Potential of the plant Thespesia populnea in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

CONTEXT

Thespesia populnea Sol. ex Correa (Malvaceae), an indigenous tree species in India, is of interest to researchers because traditionally its heartwood is used in the treatment of ulcer and colic pain.

OBJECTIVE

To validate its folk use in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were administered intrarectal DNBS and then treated with different plant extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg), 30 min before and 24 and 48 h after DNBS infusion. Colonic mucosal injury was assessed by macroscopic and histological examination. Furthermore, malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), protease, and hemoglobin (Hb) contents were measured in tissue and blood samples.

RESULTS

Administration of various extracts ameliorated macroscopic and microscopic scores which were altered due to DNBS treatment in mice. Hb concentration in blood was restored significantly by the aqueous extract to 17.20 ± 0.5, which was reduced to 13.80 ± 0.5 after treatment with DNBS. MDA level was increased to 10.82 nm/mg and 10.25 nm/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, due to DNBS treatment which was reduced to 2.69 nm/mg and 3.59 nm/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, by aqueous extract treatment. Similarly, MPO level was increased to 412 U/mg and 404 U/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, which was significantly reduced to 205 U/mg and 219 U/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, by aqueous extract treatment. Aqueous extract significantly reduced protease activity which was markedly increased in DNBS-treated animals.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Aqueous extract of heartwood of T. populnea is effective in the treatment of UC.

Antihistaminic and antiallergic actions of extracts of Solanum nigrum berries: possible role in the treatment of asthma

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Berries of the plant Solanum nigrum Linn (Solanaceae) are used for the treatment of asthma in folk medicine and ancient books.

AIM OF STUDY

To evaluate potential of the plant berries in the treatment of asthma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Petroleum ether, ethanol and aqueous extracts of S. nigrum berries (50, 100 and 200mg/kg, i.p.) were screened for the treatment of asthma by the various methods viz. effect on clonidine and haloperidol induced catalepsy, milk-induced leucocytosis and eosinophilia, mast cell stabilizing activity in mice and studies on smooth muscle preparation of guinea pig ileum (in vitro). Active petroleum ether extract was standardized by HPTLC.

RESULTS

The petroleum ether extract of S. nigrum berries inhibited clonidine-induced catalepsy significantly but not haloperidol-induced catalepsy. Petroleum ether extract significantly inhibited increased leukocyte and eosinophil count due to milk allergen and showed maximum protection against mast cell degranulation by clonidine. Petroleum ether extract resisted contraction induced by histamine better than other extracts. All the results are dose dependant. Active petroleum ether extract showed presence of antiasthmatic compound, β-sitosterol.

CONCLUSION

The petroleum ether extract of S. nigrum berries can inhibits parameters linked to the asthma disease.

Antinociceptive activity of Sesbania sesban (Linn) wood extracts, a preliminary study

The wood of the plant Sesbania sesban, is reported to have antinociceptive activity. To validate its folk use in the treatment of pain, wood was extracted successively with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water to produce respective extracts. The extracts (50 and 100 mg/kg, ip) were screened for antinociceptive activity using hot plate test and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. Petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant and dose-dependent activity in both the tests. In order to find out the involvement of opioid receptors, effect of naloxone (1 mg/kg, sc) on the action of extracts was checked in hot plate test. Petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant and dose dependant antinociceptive activity. The antinociceptive action of the extracts was blocked by naloxone, suggesting involvement of opioid receptors in the action.

Polymers for mucoadhesive drug delivery system: a current status

To overcome the relatively short gastrointestinal (GI) time and improve localization for oral controlled or sustained release drug delivery systems, bioadhesive polymers that adhere to the mucin/epithelial surface are effective and lead to significant improvement in oral drug delivery. Improvements are also expected for other mucus-covered sites of drug administration. Bioadhesive polymers find application in the eye, nose, and vaginal cavity as well as in the GI tract, including the buccal cavity and rectum. This article lays emphasis mainly on mucoadhesive polymers, their properties, and their applications in buccal, ocular, nasal, and vaginal drug delivery systems with its evaluation methods.

Antistress and antiallergic effects of Ficus bengalensis bark in asthma

Various extracts of Ficus bengalensis bark was screened for it's antiallergic and antistress potential in asthma by milk-induced leucocytosis and milk-induced eosinophilia. Aqueous, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant decrease in leucocytes and eosinophils in the order given while petroleum ether and chloroform extracts were inactive. This shows the application of polar constituents of F. bengalensis bark as antistress and antiallergic agents in asthma.

Antinociceptive and anthelmintic activity of Canna indica

Dried, coarsely powdered leaves, flowers, rhizomes and seeds of Canna indica were successively extracted with benzene and methanol in Soxhlet apparatus. The effect of benzene and methanol extracts of various parts of C. indica on nociceptive response using writhing test and hot plate method in mice was examined. All the extracts of C. indica showed significant central and peripheral analgesic activity in hot plate method and acetic acid-induced writhing test, respectively, at the dose of 50 mg kg(-1) intraperitoneally. Methanolic extract of leaves of C. indica showed highest increase in reaction time in hot plate method while benzene extract of leaves of C. indica showed more inhibitory effect on writhing induced by acetic acid. Anthelmintic activity of these extracts was evaluated on Pheritima posthuma. Results showed that the methanolic extract of rhizomes of the plant took less time to cause paralysis of the earthworms.

Major volatile constituents of Annona squamosa L. bark

The volatile constituents of Annona squamosa L. bark were identified from the essential oil obtained by steam distillation and studied by GC/MS. Six major components were identified as 1H-Cycloprop(e)azulene (3.46%), germacrene D (11.44%), bisabolene (4.48%), caryophyllene oxide (29.38%), bisabolene epoxide (3.64%) and kaur-16-ene (19.13%). The oil was also screened for its antimicrobial activity, which exhibited a significant antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus.

Comparative In vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Mentha piperita and Lantana camara from Western India

Methanol extracts from the leaves, stems and roots of Mentha piperita and Lantana camara were investigated for their anthelmintic activity against Pheritima posthuma. Each extract was studied in the bioassay at 20 mg/ml, which involved determination of time of paralysis and time of death of the worms. Both the extracts of both plants exhibited considerable anthelmintic activities, and the order of sensitivity of the extracts to the worms was stems > roots > leaves for the M. piperita and stems > leaves >roots for the L. camara. The methanol extracts of stems of both M. piperita and L. camara were found to be the most active. Albendazole (20 mg/ml) and distilled water were included in the assay as standard reference drug and control, respectively. Key words: Mentha piperita, Lantana camara, Pheritima posthuma, In vitro anthelmintic activity. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. Vol.5(1-2) 2006 The full text is of this article is available at the Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. website