Effect of dichloromethane fraction of Areca catechu nut on monoamines associated behaviors and tyramine pressor sensitivity in rodents

The current study was aimed at investigating the effect of Areca catechu nut dichloromethane fraction (7 mg/kg) on monoamines (serotonin and dopamine) modulation (5-hydroxytryptophan-induced tremors and phenylethylamine-induced stereotypes) and its interaction with tyramine (cheese effect). The dichloromethane fraction caused pronounced increase in 5-HTP-induced tremors (50%) with negligible PEA-induced stereotypes (20%). Additionally, it did not produce a significant increase in the tyramine pressor effects. These results suggest that the dichloromethane fraction of A. catechu nut primarily elevates serotonin levels (probably via monoamine oxidase A inhibition) and does not induce cheese effect

Anticancer and antioxidant studies of the methanol extract and fractions of Conyza sumatrensis (retz.) E. H. Walker (asteraceae

The in vitro antiproliferative and antioxidant studies of the leaf extract and fractions of Conyza sumatrensis was investigated by applying the Sulforhodamine-B and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assays (DPPH-RSA) respectively. While the antiproliferative activity was carried out at 1-250 and 1-100 μg/ mL for the extract and fractions against breast (MCF-7) and lung (NCI-H460) cancer cell lines, the antioxidant study was conducted using DPPH at 31.25 -500 μg/ mL with the total phenolic and flavonoid contents calculated as well with reference to quercetin and gallic acid respectively. The extract and fractions were observed to elicit cytotoxic and growth inhibitory effects against breast (MCF-7) and lung cancer cell lines (NCI-H460) respectively. At 250 μg/mL, the extract of C. sumatrensis gave cytotoxicity of –1.76 ± 0.20 % against MCF-7 cell lines and inhibited growth of NCI-H460 at +94.40 ± 1.0 % respectively. While the chloroform fraction at 100 μg/mL gave -5.38 ± 0.33 % and 91 ± 1.61 % against MCF-7 and NCI-H460 cell lines, the aqueous fraction was observed to be inactive. For the DPPH-RSA activity, the chloroform fraction demonstrated an IC50 value of 125.5 μg/ mL compare to quercetin at 62.5 μg/ mL. The bioactivities were more pronounced in the chloroform fraction. This work has shown that C.  sumatrensis has antiproliferative and antioxidant activities which could be tied to the secondary metabolites present in the plant

Cellular antioxidative, cytotoxic, and antileishmanial activities of Homalium letestui

Objective: Homalium letestui Pellegr (Flacourtiaceae) is used in traditional medicine in parts of Nigeria for the treatment of malaria, ulcer, and inflammatory diseases and as an aphrodisiac. This investigation was aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic, immunomodulatory, and antileishmanial properties of stem extract and fractions of Homalium letestui (H. letestui). Materials and Methods: Cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells was done using sulphorhodamine (SRB) method and DNA interaction activity using gel electrophoresis. Immunomodulatory activity of the extract in whole blood, neutrophils, and macrophages was also investigated using luminol/lucigenin-based chemiluminescence assay. The extract and fractions were similarly screened for antileishmanial activity against promastigotes of Leishmania major in vitro. The GCMS analysis of the most active fraction against HeLa cells was carried out. Results: The stem extract exerted prominent cytotoxic activity with the dichloromethane fraction exhibiting the most pronounced effect (GI50 -5.12±1.45 µg/ml, LC50- 57.3±2.33 µg/ml, TGI -12.6±0.87 µg/ml). The crude extract and the fractions did not interact with DNA when investigated using electrophoresis. The extract significantly ((

The antinociceptive activity of Polygonatum verticillatum rhizomes in pain models

Aim of the study: The current study was designed to establish the pharmacological rationale for the traditional use of the rhizomes of Polygonatum verticillatum in the treatment of painful conditions and as a plant diuretic. Materials and methods: The crude methanolic extract of the rhizomes of Polygonatum verticillatum (PR) was tested in various established pain models in rodents at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg i.p. while the diuretic activity was assessed at 300 and 600 mg/kg p.o. in rats. Results: PR demonstrated significant reduction (14-72%) in the number of writhes induced by acetic acid in a dose-dependent manner. When nociceptive threshold was measured in the formalin test, PR strongly attenuated the formalin-induced flinching behaviour in both phases (6-30% in first phase while 12-72% in second phase). Central involvement in the analgesic profile of PR was confirmed by the hot plate test, in which PR elicited a significant (P \u3c 0.01) analgesic activity by increasing latency time. However, an opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone (2 mg/kg s.c.) strongly antagonized the antinociceptive activity of PR. As a plant diuretic, PR showed mild but statistically insignificant diuretic activity at 300 mg/kg. The crude extract and solvent fractions of the plant contained reasonable quantity of total saponin and alkaloid contents. Conclusions: The mechanisms underlying the analgesic action of PR shows that the opioid dependant central mediation has synergistic effect by enforcing the peripheral analgesic effects. Interestingly, our findings not only substantiated the folk use of the plant as an analgesic but also reported for the first time in the whole genus

Studies on anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of betel nut in rodents

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Areca catechu, commonly known as betel nut, is very famous for its medicinal use in multiple disorders. It is also popular as a remedy against inflammatory disorders in the Unani (Greco-Arab) system of medicine. Objective of the study: This study was aimed at investigating the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the crude extract of Areca catechu and its respective fractions. Materials and methods: Paw edema, formalin-induced nociception and acetic acid-induced writhing assays were carried out in vivo. Free radical scavenging activity of the plant extract was performed in vitro. Results: Preliminary experiments using a single dose (100 mg/kg) of Areca catechu and its respective fractions demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect on carrageenan-induced edema in mice and rats, the aqueous fraction being distinctly more effective. When studied on prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), arachidonic acid, histamine, or serotonin (5HT)-induced edema in rats, Areca catechu and its aqueous fraction markedly repressed only the PGE(2) and arachidonic acid-induced inflammation. When studied for analgesic activity, the crude extract and its aqueous fraction produced a dose-dependent (10-100 mg/kg) inhibitory effect on formalin-induced nociception in mice and acetic acid-induced writhing in rats, similar to aspirin. In DPPH assay, Areca catechu and its aqueous fraction exhibited free radical scavenging activity with respective IC(50) values of 5.34 mu g/ml (4.93-5.78, Cl: 95%, n=5) and 7.28 mu g/ml (6.04-7.95, n = 4), like that of rutin with IC(50) value of 4.75 mu g/ml (3.89-5.42, n = 4). Conclusion: These results indicate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Areca catechu and provide a rationale for its medicinal use in inflammatory disorders

<i>In vitro</i> growth inhibition and cytotoxicity of <i>Euphorbia caducifolia</i> against four human cancer cell lines and its phytochemical characterisation

<p>Several <i>Euphorbia</i> species have been used in folklore as cancer remedies, however, scientific studies on the cytotoxicity (<i>in vitro</i> studies) of <i>Euphorbia caducifolia</i> are lacking. In present study, anticancer potential of <i>E. caducifolia</i> aerial parts ethanol extract and its fractions were evaluated against human lung (NCI-H460), breast (MCF-7), prostate (PC-3) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines, using sulphorhodamine-B <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity (<i>in vitro</i> studies) assay. The ethanol extract demonstrated growth inhibitory effect against all aforementioned cancer cell lines with IC₅₀, 19–135 μg/mL and LC₅₀, ~220 μg/mL, and its petroleum ether fraction obtained on bioactivity guided fraction showed highest activity with IC₅₀, 28–70 μg/mL and LC₅₀, 71 μg/mL against NCI-H460 and MCF-7 cell lines. Its phytochemicals were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The present study provides scientific justification for its traditional use against cancer.</p