Antiulcer activity of Tinospora cordifolia Miers and Centella asiatica linn extracts

The ethanol extracts of the roots of T. cordifolia Miers and C. asiatica Linn were observed to induce a marked protective action against an 8 h restraint stress induced ulcerization, the activity being comparable to that of diazepam.     

The hypoglycaemic and insulinotropic activity of Tinospora crispa: studies with human and rat islets and HIT-T15 B cells

Summary In Malaysia, Tinospora crispa extract is taken orally by Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients to treat hyperglycaemia. We have evaluated the claimed hypoglycaemic property by adding aqueous extract to the drinking water of normal and alloxan-diabetic rats. After one week, fasting blood glucose levels were significantly (p<0.01) lower and serum insulin levels were significantly (p<0.01) higher in treated diabetic animals (10.4±1.0 mmol/l and 12.8±1.1 U/ml respectively) compared to untreated diabetic controls (17.4±1.7 mmol/l and 8.0±0.7 U/ml respectively). The insulinotropic action of T. crispa was further investigated in vitro using isolated human or rat islets of Langerhans and HIT-T15 cells. In static incubations with rat islets and HIT-T15 B cells, the extract induced a dosage dependent stimulation and potentiation of basal and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion respectively. This insulinotropic effect was also evident in perifused human and rat islets and HIT-T5 B-cells. The observations that (i) in all three models insulin secretory rates rapidly returned to basal levels on removal of the extract and (ii) in rat islets, a second challenge with T. crispa induced an additional, stimulated response, are all consistent with physiological release of insulin by B cells. Moreover, the rate of HIT-T15 glucose utilisation was not affected by incubation with T. crispa, suggesting that the cells were viable throughout. These are the first studies to provide biochemical evidence which substantiates the traditional claims for an oral hypoglycaemic effect of Tinospora crispa, and which also show that the hypoglycaemic effect is associated with increased insulin secretion.     

Anti-Tumor Activity of Four Ayurvedic Herbs in Dalton Lymphoma Ascites Bearing Mice and Their Short-Term In Vitro Cytotoxicity on DLA-Cell-Line

The anti-tumor activity and chemopreventive potential of four Ayurvedic herbs viz. Curcuma longa L., Ocimum sanctum L., Tinospora cordifolia (Wild) Miers ex Hook.f & Thomas and Zizyphus mauritiana Lam. were evaluated using Dalton Lymphoma ascites (DLA) tumor model in Swiss Albino mice. The outcome was assessed using survival time, peritoneal ascitic fluid (Tumor volume) and hematological indices as parameters. Animals were divided into five groups (n = 6) viz. one DLA control and four Herb + DLA treated groups. All the four herb + DLA groups were pre-treated with respective herbs for 7 days and hematological indices were measured for entire five groups. On day-8 animals were inoculated with 1×10⁶ DLA cells i.p., and Herb + DLA groups were continued with oral herbal treatment for 21-days. Hematological parameters and tumor volume were assessed to find the effects of herbs. Short term in vitro cytotoxicity was determined by Trypan Blue exclusion method and LDH leakage assay using different concentrations of herbal extracts and 5-FU as a positive control and IC₅₀ for each herbal extract and 5-FU were determined. Oral administration of crude herb increased the survival time and decreased the peritoneal ascitic fluid content significantly. Hb, RBCs and total WBC which were altered by DLA inoculation were restored significantly by all the herbs except O. sanctum. All the four herbs showed in vitro cytotoxic activity against DLA cell-line. Moreover inter group comparison of all the four herbs for anti-tumor activity showed efficacy in the following order- T. cordifolia > Z. mauritiana ≥ C. longa > O. sanctum respectively.     

Pigment identification,antioxidant activity,and nutrient composition of Tinospora cordifolia (willd.) Miers ex Hook. f & Thoms fruit

The stem, leaf, and root of Tinospora cordifolia (willd.) have been highly exploited for medicinal preparations; however, the nutritional and nutraceutical potential of its attractive red berries (fruits) have not so far been studied. Pigments, berberine (107.0 mg/100 g) and lycopene (50.8 mg/100 g), were identified in the deseeded fruit. Total phenol content in the fruit was 3.2 mg gallic acid equivalent/g. The IC₅₀ of DPPH^√ (82, and 468 ppm) and OH^√ (100, and 1,000 ppm) scavenging activity, and the EC₅₀ of reducing power (2,616, and 1,472 ppm) of hexane and methanol extracts, respectively, were observed. Oxygen radical absorbance capacities of the fruit extracts (150 and 300 ppm) were 1,107 and 2,614 μM trolox equivalent/g, respectively. Nutrient composition including carbohydrate (18.4%), proteins (1.5%), lipids (6%) of which ～62% was unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins like ascorbic acid (0.24 μg), niacin (0.7 mg), and tocopherols (2.4 mg) in 100 g fruits were determined. Potassium content was 1.2 g/100 g dry tissue of berries. These findings show that components of T. cordifolia fruit could be bioactive and used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics.     

紫外－可见分光光度法测定八爪金龙中总皂苷的含量

目的：测定苗药八爪金龙中总皂苷的含量。方法：用紫外－可见分光光度法进行含量测定,采用正交试验优化测定条件。结果：该法测定的最优条件为加入5％香草醛－冰醋酸0．6 ml和高氯酸1．0 ml,于80℃水浴中反应20 min;线性方程为Y＝44．87X＋0．365（r＝0．998）,百两金皂苷B在0．0452～3．8700 mg范围内呈良好线性关系;平均回收率为101．3％（n＝9）,RSD为1．67％。结论：该法用于测定八爪金龙中总皂苷的成分,具有简单、易操作、重复性良好的优点,可为进一步研究八爪金龙提供参考。     

Antistress Activity of Tinospora cordifolia and Centella asiatica Extracts

Tinospora cordifolia Miers. and Centella asiatica Linn. were screened for their putative antistress activity in a battery of experiments. Ethanol extracts of both drugs at 100 mg/kg exhibited significant antistress activity in all the parameters studied, compared with diazepam at 2.5 mg/kg.     

Inhibitory effect of a polysaccharide from Tinospora cordifolia on experimental metastasis

Administration of the polysaccharide fraction from Tinospora cordifolia was found to be very effective in reducing the metastatic potential of B16F-10 melanoma cells. There was a 72% inhibition in the metastases formation in the lungs of syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, when the drug was administered simultaneously with tumour challenge. Biochemical parameters such as lung collagen hydroxyproline, hexosamines and uronic acids that are markers of neoplastic development were reduced significantly (P<0.001) in the treated animals compared with the untreated control animals. The treatment could also reduce serum γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT) and sialic acid levels as compared to the control animals.     

Prevention of hepatotoxicity due to anti tuberculosis treatment： A novel integrative approach

AIM： To evaluate the ability of Curcuma Ionga （CL） and Tinospora cordifolia （TC） formulation to prevent anti-tuberculosis （TB） treatment （ATT） induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS： Patients with active TB diagnosis were randomized to a drug control group and a trial group on drugs plus an herbal formulation. Isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol for first 2 mo followed by continuation phase therapy excluding Pyrazinamide for 4 mo comprised the anti-tuberculous treatment. Curcumin enriched （25%） CL and a hydro-ethanolic extract enriched （50%） TC 1 g each divided in two doses comprised the herbal adjuvant. Hemogram, bilirubin and liver enzymes were tested initially and monthly till the end of study to evaluate the result. RESULTS： Incidence and severity of hepatotoxicity was significantly lower in trial group （incidence： 27/192 vs 2/316, P 〈 0.0001）. Mean aspartate transaminase （AST） （195.93 ± 108.74 vs 85 ± 4.24, P 〈 0.0001）, alanine transaminase （ALT） （75.74 ± 26.54 vs 41 ± 1.41, P 〈 0.0001） and serum bilirubin （5.4 ±3.38 vs 1.5 ±0.42, P 〈 0.0001）. A lesser sputum positivity ratio at the end of 4 wk （10/67 vs 4/137, P = 0.0068） and decreased incidence of poorly resolved parenchymal lesion at the end of the treatment （9/152 vs 2/278, P = 0.0037） was observed. Improved patient compliance was indicated by nil drop-out in trial vs 10/192 in control group （P 〈 0.0001）. CONCLUSION： The herbal formulation prevented hepatotoxicity significantly and improved the disease outcome as well as patient compliance without any toxicity or side effects.     

微波消解/ICP-AES法测定中华青牛胆中微量元素含量

目的:探讨中华青牛胆中微量元素含量测定方法。方法:采用微波消解样品、电感耦合等离子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)测定中华青牛胆中镉、钴、铬、铜、锰、镍等8种微量元素的含量。结果:在最佳仪器工作条件下,各元素的加标回收率在90.0%～104.0%之间,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.9%～1.9%,检出限在1～8 ng/L之间。结论:该方法快速便捷,准确度高,适用于中药材微量元素的分析,结果令人满意。     

Cardioprotective activity of alcoholic extract of Tinospora cordifolia （Willd.） Miers in calcium chloride-induced cardiac arrhythmia in rats

The present study investigated the antiarrhythmic activity of alcoholic extract of Tinospora cordifolia (T.cordifolia) in CaCl 2 induced arrhythmia.CaCl 2 (25 mg/kg) was administered by intravenous infusion (iv) to produce arrhythmia in rats.The animals were then treated with T.cordifolia extract (150,250,and 450 mg/kg) and verapamil (5 mg/kg,iv).Lead II electrocardiogram was monitored.Plasma calcium,sodium and potassium levels were measured.In CaCl 2 induced arrhythmia,heart rate was decreased by 41.10%,T....