Anti-inflammatory and Anti-ulcerogenic Activities of Chantaleela Recipe

Chantaleela recipe is indicated for relieving fever in Thai traditional folk medicine. In the present study, Chantaleela recipe was investigated for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and anti-ulcerogenic activities. In preliminary investigation Chantaleela recipe was found to exert an inhibitory activity on the acute phase of inflammation as seen in ethyl phenylpropiolate-induced ear edema as well as in carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats. The results suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of Chantaleela recipe may be due to an inhibition via cyclooxygenase pathway. In the analgesic test, Chantaleela recipe showed a significant analgesic activity in both the early and late phases of formalin test, but exerted the most pronounced effect in the late phase. The analgesic activity of Chantaleela recipe may act via mechanism at peripheral and partly central nervous system. In antipyretic test, Chantaleela recipe significantly decreased rectal temperature of brewer''s yeast-induced hyperthermia rats, probably by inhibiting synthesis and/or release of prostaglandin E₂ in the hypothalamus. Therefore, the key mechanism of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activity of the Chantaleela recipe likely involves the inhibition of the synthesis and/or release of inflammatory or pain mediators, especially prostaglandins. The oral administration of the Chantaleela recipe reduced ulcer formation in acute gastric ulcer models (EtOH/HCl-, indomethacin-, and stress-induced gastric lesions). In contrast, this recipe did not reduce the secretory rate, total acidity, and increase pH in rat stomach. These results indicated that Chantaleela seem to possess anti-ulcerogenic effect. This activity may be due to the increase of gastric mucosal resistance or potentiation of defensive factors and/or the decrease of aggressive factors but did not associate the anti-secretory activity. Moreover, the high oral doses treated did not cause acute toxicity in rats and the long term oral administration did not produce gastric and ileum lesions.     

Anti-Diarrheal Activity and Toxicity of Learng Pid Samud Recipe

Learng Pid Samud (LPS) recipe is a traditional remedy in Thai folk medicine to ease the common diarrhea. The anti-diarrheal potential of LPS recipe was herein examined in vitro using a guinea-pig ileum model. The LPS exerted an inhibitory effect on acetylcholine-induced smooth muscle contraction in the guinea pig ileum. Significantly, not only did the LPS reduce the total amount of feces in the induced diarrhea rats, but also the intestinal transit in the charcoal meal test. A single oral administration with the recipe at 5,000 mg/kg did not cause acute toxicity and the daily oral administration (1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 mg/kg) for 90 days in rats did not produce any toxic signs and symptoms. In conclusion, the Learng Pid Samud recipe remedy is evidently safe and effective for the anti-diarrheal treatment which supports its therapeutic uses in the alternative medicine.     

Toxicity Studies of the Water Extract from the Calyces of Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. in Rats

Acute and chronic toxicities of the water extract from calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa were studied in male and female rats. After 14 days of a single oral administration of test substance 5,000 mg/kg body weight, measurement of the body and organ weights, necropsy and health monitoring were performed. No signs and differences of the weights or behaviour compared to the control rats were observed. The results indicated that the single oral administration of H. sabdariffa extract in the amount of 5,000 mg/kg body weight does not produce acute toxicity. The chronic toxicity was determined by oral feeding both male and female rats daily with the extract at the doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight for 270 days. The examinations of signs, animal behaviour and health monitoring showed no defects in the test groups compared to the control groups. Both test and control groups (day 270th) and satellite group (day 298th) were analysed by measuring their final body and organ weights, taking necropsy, and examining haematology, blood clinical chemistry, and microanatomy. Results showed no differences from the control groups. Overall, our study demonstrated that an oral administration of H. sabdariffa extract at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 270 days does not cause chronic toxicity in rat.     

Hypotensive effect of the water extract of the leaves of Pseuderanthemum palatiferum

The cardiovascular effects of the water extract from fresh leaves of P. palatiferum (PP) were evaluated in rats in both in vivo and in vitro models. The PP extract consisted of alkaloids, coumarins and sterols. The extract (5-25?mg/kg, I.V.) decreased both the mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate of normotensive and L: -N-(ω)-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L: -NAME)-induced hypertensive anesthetized rats. The extract caused relaxation of the norepinephrine-contracted endothelium-intact aorta ring (EC(50)?=?81.0?μg/mL). Functional removal of the endothelium attenuated the vasodilatation effect of the extract (EC(50)?=?136.4?μg/mL). Pretreatment with L: -NAME or atropine did not alter the vasodilation effect of the extract. Pre-incubation with atropine did not alter bradycardic effect of the extract on isolated rat atrium. The effects of isoproterenol on isolated atrium were attenuated by the extract (2.5-5?mg/mL). In conclusion, the water extract from fresh leaves of P. palatiferum possessed hypotensive and bradycardic effects. The vasorelaxant effect of the extract was dependent partly on the vascular endothelium but was not dependent on the synthesis of nitric oxide and did not act through activation of the muscarinic receptor.     

Evaluation of Acute and Subacute Oral Toxicity of the Ethanol Extract from Antidesma Acidum Retz.

Toxicity tests of 95% ethanol extract of the root of Antidesma acidum were studied in male and female rats. The oral acute toxicity test at 5,000 mg/kg revealed that the ethanol extract did not produce toxic effects on signs, general behavious, mortality and gross appearance of internal organs of rats. Furthermore, the oral sub-acute toxicity test at the dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day displayed no significant changes in body and internal organs'' weights, normal hematological and clinical blood chemistry values. Histological examination also showed normal architecture of all internal organs. In conclusion, the ethanol extract of Antidesma acidum did not produce any toxicity in oral acute and suba-cute toxicity studies.     

Toxicity evaluation of standardized extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino

Ethnopharmacological relevance

To evaluate the safety of standardized extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum in rats.

Materials and methods

The water extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum was prepared and standardized, the dry powder yielded 6% gypenosides. In the acute oral toxicity test, the single oral dose of 5000 mg/kg of Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract was given to female Sprague–Dawley rats. In subchronic toxicity test, the oral dose of 1000 mg/kg/day of the extract was given to rats in treatment and satellite groups for 90 days. Satellite groups of both sexes were kept for additional 28 days after 90-day treatment. Control rats received distilled water.

Results

Standardized extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum did not cause death or any toxic signs in rats. The daily administration of the extract for 90 days did not produce lethal or harmful effects. Although certain hematological and blood chemistry values (i.e., neutrophil, monocyte, glucose, and serum alkaline phosphatase levels) were found to be statistically different from the control group, however; these values were within the ranges of normal rats.

Conclusion

Standardized extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum did not produce mortality or any abnormality in rats.