EVALUATION OF CARDIOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF GARCINIA INDICA LINN FRUIT RIND

Objective: To evaluate Cardioprotective activity of aqueous extract of Garcinia indica Linn fruit rinds.Methods: Wistar rats were divided into different groups. Two doses 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg b.w, p.o of the Garcinia indica fruit rind extract (GIFE) were subjected for the evaluation of Cardioprotective activity against Isoproterenol (ISO) and Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) induced myocardial damage in rats. Propranolol (10 mg/kg b.w, p.o) was used as a standard drug. The influence of prophylactic treatment was analysed by quantification of biomarkers and antioxidants, physical parameters and histopathological observations.Results: Both GIFE-250 and GIFE-500 showed significant reduction in CK-MB, CK-NAC, LDH in the extract treated rats when compared with positive control. Both the doses showed increase in SOD and CAT levels. Significant level of percentage recovery in terms of heart rate and developed tension were seen in all treated groups in IRI model. Cardioprotective effect was also confirmed by histopathology of hearts which showed less necrosis in extract treated rats when compared to untreated rats of toxic control group. The results obtained were comparable with that of the standard. Thus investigational finding conclude that, the administration of high dose of GIFE was the most effective in alleviating the abnormal conditions induced by Isoproterenol and Ischemia reperfusion.Conclusion: The present study concluded that Garcinia indica Linn fruit rinds were found to be effective against Isoproterenol (ISO) and Ischemia reperfusion (IR) induced myocardial damage in rats.Keywords: Cardioprotective, Garcinia indica,Ischemia reperfusion injury, Isoproterenol, Propranolo

Hepatoprotective effect of <i style="">Carissa carandas</i> Linn root extract against CCl₄ and paracetamol induced hepatic oxidative stress

660-667Oral pre-treatment with ethanolic extract of the roots of C. carandas (ERCC; 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, po) showed significant hepatoprotective activity against CCl4 and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity by decreasing the activities of serum marker enzymes, bilirubin and lipid peroxidation, and significant increase in the levels of uric acid, glutathione, super oxide dismutase, catalase and protein in a dose dependent manner, which was confirmed by the decrease in the total weight of the liver and histopathological examination. Data also showed that ERCC possessed strong antioxidant activity, which may probably lead to the promising hepatoprotective activities of C. carandas root extract. These findings therefore supported the traditional belief on hepatoprotective effect of the roots of C. carandas

Immunomodulatory effect of leaf extracts of <em>Barringtonia acutangula</em> (L.) Gaertn.

689-693The presence of immunostimulant compounds in higher plants has been extensively reviewed but only a limited number of immunomodulatory products of plant origin have been reported. The present investigation was designed to get an in depth understanding of the efficacy of crude extracts of leaf of Barringtonia acutangula as immunomodulatory agent on experimental rats. The oral administration of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts (LWBA and LMBA) of B. acutangula for 14 days was found to stimulate the non specific arm of immunity. Haemagglutinating antibody (HA) titre test was performed to know humoral antibody response of LWBA and LMBA extracts at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses. Results obtained showed significant (p &lt; 0.001) increase in antibody production in response to sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) at both doses when compared with Cyclophosphamide treated control group. Cyclophosphamide induced suppression of humoral immune response was significantly attenuated by daily oral treatment of LWBA and LMBA extracts at a dose of 400 mg/kg. LWBA extract showed slightly more HA titre than LMBA extract. The results justify that the LWBA and LMBA extracts of B. acutangula have a strong potential to be explored further as an immune-based herbal therapy

Anticonvulsant Activity of Carissa carandas Linn. Root Extract in Experimental Mice

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate anticonvulsant effect of the ethanolic extract of the roots of Carissa carandas (ERCC) on electrically and chemically induced seizures. Methods: The ethanolic extract of the roots of C. carandas (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p.) was studied for its anticonvulsant effect on maximal electroshock-induced seizures and pentylenetetrazole-, picrotoxin-, bicuculline-and N-methyl-dl-aspartic acid-induced seizures in mice. The latency of tonic convulsions and the number of animals protected from tonic convulsions were noted. Results: ERCC (100-400 mg/kg) significantly reduced the duration of seizures induced by maximal electroshock (MES). However, only 200 and 400mg/kg of the extract conferred protection (25 and 50%, respectively) on the mice. The same doses also protected animals from pentylenetetrazole-induced tonic seizures and significantly delayed the onset of tonic seizures produced by picrotoxin and N-methyl-dl-aspartic acid. The extract had no effect on bicuculline-induced seizures. Conclusion: The data suggest that the ethanolic root extract of C. carandas may produce its anticonvulsant effects via non-specific mechanisms since it reduced the duration of seizures produced by maximal electroshock as well as delayed the latency of seizures produced by pentylenetetrazole and picrotoxin