Showing papers by "Mahaboobkhan Rasool published in 2009"

Evaluation of analgesic, antipyretic and ulcerogenic effect of Withaferin A

Abstract: Withania somnifera, popularly known as Ashwagandha is widely considered to be an integral part of Ayurvedic and Indigenous medical systems for over centuries for the treatment of various ailments. Withanolides (steroid lactone), are the major active constituents present in the roots and leaves of Withania somnifera. In the present study, withaferin A (active component of Withania somnifera), a steroid lactone was examined for its analgesic, antipyretic and ulcerogenic properties employing different experimental models in mice. For comparison purpose, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin was used as standard. The analgesic activity was measured using the acetic acid induced-abdominal constriction and hot plate tests. The antipyretic and ulcerogenic effects were assessed using the yeast-induced pyrexia test and gastric ulceration respectively. It was found that withaferin A (20/30mg/kg b.wt. i.p.) at both the doses produced significant analgesic and antipyretic effect in comparison to standard drug indomethacin. In addition, withaferin A (30/40mg kg.b.wt. p.o.) fed animals showed absence of gastric damage at different dose levels after 16 hrs fasting, whereas indomethacin (20mg/kg/b.wt. p.o) administered mice produced remarkable gastric ulceration. The results clearly indicate that withaferin A possesses potent analgesic and antipyretic properties without causing any gastric damage. supporting previous claims of its anti-inflammatory effect. It might be a useful contribution to highlight the mechanism of action of Withania somnifera as an arthritic drug. However, there is a need for further studies in order to confirm these results with more details.

Inhibition of monosodium urate crystal-induced inflammation by withaferin A.

Abstract: Purpose. Gouty arthritis is a characteristically intense acute inflammatory reaction resulting from the formation of sodium urate crystals in the joint cavity. In the present study, the effect of withaferin A, a steroidal lactone was investigated on monosodium urate crystal-induced inflammation in mice; an experimental model for gouty arthritis and compared it with that of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin. Methods. Paw volume and levels/activities of lysosomal enzymes, lipid peroxidation, anti-oxidant status and inflammatory mediator TNF-α were determined in control and monosodium urate crystal-induced mice. The levels of β-glucuronidase and lactate dehydrogenase were also measured in monosodium urate crystal-incubated polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL). Results. Paw volume, the levels of lysosomal enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory mediator tumour necrosis factor-α were found to be increased significantly and the activities of antioxidant status were in turn decreased in monosodium urate crystal-induced mice; however these changes were reverted back to near normal levels in withaferin A (30 mg/kg/b.wt, i.p.) treated monosodium urate crystal-induced mice. In addition, β-glucuronidase and lactate dehydrogenase level were reduced in withaferin A (100μg/ml) treated monosodium urate crystal-incubated polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Conclusion. The present findings clearly indicated that withaferin A exerted a strong anti-inflammatory effect against gouty arthritis.

Appraisal of immunomodulatory potential of Spirulina fusiformis : an in vivo and in vitro study

Abstract: In recent years, Spirulina has gained more and more attention from medical scientists as a nutraceutical and a source of potential pharmaceuticals. The present study was conducted to elucidate the immunomodulatory effect of Spirulina fusiformis (a cyanobacterium of the family Oscillatoriaceae) in vivo and in vitro. The in vivo effect of S. fusiformis (400 or 800 mg/kg body wt.) on humoral immune response, cell-mediated immune response and tumour necrosis factor alpha was investigated in mice. We also evaluated the effect of S. fusiformis (50 or 100 μg/ml) in vitro on mitogen (phytohaemagglutinin)-induced T lymphocyte proliferation in heparinized human peripheral blood. For comparison, dexamethasone was used as a standard. In mice, S. fusiformis (400 or 800 mg/kg body wt.) administration significantly inhibited the humoral immune response, cell-mediated immune response (delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH)) and tumour necrosis factor alpha in a dose-dependent manner. In vitro, S. fusiformis (50 or 100 μg/ml) decreased the mitogen (phytohaemagglutinin)-induced T lymphocyte proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner when compared with control cells. These observations clearly suggest that S. fusiformis has a remarkable immunosuppressive effect, which provides a scientific validation for the popular use of this drug, and helped us in further work on investigating its complete mechanism of action.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential of Spirulina fusiformis on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

Abstract: In the present study, we have evaluated the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Spirulina fusiformis (a cyanobacterium-family-Oscillatoriaceae) against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. For comparison purpose, results were compared with those for silymarin, a standard hepatoprotective drug. Activities of liver marker enzymes (glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase) and inflammatory mediator tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were estimated in serum, while lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-s-transferase and glutathione) were determined in liver homogenate. Acetaminophen induction (900 mg/kg b.wt) significantly increases the levels of liver marker enzymes, TNF-α, and lipid peroxidation, and caused the depletion of antioxidant status. Treatment of Spirulina fusiformis (800 mg/kg/b.wt) to acetaminophen challenged mice resulted in decreased liver marker enzymes activity, TNF-α and lipid peroxidation levels with increase in antioxidant status. Our study clearly demonstrate that Spirulina fusifomis shows hepatoprotective effect through its antioxidant activity on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

In vivo and in vitro immunomodulatory effects of indian ayurvedic herbal formulation triphala on experimental induced inflammation

Abstract: In the present study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of the Indian ayurvedic herbal formulation Triphala on experimental induced inflammation. The effect of Triphala was investigated on complement activity, humoral immune response, and cell mediated immune response in mice, and in mitogen (phytoheamagglutinin)-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. Triphala administration significantly inhibited the complement activity, humoral and cell mediated immune response (delayed type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH)), and mitogen (phytohaemagglutinin)-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation in a dose dependent manner. These observations suggest that Triphala caused immunosuppression in experimentalinduced inflammation, indicating that they may provide an alternative approach to the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Studies on the protective effect of ricinus communis leaves extract on carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity in albino rats

Abstract: Summary Ricinus communis Linn. (Euphorbiaceae) is a soft wooded tree widely prevalent throughout tropics regions of the world which have a warm temperature. In the Indian system of medicine, the leaves, roots and seed oil of this plant have been used for the treatment of inflammation and liver disorders for a long time. In the present study, the protective effects of ethanol extract of Ricinus communis L. leaves on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage were investigated in rats. Results were compared those for silymarin, a standard hepatoprotective drug. It was found that an increase in the activities of serum transaminases and the level of liver lipid peroxidation, protein, glycogen and the activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase in liver induced by CCl4 were significantly inhibited by treatment with Ricinus communis ethanol extract (250/500mg/kg/b.wt). In addition, the depletion of glutathione level and adenosine triphosphatase activity observed in the CCl4-induced rat liver were effectively prevented by treatment with Ricinus communis ethanol extract (250/500mg/kg b.wt). Histopathological examination further confirmed the hepatoprotective activity of Ricinus communis ethanol extract when compared with the CCl4-induced control rats. In conclusion, these results indicate that the ethanol extract of Ricinus communis ethanol extract exhibits hepatoprotective action.