Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activity of Certain Indian Medicinal Plants using In Vitro and In Vivo Methods

A number of hepatotoxins such as viruses, bacteria, chemicals, medicines and alcohol target the liver and cause liver injury. These antioxidants are rich in natural sources of drugs, especially plants. In this aspect, plants that were chosen for the study are the rhizomes of Alpinia speciosa and roots of Valeriana wallichii. In the indigenous system of medicine Alpinia speciosa is used as an ornamental plant. Valeriana wallichii roots have numerous medicinal uses. Based on the facts of the two plants, the current study was undertaken. The study investigated hepatoprotective activities of rhizomes of Alpinia speciosa and roots of Valeriana wallichii. Phytochemical screening of various plant extracts of both the plants was carried out. The chloroform extracts of both the plants had showed good activity among all the extracts. Acute toxicity studies were carried out and the animals were found to be safe In vivo hepatoprotective activity of chloroform extracts of both the plants at two different doses (lower dose and higher doses) was determined. CEAS and CEVW possessed significant (P<0.001) hepatoprotective activity. Further attempts were made to isolate and identify the possible active principles from the chloroform extracts of Alpinia speciosa and Valeriana wallichii. The presence of active constituents (flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids and phenolics) in these plants might be responsible for the hepatoprotective activity. Therefore, CEAS and CEVW proposed to protect the liver against the paracetamol, D-Galactosamine and ethanol induced oxidative damage. The in vivo hepatoprotective properties of these plants can consequently propose a liver protection to the population whoever consumes it and prevent liver injuries. The hepatoprotective activities of the plant extracts may be due to the presence of isolated compounds, Hesperidin and rutin from Alpinia speciosa and betulin from Valeriana wallichii and were identified by infra red spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonanace spectroscopy. These isolated compounds had acted as an antioxidant by scavenging the free radicals that had produced by the induction of hepatotoxins (paracetamol, D-Galactosamine and ethanol) and proved as an effective hepatoprotective agent. Thus the isolated compounds from the respective plants will be key leads for producing novel bioactive constituents and may possess more significance in the treatment of hepatic diseases

Histogenesis of human foetal cerebellar cortex

The objective of present study is to describe the prenatal histogenesis of human cerebellar cortex. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the various histological features of human foetal cerebellum in spontaneously aborted fetuses of different gestational ages for analyzing the cerebellar histology. Histogenesis of cerebellum is observed from 13 weeks to 36 weeks of gestational age by dividing the specimens into six gestational age groups (group A to group F). External granular layer is observed at 13 weeks of gestation and purkinje cell layer is arranged at 17 weeks as a multilayered and single layer at 36 weeks of gestation. The knowledge of cerebellar anatomy has a tremendous neurosurgical importance. Future investigations might involve evaluation of the cerebellum at other gestational ages.Keywords: Cerebellum, Histogenesis, Purkinje cel

Pulmonary hypoplasia with hepatic and renal anomalies in a dead fetus

Pulmonary hypoplasia is a developmental malformation characterized by incomplete development of lung tissue. During routine fetal autopsy of an apparently normal female dead fetus of 36 weeks gestation presented completely hypoplastic left lung, partially hypoplastic right lung, right-sided shift of heart, right-sided shift of trachea, left-sided diaphragmatic hernia through which an extra lobe from left lobe of liver extended into the left half of thoracic cavity. Left kidney was iliac in position