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Background: The plant Eriosema chinense Vogel (Fabaceae) is mainly found in the Eastern Himalayan regions of India and China, and its roots are used traditionally by the tribal people of Meghalaya (India) in treatment of diarrhea. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the potential of roots from E. chinense against enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC)-induced infectious diarrhea. Materials and Methods: Ethanolic extract of E. chinense (EEC) roots and its chloroform fraction (CEC) were standardized with eriosematin E using high-performance liquid chromatography. The efficacy of EEC (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and CEC (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated against EPEC-induced infectious diarrhea, where behavioral parameters at the 6th and 24th h followed by determination of water content and density of EPEC in stools along with blood parameters examination. Further, the colonic and small intestinal tissues were subjected to biochemical analysis, antioxidant evaluation, determination of ion concentration, Na+/K+-ATPase activity, and histopathology. Results:The results demonstrated a significant antidiarrheal potential of EEC and CEC at both dose levels; however, EEC at 200 and CEC at 100 mg/kg p.o. were found to be more effective, which also reduced EPEC density in stools and also its water content. The treatment also demonstrated a significant restoration of altered antioxidant and electrolyte status and reactivated Na+/K+-ATPase and prevented epithelial tissue damage. Conclusion: The effect may be attributed to an inhibition in intestinal secretion, nitric oxide production, and reactivation of Na+/K+-ATPase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance The plant Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. & Wendl. (Solanaceae) is one of the members of the dashamula (ten roots) in Ayurvedic system of medicine. The stem and fruits are used as an antipyretic, antiasthmatic and is prescribed in skin infections and for relief in burning sensation in the feet accompanied by vesicular eruptions. Objective To scientifically validate the anti-psoriatic potential of Solanum xanthocarpum stem in Imiquimod-induced psoriatic mice model. Materials and methods Ethanolic stems extract of Solanum xanthocarpum (ESX) was first subjected to phytochemical screening and quantification of identified phytoconstituents, which was further standardized with the help of HPTLC using chlorogenic acid as a marker. The extract was then subjected to acute oral toxicity and skin irritability study for determining the safety profile of the extract. Imiquimod-induced psoriatic mouse model was then performed to check the efficacy of extract against psoriasis, where treatment was carried out for 15 days both topically (Gel at 2.5%, 5% and 10%) as well as orally (at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o.) and their Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) was calculated. The study also included determination of levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17 in the animal tissues, which further included biochemical evaluations such as total collagen, hexosamine, hyaluronic acid DNA, protein antioxidant profiles such as lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase and catalase along with histopathological studies of the tissues. Result ESX showed the presence of mainly phenols, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and carbohydrates, while chlorogenic acid was reported to be 3.49% w/w. The Imiquimod-induced psoriatic mouse model, depicted a potent anti-psoriatic activity of the extract both topical (10%) and oral (200 and 400 mg/kg p.o., as evident through PASI grading The effect was found to be more prominent in case of topically treated as compared to orally treated mice. The results also showed a significant inhibition in the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17 in treated animal tissues and also showed significant restoration of the altered biochemical parameters along with reduced hyperkeratinisation as observed through histopathology. Conclusion The study scientifically justified the anti-psoriatic activity of the ESX, which may be attributed to inhibition in the expression of cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17. Further, the observed antioxidant, antimicrobial and cellular proliferative activities may act as a contributing factor in treatment of psoriasis, which may be attributed to the presence of chlorogenic acid along with other phytochemicals in combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Roots of the plant Eriosema chinense Vogel (Fabaceae) is distributed mainly over the Eastern Himalayan region of India and China. The roots of the plant are used as a vegetable by the people of Northern Australia, China and North East India and are used traditionally by the tribal people of Meghalaya (India) for the treatment of diarrhoea. It has been reported to have significant antidiarrhoeal, cytotoxic and antimycobacterial activity.Purpose/objective: The present investigation was undertaken to isolate a lead molecule responsible for the observed antidiarrhoeal activity.Methods: Eriosematin E, a prenylated flavanone, was isolated using column chromatography and was characterized by comparing its melting point and spectroscopic data (UV, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Mass Spectra) from literature. Eriosematin E (2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg p.o.) was then screened for normal faecal excretion rate and castor oil-induced diarrhoea models in rats. Further, it was examined for small intestinal transit, intestinal fluid accumulation and PGE2 induced enteropooling models in rats. Biochemical estimations and Na+ and K+ concentration in intestinal fluid were also determined along with colonic histopathological studies.Results: The results illustrated a significant (P< 0.05) reduction in normal faecal output at 10mg/kg p.o. after 5th and 7thh of treatment and also showed maximum protection of 69.43% from diarrhoea in the castor oil-induced diarrhoea model. Significant results were also observed at the maximum effective dose of eriosematin E (10mg/kg p.o.) in inhibiting peristaltic index (small intestinal transit) and reducing intestinal fluid volume of castor oil induced and PGE2 induced enteropooling models. Further, eriosematin E restored all the alterations in biochemical parameters such as nitric oxide, protein, DNA, superoxide dismutase, catalase and lipid peroxidation. It also significantly recovered Na+ and K+ loss from body and confirmed its protective nature through the histopathological studies.Conclusion: The study corroborates the antidiarrhoeal potential of eriosematin E which may be attributed to its antisecretory and antioxidant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae), commonly used as an edible fruit is traditionally used worldwide in treatment of various gastrointestinal problems including diarrhoea. The leaves of the plant have also been evaluated for antidiarrhoeal activity in various chemical induced diarrhoea models. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the potency of P. guajava leaves and its major biomarker quercetin against enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) induced infectious diarrhoea using preclinical and computational model. P. guajava alcoholic leaf extract (PGE) was initially standardized using HPLC taking quercetin as a biomarker and was then subjected to antidiarrhoeal evaluation on rats in an EPEC induced diarrhoea rat model. The study included assessment of various behavioral parameters, initially for 6 h and then for up to 24 h of induction which was followed by estimation of stool water content, density of EPEC in stools and blood parameters evaluation. The colonic and small intestinal tissues of the treated animals were subjected to various biochemical estimations, in vivo antioxidant evaluation, estimation of ion concentration, Na+/K+–ATPase activity, assessment of pro-inflammatory cytokines and histopathological studies. Further, the major biomarker off PGE, quercetin was subjected to molecular docking studies with Na+/K+–ATPase and EPEC. The results demonstrated a significant antidiarrhoeal activity of quercetin (50 mg/kg), PGE at 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o., where quercetin and PFGE at 200 mg/kg, p.o. were found to be more prominent, as confirmed through higher % protection, water content of stools and density of EPEC in stools. PGE and its biomarker quercetin also significantly recovered the WBC, Hb, platelets loss and also revealed a significant restoration of altered antioxidants level, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) expression and had positive influence on Na+/K+–ATPase activity. The docking studies of quercetin with Na+/K+–ATPase showed favourable interactions and residues Glu 327, Ser 775, Asn 776, Glu 779 and Asp 804 of Na+/K+–ATPase were adequately similar to quercetin for donating ligands for binding, while quercetin was also found to terminate the linkage between mammalian cells and EPEC thus, preventing further infection from EPEC. Inhibition in intestinal secretion, reduced nitric oxide production and inflammatory expression along with reactivation of Na+/K–ATPase activity could be attributed to the observed antidiarrhoeal potential of PGE against infectious diarrhoea, where quercetin was confirmed to be the main contributing factor. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]