Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Kyllinga nemoralis (Hutch & Dalz) rhizomes

Aim of study

In view of the use of rhizomes of Kyllinga nemoralis L., against hepatopathy in ethnomedicine the present study was aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective activity of the rhizomes of Kyllinga nemoralis against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Materials and methods

Hepatotoxicity was induced in male Wistar rats by carbon tetrachloride and olive oil (50%, v/v). i.p. ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of Kyllinga nemoralis rhizomes were administered to the experimental rats (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o. for seven days). The hepatoprotective effect of these extracts was evaluated by the assay of liver function biochemical parameters and histopathological studies of the liver compared with silymarin.

Results

Both extracts showed significant hepatoprotection when compared to control, similar to standard silymarin. Histology of liver sections also revealed that the extracts protected liver from injury.

Conclusions

The study identified a plant with potential hepatoprotective constituents which will be isolated and characterized in future.     

Low-dose combination chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients: A novel approach

Eighteen patients aged 60-84 years with acute myeloid leukemia were treated with low-dose combination chemotherapy comprising cytarabine, etoposide, and mitozantrone or 6-thioguanine; seven of these patients had a pre-existing myelodysplastic syndrome. Nine patients achieved a complete remission, and five had a partial remission. The duration of survival in these 14 responding patients has ranged from 2+ to 19+ months. Myelotoxicity occurred regularly, with time to recovery (neutrophils ≥0.5 × 10⁹/L, platelets ≥50 × 10⁹/L) from nadir being 10-14 days in 12 of the 14 patients. This novel approach with an overall response rate of 78% appears to be a simple and effective form of therapy for elderly patients. Am. J. Hematol. 55:115-117, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Acute pulmonary toxicity of acrolein in rats--underlying mechanism

Acute exposure of rats to acrolein (1 or 2 ppm) resulted in reduced levels of glutathione, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol. The activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase were reduced whereas an increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase was observed. This led to enhanced lipid peroxidation, which produced extensive lung damage as indicated by the elevated levels of the biochemical markers--angiotensin converting enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, protein and lactate in the bronchoalveolar lavage.     

Pharmacological studies on seeds of Alangium salvifolium Linn

The seeds of Alangium salvifolium Linn. have been traditionally reported to exhibit a variety of biological activities, including antidiabetic, anticancer, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, laxative, and antiepileptic activities. The objective of this study was to verify the traditional claims and to evaluate the seeds of Alangium salvifolium in various organic extracts to screen the antidiabetic, antiepileptic, analgesic and antiinflammatory activities. The chloroform, ethanol, and water extracts of Alangium salvifolium seeds were obtained and subjected for phytochemical screening and evaluated for their pharmacological activities. From the acute toxicity study it was observed that chloroform, ethanol, and aqueous extracts of Alangium salvifolium seeds are non-toxic at a fixed dose of 2000 mg/kg. Among all three extracts ethanol extracts exhibited significant (p < 0.01) antidiabetic, antiepileptic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids and tannins. The results of present study verified the traditional claims made by ayurvedic practitioner. However, the chemical constituents responsible for the pharmacological activities remain to be investigated.     

Antiulcerogenic activity of hydroalcoholic fruit extract of Pithecellobium dulce in different experimental ulcer models in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The ethnopharmacological importance of Pithecellobium dulce is evidenced by its traditional use for gastric complications. The aim of the study is to evaluate the gastroprotective activity and the mechanism of action of hydroalcoholic fruit extract of P. dulce (HAEPD) in rats by using chemical and stress induced ulcer models.

Materials and methods

Gastric ulcer was induced by administering alcohol (or) acetylsalicylic acid (or) hypothermic restraint stress to rats pretreated with HAEPD (200 mg/kg b wt for 30 day). Volume of gastric fluid, pH, acidity, activities of pepsin, H⁺, K⁺-ATPase, myeloperoxidase, mucin content, nucleic acids, glycoproteins and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) levels were assessed in gastric tissues.

Results

Ulcer score was significantly minimized in HAEPD administered animals. pH and acidity of gastric fluid were significantly minimized and the mucin, PGE₂ levels were significantly maintained in drug pre administered animals. The activities of H⁺, K⁺- ATPase and myeloperoxidase were found to be significantly elevated in ulcer control animals and found to be decreased in drug pretreated animals. The cell proliferation was found to be enhanced in drug received animals. The total protein bound carbohydrate to total protein ratio was found to be significantly maintained by HAEPD. The effects were found to be comparable with that of standard drug omeprazole.

Conclusion

It is concluded that HAEPD possess a potent antiulcer activity probably by acting as cytoprotective and antiacid secretory agent.     

A high-glycemic meal pattern elicited increased subjective appetite sensations in overweight and obese women

We examined the effects of variations in postprandial glycemia and insulinemia on subjective satiety in overweight and obese women. We altered the ingestion rate of a glucose beverage to model the postprandial effects of high- and low-glycemic meals. Fourteen women were tested in a within-subjects' design with two conditions: (1) Rapid, with a large glucose beverage consumed with breakfast and lunch and (2) Slow, with the same volume of glucose beverage consumed in eight portions (one with each meal, and the remaining seven at 20-min intervals after each meal). Meals were identical in the two conditions. Subjective appetitive sensations were measured with visual analog scales before and after meals, and hourly after each meal until 5 pm. Serum glucose and insulin were measured at similar time points. Subjects reported higher ratings of hunger and prospective consumption in the Rapid versus Slow condition at 4h after breakfast and several hours after lunch. Serum glucose was more strongly correlated with the appetitive ratings in the Rapid than the Slow condition, and explained more of the variance (20-31%) than insulin (2-4%). The results of this study support the glucostatic theory linking dynamic changes in blood glucose with appetitive sensations.     

Sustained long-term remissions with weekly interferon maintenance therapy in hairy cell leukemia

Aim: This study evaluates the efficacy of weekly α‐interferon (IFN) maintenance therapy in hairy cell leukaemia (HCL), a disease that remains incurable. Method: Nine patients (six male, three female, aged 41–69 yrs) with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) received IFN 3mU s.c. once weekly as long‐term maintenance therapy after achieving optimal clinical and hematological response to initial therapy with thrice weekly IFN. Results: Eight of the nine patients are in a state of sustained response at 3–17 years (median 12 years). Conclusion: Our results are similar to those from three previous studies using long‐term IFN maintenance therapy, bringing the total number of patients in sustained remission to 118. We hope these reports will lead to a multi‐centre, phase III study of IFN maintenance therapy (including pegylated IFN, given less frequently) in HCL patients achieving optimal response to initial therapy, be it IFN or a purine analogue.     

Regiospecific synthesis and biological evaluation of spirooxindolopyrrolizidines via [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylide

Reaction of (E)-3-aryl-1-(thiophen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-ones with azomethine ylide (generated in situ via decarboxylative condensation of isatin with l-proline) in refluxing methanol afforded 1'-(aryl)-2'-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-spiro[3H-indole-3,3'-[3H]pyrrolizin]-2-ones as the sole product in a regiospecific manner. The synthesized compounds have been characterized by their elemental, analytical and spectral studies. The synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities against a spectrum of microbial organisms. These studies proved that compounds 1'-(p-chlorophenyl)-2'-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-spiro[3H-indole-3,3'-[3H]pyrrolizin]-2-one (4b), 1'-(p-fluorophenyl)-2'-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-spiro[3H-indole-3,3'-[3H]pyrrolizin]-2-one (4d) and 1'-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2'-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-spiro[3H-indole-3,3'-[3H]pyrrolizin]-2-one (4h) against Staphylococcus aureus, 1'-(p-chlorophenyl)-2'-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-spiro[3H-indole-3,3'-[3H]pyrrolizin]-2-one (4b), 1'-(p-methylphenyl)-2'-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-spiro[3H-indole-3,3'-[3H]pyrrolizin]-2-one (4c) and 1'-(p-fluorophenyl)-2'-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-spiro[3H-indole-3,3'-[3H]pyrrolizin]-2-one (4d) against Salmonella typhi show maximum inhibition potency at low concentration (6.25?μg/mL) whereas 4d against Candida albicans and 4b and 4d against Rhizopus sp. showed beneficial antifungal activity at minimum concentration.