Toxicity of fixed oil and crude extract from sa-dao-thiam, Azadirachta excelsa (Jack) seed kernel to Aedes aegypti (L.)

The larvicidal activity of various concentrations of fixed oil and crude extract from sa-dao-thiam, Azadirachta excelsa(Jack) seed kernel was assayed on an Aedes aegypti (L.) test population under controlled laboratory conditions. Concentrationlevels of responses at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hrs were evaluated. The LC50 values of the fixed oil and the crude extract were403.6 and 518.7 ppm, respectively. One hundred percent mortality in 24 hrs-post treatment was achieved at 2,000 and 4,000ppm for the oil and crude extract, respectively. It suggested that the oil is more toxic to Ae. aegypti larvae than the crudeextract. Further investigation suggested the occurrence of molting inhibition of Ae. aegypti larvae by the fixed oil and crudeextract as indicated by the small number of emerged adults. In addition, histological study suggested that damages on theepithelial cells of the midgut could result from the effects of the oil and crude extract. Hypertrophy and degeneration of theepithelial cells were observed, resulting in a presence of some cytoplasmic material in the alimentary canal. Further studiesshould be taken into account to identify their stability and residual activity of these products under field conditions

An ethnography of Thai folk healing in patients suffering from Lomammapart, a stroke-like condition

This paper reports on an ethnographic study using Spradley’s method, that explored the treatment and outcomes of treatment for patients with lomammapart who were cared for by traditional folk healers in Southern Thailand. Lomammapart is the Thai Folk Medicine term for stroke. Many patients with lomammapart in Thailand choose treatment by traditional folk healers. Data generation involved participant observation and in-depth interviews with key informants, ten folk healers who had experience in treating patients with lomammapart as well as general informants, eight patients with the condition. Treatment outcomes for patients with lomammapart were measured using the Barthel Index to assess activities of daily living at baseline and after three months. The findings revealed that the healing methods of lomammapart, based on folk medicine, consisted of Jubsen massage, herbal medicine, ritual, and advice. Jubsen massage was performed to expel the wind in the bodylines from the upper to the lower parts of body. Herbs that were prepared as hot beverages were used to expel wind in the bodylines and intestinal system and to eliminate the toxicity from the body to the excretory system. Rituals were performed to heal the spiritual self. In addition, the perceptions of success or otherwise of the efficacy of the treatments provided and the associated treatment outcomes were reported by folk healers and patients. Measurement of activities of daily living indicated that treatment resulted in the patients having better movement, and in sleeping, feeding, excretion, functioning of the body organs, living in society, and normal sensations. The findings of this study will help nurses’ to understand the health practices of folk healers based on beliefs and culture regarding care of such patients, so that they can try to integrate this knowledge with modern health care services to support patient needs. The rich findings also contribute to understandings of cultural knowledge of care and treatment in Thailand

Antinociceptive activity of the alkaloid extract from Kopsia macrophylla leaves in mice

The effects of the alkaloid extract from the leaves of Kopsia macrophylla Hk. f. K. (K. macrophylla) on nociceptive response using writhing, hot plate and formalin test and the antipyretic activity in yeast-induced fever in mice, were examined. General behavior was also examined using pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice. The LD50 value of intraperitoneally injected K. macrophylla extract in mice was 318.46 mg/kg. Oral administration of K. macrophylla extract at the dose of 400 mg/kg significantly decreased the number of contortions and stretchings induced by acetic acid and licking activity of the late phase in the formalin test but not in the heat-induced pain in mice. The K. macrophylla extract (100-400 mg/kg, p.o.) had no effect on fever induced by yeast in mice. The alkaloid extract of K. macrophylla prolonged the duration of pentobarbitalinduced sleep in mice. These results suggest that the alkaloid extract of K. macrophylla possesses analgesic action via peripheral pathway but no antipyretic activity

การศึกษาฤทธิ์ทางเภสัชวิทยาของสมุนไพรที่ผู้ป่วยเอดส์ใช้รักษาตนเอง

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โครงการฤทธิ์ต้านเอนไซม์ HIV-1 integrase จากต้นกะเม็งและฤทธิ์ต้านการอักเสบของพืชบางชนิดในตระกูล Zingiberacea

Thailand Research Fund (TRF

A terpenoid and two steroids from the flowers of Mammea siamensis

Two steroids, β-sitosterol and stigmasterol (of their mixture in an approximate ratio 1:1) and a terpenoid, friedelin, were isolated from a chloroform extract of Mammea siamensis flowers by means of chromatographic techniques. Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified by direct comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature and by comparing their TLC patterns with those of authentic samples. The preliminary biological acitvities, such as antimicrobial activity (disc diffusion method), DPPH-radical scavenging and brine shrimp lethality effects of various solvent extracts from M. siamensis flowers were examined. The chloroform extract of M. siamensis flowers showed antibacterial effects on Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis with inhibition zone of 7.8 and 9.0 mm, respectively. A methanol extract exhibited inhibition zone (6.0 mm) for B. subtilis. However, neither extract affected the growth of either Escherichia coli or Candida albicans. Both the chloroform and the methanol extract did not show antioxidative effect in DPPH radical-scavenging assay, whereas they exhibited lethality effects on brine shrimps with LC50 value of 5.2 and 43.2 μg/ml, respectively. Neither the mixture of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, or friedelin showed any effect on brine shrimps

Anti-HIV-1 integrase activity of medicinal plants used as self medication by AIDS patients

The extracts of selected medicinal plants used as self medication by AIDS patients were investigated for their inhibitory activities against HIV-1 integrase (HIV-1 IN) using the multiplate integration assay (MIA). Of these, the water extract of Eclipta prostrata (whole plant) exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 4.8 μg/ml, followed by the methanol extract of Eclipta prostrata (whole plant, IC50 = 21.1 μg/ ml), the water extract of Barleria lupulina (stem, IC50 = 26.4 μg/ml), the chloroform extract of Barleria lupulina (stem, IC50 = 33.0 μg/ml), the methanol extract of Barleria lupulina (stem, IC50 = 38.2 μg/ml) and the chloroform extract of Piper betle (leaf, IC50 = 39.3 μg/ml), respectively

HIV-1 protease inhibitory effects of some selected plants in Caesalpiniaceae and Papilionaceae families

Fifty-two ethanol and water extracts of the plants in Caesalpiniaceae and Papilionaceae families were screened for their HIV-1 protease (HIV-1 PR) inhibitory activities using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. Among the tested extracts, Cassia garrettiana (wood, water extract) showed the most potent inhibitory activity against HIV-1 PR, followed by Cassia garrettiana (wood, EtOH extract) and Caesalpinia sappan (wood, EtOH extract) with IC50 of 18, 32 and 75 μg/ml, respectively. The isolation of active substances against HIV-1 PR of these two plants will be further investigated

Antinociceptive and antipyretic activities of extracts and fractions from Dracaena loureiri in experimental animals

Dried coarsely powdered material from the stem woods of Dracaena loureiri Gagnep (D loureiri) has extracted with hexane and methanol to give hexane and methanol extracts, respectively. The methanol extract was roughly separated into four fractions. They were methanol, methanol + water, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions. The effects of the methanol extract, hexane extract, methanol fraction, methanol + water fraction, ethyl acetate fraction and chloroform fraction on nociceptive response using writhing, hot plate and formalin tests in mice and the antipyretic activity in yeast-induced fever in rats, were examined. General behavior was also examined using pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice. The LD5 0 value of intraperitoneally injected the methanol extract, hexane extract, methanol fraction, ethyl acetate fraction and chloroform fraction in mice was 1.67 g/kg, >7 g/kg, 739.73 mg/kg, 489.77 mg/kg and 1.67 g/kg, respectively. Oral administration of the methanol extract and methanol fraction of D. loureiri (100-400 mg/kg) dose de- pendently decreased the number of writhings and stretchings induced by acetic acid and licking activity of the late phase in the formalin test. All extracts or fractions of D. loureiri had no effects on heat-induced pain in mice. Only the methanol fraction of D. loureiri suppressed yeast-induced fever in rats. Neither extracts nor fractions affected paw edema induced by carrageenin in rats. The methanol extract of D. loureiri (100- 400 mg/kg, p.o.) prolonged the duration of pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice. These results suggest that the methanol extract and the methanol fraction of D. loureiri possess analgesic effect. Only the methanol fraction of the extract exhibited antipyretic effect