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Journal ArticleDOI

Viper venom-induced inflammation and inhibition of free radical formation by pure compound (2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzoic acid) isolated and purified from anantamul (Hemidesmus indicus R.Br) root extract

01 Jan 1998-Toxicon (Toxicon)-Vol. 36, Iss: 1, pp 207-215
TL;DR: The present investigation explored the possible venom neutralizing effect of a pure compound isolated and purified from the methanolic root extract of Hemidesmus indicus R.Rr.
About: This article is published in Toxicon.The article was published on 1998-01-01. It has received 112 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Hemidesmus indicus.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results obtained demonstrate for the first time that the methanolic extract of Leucas aspera possesses anti-venom activity and could be considered as a potential source for the anti-ophidian metabolites.
Abstract: Purpose The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the anti-ophidian properties of ethnomedicinal herb Leucas aspera against Indian cobra, Naja naja venom enzymes. Methods Methanolic extract of Leucas aspera was evaluated, in vitro , for its ability to inhibit the major enzyme activities of Naja naja venom including protease, phospholipase A 2 , hyaluronidase and hemolytic factors. The type of phytochemicals present in the extract was analyzed. Also, the major phytoconstituents in the extract was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Results Venom protease and hyaluronidase activities (two isoforms) were completely (100%) neutralized by the L. aspera methanolic extract at ratio of 1:50 w/w (venom: plant extract) and venom hemolytic activity was also completely neutralized at a ratio of 1:80 w/w by the plant extract. However, the extract failed to neutralize phospholipase A 2 activity even at the highest concentration used. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, acidic compounds, flavonoids, steroids and cardiac glycosides in the extract. GC–MS analysis indicated that a total of 14 compounds were present in the extract. The major bioactive constituents were found to be 6-octadecenoic acid (32.47%), n -hexadecanoic acid (25.97%), and 17-octadecen-14-yn-1-ol (14.22%) along with the minor constituents, sitosterol (2.45%) and stigmasterol (2%), which was previously reported to exhibit antivenom activity. Conclusion The results obtained demonstrate for the first time that the methanolic extract of Leucas aspera possesses anti-venom activity and could be considered as a potential source for the anti-ophidian metabolites.

40 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An assortment of herbal plants used in India for snake bites is highlighted, as herbals are cheap, acceptable and often at the disposal of victims.
Abstract: Snake bite is a significant health concern, especially in rural populations of tropical and subtropical countries. In India, snake bites take a heavy toll of human lives, and therefore warrant urgent attention. High mortality is due to poor health services in rural areas and delay in getting the victim to a well-equipped health care facility, where anti snake venom can be administered. However, geographical and species variation, logistic, economic and production issues restrict the use of anti-snake venom. India has a large repository of medicinal herbs, which have been used in folk medicine for treatment of snake bites. Though numerous herbal remedies are scientifically unsubstantiated, yet they cannot be glossed over due to their inherent advantages. They are practiced by diverse social groups for long, offering unconditional benefits. In view of limited presence of modern medical avenues in far flung areas, such a resource needs to be harnessed, as herbals are cheap, acceptable and often at the disposal of victims. Exhaustive ethno botanical studies in different regions of the country can help to undertake well designed scientific studies, for establishing therapeutic efficacy of various herbals for treating snake bites. The present article highlights an assortment of herbal plants used in India for snake bites.

39 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present study confirmed that E. hirta methanolic extract was able to completely inhibit Naja naja venom induced toxicity under in vitro as well as ex vivo conditions, thus providing scientific evidence to its traditional use.

37 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Examination of curative and preventive snakebite treatments, beliefs and practices collected from 100 Luo respondents finds a number of herbal and non-herbal remedies including mystical therapies and 24 herbaceous plants whose aerial parts are preferred.
Abstract: Medicinal plants have been overtaken in the treatment of snake bites by serum therapy and are rarely considered efficacious remedies in biomedicine. Nevertheless, rural inhabitants rely on plant medical material and the attention of highly regarded local traditional healers when threatened by snakebite poisoning. This paper examines curative and preventive snakebite treatments, beliefs and practices collected from 100 Luo respondents. The informants reported the use of a number of herbal and non-herbal remedies including mystical therapies and 24 herbaceous plants whose aerial parts are preferred. Treatments involve cut, suck, and bind methods followed by application of plant leaf and root poultices held in place with strips of cloth or bark.

36 citations


Cites background from "Viper venom-induced inflammation an..."

  • ...…et al. 2000); isolation of Russell’s viper venom-specific anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and anti-oxidant active compounds from Hemidesmus indicus (Alam and Gomes 1998a, 1998b); neutralization of Bothrops jararaca and Crotalus durissus terrificus venom toxicity by ar-turmerone fraction of…...

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  • ...…substances from plants shown to protect mice from ophitoxaemia are generally nitrogen-free, low molecular-weight compounds: phenolics, phytosterols (b-amyrin and sitosterol) and triterpenoids (Alam and Gomes 1998a, 1998b; Haruna and Choudhury 1995; Perreira et al. 1994; Selvanayagam et al. 1996)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The root of Hemidesmus indicus R. Br.
Abstract: The root of Hemidesmus indicus R. Br., commonly known as Indian Sarsaparilla, is used traditionally to treat a wide variety of illnesses including rheumatism, leprosy, impotence, urinary tract and skin infections. The anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, renoprotective, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties of H. indicus have been investigated in numerous in vivo and in vitro studies. Among these, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity was well documented. This review details the phytochemistry and therapeutic applications of H. indicus root.

36 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The staining procedure for localizing superoxide dismutase on polyacrylamide electrophoretograms has been applied to extracts obtained from a variety of sources and could thus be assayed either in crude extracts or in purified protein fractions.

10,933 citations

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Journal ArticleDOI
B. Havsteen1
TL;DR: The few existing reports on the careful pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic and clinical studies which have been made have been summarized to provide a basis for a full-scale investigation of the therapeutic potential of flavonoids.

1,605 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
29 Mar 1979-Nature
TL;DR: It is shown that similar events occur in the guinea pig perfused lung before inhibition by steroids of phospholipase A2 activity (and thus TXA2 generation), and a steroid-induced factor is discovered which mimics the anti-phospholipases effects of these anti-inflammatory agents.
Abstract: ASPIRIN prevents prostaglandin (PG) generation by directly inhibiting the cyclo-oxygenase enzyme responsible for PG biosynthesis1–3. In addition, there is now conclusive evidence that anti-inflammatory steroids can also prevent PG generation4–13. Unlike the aspirin-like drugs, steroids have no anti-cyclo-oxygenase activity but exert their action by preventing the release from phospholipids of the fatty acid substrates required for PG biosynthesis4–9,12,13. We have shown that stimulation of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) release by agents such as histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and rabbit aorta contracting substance-releasing factor (RCS–RF) (but not arachidonic acid) is inhibited by anti-inflammatory steroids, and that their potency in this action closely parallels their anti-inflammatory activity12,13. Furthermore, their mechanism of action involves the inhibition of phospholipase A2 activity, and thus of arachidonate release within the lung12,13. In several other tissues, the mechanism of steroid hormone action depends on the combination of thesteroid with a cytosolic receptor protein, the translocation of this drug–receptor complex to the nucleus and the initiation of protein biosynthesis14–16. We now show that similar events occur in the guinea pig perfused lung before inhibition by steroids of phospholipase A2 activity (and thus TXA2 generation). We have discovered a steroid-induced factor which mimics the anti-phospholipase effects of these anti-inflammatory agents.

891 citations