Effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. aerial parts extract on morphine withdrawal syndrome in mice

The effect the aqueous and ethanol extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis L. aerial parts on morphine withdrawal syndrome was investigated in mice. The aqueous and ethanol extracts induced a significant antinociceptive activity in the writhing test. This activity was inhibited by naloxone pretreatment. Dependence was induced using subcutaneous injections of morphine daily for 3 days. On day 4, morphine was injected 2 h prior to the intraperitoneal injection of naloxone. The number of jumps during the 30 min period after naloxone injection was considered as a measure of the withdrawal syndrome. The results indicated that the aqueous (1.68 g/kg and 2.4 g/kg, i.p.) and ethanol (0.96 g/kg, i.p.) extracts reduced the number of jumps. Phytochemical study indicated that only the aqueous extract of R. officinalis has an alkaloid component. It is concluded that the aqueous and ethanol extracts of R. officinalis aerial parts could diminish morphine withdrawal syndrome.     

Hypoglycaemic effect of Triticum repens P. Beauv. in normal and diabetic rats

The hypoglycaemic effect of an aqueous extract of Triticum repens (TR) rhizomes was investigated in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. After a single oral administration of the aqueous extract (20mg/kg) a significant decrease on blood glucose levels in STZ diabetic rats (p<0.001) was observed; the blood glucose levels were normalized after 2 weeks of daily oral administration of TR aqueous extract (20mg/kg) (p<0.001). Significant reduction on blood glucose levels were noticed in normal rats after both acute (p<0.001) and chronic treatment (p<0.001). In addition, no changes were observed in basal plasma insulin concentrations after treatment in either normal or STZ diabetic rats indicating that the underlying mechanism of this pharmacological activity seems to be independent of insulin secretion. We conclude that the aqueous extract of TR exhibits a potent hypoglycaemic activity in STZ rats without affecting basal plasma insulin concentrations.     

Antihyperglycaemic effect of Mangifera indica in rat.

The leaves of Mangifera indica are used as an antidiabetic agent in Nigerian folk medicine. To determine whether or not there is a scientific basis for this use, the effect of the aqueous extract of the leaves on blood glucose level was assessed in normoglycaemic, glucose - induced hyperglycaemic and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The aqueous extract given orally (1 g/kg) did not alter the blood glucose levels in either normoglycaemic or STZ-induced diabetic rats. In glucose - induced hyperglycaemia, however, antidiabetic activity was seen when the extract and glucose were administered simultaneously and also when the extract was given to the rats 60 min before the glucose. The hypoglycaemic effect of the aqueous extract was compared with that of an oral dose of chlorpropamide (200 mg/kg) under the same conditions. The results of this study indicate that the aqueous extract of the leaves of Mangifera indica possess hypoglycaemic activity. This action may be due to an intestinal reduction of the absorption of glucose. However, other different mechanisms of action cannot be excluded.     

Immunomodulatory effect of Achyrocline satureioides (LAM.) D.C. aqueous extracts

The immunomodulatory activity of aqueous extract from Achyrocline satureioides, prepared using heating, was investigated with a mitogen-induced cell proliferation assay and IL-2 secretion in BALB/c mice. The results showed a slightly immunosuppressive activity.     

白花丹参叶水提物对糖尿病大鼠脑组织损伤的影响

目的研究白花丹参叶水提物对糖尿病大鼠脑组织损伤的影响。方法高脂饲料诱导后尾静脉注射链脲佐菌素(streptozotocin,STZ)建立Wistar大鼠糖尿病模型。给药治疗后测定脑组织内超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)的活性及丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)、一氧化氮(nitricoxide,NO)的含量。结果白花丹参叶制剂能明显降低糖尿病大鼠血糖,同时大鼠体重稳定增加。模型组大鼠脑内SOD活性显著降低,MDA,NO含量明显升高;白花丹参叶水提物治疗后大鼠脑内SOD活性明显增高,MDA,NO含量显著下降。结论白花丹参叶水提物能增加糖尿病大鼠脑内抗氧化酶活性,抑制脂质过氧化反应,调节NO生成,减轻过氧化损伤起到脑保护作用。     

Effect of aqueous extract of Tragia involucrata Linn. on acute and subacute inflammation

Antiinflammatory activity of aqueous extract of Tragia involucrata was tested on carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma models in albino rats. In the subacute model, cotton pellet granuloma was produced by implantation of 10 mg sterile cotton in the axilla under ether anaesthesia. The animals were administered an aqueous extract at various concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg. Phenyl butazone (80 mg/kg) was used as a standard drug. The paw diameter was measured at different time intervals and the dry granuloma weight was taken after the treatment. The aqueous leaf extract (400 mg/kg) showed the maximum inhibition (84.23%) of oedema at the end of 3 h following carrageenin-induced rat paw oedema. In subacute inflammation, the extract showed 76.25% reduction in granuloma weight. The results prove that the aqueous leaf extract showed highest antiinflammatory activity in acute and subacute inflammation and also support the usage of traditional claims.     

Antiviral potency of mistletoe (Viscum album ssp. album) extracts against human parainfluenza virus type 2 in Vero cells

Various extracts from the leaves of mistletoe (Viscum album L. ssp. album) were investigated for their antiviral activity on human parainfluenza virus type 2 (HPIV-2) growth in Vero cells. Plant extracts were prepared using distilled water, 50% ethanol, petroleum ether, chloroform and acetone. The 50% effective dose (ED(50)) of aqueous extract for HPIV-2 replication was 0.53 +/- 0.12 micro g/mL, and the antiviral index (AI), which was based on the ratio of the 50% inhibitory concentration (CD(50)) for host cell viability to the ED(50) for parainfluenza virus replication, was 10.05. The aqueous extract was found to be the most selective inhibitor. Furthermore, the aqueous extract at a concentration of 1 micro g/mL was found to inhibit HPIV-2 replication and the virus production was suppressed to more than 99% without any toxic effect on host cells. The chloroform extract was also found to be moderately active. In an effort to further analyse the mechanism of antiviral activity, the effectiveness of the aqueous extract on different steps of virus replication was examined. The antiviral activity could neither be attributed to the direct inactivation of the HPIV-2 nor to the inhibition of adsorption to Vero cells. The active aqueous extract has shown a dose-dependent antiviral activity on virus replication.     

甘草中-葡α萄糖苷酶抑制剂的初步研究

目的：从甘草中提取分离α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制剂。方法：将甘草水提取物依次用石油醚、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇萃取，然后测定各部分的酶抑制活性，对活性最强的部分进行酶抑制动力学研究。结果：石油醚部分、乙酸乙酯部分、正丁醇部分与剩余水提物部分的酶活性抑制率分别为68．93％、83．02％、32．17％和10．79％，与综合水提取物的酶活性抑制率69．77％相比，乙酸乙酯部分的活性最强，而且乙酸乙酯部分表现为一种快速的剂量依赖性的竞争性抑制类型，其Ki=34μg／ml。结论：乙酸乙酯部分存在较强的α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性成分，对其作进一步分离可望得到α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制单体成分。     

Pharmacological properties of Moringa oleifera. 1: Preliminary screening for antimicrobial activity

The antimicrobial activities of Moringa oleifera leaves, roots, bark and seeds were investigated in vitro against bacteria, yeast, dermatophytes and helminths pathogenic to man. By a disk-diffusion method, it was demonstrated that the fresh leaf juice and aqueous extracts from the seeds inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and that extraction temperatures above 56 degrees C inhibited this activity. No activity was demonstrated against four other pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans. By a dilution method, no activity was demonstrated against six pathogenic dermatophytes. A method was standardized for studying the effect of aqueous extracts on Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, but no activity was exhibited by any part of the tree in contrast to Chenopodium ambrosioides leaf extracts.     

Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory effects and acute toxicity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Myrtus communis L. Aerial parts in mice

Myrtus communis L. aerial parts have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disease. In this study 350 mice were divided into three main groups: negative (saline), positive (morphine or diclofenac) controls, and test groups. The acute toxicity was assessed for 2 days. Antinociceptive activity was performed using hot plate and writhing tests. The anti-inflammatory effect was investigated using xylene-induced ear edema and a cotton pellet test. According to phytochemical screening, the extracts contained tannins, alkaloids, and flavonoids. The LD50 values of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts were 0.473 and 0.79 g/kg, respectively. In hot plate test, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed significant antinociceptive activity that was inhibited by naloxone. The extracts exhibited antinociceptive activity against acetic acid-induced writhing and also showed significant activity against acute inflammation which was dose dependent for aqueous extract. The ethanolic (0.05 g/kg) and aqueous extracts (0.005, 0.015, and 0.03 g/kg) demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects against chronic inflammation. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts of M communis L. showed antinociceptive effects and these may be mediated by opioid receptors.     

Myrosinase hydrolysates of Brassica oleraceae L. var. italica reduce the risk of colon cancer

By means of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization (LC-ESI) mass spectrometry two glucosinolates, glucoiberin and 3-hydroxy,4(α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy) benzyl glucosinolate, were identified in the aqueous extract of Brassica oleraceae L var. italica. Further, two compounds were isolated after enzymatic hydrolysis of the aqueous extract by myrosinase, one of them was identified as 4-vinyl-3-pyrazolidinone. The second compound (sulphoraphane) 1-isothiocyanate-4-methyl-sulphinyl butane, converted to the most stable form of thiourea (sulphoraphane thiourea). The crude extract (80% alcohol extract) of broccoli florets was examined for cytotoxic activity against different human cancer cell lines, it showed good inhibition of colon cancer (IC(50) 3.88 μg/mL). On the other hand each of the successive extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol) showed no significant cytotoxic activity. When myrosinase hydrolysate was tested for cytotoxic activity on the colon cancer cell line it showed very high activity - 95% lethality up to 0.78 μg/mL.     

Antimicrobial activities of the stembark of Kigelia pinnata.

Chemical investigation showed that the aqueous extracts of the stembark of Kigelia pinnata contain iridoids as major components. In the light of the traditional uses of this plant, antimicrobial activities of the aqueous extracts and two major iridoids were tested against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The crude aqueous extracts showed significant antimicrobial activity which could be partially explained by the activity of the iridoids present.     

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).     

Immunomodulatory activities of Clausena excavata Burm. f. wood extracts

In vitro immunomodulatory activities of aqueous extract, acetone extract and the Thai folklore extract of Clausena excavata Burm. f. on mouse immune system were investigated. The phagocytic activity of macrophages and splenocyte proliferation in the absence and presence of mitogens (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) or pokeweed mitogen, PWM) were assayed. The aqueous extract exhibited the maximum effect on both respiratory burst response and lysosomal enzyme activity more than the acetone extract and the Thai folklore extract indicating effective phagocytic activation. For splenocyte proliferation assay, the Thai folklore extract with LPS gave the maximum activity higher than that with PWM, suggesting specificity towards B cell proliferation through T cell independent pathway the same as LPS. The present study revealed the immunomodulating activity, which could be explained the traditional use of this plant in Thailand.     

Acute diuretic effect of continuous intravenous infusion of an aqueous extract of Coriandrum sativum L. in anesthetized rats

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the acute diuretic activity of continuous intravenous infusion of an aqueous extract of the seed of Coriandrum sativum L. Apiaceae (coriander) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aqueous extract of coriander seed was administered by continuous intravenous infusion (120 min) at two doses (40 and 100mg/kg) to anesthetized Wistar rats. Furosemide (10mg/kg), a standard diuretic was used as the reference drug. Excretion of water and electrolytes (sodium, potassium and chloride) in urine was measured, and glomerular filtration rate (equal to creatinine clearance) was determined. RESULTS: The crude aqueous extract of coriander seeds increased diuresis, excretion of electrolytes, and glomerular filtration rate in a dose-dependent way; furosemide was more potent as a diuretic and saluretic. The mechanism of action of the plant extract appears to be similar to that of furosemide. CONCLUSIONS: The aqueous extract of coriander seed possesses diuretic and saluretic activity, thus, validating the use of coriander as a diuretic plant in Moroccan pharmacopoeia.     

In vitro studies on antilithiatic activity of seeds of Dolichos biflorus Linn. and rhizomes of Bergenia ligulata Wall.

Soxhlet extracts of seeds of Dolichos biflorus and rhizomes of Bergenia ligulata were tested for their in vitro antilithiatic/anticalcification activity by the homogeneous precipitation method. The extracts were compared with an aqueous extract of cystone (a marketed preparation) for their activities. Also a combination of the extracts of the two plants was tested. Extracts of Dolichus biflorus showed activity almost equivalent to cystone while Bergenia ligulata showed less activity and the combination was not as active as the individual extracts.     

Effects of extract of Cistus populifolius L. on the central nervous system.

We report the effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and on analgesic activity of an aqueous extract of Cistus populifolius L. The extract was assayed for effects on spontaneous locomotor activity, methylphenidate-induced hypermotility, motor coordination, exploratory behaviour, rectal temperature and sodium pentobarbital-induced hypnosis. Analgesic activity was evaluated using the hot plate test. The C. populifolius extract at dosages of 286 and 430 mg/kg caused very significant reductions in spontaneous locomotor activity, hypermotility, motor coordination, exploratory behaviour and rectal temperature, and a slight increase of sleeping time was noted in the sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep test. The extract exhibited central analgesic affects in the hot plate test.     

Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of Smilax china L. aqueous extract

The aqueous extract of the tuber of Smilax china L., popularly known in China as "jin gang ten", was tested for its anti-inflammatory activities in rats by egg-albumin-induced edema and anti-nociceptive effects in mice using hot-plate test and acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test, respectively. The aqueous extract in the dose of 1000 mg/kg (i.g.) had a significant anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect compared to physiological saline. The anti-inflammatory effects are similar to acetylsalicylic acid (200 mg/kg, i.g.). We also evaluated the aqueous extract for the inhibition of prostaglandin production (for COX-2 inhibitions) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse macrophage cells. The result showed that both COX-2 activity and COX expression were inhibited by the extract. These active extracts suppressing activities warranted further studies of active principles and development of new anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. Studies to determine correlation between chemical composition and pharmacological activity are underway.     

Hepatoprotective and antibacterial effects of extracts from Trichilia emetica Vahl. (Meliaceae)

Trichilia emetica Vahl. (Meliaceae) is a tree widely distributed in Tropical Africa. It has been used in Mali folk medicine for the treatment of various illnesses. The aim of this work was to study the hepatoprotective and antibacterial effects of a crude aqueous extract from Trichilia emetica root. An ethyl ether fraction from the aqueous extract was also prepared and studied. We have examined the hepatoprotective activity of the extracts on CCl4-induced damage in rat hepatocytes, their toxicity using the brine shrimp bioassay and their antibacterial activity against clinical isolated bacterial strains, which are commonly responsible for respiratory infections. A preliminary phytochemical analysis showed a high polyphenolic content in the aqueous extract and the presence of limonoids in the ethyl ether fraction. These latter compounds may be considered responsible for the good activity against the bacterial strains tested. Trichilia emetica extracts exerted also a significant (P<0.05) hepatoprotective effect at a dose of 1000 microg/ml both on plasma membrane and mitochondrial function as compared to silymarin used as a positive control. These activities may be a result of the presence of either polyphenols or limonoids. Finally, both the aqueous extract and its ethyl ether fraction did not show toxicity (LC50>1000 microg/ml) in the brine shrimp bioassay.     

A promising peptide antibiotic from Terfezia claveryi aqueous extract against Staphylococcus aureus in vitro

The antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts, as well as partially purified proteins extracted from Terfezia claveryi aqueous extract were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus in vitro. A 5% aqueous extract inhibited the growth of S. aureus by 66.4%, while a methanolic extract was ineffective. Partial protein purification of the aqueous extract using ammonium sulphate precipitation revealed that antimicrobial activity was within the third fraction. This fraction was then subjected to gel filtration using Sephadex G-100. Two peaks were obtained. Peak one possessed higher antimicrobial activity. This peak was then subjected to ion exchange chromatography using DEAE Sephadex. Only peak 4 from the six peaks obtained showed a slight antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activities of the aqueous extract and the fractions that showed antimicrobial activity were compared with reference antibiotics.