ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC EFFCETS OF THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ALOCASIA INDICA RHIZOMES IN HIGH FAT DIET/STREPTOZOTOCIN AND STREPTOZOTOCIN/NICOTINAMIDE-INDUCED TYPE 2 DIABETIC RATS

Objective: The investigate the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effect of ethanolic extract of Alocasia indica (EEAI) rhizomes in high-fatdiet/streptozotocin (HFD/STZ) and STZ/nicotinamide-induced Type 2 diabetic rats.Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by the administration of a HFD for 15 days/STZ (35 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) and STZ (60 mg/kg b.w.,i.p.)/nicotinamide (110 mg/kg b.w., i.p.). EEAI (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) was administered to diabetic rats for 28 days in HFD/STZ-inducedType 2 diabetic rats and for 15 days in STZ/nicotinamide-induced Type 2 diabetic rats. The effect of EEAI on blood glucose and body weight wasstudied in Type 2 diabetic rats. All these effects were compared with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) as a reference antidiabetic drug.Results: The administration of the EEAI (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) resulted in a significant decrease in blood glucose level and significant increasein body weight in the HFD/STZ and STZ/nicotinamide-induced Type 2 diabetic rats. Further EEAI showed antihyperlipidemic activity as evidencedby significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very LDL-C levels coupled together withelevation of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in diabetic rats in the HFD/STZ and STZ/nicotinamide-induced Type 2 diabetic rats.Conclusion: The results suggest that the EEAI rhizomes possess a promising effect on the HFD/STZ and STZ/nicotinamide-induced Type 2 diabetes.Keywords: Antidiabetic, Antihyperlipidemic, Alocasia indica, High-fat diet, Streptozotocin, Nicotinamide

Functional Properties and Preparation of Diet Apricot Jam

This research was conducted to prepare apricot diet jam from the pulp of fresh mature apricots by using artificial sweeteners i.e. aspartame and saccharine. Apricots were washed with clean water to remove dust particles. After sorting and pitting, apricots were cut into two halves with the help of stainless steel knives and dipped in 0.1% citric acid solution to avoid browning. The pulp of apricots was extracted by using plumper. Apricot pulp was heated to get the desired consistency. Low heating was continued and brix were noted after every 20 minutes. At the end two different artificial sweeteners were used for the preparation of jam. Pectin with small amount of non nutritive sweeteners were dissolved separately and added to the mixture. Preservatives and color was added at the end of cooking. At 210brix the product was poured into the jam bottles, already washed, cleaned, sterilized and without moisture. Bottles were caped and stored at ambient room temperature. After three days the samples were studied for their chemical characteristics. The parameter (i.e.) moisture, acidity, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, pH, reducing sugar and non reducing sugar were determined in apricot diet jam.  Physicochemically the mean values of the results were 3.69 pH, 0.66% total acidity, 6.54% vit. C (mg/100g), 77.01% moisture, 21.3% TSS, 4.13% reducing sugars, and 9.2% non reducing sugars. Keywords: Preparation Apricot Diet Jam, Preservatives, Chemical Characteristic

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF TELMISARTAN AND DONEPEZIL AGAINST LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE INDUCED NEUROINFLAMMATION IN MICE

Objective: The aim of the present study was a comparative study of neuroprotective effect of telmisartan and donepezil against lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced neuroinflammation in mice.Methods: In this study, we investigated the comparative effect of telmisartan (5 mg/kg, p.o.) and donepezil (5 mg/kg, p.o.) in systemic inflammationinduced by LPS, ibuprofen (40 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as standard. Mice were treated with a single i.c. injection of LPS (5 µg/5 µl/kg), after 7 daysthe animal behavior was evaluated by testing specific cognitive functions, on Morris water maze and Pole climbing test. Biochemical estimation forglutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plate reader.Results: The neuroprotective effect of telmisartan (5 mg/kg) and donepezil (5 mg/kg) in LPS induced neuroinflammation in mice was compared. Oraladministration of telmisartan (5 mg/kg) for 7 days shows a better result in Morris water maze and pole climbing test, in comparison of donepezil. Italso increases the level of GSH and decreases the level of MDA and TNF-α in mice brain.Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that telmisartan and donepezil reduces LPS-induced microglial activation, beta-amyloid generation,central nervous system cytokine production, and behavioral symptoms of sickness. In comparative study of telmisartan and donepezil, telmisartanshows significant decrease in escape latency time and transfer latency time in comparison of donepezil. Therefore, telmisartan is more effective asthe comparative of donepezil.Keywords: Neuroprotective, Telmisartan, Donepezil, Lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation

ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF VERBENA OFFICINALIS LINN. PLANT IN MICE

ABSTRACTObjective: The objective was to investigate the antidepressant activity of methanolic extract of leaves of Verbena officinalis Linn. (MEVO) in mice.Methods: The present study evaluates the antidepressant activity of MEVO in mice using the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test(FST). Their influence on spontaneous locomotor activity (SLMA) was also studied in mice. The MEVO (100 mg/kg, p.o. and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) wasadministered orally in TST, FST and SLMA for 7 successive days in separate groups of Swiss mice.Results: The extract at 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o. were able to decrease the immobility time of mice doseâ€dependently when subjected to both tailsuspension and forced swim tests and the effects are comparable to that of control group. These results demonstrated that MEVO had specificallyantidepressant effects.Conclusion: The present study suggested that MEVO possessed potential antidepressant effects which could be of therapeutic interest for using inthe treatment of patients with depression.Keywords: Verbena officinalis Linn., Antidepressant activity, Forced swim test, Tail suspension test, Spontaneous locomotor activity

Antioxidant potential of crude extract, flavonoid-rich fractions, and a new compound from the seeds of Cordia dichotoma

The current study assessed the antioxidant activity of methanolic extract and different fractions of the seeds of Cordia dichotoma by 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate method. Phytochemical screening of C. dichotoma seed extract was done using thin-layer chromatography technique and phytochemical methods. The percentage yield of secondary metabolites like alkaloids and saponins was also determined. The methanolic extract was subjected to isolation by Column Chromatography. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of significant amounts of phenols and flavonoids in the extract. TLC analysis confirmed the presence of phytoconstituents with the application of derivatizing agents like aluminium chloride and anisaldehyde. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents obtained were 37.7 and 32.16% w/w, respectively. The crude seed extract of C. dichotoma showed inhibition at all concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum scavenging activity was exhibited by the methanolic extract with a low IC50 value. A new compound named Cordioside was also isolated from the same extract. The phytochemical screening of the seed extract showed the presence of rich amounts of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which may be acting as the key factors responsible for the antioxidant activity. The results revealed that methanolic extract and the aqueous fraction of C. dichotoma seed possess a significant antioxidant activity

Antioxidant potential of crude extract, flavonoid-rich fractions, and a new compound from the seeds of Cordia dichotoma

437-44The current study assessed the antioxidant activity of methanolic extract and different fractions of the seeds of Cordia dichotoma by 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate method. Phytochemical screening of C. dichotoma seed extract was done using thin-layer chromatography technique and phytochemical methods. The percentage yield of secondary metabolites like alkaloids and saponins was also determined. The methanolic extract was subjected to isolation by Column Chromatography. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of significant amounts of phenols and flavonoids in the extract. TLC analysis confirmed the presence of phytoconstituents with the application of derivatizing agents like aluminium chloride and anisaldehyde. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents obtained were 37.7 and 32.16% w/w, respectively. The crude seed extract of C. dichotoma showed inhibition at all concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum scavenging activity was exhibited by the methanolic extract with a low IC50 value. A new compound named Cordioside was also isolated from the same extract. The phytochemical screening of the seed extract showed the presence of rich amounts of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which may be acting as the key factors responsible for the antioxidant activity. The results revealed that methanolic extract and the aqueous fraction of C. dichotoma seed possess a significant antioxidant activity

Design, synthesis and evaluation of benzofuran-acetamide scaffold as potential anticonvulsant agent

A series of N-(2-(benzoyl/4-chlorobenzoyl)-benzofuran-3-yl)-2-(substituted) acetamide derivatives (4a-l, 5a-l) was synthesized in good yield. All the synthesized compounds were in agreement with elemental and spectral data. The anticonvulsant activity of all synthesized compounds was assessed against the maximal electroshock induced seizures (MES) model in mice. Neurotoxicity was evaluated using the rotarod method. The majority of compounds exhibited anticonvulsant activity at a dose of 30 mg kg–1 body mass during 0.5–4 h, indicating their ability to prevent seizure spread at low doses. Relative to phenytoin, compounds 5i [N-(2-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-benzofuran-3-yl)-2-(cyclohexyl(methyl)amino)-acetamide] and 5c [N-(2-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-benzofuran-3-yl)-2-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)acetamide] demonstrated comparable relative anticonvulsant potency of 0.74 and 0.72, respectively, whereas compound 5f [(N-(2-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-benzofuran-3-yl)-2-(4-(furan-2-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl) acetamide] exhibited the lowest relative potency of 0.16. The ALD50 of tested compounds ranged from 1.604 to 1.675 mmol kg–1 body mass. The ED50 of synthesized compounds ranged from 0.055 to 0.259 mmol kg–1 (~23.4 to 127.6 mg kg–1) body mass. The pharmacophore mapping of the examined compounds on standard drugs (phenobarbital, phenytoin, ralitolin and carbamazepine) strongly suggests that these compounds may exert their anticonvulsant activity via the same established mechanism as that of known drugs

Estrogenic activity of a hydro-alcoholic extract of Bambusa arundinaceae leaves on female wistar rats

To study the estrogenic activity of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Bambusa arundinaceae leaves (HEBA) in female Wistar rats. The dried powdered leaves were extracted with hydroalcoholic mixture (60%), and the resultant extract was subjected for phytochemical analyses to identify different phytoconstituents. HEBA were administered to ovariectomized rats for 7 days at three different doses (viz., 200, 300, 400 mg/kg body weight, p.o.) and their estrogenic activity were compared with each of daily treatment with 0.2 mg/kg body weight, i.p. conjugated equine estrogen as a positive control or olive oil as a negative control. Estrogenic activity was evaluated by doing uterotropic assay, vaginal cytology and measurement of vaginal opening in female Wistar rats. Oral administration of HEBA in ovariectomized immature and mature female Wistar rats in a dose of 400 mg/kg b.w. resulted in significant increase in the uterine wet weight (in mg) (224.82 ± 7.01) and (912.25 ± 27.22) when compared with ovariectomized control rats (111.52 ± 3.17) and (506.67 ± 21.39). HEBA (400 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) treated rats, showing only cornified epithelial cells which was an indication of the presence of the estrogen and also showed 100% vaginal opening. It was observed that HEBA possess significant estrogenic activity at 400 mg/kg b.w., p.o. which was evident by uterotropic assay, measurement of vaginal opening, and histopathological changes

A comparative study of neuroprotective effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors against scopolamine-induced memory impairments in rats

The comparative study of neuroprotective effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors against scopolamine-induced neuroinflammation in albino Wistar rats was studied. Male albino rats were administered with scopolamine to induce memory impairment. The standard nootropic agent, piracetam (200 mg/kg b.w., [i.p.]), perindopril (0.1 mg/kg b.w., [i.p.]), enalapril (0.1 mg/kg b.w., [i.p.]), and ramipril (0.1 mg/kg b.w., [i.p.]) were administered in different group of animals for 5 days. On 5 th day, scopolamine (1 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) was administered after 60 min of the last dose of test drug. Memory function was evaluated in Morris water maze (MWM) test and pole climbing test (PCT). Biochemical estimations like glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain were estimated after completion of behavior study. All three test groups shows improvement in learning and memory in comparison to control group. Perindopril treated group showed a more effective significant decrease in escape latency time and transfer latency time compared to enalapril and ramipril treated group on day 4 in MWM test and PCT, respectively. Perindopril shows a significant reduction in MDA level and acetylcholinesterase activity and a significant rise in GSH level compared to enalapril and ramipril. The finding of this study indicates that Perindopril is more effective in memory retention compared to enalapril and ramipril

Composition, Antibacterial Efficacy, and Anticancer Activity of Essential Oil Extracted from <i>Psidium guajava</i> (L.) Leaves

Essential oils (EO) are used as a natural remedy to treat various chronic diseases, although clinical evidence is lacking. In this context, we have endeavored to measure the percentage of chemical composition and biological efficacy of Psidium guajava (guava) leaf essential oil in treating oral infections and oral cancer. The essential oil obtained from hydrodistillation of P. guajava L. leaves was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The activities of selected oral pathogens Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutants) were studied in vitro and in silico. MTT assay was used to test for anticancer activity against human oral epidermal carcinoma (KB). GC–MS showed that the main components of PGLEO were limonene (38.01%) and β-caryophyllene (27.98%). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.05–0.1% were demonstrated against C. albicans and S. mutans. Antimicrobial activity against C. albicans and S. mutans, as shown by molecular linkage analysis, revealed that the main metabolites, limonene and β-caryophyllene, potentially inhibited the receptors of C. albicans and S. mutans. PGLEO showed significant (p 50 value of 188.98 µg/mL. The outcomes of the present study suggest that PGLEO has promising antimicrobial and anticancer activities and could be a useful source for developing a natural therapeutic agent for oral infections and oral cancer