Posted by admin on Jun 3, 2015 in |
Homalium letestui Pellegr (Flacourtiaceae) used traditionally by the Ibibios of Southern Nigeria to treat stomach ulcer, malaria and other inflammatory diseases were evaluated for antiulcer activities of the stem extract and its fractions. The effects of ethanol stem extract of H. letestui (200-600 mg/kg) and fractions (Aqueous and dichloromethane, 400 mg/kg) on experimentally induced ulcer were studied in rats using ethanol, indomethacin, reserpine, and histamine-induced ulcer models. The extract (200-600 mg/kg) inhibited ethanol, indomethacin, reserpine, and histamine-induced ulcer models in a dose-dependent fashion. The various degrees of inhibitions were statistically significant (P<0.05, 0.01, 0.001). The effects of the extract/fraction were comparable to that of the standard drugs used in indomethacin and ethanol-induced ulcer models with the dichloromethane fraction having the highest activity. Thus, H. letestui extract demonstrated a good antiulcer activity which supports the use of this plant in traditional...
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Posted by admin on Jun 3, 2015 in |
Misfolding of some proteins, their self-assembly into insoluble amyloid structures underlies many diseases, constituting a group of amyloid-related pathology. Fibrillation of peptide hormone of the pancreas, amylin, is considered as one of the causes of death of β-cells in type 2 diabetes. In this work we studied in-vitro protection of islet β-cells from death in the presence of aggregated amylin by ethanol extracts of rose petals (Rosa damascena), melilot (Melilotus officinalis), leaves of grape (Vitis vinifera), sorrel (Rumex confertus) and blackberry (Rubus caesius), and by eleven fractions, isolated from these plants (Coumarin, phenol glycoside, flavonoid and anthracene derivative). A rather low IC50 values in protection of β-cells were estimated for the extracts (0.03-1.5 µg/ml) and their fractions (0.04-3.9 µg/ml). The inhibition of amylin aggregation by several plant extracts and fractions in-vitro was studied using ThT fluorescence method. The IC50 values in deceleration of the peptide aggregation were between 1.76-7.24 µg/ml. A strong correlation (r = 0.99, p=0.0005) was observed between IC50 values in the protection of β-cells and amylin...
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Posted by admin on Jun 3, 2015 in |
Rice bran is the cuticle existing between the rice and husk of the paddy and consists of embryo and endosperm of the seeds of Oryza sativa, family Gramineae. It is obtained as a by product in rice mill during polishing of rice obtained after dehusking of paddy. Rice bran contains about 15% of fixed oil and is obtained by the solvent extraction method. It contains oleic acid, linolenic acid as unsaturated fatty acid and palmitic acid, stearic acid as a saturated fatty acid. The minor components of the rice bran, i.e. gamma oryzanol, phytosterols, and other phytosterol conjugates are examined to have antioxidant property against the free radicals. It is believed that rice bran serves as an important functional food that has cholesterol-lowering properties, cardiovascular health benefits, and anti-tumor activity. The oryzanol component acts as a protective agent against UV light-induced lipid peroxidation and hence can be used as a potent sunscreen agent. The ferulic acid and its esters present in gamma oryzanol stimulate hair growth and prevent skin...
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Posted by admin on Jun 3, 2015 in |
Areca catechu has been in use as a social drug from the time immemorial and usually chewed by at least 10% of the world’s population. Areca catechu commonly known as supari consists of dried ripe nuts and belongs to the family Palmae which is cultivated in tropical India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, South China, the East Indies, the Philippines Islands and part of East Africa (including Zanzibar and Tanzania). Large quantities are exported from Madras, Singapore, Penang, and Sri Lanka. Areca nut (seed) contains tannin, gallic acid, gum, and alkaloids, viz. arecoline, arecaine, arecaidine, guvacoline, guvacine and choline and various minerals such as copper, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. It also contains vitamin B6 and vitamin C. In Unani medicine, it is used for stomatitis, bleeding gums, gingivitis, conjunctivitis, glaucoma, leucorrhoea, antiperspirant, urinary disorders, anorexia, diarrhoea and improves foul breath. Experimental studies of A. catechu showed antioxidant activity, hypoglycemic activity, anti-depressant activity, and anti-HIV activity, etc. The present review is an attempt to compile and explore comprehensively the ethnomedicine uses, phytochemical...
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Posted by admin on Jun 3, 2015 in |
Sweet violet also known as the Viola odorata, blooms in continental climate conditions in early spring with delicate flowers of attractive scent. It has been traditionally the part of various indigenous preparations and being used to cure respiratory and inflammatory conditions. The present review article is an attempt to cover recent developments in the phytochemical and pharmacological potential of drug Viola odorata contains an alkaloid, glycoside, saponins, methyl salicylate, mucilage, and vitamin C. Traditionally V. odorata is worthwhile to cure Jaundice. V. odorata has shown anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antibacterial activity, hepatoprotective activity. Further investigations are exploring the possible use of these phytochemicals as pharmacological agents are warranted. The article reviews is an attempt to compile and documented information on a different aspect of Viola odorata pharmacological properties and highlight the need for research and their potential...
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