In vivo screening of essential oils of Skimmia laureola leaves for antinociceptive and antipyretic activity

Physicochemical Evaluation and Pharmacological Screening of Fernando Adenophylla Steenis Fruits

The current study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of Fernandoa adenophylla. Powder studies were carried out to estimate the quantitative physicochemical characteristics of the crude drug, including moisture content, ash content, and extractive values. Using a Soxhlet apparatus and different analytical grade solvents, 3 sample extracts of a crude drug were made. To evaluate the potentially toxic nature, an acute oral toxicity study was performed as per OECD guideline no. 423. Sample extracts were tested and analyzed by ANOVA for pharmacological potential (analgesic, antipyretic, and antidiabetic) using Wister-Albino rats. Where physicochemical analysis indicated purity, quality, and presence of organic/inorganic materials in crude drug extracts, no sign of mortality was found up to 2000 mg/kg of body weight of Fernandoa adenophyllas extracts. Analgesic activity was observed in all sample extracts, whereas only chloroform and ethanolic extracts expressed antipyretic and antidiabetic potential. Ethanolic extract was found to be most potent in pharmacological potential as 200 mg/kg extract dose exhibited %age pain inhibition of 55.12 % and reduced body temperature from 39.78±0.03 °C to 37.22±0.02 °C in hyperthermic rats. A decrease in blood glucose levels up to 57.88 % was observed on the 21st day of the treatment with 500 mg/kg ethanolic extract.

Physicochemical, Phytochemical Evaluation and Pharmacological Investigation of Roystonea regia

Natural products are always been the great source of therapeutic agents. The aim of the study was to analyze the physicochemical properties of Roystonea regia plant which were performed on its powder. All the results were in their official limits. Extraction was done with n-hexane, chloroform and ethanol using Soxhlet apparatus and phytochemicals of different extracts of plant were evaluated with freshly prepared reagents. Anti-oxidant activity of plant by Total Phenolic Content (TPC) method revealed that all extracts specially ethanol extract has anti-oxidant potential of 398.6 mg/g of GAE. In anti-pyretic activity Swiss albino rats containing weight 150 to 200 mg were used and results showed the dose dependent effects of all extracts from 1st hour to 5th hour after the administration of yeast. Results were analyzed by using ANOVA along with Dunnett’s test.

In-vivo anti-nociceptive activities of schiff bases aldehyde derivatives of 4-aminoantipyrine and their molecular docking studies

In this study, the anti-nociceptive potential of Schiff bases derivatives of 4-aminoantioyrine, (Z)-4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylideneamino)-2, 3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1, 2dihydropyrazol-5-one 1 and (Z)-4-(2-nitrobenzylideneamino)-2, 3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1-2-dihydropyrazol-5-one 2 were tested in various mice pain models and their binding affinities with different drug targets were evaluated through molecular docking studies. The binding scores were calculated through molecular docking techniques for receptor sensitivity. Acute toxicity test suggests the safety of both compounds up 200 mg/kg. In the righting test, compound 1 and 2 had a significant effect in a dose-dependent manner and showed 59.46% and 48.40% blockade of pain at 150 mg/kg, respectively. In the formalin test, dose-dependently compound 1 showed 52.95% and 62.02% of inhibition in the early and late phase at 150 mg/kg. Similarly, Compound 2 showed 45.74% and 55.95% inhibition in the early and late phases at 150 mg/kg, respectively. In the tail immersion test, both compounds caused significant pain inhibition during various assessment times with maximum effects at 74.94% and 66.80% for 1 and 2 respectively at 150 mg/kg after 120 min. In molecular docking studies, compounds 1 and 2 showed a greater affinity for LOX with a docking score of –6.50 and 6.57 respectively. Similarly, for compounds 1 and 2 the docking was –4.94 and –4.83 with COX-1 while –5.10 and –4.85 with COX-2, respectively. Taken together, both the compounds exhibited marked antinociceptive effects in various pain-induced models possibly mediated by inhibition of LOX and COX pathways.

Anti-ulcer and anti-Helicobacter pylori potentials of the ethyl acetate fraction of Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Solanaceae) in rodent

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Solanaceae) has been widely used in Chinese folk medicine due to its wide distribution throughout the country, for the treatment of a wide range of diseases including heat and cold, sore throat, fever, fungal infection, inflammation, toothache, rheumatism, burn, analgesic, ulcer and urinary diseases. However, the effect of P. alkekengi var. franchetii on ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection has not been reported to date.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-Helicobacter pylori and analgesic properties of ethyl acetate fraction of the crude aqueous methanolic extract from the aerial parts of the plant P. alkekengi L. var. franchetii in rodents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Acute toxicity of the crude extract of P. alkekengi L. var. franchetii (PAF) was evaluated in rats. The petroleum ether fraction (PEF), butanol fraction (BF), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and aqueous fraction (AF) of crude aqueous methanolic extract from PAF were screened for anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer potential at doses of 100, 250 and 500mg/kg (p.o.), using carrageenin-induced hind paw edema and ethanol-induced gastric lesions test in rats. In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of EAF was assayed subsequently. In addition, three doses of EAF were evaluated for analgesic activity using hot plate and writhing tests, respectively. Finally, we performed a phytochemical analysis of EAF.

RESULTS

Four fractions of crude extract from PAF significantly reduced the paw volume in carrageenin-induced hind paw edema model at different doses (100, 250 and 500mg/kg, p.o.). The fraction EAF at a dose of 500mg/kg exhibited the highest (75.92%) (0.150 ± 0.045***, ***p < 0.001) anti-inflammatory potential, which is similar to indomethacin (***P < 0.001)（0.120 ± 0.014***, 80.74% inhibition of inflammation） at 5mg/kg. Pretreatment with EAF (500mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced the intensity of gastric mucosal damage and showed higher gastroprotective activity (90.6%) when compared to the standard drug famotidine (84.6%). In addition, EAF fraction also showed a moderate (P < 0.05) anti-Helicobacter pylori activity with a minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of 500μg/ml. Furthermore, pain sensation was effectively inhibited at 500mg/kg, p.o. of EAF as manifested by an increase (p < 0.001) of latency time in hot plate from 30 to 90min and a decrease (p < 0.001) in count of writhing induced by acetic acid. By HPLC, we determined some steroid, terpenoid and flavonoids (four compounds): kaempferol, quercetin, Blumenol A and physalindicanols A, which were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction and identified using ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra analysis.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-Helicobacter pylori and analgesic properties of EAF of the crude extract from PAF thus justifying its traditional usage.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of flavonoids isolated from Pistacia integerrima galls

The present study deals with the anti-hyperalgesic and anti-inflammtory effects of flavonoids (1-4) isolated from the chloroform fraction of Pistacia integerrima galls. The structure of isolated compounds was elucidated by using advance spectroscopy analysis and comparing their physical spectral data with reported one. The pretreatment of compounds (1-4) caused significant anti-hyperalgesic effects in acetic acid induced writhing test in a dose dependent manner. The compounds strongly complimented the effects in both phases of formalin test. However, the administration of naloxone did not abolish the induced antinociceptive effects and therefore suggested the absence of opioid receptor involvement. The pretreatment of flavonoids (1-4) elicited marked anti-inflammtory effects in carrageenan induced paw edema test in mice during various assessment times (1-5 h). The effects were dose dependent and maximum results were observed after 3rd h of treatments which remained significant up to 5th hour. It is concluded that the isolated flavonoids (1-4) possessed strong anti-hyperalgesic and anti-inflammtory activity and thus are strong candidates for further detail studies.

Phytochemistry of the genus Skimmia (Rutaceae)

The genus Skimmia is a rich source of interesting secondary metabolites, including 20 alkaloids derived from anthranilic acid, 45 coumarins, 21 limonoids, four cholestane derivatives, six pentacyclic triterpenes, six flavonoids, and two unusual fatty acid derivatives. Skimmia is employed in folk medicine e.g. against fever, inflammations, and rheumatism. Skimmia extracts, Skimmia essential oils and pure compounds isolated from Skimmia extracts have been experimentally shown to have various bioactivities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and insecticidal. In this review we discuss the exact structures of compounds isolated from members of the genus Skimmia, bioactivities of Skimmia extracts and pure compounds derived from them, and systematic implications of the patterns of occurrence of these compounds. Moreover, research gaps and interesting avenues for future research are discussed briefly.

Chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oil of Skimmia laureola leaves

The composition of the essential oil from leaves of Skimmia laureola was determined by GC and GC-MS. Twenty-eight components were identified, accounting for 93.9% of the total oil. The oil is mainly composed of monoterpenes (93.5%), of which monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes represent 11.0% and 82.5%, respectively. Sesquiterpenes constitute only 0.3% of the total oil. Linalyl acetate is the main component (50.5%), with linalool (13.1%), geranyl acetate (8.5%) and cis-p-menth-2-en-1-ol (6.2%) as other principal constituents. The essential oil showed a significant antispasmodic activity, in a dose range of 0.03–10 mg/mL. The essential oil also possesses antibacterial and antifungal activities against some pathogenic strains. The phytotoxic and cytotoxic activities were also assessed.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential of Rhododendron arboreum bark

Rhododendron arboreum Smith. (Ericaceae), an evergreen small tree, is one of the 1000 species that belongs to genus Rhododendron distributed worldwide. In folk medicine, as various parts of this plant exhibit medicinal properties, it is used in the treatment of different ailments.The present study was designed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of methanolic extract of R. arboreum bark, followed by activity-guided fractionation of n-hexane, n-butanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions.The ethyl acetate fraction (200 mg/kg i.p.) showed the maximum analgesic effect (82%) in acetic acid-induced writhing, followed, to a less extent, by crude extract and chloroform fraction both at a dose of 200 mg/kg i.p. (65.09% and 67.89%, respectively). In carrageenan-induced mouse paw oedema, the crude extract and its related fractions displayed in a dose-dependent manner (50-200 mg/kg i.p.) an anti-inflammatory activity for all time-courses (1-5 hrs). For the active extract/fractions (200 mg/kg i.p.), the maximum effect was observed 5 h after carrageenan injection. These evidences were also supported by in vitro lipoxygenase inhibitory properties. In conclusion, R. arboreum crude methanolic extract and its fractions exhibited anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. For these reasons, this plant could be a promising source of new compounds for the management of pain and inflammatory diseases.

Antipyretic and antinociceptive potential of extract/fractions of Potentilla evestita and its isolated compound, acacetin

Background

Fever and pain management is a very challenging job for the clinician as the available synthetic agents are causing serious side effects. The present research article deals with the antipyretic and antinociceptive activity of extract/fractions of Potentilla evestita and acacetin isolated from the chloroform fraction of the plant.

Methods

Various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques were used for the isolation and characterizion of compound. In-vivo yeast induced fibrile mice were used for antipyretic activity while acetic acid induced writhing and formalin tests were used for antinociceptive.

Results

The extract/fractions of P. evestita caused marked antipyretic effect during various assessment times in which chloroform was the most prominent followed by ethyl acetate. When acacetin was injected, it produced marked effect with maximum activity of 33.28% and 55.01% at 5 and 10 mg/kg i.p respectively. When studied in acetic acid induced writhing test, the extract/fractions evoked significant antinociceptive effect in which chloroform was the most effective fraction followed by ethyl acetate. Acacetin showed significant antinociceptive effect with 44.77% and 67.03% reduction in abdominal constriction at 5 and 10 mg/kg i.p., respectively. Similarly, it evoked significant dose dependent reduction in noxious stimulation with 42.07% and 64.57% pain attenuation at 5 and 10 mg/kg i.p., respectively in initial phase. In the late phase, it illustrated more dominant effect with 46.32% and 67.29% reduction of painful sensation.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the extract/fractions of P. evestita as well as the isolated compound, acacetin showed strong antipyretic and antinociceptive activity in various animal models possibly mediated through both peripheral and central mechanism.

In-vivo antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity of pistagremic acid isolated from Pistacia integerrima

The current study was designed to explore the antinociceptive, antiinflammatory and antipyretic activity of pistagremic acid (PA), isolated from Pistacia integerima bark in various animal paradigms. The results illustrated significant inhibition of noxious stimulation in acetic acid induced writhing test with maximum effect of 68% at 10mg/kg i.p. In tail immersion test, pretreatment with PA demonstrated marked activity during various assessment times in a dose dependent manner. The maximum pain inhibition was 59.46% at 10mg/kg i.p. after 90 min of PA treatment. However, the injection of naloxone did not antagonize this induced effect. PA significantly ameliorated post carrageenan induced edema dose dependently during various stages of inflammation. The effect was most dominant (60.02%) after 3(rd) h of drug administration when examined for 5h. Similarly, it provoked dose dependent antipyretic effect in febrile mice with maximum of 60.04% activity at 10mg/kg i.p. after 3rd hour of PA post treatment. Furthermore, molecular docking was carried out to understand the binding mode of PA. From the docking study it was observed that PA fits well in the active site of COX-2 enzyme due to hydrogen and hydrophobic moiety interactions to the important active site of molecule. In conclusion, PA possesses strong peripheral and central antinociceptive activity independent of opioidergic effect which was augmented by its anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities.

Analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and nephritic effects of the aerial parts of Pulicaria arabica (Family: Compositae) on rats

OBJECTIVE

To explore the analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, hepatic and nephritic effects of Pulicaria arabica (P. arabica) in several experimental models.

METHODS

For analgesic effect hot plate and writhing method were used, while for antipyretic and anti-inflammatory rectal temperature and carrageenan induced hind paw edema were used respectively. CCl4 intoxication method was used for hepatic and nephritic protective activity.

RESULTS

The results of the present studies revealed that P. arabica has potent analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory with the significant hepatic and nephritic protecting actions. The CCl4 intoxication changed the normal malondialdehyde and nonprotein sulfhydryls levels in both liver and kidney. These changes were normalized with P. arabica indicating the antioxidant nature of this plant.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of present study indicated that P. arabica can be used in analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory conditions even in hepatic and nephritic conditions. More supportive studies are required before clinical recommendation.

Antipyretic and antinociceptive activity of Diospyros lotus L. in animals

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate pharmacologically the traditional use of Diospyros lotus as antipyretic and antinociceptive in various animal models.

METHODS

In vivo experimental models were used in this study. Antipyretic activity of extract/fractions was evaluated in brewer's yeast induced hyperthermic mice while antinociceptive activity was studied in acetic acid induced writhing test at 50 and 100 mg/kg i.p.

RESULTS

The crude extract strongly ameliorated the induced pyrexia during various assessment times. Upon fractionation, the antipyretic effects were strongly augmented by the chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions of the plant. However, hexane and butanol fractions were insignificant in their effect as antipyretic. The extract showed marked inhibition on the noxious simulation induced by post acetic acid injection. The effect was strongly supported by other fraction expect hexane.

CONCLUSIONS

In short, our study scientifically validated the traditional use of the plant as antipyretic.