavonoid. The results suggested that E. angustifolia fruit seeds exerted muscle relaxant activity via flavonoid component(s).     

Antiangiogenic activity of Gardenia jasminoides fruit

The ethanol extract of gardenia fruit (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis), a Chinese herbal medicine, and its successive hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions were evaluated for their antiangiogenic activities using a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The n-butanol fraction was found to be most effective in the antiangiogenic assay.     

Cytotoxic activity of Typhonium flagelliforme (Araceae)

The plant Typhonium flagelliforme (Araceae), commonly known as the 'rodent tuber', is often included as an essential ingredient in various herbal remedies recommended for cancer therapies in Malaysia. Various extracts prepared from either the roots, tubers, stems or leaves were tested for cytotoxic activity on murine P388 leukaemia cells using the MTT assay method. Both the chloroform (IC50 = 6.0 microg/mL) and hexane (IC50 = 15.0 microg/mL) extract from the 'roots and tubers' exhibited weak cytotoxic activity. The hexane extract (IC50 = 65.0 microg/mL) from the 'stems and leaves' exhibited weaker cytotoxic activity than the chloroform extract (IC50 = 8.0 microg/mL). Although the juice extract from the 'roots and tubers' is frequently consumed for cancer treatment, it exhibited poor cytotoxic activity. Further analysis using an amino acid analyser revealed that the juice extract contained a high concentration of arginine (0.874%). A high tryptophan content (0.800%) was confirmed by NMR and HPLC analysis.     

Effect of Brazilian green propolis on the production of reactive oxygen species by stimulated neutrophils

The activity of a crude ethanol extract of green propolis and its fractions obtained by partition with hexane, chloroform and n-butanol was assessed on luminol- and lucigenin- enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) produced by rabbit neutrophils (PMNs) stimulated with particles of serum-opsonized zymosan (OZ). The total production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by PMNs was measured by the luminol-enhanced CL (LumCL) assay and the production of the superoxide anion (O2*-) by the lucigenin-enhanced CL (LucCL) assay. All evaluated propolis samples had inhibitory effect on the LumCL and LucCL, which was concentration dependent. The n-butanol and chloroform fractions displayed the highest inhibitory effect on the LumCL produced by PMNs stimulated with OZ, in comparison with both the ethanol extract and the hexane fraction. Besides, the hexane fraction was the one which presented the highest effect for the LucCL assay. Some isolated compounds from both n-butanol and chloroform fractions were also assessed, including kaempferide, isosakuranetin, aromadendrine-4'-methyl-ether and 3-prenyl-p-coumaric acid. Kaempferide presented the highest inhibitory effect on the LumCL in comparison with the other compounds. Moreover, under the conditions assessed, the studied green propolis samples and isolated compounds were not toxic to the rabbit PMNs.     

Antimalaria activity of ethanolic extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit

The in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the ethanol fruit extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera used as spice and in the treatment of various ailment in Niger Delta region of Nigeria was evaluated in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Tetrapleura tetraptera (300-900 mg/kg day) exhibited significant (P < 0.05) blood schizonticidal activity both in 4-day early infection test and in established infection with a considerable mean survival time comparable to that of the standard drug, chloroquine, 5 mg/kg day. The fruit extract possesses significant (P < 0.05) antiplasmodial activity with may have contributed to the immune status of the Nigerians against malaria in addition to its nutritive value.     

荜茇水提取物对小鼠胃排空和肠推进的影响

目的:研究荜茇水提取物对小鼠肠推进和胃排空的影响。方法:荜茇水提取物灌胃给药6天,采用小肠炭末推进实验观察荜茇水提取物对正常小鼠小肠运动及硫酸阿托品所致小鼠小肠抑制模型的影响,采用甲基橙胃残留率的方法观察荜茇水提取物对正常小鼠胃排空的影响。结果:荜茇水提取物20g/kg和10g/kg可促进正常小鼠小肠运动,并能明显拮抗硫酸阿托品所致小鼠小肠抑制作用,荜茇水提取物20g生药/kg和10g生药/kg可促进正常小鼠胃排空。结论:荜茇水提取物对正常小鼠小肠运动及硫酸阿托品所致小鼠小肠抑制均有明显促进作用,并对正常小鼠胃排空有促进作用,其机制可能与M胆碱受体有关。     

Antimicrobial activity of tiger's betel (Piper porphyrophyllum N.E. Br., Piperaceae)

The ethanol extract of leaves of Piper porphyrophyllum N.E. Br. showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. The activity was increased on fractionation (hexane, dichloromethane and aqueous), particularly in the aqueous fraction. No activity was shown against tested Candida albicans.     

The effects of extracts from anti-diarrheic Thai medicinal plants on the in vitro growth of the intestinal protozoa parasite: Blastocystis hominis

The activities of n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts from five anti-diarrheic Thai medicinal plants, Acacia catechu (Fabaceae) resin, Amaranthus spinosus (Amaranthaceae) whole plant, Brucea javanica (Simaroubaceae) seed, Piper longum (Piperaceae) fruit and Quercus infectoria (Fagaceae) nut gall were tested against the in vitro growth of fresh isolates of the intestinal protozoan parasite, Blastocystis hominis. The extracts at concentrations that ranged from 62.5 to 2000 microg/mL, were incubated with several isolates of Blastocystis hominis for 48 h. The activities were classified as killed, inhibited, moderately inhibited and not-inhibited. Dichloromethane and methanol extracts from the Brucea javanica seed and a methanol extract from Quercus infectoria nut gall showed the highest activity. At a concentration of 2000 microg/mL, the three extracts killed 82, 75 and 67% of the Blastocystis hominis samples tested and inhibited 94, 100 and 76% of them, respectively. Metronidazole, used as a reference antiprotozoan drug, at a concentration of 40 microg/mL, killed 97% of the Blastocystis hominis isolates and inhibited all samples tested at concentrations that ranged from 1.25 to 20 microg/mL.     

Blood pressure depression by the fruit juice of Carica papaya (L.) in renal and DOCA-induced hypertension in the rat

A crude ethanol extract was prepared from the unripened fruit of Carica papaya. Lethality studies showed a dose-mortality relationship with an LD(50) of 325.2 mg/kg in mice administered i.p. Male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into three batches (15 rats per batch)-renal, DOCA-salt hypertensives and normotensives. Each batch was further divided into three groups-the untreated, hydrallazine and extract treated groups. The mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and the heart rate were measured in all groups. From the results, the basal (control) MAP were 93.8 +/- 4.5, 175.2 +/- 5. 1 and 181.3 +/- 6.2 mmHg in the normotensive, renal and DOCA-salt hypertensives, respectively. Both hydrallazine (200 microg/100 g i. v) and extract (20 mg/kg.i.v) produced a significant depression of MAP in all groups (p < 0.01 vs controls), but the extract produced about 28% more depression of MAP than hydrallazine in the hypertensive groups. In another group of rats, the extract failed to depress the MAP in rats pretreated with propranolol, but atropine and noradrenaline pretreatment did not prevent the action of the extract on blood pressure. In vitro studies using isolated rabbit arterial (aorta, renal and vertebral) strips showed that the extract (10 microg/mL) produced relaxation of vascular muscle tone which was, however, attenuated by phentolamine (0.5-1.5 microg/mL). It is concluded that the fruit juice of C. papaya probably contains antihypertensive agent(s) which exhibits mainly alpha-adrenoceptor activity.     

Bioactivity studies on Cassia alata Linn. leaf extracts

The hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of Cussia alata Linn. were tested for their antimutagenic, antifungal, analgesic, antiinflammatory and hypoglycaemic activities. At a dosage of 5 mg/20 g mouse, the hexane extract was analgesic as it reduced the number of squirms induced by acetic acid by 59.5%. Both the hexane and EtOAc extracts exhibited antiinflammatory activity at a dosage of 5 mg/20 g mouse with a 65.5% and 68.2% decrease in carrageenan-induced inflammation, respectively. The chloroform extract was antimutagenic, at a dosage of 2 mg/20 g mouse, with a 65.8% inhibition in the mutagenicity of tetracycline. It was also the most active against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, at a concentration of 50 mg/mL but it had no activity against Candida albicans. The hexane and EtOAc extracts showed some activity against both organisms, with the EtOAc extract being more active against C. albicans. The EtOAc extract was hypoglycaemic. At a dosage of 5 mg/20 g mouse, it decreased the blood sugar level of mice by 58.3%. Pharmacological studies showed that all extracts caused an immediate decrease in motor activity, enophthalmus, hyperemia, micturition and diarrhoea. At a dosage of 150 mg/20 g mouse, the EtOAc extract caused paralysis, screen grip loss and enophthalmus accompanied by drooping and closure of the eyelids.     

Cytotoxic, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Varthemia iphionoides Boiss. extracts

The hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, ethanol and water extracts of aerial parts of Varthemia, Varthemia iphionoides, were investigated for cytotoxic activity against human myelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells; DPPH radical-scavenging activity; antioxidative activity in the linoleic acid system; reducing power; antibacterial activity; the contents of phenolic compounds. A pronounced cytotoxic effect on human leukemia (HL-60) cells was shown in the hexane, chloroform and ethanol extracts, with inhibition of 89.0, 68.4 and 62.3%, respectively, at a concentration of 200 microg extract/ml. High DPPH radical-scavenging activity, antioxidative activity in the linoleic acid system and reducing power were found in the water and ethanol extracts, and were correlated to the contents of phenolic compounds. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and Salmonella enteritides was shown in the ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts. A compound responsible for the antibacterial activity was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract, and identified as 3-oxocostusic acid.     

Antibacterial and antifungal activity of Senecio inaequidens DC. and Senecio vulgaris L

The antibacterial and antifungal activities of methanol extract, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, n-hexane, n-butanol and chloroform fractions of Senecio inaequidens DC. and Senecio vulgaris L. were assayed. The hexane extract of Senecio vulgaris L. (MIC 0.031 mg/ml) showed significant activity against Trichophyton tonsurans.     

Appraisal of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential of extract and fractions from the leaves of Torreya grandis Fort Ex. Lindl

Torreya grandis (Taxaceae) was studied for antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. Leaves were extracted with 80% ethanol at 80 °C for 3 h and fractionated with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethylacetate and n-butanol. The aqueous ethanolic extract (aq.EE), ethylacetate fraction (EaF) and butanol fraction (BtF) at the doses of (100 and 200 mg/kg, i.g.) body weight were used for study. Evaluation of antinociceptive activity was carried out by acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced paw licking time in the first and second phases of mice. The paw edema induced by formalin- and xylene-induced ear edema were used to assess anti-inflammatory activity. It was found that Torreya grandis extract and fractions at the doses of (100 and 200 mg/kg, i.g.) were significantly attenuated the writhing responses induced by acetic acid and second phase of pain response induced by subplantar injection of formalin in mice. In addition, these extract and fractions inhibiting the formaldehyde-induced arthritis as well as xylene-induces edema prolifically. From acute oral toxicity studies no mortality was pragmatic even at highest dose (2500 mg/kg, i.g.). Furthermore, our phytochemical studies indicated that the aq. ethanolic extract of leaves contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and saponins. The results provide justification for the folkloric uses of Torreya grandis in the treatment of analgesic and inflammatory-based diseases across the China.     

In vitro and ex vivo antiangiogenic activity of Salvia officinalis

Angiogenesis is a key process in the promotion of cancer and its metastasis. Herein, the antiangiogenic activity of Salvia officinalis extract and its fractions was investigated. S. officinalis aerial parts were extracted with ethanol and its successive hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions were evaluated for their antiangiogenic activities using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) capillary tube formation and rat aorta models in a three-dimensional collagen matrix. Furthermore, antimigrative effects of the fractions were assessed using a wound healing model. The ethanol extract of S. officinalis (ESO) potently inhibited capillary tube formation in HUVEC and rat aorta models of angiogenesis, and its hexane fraction (HSO) exerted the highest inhibitory effect. In addition, the ethanol extract of S. officinalis and its hexane fraction showed a dose-dependent inhibitory activity on the migration of the endothelial cells in the wound healing model. Furthermore, ESO inhibited endothelial cell proliferation at 50-200 μg/mL in a dose-dependent manner. These findings indicated some new pharmacological activities of S. officinalis such as antiangiogenic in vitro and ex vivo, and antimigrative activity in vitro. Therefore, S. officinalis could be a candidate as a useful herb with therapeutic or preventive activity against angiogenesis related disorders.     

Preliminary studies on antihepatotoxic effect of Physalis peruviana Linn. (Solanaceae) against carbon tetrachloride induced acute liver injury in rats

Physalis peruviana is a medicinal herb used by Muthuvan tribes and Tamilian native who reside in the shola forest regions of Kerala, India against jaundice. It was evaluated for its antihepatotoxic, phytochemical analysis and the acute toxicity of the most promising extract in rats. Water, ethanol and hexane extracts of Physalis peruviana (500mg/kg body weight) showed antihepatotoxic activities against CCl(4) induced hepatotoxicity. The ethanol and hexane extracts showed moderate activity compared to water extract, which showed activity at a low dose of 125mg/kg. The results were judged from the serum marker enzymes. Histopathological changes induced by CCl(4) were also significantly reduced by the extract. Further, the extract administration to rats resulted in an increase in hepatic GSH and decrease in MDA. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of various components in the crude aqueous extract. The extract was found to be devoid of any conspicuous acute toxicity in rats.