Search

Abstract: Aim of the study: Alstonia scholaris Linn. (R.Br.,) has been used in traditional and folklore medicine for the treatment of diabetes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of the leaves of A. scholaris (known as EEAS) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods: The streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were orally treated with vehicle (2% w/v Tween 80), glibenclamide (0.25mg/kg) and EEAS (100, 200 and 400mg/kg) to the respective treatment groups. The blood glucose level, body weight, glycosylated hemoglobin, muscle and liver glycogen, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status were measured and histopathology of pancreas was performed after 6 weeks of treatment and compared to the control. Results: EEAS and glibenclamide were found to significantly (p<0.001) reduce the blood glucose level, glycosylated hemoglobin and lipid peroxidation, whereas they increased body weight, liver and muscle glycogen and antioxidant status. The antidiabetic effect was sustained from 1 week onwards till the end of the study. The histopathology of pancreas revealed that the pancreatic β-cell damage with streptozotocin did not reverse in any of the treatment groups. Conclusion: It has been concluded that EEAS, in addition to the antidiabetic activity, also possess antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study aimed at the investigation of neuroprotective activity of macerated ethanolic extract of Indian propolis (MEEP) against β-Amyloid 25–35 (Aβ 25-35 ) induced memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease. MEEP was administrated orally to Wistar rats at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg. Behavioral performances were evaluated using morris water maze and radial arm maze. At the end of behavioral study, the brains were removed and antioxidant parameters and brain monoamines were estimated. Further acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibition and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) were evaluated. In addition hematological parameters and histopathological tests were also carried out. In behavioral models, MEEP significantly (P < 0.05) reversed the cognitive impairment of β amyloid-induced rats. The antioxidant potential was significantly increased (P < 0.05) after administration of MEEP. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly (P < 0.01) decreased in brain homogenate after treatment with MEEP extract as compared with diseased control group (group III). MEEP showed dose-dependent AChE inhibition and increased the levels of brain monoamines (P < 0.05) as compared with group III. MEEP improved memory deficits by increasing BDNF in plasma (P < 0.05). The study concludes that MEEP has anti-Alzheimer potential in rats through multiple mechanisms and further studies are ongoing for fractionation and biological screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Andrographis paniculata Nees (Acanthacae) have broad range of pharmacological effects such as hepatoprotective, antifertility, antimalarial, antidiabetic, suppression of various cancer cells and anti-inflammatory properties and is widely used medicinal plant in the traditional Unani and Ayurvedic medicinal systems. Andrographolide (AN) is one of the active constituent of the A. paniculata Nees extract (APE). They have been found in many traditional herbal formulations in India and proven to be effective as anti-inflammatory drug. Aim of the study To evaluate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (anti arthritic) herb-drug interactions of A. paniculata Nees extract (APE) and pure andrographolide (AN) with naproxen (NP) after oral co-administration in wistar rats. Materials and methods After oral co-administration of APE (200 mg/Kg) and AN (60 mg/kg) with NP (7.5 mg/kg) in rats, drug concentrations in plasma were determined using HPLC method. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of C max , t max , t 1/2 , MRT, Vd, CL, and AUC were calculated by non-compartment model. Change in paw volume, mechanical nociceptive threshold, mechanical hyperalgesia, histopathology and hematological parameters were evaluated to study antiarthritic activity. Results Co-administration of NP with APE and pure AN decreased systemic exposure level of NP in vivo. The C max , t max, AUC 0−t of NP was decreased. In pharmacodynamic study, NP (10 mg/kg) alone and NP+AN (10+60 mg/kg) groups exhibited significant synergistic anti-arthritic activity as compared to groups NP+APE, APE and AN alone. Conclusion The results obtained from this study suggested that NP, APE and pure AN existed pharmacokinetic herb–drug interactions in rat which is correlated with anti-arthritic study. The knowledge regarding possible herb–drug interaction of NP might be helpful for physicians as well as patients using AP. So further studies should be done to understand the effect of other herbal ingredients of APE on NP as well as to predict the herb–drug interaction in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim of the study: Alstonia scholaris (Family: Apocynaceae) is a medicinal plant which is indicated for the treatment of various diseases including arthritis in folklore medicine. The purpose of this study is to investigate the antiarthritic activity and in vivo antioxidant role of A. scholaris leaves in animal models. Materials and methods: The ethanol extract of A. scholaris leaves (EEAS) was tested against Freund''s Complete Adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritic rats. Arthritis assessment and body weight were measured daily till day 28 whereas nociceptive threshold was measured once in 2 days. On day 28, the animals were anaesthetized, synovial fluid withdrawn and leukocyte concentration was determined. The animals were sacrificed, synovial tissue was extracted and estimated for the myeloperoxide, malonaldehyde, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Effect of EEAS on ethanol and sodium salicylate induced gastropathy was also studied. Results: EEAS significantly decreased the arthritis which was evident with arthritis index, body weight and leukocyte infiltration. EEAS significantly reduced gastric lesion indices and gastric juice secretion. It also significantly decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxide in the articular tissue, whereas it significantly increased the antioxidant enzymes glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Conclusion: The present study is suggestive that EEAS has prominent antiarthritic activity which may be attributed to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressant and antioxidant activities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Andrographis paniculata Nees (Acanthacae) is commonly used medicinal plant in the traditional. Unani and Ayurvedic medicinal systems. It has broad range of pharmacological effects such as hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antivenom, antifertility, inhibition of replication of the HIV virus, antimalarial, antifungal, antibacterial, antidiabetic, suppression of various cancer cells and anti-inflammatory properties. Andrographolide (AN) is one of the active constituent of the A. paniculata Nees extract (APE). They have been found in many traditional herbal formulations in India and proven to be effective as anti-inflammatory drug Aim of the study To evaluate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (anti-arthritic) herb–drug interactions of A. paniculata Nees extract (APE) and pure andrographolide (AN) with etoricoxib (ETO) after oral co-administration in wistar rats. Materials and methods After oral co-administration of APE (200 mg/Kg) and AN (60 mg/kg) with ETO (10 mg/kg) in rats, drug concentrations in plasma were determined using HPLC method. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of C max , t max , t 1/2 , MRT, Vd, CL, and AUC were calculated by non-compartment model. Change in paw volume, mechanical nociceptive threshold, mechanical hyperalgesia, histopathology and hematological parameters were evaluated to study antiarthritic activity. Results Co-administration of ETO with APE and pure AN decreased systemic exposure level of each compound in vivo . The C max , AUC, t 1/2 of ETO was decreased whereas Vd and CL of ETO was increased significantly after co-administration of ETO with pure AN and APE. In pharmacodynamic study, ETO alone and ETO+APE (10+200 mg/kg) groups exhibited significant synergistic anti-arthritic activity as compared to groups ETO+AN, APE and AN alone. Conclusion The results obtained from this study suggested that ETO, APE and pure AN existed pharmacokinetic herb–drug interactions in rat which is correlated with anti-arthritic study. Physicians and patients using A. paniculata should have the knowledge about its possible herb–drug interaction with ETO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]