Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease

90-98

Authors: SP Prabha, PN Ansil, A Nitha, PJ Wills, MS Latha*

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant and antihepatotoxic effect of methanolic extract of Gardenia gummifera Linn. f. root (MEGG) on thioacetamide (TAA) induced oxidative stress in male Wistar rats. Methods: In the preventive study, rats were administered with 125 and 250 mg/ kg of MEGG for 9 days prior to TAA administration (100 mg/kg s.c.). In post-treatment groups, rats were treated with MEGG at doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg, 2, 24 and 48 h after TAA intoxication. Silymarin was used as a standard drug control (100 mg/kg). Hepatotoxicity was assessed by quantifying the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The antioxidant potential of MEGG was evaluated by the estimation of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)] in hepatic and renal tissues. Histopathological changes were also evaluated. Results: MEGG significantly (P≤0.05) prevented the elevation of serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH and tissue malondialdehyde levels in both experimental groups, when compared to the TAA alone treated groups. The rats receiving TAA plus MEGG exhibited significant (P≤0.05) increases in hepatic and renal antioxidant activities including GSH, GST, GR, GPx and CAT levels. Quantification of histopathological changes also supported the dose dependent protective effects of MEGG. Conclusions: These observations suggest that MEGG has dose dependent hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect against TAA induced oxidative stress.

103-106

Authors: S Subash, P Subramanian

Objective: To evaluated the protective effects of morin (3, 5, 7, 2', 4'-pentahydroxyflavone) on lipid peroxidation and lipid levels during ammonium chloride (AC) induced hyperammonemia in experimental rats. Methods: Thirty two male albino Wistar rats, which are weighing between 180-200 g were used for the study. The hyperammonemia was induced by administration of 100 mg/kg body weight (i.p.) thrice in a week of AC for 8 weeks. Rats were treated with morin at dose (30 mg/kg body weight) via intragastric intubations together with AC. At the end of experimental duration, blood ammonia, plasma urea, lipid peroxidation indices [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydroperoxides and lipid levels (cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids and phospholipids)] in serum and tissues were analysed to evaluate the antiperoxidative and antilipidemic effects of morin. Results: Ammonia, urea, lipid peroxidative indices and lipid levels were significantly increased in AC administered group. Morin treatment resulted in positive modulation of ammonia, urea, lipid peroxidative indices and lipid levels. Morin administration to normal rats did not exhibit any significant changes in any of the parameters studied. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the beneficial effect of morin on ammonia, urea, lipid peroxidative indices and lipid levels could be due to its antioxidant property.

110-116

Authors: Prejwltta Maurya, Preeti Sharma, Lalit Mohan, Manish Mohan Verma, Chand Narayan Srivastava

Objective: To evaluate the larvicidal activities of different combinations of synthetic nicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid with an insecticidal plant, Ocimum basilicum (O. basilicum) against malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi, with reference to the impact of most potent combination on some non-targets, Anisops bouvieri (A. bouvieri) and cyclop. Methods: The larvicidal activity was determined against mosquito larvae in various concentrations, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4 under laboratory conditions. These experiments were conducted according to WHO standard procedure. Results: In bioassays, binary mixtures of different combinations of synthetic insecticide (imidacloprid) with crude petroleum ether leave extract of O. basilicum and then with most potent 4th fraction of it, produced promising results. Therefore, ratio 1:1 of all the binary mixtures was most effective as compared to 1:2 and 1:4 against mosquito larvae and showed synergism in all cases. The combinatorial ratio 1:1 of imidacloprid and most potent 4th fraction of petroleum ether extract of O. basilicum with LC50 value 0.010 and 0.007 ppm; LC90 value 0.033 and 0.023 ppm for anopheline larvae after 24 and 48 h of treatment, respectively, showed high toxicity. This effective ratio was found safe to aquatic mosquito predator, A. bouvieri and other aquatic non- target cyclops with the respective LC50 values 12.351 and 5.290 ppm after 24 h of exposure. Conclusions: It is, therefore, concluded that the tested combination is more effective than its individual constituents. Further, this formulation is cost-effective and ecofriendly to the aquatic fauna.

124-128

Authors: Govindarajan M, Sivakumar R, Rajeswary M, Yogalakshmi K

Objective: To determine the adulticidal efficacy of different solvent leaf and seed extracts of Pithecellobium dulce (P. dulce) against Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus). Methods: Sucrose-fed and blood starved mosquitoes were released into the tube, and the mortality effects of the extracts were observed every 10 min for 3 h exposure period. At the end of 1, 2, and 3 h exposure periods, the mosquitoes were placed in the holding tube. Cotton pads soaked in 10% sugar solution with vitamin B complex were placed in the tube during the holding period of 24 h. Mortality of the mosquitoes was recorded after 24 h. Results: Among five solvent extracts tested, the maximum efficacy was observed in the methanol extract of leaves of P. dulce. The LC50 and LC90 values of P. dulce leaves and seeds against Cx. quinquefasciatus were 234.97, 309.24 ppm and 464.86, 570.80 ppm, respectively. No mortality was observed in controls. The Chi-square values were significant at P<0.05 level. Conclusions: From the results it can be concluded that the crude extract of P. dulce has excellent potential for controlling filariasis vector mosquito, Cx. quinquefasciatus. This is the first report on the mosquito adulticidal activity of the reported P. dulce plant.

133-138

Authors: Surya Prakash Dwivedi, Nuzhat Husain, RB Singh, Nancy Malla

Objective: To identify the cases of trichomoniasis in symptomatic and asymptomatic Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) infected patients by PCR amplification of hypervariable 18S rRNA gene and to assess the sensitivity of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique for their diagnosis. Methods: We enrolled 498 women of child bearing age groups, with their pre-informed consent, attending OPD for their routine checkups and STI related problems. Trichomoniasis was diagnosed on the basis of wet mount preparations and PCR with a primer set targeting a well-conserved region in the 18S rRNA genes of T. vaginalis, respectively. Sequencing was done for differentiating the symptomatic and asymptomatic strains of axenic and clinical isolates. Results: After PCR diagnosis T. vaginalis infection was detected in 17 (3.42%) out of 498 clinical isolates. Seventeen axenic and sixteen clinical strains of T. vaginalis tested were successfully detected by PCR yielding a single predicted product of 312 bp in gel electrophoresis followed by restriction digestion with restriction endonuclease HaeIII. After restriction digestion they gave two bands, one of 101 and the other of 211 bp, while there was negative response with DNA from Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Giardia lamblia, Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania donovani and Entamoeba histolytica. An optimal analytical sensitivity and specificity of one T. vaginalis organism per PCR was achieved. Sequence of symptomatic and asymptomatic strains of axenic and clinical isolates are somewhat differentiated on the basis of point mutations in their 18S rRNA gene. Conclusions: Only few factors are known to predict symptoms of T. vaginalis infection, although the majority of women are infected with trichomoniasis are reported. Therefore the application of sensitive PCR based diagnosis may be quite useful for routine diagnosis of T. vaginalis strains.

144-150

Authors: Kumbhare MR, Guleha V, Sivakumar T

Objective: To assess the phytochemical constituents, total phenolic content, cytotoxicity and invitro antioxidant activity of stem bark extracts of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) (Moringaceae). Methods: Brine shrimp lethality (BSL) bioassay was used to investigate the cytotoxic effects. DPPH and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity was used to demonstrate antioxidant activity. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, steroids and alkaloids. The LC50 values were obtained for extracts as 850 μg/mL for petroleum ether extract, 800 μg/mL for chloroform extract and 900 μg/mL for methanol extract. The total phenolic content of the methanolic extract was 50.72% w/w, equivalent to gallic acid. Petroleum ether, chloroform and methanolic extracts of M. oleifera and standard ascorbic acid were found to be scavenger of DPPH radical with an IC50 of 124.75, 112.08, 54.34 and 13.86 μg/mL, respectively. Methanolic extract was found to be good scavenger of DPPH radical. Petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate soluble fraction of methanolic extracts of M. oleifera and ascorbic acid were found to be scavenger of nitric oxide radical with an IC50 of 93.32, 65.12, 54.83 and 12.59 μg/mL, respectively. Ethyl acetate soluble fraction was found to be good scavenger of nitric oxide radical. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the crude extracts of M. oleifera is a potential source of natural antioxidants, and this justifies its uses in folkloric medicines.

154-158

Authors: N Aarthi, K Murugan

Objective: To evaluate the ovicidal and oviposition deterrent potential of the ethanolic extract from Vetiveria zizanioides (V. zizanioides) roots against the malarial vector, Anopheles stephensi (A. stephensi ). Methods: The dried clean V. zizanioides roots were powerdered and extracted with ethanol for 8 h in a soxhlet apparatus. After evaporation, the residue was dissolved in acetone. One hundred freshly laid eggs of A. stephensi were exposed to the extract at differnt concentrations for 48 h, and the hatch rate was calculated to evaluate the ovicidal activity. Those exposed to actone aqueous solution were used as control. The egg laying behavior of gravid female A. stephensi was also observed using oviposition deterrent test. Effective repellency (ER) was used to evaluate the oviposition deterrent activity. Results: Exposure to the crude ethanol extract of V. zizanioides reduced the hatchability rate of A. stephensi eggs, and zero hatchability was exerted at 375 ppm. In the oviposition deterrent test, the extract alleviated the egg laying with an ER of 78.9% at the highest concentration of 375 ppm and even 53.7% at the lowest concentration of 125 ppm. Moreover, the negative values of oviposition active index also suggests the extract was a good deterrent agent. Conclusions: The ethanolic extract of V. zizanioides roots may be used an alternative pesticide to control A. stephensi at the early stage of life history, possibly due to the presence of various active chemical compounds.

163=167

Authors: DK Patel, K Patel, R Kumar, M Gadewar, V Tahilyani

Bergenin is a C-glucoside of 4-O-methyl gallic acid found in the form of colourless crystalline compound. It is isolated from different plants such as Bergenial crassifolia (B. crassifolia), Corylopsis spicata (C. spicata), Caesalpinia digyna (C. digyna), Mallotus japonicus (M. japonicus) and Sacoglottis gabonensis (S. gabonensis) etc. Isolation and characterization of bergenin were confirmed through different spectroscopic methods. Bergenin exhibits antihepatotoxic, antiulcerogenic, anti-HIV, antifungal, hepatoprotective, antiarrhythmic, neuroprotective, antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory and burn wound healing properties. Though different methods have been developed for isolation and characterization of bergenin in different sources, still liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry is most commonly used techniques. Present review described the pharmacological activity, analytical methods and isolation techniques of bergenin, which give an idea about the nature and activity of bergenin. This review could be helpful to the researcherers in the future for the development of new drugs for the treatment of various types of illness. The data in the present review were collected from the available literature sources.