In vitro anti oxidant activity and acute oral toxicity of Terminalia paniculata bark ethanolic extract on Sprague Dawley rats

Role of Ajwa dates in ameliorating diclofenac sodium-induced nephrotoxicity and cardiovascular risk factors in mice

The study aims at evaluating the protective effects of Ajwa dates extract against diclofenac sodium (DFS)-induced nephrotoxicity. A total of 30 male albino mice were divided into three groups. Group 1 received water per oral gavage for 14 days and saline per intra-peritoneal (IP) dose for the days 12–14. Group 2 received water like Group 1 and a daily IP dose of DFS for the days 12–14. Group 3 received 1 gm/kg Ajwa extract in water for 14 days and a daily IP dose for the days 12–14. Biochemical investigation revealed DFS-induced increase in serum urea and creatinine levels along with depleted antioxidant capacity, altered lipid profile, and hyperglycemia. Ajwa extract successfully protected against DFS-induced adverse effects, normalizing renal parameters biochemically and histologically, and prevented its hyperlipidemic and hyperglycemic effects. Ajwa protected against endogenous antioxidant capacity depletion in treated animals. Hydroalcoholic Ajwa extract is a promising candidate for protection against DFS-induced hyperlipidemia and nephrotoxicity.

Hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Salix subserrata against CCl4-induced chronic hepatotoxicity in rats

Background

The liver performs diverse functions that are essential for life. In the absence of reliable liver protective drugs, a large number of natural medicinal preparations are used for the treatment of liver diseases. Therefore the present study aims to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Salix subserrata Willd flower ethanolic extract (SFEE) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver damage.

Methods

Rats were divided into 4 groups of 10 animals each. Group I served as the normal healthy control, groups II rats were intoxicated with CCl₄ i.p. (0.8 ml/kg body weight CCl₄/olive oil, twice weekly for 9 weeks), group III rats received CCl₄ i.p. and SFEE orally (150 mg/kg daily) and group IV rats received CCl₄ i.p. and Silymarin orally (100 mg/kg, daily). The hepatoprotective potential of SFEE in rats was evaluated by measuring the protein levels of two inflammatory biomarkers; tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) in addition to other liver biomarkers. Histopathological changes in the liver were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE).

Results

The administration of SFEE showed hepatic protection at an oral dose of 150 mg/kg. SFEE significantly reduced the elevated serum levels of intracellular liver enzymes as well as liver biomarkers in comparison to CCl₄₋ intoxicated group. Notably, SFEE significantly reduced the expression levels of TNF-α and NFkB proteins compared to their levels in CCl₄ intoxicated group. These findings were confirmed with the histopathological observations, where SFEE was capable of reversing the toxic effects of CCl₄ on liver cells compared to that observed in CCl₄-intoxicated animals.

Conclusion

Our results show that SFEE has potential hepatoprotective effects at 150 mg/kg. These effects can be regarded to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the extract.

Evaluation of anti-obesity activities of ethanolic extract of Terminalia paniculata bark on high fat diet-induced obese rats

BACKGROUND

The prevalence and severity of obesity and associated co-morbidities are rapidly increasing across the world. Natural products-based drug intervention has been proposed as one of the crucial strategies for management of obesity ailments. This study was designed to investigate the anti-obesity activities of ethanolic extract of Terminalia paniculata bark (TPEE) on high fat diet-induced obese rats.

METHODS

LC-MS/MS analysis was done for ethanolic extract of T. paniculata bark. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups of six each, normal diet fed (NC), high fat diet-fed (HFD), HFD+ orlistat (standard drug control) administered, and remaining three groups were fed with HFD + TPEE in different doses (100,150 and 200 mg/kg b. wt). For induction of obesity rats were initially fed with HFD for 9 weeks, then, (TPEE) was supplemented along with HFD for 42 days. Changes in body weight, body composition, blood glucose, insulin, tissue and serum lipid profiles, atherogenic index, liver markers, and expression of adipogenesis-related genes such as leptin, adiponectin, FAS, PPARgamma, AMPK-1alpha and SREBP-1c, were studied in experimental rats. Also, histopathological examination of adipose tissue was carried out.

RESULTS

Supplementation of TPEE reduced significantly (P < 0.05) body weight, total fat, fat percentage, atherogenic index, blood glucose, insulin, lipid profiles and liver markers in HFD-fed groups, in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of adipogenesis-related genes such as Leptin, FAS, PPARgamma, and SREBP-1c were down regulated while Adiponectin and AMPK-1alpha were up regulated in TPEE + HFD-fed rats. Furthermore, histopathological examination of adipose tissue revealed the alleviating effect of TPEE which is evident by reduced size of adipocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, the biochemical, histological and molecular studies unambiguously demonstrate the potential anti adipogenic and anti obesity activities of TPEE promoting it as a formidable candidate to develop anti obesity drug.