HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF CAPPARIS SEPIARIA STEM AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICTY IN RATS

The hepatoprotective effect of the alcohol extract of Capparis sepiaria Linn.(Capparaceae) stem against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced toxicity was studied in albinorats. The rats were given daily pretreatment with alcohol extract of C. sepiaria (100 mg/kg) andthe standard silymarin (25 mg/kg) orally for 7 days. The toxicant used on 7th day was CCl4 at adose of 1.25 ml/kg as 1:1 mixture with olive oil. The extract produced significant (p<0.01)reduction in the elevated levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT),total bilirubin (TB) and rise of decreased total protein level when compared with the toxiccontrol

Effect of Thiazolidinediones on the Erythropoeitic and Germinal Cells in the Male Wistar Rats

Hyperglycemia is the main determinant of long term diabetic complications mainly through induction of oxidative stress responsible for secondary defects including cancer, infertility etc. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are known to posses the antioxidant potential against the reactive oxygen species. The ability of clinically used TZDs like Rosiglitazone (RSG) and Pioglitazone (PIO) in diabetic complications is still need to be studied extensively in the literature. In this study, the role of RSG and PIO on the frequency of nuclear and germinal cell damage was studied using bone marrow micronucleus (MN) test, sperm shape abnormality and sperm count in normal animals. The drugs were tested in the three doses (1, 10 and 100 mg/kg) after acute (48 hrs and 72 hrs) and chronic (4 weeks) treatment. The results indicated that RSG has produced significant (p < 0.01) decrease in P/N (polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocytes) ratio at 10 and 100 mg/kg without affecting the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes, sperm shape morphology and sperm count. PIO in the tested doses did not induce any change in P/N ratio and sperm count but the higher dose (100 mg/kg) showed suppression of MN in normochromatic erythrocytes and % sperm shape abnormality compared to the control group

Comparative pharmacological evaluation of Hypericum perforatum and Rosmarinus officinalis for anti-depressant activity

The comparative antidepressant activity of the extracts of Hypericum perforatum and Rosmarinus officinalis using animal models of depression were evaluated. The herbal extracts of Hypericum perforatum (20 mg/kg/p.o.), Rosmarinus officinalis (500 mg/kg/p.o.) were subjected for its antidepressant activity using four different animal models of depression, viz: Forced Swimming Test (FST), Reserpine Reversal Test (RRT), Haloperidol-Induced Catalepsy (HIC), and Pentobarbitone Sleeping Time (PST) in male Wistar rats. The study after single oral administration of Hypericum perforatum and Rosmarinus officinalis extracts revealed a statistically significant reduction in immobility time in FST, RRT, and protection against HIC, compared to control respectively. However, there was no significant potentiation of PST. The results of our study demonstrate the extracts of Hypericum perforatum and Rosmarinus officinalis proved to have a promising antidepressant potential.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Comparative pharmacological evaluation of ocimum sanctum and imipramine for antidepressant activity

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the comparative antidepressant activity of Ocimum sanctum (OS) and imipramine using animal models of depression. Imipramine (15 mg/kg/i.p) and herbal extract of OS (500 mg/kg/p.o) were subjected for its antidepressant activity using four different animal models of depression, viz: Forced Swimming Test (FST), Reserpine Reversal Test (RRT), Haloperidol-Induced Catalepsy (HIC), and Pentobarbitone Sleeping Time (PST) in male Wistar rats. The study after single administration of OS and imipramine revealed a statistically significant reduction in immobility time in FST, RRT, and protection against HIC, compared to control respectively. However there was no significant potentiation of PST. The antidepressant activity of OS was comparable to that of standard drug imipramine. The results of the present study indicate the potential for use of OS as an adjuvant in the treatment of depression.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Influence of ω-6/ω-3 rich dietary oils on lipid profile and antioxidant enzymes in normal and stressed rats

98-103To evaluate the influence of ω-6/ ω-3 poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) containing oils on lipid profile and endogenous antioxidant enzymes in normal and stressed (immobilization) rats, 28 day old male Wistar rats were fed for 45 days with fat enriched special diet (10% fat) prepared with sunflower oil (SO) — ω-6 rich, mustard oil (MO) — ω-3 rich and groundnut oil — control respectively. SO treated normal rats have significantly reduced total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein – cholesterol (HDL-C) and catalase thereby significantly increased the atherogenic index (AI) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). However, treatment with MO increased superoxide dismutase; decreased LPO significantly. Under stress conditions AI and LPO were significantly high with SO and significantly less with MO. In addition, SO decreased HDL-C whereas MO decreased non-HDL-C significantly. Results suggest a protective role against AI and LPO in normal and stress conditions in MO. The quantity of ω-3 fatty acids in dietary oil may play a crucial role in the body against atherogenicity. The findings signify that not just PUFA, but type of PUFA present in dietary oil used is important

ROLE OF EMOTIONALITY ON INTER AND INTRASTRAIN VARIATIONS IN IMIPRAMINE RESPONSE. A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN BALB/C AND SWISS MICE

Abstract : Association between emotionality and effect of imipramine on immobility time in forced swimming test was investigated in Swiss and Balb/c mice. Mice of both the strains were segregated into normal emotional (mean ± 1SD), low emotional (&gt; mean + 1SD) and high emotional (&lt; mean -1 S D ) b a s e d o n t h e i r p e r f o r m a n c e w i t h r e s p e c t t o e a c h i n d i c e s o f emotionality in novel arena and elevated plus maze. Baseline immobility and effect of imipramine (20 mg/kg, po) on immobility time was evaluated in these emotionally different groups of mice using forced swimming test model. Baseline immobility time of low emotional mice was found to be significantly less (P&lt;0.01) and that of high emotional mice was found to be significantly more (P&lt;0.01) when compared to normal emotional mice of both the strains. Immobility time after imipramine administration was f o u n d t o b e s i g n i f i c a n t l y l e s s ( P &lt; 0 . 0 5 ) w i t h l o w e m o t i o n a l m i c e a n d significantly more (P&lt;0.01) with high emotional mice when compared to normal emotional mice of both the strains

RESEARCH AND REVIEWS: JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY In-vitro Enzyme Inhibition Studies for Antidiabetic Activity of Mature and Tender Leaves of Mangifera indica var. Totapuri

ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels, whose critical management alleviates multiple complications. Ill-managed diabetes often precedes incidence of dyslipidaemia and cardiac diseases. Mangifera indica L (Anacardiaceae) is a popular Indian horticultural tree also used medicinally. Hypoglycaemic and/or antidiabetic activity of leaf has been investigated in various models; however a comparative account of hypoglycaemic potential of mature and tender leaf is not reported; effect of leaves on carbohydrate digesting enzymes also is not reported. The present study is a preliminary report on comparative hypoglycaemic properties of aqueous methanolic extracts of mature and tender leaves of M indica L var. Totapuri in glucose loaded Wistar Albino rats and In-vitro glucosidase and amylase inhibition bioassays. Significant hypoglycaemic activity was observed with both extracts in oral glucose tolerance test at 500mg/Kg b.wt. given orally one hour prior glucose loading. The extracts also showed inhibition of rat intestinal alpha glucosidase ,as well as porcine pancreatic alpha amylase with IC50: 21.03 and 35.73 for mature leaf and 27.16 and 22.01 for tender leaf extracts respectively. Thus the hypoglycaemic potential of mango leaves may be due to inhibition of carbohydrate digesting enzymes. Polyphenols, flavonoids and saponins identified in the extracts may be responsible for their hypoglycaemic activity

Inhibitory effect of Glimepiride on nicotinamide-streptozotocin induced nuclear damages and sperm abnormality in diabetic Wistar rats

804-810The generation of reactive oxygen species in diabetes is considered to be the major cause for the mutation related defects such as cancer, infertility etc. Glimepiride (Gmp) is a third generation antidiabetic sulphonylurea known to possess the antioxidant effect in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes. In this study, the anti-mutagenic activity of Gmp (0.175, 17.5 and 175 mg/kg, po daily for 4 weeks) was evaluated against the nicotinamide (NA-230 mg/kg) and STZ (65 mg/kg) induced somatic and germinal cells defect using bone marrow micronucleus (MN) test and sperm abnormality test respectively in male Wistar rats. Administration of Gmp at 175 mg prevented the NA-STZ induced increased frequency of MN in polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocytes. The treatment with Gmp also decreased the sperm shape abnormality and enhanced the sperm count besides improving the antioxidant status in the diabetic rats. However, the other doses of Gmp (0.175 and 17.5 mg) did not produce significant change in the MN frequency and sperm abnormality although Gmp at 17.5 mg showed significant antidiabetic effect in the hyperglycemic animals. The results indicated that Gmp inhibited the NA-STZ mediated changes in the MN frequency and sperm abnormality and enhanced the antioxidant defense. The observations suggest that the antioxidant property of Gmp could have contributed for its ability to decrease the NA-STZ mediated defects in somatic and germinal cells

Anti-Clastogenic Effects of Citral

Citral is a major constituent of Cymbopogon citratus   or lemongrass oil. The anti-clastogenic effect of citral (20 mg/kg) was tested against the known mutagens cyclophoshamide, mitomycin-C and nickel metal (NiCl2) in mice. Micronucleus (MN) frequency was evaluated in both bone marrow and peripheral blood erythrocytes. The sampling was done after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h of clastogen treatment. Results show that citral had significantly (p < 0.01) decreased the frequency of MN induced by the three clastogens in bone marrow and peripheral blood erythrocytes