Anti-anaphylactic and antiasthmatic activity of Euphorbia thymifolia L. on experimental animals

In Ayurveda, Euphorbia thymifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae) prescribed in the treatment of various ailments like bronchial asthma, cough, diarrhea and bleeding piles. The present study was investigated to evaluate antianaphylactic, mast cell stabilizing and antiasthmatic activity of methanol and aqueous extract of E. thymifolia (ET) on experimental animals. Anaphylaxis was induced by administration of horse serum and triple antigen vaccine intraperitoneal (i.p.) in albino Wistar rats. Extracts of ET were administered to the rats in dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg orally for 14 days. At the end of treatment, asthma score was measured and various blood parameters like differential count (DC), total WBC count and IgE were estimated. Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA commercial kit from BALF. Histopathological changes of lungs were observed. Antiasthmatic activity of extracts of ET was also studied on histamine-induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs. In vitro mast cell stabilizing activity of extracts was evaluated on compound 48/80 challenged rat intestinal mesenteric mast cells. The treatment with extracts of ET produced significant decrease in asthma score and they also brought to normalcy the increased total WBC, DC counts, serum IgE, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-5 in BALF. The histopathological study further supported the protective effect of ET extracts. The pretreatment with extracts of ET displayed significant reduction in degranulation of mesenteric mast cell numbers. The treatment with extracts of ET significantly increased in time of PCD. Thus, these findings concluded that E. thymifolia could be effectively used in the treatment of anaphylaxis and asthma. Keywords: Euphorbia thymifolia, IgE, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-

Evaluation & Comparison of Nicotine quantification in smokeless tobacco products

Introduction: Smokeless tobacco products (STPS) represent a significant health risk and have been associated with oral and pancreatic cancers, oral lesions, coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. So, the aim of the present study is to perform quantitative determination of nicotine, the main alkaloid of smokeless product (Gutkha) available in Vadodara, Gujarat. Method: Collection of sample was done from local tobacco selling shopkeeper from Vadodara i.e. vimal, RMD, pan vilas, rajnigandha and raag. All the samples included in the study the same products available everywhere in Gujarat. The quantification of nicotine was done by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) using the mobile phase toluene: ethyl acetate: Diethylamine (6:4:0.5). Spectrodensitometric measurement was carried out at absorption maximum 254 nm. Results:  Five different smokeless tobacco samples were estimated using HPTLC method. Nicotine content was found to be 2.45% in Vimal, 3.11% in RMD, 2.60%- Pan Vilas, 3.06%- Rajigandha,3.32%- Raag. Conclusion: A considerable variation of nicotine content was found among the five investigated smokeless tobacco product where sample raag revealed the highest amount of nicotine than the other samples. The nicotine concentration of commercially available chewing tobacco products was found to be much lower than that of the smoking form of tobacco, but the higher average daily consumption made it comparable to the smoking form

Amelioration of anaphylaxis, mast cell degranulation and bronchospasm by Euphorbia hirta L. extracts in experimental animals

The current investigation was aimed to assess anti-anaphylactic, mast cell stabilizing and anti-asthmatic activity of methanol and aqueous extract of Euphorbia hirta L. (Euphorbiaceae) on experimental animals. Anaphylaxis was induced by administration of horse serum and triple antigen vaccine subcutaneously in albino Wistar rats. Extracts of E. hirta (EH) were administered to the rats in dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. orally for 14 days. At the end of treatment, asthma score was measured and various blood parameters like differential count (DC), total WBC count and IgE were estimated. Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured by ELISA commercial kit from Broncho alveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Histopathological changes of lungs were observed. Anti-asthmatic activity of extracts of EH was also studied on histamine-induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs. In vitro mast cell stabilizing activity of extracts was evaluated on compound 48/80 challenged rat intestinal mesenteric mast cells. The treatment with extracts of EH produced significant decrease in asthma score and they also brought to normalcy the increased total WBC, DC counts, serum IgE, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-5 in BALF. The histopathological study further supported the protective effect of EH extracts. The pre-treatment with extracts of EH displayed significant reduction in degranulation of mesenteric mast cell numbers. The treatment with extracts of EH significantly increased in time of pre-convulsive dyspnoea (PCD). Thus, these findings concluded that E. hirta could be effectively used in the treatment of anaphylaxis and asthma

Antimalarial Phytochemicals Identification from Euphorbia Hirta against Plasmepsin Protease: an In Silico Approach

Background: Aspartic protease found in plasmodium parasites such as plasmepsin I, II and IV plays an important role in the degradation of hemoglobin. The studies have shown that effective drug must be able to inhibit more than one type of plasmepsin to avoid further growth of parasites and to prevent resistance of drug. Therefore, plasmepsins are believed to be excellent drug target for malarial disease. Extract of the plant Euphorbia hirta has been proved to exert antimalarial activity. However, molecular mechanism of this activity was not described.Aim: The aim of present investigation is to identify antimalarial phytochemicals of Euphorbia hirta as plasmepsin protease inhibitors using an in silico approach.Materials and methods: Docking studies were performed on three different protein targets plasmepsin I, II, and IV using iGEMDOCK. ADME and bioactivity predictions were done using molinspiration online tool. Toxicity studies were performed using ProTox-II online tool.Results: In the docking studies seven compounds showed significant inhibitory activity with low docking score as compared to standard drug artemisinin. Six compounds showed no violations as per Lipinski rule. Bioactivity prediction states that all the compounds may act through enzyme inhibition. The results of in silico studies suggest that out of the eleven selected phytochemicals isorhamnetin and pinocembrin have more drug likeliness properties and lesser in silico toxicity with more binding affinity than artemisinin on all receptors. Conclusion: These findings indicate that isorhamnetin and pinocembrin have promising potential for development of antimalarial drug as plasmepsin inhibitors

Antimalarial Phytochemicals Identification from Euphorbia Hirta against Plasmepsin Protease: an In Silico Approach

Background: Aspartic protease found in plasmodium parasites such as plasmepsin I, II and IV plays an important role in the degradation of hemoglobin. The studies have shown that effective drug must be able to inhibit more than one type of plasmepsin to avoid further growth of parasites and to prevent resistance of drug. Therefore, plasmepsins are believed to be excellent drug target for malarial disease. Extract of the plant Euphorbia hirta has been proved to exert antimalarial activity. However, molecular mechanism of this activity was not described.Aim: The aim of present investigation is to identify antimalarial phytochemicals of Euphorbia hirta as plasmepsin protease inhibitors using an in silico approach.Materials and methods: Docking studies were performed on three different protein targets plasmepsin I, II, and IV using iGEMDOCK. ADME and bioactivity predictions were done using molinspiration online tool. Toxicity studies were performed using ProTox-II online tool.Results: In the docking studies seven compounds showed significant inhibitory activity with low docking score as compared to standard drug artemisinin. Six compounds showed no violations as per Lipinski rule. Bioactivity prediction states that all the compounds may act through enzyme inhibition. The results of in silico studies suggest that out of the eleven selected phytochemicals isorhamnetin and pinocembrin have more drug likeliness properties and lesser in silico toxicity with more binding affinity than artemisinin on all receptors. Conclusion: These findings indicate that isorhamnetin and pinocembrin have promising potential for development of antimalarial drug as plasmepsin inhibitors

Platelet Augmentation Potential of Polyherbal Formulation in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Wistar Rats

Introduction: Thrombocytopenia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of thrombocytes, also known as platelets, in the blood. Several medicinal plants possess curative and protective effect against thrombocytopenia associated with diseases or drugs.Aim: In the present study, we have investigated the platelet augmentation activity of polyherbal formulation (VITA PLAT Capsule) in cyclophosphamide-induced thrombocytopenic rat model. Materials and methods: Twenty-four albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Thrombocytopenia was induced in the rats by administering cyclophosphamide (25 mg/kg, i.p.) for three days to all the groups except normal controls. The test groups were given orally a polyherbal formulation suspended in normal saline for 14 days. Blood was withdrawn from the retro-orbital plexus of the rats on days 1, 7, and 14 of study to determine platelet counts in all groups. Clotting time and bleeding time were determined on the last day of study. Data were collected and analyzed using GraphPad Prism 8. Results: The results showed that the polyherbal formulation treatment could significantly ameliorate platelet count in thrombocyto-penic rats in the initial as well as in the later phase. The total WBC count was also improved during later phase in test groups. However, there is no significant difference between clotting time and bleeding time in all groups. Conclusions: Our study suggests a potential role of this formulation in the augmentation of platelet counts in various thrombocyto-penic disorders including a role in ameliorating the haemorrhagic complications of dengue fever