PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF MARKETED POLYHERBAL FORMULATION

Introduction: - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs – skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs and muscles. But principally attacks the joints, producing a non-supportive proliferative sinusitis that often progresses to destruction of the articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints. Rhumapar tablet is a marketed polyherbal formulation believed to have the potential for providing relief to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Objective: - Investigations have been carried out using rats as experimental models, to assess the anti inflammatory and anti arthritic potential of Rhumapar tablet. In-vitro anti-oxidant study has been carried out using different in-vitro models.Result:- The results obtained demonstrate that Rhumapar tablet can significantly and dose-dependently inhibit carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema (the inhibition at 3 hour was greater than at 1 hour after induction of oedema).Tablet can also significantly inhibit granuloma formation in cotton pellet induced granuloma model. It also showed significant anti-arthritic activity in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritis. The responses were statistically significant when they were compared with the control.Conclusion: - It has been indicated that formulation possesses anti- inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities that are probably mediated through inhibition of prostanoid synthesis and free radical scavenging effect.Keywords: Rhumapar tablet, Rheumatoid arthritis, Anti-inflammatory activity, Anti-arthritic activity, Anti-oxidant activity

Immuno-modulatory activity of Rasayana Churna (An Ayurvedic compound formulation) in wistar albino rats

Background:Rasayana Churna is a poly-herbal formulation comprising fine powders of Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia Linn.), Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris Linn.) and Amalaki (Emblica officinalis Linn.) in equal quantities. In Ayurveda, it is expected that the therapeutic efficacy of drug will be increased by levigating with its own juice or decoction. Kupeelu (Strychnos nux-vomica Linn.) is incorporated in this formulation since it is having analgesic, anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic properties. In current work, the immuno-modulatory activity of Rasayana Churna and Bhavita Rasayana Churna each mixed with Kupeelu was evaluated for humoral antibody formation and cell-mediated immunity in suitable experimental models. Methods: Test drugs were administered orally to the albino rats at a dose of 540mg/kg body weight. Haemagglutination titre, body weight, hematological and histological observations were recorded to assess effects on humoral immunity. Cell-mediated immunity was assessed by immunological paw edema volume. Results: Both the test drugs have minimal effects on SRBC induced humoral immune response. They did not modify the antibody titre values, hematological values and histo-pathological parameters. Both the drugs produced marked effect on cell mediated immunity response against triple antigen. Conclusion: Rasayana Churna mixed with Kupeelu have more pronounced effect as compared to Bhavita Rasayana Churna mixed with Kupeelu in suppressing immunological edema

Immuno-modulatory activity of Rasayana Churna (An Ayurvedic compound formulation) in wistar albino rats

Background: Rasayana Churna is a poly-herbal formulation comprising fine powders of Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia Linn.), Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris Linn.) and Amalaki (Emblica officinalis Linn.) in equal quantities. In Ayurveda, it is expected that the therapeutic efficacy of drug will be increased by levigating with its own juice or decoction. Kupeelu (Strychnos nux-vomica Linn.) is incorporated in this formulation since it is having analgesic, anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic properties. In current work, the immuno-modulatory activity of Rasayana Churna and Bhavita Rasayana Churna each mixed with Kupeelu was evaluated for humoral antibody formation and cell-mediated immunity in suitable experimental models. Methods: Test drugs were administered orally to the albino rats at a dose of 540mg/kg body weight. Haemagglutination titre, body weight, hematological and histological observations were recorded to assess effects on humoral immunity. Cell-mediated immunity was assessed by immunological paw edema volume. Results: Both the test drugs have minimal effects on SRBC induced humoral immune response. They did not modify the antibody titre values, hematological values and histo-pathological parameters. Both the drugs produced marked effect on cell mediated immunity response against triple antigen. Conclusion: Rasayana Churna mixed with Kupeelu have more pronounced effect as compared to Bhavita Rasayana Churna mixed with Kupeelu in suppressing immunological edema

Cardioprotective Activity of Pongamia pinnata in Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide Induced Diabetic Rats

Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment for diabetes and metabolic disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of petroleum ether extract of the stem bark of P. pinnata (known as PPSB-PEE) on cardiomyopathy in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in overnight fasted Sprague-Dawley rats by using injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, i.p.). Nicotinamide (100 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 20 min before administration of streptozotocin. Rats were divided into group I: nondiabetic, group II: diabetic control (tween 80, 2%; 10 mL/kg, p.o.) as vehicle, and group III: PPSB-PEE (100 mg/kg, p.o.). The blood glucose level, ECG, hemodynamic parameters, cardiotoxic and antioxidant biomarkers, and histology of heart were carried out after 4 months after STZ with nicotinamide injection. PPSB-PEE treatment improved the electrocardiographic, hemodynamic changes; LV contractile function; biological markers; oxidative stress parameters; and histological changes in STZ induced diabetic rats. PPSB-PEE (100 mg/kg, p.o.) decreased blood glucose level, improved electrocardiographic parameters (QRS, QT, and QTc intervals) and hemodynamic parameters (SBP, DBP, EDP, max dP/dt, contractility index, and heart rate), controlled levels of cardiac biomarkers (CK-MB, LDH, and AST), and improved oxidative stress (SOD, MDA, and GSH) in diabetic rats. PPSB-PEE is a promising remedy against cardiomyopathy in diabetic rats

L-glutamine supplementation prevents the development of experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats.

The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of L-glutamine on cardiac myopathy in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in overnight fasted Sprague Dawely rats by using intraperitonial injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). Nicotinamide (100 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 20 min before administration of streptozotocin. Experimental rats were divided into Group I: non-diabetic control (distilled water; 10 ml/kg, p.o.), II: diabetic control (distilled water, 10 ml/kg, p.o.), III: L-glutamine (500 mg/kg, p.o.) and IV: L-glutamine (1000 mg/kg, p.o.). All groups were diabetic except group I. The plasma glucose level, body weight, electrocardiographic abnormalities, hemodynamic changes and left ventricular contractile function, biological markers of cardiotoxicity, antioxidant markers were determined after 4 months after STZ with nicotinamide injection. Histopathological changes of heart tissue were carried out by using H and E stain. L-glutamine treatment improved the electrocardiographic, hemodynamic changes; LV contractile function; biological markers; oxidative stress parameters and histological changes in STZ induced diabetic rats. Results from the present investigation demonstrated that L-glutamine has seemed a cardioprotective activity

Study of Foliar Nutrition Applied at Different Growth Stages on Niger (Guizotia abyssinica L.)

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2021-22 at Niger Research Station, NAU, Vanarasi, Gujarat to study the effect of foliar spray of nutrients applied at different growth stages on rabi niger (Guizotia abyssinica L.). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of seven treatments including foliar spray of 19:19:19 and Novel organic liquid (A Patented NAU product) applied at different growth stages on niger crop. The experimental results revealed that foliar application 1% 19:19:19 applied at flowering and capitula formation stage recorded significantly higher number of branches per plant. The number of seeds per capitulum and seed yield also remained significantly higher with the application 1% 19:19:19 applied at flowering and capitula formation stage which was found at par with treatment receiving foliar spray of 1% 19:19:19 at flowering stage and foliar spray of 1 % novel organic liquid at flowering stage

Effect of L-glutamine on electrocardiographic, hemodynamic, Left ventricular function parameters and heart antioxidant enzymes in STZ-nicotinamide induced cardiomyopathy in rat.

<p><b>Foot note:</b> Results are represented as mean ± SEM, (n = 6). Data was analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by <i>post hoc</i> Tukey's test, ^*<i>p</i><0.05, ^**<i>p</i><0.01, ^***<i>p</i><0.001 and ns –non-significant compared with diabetic control group, ^#<i>p</i><0.05, ^##<i>p</i><0.01, 442 ^###<i>p</i><0.001 and ns – non-significant when compared with control non-diabetic group. ^$<i>p</i><0.05, ^$$<i>p</i><0.001 compared with L-glutamine (500 mg/kg).</p

Histopathology of rat heart by hematoxyline and Eosin staining.

<p>NM =  normal myocardium, CE =  cytoplasmic eosinophilia, IN  =  mycardial inflammation, CV =  cytoplasmic vacuolization. (A) Non-diabetic control, (B) Diabetic control group, (C) L-glutamine (500 mg/kg) and (D) L-glutamine (1000 mg/kg).</p

Effect on electrocardiographic parameters.

<p>(A) Non-diabetic control, (B) Diabetic control group, (C) L-glutamine (500 mg/kg) and (D) L-glutamine (1000 mg/kg).</p

Effect of concomitant administration of L-glutamine and cycloart-23-ene-3β, 25-diol (B2) with sitagliptin in GLP-1 (7-36) amide secretion, biochemical and oxidative stress in streptozotocin - nicotinamide induced diabetic Sprague Dawley rats.

Previously we have reported that, cycloart-23-ene-3β, 25-diol (called as B2) and L-glutamine stimulated glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (7-36) amide secretion diabetic rats. The objective of present investigation was to investigate the concomitant administration of cycloart-23-ene-3β, 25-diol+sitagliptin and L-glutamine+sitagliptin in streptozotocin - nicotinamide induced diabetic Sprague Dawley. Type 2 diabetes was induced in overnight fasted male Sprague Dawley rats pre-treated with nicotinamide (100 mg/kg, i.p.) followed by administration of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, i.p.) 20 min after. The rats were divided into; I- non-diabetic, II- diabetic control, III- Sitagliptin (5 mg/kg, p.o.)+cycloart-23-ene-3β, 25-diol (1 mg/kg, p.o.), IV- Sitagliptin (5 mg/kg, p.o.)+L-glutamine (1000 mg/kg, p.o.). The concomitant treatment of cycloart-23-ene-3β, 25-diol and L-glutamine with sitagliptin was 8 weeks. Plasma glucose, body weight, food and water intake were determined every week. Glycosylated haemoglobin, lipid profile, plasma and colonic active (GLP-1) (7-36) amide, plasma and pancreatic insulin, histology of pancreata and biomarkers of oxidative stress were measured after 8(th) week treatment. Concomitant administration of cycloart-23-ene-3β, 25-diol and L-glutamine with sitagliptin significantly (p<0.001) reduced plasma glucose, glyoxylated haemoglobin, lipid profile and oxidative stress parameters compared to diabetic control groups. Both concomitant treatment increased plasma and pancreatic insulin as well as plasma and colonic active (GLP-1) (7-36) amide secretion. Histological analysis by Gomori staining observed less destruction of pancreatic β cells. The result obtained from this study; it is concluded that concomitant administration of cycloart-23-ene-3β, 25-diol+sitagliptin and L-glutamine+sitagliptin showed additive antihyperglycaemic effect in diabetic rats