ABSTRACT

Invivo and invitro antisnake venom activity of the aqueous and alcoholic extract of root and rhizome of Corallocarpus epigaeus was studied through inhibition of invitro HRBC lysis and using albino mice in modifying the lethal effect of the test dose of Russell’s viper venom. The effectiveness of these two extracts was evaluated by i.p administration at a dose level five minutes after administration of the snake venom. The LD50 of Russell’s viper venom was found to be 8μg/18g bodyweight. Both the methanolic and aqueous extract of root and rhizome of Corallocarpus epigaeus markedly decreased the percentage mortality in venom induced toxicity in mice at dose level 500mg/kg bodyweight. The methanolic and aqueous extract of root and rhizome of Corallocarpus epigaeus is endowed with significant antisnake venom activity there by justifying its use in the indigenous system of the medicine.

Keywords: Anti-snake venom activity, Corallocarpus epigaeus, Aqueous and alcoholic extract, Root and rhizome

ABSTRACT

Hypertension is a common disease in Indian population. Control of hypertension is important as uncontrolled hypertension is associated with the significant morbidity. Dark chocolate may have some beneficial effect in control of blood pressure. The aim of the study is to know whether dark chocolate are actually beneficial in disease like hypertension & can be used as therapeutic nutraceuticals. A longitudinal study done at JK hospital, Bhopal done six groups over six months. Group A,B and C consists of 20 normotensive subjects each (10 male and 10 female).Group A received placebo. Group B received 2 bars of chocolate per week. Group C received 4 bars of chocolate per week. Group D,E and F consists of 20 hypertensive subjects each. Group D received antihypertensive medication only (Enalapril). Group E received 2 bars of chocolate per week and antihypertensive medication (ACE inhibitor). Group F received 4 bars of chocolate per week and antihypertensive medication (ACE inhibitor). BP was recorded at the interval three month in each group and it was compared. The data was analyzed using Graph pad prism5 software. Unaired t test was applied for anthropometric characteristics of the various groups. One way anova test was used to compare blood pressure change in various groups. The Results shows a significant reduction in systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure was seen males as well as in females in the group C i.e. normotensive subjects who received 4 bars of chocolate per week. It was concluded that the dark chocolate exert some protective effect on blood pressure control in normotensive subjects. Further studies are recommended with large sample size.

Keywords: Dark chocolate, Hypertension, JNC-7 classification.

ABSTRACT

Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by recurrent seizures of cerebral origin, presenting with episodes of sensory, motor or autonomic phenomenon with or without loss of consciousness. The drug discovery process in this direction is very attractive, because of non-availability of safe and effective means for the management of this condition. The objective of the study is to evaluate the antiepileptic activity of eugenol excluded clove extract. Wister albino rats are used in this study for evaluation. In PTZ induced convulsion model, aqueous clove extract had significantly delayed the onset of clonic and tonic convulsions, indicating the anticonvulsant activity. In MES induced convulsions also, aqueous clove extract had significantly decreased the duration of hind limb tonic extensor phase which is an observational parameter confirming anticonvulsant activity. In the all models, convulsions induced by either chemicals or MES, the aqueous extract of clove buds exhibited a fairly good anticonvulsant effect. However, long term studies in different animals and epileptic subjects may further substantial our study result.

Keywords: Epilepsy, Eugenol excluded clove extract, Eugenia caryophyllus, Wister albino rats.

ABSTRACT

Ervatamia coronaria belong to the family Apocynaceae, is traditionally used in Indian health care system, for various therapeutic applications. Few of its biological activity have been explored. Current study was designed, in order to investigate the birth control effect of Ervatamia coronaria in female rats. The objective of the study is to screen the antifertility activity of aqueous leaf extract of Ervatamia coronaria in female rats. The proestrus female rats were kept with male rats of proven fertility in the ratio of 2:1. Animals in the groups I received 0.5% CMC given vehicle only and serve as control. Aqueous leaf extract of Ervatamia coronaria 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg were administered to group II and group III respectively from day 1 to 7 of pregnancy. The number of implantation sites on both horns of uteri was observed. The results showed that, Ervatamia coronaria leaf extract exhibited dose dependent antifertility activity in female rats.

Keywords: Ervatamia coronaria, Antifertility, Apocynaceae.

ABSTRACT

The vast uses of Bidens pilosa in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments such as cancer, inflammation, diabetes, infections,  and haemonchosis  in Nigeria, has prompted the research on this plant to  evaluate its use in traditional medicine . This study was primarily designed to determine the pharmacognostic parameters, evaluate the safety of the plants in animals, determine its effects on bacteria and nematode parasite which cause haemonchosis in goats and sheep. Pharmacognostic studies as well as toxicity study carried out in two phases using 39 mice of opposite sex . Animals were administered methanol extract (ME) of the crude plant following intraperitoneal (i.p)  at 10, 100, 1000, 1600, 2900 and 5000mg/kg body weight(b.w). Antibacterial study was conducted using ME of leaves on Bacillus subtilis NCTC8239, Salmonella typhi ATCC9184, Staphylococcus aureus NCTC6571, Escherichia coli NCTC10418, Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC10031, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC13704. Effects leaf extracts were tested on Haemonchus contortus infective L3 larvae which cause haemonchosis in goats and sheep to determine % embryonation inhibition (%EI), % hatching inhibition (%HI) and % mortality rate of L3 larvae (%MR). Results showed that the plant possess  covering trichome, diacytic stomata   22-23.3-25 mm² and 31-34.1-38mm² , Stomata index  12.5-13.24-14.2% and 22.4-23.80-26%, Vein islet and vein termination numbers 12-14-16 mm² and 20-21-22 mm² ,  Palisade ratios  8-9.4-12 mm² and 4.2-7.5-10 mm²  upper and lower epidermis respectively. Phytochemical screening of leaf extract revealed the presence of many metabolites; with alkaloids, saponins, and tannins content more compared to other metabolites in the ME. Physico-chemical parameters showed that water extractive values of leaf were greater than that of stembarks and roots. The plant displayed great antibacterial activities on most of the microbes. Toxicity study showed that the animals survived the intoxication even at dosage of 5000 mg/kg b.w. Antihaemonchosis evaluations showed dose dependent activities of extracts. Methanol extract (ME) showed more potent on L3 larvae in terms of %EI, %HI and %MR from concentration 0.625 to 5.0 mg/mL after 48h. Our study showed that methanol extracts of Bidens pilosa were safe at the doses investigated and can serve as an ethnomedicinal prescription as well as treatment for haemonchosis in Nigeria. The data from pharmacognostic studies will serve as a tool for monograph in pharmacy.

ABSTRACT

Blepharis repens (vahl) roth is used in Folklore medicine in healing of wounds and eruptions and sealing in secondary infection. There was no scientific evidence justifying the use of whole plant of Blepharis repens, therefore the present study was aimed at evaluation of wound healing and antimicrobial activity of the whole plant and In the present study the whole plant ethanolic extract were studied for wound healing activity by incorporating ethanol extract in simple ointment base B.P. in concentration of 2% (w/w) and 4% (w/w The statistical data indicated that the wound with ointment containing 4% w/w ethanol extract exhibited significant (P<0.001) wound contracting ability .The ethanol extract of Blepharis repens showed significant antibacterial and antifungal effect against most of the pathogenic organism .phytochemical screening of the extracts showed the presence of a number of bioactive constituents such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids etc.

Keywords: Blepharis repens, Incorporating, Phytochemical Screening.