Radioprotective and In-Vitro Cytotoxic Sapogenin from Euphorbia neriifolia (Euphorbiaceae) Leaf

Purpose: Euphorbia neriifolia Linn. (Euphorbiaceae) plant is traditionally used in the treatment of abdominal troubles, bronchitis, tumours,  leucoderma, piles, inflammation, and enlargement of spleen. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and anticancer activities of a sapogenin isolate of this plant. Methods: Euphol was isolated as a major constituent from the triterpenoidal sapogenin fraction of E. neriifolia leaf. Its in-vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by reducing power assay, 1,1 – diphenyl –2- picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, as well as  hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging activities. Radioprotective activity was assessed against radiation-induced chromosomal aberrations and cytotoxicity on murine F1 B16 melanoma.Results: The sapogenin exerted moderate antioxidant activity with highly significant (p < 0.001) reduction of gamma radiation-induced chromosomal aberrations (33.5 % compared to 71.5 % for radiation treatment alone at 4 Gy). It also exhibited cytotoxic activity on melanoma cell lines (IC50 = 173.78 μg/ml). Conclusion: The sapogenin fraction showed antioxidant, radioprotective and cytotoxic activities. This study provides a scientific basis for the claimed traditional anticarcinogenic potentials of E. neriifolia.Keywords: Euphorbia neriifolia; Euphol; Sapogenin; Antioxidant; Radioprotective; Melanoma; Chromosomal aberratio

Protective effect of Euphorbia neriifolia saponin fraction on CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxicity

The present investigation aims at assessing the hepatoprotective effect of saponin fraction isolated from the leaf of Euphorbia neriifolia on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity on rat. CCl4 (1.5 mg/kg, i.p) is a potent hepatotoxic agent, which induces peroxidative degeneration of membrane lipids causing hypoperfusion of the membrane. Cytosolic enzymes like SGPT, SGOT and ALP elevates in the blood and hepatic glutathione and SOD decreases. The hepatoprotection of triterpene was compared with silymerin, a well known standard hepatoprotectant. Euphol was isolated from E. neriifolia leaf total sapogenin fraction after separation and instrumentation.  Pretreatment with total saponin fraction (50, 125 and 175 mg/kg, p.o once a day for 4 days before CCl4 and  continued further for 3 days) attenuated the CCl4-induced acute increase in serum SGPT, SGOT and ALP  activities and considerably reduced the histopathological alterations. Further, saponin fraction reduced  thiopentone (4 mg/kg, i.p) induced sleeping time, suggesting the protection of liver metabolizing enzymes.  Saponin administration replenished the depleted hepatic GSH and SOD by improving the antioxidant status of  the liver. Saponin pretreatment improves bromsulphalein clearance and also increases the cellular viability.  These effects substantiate protection of cellular phospholipid from peroxidative damage induced by highly  reactive toxic intermediate radicals formed during biotransformation of CCl4.Key words: Euphorbia neriifolia, triterpenoidal saponin, euphol, β-amyrin, hepatoprotective

Dermal irritation and sensitization study of Euphorbia neriifolia latex and its anti-inflammatory efficacy

The presence of polycyclic diterpene esters in Euphorbia plants sap makes it highly irritant and notably corrosive causing burning pain of skin. The toxic nature of the Euphorbia is discouraging their uses despite the possible manifold therapeutic potentials. Euphorbia neriifolia (Euphorbiaceae) commonly known as Thuar is a sacculant shrub commonly and abundantly found as hedge plant in Central India. This study was designed to screen the physiochemical properties of latex and dermal irritation potential of its different solvent fractions targeting to retain the triterpene content high to extract therapeutic utilization. Physico-chemical, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical, dermal irritation and sensitization profile and topical anti-inflammatory activity of E. neriifolia latex were studied. Fresh latex contains 10.95 % solid with 18.32 % total resinous matter, and 24.50 % and 16.23 % of total diterpene and triterpene respectively. Petroleum ether fractionation showed 63.80 % yield with rich presence of steroid and triterpenoid. Pet. ether fraction was found to be apparently nonirritating with a PII score of 0.43/0.11 for erythema and edema according to Draize Dermal Classification System. Chloroform, acetone and water fractions are skin irritating due to presence of high diterpene content where as pet. ether fraction is rich in triterpene showing nonirritant activity. Topically latex pet. ether fraction at 750 and 500 mg/ml dose showed 42.40 and 35.25 % inhibition of carrageenan induced paw edema. Anti-inflammatory activity of latex pet. ether fraction is due to presence of triterpenes euphol, nerifoliol and cycloartenol. This study explores safe topical use profile of E. neriifolia latex retaining its anti-inflammatory efficacy

STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN URBAN POPULATION OF BHOPAL CITY

Chronic respiratory disease occurrence in urban population is creating burden on economic growth and challenges to public health management. This descriptive, prevalence study was designed to gather data on risk factor related association of respiratory diseases occurrence with information on sign, symptoms and treatment modalities. Questionnaire based personal interview was conducted on selected patients with well documented respiratory problem on demographic, biosocial, educational, occupational and economic background. Body weight, height, blood pressure, details of treatment modalities, sign and symptoms were recorded from hospital data. The prevalence rates were presented as percentage and 95% confidence interval estimated and analyzed by person’s chi-square test. Age, number of children more than three (p&lt;0.0001), family members more than three (p&lt;0.01), overcrowding (p&lt;0.0001), low socioeconomic class (p&lt;0.0001), unhygienic surrounding (p&lt;0.001), education below secondary level (p&lt;0.01), low to normal BMI (p&lt;0.002) and chronic smoking habit (p&lt;0.001) showed significant risk factor related association with occurrence of respiratory disease. Most frequently found sign and symptom are apnea, tiredness, nausea, coughing and nose tickling. Marital status, source of drinking water, cooking fuel, occupation, employment status, income, respiratory rate, sleep pattern and regular use of other medication does not show any co-relation with respiratory disease occurrence. The significant risk factor for respiratory disease occurrence is aging, unhygienic environment, low level education, overcrowding and smoking

Pharmacokinetic Interaction of Salbutamol Co-administered with Vasicine Isolated from Adhathoda vasica on Rabbit

Background: The study aims at the establishment of pharmacokinetic interaction between vasicine and salbutamol in low and high dose combinations on rabbits. Methods: Previously developed in vitro simultaneous estimation method of vasicine and salbutamol was further validated by recovery study in the spiked plasma sample. Pharmacokinetic interaction study was performed on the rabbit at 30 and 60 mg/kg vasicine administered with 2 and 4 mg/kg salbutamol orally based on literature reports. Vasicine and salbutamol were extracted from plasma up to 12 hr post drug administration, analyzed by HPLC and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. Results: HPLC co-analysis of vasicine and salbutamol in the spiked plasma samples showed recovery in the range of 92.44 to 99.14% and RSD less than 1%. Vasicine showed the limit of quantification 136 ng/ml with interday and intraday variation less than 1% indicating reproducibility. Co-administration of vasicine and salbutamol significantly (p < 0.001) elevates elimination rate constant, decreases clearance, biological half-life and volume of distribution of salbutamol compared to administration alone. Salbutamol showed high (p < 0.001) clearance and AUC value, whereas vasicine showed significantly high (p < 0.01-0.001) elimination rate constant, clearance, volume of distribution and AUC when co-administered. Conclusions: Combined administration of vasicine and salbutamol has drastically increased the bioavailability of salbutamol though vasicine bioavailability was practically unchanged. This study signifies that concurrently administered salbutamol with vasicine can induce occurrence of serious life threatening adverse event may be due to additive vasodilatory effect