Plants used as antidiabetics in popular medicine in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

In vitro callus and in vivo leaf extract of Gymnema sylvestre stimulate β-cells regeneration and anti-diabetic activity in Wistar rats

New xanthones and cytotoxic constituents from Garcinia mangostana fruit hulls against human hepatocellular, breast, and colorectal cancer cell lines.

The study aimed to evaluate the hepatic antioxidant capacity of embelin (from Embelia ribes) using different antioxidant tests, free radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation in albino rats. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) treatment to rats has been more susceptible to peroxidative damage through production of reactive metabolites, namely trichloromethyl-free radicals (CCl · 3 and/or Cml 3 OO · ) as measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive species. After the induction of liver damage by CCl 4 intoxication to rats, the concentration of lipid peroxidation was significantly (P ≤ 0.001) higher in liver and serum, along with concomitant decrease in the levels of antioxidants and cytochrome P450 enzyme in liver as compared to vehicle controls. The activities of marker enzymes - transaminases (AST, ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) - along with the total bilirubin and total protein levels were altered significantly (P ≤ 0.001) in the serum of CCl 4 -treated rats. When these rats received embelin orally (25 mg/kg) from day 1 to day 15, peroxidative damage was minimal in both liver and serum along with effectively inducing the antioxidant potential in CCl 4 -treated rats. The biochemical results were compared with the standard drug silymarin - a combination of flavonolignans of Silybum marianum and histology of liver sections. In conclusion, this study suggests that embelin acts as a natural antioxidant against hepatotoxicity induced in rats.

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Effects of embelin on lipid peroxidation and free radical scavenging activity against liver damage in rats.

Cognitive deficits that present with many of neuropsychiatric conditions and/or alone as developmental deficit demand use of nootropics to boost cognitive abilities. Recently there is a tremendous urge to explore medicinal plants globally for improving cognitive function owing to their less adverse effects. Ayurveda provides a list of herbs known for nootropic activity as well as their multi-dimensional utility in various conditions. Present paper is a review to update knowledge on pharmacological properties, major chemical constituents, therapeutic actions, preclinical studies, safety and possible mode of action of the selected herbs from ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. Concurrently, it opens up for further research and standardization on nootropic herbs

Nootropic Herbs (Medhya Rasayana) in Ayurveda: An Update

Phytochemical investigation of the seeds of Embelia ribes Burm. resulted in the isolation of three new compounds identified as 3-(4"-hydroxyoctadecanyloxy)-p-quinonyl-5-methylene-8-(10-pentanyloxy)-p-quinone (embelinol) (1), n-pentacosanyl-n-nonadeca-7'-en-9'-alpha-ol-1'-oate (embeliaribyl ester) (2) and 1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxy 3-undecanyl benzene (embeliol) (3) along with the known compound 2,5-dihydroxy-3-undecyl-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione (embelin) (4). Their structures have been established on the basis of spectral data analyses and chemical reactions.

New compounds from the seeds of Embelia ribes Burm.

The effect of aqueous extracts of Syzygium cumini. Linn., Gymnema sylvestre. (Retz.) Schult., and Portulaca olearacea. Linn. were investigated in fasting normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced dia...

Antidiabetic Activity of Some Indian Medicinal Plants

Recent years have shown considerable efforts to identify new chemopreventive agents that could be of clinical value. In the current study, modulatory effect of Nardostachys jatamansi (Jones) DC on benzoyl peroxide–induced oxidative stress, toxicity, and ear edema is investigated. Pretreatment with jatamansi at doses of 2.5 and 5 mg=kg body weight in acetone prior to the application of benzoyl peroxide (20 mg=animal per 0.2 ml acetone) resulted in significant inhibition of benzoyl peroxide–induced cutaneous oxidative stress, toxicity, and ear edema in a dose-dependent manner. The cutaneous microsomal membrane lipid peroxidation and xanthine oxidase activities were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Moreover, the depleted levels of phase II metabolizing enzymes and glutathione were recovered significantly (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that N. jatamansi is an effective chemopreventive agent in mouse skin with potential of ameliorating benzoyl peroxide–induced cutaneous oxidative stress, toxicity, and ear edema.

Inhibition of Benzoyl Peroxide–Induced Cutaneous Oxidative Stress, Toxicity, and Ear Edema in Mice by Nardostachys jatamansi.

The effect of the ethanol extract of Capparis moonii Hook f Thoms (Capparidaceae) fruits was studied in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats The hepatotoxicity was induced in rats with the administration of 1 : 1 (v/v) mixture of CCl4 in olive oil at the dose of 1 ml/kg subcutaneously on day 7 The ethanol extract of C moonii (200 mg/kg) and the standard drug silymarin (25 mg/kg) were given orally from day 1 to day 9 The extract of C moonii produced significant (p < 0001) lowering of the elevated Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminace (SGOT) Serum glutamicpyraric transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and a rise of depleted total protein when compared with the toxic control The results were comparable with the standard drug silymarin

Prevention of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity by the Ethanol Extract of Capparis moonii Fruits in Rats

Water soluble polysaccharides are currently finding increasing use as a basis material for plasma volume expander. In clinical setting it is desirable to have a precise knowledge of steric and chemical structure, since these affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacology of plasma volume expander. Branch component of starch amylopectin is very similar in structure to glycogen, the reserve polysaccharide of animal and therefore is liable to be compatible with body tissue. The knowledge of weight average molecular mass, degree of branching, osmotic pressure and coil dimension are essential, since low molecular mass do not have desirable effect and large molar mass have undesirable effect. Assam Bora rice starch was characterized by polymer analysis for use as plasma volume expander. Characterization involves the determination of FTIR spectra, degree of branching by H1 NMR, osmotic pressure by internal measurement technique, establishment of Mark-Houwink relationship and determination of Molecular weight - viscosity relationship.

Abdul Wadood Siddiqui

Papers

New compounds from the seeds of Embelia ribes Burm.

Antidiabetic Activity of Some Indian Medicinal Plants

Inhibition of Benzoyl Peroxide–Induced Cutaneous Oxidative Stress, Toxicity, and Ear Edema in Mice by Nardostachys jatamansi.

Prevention of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity by the Ethanol Extract of Capparis moonii Fruits in Rats

Evaluation of Assam Bora rice starch as plasma volume expander by polymer analysis.