BIO-ACTIVITIES AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF CNESTIS PALALA (LOUR.) MERR.

Background: In traditional medicines, the root of Cnestis palala was used for the treatment of stomach ache, malaria, urinary track disorders and snakebite. The seed was used for poisoning rat and stray dogs. However, the bioactivities and chemical constituents have not been reported. So, this will be the first report. Material and Methods: Biological investigations of C. palala extracts against bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acnes, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), fungi (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum gypseum), yeast (Candida albicans), tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) and cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and HT-29) were evaluated. The chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques were used for the isolation and identification of pure compounds. Results: The results showed that the ethanol leaf and bark extracts were active against S. aureus and S. epidermidis. The hexane leaf and seed extracts and petroleum ether bark and root extracts showed strongly inhibition values against MCF-7. Moreover, the petroleum ether bark extract exhibited high inhibition value against HT-29. Seven compounds were isolated as β-sitosterol-glucoside (CP1), hydroquinone (CP2), β-sitosterol (CP3), mixture of fatty acids (CP4) and ethyl caffeate (CP5), scopoletin (CP6) and 2-nonenal (CP7). The CP2 was strongly active against S. aureus and S. epidermidis, the MIC was showed 30.10 µg/ml and 15.05 µg/ml and the MBC was showed 15 µg/ml and 7.5 µg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggested that C. palala is a great potential source of anti-microbial agents. Hence, this is the first study, which will be the database for chemical constituents and bioactivities of C. palala

Effects of the extracts from Mitragyna speciosa Korth. leaves on analgesic and behavioral activities in experimental animals

The leaves of Mitragyna speciosa Korth. (M. speciosa) were extracted with methanol to give methanol extract. The methanol extract was made in acid and then in alkaline and extracted with chloroform to give alkaloid extract. The effects of the methanol and alkaloid extracts on analgesic activities in hot plate test in mice and tail flick test in rats and behavioral activities in locomotor activity and pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice, were examined. In acute toxicity test, the LD50 values of oral administration of the methanol and alkaloid extracts of M. speciosa leaves in mice were 4.90 g/kg and 173.20 mg/kg, respectively. Oral administration (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) of the methanol extract of M. speciosa leaves significantly prolonged the latency of nociceptive response on hot plate test in mice. The alkaloid extract of M. speciosa also increased the pain response latency at the dose of 20 mg/kg but less potent than those of the methanol extract (100 mg/kg) in mice (comparing 5-10 mg/kg alkaloid extract with corresponding to approximately 200 mg/kg of methanol extract). The antinociceptive action of either methanol extract (100 mg/kg, p.o.) or alkaloid extract (20 mg/kg, p.o.) of M. speciosa leaves was blocked by naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) in mice. Neither the methanol extract nor the alkaloid extract significantly prolonged latency of nociceptive response on tail flick test in rats. Both of the extracts had no significant change on spontaneous motor activity or pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice, respectively. These results suggest that the methanol and alkaloid extracts of M. speciosa leaves possess the analgesic activity which partly acted at opioid receptors in the supraspinal opioid system

Cytotoxic and free radical scavenging activities of Zingiberaceous rhizomes

Methanol extracts, water extracts and volatile oils of the fresh rhizomes of Alpinia galanga, Boesenbergia pandurata, Curcuma longa, Kaempferia galanga and Zingiber officinale have been assessed for free radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and cytotoxic activity against MCF7 (breast adenocarcinoma) and LS174T (colon adenocarcinoma) cell lines. Methanol extract of C. longa exhibited the most pronounced radical scavenging activity with an EC50 value of 9.7 μg/ml, whereas the water extracts and volatile oils showed weak activity. All volatile oils and the methanol extract of C. longa showed strong activity against MCF7 and LS174T with IC50 less than 50 μg/ml. The oils of A. galanga (AGV), B. pandurata (BPV), C. longa (CLV), K. galanga (KGV) and Z. officinale (ZOV) were analyzed by GC/MS. Trans-3-acetoxy-1,8-cineole, camphor, ar-turmerone, ethyl cinnamate and geranial (E-citral) were detected as main compounds in AGV, BPV, CLV, KGV and ZOV, respectively. The novel compound, pcoumaryl- 9-methyl ether, was isolated from methanol extract of A. galanga. ar-Turmerone, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin were isolated from the methanol extract of C. longa while 6-shogaol, 6-dehydrogingerdione (or 1-dehydrogingerdione) and 6-gingerol were isolated from the methanol extract of Z. officinale. Curcumin was the most potent compound for free radical scavenging activity with an EC50 value of 2.0 μg/ml. Demethoxycurcumin was found to be the most active compound against LS174T with an IC50 value of 0.8 μg/ml and 6-shogaol was the most potent compound against MCF7 with an IC50 value of 1.7 μg/ml

รายงานการวิจัยฉบับสมบูรณ์เรื่องผลของสารสกัดจากใบกระท่อมต่อฤทธิ์แก้ปวดและพฤติกรรมในสัตว์ทดลอง

Prince of Songkla Universit

Analysis of prescription database extracted from standard textbooks of traditional Dai medicine

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Traditional Dai Medicine (TDM) is one of the four major ethnomedicine of China. In 2007 a group of experts produced a set of seven Dai medical textbooks on this subject. The first two were selected as the main data source to analyse well recognized prescriptions.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To quantify patterns of prescriptions, common ingredients, indications and usages of TDM.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A relational database linking the prescriptions, ingredients, herb names, indications, and usages was set up. Frequency of pattern of combination and common ingredients were tabulated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 200 prescriptions and 402 herbs were compiled. Prescriptions based on "wind" disorders, a detoxification theory that most commonly deals with symptoms of digestive system diseases, accounted for over one third of all prescriptions. The major methods of preparations mostly used roots and whole herbs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The information extracted from the relational database may be useful for understanding symptomatic treatments. Antidote and detoxification theory deserves further research.</p

Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Thai medicinal plants named Khaminkhruea: Arcangelisia flava, Coscinium blumeanum and Fibraurea tinctoria

The stems of Arcangelisia flava, Coscinium blumeanum and Fibraurea tinctoria, collectively known in southern Thailand as Khaminkhruea, were sequentially extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, and boiling water to afford 12 crude extracts. All extracts have been assessed for antioxidant activity against DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical and cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp and human cancer cell line MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma). Methanol extract of A. flava (AFM), and methanol and chloroform extracts of C. blumeanum (CBM and CBC) exhibited moderate antioxidant activity with EC50 values of 25-55 μg/ml. Chloroform extracts of A. flava (AFC) and F. tinctoria (FTC), AFM, CBC and CBM showed pronounced cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp and MCF-7 cells with LC50 and IC50 values of 210-278 and 8-12 μg/ml, respectively. Bioassay-guided chemical investigation led to the isolation of berberine as a main compound of AFC, AFM, CBC and CBM. Palmatine and jatrorrhizine were found to be main alkaloids of FTC, and minor alkaloids of AFC, AFM, CBC and CBM. In addition, an ester triacontanyl caffeate was isolated for the first time from C. blumeanum (CBC). Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods particularly NMR and mass spectrometry. Triacontanyl caffeate was mainly responsible for antioxidant activity of C. blumeanum with an EC50 value of 6.8 μg/ml. Jatrorrhizine possessed moderate antioxidant activity with an EC50 value of 98.0 μg/ml, whereas palmatine and berberine were found to be considerably less active (EC50 >100 μg/ml). The LC50 values of the four isolated compounds on brine shrimp were ranging from 37-206 μg/ml. The IC50 values of berberine, palmatine and jatrorrhizine against MCF-7 cells were in the range of 1-4 μg/ml. Triacontanyl caffeate was considerably less cytotoxic than the alkaloids with an IC50 value of 15.5 μg/ml

Anorectic effect, biochemical and hematological profiles of alkaloid extract from Mitragyna speciosa Korth. in rats

There is an on-going debate about medicinal use of kratom plant (Mitragyna speciosa (MS)) on whether it has beneficial or adverse effects. This study aimed to examine long-term weight-reducing effects, toxicity, and dopamine pathway activation of MS alkaloid extract on adult male Wistar rats. In anorexic study, the rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 10), receiving intragastric administration once a day for 19 weeks as control (distilled water), chronic (20 mg/kg MS alkaloid extract) and withdrawal (20 mg/kg MS alkaloid extract for week 1-12 and distilled water for week 13-19) groups. Body weights were measured daily, and blood samples were collected at the end of study for biochemical and hematological tests. In immunohistochemistry, the effects of the extract (40 and 80 mg/kg) on the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and striatum (STr) were determined by using Fos-like immunoreactivity. From week 2 to 19, the results showed a significant reduction in body weight gain produced by the extract. Cessation of the treatment at week 12 did not result in a rebound weight gain. Chronic MS alkaloid extract treatment significantly decreased non-fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, uric acid and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). However, elevated SGOT may suggest possible hepatotoxicity. Chronic MS alkaloid extract treatment also produced baseline levels for most of the hematological parameters except a decrease of monocyte. In immunohistochemistry, the acute treatment did not induce Fos-like immunoreactivity in the NAc and STr. These data demonstrated the beneficial effects of the MS alkaloid extract for possible treatment of metabolic syndromes without toxicity and rewarding effect

Effects of Mitragynine and a Crude Alkaloid Extract Derived from Mitragyna speciosa Korth. on Permethrin Elimination in Rats

Detoxification and elimination of permethrin (PM) are mediated by hydrolysis via carboxylesterase (CES). Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) contains mitragynine (MG) and other bioactive alkaloids. Since PM and MG have the same catalytic site and M. speciosa is usually abused by adding other ingredients such as pyrethroid insecticides, the effects of MG and an alkaloid extract (AE) on the elimination of PM were investigated in rats. Rats were subjected to single and multiple pretreatment with MG and AE prior to receiving a single oral dose (460 mg/kg) of PM. Plasma concentrations of trans-PM and its metabolite phenoxybenzylalcohol (PBAlc) were measured. The elimination rate constant (kel) and the elimination half-life (t1/2 el) of PM were determined, as well as the metabolic ratio (PMR). A single and multiple oral pretreatment with MG and AE altered the plasma concentration-time courses of both trans-PM and PBAlc during 8–22 h, decreased the PMRs, delayed elimination of PM, but enhanced elimination of PBAlc. Results indicated that PM–MG or AE toxicokinetic interactions might have resulted from the MG and AE interfering with PM hydrolysis. The results obtained in rats suggest that in humans using kratom cocktails containing PM, there might be an increased risk of PM toxicity due to inhibition of PM metabolism and elimination

Goniothalamin, a cytotoxic compound, isolated from Goniothalamus macrophyllus (Blume) Hook. f. & Thomson var. macrophyllus

Bioassay guided fractionation by brine shrimp lethality test led to isolation of a cytotoxic compound, goniothalamin, from the root and stem of Goniothalamus macrophyllus (Blume) Hook. f. & Thomson var. macrophyllus. Goniothalamin showed a promising cytotoxicity (SRB assay) against colon cancer cell line (IC50 = 0.51±0.02 μg/ml), breast cancer cell lines (IC50= 0.95±0.02 μg/ml) and lung carcinoma (IC50 = 3.51± 0.03 μg/ml). LDH assay of goniothalamin suggested that it had no toxicity on cell membrane. Cytotoxic evaluation of goniothalamin to normal cell revealed moderate toxicity against skin fibroblast (IC50 = 26.73± 1.92 μg/ml) and human fibroblast (IC50 = 11.99±0.15 μg/ml)

PSU Quality Assurrance Newsletter Y.2 No.4

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