Effect of Cissus quadrangularis Linn on skeletal growth in the neonates of diabetic rats

Background: Infants of the diabetic mother are known to have reduced bone mineral content and hypocalcemia. Earlier, it has been shown that petroleum ether extract of Cissus quadrangularis (PECQ) can enhance the fetal skeletal ossification in normal rats. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of PECQ on skeletal growth in the neonatal rats of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods: After confirmation of diabetes, the diabetic and non-diabetic female Wistar rats were kept for mating with healthy male rats. After positive vaginal smear test, the pregnant rats were divided into three groups; the normal (non-diabetic) control (NC), diabetic control (DC), and diabetic+CQ (D+CQ) groups. The rats in the D+CQ group were given PECQ (500 mg/kg B.Wt), whereas animals in NC and DC groups were given 0.5% carboxy methyl cellulose, throughout the gestational period. Femur from the 1 week old neonatal rats from each group was collected randomly and subjected to histological analysis.Results: Thickness of trabecular bone and periosteum was significantly reduced in the neonates of DC rats compared with the neonates of NC group. Pretreatment with PECQ significantly improved the thickness of trabecular bone and periosteum compared with neonatal rats of DC group. No significant differences were observed in the medullary cavity width of femur between the groups.Conclusion: Data from the present study suggest that the PECQ can effectively attenuate the diabetes-induced reduction in the early skeletal growth. However, further research is warranted to evaluate the exact mechanism of action of phytochemical constituents of PECQ that can cross the placental barrier

IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF AQUEOUS AND ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACTS OF ACACIA AURICULIFORMIS

Objective: The present study focuses on in vitro antimicrobial properties of aqueous and ethanol leaf extract of Acacia auriculiformis tested on Gram-positive cocci, Gram-negative bacilli, multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacilli, and fungus.Methods: Ethanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves of A. auriculiformis were prepared. Agar well diffusion was the method for antimicrobial susceptibility. Freshly grown standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) , Escherchia coli (E.coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, clinical strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Candida albicans (C. ailbicans), and MDR E. coli, and MDR Klebsiella pnuemoniae were used. Ampicillin disc (10 μg) was used as control.Results: The zone of inhibition was measured to determine the antimicrobial activity. Ethanolic extract of A. auriculiformis exhibited antibacterial activity against all the strains including MDR strains of K. pneumoniae and E. coli. Antifungal activity was exhibited by both aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of A. auriculiformis.Conclusion: Ethanol extract could be used against MDR K. pneumoniae and MDR E. coli. Similarly, aqueous and ethanol extract can be the drug of choice for C. albicans infection. Further study is necessary to evaluate the accurate compound responsible for antibacterial and antifungal activity for pharmaceutical applications

BIOMECHANICAL, BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL EVIDENCES FOR WOUND HEALING PROPERTIES OF INDIAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINES

Objective: Ayurveda, India's traditional medicinal system is a rich source of natural remedies, frequently used as home and folk medicine in wound healing due to easy availability and affordability. Honey, Ghee and roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra are effectively used in Ayurveda for treating wounds of various types. Nerium indicum (a folk medicine) is also a known healing agent. Even though the known end result of these medications is faster wound healing, the mechanism of actions at tissue level, changes in the micro-environment of the wound and quantification of the rate of healing is not explored and documented using modern scientific methods.Methods: Healthy Wistar rats were used for incision wound model. Wounds were inflicted and the treatment plan was followed with regular topical application of test materials. The nature of healing was observed regularly and photographed. At different interval of the treatment plan-biomechanical, biochemical and histological studies were carried out. An attempt was also made to quantify the microscopic changes at the wound site.Results: Faster healing was observed in all the animals treated with test materials. This was indicated by alterations in the nature of epithelisation, inflammatory changes, fibroblast recruitment and activity, fibrous composition and arrangement at the wound site in comparison with untreated group.Conclusion: The present study is useful in exploring the mechanism of action of these traditional Indian medicinal systems–Ayurveda and folk medicine and thereby provides scientific evidences for the same.Â

HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF CAESALPENIA BONDUC AGAINST CCL4 INDUCED CHRONIC HEPATOTOXICITY

Objective: The leaves of Caesalpinia bonduc (CB) have been used against various disorders in folk medicine including the liver disorders. Earlier, we have shown the hepatoprotective effect of CB in acute hepatotoxicity model. The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-hepatotoxic and anti-fibrotic effect of the aqueous leaf extract of CB on CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride) induced chronic hepatotoxicity/fibrosis in Wistar rats.Methods: Animals were divided into three groups namely; preventive, curative and prophylactic, which was further subdivided into four groups each: Group I–untreated control, group II-CCl4 control, group III-CB+CCl4 and group IV–silymarin+CCl4. The aqueous extract of CB/silymarin was administered orally once, daily for eight weeks in the curative group and for four weeks in preventive and prophylactic groups respectively. The chronic liver damage/fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 twice a week, for four weeks in preventive and prophylactic groups and for eight weeks in the curative group. Blood samples were collected for assaying serum biochemical parameters, and the livers were excised and processed for histology.Results: The data showed that supplementation of aqueous leaf extract of CB along with CCl4 significantly reduced the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), total bilirubin(TB) and prothrombin time(PT) thus further restoring the total protein(TP) and albumin(ALB) in preventive, curative and prophylactic groups when compared to CCl4 control. Significant improvement in the microscopic structure of the liver further confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of aqueous extract of CB over the liver injury and fibrosis induced by CCl4 in rats.Conclusion: The study, therefore, suggests that aqueous extract of CB might provide a novel and alternative approach for treating the chronic hepatotoxicity/liver fibrosis.Keywords: Caesalpenia bonduc, Liver, Chronic, CCl4, Fibrosis, Silymarin, Hepato-protectio