EVALUATION OF GASTROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF TEPHROSIA VILLOSA AGAINST EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED ULCERS IN WISTAR RATS

Objective: The present research work was designed to investigate the gastroprotective potentials of methanol extract of Tephrosia villosa. Methods: The aerial parts of Tephrosia villosa were dried under shade, powdered and deffated with petroleum ether and then marc leftover was subjected to methanol extraction using soxhlet apparatus using soxh-let apparatus. Antiulcer activity of methanol extract was determined against stress-induced and aspirin-induced ulcers in experimental animal models. The total number of ulcers formed, ulcer index, percentage inhibition, ulcerated area, protected area, pH and Total acidity were parameters in the study. Results: Methanol extract of Tephrosia villosa at medium (200 mg/kg) and high (200 mg/kg) could significantly (P<0.01) reduced the total number of ulcers formed, ulcer index, ulcerated area and total acidity in therapeutic groups compared to vehicle control and thereby significantly (P<0.01) increased percentage inhibition of ulcers and protected area which was evident by the significant rise in pH of gastric content. The effect of extracts was dose-dependent and results were comparable to that of standard drug omeprazole. Conclusion: The results obtained from the present work suggest that the methanol extract of Tephrosia villosa possess significant anti-ulcer potentials against experimentally induced ulcers in albino rats

EVALUATION OF HEPATOPROTECTIVE POTENTIALS OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF TEPHROSIA VILLOSA AGAINST THIOACETAMIDE INDUCED LIVER TOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS

Objective: The present study was conducted to determine the hepatoprotective potentials of methanol s extracts of Tephrosia villosa leaves against thioacetamide (TAA) induced liver damage in rats. Methodology: The acute oral toxicity study was conducted as per OECD guidelines, and the extract was proved to be safe up to the dose of 2000 mg/kg. The total duration of the study was 21 days, and animals were divided into six groups. Hepatotoxicity was induced in the animals of all groups except normal control by single dose administration of TAA (100 mg/kg) at 1st day of the study followed by animals were treated daily with standard drug silymarin and methanol extract of T. villosa (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) to respective groups for 21 days. Variations in biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, albumin, total protein, ions and others parameters such as clotting time and weight of the liver were considered to determine beneficial effect of the extract. At the end of the study liver samples were collected and subjected to histopathological evaluation. Results: In control animals treated with TAA alone, there were variations in the above mentioned parameters. However in the animals treated with methanol extract and standard drug silymarin, all the parameters were normal possibly due to their beneficial property in protecting the liver against TAA induced hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: The results obtained in the above study suggesting that, the methanol extract of T. villosa possess significant hepatoprotective activity

The ethanol extract of Syzygium cumini exhibits cytotoxic potentials against breast cancer cells due to antioxidant properties

The present investigation was designed to evaluate in vitro cytotoxic potentials of ethanol extract of Syzygium cumini against breast cancer cells and also estimate its antioxidant activity. The ethanol extract of Syzygium cumini was prepared by successive solvent extraction process using sox-let apparatus. The ethanol extract was evaluated for its in-vitro anticancer potentials against MCF-7  human breast cancer cell lines by MTT assay and concentration of the ethanol extract required to inhibit 50% of cell growth (IC50) was recorded. To determine antioxidant properties of the extract, superoxide scavenging, lipid peroxidation and DPPH methods were used and IC50 values of extracts were noted. In current study, ethanol extract of Syzygium cumini has shown anticancer property by exhibiting significant IC50 values against growth of breast cancer cell growth. The extract has also shown significant IC50 values in superoxide scavenging, lipid peroxidation and DPPH methods and antioxidant activity was comparable to standard drug ascorbic acid. The results obtained from the present research work suggested that the ethanol extract of Syzygium cumini possess significant in vitro cytotoxic potentials against breast cancer cells. The results also suggested that the ethanol extract have in vitro antioxidant properties. Keywords: Anticancer activity, Syzygium cumini, IC50 value, MTT assay and antioxidant activity

Evaluation of Antidiarrheal properties of ethanol extract of Brassica juncea in experimental animals

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-diarrheal potentials of ethanol extract of Brassica juncea in albino rats.  Materials and methods: The defatted powder of whole plant of Brassica juncea subjected to extraction using ethanol in soxhlet apparatus.  The acute oral toxicity was studied for ethanol extract according to OECD guidelines 425. The antidiarrheal properties of ethanol extracts was assessed against castor oil induced diarrhea, magnesium sulfate induced diarrhea and charcoal passage test in albino wistar rats. Results: The ethanol extract of Brassica juncea has effectively reversed diarrhea. The extract at higher dose 400mg/kg shows significant reduction the number of feces against castor oil induced and MgSO4 induced diarrhea. In charcoal passage test, higher dose of ethanol extract also shown significant reduction in the distance travelled. Conclusion: The result obtained establish the efficiency of ethanol extract of Brassica juncea as antidiarrheal agent Keywords: Brassica juncea, castor oil, magnesium sulphate, charcoal passage test

The ethanol extract of Euphorbia hirta exhibits in vitro antidiabetic potentials by sensitization of the insulin

The objective of current investigation was to assess the mechanism of action of Euphorbia hirta for its antidiabetic properties. Materials &Methods: The authenticated leaves of plant Euphorbia hirta were dried and powdered. The powdered drug was defatted with petroleum ether and subjected to ethanol extraction. The ethanol extract of Euphorbia hirta was subjected to preliminary phytochemical investigation. The glucose up takes by rat hemi-diaphragm (skeletal muscle) model was also used evaluate potentials of the ethanol extract of Euphorbia hirta to enhance utilization of the blood glucose by peripheral tissues. The overnight fasted albino rat was sacrificed and dissected to hemidiaphragm. Weighed quantity of skeletal muscle was incubated with glucose in Tyrode solution for 30 mins at 37oC and the amount of glucose utilized by the tissue was determined. Results: The ethanol extract of Euphorbia hirta significantly increased the glucose utilization by skeletal muscle which its shows potency to sensitize the insulin. Conclusion: The results of the presents investigation recommends that, one of the mechanisms of ethanol extract of Euphorbia hirta for antidiabetic activity is reduction of insulin resistance