Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction

This 11th edition of the book Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, featuring the work of more than 190 expert authors and divided into five parts, fully explains and encapsulates the fundamentals of nutrition and its role in contemporary society, from mastering the basic science of nutrient metabolism and function to applying nutritional concepts to combat human disease. Part I comprehensively covers specific dietary components, including major dietary constituents, minerals, vitamins and other Other CABI sites 

Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease

3.1. Biosynthesis from Jatrophanes 4313 3.2. Biosynthesis from Lathyranes 4314 4. Biological Activity 4314 4.1. Antiproliferative Activity 4314 4.2. Cytotoxicity 4316 4.3. Effects on the Cell Division 4316 4.4. DNA-Damaging Activity 4316 4.5. Modulatority of Multidrug Resistance 4316 4.6. Tumor Promoting Activity 4318 4.7. Pro-Inflammatory Activity 4318 4.8. Inhibition of Allergic Reactions 4318 4.9. Antimicrobial Activity 4319 4.10. Antidiarrheal Activity 4322 4.11. Antipyretic-Analgesic Activity 4322 4.12. Molluscicidal and Antifeedant Activities 4323 4.13. Inhibitory Activity on the Mammalian Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain 4323

Chemical and Pharmacological Research of the Plants in Genus Euphorbia

Medicinal plants have been used as traditional treatments for numerous human diseases for thousands of years. Diarrhoeal diseases continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world and there is renewed interest in the discovery of novel compounds that can be used to fight these diseases. Numerous studies have validated the traditional use of antidiarrhoeal medicinal plants by investigating the biological activity of extracts of such plants, which have antispasmodic effects, delay intestinal transit, suppress gut motility, stimulate water adsorption or reduce electrolyte secretion. Of the numerous phytochemicals (such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and terpenes) present in active extracts, tannins and flavonoids are thought to be responsible for antidiarrhoeal activity by increasing colonic water and electrolyte reabsorption. Others act by inhibiting intestinal motility. As some of the active ingredients are potentially toxic, there is a need to evaluate the safety of plant preparations. A few clinical trials have evaluated the safety and tolerability of traditional and herbal medicine preparations used to treat diarrhoea and generally indicate that minimal side effects are observed. However, with the increased popularity of plant-derived and herbal medicines in Western society, the benefits and potential dangers of these medicines must be considered.

Phytochemicals from traditional medicinal plants used in the treatment of diarrhoea: modes of action and effects on intestinal function

Salt-tolerant plants grow in a wide variety of saline habitats, from coastal regions, salt marshes and mudflats to inland deserts, salt flats and steppes. Halophytes living in these extreme environments have to deal with frequent changes in salinity level. This can be done by developing adaptive responses including the synthesis of several bioactive molecules. Consequently, several salt marsh plants have traditionally been used for medical, nutritional, and even artisanal purposes. Currently, an increasing interest is granted to these species because of their high content in bioactive compounds (primary and secondary metabolites) such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamins, sterols, essential oils (terpenes), polysaccharides, glycosides, and phenolic compounds. These bioactive substances display potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumoral activities, and therefore represent key-compounds in preventing various diseases (e.g. cancer, chronic inflammation, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disorder) and ageing processes. The ongoing research will lead to the utilisation of halophytes as a new source of healthy products as functional foods, nutraceuticals or active principles in several industries. This contribution focuses on the ethnopharmacological uses of halophytes in traditional medicine and reviews recent investigations on their biological activities and nutraceuticals. The work is distributed according to the different families of nutraceuticals (lipids, vitamins, proteins, glycosides, phenolic compounds, etc.) discussing the analytical techniques employed for their determination. Information about the claimed health promoting effects of the different families of nutraceuticals is also provided together with data on their application.

Medicinal halophytes: potent source of health promoting biomolecules with medical, nutraceutical and food applications.

Antidiarrhoeal activity of some Egyptian medicinal plant extracts.

The present work was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of ginger, chicory and their mixture against carbon tetrachloride intoxication in rats. Carbon tetrachloride treatment significantly elevated the alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltransferase activities and the serum triglycerides and cholesterol concentration as compared to control group. It also increased RBCs counts and Hb concentration, total or differential leucocytes counts. However it decreased platelet counts, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume, platelet larger cell ratio. Methanol extract of ginger (250 and 500 mg/kg) and chicory (250 and 500 mg/kg) given alone or mixed (1:1 wt/wt) significantly restored the carbon tetrachloride-induced alterations in the biochemical and cellular constituents of blood. No toxic symptoms were reported in doses up to 5 g/kg. Alkaloids and/or nitrogenous bases, carbohydrates and/or glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and unsaturated sterols and/or triterpenes are the main active constituents of their methanol extract. The hepatoprotective effect of ginger and chicory was also confirmed by the histopathological examination of liver tissue.

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Hepatoprotective effect of methanol extracts of Zingiber officinale and Cichorium intybus.

The antidiarrhoeal effect of seven plant extracts namely: the aerial parts of Euphorbia paralias L. (EP), Bidens bipinnata L. (BB), Cynachum acutum L. (CyAc), Diplotaxis acris (Forssk.) Boiss (DA), Convolvulus fatmensis (CF) and Schouwia thebaica Webb (ST) and the leaves of Plantago major L. (PM), was evaluated on castor oil-induced diarrhoea, gastrointestinal movement in rats (charcoal meal) and on the motility of duodenum isolated from freshly slaughtered rabbits. A significant antidiarrhoeal effect of the tested plant extracts against castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats was achieved by 200 and 400 mg/kg. The tested plant extracts decreased the gastrointestinal movement as indicated by the significantly (p < 0.05 to 0.001) decreased distance travelled by the charcoal meal. The large dose of the tested plant extracts was slightly more effective than the small one. The antidiarrhoeal effect was confirmed by the reported dose dependent inhibition of the motility of duodenum isolated from freshly slaughtered rabbits. The EP and PM methanol extract produced a transient stimulation followed by inhibition in doses of less than 0.05 and 1.6 mg/kg, respectively. Higher concentrations caused rapid muscle relaxation. Tannins, flavonoids, unsaturated sterols/triterpenes, carbohyd-rates, lactones and proteins/amino acids were reported as major active constituents of the tested plants. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evaluation of some medicinal plant extracts for antidiarrhoeal activity

The aqueous and methanolic extracts of Calligonum comosum were investigated for their antioxidant and dopaminergic effects on haloperidol (HL)-induced neuro- and hepatotoxicities in male albino rat model. The total phenolics, flavonoid content and free radical-scavenging activity of the extracts were determined. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract was higher than the aqueous one. HL significantly reduced GSH and increased MDA in brain and liver tissues. These values were nearly normalized, in the examined tissues, on concomitant administration of C. comosum methanolic extract with HL. Superoxide dismutase activity in the examined tissues was significantly decreased by HL administration that was normalized by the coadministration of the methanolic extract and, to a less extent, the water extract. Determination of the brain neurotransmitter contents revealed a marked decrease in norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin, which were restored to near control values by conco...

Protective effect of Calligonum comosum on haloperidol-induced oxidative stress in rat:

The effects of Zingiber officinale (ZO) roots and Cinnamon zeylanicum (CZ) bark extracts on fertility of male diabetic rats and blood glucose, insulin and testosterone levels were studied. The experiment was carried out on sixty male rats allocated into 6 equal groups of 10 animals each. One group was kept as a normal control, while rats of the other groups were given alloxan (120 mg.kg / day for 3 days) by intraperitoneal 1 injection for induction of diabetes. Group (2) was left as a diabetic control, while rats of groups (3) and (4) were given ZO extract at 250 and 500 mg.kg b.wt., respectively, for 65 consecutive days to cover the period of 1 spermatogenesis in the rat. Rats of groups (5) and (6) were given orally CZ extract at the same doses and for the same period. Results showed that oral administration of ZO and CZ extracts to diabetic rats for 65 days increased the weight of testes and seminal vesicles; improved semen quantity and quality; decreased blood glucose level, but increased serum insulin and testosterone levels. The large dose of both extracts ameliorated the degenerative lesions which seen in the testes of diabetic rats, This study recommend that intake of ZO roots and CZ bark as a drink may be beneficial for diabetic patients who suffer from sexual impotency as it improve fertility and lower the high blood glucose level in male diabetic rats.

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Samar M. Mouneir

Papers

Antidiarrhoeal activity of some Egyptian medicinal plant extracts.

Hepatoprotective effect of methanol extracts of Zingiber officinale and Cichorium intybus.

Evaluation of some medicinal plant extracts for antidiarrhoeal activity

Protective effect of Calligonum comosum on haloperidol-induced oxidative stress in rat:

Effect of zingiber officinale roots and cinnamon zeylanicum bark on fertility of male diabetic rats