In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Antioxidant Activities of Pestalotiopsis microspora Culture Filtrate

Endophytic fungi have been studied to provide protection and survival conditions to their host plant by producing a plethora of substances which, once isolated and characterized, may also have potential for use in industry, agriculture, and medicine. In this study, the culture filtrate of an endophytic fungus (Pestalotiopsis microspora (PM)) was evaluated for its cytotoxic and antioxidant activities in vitro. The cytotoxic activity of PM was determined using brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA), while its antioxidant effect was investigated against DPPH, reducing power and hydroxyl radicals. Judging by the LC50 value of 2.71 mgmL-1 for the BSLA, the culture filtrate could be considered highly potent. The PM also significantly scavenged free radicals and the effects elicited could be attributed to its phenolics and other phytoconstituents as revealed by the GC-MS results.  It is thereby evident from the data presented that PM is endowed with chemotherapeutic constituents that could be potentially useful for the development of new lead anticancer agents

COMBINED ADMINISTRATION OF SPONDIAS MOMBIN AND FICUS EXASPERATA LEAF EXTRACTS STALL INDOMETHACIN-MEDIATED GASTRIC MUCOSAL ONSLAUGHT IN RATS.

Background: Despite the rapidly changing concept of gastric ulcer management from conventional vagotomy, H2 receptor antagonists and antacids to proton pump inhibitors, gastrointestinal toxicity remains an impediment to their application in clinical practice. Combined administration of two or more plant extracts with therapeutic efficacy may proffer solution to this menace. This study investigated the combined gastroprotective effects of Spondias mombin and Ficus exasperata leaf extracts against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty rats were randomized into six groups of five animals each and ulceration was induced by a single oral administration of indomethacin (30 mg/kg body weight). Ulcerated rats were orally administered with Spondias mombin, Ficus exasperata at 200 mg/kg body weight and esomeprazole (a reference drug) at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight once daily for 21 days after ulcer induction. At the end of the experiment, gastric secretions and antioxidant parameters were evaluated. Results: We observed that the significantly increased (P < 0.05) ulcer index, gastric acidity, malondialdehyde level and pepsin activity were markedly reduced following co-administration of S. mombin and F. exasperata. The extracts also effectively attenuated the reduced activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase as well as pH, mucin content and reduced glutathione level in the ulcerated rats. Discussion and Conclusion: These findings are indicative of gastroprotective and antioxidative attributes of the two extracts which is also evident in the % protective index value obtained. The available evidences in this study suggest that the complementary effects of S. mombin and F. exasperata proved to be capable of ameliorating indomethacin-mediated gastric ulceration and the probable mechanisms are via antioxidative and proton pump inhibition

Indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in rats: Protective roles of Spondias mombin and Ficus exasperata

This study investigated the quantitative polyphenolic constituents and gastroprotective effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Spondias mombin and Ficus exasperata against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Ulceration was induced by a single oral administration of indomethacin (30 mg/kg body weight). Wistar rats were pretreated with esomeprazole (reference drug) at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight, S. mombin or F. exasperata at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight once daily for 21 days prior to ulcer induction. At the end of the experiment, gastric secretions and antioxidant parameters were evaluated. We observed that the significantly increased (p < 0.05) ulcer index, gastric volume, malondialdehyde level and pepsin activity were effectively reduced following treatment with S. mombin and F. exasperata. The extracts also markedly attenuated the reduced activity of superoxide dismutase as well as pH and mucin content in the ulcerated rats. These findings are indicative of gastroprotective and antioxidative potentials of the extracts which is also evident in the degree of % inhibition against ulceration. The available data in this study suggest that the extracts of S. mombin and F. exasperata proved to be capable of ameliorating indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration and the probable mechanisms are via antioxidative and proton pump inhibition

Antibacterial activity of Urena lobata against uropathogens

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common form of bacterial infections but the treatment becomes cumbersome as the etiological bacteria are developing resistance against antibiotics. This present study evaluated the efficacy of antimicrobial&nbsp;&nbsp; activity of Urena lobata against uropathogens. Six urine samples from UTI patients were collected from Pathological Laboratory, G.B. Vaghani Multispecialty Hospital, Surat. Bacteria were isolated from these samples using Nutrient agar, Mac Conkey agar plate, Blood agar, Mannitol salt agar, Eosin Methylene Blue agar and King’s agar. The bacterial isolates were identified using cultural&nbsp; characteristics, microscopic features and biochemical characteristics. Leaf extract of Urena lobata was prepared using Soxhlet Extraction Method whereby methanol and distilled water were the extractants used. Herbal extract disc was prepared at&nbsp; concentrations of 50,75, and100 mg/ml and tested against all the isolates. DMSO and antibiotics (Nitrofurantion, Amikacin, Levofloxacin, Norofloxacin, Ofloxacin and Cephalosporins) were used as negative and positive controls respectively.Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella spp. and Brevibacillus panacihumi were isolated from the urine samples. All concentrations of aqueous and methanolic extracts of U. lobata leaf displayed highest zone of inhibition against B. cereus. No inhibitory effect was observed against the growth of Klebsiella except at the highest concentrations. Further study is encouraged on the in-vivo study of efficacy of U. lobata on etiological agent of UTI