Hypoglycemic activity of medicinal plants

The hypoglycemic activity of water extracts of fifty six medicinal plants were evaluated in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Twelve medicinal plants have significantly antidiabetic activity; Mori Radicis Cortex, Kwang Fang Chi Radix, Paeoniae Radix, Eugeniae Flos, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Ophiopogonis Tuber, Rosae multiflorae Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Tetrapanacis Medulla, Bigno, Forsythiae Fructus and Sophorae Radix.     

昆嵛山菊科药用植物资源调查

目的对胶东半岛昆嵛山菊科药用植物资源情况进行研究调查。方法野外实地调查,实验室标本鉴定以及查阅相关资料相结合。结果基本掌握昆嵛山菊科植物117种,6变种,隶属58属,2亚科;本文还记述了昆嵛山药用菊科植物的药用功能,并提出了合理性开发利用的建议。     

四川忍冬属药用植物资源调查

目的调查四川忍冬属药用植物的资源状况。方法采用产地调查、标本采集、分类鉴定与文献查阅相结合的方法。结果报道了四川忍冬属药用植物12亚组25种1亚种6变种的分布、生境及药用情况。结论调查有助于四川忍冬属药用植物的资源利用和深入研究。     

Antibacterial activity of some Indian medicinal plants

Aqueous extracts of ten medicinal plants were examined for their antibacterial potential against some reference strains of human pathogenic bacteria. Anethum graveolens, Elettaria cardamomum, Foeniculum vulgare, Trachyspermum ammi and Viola odorata were found to be better/equally effective compared to standard antibiotics. V. odorata was the most effective antibacterial with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 1 to 2%. The results provide a scientific basis for the centuries-old usage of aqueous extracts of these medicinal plants.     

Green capsule phase microextraction employing hydrophobic monolithic sol-gel octadecyl siloxane platforms for the monitoring of organophosphorus pesticides in environmental water samples

In this study, a novel, facile and green capsule phase microextraction (CPME) method is presented for the extraction and preconcentration of organophosphorus pesticides (i.e., chlorpyrifos, disulfoton, ethoprophos, fenchlorphos, prothiofos, and parathion-methyl) from environmental water samples. Monolithic sol-gel octadecyl siloxane (sol-gel C₁₈) sorbent encapsulated within porous polypropylene capsules was synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for its efficiency towards the adsorption of the target organophosphorus pesticides. CPME was combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the monitoring of the target analytes. The method was optimized to ensure high method sensitivity and it was fully validated. The limits of detection of the CPME-GC-MS method for the OPPs were 0.02–0.15 ng mL^?1. The relative standard deviations were 1.5–8.7% for intra-day study and 5.4–9.6% for inter-day study, demonstrating satisfactory precision. Moreover, good method accuracy was obtained, since the relative recoveries were within the range 92.6–107.0% and 90.8–107.6% for intra-day and inter-day (c = 5.00 and 20.0 ng mL^?1), respectively. The absence of interferences in the blank samples demonstrates that the proposed method is selective. The sol-gel C₁₈ sorbent encapsulated CPME media could be reused for at least 25 adsorption/desorption cycles. In addition, the methodology presents advantageous features in comparison to existing methods. The final protocol was used for analyzing four different water sample types (i.e., lake water, river water, pond water and tap water sample).     

The mutagenic effects of organophosphorus pesticides on micro-organisms

Nine organophosphorus pesticides and twelve known chemical mutagens were applied to agar plate cultures ofEscherichia coli WP 2. After incubation, the cultures were examined for an increase in reverse mutation rate.Dicrotophos and dichlorvos, and four alkylating agents were tested against two mutant strains of Serratia marcescens using the paper disc technique.The organophosphorus pesticides did not increase the reversion rate inEscherichia coli WP 2. Dicrotophos was also negative when tested against Serratia marcescens. Dichlorvos induced a dose-related increase in reversion rate in both strains of Serratia marcescens.The significance of the results are discussed in relation to the rapid metabolism of dichlorvosin vivo and the absence of any mutagenic effect in mammalian test systems.     

Determination of selenium content in aqueous extract of medicinal plants used as herbal supplement for cancer patients

The chemical constituents in medicinal plants (MPs), including elements, are partially responsible for their medicinal and nutritional properties as well as toxic effects. This research aimed to monitor selenium (Se) contents in aqueous extract of MPs used for treatment of cancer and different diseases. In present work the Se in MPs was extracted in aqueous media by microwave-assisted (ME) and conventional extraction (CE) methods. The total and residual Se in MPs were determined, prior to microwave-assisted acid digestion. The Se in aqueous extracts and digests were analysed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum extractable Se in MPs were obtained by ME and CE, required 2 and 40 min, respectively. Precision and accuracy of the methodologies were checked by standard addition method. The Se contents in aqueous extract of MPs were found in the range of 1.09–2.23 μg/g corresponding to 21–33% of total Se contents. The daily intake of Se from aqueous extract of MPs as recommended by herbalist (10 g of plant material) was found in the range of 20–40% of daily requirement.     

长托宁救治急性有机磷农药中毒临床观察

目的：比较新型抗胆碱药长托宁与传统抗胆碱药阿托品对救治急性有机磷农药中毒的疗效。方法：将急性有机磷农药中毒患者随机分为长托宁治疗组与阿托品对照组,采用推荐剂量按轻、中、重分组治疗,对其疗效进行比较。结果：与对照组相比,长托宁治疗组达到阿托品化时间无显著差异（P〉0.05）;重度患者昏迷时间及呼吸衰竭时间明显减短（P〈0.05）;长托宁用药量及用药次数明显减少（P〈0.01）,不良反应发生率明显减少（P〈0.01）。结论：长托宁同时具有中枢与外周抗胆碱作用,用量少,不良反应轻,给药方便,是目前救治急性有机磷农药中毒最理想的抗胆碱药。     

急性有机磷农药中毒抢救治疗体会

目的 分析急性有机磷农药中毒抢救治疗方法.方法将本院2009年10月～2012年10月收治的50例有机磷农药中毒患者随机分为盐酸戊乙奎醚（长托宁）治疗组和阿托品治疗组各25例,并依据胆碱酯酶的活力将患者分为轻、中、重度,同时按照中毒程度应用不同剂量胆碱酯酶复活剂,并积极清除毒物,积极预防、处理各类并发症.结果 所有中毒患者阿托品治疗组死亡9例,占36%,反跳4例,占16%;盐酸戊乙奎醚治疗组死亡患者5例,占20%,无反跳病例;两组差异有统计学意义（P 〈 0.05）.结论 盐酸戊乙奎醚在治疗急性有机磷农药中毒中疗效佳,中间综合征及中毒反跳发生率低,疗效持久.     

Evaluation of toxicological effects of organophosphorus pesticide metabolites on human HepG2 cells

Trichloropyridinol (TCP); 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinol is the primary metabolites of the organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos. It is more highly persistent than parent compounds in the environment and might represent serious risks to human health. In this study, we investigated the toxicological effects and mechanism of TCP on HepG2 cells. The results revealed that TCP induced DNA damage and apoptosis on HepG2 cells. Besides, up-regulating the expression level of Bax /Bcl-2, a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase-9/-3 activation and the release of cytochrome-c are contributed to the toxicological effects of TCP on HepG2 cells. These data indicated that the cytotoxic effects of TCP might be associated with the activity of mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that TCP poses a potential threat to human health by inducing toxicological effects in the liver.     

Vibriocidal activity of certain medicinal plants used in Indian folklore medicine by tribals of Mahakoshal region of central India

Objectives:

Screening of the medicinal plants and determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Materials and Methods:

A simple in vitro screening assay was employed for the standard strain of Vibrio cholerae, 12 isolates of Vibrio cholerae non-O1, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Aqueous and organic solvent extracts of different parts of the plants were investigated by using the disk diffusion method. Extracts from 16 medicinal plants were selected on account of the reported traditional uses for the treatment of cholera and gastrointestinal diseases, and they were assayed for vibriocidal activities.

Results:

The different extracts differed significantly in their vibriocidal properties with respect to different solvents. The MIC values of the plant extracts against test bacteria were found to be in the range of 2.5-20 mg/ml.

Conclusions:

The results indicated that Lawsonia inermis, Saraca indica, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia belerica, Allium sativum, and Datura stramonium served as broad-spectrum vibriocidal agents.     

An integrated probabilistic framework for cumulative risk assessment of common mechanism chemicals in food: An example with organophosphorus pesticides

This paper presents a framework for integrated probabilistic risk assessment of chemicals in the diet which accounts for the possibility of cumulative exposure to chemicals with a common mechanism of action. Variability between individuals in the population with respect to food consumption, concentrations of chemicals in the consumed foods, food processing habits and sensitivity towards the chemicals is addressed by Monte Carlo simulations. A large number of individuals are simulated, for which the individual exposure (iEXP), the individual critical effect dose (iCED) and the ratio between these values (the individual margin of exposure, iMoE) are calculated by drawing random values for all variable parameters from databases or specified distributions. This results in a population distribution of the iMoE, and the fraction of this distribution below 1 indicates the fraction of the population that may be at risk. Uncertainty in the assessment is treated as a separate dimension by repeating the Monte Carlo simulations many times, each time drawing random values for all uncertain parameters.     

Rapid simultaneous determination for organophosphorus pesticides in human serum by LC-MS

A simple and rapid method was developed for measuring 10 organophosphorus pesticides (acephate, methidathion, dichlorvos, fenthion, EPN, diazinon, phenthoate, malathion, fenitrothion, and cyanophos) in the serum of acute poisoning patients by LC/MS. Following deproteinization by acetonitrile, an aliquot of the biological sample was injected into a C(18) column using 10mM ammonium formate-methanol as the mobile phase. Extraction recoveries were satisfactory and ranged between 60.0 and 108.1% in serum. The limits of detection (LODs) in serum ranged from 0.125 to 1 microg/ml, and the limits of quantitation (LOQs) ranged from 0.25 to 1.25 microg/ml. An excellent linearity was observed for these LOQs up to 8 microg/ml. Intra- and interassay precision and accuracy were satisfactory for most of the pesticides analyzed. In terms of temperature stability, of all the organophosphorus compounds analyzed, dichlorvos and malathion exhibited the most rapid degradations over 24h at room temperature. Methidathion and diazinon remained relatively stable at all temperatures during the entire 4-week testing period. The present method was successfully applied to one actual case of acute poisoning. In conclusion, this method is simple, accurate, and useful for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides and should benefit both clinical and forensic toxicology.     

血药浓度检测在急性有机磷中毒患者救治中的应用

目的：探讨血药浓度检测在急性有机磷中毒（AOPP）患者救治中的应用。方法：选择医院急诊室AOPP患者采用气相色谱法进行血药浓度监测，研究血液毒物存在时间及血药浓度高低、血液毒物持续存在时间与血液胆碱酯酶（ChE）、氯磷定应用、住院时间的关系。结果：AOPP患者血液毒物持续存在时间多在3～7d，较传统观点明显延长；初始血药浓度较高和血液毒物持续存在时间较长者ChE恢复慢，氯磷定应用时间长、剂量大，患者病情重、住院时间长。结论：血药浓度监测对AOPP的病情判断、指导治疗、改善预后有重要意义。     

Review on essential oil extraction from aromatic and medicinal plants: Techniques,performance and economic analysis

Essential oils extracted from herbal plants have many foods, cosmetic and medical industries applications. Present study discussed various conventional extraction techniques (steam distillation, hydro-distillation, hydro diffusion and solvent extraction) and advanced (non-conventional) extraction techniques (solvent free microwave extraction, subcritical extraction liquid and supercritical fluid extraction). Economic analysis, kinetics modelling, and GC-MS analysis of essential oil produced by various extraction techniques have also been presented. India is the biggest producer of Indian basil oil and Japanese peppermint oil, and USA is the major importer and exporter of EOs with 14% (US$390.9 m) of world imports and 17% (US$351.7 m) of world exports. Production cost for Steam distillation, Water distillation, solvent extraction and Supercritical fluid extraction varies from 15.85 - 76.50US$/kg, 7.05-86.4US$/kg, 8.35-8.53US$/kg and 6.71-42.69US$/kg, respectively. Second order model are consistent with experimental data as determination coefficient (R²) is higher than first order model. Non-conventional extraction methods are superior to conventional extraction methods in terms of low cost, time and energy saving, less solvent requirements, shorter extraction time, etc. From the techno-economic and environmental perspective, water distillation with full energy integration is the best method for rosemary oil. In contrast, supercritical fluid extraction is the best method for oregano oil.     

急性有机磷农药中毒患者急性时相反应蛋白的检测分析及临床意义

目的探讨急性有机磷农药中毒（AOPP）患者三种急性时相反蛋白（APRP）：载脂蛋白A1（apoA1）、清蛋白（Alb）、C-反应蛋白（CRP）的检测分析及临床意义。方法 AOPP患者52例（其中,重度中毒12例,中度中毒20例,轻度中毒20例）,空腹静脉采血3mL,日产7600型自动生化分析仪免疫比浊法检测血清apoA1、CRP,溴甲酚绿法检测血清Alb。另选取30名门诊健康体检者对照。结果 AOPP患者血清apoA1为（1.08±0.32）g/L、Alb为（38.3±5.1）g/L,较对照组（1.33±0.16）及（44.6±5.4）g/L分别有极显著的降低（P〈0.01）;CRP（14.22±16.21）mg/L较对照组（2.31±2.11）mg/L有极显著性的升高（P〈0.01）,且中、重度中毒组三项指标均较轻度中毒组有明显改变（P〈0.01）,重度中毒组除apoA1外均较中度中毒组有显著性改变（P〈0.01）,Alb水平进一步下降,CRP升高则更为显著。结论 AOPP时血清apoA1、Alb、CRP改变是全身炎症反应综合征（SIRS）、多脏器损伤的综合表现,观测上述三种APRP的变化,对病情判定、疗效观察均具有重要临床意义。     

Discovery of new angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors from medicinal plants to treat hypertension using an in vitro assay

Background and purpose of the study

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors plays a critical role in treating hypertension. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate ACE inhibition activity of 50 Iranian medicinal plants using an in vitro assay.

Methods

The ACE activity was evaluated by determining the hydrolysis rate of substrate, hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine (HHL), using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method and DPPH radical scavenging assay respectively.

Results

Six extracts revealed > 50% ACE inhibition activity at 330 μg/ml concentration. They were Berberis integerrima Bunge. (Berberidaceae) (88.2 ± 1.7%), Crataegus microphylla C. Koch (Rosaceae) (80.9 ± 1.3%), Nymphaea alba L. (Nymphaeaceae) (66.3 ± 1.2%), Onopordon acanthium L. (Asteraceae) (80.2 ± 2.0%), Quercus infectoria G. Olivier. (Fagaceae) (93.9 ± 2.5%) and Rubus sp. (Rosaceae) (51.3 ± 1.0%). Q. infectoria possessed the highest total phenolic content with 7410 ± 101 mg gallic acid/100 g dry plant. Antioxidant activity of Q. infectoria (IC₅₀ value 1.7 ± 0.03 μg/ml) was more than that of BHT (IC₅₀ value of 10.3 ± 0.15 μg/ml) and Trolox (IC₅₀ value of 3.2 ± 0.06 μg/ml) as the positive controls.

Conclusions

In this study, we introduced six medicinal plants with ACE inhibition activity. Despite the high ACE inhibition and antioxidant activity of Q. infectoria, due to its tannin content (tannins interfere in ACE activity), another plant, O. acanthium, which also had high ACE inhibition and antioxidant activity, but contained no tannin, could be utilized in further studies for isolation of active compounds.     

Dietary intake of organophosphorus pesticide residues through vegetables from Kumasi, Ghana

Contamination and health risk hazards of organophosphorus pesticides residues in vegetables were studied. Ethyl-chlorpyrifos, observed at an average level of 0.211 ± 0.010 mg kg⁻¹ in 42% of tomato, 0.096 ± 0.035 mg kg⁻¹ in 10% of eggplant and 0.021 ± 0.013 mg kg⁻¹ in 16% of pepper was below the 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ MRL. Dichlorvos was the most frequently detected residue in all the samples analyzed. Levels of malathion in tomatoes (0.120 ± 0.101 mg kg⁻¹) and pepper (0.143 ± 0.042 mg kg⁻¹) exceeded the MRL of 0.1 mg kg⁻¹. Health risks were found to be associated with methyl-chlorpyrifos, ethyl-chlorpyrifos, and omethioate in tomatoes and methyl-chlorpyrifos, ethyl-chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, monocrotophos and omethioate in eggplant. Routine monitoring of these pollutants in food items is required to prevent, control and reduce the pollution and to minimize health risks.     

薄层色谱扫描法和气相色谱/质谱法快速诊断有机磷农药中毒

目的建立薄层色谱法快速定性和气相色谱(GC)/质谱(MS)法定性定量检测有机磷农药,快速诊断有机磷农药中毒。方法检材经二氯甲烷萃取后,薄层色谱法快速定性,GC/MS选择离子模式定性定量检测检材中有机磷农药浓度。结果对硫磷、甲拌磷、马拉硫磷、辛硫磷和久效磷在紫外灯下均有较好的紫外吸收,用双波长薄层色谱扫描仪对斑点做原位紫外吸收扫描,最大吸收波长分别为300,240,225,290,260nm,可配合比移值进行定性分析;GC/MS选择离子检测方式进行定性定量检测,各药物的特征离子峰分别为:97,109,291;76,97,121;93,125,173;77,97,129;67,97,127。结论薄层色谱扫描法定性检测检材中有机磷农药,具有快速、准确、操作简便等特点,加上GC/MS定性定量检测,不仅提高了方法的灵敏度,而且使结果更加准确可靠,可应用于有机磷农药中毒的快速诊断和有机磷农药中毒致死的法医学鉴定。