Effect of Trianthema triquetra Rottl. ex Willed (Aizoaceae) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in experimental rats and assessment of various ulcer parameters

Trianthema triquetra Rottl. Ex.Willed is a medicinal plant that belongs to the family Aizoaceae. The plant has been used traditionally as fodder , as remedy for chronic ulcer, chronic fever and also for the healing of wounds. Therefore the  present study was intended to investigate the anti-ulcer ability of different fractions of Trianthema triquetra to verify its folklore use in ulcer cure. Anti-ulcer potential of butanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and an aqueous fraction of crude methanolic extract of Trianthema triquetra were assessed by using ethanol- induced gastric ulcer model in rats. Omeprazole at a dose of 20 mg/kg was used as standard drug .After 30 minutes of administration of test dose, the gastric ulcer was induced in all animals by the administration of absolute ethanol (1ml/animal) orally except normal control animal group. After an hour, all the rats were sacrificed. Ulcer index, %age of ulcer inhibition, gastric pH, gastric volume, total acidity, gastric wall protein, gastric wall mucus and histopathology of stomach wall of rats were assessed. All the fractions of T. triquetra at a dose of 300mg/kg body weight showed a substantial decrease in ulcer index and an improvement in percentage inhibition in comparison to the ulcer control group. There was a rise in the amount of gastric wall mucus content, total protein content, gastric pH and a decrease in gastric volume and total acidity. The present work encourages the conventional use of T. triquetra in the cure of ulcer. Moreover, Hispathological studies showed severe mucosal injury, leucocyte infiltration and edema in disease control animal group as compared to omeprazole treated and plant fractions treated animal groups

Evaluation of anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of methanol extract of Mazus pumilus (Burm. f.) Steenis (Mazaceae) herb

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of the methanol extract of Mazus pumilus (Mazaceae) herb. Methods: Anti-nociceptive activity was determined using hot plate, tail flick and acetic acid-induced writing methods. Carrageenan-induced rat paw edema (0.1 mL of 1 %) model was used for the assessment of anti-inflammatory activity. The methanol extract was administered orally at three different doses (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) to three separate groups in all the experiments. Diclofenac sodium (50 mg/kg) was used as standard drug while control group received DMSO (1 %, 10 mL/kg). The hepatocurative effect of methanol extract of M. pumilus (400 mg/kg) was determined in isoniazid (50 mg/kg) and rifampicin (100 mg/kg) induced liver injury. Silymarin (100 mg/kg) was used as standard drug for comparison. The control group received distilled water (10 mL/kg). Preliminary phytochemical screening was also carried out. Results: The methanol extract of M. pumilus significantly (p < 0.05) augmented latency time and reduced the number of writhes in the pain models at all doses used for the assessment of antinociceptive actions. The anti-inflammatory activity of different doses of extract was evaluated by measuring the reduction in the size of the paw. A significant (p < 0.05) hepatocurative effect was observed when administered after anti-tuberculosis drugs. Histopathological analysis of the liver tissues also revealed restored hepatocellular architecture. Conclusion: The results demonstrate the anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of the methanol extract of M. pumilus, thus substantiating the ethnomedical claims associated with the herb

Application of glucose oxidase for the production of metal gluconates by fermentation

The present study deals with the application of glucose oxidase (GOX) for the production of metal gluconates by fermentation method. It provides a method for the conversion of glucose into gluconic acid and its derivatives using the enzyme glucose oxidase (GOX). Due to the presence of calcium carbonate in fermentation medium the gluconic acid is converted into calcium gluconate. Conditions like concentration of substrate, temperature, pH, fermentation period and different phosphate sources were optimized during fermentation. The maximum GOX activity was observed at 35°C (pH 5.5) after 44 h of incubation at 100 rpm. At the maximum enzyme activity, the percentage yield of gluconates are also maximum; both go side by side. Sulphuric and oxalic acids method were employed for the production of gluconic acid. Derivatives of gluconic acid that is, calcium lactate gluconate, sodium gluconate, potassium gluconate, zinc gluconate and copper gluconate were formed by using double displacement and direct methods. The direct method gave the better yield. The percentage yields were 73, 89.63, 81.93, 92.86 and 81.53%, respectively. Keywords: Glucose oxidase (GOX), metal gluconate, double displacement

Pharmacognostic studies of stem, roots and leaves of Malva parviflora L.

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo establish quality control parameters of a locally occurring medicinal plant, Malva parviflora which is utilized as folk medicine in Sialkot area in Pakistan.MethodsIn pharmacognostic studies different types of evaluations were carried out that focus on microscopic, macroscopic, fluorescence analysis and organoleptic evaluations.ResultsThe distinguishing characters of stem were the presence of parenchyma, cork cells, irregular shape calcium oxalate crystals, simple and compound starch granules and fusiform fibers with pits. Root microscopic characters were presence of simple and spherical starch granules with rounded or slit hilum, groups of lignified xylem fibers, reticulate vessels, and sieve tissues. Leaves microscopy indicated the presence of paracytic stomata, lignified fibers having pits, spiral and annular vessels, numerous sclereids while in fruit microscopy epicarp, thin walled cells endocarp, thin walled parenchyma and collenchyma of mesocarp and abundant thick walled endospermic cells containing aleurone grains and micro rosette crystals. Macroscopic study of leaves showed, 5-7 lobed reniform-shape, glabrous-surface, reticulate-venation in the leaves. Macroscopic features of roots showed type of root-taproot, surface-glabrous and stem was 1-10 dm tall simple to branched and may be prostrate or ascending. Similarly fruit was of schizocarp type.ConclusionsThis study provides the scientific data for the proper identification and establishment of standards for the use of Malva parviflora

Amelioration of isoniazid and rifampicin-induced liver toxicity by Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris in rat

Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris, a folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, was used to evaluate its hepatoprotective potential against rifampicin and isoniazid-induced liver damage. Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: Group I served as control (distilled water treated), Group II served as hepatotoxic group (isoniazid 50 mg/kg and rifampicin 100 mg/kg, treated), Group III served as positive control (silymarin 100 mg/kg, treated) while Group IV served as A. graecizans subsp. silvestris extract (400 mg/kg) treated group. The results suggest that the liver markers (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin) were significantly increased in the animals of Group II. The methanolic extract showed a significant decrease in the raised liver enzymes of Group IV and encountered the liver damage caused by isoniazid and rifampicin. Histopathological examination of liver also revealed the improved architecture in the extract-treated group. Thus, the methanolic extract has potential liver protective action due to its phytochemicals. Video Clip of Methodology: 8 min 24 sec:   Full Screen   Alternat

<em>Mazus pumilus</em> (Burm. f.) Steenis; Pharmacognosy

106 - 112Mazus pumilus (Burm. f.) Steenis, is a well-known traditional medicinal plant belonging to family Mazaceae. The research work is about the pharmacognostic standardization of M. pumilus which includes; macroscopic features and microscopic evaluation of leaf, stem and roots. TS of leaf, stem and root showed the arrangement of the different cells. Histochemistry of TS of leaf, stem and root gave distinctive results with conc. HCl, phloroglucinol, ferric chloride, iodine solution and Sudan III which indicated the presence of Ca+2 oxalate crystals, lignin, tannins, starch and oil cells, respectively. Powder study of leaf depicted the presence of fibres, epidermal cells, resinous matter and vessels. The powdered study of stem showed collenchyma, vessels, fibers, cortex cells with tracheids, and helical vessels. While, root powder contained pithed vessels, cork cells, parenchyma and phelloderm. The quantitative analysis of TS of leaf was also performed for the establishment of leaf constants. In fluorescence analysis of herb, different colors were observed under ordinary light, short and high wavelength UV light. Phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract of whole herb confirmed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, triterpenoids, carbohydrates, proteins and tannins. All these results will help in identification, confirmation and quality characterization besides, laying down the pharmacopoeial standards for M. pumilus