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Objective To evaluate the anti inflammatory activity of leaves extracts of Jatropha gossypifolia (J. gossypifolia) L. Methods The plant J. gossypifolia L. (Eurphorbiaceae) is known as belly ache bush. The plant originated from Brazil and it is now cultivated in tropical countries throughout the world. The roots, stems, leaves, seeds and fruits of the plant have been widely used in traditional folk medicine in many parts of West Africa. The young stem of the plant is used as tooth brush as well as to clean tongue in the treatment thrush. The tuber of the plant grinded into a paste is also locally used in the treatment of hemorrhoids. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti inflammatory activity of aqueous and alcoholic extract of J. gossypifolia leaves by in vitro HRBC membrane stabilization method. Results The in vitro method showed significant anti inflammatory property of different extracts tested. Conclusions The aqueous extract at a concentration of 200 μg/mL showed significant activity when compared with the standard drug Diclofenac sodium.

The relationship between American ginseng immunostimulatory and immunoinhibitory effects and the unique bioactive fractions of its different extracts namely aqueous (AQ) and alcoholic (ALC) extracts was investigated. AQ extract up-regulated the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), while ALC extract did not upregulate macrophage function. ALC extract but not AQ extract suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced macrophage NO and TNF-α production. Macrophage-stimulating activity of the AQ extract was inhibited in the presence of ALC extract. Fractionation of AQ extract revealed that its crude polysaccharides (PS) are the only immunostimulatory phytochemical. Fractionation study of ALC extract showed that its macromolecule and ginsenoside fractions contribute to the extract’s immunoinhibitory effect. ALC extract which was devoid of PS, was immunoinhibitory whereas the AQ extract which contained PS, was immunostimulatory. These effects may be considered as the paradoxical immunomodulatory actions of ginseng. Recent studies suggest that ginseng PS also suppress induced proinflammatory responses. Investigation was performed ex vivo and in vivo to determine whether American ginseng roots polysaccharides (AGRPS) stimulates basal innate immune function and at the same time can suppress LPS proinflammatory response. An in vitro mechanistic study was used to identify the fractions responsible for AGRPS immunobioactivities. Orally administered AGRPS exerted immunostimulation and suppressed LPS immune response under basal and LPS proinflammatory conditions ex vivo and in vivo. Similar AGRPS immunostimulatory and immunouppressive effects were observed in vitro, and these AGRPS immunodulatory effects were mediated primarily by acid PS and its species with molecular weights ≥100 kDa and 50 - 100 kDa. The intestinal absorption of orally administered immunomodulatory AGRPS is yet to be ascertained. Absence of a method to analyze ginseng PS created the need for a novel method to investigate the intestinal absorption of orally administered unlabeled AGRPS into systemic circulation. Perchloric acid-protein precipitation of plasma and high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) with right angle light scattering detection was used as novel approach to analyze AGRPS in plasma of rats after oral administration of AGRPS. Outcome of this study indicates that orally administered immunomodulatory AGRPS is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract into systemic circulation.

Background: In congestive heart failure, nephritis, toxemia of pregnancy, premenstrual tension and hypertension associated with oedema diuretic compounds are much helpful to relieve these conditions. Aims: To study the diuretic activity of alcoholic extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira by Lipschitz method in albino rats. Methods and Material: Five groups of Albino rats were used to evaluate the diuretic activity of alcoholic extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira by using metabolic cages. The group I serves as normal control received vehicle (2% CMC in normal saline), group II with Furosemide (10 mg/Kg, p.o), Groups III, IV and V with low (100 mg/kg), medium (200 mg/kg), and high (400 mg/kg) doses of alcoholic extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira respectively. Immediately after the alcoholic extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira treatment all the rats were hydrated with saline (15 ml/kg, p.o) and 2 animals placed in each metabolic cage, kept at 21°C±0.5°C. No food and water was made available to animals for 5 hour. The total volume of urine collected with each metabolic cage was measured at the end of 5 hour. Various parameters like total urine volume and concentration of different ions i.e., Sodium, Potassium , Chloride in the urine were measured. Results: In this model when compared to control group the alcoholic extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira treated groups at different dose levels (100,200 and 400 mg/kg) have noted with significant increase in the urine volume and also significantly enhanced the excretion of Sodium, Potassium and Chloride ions in urine. Conclusion: Results showed that single dose administration of standard Furosemide and alcoholic extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira significantly (p

Avaliou-se o perfil fitoquímico de extratos hidroalcoólicos padrão (EAPs), obtidos a partir das folhas de alecrim-pimenta (Lippia sidoides), aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva), barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens), erva baleeira (Cordia verbenacea) e do farelo da casca do fruto do pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) e a atividade antimicrobiana de diferentes concentrações desses EAPs contra Staphylococcus aureus e Escherichia coli. Após coleta e identificação, as folhas das plantas e cascas do pequi foram usadas para preparação dos EAPs e submetidas a rastreamento fitoquímico. A atividade antimicrobiana dos EAPs em diferentes diluições (200, 300, 400 e 500mg mL-1) foi testada pela técnica de difusão em ágar. O rastreamento fitoquímico detectou componentes com potencial antimicrobiano em todos os EAPs. Nos testes de difusão em ágar, os extratos de aroeira (≥200mg mL-1), barbatimão (≥300mg mL-1) e erva-baleeira (≥400mg mL-1) inibiram o crescimento de S. aureus, mas não de E. coli. Os EAPs não mostraram atividade sobre E.coli, todavia as folhas de aroeira, barbatimão e erva-baleeira evidenciaram potencial para inibir o crescimento de S. aureus. O uso das folhas e cascas dessas espécies vegetais pode constituir-se numa alternativa sustentável, viável e acessível para tratamento antimicrobiano. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile of standardized hydroalcoholic extracts (EAPs) obtained from leafs of rosemary (Lippia sidoides), peppertree (Myracrodruon urundeuva), barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens), erva baleeira (Cordia verbenacea) and from the meal of pequi fruit peel (Caryocar brasiliense) and the activity of different levels of these EAPs against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. After collection and identification of the species, plant leaves and pequi peel were separated to prepare the EAPs. The EAPs underwent phytochemical screening. The antimicrobial activity of the EAPs at different dilutions (200, 300, 400 and 500mg mL-1) was tested using the disk diffusion method. The phytochemical screening detected components with antimicrobial potential in the EAPs tested. The disk diffusion test showed that peppertree (≥200mg mL-1), barbatimão (≥300mg mL-1) and erva-baleeira (≥400mg mL-1) extracts inhibited S. aureus growth, but not E. coli development. The EAPs did not affect E. coli development, but the leaves from peppertree, barbatimão and erva-baleeira exhibited potential to inhibit S. aureus growth. The leaves and bark of the studied plants may consist in a sustainable, affordable and feasible alternative to treat microbial infections.

Objectives: To study the antidiabetic activity of Barleria prionitis Linn in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Alcoholic extract of leaf and root of B. prionitis was tested for their antidiabetic activity. Albino rats were divided into six groups of six animals each. In three groups, diabetes was induced using alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) and all the rats were given different treatments consisting of vehicle, alcoholic extract of leaves, and alcoholic extract roots of B. prionitis Linn (200 mg/kg) for 14 days. The same treatment was given to the other three groups, comprising non-diabetic (normal) animals. Blood glucose level, glycosylated hemoglobin, liver glycogen, serum insulin, and body weight were estimated in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats, before and 2 weeks after administration of drugs. Results: Animals treated with the alcoholic extract of leaves of B. prionitis Linn showed a significant decrease in blood glucose level (P< 0.01) and glycosylated hemoglobin (P< 0.01). A significant increase was observed in serum insulin level (P< 0.01) and liver glycogen level (P< 0.05), whereas the decrease in the body weight was arrested by administration of leaf extract to the animals. The alcoholic extract of roots showed a moderate but non-significant antidiabetic activity in experimental animals. Conclusion: The study reveals that the alcoholic leaf extract of B. prionitis could be added in the list of herbal preparations beneficial in diabetes mellitus.

Laboratory evaluations were made to assess the piscicidal activity of ethyl alcohol extract of Nerium indicum leaf against predatory fish Channa punctatus and their ultimate mode of action on fish metabolism. Toxicity experiments show there was significant negative correlation between LC values and exposure periods i.e. LC50 value decreased from 66.32 mg/L (24h) to 44.96 mg/L (96h). Biochemical studies show that after exposure to sub lethal doses of alcoholic extract, pyruvate level and activities of acetylcholinesterase and cytochrome oxidase significantly decreased while lactate level and activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate amino transferase were significantly enhanced in both liver and muscle tissues of Channa punctatus. The alterations in all the above biochemical parameters were significantly (P

Citrus liqueurs are typical alcoholic beverages produced in the italian Region Campania. The determination of teh alcohol percentage in the alcoholic extract of citrus peel and of obtained liqueurs by density measurements using the official methods does not lead in general to accurate results. This paper proposes a simple procedure that leads to accurate results using the official methods by measuring the density on a distillate of both the alcoholic extract of citrus peel and of the derived citrus liqyeurs previously clarified by filtration to separate the essential oils.

Objective: To investigate the effects of alcoholic extract of Allium sativum and Piper longum on the muscular activity of a parasitic amphistome, Gigantocotyle explanatum. Materials and Methods: Amphistomes were isometrically mounted to record the spontaneous muscular activity by using Chart 4 software program (Power Lab, AD Instruments, Australia) and to examine the effects of cumulative doses (100, 300, 1000, and 3000 µg/ml) of the plant extracts on the amplitude (g), frequency (per 10 min), and baseline tension (g) of the spontaneous muscular activity of the amphistome. Results: Alcoholic extract of A. sativum produced significant reduction in the frequency and amplitude of contractile activity of the amphistome at 1000 and 3000 µg/ml bath concentrations. Complete paralysis of the amphistome was observed after 15 min of addition of 3000 µg/ml concentration. Alcoholic extract of P. longum also caused paralysis following 15-20 min exposure of the amphistome to 3000 µg/ml concentration. In both the cases the amphistomes did not recover from paralysis following 2-3 washes. Conclusion: The observations demonstrate the paralytic effect of alcoholic extract of A. sativum and P. longum on G. explanatum.

Health and Research Centre, KumaunUniversity, Nainital Manuscript received 10 April1989, revised27 July 1990,accepted 12 October 1990 Chemical Constituents and Antimicrobial Activity of Achyranthes bidentata &nbsp

A atividade do extrato alcoólico de Bidens pilosa L. sobre fungos patogênicos e saprófitas foi determinado. O extrato foi ensaiado sobre 47 amostras de fungos, verificando-se inibições do crescimento em 42 casos. Entre os fungos sensíveis estão 17 amostras de dermatófitos. Todas as leveduras estudadas foram sensíveis ao extrato. Não se verificou ação inibitória sobre amostras de Sporothrix shenckii, Aureobasidium sp, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus e Rhizopus sp. The authors observed the Bidens pilosa L. antifungic activity which was collected from São Paulo city. Alcoholic extracts of fresh green plants were prepared for testing. Discs paper were impregnated by the alcoholic concentrate. The antifungic activity was tested in Sabourand dextrose agar in petri dishes against 47 strains of fungi. Sporothrix schenckii, Aureobasidium sp, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus and Rhizopus had not their growth inhibited.

The chemical investigation of the stem-bark of \(Alstonia\) \(neriijolia\) revealed the presence of two alkaloids, nerifoline and echitamine The non-alkaloidal constituents were separated by chromatography and identified as lupeol and \(\beta\)-amyrin.

Background: Increasing human knowledge about adverse effects of chemical preservatives has increased public interest to consume products with natural preservatives such as plant extract and their essential oils. Objective: In this study chemical composition of essential oil of Afsantine and antibacterial effect of its essential oil and aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts against the most important food borne pathogens, salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated. Methods: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) method was used for chemical composition analysis of the essential oil. Disk diffusion method was done to screen bacterial sensitivity. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of extracts were evaluated by broth micro-dilution method. Results: The essential oil components were identified and the major constituents of the oil were Beta Thujone (29.75%) and Phellandrene (20.20%). In disk diffusion method the most sensitive strain to the essential oil and the extracts was S. typhimurium and E.coli O157:H7. MICs of Afsantine essential oil against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes were estimated 3000 ppm. The methanolic extract showed antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes, E.coli O157:H7, B. cereus and S. aureus were estimated 10, 10, 8 and 4 mg ml-1, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that the essential oil and methanlic extract of Afsantine have greater antimicrobial effects on given strains and might be used as a natural preservative in food system.

Introduction: Patients with chronic, painful diseases often seek alternative therapy. The rhizome of Zingiber (Z) officinalis is a common constituent of diets around the world and its extracts have been reported to exhibit several pharmacological activities. We investigated the effects of alcoholic Zingiber oficinalis rhizome extract on two different models of acute and chronic inflammation and pain. Material and Methods: Formalin, xylen and acetic acid were used to induce acute inflammation in paw, ear and peritoneum, respectively. The amount of Evans' blue dye leakage into these tissues was used as an index of acute inflammation . For chronic inflammation, a piece of sterile cotton (30 mg) was impalnated into the groin region for a period of seven days. Following, t he weight of the cotton piece before implantation is subtracted from the weight of the dried piece and used as an index of chronic inflammation. Finally, acute and chronic pain assessment was carried out via the formalin test protocol . Results: In acute inflammation model, the formalin-induced inflammation in paw and peritoneum was significantly (P