Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Potential Bergenia ligulata

Abstract Bergenia ligulata Wall., family Saxifragaceae, is an Indian folk medicine used for a variety of pharmacological effects. In this study, evidence is provided in animal model to demonstrate the role of aqueous as well as 50% ethanolic extract of B. ligulata in inflammation and as antibacterial agent. Oral administration of the extract at a dose level of 1 gm/kg bw showed anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activity as evaluated using pharmacological and biochemical parameters. The effect was studied on biochemical parameters reportedly perturbed in inflammation. While the extract treatment could alleviate the level of succinate dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase, which increase in inflammation, the level of superoxide dismutase increased following the treatment with the extract as well as the diclofenac. Role of oxygen free radicals/peroxides was evaluated by measuring lipid peroxidation and glutathione. Treatment with the extract could significantly decrease the enhanced level of lipid peroxidation in inflammation, and increased the level of glutathione. Further, the antibacterial activity of various fractions was tested in vitro using cultures of Escherichia coli, Baccillus subtilis, and S. aureus, and the fractions were found to be antibacterial. The antifungal activity was also tested using the culture of Saccharomyces. However, the drug was ineffective in inhibiting fungal growth. Results provide evidence suggesting the anti-inflammatory as well as the antibacterial role of B. ligulata, thus implicating the plant extract in treatment against the bacterial infection and inflammation

Serum antioxidant status in patients with systemic sclerosis

Background: Vascular endothelial dysfunction is a central event in pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases. Systemic sclerosis is one of such diseases.The oxidative stress and depletion of antioxidants in the serum is believed to be one of the factors in causing this dysfunction. Aims: The aim of this case control study was to compare the levels of antioxidants in the serum of patients with systemic sclerosis and the normal age and sex matched controls. Materials and Methods: Our study consisted of 16 successively admitted patients with systemic sclerosis and 16 healthy, age and sex matched controls. The age group of patient′s ranged between 25 and 55 years. The duration of the disease in patients ranged from 1 to 8 years. The serum of patients and controls were assayed for the levels of antioxidants (GSH, NO, MDA, SOD and GPX) by spectrophotometry. The statistical method of analysis used was the one sample t-test. Results: The median levels of antioxidants in the control patients were: SOD-4.14 units/ml; GSH-4.76 units/ml; NO-5.58 nmol/l; MDA-0.53 nmol/l and GPX-49 μmol/l. The levels of NO, GSH and SOD were decreased in these patients with a significant P value (<0.001) whereas the levels of GPX and MDA were normal to increased with a significant P value. Conclusion: The depletion of antioxidants and oxidative stress in serum might be responsible for the vascular dysfunction and other hallmark manifestations of systemic sclerosis. Therefore micronutrient antioxidant supplements may be of therapeutic value