Antifungal activity of essential oil from fruits of Indian Cuminum cyminum

The essential oil of fruits of Cuminum cyminum L. (Apiaceae), from India, was analyzed by GC and GC-MS, and its antifungal activity was tested on dermatophytes and phytopathogens, fungi, yeasts and some new Aspergilli. The most abundant components were cumin aldehyde, pinenes, and p-cymene, and a fraction of oxygenate compounds such as alcohol and epoxides. Because of the large amount of the highly volatile components in the cumin extract, we used a modified recent technique to evaluate the antifungal activity only of the volatile parts at doses from 5 to 20 µL of pure essential oil. Antifungal testing showed that Cuminum cyminum is active in general on all fungi but in particular on the dermatophytes, where Trichophyton rubrum was the most inhibited fungus also at the lowest dose of 5 µL. Less sensitive to treatment were the phytopathogens.     

Hypolipidemic effect of Cuminum cyminum L. on alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Hyperlipidemia is an associated complication of diabetes mellitus. Many spices and herbs are known to be hypoglycaemic. Cuminum cyminum belonging to the family Apiaceae is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of dyspepsia, diarrhoea and jaundice. The present work was done to study the role of C. cyminum supplementation on the plasma and tissue lipids in alloxan diabetic rats. Oral administration of 0.25 g kg(-1) body weight of C. cyminum for 6 weeks to diabetic rats resulted in significant reduction in blood glucose and an increase in total haemoglobin and glycosylated haemoglobin. It also prevented a decrease in body weight. C. cyminum treatment also resulted in a significant reduction in plasma and tissue cholesterol, phospholipids, free fatty acids and triglycerides. Histological observations demonstrated significant fatty changes and inflammatory cell infiltrates in diabetic rat pancreas. But supplementation with C. cyminum to diabetic rats significantly reduced the fatty changes and inflammatory cell infiltrates. Moreover, C. cyminum supplementation was found to be more effective than glibenclamide in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.     

Anticonvulsant Effect of the Fruit Essential Oil of Cuminum cyminum in Mice

In this study, the anticonvulsant effect of the fruit essential oil of Cuminum cyminum Linn. (Umbelliferae) was studied against seizures induced by maximal electroshock (MES) or pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in mice. Administration of the essential oil protected mice against MES- and PTZ-induced tonic seizures. Furthermore, at some anticonvulsant doses, the essential oil produced sedation and motor impairment.     

Vulnerability of Gastric Mucosa in Diabetic Rats,Its Pathogenesis and Amelioration by Cuminum cyminum

Various studies have indicated that peptic ulcers occurring during the course of diabetic state are more severe and often associated with complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding. This study is the first attempt to understand the pathogenesis of gastric ulcers occurring during the diabetic state considering alternate biochemical pathways using suitable markers and its amelioration by Cuminum cyminum. In this study, diabetic rats showed a progressive increase in the stomach advanced glycated end products formation, gastric mucosal tumour necrosis factor-α and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels as compared to normal control (nondiabetic) rats. There was decrease in gastric mucosal content, antioxidant enzymes and cellular ATPase enzyme levels of diabetic gastric mucosa when compared to the normal control group. mRNA expression of epidermal growth factor was found to be significantly higher as compared to normal control animals. Further methanol extract of Cuminum cyminum treatment to diabetic animals caused a reduction in blood glucose, and ulcer score when compared to diabetic control rats. It significantly increased gastric mucus content, antioxidant status and cellular ATPase enzyme levels as compared to diabetic control animals. Methanol extract of Cuminum cyminum inhibited advanced glycated end products formation in vitro as well as in vivo.     

Antihyperglycemic activity and inhibition of advanced glycation end product formation by Cuminum cyminum in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Cuminum cyminum is widely used as a spice in many countries. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of methanolic extract of seeds of C. cyminum (CC) on diabetes, oxidative stress and formation of advanced glycated end products (AGE) and obtain comparison with glibenclamide. In vitro studies indicated that CC inhibited free radicals and AGE formation. Treatment of streptozotocin-diabetic rats with CC and glibenclamide for 28 days caused a reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and improved serum insulin and glycogen (liver and skeletal muscle) content when compared to diabetic control rats. Significant reduction in renal oxidative stress and AGE was observed with CC when compared to diabetic control and glibenclamide. CC and glibenclamide improved antioxidant status in kidney and pancreas of diabetic rats. Diabetic rats showed increase in rat tail tendon collagen, glycated collagen, collagen linked fluorescence and reduction in pepsin digestion. Treatment with CC significantly improved these parameters when compared to diabetic control and glibenclamide group. Though the antidiabetic effect of CC was comparable to glibenclamide it had better effect in controlling oxidative stress and inhibiting the AGE formation, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular complications.     

Purification and biological activity of acidic polysaccharide from leaves of Thymus vulgaris L

Polysaccharides are involved in biological responses and can activate complement system, which plays an important role in primary host defense mechanisms. We investigated anticomplementary activities from spice plants and selected thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) as a potent complementary activator. Acidic polysaccharide (TV-3-IIIA-IIa) purified from the hot-water extract of thyme leaves by DEAE-Toyopearl 650C, Butyl-Toyopearl 650M and Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography and preparative HPLC. The purified polysaccharide, TV-3-IIIA-IIa showed potent anticomplementary activity via classical and alternative pathway with the increase proportional to dosage. TV-3-IIIA-IIa seemed to be a homogenous polymer from the results of HPLC and its molecular mass was estimated as 180 kDa. TV-3-IIIA-IIa mainly consisted of galacturonic acid (44.8 mol%), glucuronic acid (16.7 mol%), arabinose (11.1 mol%), rhamnose (9.2 mol%), galactose (8.9 mol%) and small amounts of glucose, xylose, mannose and fucose. By methylation analysis and reactivity to beta-glucosyl Yariv reagent, TV-3-IIIA-IIa was assumed to contain small amounts of type II arabinogalactan and large amounts of pectin-like polysaccharides in the structure. Based upon these results, TV-3-IIIA-IIa was suggested to be a complement activator.     

Effect of subinhibitory concentrations of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seed essential oil and alcoholic extract on the morphology, capsule expression and urease activity of Klebsiella pneumoniae

Cuminum cyminum L., commonly known as cumin, is a plant with a considerable reputation. The aim of this work was to study the activity of cumin seed essential oil and alcoholic extract against Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883 and clinical K. pneumoniae isolates by evaluating the effect of subminimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) on cell morphology, capsule expression and urease activity. Growth of K. pneumoniae strains exposed to sub-MICs of C. cyminum extracts resulted in cell elongation and repression of capsule expression. Urease activity was decreased. The major constituent of the oil determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was cumin aldehyde.     

毓麟合剂对自体移植复制子宫内膜异位症大鼠血清孕酮和雌二醇的影响

目的:探讨毓麟合剂对自体移植复制子宫内膜异位症大鼠血清孕酮和雌二醇的影响.方法:取子宫内膜异位症(EMT)模型造模成功的大鼠30只,随机分为模型组、那曲酮组和毓麟合剂组各10只;另设假手术组10只,那曲酮组灌服2mg·kg-1·d-1,毓麟合剂灌服11g·kg-1·d-1,模型组对照组和假手术组灌服生理盐水,连续1个月;取血检测血清孕酮和雌二醇.结果:模型组大鼠血清孕酮和雌二醇水平升高,与假手术组相比具有显著性差异(P<0.01);那曲酮组和毓麟合剂组大鼠血清孕酮和雌二醇水平降低,与模型组相比有显著性差异(P<0.01).结论:毓麟合剂可作用于EMT模型大鼠,使血清孕酮和雌二醇水平降低而治疗子宫内膜异位症.     

Response of brown hisex chicks to low levels of Jatropha curcas, Ricinus communis or their mixture.

Feeding Jatropha curcas seed at 0.5% of the basic diet for 2 w was not lethal to chicks. In chicks fed 0.5% Ricinus communis seed or a mixture of 0.5% J curcas + 0.5% R communis for 2 w, there was dullness, poor growth, locomotor disturbance and death. Pathological changes were correlated with alterations in clinical chemistry and hematology.     

Effect of D- or L-methionine and cysteine on the growth inhibitory effects of feeding 1% paracetamol to rats

Rats fed 1% paracetamol in the diet failed to grow and a dose-dependent inhibition of growth was observed and found to be independent of hepatoxicity. Addition of 0.5% D- or L-methionine, or L-cysteine to a diet containing 1% paracetamol restored growth. Addition of L-methionine to the drinking water was equally effective. Feeding D-cysteine or sodium sulphate were ineffective. Acute paracetamol toxicity was also prevented by D- as well as by L-methionine. It is concluded that the inhibition of growth was due to depletion of sulphur amino acids in the course of paracetamol metabolism. This was sometimes followed by episodes of liver cell injury. Since the normal human dosage of paracetamol is up to 4 g/day, which is equivalent to 1% of the diet, the possibility of induction of amino acid deficiency by chronic use of paracetamol in normal dosage is raised.     

Meal patterns of free feeding rats treated with clozapine, olanzapine, or haloperidol.

Selective dopamine D(2) antogonists increase meal size and decrease the rate of feeding within a meal. Three experiments investigated the extent to which the atypical antipsychotics, clozapine and olanzapine, and the prototypical antipsychotic, haloperidol, affected meal size and feeding rate. Microstructural analyses of meal patterning were made over a range of drug doses administered to free feeding male Lister hooded rats. Haloperidol and clozapine produced a short-term increase in food intake. Haloperidol (0.05-0.2 mg/kg) enhanced meal size (maximal at 0.1 mg/kg) and reduced feeding rate (monotonic decrease with increasing dose). Neither clozapine (1-10 mg/kg) nor olanzapine (0.3-3 mg/kg) enhanced meal size, although both drugs produced similar reductions in feeding rate to haloperidol. These data suggest that enhancement of meal size may be correlated with a high level of extrapyramidal side effects in an antipsychotic drug. The absence of an increase in meal size by two atypical compounds suggests that the increase in body weight associated with clinical treatment with these drugs cannot be modelled by acute stimulation of meal size in the rat.     

Oxidative stress biomarkers in freshwater fish Carassius auratus exposed to decabromodiphenyl ether and ethane, or their mixture

Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and its commercial alternative decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) are two structurally similar brominated flame retardants, with evidence of their ubiquitous existence in aquatic ecosystems. The present study was conducted to investigate the hepatic oxidative stress inducing potential of BDE-209, DBDPE, and their mixture in Carassius auratus after exposure to different doses (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) for 7, 14 and 30 days. Results showed that oxidative stress was evoked evidently for the experimental groups with longer exposure duration, as indicated by significant inhibition in the antioxidant enzymes activities and decrease in the reduced glutathione level, as well as simultaneous elevation of lipid peroxidation level measured by malondialdehyde content. In addition, it was found that BDE-209 possessed a higher oxidative stress inducing ability than DBDPE. Considering the more pronounced antioxidant responses in combined exposure, the interaction of BDE-209 and DBDPE was presumed to be additive action.     

Failure of serotonin antagonist pizotifen to stimulate feeding or weight gain in free-feeding rats

The serotonin antagonist pizotifen (BC-105) is prescribed as an appetite and weight enhancer (Mosegor--Wander, also commercialized under brand names Sanmigran or Sandomigran--Sandoz, Switzerland) for anorectic and convalescent humans. There has been, however, difficulty in demonstrating any orexigenic effect of pizotifen in laboratory animals. In the present report, the influence of chronic administration of pizotifen (0.1-30.0 mg/kg b.wt. per day, SC) on food intake and body weight gains was studied in rats given a standard diet (SD-energy content 14.5 kJ/g, 9% fibre), and in rats either habituated to a low energy content, carbohydrate-free diet (DD-7.3 kJ/g, 45% fibre), or given the DD after habituation to the SD. Pizotifen failed to increase food intake or weight gain. Nor did it shorten a period of initial depression of intake of the unfamiliar DD. On the contrary, pizotifen seemed to diminish food intake and weight gain in rats fed the low energy content diet. Since it has been reported that other 5-HT antagonists, e.g., cyproheptadine, methysergide, and ritanserin can enhance feeding, it is of some interest that pizotifen failed to affect food intake or weight gain in rats. The results suggest that the effects of pizotifen (and, possibly, of serotonin) in rats may differ from those in man. The possibility that feeding in the rat is mediated by 5-HT1 rather than 5-HT2 receptors is discussed.     

Brine shrimp toxicity of various polarities leaves and fruits crude fractions of Ziziphus jujuba native to Oman and their antimicrobial potency

Ziziphus jujuba (Z. jujube) is a herb used traditionally for the treatment of different aliment since ancient times, however, the scientific information on this plant is still insufficient. The pure active chemical compounds and crude extracts of Z. jujube can be used in food, formulated pharmaceutical products, natural antioxidant, antibiotics, anticancer agent and preservatives. Therefore, the objective of this work is to determine the cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of different polarity of crude fractions of locally grown Z. jujube by applying brine shrimp lethality and agar gel disc diffusion bioassay. The cytotoxic result reveals that all prepared crude fractions from the leaves and fruits were lethal to all shrimp larvae at a concentration of 1000 μg/ml. Among the leaves crude fractions, butanol extract showed the highest cytotoxic activity with LC₅₀ value of 8.69 μg/ml, whereas the lowest activity was in chloroform crude extract with LC₅₀ value of 45.12 μg/ml. Similarly, in fruits, the highest activity was in ethyl acetate extract with an LC₅₀ value of 11.62 μg/ml and the lowest was in water extract with an LC₅₀ value of 149.28 μg/ml. The methanol and its corresponding fractions were displayed moderate antimicrobial activity against Gram (+ and ?) bacteria at various concentrations with a zone of inhibition range of 0–17 mm. Therefore, the active polar crude fraction of Z. jujuba or its pure component could be candidates for use as safe, effective and comparatively cheap antibiotics and anticancer agents.     

Effect of leaves of Butea frondosa on stress, anxiety, and cognition in rats

The plant Butea frondosa has been indicated in the Indian system of medicine as a plant augmenting memory and as a rejuvenator. The effect of oral administration of the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves was assessed on stress, cognitive function, and anxiety in albino rats. The antistress activity was evaluated using cold restraint induced ulcers and leukocyte count after subcutaneous injection of milk. The aqueous extract provides protection against stress-induced gastric lesions while both the alcoholic as well as the aqueous extract normalizes the white blood cell count. Effect on cognitive function was evaluated using Cook and Weidley's pole apparatus. The results indicate that the aqueous extract and the alcoholic extract when administered at a dose of 300 mg/kg for a period of 7 days augment both the acquisition as well as the retention of memory of learned task. The absence of an increase in the occupancy of the open arm in the elevated plus maze and in the number of head dips in the hole-board paradigms indicates that both the extracts are devoid of anxiolytic activity. Nootropic activity was compared using piracetam (100 mg/kg po) as the standard, while for anxiolytic and antistress activity, diazepam (1.0 mg/kg ip) was employed as the standard drug. It is concluded that the aqueous and alcoholic extract of B. frondosa possesses antistress and weak nootropic activity.     

Effect of cyproheptadine on feeding behaviour in albino rats

The effect of cyproheptadine on feeding behaviour was investigated in fasted albino rats with the help of a Skinner box. Cyproheptadine decreased the rate of bar-pressing under continuous reinforcement although it has been reported to be an appetite promoting drug.     

Comparative nephrotoxicitiy induced by melamine, cyanuric acid, or a mixture of both chemicals in either Sprague-Dawley rats or renal cell lines

Acute nephrotoxicities of melamine (MEL), cyanuric acid (CA), and a mixture of both melamine and cyanuric acid (MC) were comparatively investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats at 5 doses each with 10-fold dose interval as follows: MEL at 0.0315, 0.315, 3.15, 31.5, and 315 mg/kg; CA at 0.025, 0.25, 2.5, 25, and 250 mg/kg, and MC: [1×: (0.0315 + 0.025), 10×: (0.315 + 0.25), 100×: (3.15 + 2.5), 1000×: (31.5 + 25), and (315 + 250) mg/kg]. No marked adverse effects in renal function were observed in animals treated with MEL alone or CA alone, but evidence related to nephrotoxicity was noted in rats administered MC. Renal calculi and increased kidney weights were found in rats 7 d after daily oral administration of MC. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were significantly elevated in the high dose MC groups at 100× or 1000×. In addition, elevated numbers of white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, and lymphocytes in vivo and increased levels of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in vitro were found in the MC group. Based on these data, the NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect level) for nephrotoxicity for MC was estimated to be 3.15 mg/kg body weight (bw)/d (MEL) plus 2.5 mg/kg bw/d (CA). If a safety factor of 1000 or more were applied to NOAEL, tolerable daily intake (TDI) would be 0.00315 and 0.0025 mg/kg/d or less for MEL and CA, respectively, which is far below the TDI of 0.2 mg/kg/d set by World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that the ACHN human renal adenocarcinoma cell line was more sensitive to MEL, CA, and MC than the MDCK canine kidney epithelial cell line. The 24-h half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values for MEL (4792, 2792 μg/ml) were less than those of CA (9890, 6725 μg/ml, respectively) in MDCK and ACHN cell lines, suggesting that MEL may be more cytotoxic than CA. Furthermore, the 24-h IC(50) value for MC was found to be 208 μg/ml in ACHN cells. Data suggest that NOAELs based upon acute nephrotoxic parameters for MC were low, which might require further reassessment of the current TDI.