Advancement in Medicinal Plant Research

Number 4, 2017

47-50
Hypolipidaemic effect of aqueous extract of Desmodium velutinum leaf on albino wistar rats

Authors: Steven P. E. and Ude C. M.

Abstract

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The effect of aqueous extract of leaves of Desmodium velutinum on serum lipid profile concentration of rats was studied. Phytochemical analyses were carried out on the extract. Twenty eight (28) albino wistar rats were used for this study. Animals were randomly distributed into four groups (I to IV) of seven (7) rats each. Test animals in groups II, III, and IV were initially fed with a high fat diet (10mg/kg) for 12 days. Group II animals remained untreated. The groups III and IV animals were later treated with 5 mg/kg of atorvastatin and 5 mg/kg of D. velutinum, respectively for 4 days. However, the group I rats were fed with normal feed for 12 days and served as the control. The serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) levels were determined from blood samples of the various groups of rats. The result showed that there was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the serum TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TG concentrations of test animals following the administration of the atorvastatin and the extract. Alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and reducing sugars were found to be highly present in the crude extract. Other phytochemicals present in the extract were saponins, carbohydrate, steroids, cyanide and terpenoid. These findings indicate that the use of the extract lowered the serum lipid profile of albino wistar rats and may be of clinical importance to individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease.

51-62
Effect of Adenanthera pavonina leaves extracts and β-sito sterol glucoside in CCl4 induced hepatocellular injury in Wistar rats

Authors: Farhana Tasleem, Saad Bin Zafar Mahmood, Iqbal Azhar, Rubina Gulzar, Faheem Ahmed and Zafar Alam Mahmood

Abstract

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The aim of this research work was to investigate the less toxic and more specific hepatoprotective and anti-oxidant effects of hexane, ethanol extracts along with pure compound β-sitosterol glucoside isolated from leaves of Adenanthera pavonina in carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) induced liver damage in rat. The anti-oxidant effect was assessed in different concentrations of 100, 250, 500 and 1000 µg/ml by in-vitro model system of ferric cyanide reducing power assay using, ascorbic acid as a standard drug. Ethanol and hexane extracts of A. pavonina 75, 150 and 250 mg/kg body weight along with pure compound β-sitosterol glucoside 25, 75 and 100 mg/kg body weight were administered orally for six days to CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg body weight in equal volume of olive oil (1:1)) treated rats and the hepatoprotective activity was assessed in prophylactic and therapeutic model using biochemical parameters aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine biochemical parameters like aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphate (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) and direct bilirubin (DB) along with histopathological studies of liver tissues. The results were compared with standard hepatoprotective drug containing (BetaineGlucuronate + Diethanol amine Glucuronate + Nicotinamide Ascorbate). Five-days treatment of tested samples showed dose dependent reduction of CCl4 induced elevated activity of serum enzymes and total and direct bilirubin indicating the recovery of hepatic enzymes both in prophylactic and therapeutic model. However oral administration of β-sitosterol glucoside can significantly reduce the activity of ALP 183.40 IU/L, ᵞ-GT 0.60 IU/L, DB 0.04 mg/dl and ALT 30.20 IU/L, TB 0.14 mg/dl at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight in prophylactic and therapeutic model respectively. This hepatoprotective effect was comparable to that of the standard drug. Histopathological study of animals showed intact bile duct and portal vein without any cellular necrosis and fatty infiltration. The ferric cyanide reducing power assay showed that A. pavonina possessed magnificent anti-oxidant potential in concentration dependent manner but less than standard drug ascorbic acid and among all tested samples β-sitosterol glucoside indicated highest reducing power 0.279. Results of the present study indicated presence of anti-oxidant phytochemicals in A. pavonina leaves and exhibited substantial reducing power of free radicals, responsible for promising hepatoprotective effect.

63-67
Crave CrushTM lozenges containing gymnemic acids reduce consumption of high sugar foods

Authors: Sion Nobel, Christopher Baker and Costas Loullis

Abstract

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Number of views: 456

Reduction in sugar intake can have a positive effect on body weight and increased intake a negative impact. Gymnemic acids (GA) are antagonists at tongue glucose receptors thus blunting sweet taste. In a previous study GA were formulated in a lozenge, and administered to healthy subjects. Results showed that Crave CrushTM, containing GA, significantly reduced endpoints of intake and pleasantness for high sugar foods (HSF), but desire for HSF was not significantly reduced. The present trial re-examined the lack of significance in desire in the previous study, with greater number of subjects, additional inclusion criteria and used a cross over design to assess carryover effects. Percent of subjects who choose to eat the first candy offering subsequent to Crave CrushTM dosing, total candy consumption, pleasantness and desire ratings were assessed. Desire rating for a second candy offering immediately after Crave CrushTM, but before tasting a second candy, was significantly reduced by comparison to placebo. Additionally, study design improvements broaden the demographic applicability of this lozenge GA approach. No order effects were observed during the crossover. Subjects given Crave CrushTM lozenges also ate less candy, less often and their perceived pleasantness for their preferred candy was reduced. Crave CrushTM lozenges significantly reduced desire for and consumption of HSF relative to a placebo. This study provides further support regarding the role of GA in carbohydrate intake reduction, and broadens their potential applications as aids in supporting a healthy weight.

68-74
The chemical composition and inhibitory action of Punica granatum (L.) extracts against Candida spp.: A brief review

Authors: Anibal PC, Barbosa JP, Oliveira TR and Höfling JF

Abstract

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Number of views: 488

Faced with increasing cases of antimicrobial resistance, new compounds from natural products have been scientifically investigated for their antibacterial and antifungalaction. Ethnopharmacological studies have shown that many plants extracts have been a source of new bioactive compounds acting against several types of diseases, attracting attention to researchers, aimed at their application in medicine. Studies were carried out with extracts from Punica granatum L. and its compounds have showed antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects for the treatment of oral diseases, skin diseases, diarrhea, helminth infections, microbial infections and respiratory diseases among others. Its antimicrobial activity has been investigated recently, and may be present in various parts of the plant such as flowers, leaves, stems and bark. It was found high activity of the P. granatum methanolic extracts against strains of Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and other species. Candida yeast is an opportunistic pathogen and its virulence factors may contribute to its invasion and pathogenicity. These considerations served as a basis of the studies carried out in this review work, aiming to evaluate the use of extracts obtained from different parts of the P. granatum L. fruits as antimicrobial agents, associated to researches of components with bioactive potential present in these structures, determined by mass spectrometry.