Antihyperglycaemic and Insulin Release Effects of Aegle marmelos Leaves in Streptozotocin–Diabetic Rats

An aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos leaves exhibited significant hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycaemic effects in normoglycaemic and streptozotocin-diabetic rats, respectively. It also significantly ( p <0.05) increased the plasma insulin levels of diabetic rats. The extract did not show any signs of toxicity and the LD₅₀ was greater than 10.0 g/kg when given orally in rats.     

Antiinflammatory activity and effects on isolated smooth muscle of extracts from different Teucrium species

The present study analyses the antiinflammatory effects and the action on in vitro motility of methanol and dichloromethanol extracts and stems of four Teucrium species (T. flavum, T. cartaginenses, T. buxifolium and T. pumillum). The antiinflammatory activity was tested in the carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats. T. flavum methanol (200 mg/kg, i.p.) and dichloromethanol (138 mg/kg, i.p.) extracts showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect through the 24 h experimental period and reduced the E_max induced by histamine and serotonin in vitro on guinea-pig ileum and rat uterus respectively. These extracts did not modify the contractile effects induced by acetylcholine on rat duodenum and noradrenaline on rat vas deferens. The methanol extracts of T. pumillum (50 mg/kg, i.p.) and T. buxifolium (26 mg/kg, i.p.) exhibited significant antiinflammatory effects only in the acute phase of the oedema (2 h) without affecting the chronic phase (24 h). In guinea-pig ileum, rat uterus and rat vas deferens, the methanol extract of T. pumillum reduced the maximal effect induced by histamine, serotonin and noradrenaline, respectively, whereas the methanol extract of T. buxifolium lacked any effect on the contractile activity induced by various agonists in vitro. When tested for antiinflammatory activity the methanol (200 mg/kg, i.p.) and dichloromethanol (200 mg/kg, i.p.) extracts of T. cartaginenses did not modify the oedematous response induced by carrageenan administration.     

桑叶乙醇提取物体外对呼吸道合胞病毒的抑制作用

目的:研究桑叶体外对呼吸道合胞病毒(RSV)的作用。方法:采用细胞培养技术,将51.2 g·L-1桑叶液(70%乙醇提取物)倍比稀释后与密度为1.0×104/m L Hep-2细胞作用72 h,观察细胞病变效应(CPE),通过MTT法测定半数中毒浓度(TC50)。不同浓度桑叶液、Hep-2细胞与0.01 m L 100 TCID50RSV作用1,2 h后,测定其半数抑制浓度(IC50)和抗病毒指数(TI),以利巴韦林为阳性对照,评判桑叶抗RSV效果。结果:桑叶质量浓度在0.01~12.8 g·L-1,对RSV的抑制率表现出量效关系,TC506.56 g·L-1,IC501.015 g·L-1,TI 6.46。桑叶体外有抗RSV作用,比利巴韦林毒性小,抗病毒指数大,安全范围大(P<0.05)。结论:桑叶对RSV有明显的抑制作用,既能抑制RSV的吸附和生物合成,又能直接杀死病毒。     

The effects of Icacina trichantha tuber extract on the nervous system

The tuber of Icacina trichantha was extracted with 50% methanol and concentrated to dryness in vacuo to give a yield of 5.6% w/w. The extract induced sleep in rats treated with high doses (400–1000 mg/kg i.p.). The LD₅₀ of the extract was 671 mg/kg i.p. It potentiated pentobarbitone sleeping time in rats dose-dependently and also induced significant local anaesthetic effects in guinea-pigs. The extract was able to give 80% protection to rats poisoned with pentylenetetrazole but failed to protect rats from strychinine poisoning. It induced significant dose-dependent analgesia in rats and showed significant muscle relaxant activity in mice.     

CNS depressant effects,anti-inflammatory activity and anti-cholinergic actions of Santolina chamaecyparissus extracts

The pharmacological activity of several extracts together with the lyophilized infusion of S. chamaecyparissus ssp. squarrosa were investigated. The lethal dose 50% (LD₅₀), effect on animal metabolism, mechanical and thermic analgesia and spontaneous, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ulcer activity have been determined. Studies on isolated organs (rat duodenum and rat uterus) were also carried out. The hexanic and chloroformic extracts were potent antagonists of the thermic analgesia test; the former extract was also active in the mechanical analgesia test. The chloroformic extract and, to a lesser extent, the ethyl acetate extract and lyophilized infusion demonstrated noteworthy activity as anti-inflammatory agents. No extract produced an ulcerogenic effect. The hexanic extract had the highest inhibitory effect on ACh induced contraction of rat duodenum and the ethyl acetate extract of oxytocin induced contraction of rat uterus.     

Analgesic and central depressor effects of the dichloromethanol extract from Schinus molle L.

The analgesic and central depressor effects of the dichloromethanol extract of Schinus molle L. were analysed in in vivo models. This extract showed low acute toxicity, CNS depressor activity and analgesic effect. Following further fractionation, the hexane/dichloromethane (75/25) fraction showed the most interesting results. Thus, this fraction caused a total inhibition of motor activity and significantly reduced the threshold of pain to chemical stimulus. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antimicrobial,antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activity of young shoots of the smoke tree,Cotinus coggygria Scop

In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of the young shoots of the smoke tree, Cotinus coggygria Scop., Anacardiaceae. The acetone extract and the derived ethyl acetate fraction effectively inhibited the growth of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria (MIC 25–200 µg/ml), while the chloroform fraction showed pronounced activity against the yeast Candida albicans (MIC 3.12 µg/ml). The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited a significant ferric‐reducing ability (10.7 mmol Fe²⁺/g extract), a very high DPPH radical scavenging activity (SC₅₀ = 1.7 µg/ml) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (IC₅₀ = 41.8 µg/ml). High amounts of total phenolics (929.8 mg/g), tannins (833.8 mg/g) and flavonoids (35.5 mg/g) were determined in the ethyl acetate fraction, which also exerted significant anti‐inflammatory (76.7%) and cytotoxic effects (IC₅₀ = 15.6 µg/ml). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anti‐Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Activity of Urera aurantiaca

Urera aurantiaca Wedd. (Urticaceae) is a medicinal plant commonly used in traditional medicine to relieve pain in inflammatory processes. In the present study, the in vivo anti‐inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of U. aurantiaca methanolic extract and its possible mechanisms of action were investigated. The extract showed anti‐inflammatory activity in the ear edema in mice test (34.3% inhibition), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was markedly reduced in animals administered with the extract: within 49.6% and 68.5%. In the histological analysis, intense dermal edema and intense cellular infiltration of inflammatory cells were markedly reduced in the ear tissue of the animals treated with the extract. In the carrageenan‐induced hind paw edema in rats assay the extract provoked a significant inhibition of the inflammation (45.5%, 5 h after the treatment) and the MPO activity was markedly reduced (maximum inhibition 71.7%), The extract also exhibited significant and dose‐dependent inhibitory effect on the increased vascular permeability induced by acetic acid. The extract presented antioxidant activity in both 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′‐azinobis 3‐ethylbenzothiazoline 6‐sulfonic acid tests and its total phenol content was 35.4 ± 0.06 mg GAE/g of extract. Also, the extract produced significant inhibition on nociception induced by acetic acid (ED₅₀: 8.7 mg/kg, i.p.) administered intraperitoneally and orally. Naloxone significantly prevented this activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anxiolytic‐like effects of standardized extract of Justicia pectoralis (SEJP) in mice: Involvement of GABA/benzodiazepine in receptor

Justicia pectoralis (Acanthaceae) is used as an antiinflammatory, antimicrobial and bronchodilator, and its extract exerts an anxiolytic‐like effect profile in animal models. This work presents the behavioral effects of an aqueous standardized extract of Justicia pectoralis (SEJP) in animal models, such as the elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark, open field, rota rod and pentobarbital sleep time. The extract was administered intragastrically to male mice at single doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, while diazepam 1 or 2 mg/kg was used as a standard drug and flumazenil 2.5 mg/kg was used to evaluate the participation of benzodiazepinic receptors. The results showed that, similar to diazepam (1 mg/kg), SEJP significantly modified all the observed parameters in the EPM test, without altering the general motor activity in the open field, rota rod and pentobarbital sleep time tests. Flumazenil reversed not only the diazepam effect but also the SEJP effect. In the same way, all doses of SEJP increased the time of permanence in the light box in the light/dark test. The results showed that SEJP presented an anxiolytic‐like effect, disproving sedative effects. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inhibitory Effects of the Standardized Extract of Phyllanthus amarus on Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses in Balb/C Mice

Phyllanthus amarus has been shown to have strong inhibitory effects on phagocytic activity of human neutrophils and on cellular immune responses in Wistar–Kyoto rats. In this study, we investigated the effects of daily treatment of standardized extract of P. amarus at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for 14 days in Balb/C mice by measuring the myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), nitric oxide (NO) release, macrophage phagocytosis, swelling of footpad in delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), and serum immunoglobulins, ceruloplasmin and lysozyme levels. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the extract using validated reversed‐phase HPLC methods identified phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin, corilagin and geraniin as the biomarkers. Significant dose‐dependent inhibitions of MPO activity and NO release were observed in treated mice. The extract also inhibited E. coli phagocytic capacity of peritoneal macrophages of treated mice and inhibited the sheep red blood cells (sRBC)‐induced swelling rate of mice paw in the DTH. There was also a significant decrease in non‐specific humoral immunity including ceruloplasmin and lysozyme levels in the extract‐fed groups as well as the release of serum level immunoglobulins. The strong inhibitory effects of the extract on the cellular and humoral immune responses suggest the potential of the plant to be developed as an effective immunosuppressive agent. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preliminary observations on the antifatigue effects of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) seed polysaccharides

The antifatigue effects of the hot‐water extract of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) seeds were studied in mice. Longan seed polysaccharides were administered at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg and antifatigue activity was evaluated using a swimming test, along with the determination of serum urea nitrogen, hepatic glycogen and blood lactic acid content. The results show that longan seed polysaccharides, in doses ranging from 50 to 100 mg/kg, extended swimming time, increased hepatic glycogen (p < 0.01, n = 10), reduced blood urea nitrogen (p < 0.01, n = 10) and decreased blood lactic acid (p < 0.01, n = 10) in the mice. Therefore longan seed polysaccharides may have potential as an antifatigue agent. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hypotensive and diuretic effect of Equisetum bogotense and Fuchsia magellanica and micropropagation of E. bogotense

Equisetum bogotense (Equisetaceae) and Fuchsia magellanica (Onagraceae) were used by the Mapuche Amerindians as diuretics. Intravenous administration of hydroalcoholic extracts to rats elicited a hypotensive response of ?29.0% ±4.5% and ?24.2% ±0.5% respectively in the mean blood pressure of normotensive animals at a dose of 5 mg crude extract/kg body weight. The activity was found to be related with polar compounds. For Fuchsia, the active principles are related to tannins. A single oral dose of 500 mg/kg body weight Equisetum extract produced a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the urine output in rats, while in Fuchsia a reduction in diuresis was observed. The diuretic effect of the Equisetum extract was weak compared with hydrochlorothiazide at 25 mg/kg body weight. The data presented support the use of E. bogotense in Chilean traditional medicine. A micropropagation method for E. bogotense was established by culturing shoot tips in Murashige-Skoog medium with macro and micronutrients diluted 4-fold and containing 0.1 mg/L thiamine, 100 mg/L myoinositol, 1.0 mg/L NAA and 0.1 mg/L BAP.     

Potential Antidepressant Activity of Areca catechu Nut via Elevation of Serotonin and Noradrenaline in the Hippocampus of Rats

The current study was aimed at investigating the potential antidepressant activity of Areca catechu nut ethanol extract and its various fractions using behavioral (acute and sub‐chronic forced swim tests) and biochemical (monoamines and their metabolite levels using high performance liquid chromatography) tests. The areca nut ethanol extract and its aqueous fraction exhibited antidepressant activity in both acute and sub‐chronic forced swim tests (IC₅₀ ~ 50 and 20 mg/kg, respectively), which was further confirmed by unaltered locomotor (horizontal and vertical) activities of rats in the activity cage. Phytochemical analysis revealed that saponins of areca nut may be the active component in its antidepressant action. The rats treated sub‐chronically with areca nut extract displayed toxic effects, whereas its active aqueous fraction was non‐toxic, indicating the presence of different constituents for antidepressant and toxic effects. In the hippocampus of rats, the areca nut extract (50 mg/kg) and aqueous fraction (20 mg/kg) caused a significant elevation of serotonin (around 35%) and noradrenaline (around 30%) compared with the control (261 ± 25 and 512 ± 29 ng/g, respectively). In conclusion, the areca nut possesses potential antidepressant effect via the elevation of serotonin and noradrenaline. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of antinociceptive,antinflammatory activities and phytochemical analysis of aerial parts of Urtica urens L.

The antinociceptive and antiinflammatory activities of the ethanol extract of the aerial part of Urtica urens were determined by experimental animal models. U. urens extract was found to possess significant antinociceptive activity in chemically induced mouse pain models (ED₅₀ 39.3 mg/kg: 17.2–74.5 mg/kg) in the writhing test and 62.8% inhibition of the licking time in the late phase of the formalin test at a dose of 500 mg/kg p.o. and antiinflammatory activity on carrageenan‐induced rat hind paw edema (41.5% inhibition at a dose of 300 mg/kg i.p.). The extract displayed activity neither in the thermal model of pain nor in the topical inflammation model. The major component of the extract was determined as chlorogenic acid (670 mg/1000 g dry weight) and could be partly responsible for this activity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antiviral activity of chilean medicinal plant extracts

Chilean flora is a potential source of bioactive compounds, including some with antiviral activity. Ninety aqueous and hydroaloholic extracts from 36 native and introduced plant species were screened for antiviral activity on herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and HIV viruses. Furthermore, the samples were assayed for antimicrobial effect on pathogenic bacteria and a yeast. Plants were selected according to their indication of use for treating symptomatology of possible viral aetiology in Chilean folk medicine. The hydroaloholic extracts of Cassia stipulacea and Escallonia illintia exhibited detectable antiviral effects towards HSV-1 with IC₅₀ values of 80 and 40 μg crude extract/mL, respectively. Samples belonging to Aristotelia chilensis (IC₅₀ of 40 μg/mL), Drymis winteri (IC₅₀ values of 35 and 80μg/mL), Elytropus chilensis and Luma apiculata, with an IC₅₀ value of 100 μg/mL showed activity against HSV-2. None of the extracts showed activity against HIV at extract concentrations which were nontoxic for cells.     

冠突散囊菌不同溶剂提取物体外抗氧化活性研究

目的：研究冠突散囊菌体外抗氧化活性。方法：采用萃取法对冠突散囊菌甲醇提取物萃取获得石油醚,乙酸乙酯和正丁醇3种提取物,并以维生素C（VC）为阳性对照,用清除二苯代苦味酰基（DPPH）自由基和（ABTS）自由基测定法,对冠突散囊菌3种提取物抗氧化活性进行测定。结果：冠突散囊菌石油醚提取物清除 DPPH和ABTS⁺自由基半数清除浓度（IC₅₀）分别为0.078,0.083 g·L^-1 ,乙酸乙酯提取物IC₅₀分别为0.21,0.13 g·L^-1;正丁醇提取物对DPPH和ABTS⁺自由基几乎没有清除作用;3种提取物清除DPPH和ABTS⁺自由基的能力均比阳性对照VC（IC₅₀分别为0.032,0.024 g·L^-1）弱。结论：冠突散囊菌石油醚和乙酸乙酯提取物均具有抗氧化活性,且石油醚提取物活性较强。     

Effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza extract on the liver CYP3A activity in humans and rats

Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) is a famous Traditional Chinese medicine used widely in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This study explored the effects of Danshen capsules commonly used in clinical practice on the liver CYP3A activity in humans and rats. The effects of Danshen extract on liver CYP3A activity were determined by metabolism of model substrates in vitro in human and rat liver microsomes and in the rat in vivo. HPLC was used to determine model substrates and metabolites. Danshen extract (50–2000 µg/mL) competitively inhibited human and rat liver microsomal CYP3A activity with inhibition constant (K_i) values of 51 and 65 µg/mL, respectively. In the rat, 14‐day Danshen extract treatment (100 mg/kg/day, i.p. or 200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) decreased midazolam clearance (11–14%), with a concomitant increase in area under the curve (AUC; 12–17%) and a decrease in the volume of distribution (11–15%). These studies demonstrated that Danshen extract affected the metabolism of CYP3A substrates through competitive inhibition in human and rat liver in vitro and had no enzyme inducing effects on rat CYP3A in vivo after chronic administration. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The analgesic-antiinflammatory extract from Araujia sericifera lacks ulcerogenic activity on stress-gastric damage model

The present study evaluates the ulcerogenic activity of the hexane extract from dry fruits of Araujia sericifera in an experimental model of cold-restraint stress. Treatment of rats with 200 mg/kg (i.p.) of hexane extract did not affect the gastric lesions induced by cold-restraint stress. However, it was confirmed that a dose of 300 mg/kg (i.p.) of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) which induced a similar analgesic-antiinflammatory effect, increased significantly the level of gastric damage. Thus, the hexane extract from the fruits of A. sericifera seems to possess analgesic-antiinflammatory properties which are not linked to gastrolesive effects.     

Antitumour effects of phyllanthus emblica L.: Induction of cancer cell apoptosis and Inhibition of in vivo tumour promotion and in vitro invasion of human cancer cells

Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (PE) is a medicinal fruit used in many Asian traditional medicine systems for the treatment of various diseases including cancer. The present study tested the potential anticancer effects of aqueous extract of PE in four ways: (1) against cancer cell lines, (2) in vitro apoptosis, (3) mouse skin tumourigenesis and (4) in vitro invasiveness. The PE extract at 50–100 µg/mL significantly inhibited cell growth of six human cancer cell lines, A549 (lung), HepG2 (liver), HeLa (cervical), MDA‐MB‐231 (breast), SK‐OV3 (ovarian) and SW620 (colorectal). However, the extract was not toxic against MRC5 (normal lung fibroblast). Apoptosis in HeLa cells was also observed as PE extract caused DNA fragmentation and increased activity of caspase‐3/7 and caspase‐8, but not caspase‐9, and up‐regulation of the Fas protein indicating a death receptor‐mediated mechanism of apoptosis. Treatment of PE extract on mouse skin resulted in over 50% reduction of tumour numbers and volumes in animals treated with DMBA/TPA. Lastly, 25 and 50 µg/mL of PE extract inhibited invasiveness of MDA‐MB‐231 cells in the in vitro Matrigel invasion assay. These results suggest P. emblica exhibits anticancer activity against selected cancer cells, and warrants further study as a possible chemopreventive and antiinvasive agent. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Neuropharmacologial effects of Cystoseira usneoides extract

The effects were studied of an extract of the brown algae Cystoseira usneoides on the central nervous system (CNS) of mice. At doses between 6.25 and 25 mg/kg the extract had significant effects on spontaneous locomotor activity, exploratory behaviour, D-amphetamine-induced hypermotility, body temperature, pentobarbitalinduced hypnosis, motor coordination and pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions. Dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylacetic acid, 3-methoxytyramine and homovanilic acid levels were determined in rat striatum and they were slightly modified. The extract also displayed analgesic activity. We conclude that the extract of Cystoseira usneoides is a CNS depressant with slight analgesic effects.