Pflanzen-Sterole und Stanole – Wissenschaftliche Befunde zur Wirkung und Sicherheit

Ameliorative effect of Grewia tenax (Forssk) fiori fruit extract on CCl(4)-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats

The ethanol extract of Grewia tenax (GTE) fruit was tested for possible efficacy against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver toxicity in Wistar albino rats. GTE at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg were administered orally to CCl(4)-treated rats. Acute toxicity test and sleeping time determination were done with mice. The results showed that oral administration of GTE for 3 wk to rats significantly reduced the CCl(4)-induced elevated levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins, and triglycerides. Moreover, it was found that the treatment with GTE significantly elevated the hemoglobin level in serum and increased the nonprotein sulfhydryl and total protein contents in the liver tissue, and a significant diminution was observed in the CCl(4)-induced elevated levels of malondialdehyde in the liver tissue. The biochemical findings were supported by an evaluation with liver histopathology. Pentobarbital-induced prolongation of narcolepsy in mice was shortened significantly by the extract. The observed hepatoprotective effect is believed to occur due to antioxidant properties of the contents of G. tenax extract, which may provide a new drug to be used for fighting liver diseases and it validates its folkloric use in anemic and other conditions.

Anti-inflammatory mechanism of a folk herbal medicine, Duchesnea indica (Andr) Focke at RAW264.7 cell line

This study is to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of the ethanol extract of Duchesnea indica (Andr) Focke. An inflammatory cellular model was established by addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on RAW264.7 cell line. The cellular secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, NO and IL-10 in supernatant, mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, COX-2, iNOS and HO-1, protein expression of COX-2 and HO-1, and activation of NF-kappaB were assayed by ELISA, the Griess method, real-time quantitative PCR, and Western blot and immunocytochemistry method, respectively. The ethanol extract of D. indica not only reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators and blocked NF-kappaB activation, but also slightly promoted release of the anti-inflammatory mediator HO-1 and suppressed IL-10 secretion. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory effects of the extract of D. indica are attributed to the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators by blocking NF-kappaB activation. The extract of D. indica can also slightly promote HO-1 production to reduce inflammation.