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Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the kidney protective effect of ethanolic root extract of Croton zambesicus (C. zambesicus) against gentimicin-induced kidney injury in rats. Methods: The root extract (27-81 mg/kg) was administered to rats for eight days with concurrent administration of gentimicin (100 mg/kg) daily for the same period of time. Protective effect of the extract was evaluated in serum levels of creatinine, urea, and uric acid as well as some ions like sodium, potassium and chloride. Histological examination of the kidneys from different treatment groups were also carried out. Results: Administration of the root extract significantly reduced histopathological changes in the kidneys of the extract-treated rats especially in the rats treated with lower doses of the extract (27 and 54 mg/kg). The levels of serum urea and creatinine were also reduced significantly (P<0.01) at these doses with no observable effect on the levels of uric acid and ions. Conclusions: The kidney – protective activity of this extract could be due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pedalium murex Linn (family: Pedaliaceae) (P. murex) commonly known as Large Caltrops and Gokhru (India) is a shrub found in the Southern part, Deccan region of India and in some parts of Ceylon. Different parts of the plant are used to treat various ailments like, cough, cold and as an antiseptic. Interestingly, P. murex is reported traditionally to have an excellent cure in patients with reproductive disorders which are mainly impotency in men, nocturnal emissions, gonorrhoea as well as leucorrhoea in women. The plant has also benifited in complications like urinary track disorder as well as gastro intestinal tract disorders. Phytochemically the plant is popular for the presence of a considerable amount of diosgenin and vanillin which are regarded as an important source and useful starting materials for synthesizing steroidal contraceptive drugs and isatin alkaloids. Other phytochemicals reported in the plant includes quercetin, ursolic acid, caffeic acid, amino acids (glycine, histidine, tyrosine, threonine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid) and various classes of fatty acids (triacontanoic acid, nonacosane, tritriacontane, tetratriacontanyl and heptatriacontan-4-one). Pharmacologically, the plant have been investigated for antiulcerogenic, nephroprotective, hypolipidemic, aphrodisiac, antioxidant, antimicrobial and insecticidal activities. From all these reports it can be concluded that the plant were found to have a better profile with potential natural source for the treatment of various range of either acute or chronic disease. The overall database of our review article was collected from the scientific sources in regards with all the information of the research article for P. murex published so far. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective To explore the analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, hepatic and nephritic effects of Pulicaria arabica ( P. arabica ) in several experimental models. Methods For analgesic effect hot plate and writhing method were used, while for antipyretic and anti-inflammatory rectal temperature and carrageenan induced hind paw edema were used respectively. CCl 4 intoxication method was used for hepatic and nephritic protective activity. Results The results of the present studies revealed that P. arabica has potent analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory with the significant hepatic and nephritic protecting actions. The CCl 4 intoxication changed the normal malondialdehyde and nonprotein sulfhydryls levels in both liver and kidney. These changes were normalized with P. arabica indicating the antioxidant nature of this plant. Conclusions The results of present study indicated that P. arabica can be used in analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory conditions even in hepatic and nephritic conditions. More supportive studies are required before clinical recommendation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]