Effect of Buchanania lanzan Spreng. bark extract on cyclophosphamide induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress in mice

Bioactivity and modulatory functions of Napoleona vogelii on oxidative stress-induced micronuclei and apoptotic biomarkers in mice

Napoleona vogelii is used in traditional medicine for the management of pain, inflammatory conditions and cancer. This study was conducted to investigate the modulatory mechanisms of methanol stem bark extract of N. vogelii on induction of micronuclei, apoptotic biomarkers and in vivo antioxidant enzymes in mice. Forty male albino mice were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 5) and were administered distilled water (DW, 5 mL/kg) as negative control, 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg of the extract respectively for 28 days before the injection of cyclophosphamide (CP, 40 mg/kg) i.p. on the 28th day. The remaining groups were administered 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg of the extract only for 28 days. Twenty four hours after injection of CP or administration of the last dose of extract, animals were euthanized by cervical dislocation and blood samples collected for determination of in vivo antioxidants, the spleen harvested for immunohistochemical expression of NFκB, Bcl-2, Bax and p53. Bone marrow smears were also made for the micronucleus assay. Treatment with the extract resulted in a significant (p < 0.0001) reduction in frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) compared to CP exposed control conferring protection of 75.09, 94.74 and 96.84% at 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg respectively. In extract and CP exposed animals, there were significant (p < 0.05) increases in GSH, GST and SOD with a corresponding significant (p < 0.05) reduction in MDA. In addition, the extract significantly downregulated cytoplasmic levels of NFκB and Bcl-2 and upregulated Bax and p53. These findings demonstrate that N. vogelli may serve as an interesting lead for chemo-preventive drug development.

Genotoxicity of Casiopeina III-Ea in mouse bone marrow cells

Casiopeina III-Ea® (Cas III-Ea®) is a chelated copper complex with antineoplastic activity that is capable of reducing tumor size and inducing antiproliferative and apoptotic effects. However, little is known about its in vivo genotoxic effects. Therefore, this study evaluated two cytogenetic and two proliferative parameters 24 h after the administration of Casiopeina III-Ea® to male CD-1 mice. Three doses of Cas III-Ea® were administered by intraperitoneal injections of 1.69, 3.39 and 6.76 mg/kg (corresponding to 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 of LD₅₀, respectively). A reduction in the mitotic index (MI) and an increased numbers of cells with structural chromosomal aberrations (SCA) were detected. Additionally, a low but significant increase in the frequency of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) was observed at the highest dose. Changes in the DNA replication index (RI) were not observed. These results indicate that Casiopeina III-Ea® shows cytotoxic and clastogenic activity in bone marrow cells from treated mice.

The effect of methanolic extract of Buchanania lanzan Spreng seeds on hematological indices

Objective:

The objective of the current study was carried out to investigate the effects of methanolic extract of Buchanania lanzan Spreng seeds on hematological indices.

Materials and Methods:

Eighteen male albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups, six in each. Group I animals received distilled water, Group II and III were treated with an oral dose of 1000 mg oil/kg and 2000 mg oil/kg of extract, respectively, for 7 days. At the end of the study, blood was collected and evaluated for packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts.

Results:

There was a significant dose-dependent increase in the hematological indices such as PCV, Hb, RBC, and WBC count in the treatment group.

Conclusions:

The improvement of PCV, Hb, and RBC values is an indication of the anti-anemic effect which may be due to the stimulation of RBC production in bone marrow. Further, stimulated production of WBC could be as a result of possible stimulus of the immune system. Hence, this study confirms that the extract of B. lanzan could be useful for the treatment of anemia.

Methanolic Extract of Curcuma caesia Roxb. Prevents the Toxicity Caused by Cyclophosphamide to Bone Marrow Cells, Liver and Kidney of Mice

INTRODUCTION

With an ever increasing cause of cancer, it has been recommended to treat with conventional drugs, however because of the side effects caused by the conventional drugs, the research on medicinal plants has been intensified due to their less adverse and toxic effects.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of the medicinal plant Curcuma caesia Roxb. against free radicals ABTS(+) and O2 (-). Also it was aimed to evaluate the protective effect of C.caesia Roxb. against the chemotherapeutic drug Cyclophosphamide and its side effects in liver and kidney.

METHODS

The rhizomes of the plant was extracted with methanol through soxhlet and its antioxidant activity was tested against ABTS(+) and O2 (-). For antigenotoxic studies, animals were divided into eight groups and micronucleus assay was employed and for biochemical analysis serum sample was collected from the blood and SGOT, SGPT analysis was performed. Also the biochemical analysis was performed from both the liver and kidney.

RESULTS

The methanolic extract of Curcuma caesia Roxb. was found to scavenge the free radicals ABTS(+) and O2 (-). the micronuclei formation was found to be increased in the positive control group as compared to the negative control group significantly (P<0.002) however increase in the number of micronuclei was found to be decrease with the pretreatment of the extract at different concentrations significantly as compared to the negative control groups (P<0.01, P<0.005, P<0.001). The increased level of serum SGPT and SGOT as well as peroxidation level in both liver and kidney due to treatment of cyclophosphamide was also found to be decreased with the pretreatment of the extract significantly as compared to the positive control groups. There was decreased in the level of endogenous antioxidant such as GSH and GR in the positive control group however decreased level of GSH and GR was found to be increased with the pretreatment of the methanolic extract of C. caesia Roxb.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggested that the methanolic extract of C. caesia Roxb has not shown any genotoxicity and reduces the genotoxicity caused by cyclophosphamide. It was also to have the protective effects against the liver and kidney. So it could be provided as one of the herbal supplementation in chemoprevention of CP to ameliorate the side effects of it.

SUMMARY

Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells and much research has been done for the past several years from various disciplines for the treatment of cancer but till now no therapy has been discovered. Treatment of cancer with chemotherapeutic drugs has been suggested to prevent cancer cells however they are often limited with their toxicity to normal cells. Therefore it has been suggested that the supplementation of medicinal plants which are rich source of antioxidants can decrease the toxic effect caused by chemotherapeutic drugs. Curcuma caesia Roxb is a medicinal plant which has high antioxidant activity, as per present study, methanolic extract of Curcuma caesia Roxb prevents the toxicity caused by cyclophosphosphamide (chemotherapeutic drug) in bone marrow cells by reducing the micronuclei formation; it also prevents the hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity caused by cyclophosphamide, so it can be used as a supplement in cancer treatment with cyclophosphamide.

Effect of Butea monosperma leaf extracts on cyclophosphamide induced clastogenicity and oxidative stress in mice

Background:

Butea monosperma is a medium sized deciduous tree of family Fabaceae. It is widely used by rural people in India to cure many disorders. It possesses antioxidant and anticancer activity which is a prerequisite for anticlastogenic activity.

Objective:

To evaluate the effect of Butea monosperma leaf extracts on cyclophosphamide induced clastogenicity and oxidative stress in mice.

Materials and Methods:

The present study assessed the role of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of B. monosperma (AQEBM and ETEBM) on cyclophosphamide (CP) induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in mice using micronucleus assay for anticlastogenic activity and biochemical estimation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) for antioxidant activity. The frequency of the micronucleated erythrocytes and mitotic index was studied in peripheral blood and bone marrow after 24 and 48 h of clastogenic exposure.

Results:

CP treatment led to a significant (P < 0.001) increase in the frequency of micronuclei and decrease in the mitotic index (MI) in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells. Moreover, CP also significantly increased the lipid peroxidation as evidenced by an increase in the MDA content and decreased the antioxidant enzyme (GSH) in mice liver. Pretreatment with AQEBM and ETEBM reduced the frequency of micronuclei and increased the MI in the bone marrow and peripheral blood cells and also restored the MDA and GSH levels in mice liver.

Conclusion:

The AQEBM and ETEBM do contain compounds capable of inhibiting the CP induced oxidative stress and subsequent DNA damage in both the peripheral blood and bone marrow cells in mice.

Pharmacological studies on Buchanania lanzan Spreng.- a focus on wound healing with particular reference to anti-biofilm properties

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the wound healing activity of the methanolic root extract of Buchanania lanzan Spreng. (B. lanzan), with a focus on antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties.

METHODS

The extract was evaluated for its wound healing properties (excision and incision models) as evident from the analysis of tensile strength and wound contraction. The extract was also screened for antibacterial properties against different Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains. B. lanzan was also studied for its effect on biofilm formation and disruption of preformed biofilms. The synergistic effect of B. lanzan was determined in combination with gentamicin.

RESULTS

Topical application of B. lanzan (10% w/w ointment) significantly increased (40.84%) the tensile strength in the incision wound model. B. lanzan also showed significant wound healing activity in excision model and such significant activity was observed from the 9th day. Whereas Soframycin displayed significant wound healing activity from the 6th day. It was found that root extracts of B. lanzan revealed significant inhibition against all tested pathogens. B. lanzan displayed antimicrobial activity against Gram positive (MIC 0.625 mg/mL) and Gram negative (MIC 0.625-1.25 mg/mL). B. lanzan was able to reduce biofilm formation and also caused disruption of preformed biofilms in a manner similar to ciprofloxacin. However, gentamicin was found to be ineffective against biofilms formed by Gram negative organism. According to the fractional inhibitory concentration index, B. lanzan displayed synergistic activity when it was combined with gentamicin.

CONCLUSIONS

From this study it may be concluded that the root extract of B. lanzan revealed significant wound healing potential, which was supported and well correlated with pronounced antibacterial activity of the tested plant parts.