Search

The methanol fraction of the extract of Pluchea indica roots exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity against experimentally induced hepatotoxicity by carbon tetrachloride in rats and mice. The extract caused significant reduction of the elevated serum enzyme levels (AST, ALT, LDH and serum alkaline phosphatase) and serum bilirubin content in acute liver injury. A significant increase of reduced serum total protein, albumin and albumin/globulin ratio was also observed on extract treatment. The extract significantly reduced the prolonged pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time and also caused a significant reduction of plasma prothrombin time in comparison with CCl4-treated animals. The extract caused significant reduction of the increased bromosulphalein retention by CCl4-treatment. These findings are suggestive of a potent hepatoprotective effect of the extract under investigation.

Neuropharmacological studies were conducted in rodents with Pluchea indica Less root extract. On investigation with different experimental models it was found that the extract produced alteration of behaviour pattern, reduction in spontaneous motility, prolongation of pentobarbitone-induced sleep, suppression of aggressive behaviour pattern and of the conditioned avoidance response. The observations suggest that the root extract of P. indica possesses a potent central nervous system depressant action.

Calotropis procera has been widely used in the Indian traditional medicinal system for the treatment of a variety of disease conditions. Earlier studies in our laboratory revealed that the chloroform fraction of C. procera root extract possesses significant analgesic, antipyretic and antiinflammatory activity. Further studies also revealed that, unlike the NSAIDs, C. procera simultaneously possesses significant antiulcer activity. It is well established that the NSAIDs are potentially ulcerogenic and they exert their antiinflammatory activity following inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis (owing to the blockade of the cyclooxygenase pathway), thereby leading to overproduction of leukotrienes and other related products of arachidonic acid metabolism which in turn have potential ulcerogenic activity. We accordingly attempted to evaluate the antiulcer activity of C. procera using different in vivo ulcer models. The results of the present study revealed that C. procera significantly inhibited aspirin, reserpine, absolute alcohol and serotonin-induced gastric ulcerations in rats. The same also protected the gastric mucosa from aspirin-induced ulceration in pyloric-ligated rats and significant protection was observed in histamine-induced duodenal ulcers in guinea-pigs. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The effect of the methanol fraction of Pluchea indica (P. indica) and certain standard drugs were evaluated on platelet activation factor (PAF)-induced inflammation, gastric necrosis, ulceration and haematological picture. Administration of PAF (i.v.) for 20 min produced significant alteration in haematological profiles, considerable inflammation, severe gastric mucosal vasocongestion, necrosis and ulceration. Pretreatment with either P. indica and certain standard drugs significantly inhibited inflammation and incidences of lowered gastric damage.

The methanolic fraction of the extract of unripe fruits of Psidium guajava was found to possess significant antidiarrhoeal activity. The fraction decreased gastric motility in an experimental animal model and inhibited acetylcholine release from isolated guinea-pig ileum. On microbial screening the fraction was found to inhibit significantly the growth of different strains of Shigella spp. and Vibrio cholerae.