Advancement in Medicinal Plant Research

62-72

Authors: Bruno A. Rocha, Odinei H. Gonçalves, Fernanda V. Leimann, Edirlene S. W. Rebecca, Rosana A. Silva-Buzanello, Lúcio C. Filho, Pedro H. H. Araújo, Roberto K. N. Cuman and Ciomar A. Bersani-Amado

Curcuma longa L., commonly known as turmeric, has been used to treat some diseases such as gastric ulcers and rheumatoid arthritis. Studies showed that curcumin (Cur) has low water solubility and impaired bioavailability as a consequence of poor absorption, rapid hepatic and intestinal metabolism and also systemic elimination, justifying the development of new formulations to improve its bioavailability. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Cur and nanoencapsulated curcumin (CurNano) on acute inflammatory response in rats. For this, we used the miniemulsification/evaporation technique to obtain nanoparticles of poly(L-lactic acid) containing curcumin at different concentrations (1, 3, 9, and 15%). The results of the encapsulation efficiency, scanning electron microscopy, calorimetry, and infrared showed that curcumin was efficiently encapsulated, but there was an upper limit of the concentration of curcumin that can be entrapped in the nanoparticles (around 2.6%). The biological efficacy was evaluated by experimental model of carrageenan-induced paw edema. The data showed an improvement in the anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin because CurNano at dose 50 mg/kg produced an inhibitory effect similar to that of Cur 400 mg/kg. This probably occurred because of an increase in the bioavailability of curcumin after its encapsulation. Keywords: Curcumin, nanoparticles, inflammation, nanoencapsulation, bioavailability.

50-57

Authors: Ahmed S. Kabbashi, Waleed S. Koko, Serf Eldin A. Mohammed, Nadir Musa, Elbadri E. Osman, Mahmoud M. Dahab, Eltayeb F. Fadul Allah and Asaad Kh. Mohammed

The present study was conducted to investigate the amoebicidal activities of two medicinal plants used in Sudan. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica is a major cause of morbidity worldwide, causing approximately 50 million cases of dysentery and 100,000 deaths annually. Amoebiasis is due to infection with the protozoan parasite E. histolytica. The patients infected with E. histolytica must be treated right after definite diagnosis and no need to treat infected individuals with E. histolytica dispar isolates. Metronidazole is used as a drug of choice against amoebiasis. However, like a lot of other chemical agents, this drug has its own side effects. Whole plants of Adansonia digitatata (leave) and Cucurbita maxima (seed) were extracted by ethanol, with different concentrations (500, 250 and 125 μg/ml) and Metronidazole (312.5 μg/ml) to be investigated against E. histolytica trophozoites in vitro. Ethanolic extracts of A. digitatata (leave) exhibit 100% inhibition against E. histolytica at concentration 500 μg/ml after 72 h, this was compared with Metronidazole powder which gave 75% inhibition at concentration 312.5 μg/ml at the same time. Ethanolic extracts of Cucurbita maxima (seed) exhibit 100% inhibition at concentration 500 μg/ml after 96 h; this was compared with Metronidazole powder which gave 80% inhibition at concentration 312.5 μg/ml at the same time. The tested plants showed high antimicrobial activities to the tested bacterial and fungal strains. Moreover, C. maxima (seed) extract showed a moderate antioxidant activity via DPPH assay free radical test, however Adansonia digitatata (Leave) extract showed low antioxidant activity through the same test. On the other hand, no activity was presented in iron chelating assay. In conclusion, these studies conducted for both A. digitatata (leave) and C. maxima (Seed) were proved to have potent activities against E. histolytica. Keywords: In vitro, amoebicidal, Entamoeba histolytica, Metronidazole, Adansonia digitatata (leave), Cucurbita maxima (seed).

24-26

Authors: E. Jeroh, E. P. Awhin, C. A. Alalor and F. C. Chukwudebeli

ABSTRACT The effect of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. on the weight and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain of Rattus norvegicus was studied in this research. The results from this study revealed that the consumption of zobo drink ad libitum increased the weight of the treated animals so much (223.00 ± 8.30*) when compared with that of the control (176.00 ± 3.76) at P < 0.05. The result of this study also revealed that the consumption of zobo drink ad libitum increased the enzyme activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) of the treated rats (8.78 ± 0.15) when compared with that of the control (6.83 ± 0.88) at P < 0.05. This was not the same for malondialdehyde (MDA) as the treated had a reduced enzyme activity (3.90 ± 0.34) when compared with that of the control (4.51 ± 0.25) at P > 0.05. The result from this study has shown that zobo drink, if taken in adequate manner serve as an antioxidant which reduces the activity of oxidants within the cells of the brain of the treated rats thus, the consumption of zobo drink ad libitum reduced oxidation reaction in the brain cells which is good for health. Keywords: Zobo drink, Hibiscus sabdariffa L., superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, Rattus novergicus.

34-40

Authors: Bo Li, Mei Sun, Jing-Xia Wang, Ye Ren, Yuan Liu, Zhi-Feng Zhang, Lu-Yang Lu, Ji-Zhong Zhang, Rui Zeng and Li-Min Li

The present paper highlights an authentication of microscopic features of stem and leaf of Panax quinquefolius L. grown in Ontario, Canada, including microscopy of stem, leaf, leaf stalk and surface view of leaf epidermis, powder and dissociation of seed, stem and leaf of P. quinquefolius L. The methods could be adopted to distinguish Panacis quinquefolii Radix imported from Canada, which is available or presented as mixtures in the raw herbs marketed in China at present. The number of compound leaf, palisade ratio, vein islet numbers, starch grain, calcium oxalate, cluster crystals and secretory canal characteristics were presented. So it was suggested that the stem and leaves could be further researched on biological active effects. Keywords: Panax quinquefolius L., morphological and microscopic features, authentication, Ontario, Canada.

7-15

Authors: S. A. Shinkafi

This research was conducted on antidermatophytic activities of column chromatographic fractions and toxicity studies of Pergularia tomentosa and Mitracarpus scaber used in the treatment of dermatophytoses. Column chromatographic fractionation of Pergularia tomentosa and Mitracarpus scaber (leaves) was investigated. The column revealed five (5) fractions, each of N- hexane and chloroform extracts. These fractions were HX1 to HX5 and CHL1 to CHL5 respectively. The antidermatophytic activities of the column fractions was tested, showed that (CHL4) and (CHL1) were active against T.rubrum, T. mentagrophyte and M. gypseum at 10 mg/ml. The results of toxicity studies of the plants carried out on experimental rabbits indicated that the infected rabbits treated with hexane and chloroform extracts of the two plants were effective on treatment at concentration of 10 mg/ml. A very slight erythema was observed only on rabbits treated with hexane extract of M. scaber. From the results it can be concluded that the two extracts of P. tomentosa and M. scaber exhibited strong antidermatophytic activities against most of the isolates tested more than the conventional antifungal drug (Griseofulvin). The high quantities of saponins and flavonoids components of the two plants might be responsible for their activities. The results of animal testing showed that the plants (leaves) extracts are safe for topical application on the skin as claimed by traditional healers. Keywords: Antidermatophytic activities, column chromatography, toxicity studies, plants, dermatophytoses.