Evaluation of in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Dillenia indica f. elongata (Miq.) Miq. and Shorea robusta stem bark extracts

Phytochemicals, Antioxidant Attributes and Larvicidal Activity of Mercurialis annua L. (Euphorbiaceae) Leaf Extracts against Tribolium confusum (Du Val) Larvae (Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae)

Simple Summary

Mercurialis annua L. is a Euphorbiacea widespread in the Euro-Mediterranean region. This species is known for its toxicity and is used in traditional pharmacopoeia. However, the chemical composition of the aerial parts of this taxon and their larvicidal impact remain to be explored. However, the literature reports only a few studies on the relationship between the polyphenolic profile of the different extracts of Mercurialis annua L. and the larvicidal activity; therefore, we tested different extracts of M. annua against the larvae of Tribolium confusum (Du Val) for better protection of stored foodstuffs attacked by this pest. On the other hand, green chemistry as a distinct discipline has developed in recent years, which allowed us to identify different active compounds by LC-MS, and study the relationship between larvicidal activity and the chemical composition of extracts from male and female leaves of Mercurialis annua L.

Abstract

This study reports the link between larvicidal activity and the phytochemical composition of male and female leaf extracts of Mercurialis annua L. (M. annua) from four Tunisian regions: Bizerte, Jandouba, Nabeul and Beja. Their antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assays. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified using liquid chromatography coupled with a UV detector and mass spectrometry (LC-UV-ESI/MS). Higher antioxidant activity (AOA) was found in the leaves of male plant extracts than of female ones. The leaves of male and female plant extracts from Bizerte exhibited the highest AOA: 22.04 and 22.78 mg Trolox equivalent/g dry matter (mg TE/g DM), respectively. For both sexes, plant extracts from Beja had the lowest AOA with 19.71 and 19.67 mg TE/g DM for male and female plants, respectively. Some phenolic compounds such as narcissin, gallocatechin, rutin, epigallocatechin and epicatechin were identified and quantified using LC-MS, which highlighted the abundance of narcissin and rutin in the male leaves of M. annua. We noted that the interaction between the sex of plants and the provenance had a significant effect on TFC (F = 6.63; p = 0.004) and AOA (F = 6.53; p = 0.004) assays, but there was no interaction between sex and origins for TPC (F = 1.76; p = 0.19). The larvicidal activity of aqueous leaf extracts of M. annua against Tribolium confusum (Du Val) (T. confusum), an insect pest of flour and cereal seeds, showed that the mortality could reach 100% after 48 h of exposure in the Bizerte region. The LC₅₀ values for the leaf extract were low in Bizerte, with 0.003 and 0.009 g/mL for male and female plants, respectively, succeeded by Jandouba, which displayed 0.006 and 0.024 g/mL for male and female plants, respectively. Nabeul showed 0.025 g/mL for male plants and 0.046 g/mL for female plants and Beja showed 0.037 and 0.072 g/mL for male and female plants, respectively. This is the first time that a study has revealed a negative correlation between the antioxidant activity and the larvicidal activity of the leaf extracts of M. annua with the following correlation coefficients of Perason: r = −0.975 and r = −0.760 for male and female plants, respectively.

A Systematic Review of Traditionally Used Herbs and Animal-Derived Products as Potential Analgesics

Pain is a distressing but fundamental manifestation that prepares the body for potentially detrimental stimuli while ensuring its protection. Plant and animal products have traditionally been used to relieve pain for centuries. However, no attempt has been made to compile a single report of plant and animal products possessing analgesic properties. This review enadeavours to recover data from published articles to establish a collective literature review on folk remedies from plant and animal sources used as analgesics and in the treatment of pain-related conditions, identifying gaps in existing knowledge and future works. Relevant information was systematically retrieved using the PRISMA method. In this review, in total, 209 plants were found to be either used raw or prepared by decoctions or maceration. Administration was either oral or topical, and they were predominantly used in Asian countries. In vivo studies of plants with analgesic properties, which were tested using different methods including acetic-induced writhing test, hotplate test, tail-flick test, and formalin-induced pain test, were compiled. Animal products with analgesic properties were obtained mainly from compounds present in venom; their bioactive compounds were also identified. In the literature search, certain gaps were noted, which could be reviewed in future studies. For instance, there was a disparity of information regarding the traditional uses of medicinal plants. In this review, an attempt was made to critically assess and describe the pharmacological properties and bioactive composition of indigenous plants, some animal species, and animal venom by scrutinizing databases and looking for published articles. Therefore, it can be concluded that the compounds obtained from these sources can serve as important ingredients in therapeutic agents to alleviate pain once their limitations are assessed and improved upon. In the literature search, certain gaps were noted, which could be reviewed in future studies.

Shorea roxburghii Leaf Extract Ameliorates Hyperglycemia Induced Abnormalities in High Fat/Fructose and Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

This study investigated the hypoglycemic effect of the methanol extract of Shorea roxburghii leaves (SRL) in high fat diet/high fructose solution (HFDHF) and streptozotocin (STZ) induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in rats as well as evaluating its ameliorative potentials in altered biochemical and hematological parameters in the treated rats. T2DM was induced in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by feeding with HFDHF for 4 weeks and administering STZ (35 mg/kg, i. p.). Diabetic rats were given SRL extract at doses of 100 and 400 mg/kg for 30 days. The food and water intake were monitored on a daily basis, while the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and body weight were measured weekly. Biochemical and hematological parameters as well as histopathological studies of the pancreas were also evaluated. SRL significantly decreased FBG and improved the body weight, food and water intake of treated diabetic rats. Furthermore, biochemical and hematological parameters including liver and kidney function enzymes, lipid profiles, white blood and red blood cells parameters were markedly ameliorated by SRL. Histopathological analyses of the pancreas indicated reconstitution of β-cells architecture in SRL treated rats. The results of this study suggest that SRL has antidiabetic potential and can be considered for the treatment of T2DM.

Effect of Geographical and Seasonal Variations on Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Activity of Aerial Parts of Urtica diocia L

Background:

Environmental conditions affect the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites as a result of biotic and abiotic factors. In the present study, the effect of different geographical locations and season was studied on total phenolic and flavonoid contents extracted from Urtica dioica Linn.

Methodology:

The aerial parts of U. dioica collected from Palampur, Shimla and Dharamshala in different seasons were subjected to hydro-alcoholic extraction. Quantitative estimation of total phenolic and flavonoid contents in various extracts was carried out spectrophotometrically.

Results:

The highest amount of total phenolic (3.987± 0.130) and flavonoid contents (2.847± 0.341) was found in Palampur sample collected in summer season whereas sample collected from Dharamshala in spring season showed the least phenolic contents. In vitro antioxidant activity of all the samples was evaluated by DPPH, NO scavenging and FRPA method. The antioxidant potential was found maximum in the sample collected from Palampur in the summer season, however, the sample collected from Dharamshala in spring season showed the least antioxidant potential.

Conclusion:

The present study confirms that altitude and seasonal variations significantly affect the levels of secondary metabolites in plant parts.

Emex spinosa (L.) Campd. ethyl acetate fractions effects on inflammation and oxidative stress markers in carrageenan induced paw oedema in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Emex spinosa (L.) Campd. (E. spinosa) locally known as "hillaioua" has always been used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation and pain. It is still being exploited by pharmaceutical companies for its potential remedial effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, the effects of E. spinosa (L.) Campd. against acute inflammation, pain and oxidative damage were evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Total phenols and flavonoids were evaluated. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities the E. spinosa ethyl acetate fractions of the aerial (Es EtOAc-AP) and underground (Es EtOAc-R) parts were assessed on carrageenan-induced paw oedema (100 mg/kg BW) and acetic acid-induced writhing response (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg BW), respectively. The E. spinosa fractions effects on oxidative stress markers and inflammatory parameters were determined. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed to identify various chemical components.

RESULTS

The ethyl acetate fractions were shown to be the most active thanks to their phenolic and flavonoid contents richness. Intraperitoneal administration of E. spinosa ethyl acetate fractions at 100 mg/kg BW, one hour before carrageenan injection, significantly inhibited the oedema formation by 89.31% and 97.7% for the aerial and underground parts respectively when compared to the reference drug "dexamethasone" (51.9%). Besides, a significant increase (p ≤ 0.001) of the dermal antioxidant enzymes (the superoxide dismutase (SOD)), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was observed five hours after carrageenan administration. The best restoration was obtained with Es EtOAc-R (82.04%, 93.55% and 93.55% respectively for SOD, CAT and GPx activities). Moreover, EtOAc-fractions treated mice proved their ability to restore both of CRP and fibrinogen (p < 0.001). In addition, E. spinosa EtOAc-fractions attenuated abdominal contractions (p < 0.05) by 71.69% and 82.41% for the aerial part and roots respectively at 150 mg/kg BW against 100% for dichlofenac sodium used as standard drug. The phytochemical analysis of Es EtOAc-AP and Es EtOAc-R by GC-MS may explain the obtained results. The analysis of the fractions demonstrated the presence of palmitic and linoleic acids known for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic capacities.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings explain the traditional use of E. spinosa in folk medicine and suggest that E. spinosa fractions could be a promising herbal drug.

Activity of anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antigenotoxic of the aqueous flower extracts of Opuntia microdasys Lem.Pfeiff

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic and the anti-inflammatory activity of Opuntia microdasys at post flowering stage, F3 (OMF3) in rat and, in other hand, its antigenotoxic effects by the Allium cepa test.

METHODS

OMF3 extracts were screened for activity of analgesic and anti-inflammatory using, respectively, the acetic acid writhing test in mice and the carrageenan-induced paw oedema assay in rats. The antigenotoxic has been evaluated by A. cepa test.

KEY FINDINGS

OMF3 extracts showed a higher analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity at 100 mg/kg (72.03% and 70.11%) as determined by the tests of acetic acid-induced writhing and carrageenan-induced oedema, respectively. Furthermore, the OMF3 aqueous extracts have a preventive antimutagenic potential, at lower concentration (EC₅₀ ≈ 60 μg/ml), against H₂ O₂ -mediated DNA damage in A. cepa root meristem cells with an efficient restoration of the mitotic index in comparison with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this study, the flower of O. microdasys at post flowering stage may be use as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antimutagenic agents.