Lipid-lowering effect of Oroxylum indicum(L.)Kurz extract in hyperlipidemic mice

Objective:To investigate the effect of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract on high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice.Methods:The phytochemical composition of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract was determined by liquid chromatographymass spectrometry/mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Forty-two male mice were used.The mice were divided into six groups:normal control,high-fat diet control,simvastatin treatment(20 mg/kg BW/day),and Oroxylum indicum fruit extract(100,200,300 mg/kg BW/day)treatment groups.Food intake,body weight,serum parameters,lipid profile,and histopathological lesions of the kidney,liver,and epididymal fat were observed.Results:LC-MS/MS results revealed four major components of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract:luteolin,apigenin,baicalein,and oroxylin A.Twenty-seven volatile oils were identified from Oroxylum indicum fruit extract.Daily oral administration of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract at 100 to 300 mg/kg BW/day significantly reduced the body weight,total cholesterol,triglyceride,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level(P<0.05),whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher than the high-fat diet control group.Treatment with 300 mg/kg BW/day Oroxylum indicum fruit extract reduced the pathological lesion and prevented fat accumulation in the kidney and liver.Conclusions:Oroxylum indicum fruit extract has hypolipidemic effect in hyperlipidemic mice,and the active ingredients of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract,both flavonoids and volatile oils,should be further explored as an antihyperlipidemic agent.     

In vitro vasodilatory effect of aqueous leaf extract of Thymus serrulatus on thoracic aorta of Guinea pigs

Objective:To investigate the vasodilatory effecl of Thymus serrulatus(T.serrulatus) aqueous leaf extract on KCl(high K~+.80 mmol/L) induced precontracted isolated thoracic aorta rings on guinea pigs and the role of aorta endothelium on this action.Methods:Guinea pig thoracic aorta was removed and placed in an organ bath containing Krebs-Henseleit solution and aorta contractions were recorded isometrically.Results:The results revealed that T.serrulalus aqueous leaf extract(0.5-5 mg/mL)significantly(P0.001) reduced KCl-induced contractions of guinea pig thoracic aorta in both intact(n=5) and denuded(n=5) endothelium in a concentration dependent manner,and the vasodilatory effect of the extract on intact endothelium was significantly(P0.05) higher than that on denuded endothelium.Glibenclamide(10 μmol/L) significantly(P0.001) increased the vasodilatory effect of extract in intact endothelium as compared to methylene blue(10μmol/L).atropine(10 μmol/L) and indomethacin(10 μmol/L).The effecl was more obvious on intact than that on denuded endothelium.Conclusions:The present findings demonstrate that T.serrulalus aqueous leaf extract has vasodilator)' activity which might result in antihypertensive effect and its vasodilatory effect is endothelium-dependent.This might support the traditional claim of the plant in hypertensive.     

Effect of Anthocleista djalonensis A. Chev Root Extract on Testis of Matured Rats

Objective: To investigate the effects of different extracts of Anthocleista djalonensis on the testis and epididymal sperms of rats. Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 10 groups (n=5 in each group) and orally treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight each of methanol, aqueous ethanol (H-EtOH) and chloroform extracts of A. djalonensis. Corn oil was used as vehicle (2 mL/kg). After 60 days of treatment, testosterone (T) and cholesterol (CHOL) concentrations, catalase (CAT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 3β -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β -HSD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the testes along with myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and nitrite concentrations (NO) in the serum and testes as well as sperm quality were measured. Results: T and CHOL concentrations along with 3β -HSD activity were significantly higher in the animals treated with the low dose than in those treated with the high dose of the chloroform extract (P<0.05). Furthermore, the chloroform extract was more effective than the methanol extract that had the most marginal effect on T level at the high dose and the H-EtOH extract that was only effective at the medium dose. LDH activity was dose-dependently increased by the extracts in all groups. The CAT-SOD antioxidant system was increased in the treated animals at all doses compared to the control values, but the increase in glutathione level reached significant level in those treated with the low dose H-EtOH aqueous ethanol extract (P<0.05). Only the high dose of chloroform extract had significant inhibitory effects on MPO activity (P<0.05). Serum NO concentration was decreased at all doses of the extracts. The inhibitory effects of the extracts on testicular NO concentrations follow this order, chloroform extract > H-EtOH > methanol. Although all extracts at all doses showed excellent stimulatory effects on sperm quality (count, motility and morphology), the methanol extract at the high dose was the most effective on sperm count (P<0.05). Conclusion: The chloroform extract of A. djalonensis has better androgen-like and anti-inflammatory effects whereas the methanol extract has the best effect on sperm count.     

Comparative Effect of Propolis of Honey Bee and Some Herbal Extracts on Candida Albicans

Objective: To determine the effect of propolis on Candida albicans and to compare it with the effects of some other herbal extracts and antibiotics on this pathogenic fungi. Methods: The extracts of propolis, Thymus vulgaris, Caryophillium aromaticus, Echinophora platyloba, Allium cepa and Cinnamomum zeylanicum were prepared and the antifungi effects of the extracts were examined on Candida albicans ATCC10231 using disc-diffusion assay and micro-broth dilution. The minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) as well as inhibition zone were evaluated and the anti fungi effects of herbal extracts were compared with amphotricin B and nystatin at the times of 24, 48 and 72 h. Data analysis was performed using t test. Results: Obtained results showed that propolis extract with MIC90 and MFC equal to 39 and 65 μg/mL, respectively, possess the highest antifungal activity when compared with other studied extracts. The extracts of Allium cepa and Thymus vulgaris, with MFC of 169 and 137 μg/mL, respectively, showed the lowest effects on the fungi. Also nystatin and amphotricin B yielded better effects on the tested fungi compared with the effects of all studied extracts on Candida albicans. Conclusions: Propolis extract is effective in controlling Candida albicans. However, the issue requires further investigation on samples in animals and performing toxicological examinations.     

Comparative Effect of Propolis of Honey Bee and Some Herbal Extracts on Candida Albicans

Objective: To determine the effect of propolis on Candida albicans and to compare it with the effects of some other herbal extracts and antibiotics on this pathogenic fungi. Methods: The extracts of propolis, Thymus vulgaris, Caryophillium aromaticus, Echinophora platyloba, Allium cepa and Cinnamomum zeylanicumwere prepared and the antifungi effects of the extracts were examined on Candida albicans ATCC10231 using disc-diffusion assay and micro-broth dilution. The minimum fungicidal concentration(MFC) and minimum inhibitory concentrations(MIC) as well as inhibition zone were evaluated and the anti fungi effects of herbal extracts were compared with amphotricin B and nystatin at the times of 24, 48 and 72 h. Data analysis was performed using t test. Results: Obtained results showed that propolis extract with MIC90 and MFC equal to 39 and 65 μg/mL, respectively, possess the highest antifungal activity when compared with other studied extracts. The extracts of Allium cepa and Thymus vulgaris, with MFC of 169 and 137 μg/mL, respectively, showed the lowest effects on the fungi. Also nystatin and amphotricin B yielded better effects on the tested fungi compared with the effects of all studied extracts on Candida albicans. Conclusions: Propolis extract is effective in controlling Candida albicans. However, the issue requires further investigation on samples in animals and performing toxicological examinations.     

The Effects of Astragalus Membranaceus Extract on Sperm Quality in vitro

This study is to explore the effects on sperm quality and fertilizing ability by using astragalus merrdrranaceus extract as additive among infertile males.Human sperms were cultured in the concentrated astragalus membranaceus extract for 1 h,then semen parameters were measured by the equipment of computer-assisted semenanalyzer(CASA).The results are as follows:compared with the original semen,the sperm motility and velocity,the percentage of grade A sperms and the swayingfrequency of sperm heads were improved markedly in the semen treated with astra-galus membranaceus extract(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the astragalus membranaceus aqueous extract was analyzed by atomic absorption spectroplvotometer.It was foundthere exist several metal elements and a certain amount of trace elements in the extract(10mg/ml).The concentration of K^ ,Ca^2-,Zn^2- were 25.1 μg/ml,7.28 μg/ml,and 0.47 μg/ml respectively.The influence of this additive on artificial insemination was also discussed.We considered that the studied Chinese herbal medicine additive has good effects on sperm preparation in vitro,and this might be a potential method in assisted reproductive technology.     

Human Spermicidal Activity of Passiflora edulis Extract

Objective To evaluate the spermicidal activity of Passiflora edulis extract on human spermatozoa. Methods Human spermatozoa were incubated with P. edulis extracts and their motility and viability were evaluated; additionally, the cytotoxic effect of the extracts was evaluated by the tetrazolium bromide （MTT） reduction assay. Results The motility and viability were decreased immediately after treatment with a 21% dilution of the supernatant of the extract of P. edulis （P〈0.01）. No cytatoxic effect of the extracts studied was found on proliferation of MDBK and VERO cells. Conclusion These results may open the way for the use of P. edulis as a spermicidal product with less adverse effects.     

Modulatory Effect of Distillate of Ocimum sanctum Leaf Extract（Tulsi）on Human Lymphocytes Against Genotoxicants

Objective To study the modulatory effect of distillate of Ocimum sanctum (traditionally known as Tulsi) leaf extract (DTLE) on genotoxicants. Methods In the present investigation, we studied the antigenotoxic and anticlastogenic effect of distillate of Tulsi leaf extract on (i) human polymorphonuclear leukocytes by evaluating the DNA strand break without metabolic activation against mitomycin C (MMC) and hexavalent chromium (Cr 6) and (ii) human peripheral lymphocytes (in vitro) with or without metabolic activation against mitomycin C (MMC), hexavalent chromium (Cr 6) and B[a]P by evaluating chromosomal aberration (CA) and micronucleus assay (MN). Three different doses of DTLE, 50 μL/mL, 100 μL/mL, and 200 μL/mL were selected on the basis of cytotoxicity assay and used for studying DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus emergence. The following positive controls were used for inducing genotoxicity and clastogenicity: MMC (0.29 μmol/L) for DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and 0.51 μmol/L for micronucleus assay; Potassium dichromate (Cr 6) 600 μmol/L for DNA strand break and 5 μmol/L for chromosomal aberration and micronucleus assay; Benzo[a]pyrene (30 μmol/L) for chromosomal aberration and 40 μmol/L for micronucleus assay. The active ingredients present in the distillate of Tulsi leaf extract were identified by HPLC and LC-MS. Results Mitomycin C (MMC) and hexavalent chromium (Cr 6) induced statistically significant DNA strand break of respectively 69% and 71% (P<0.001) as revealed by fluorometric analysis of DNA unwinding. Furthermore, the damage could be protected with DTLE (50 μL/mL, 100 μL/mL, and 200 μL/mL) on simultaneous treatment. Chromosomal aberration and micronucleus formation induced by MMC, Cr 6 and B[a]P were significantly protected (P<0.001) by DTLE with and without metabolic activation. Conclusion Distillate of Tulsi leaf extract possesses antioxidants contributed mainly by eugenol, luteolin and apigenin as identified by LC-MS. These active ingredients may have the protective effect against genotoxicants.     

Duck hepatitis B virus model for screening of antiviral agents from medicinal herbs.

The effects of the extracts of 20 Chinese medicinal herbs and an antiviral drug foscarnet on duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) endogenous DNA polymerase (DNAp) activity were compared. The extracts of P. urinaria showed a dose-dependent inhibition on DHBV DNAp. And those of other herbs showed little inhibition effect. Primary duck hepatocyte (PDH) cultures were used for evaluating effects of the extract of P. urinaria, foscarnet and acyclovir (ACV) on DHBV, and all the drugs or the extracts showed inhibition of DHBV DNA replication. Furthermore, in vivo trials were carried out. Peking ducks infected with LJ-76 strain of DHBV were treated with the extract of P. urinaria or ACV and compared with placebo treated control ducks. The treatment results in the loss or reduction of circulating viral DHBV DNA and DHBsAg.     

Anti-diabetic potential of Urena lobata leaf extract through inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity

Objective: To evaluate the anti-diabetic potential of leaf extract from Urena lobata(U. lobata) through dipeptidyl peptidase IV(DPP-IV) inhibitory activity.Methods: U. lobata leaf was extracted in hot water and ethanol. The activity of DPPIV inhibitor was tested by in vitro study using gly-pro-p-nitroanilide as substrat of DPPIV and vildagliptin, as standard reference. A product of the reactions between gly-pro-pnitroanilide and DPP-IV, was observed by microplate readers with λ = 405 nm. All data were expressed as mean ± SD and the IC50 value was determined by non linear regression curve fit. Active substances in leaf extract of U. lobata was analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. DPP-IV inhibitory activity of active compounds was evaluated in silico using docking server. Results: The ethanolic extract of U. lobata showed stronger DPP-IV inhibitor activity than water extract with the IC50 values of 1 654.64 and 6 489.88 μg/mL, respectively. Vildagliptin, based on standard reference for DPP-IV inhibitor activity, has IC50 value of 57.44 μg/mL. Based on in silico analysis, mangiferin, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in U. lobata extract have a strong inhibitory activity on DPP-IV. Conclusions: The results showed that DPP-IV inhibitory activity of U. lobata is related to its active compounds such as mangiferin, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol.