International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (8), pp. 001-004, August, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Hypoglycaemic effect of aqueous stem extract of Anisopus mannii in normal rats

D. Sani¹*, S. Sanni ² and S. I. Ngulde²

¹Zonal Veterinary Clinic, Aliyu Jodi Road, Sokoto state, Nigeria.

²Department of Veterinary Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria.

Accepted 14 March, 2012

Abstract

The hypoglycaemic effect and acute oral toxicity of graded doses of aqueous extract of Anisopus mannii was investigated in rats. The revised limit dose test of Up and Down procedure was used to determine the acute oral toxicity of the plant. The result revealed that the Median lethal dose of the plant is greater than 3000 mg/kg body weight. The treatment of the rats with varying doses of the plant extract for 28 days in this studies resulted in increases in body weight although not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The repeated administration of graded doses of the extract also produces significant (P < 0.05) decreases in the blood sugar levels of the treatment groups compared to their respective day zero values thus justifying its folkloric use as a potential hypoglycaemic agent.

Key words: Anisopus mannii, hypoglycemic effect, rats.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (8), pp. 001-007, August, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Kinetics of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities by aqueous extracts of Acacia nilotica (L.) and Rhamnus prinoides (L’Hér.)

Catherine Megan Crowch¹ and Edward Jonathan Okello²*

¹School of Biomedical Sciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom.

²Medicinal Plant Research Group and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, United Kingdom.

Accepted 13 April, 2012

Abstract

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a key target in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We studied the potential anti-AChE activities of Acacia nilotica (Leguminosae) and Rhamnus prinoides (Rhamnaceae) plants that have previously been shown to affect central nervous system activities. Sonicated aqueous extracts of A. nilotica and R. prinoides displayed significant AChE inhibition by about 56 and 53%, respectively, after 5 min incubation at 0.1mg/ml final assay concentration. Inhibition kinetics showed both plant preparations to be mixed inhibitors (specifically non- competitive uncompetitive type). Galanthamine was assayed as a positive control and was found to be a very potent mixed type (competitive non -competitive) inhibitor; IC₅₀ of 0.0004 mg/ml compared to 0.079 mg/ml for A. nilotica and 0.201 mg/ml for R. prinoides. We conclude that although the AChE inhibition by A. nilotica and R. prinoides is not as potent as that of galanthamine, in addition to their known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities these plants could provide novel poly-pharmacological leads of potential benefit to the treatment of AD and therefore warrant further investigation.

Key words: Alzheimer’s disease, acetylcholinesterase, enzyme inhibition, kinetics, Acacia nilotica, Rhamnus prinoides.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro antimicrobial activity of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (periplocaceae)

Felix C. Mills-Robertson*, Frederick A. Aboagye, George Duker-Eshun, Sylvester Kaminta and Samuel Agbeve

Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM), P. O. Box 73, Mampong-Akwapim, Ghana.

Accepted 08 April, 2012

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate in vitro, the effect of three different preparations of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, obtained from 2 mg/ml each of 70% ethanol, hot and cold aqueous extract, as antimicrobial agents using agar diffusion method. The microbes used in this study consisted of one strain of Salmonella typhimurium , two strains each of Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans, three strains each of Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumo pneumoniae and four strains of Escherichia coli. The ethanolic extract, inhibited the growth of 85% of the test organisms with zones of inhibition ranging from 16 - 30 mm (averaging 23.8 ± 0.88 mm). The hot water extract, inhibited 75% of the test organisms with zones of inhibition ranging from 13 – 30 (averaging 23.0 ± 1.07 mm) whilst the cold water extract inhibited 75% of the test organisms with zones of inhibition ranging from 8 - 23 mm (averaging 17.2 ± 1.23 mm). Thus, all the three extracts of C. sanguinolenta exhibited different degrees of antimicrobial activity.

Key words: Antibacterial, Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, periplocaceae.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Pharmacological and nutritional activities of potato anthocyanins

Chang Ling Zhao¹*, Hua Chun Guo¹, Zhi Yuan Dong¹ and Qing Zhao²

¹College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, Kunming, 650201, P. R., China.

²School of Chinese Crude Drug, Yunnan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College Town of Chenggong, Kunming, 650200, P. R., China.

Accepted 14 march, 2012

Abstract

Colored potatoes are due to the accumulation of anthocyanins in the stem tubers. The strong antioxidative activity of potato anthocyanins results from the promotion effects of the anthocyanins on the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and is positively correlated to the anthocyanin content, which derives several important pharmacological actions. Both the antioxidative strength and anti-influenza virus activity of potato anthocyanins are determined by the molecular structures of the anthocyanins and this involves the synergic effects of the anthocyanins and other antioxidants in the tubers. In addition, potato anthocyanins may improve colonic environments. However, so far, the pharmacological and nutritional activities of potato anthocyanins are all verified initially by using model experimental systems and the total anthocyanins of the potatoes with specific colorations, the molecular mechanisms and the universality of the biomedicinal activities of potato anthocyanins are not yet well understood.

Key words: Colored potato, anthocyanin, pharmacological, nutritional activities.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Compositions and comparison of the leaf and stem essential oils from Nigerian Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘rosea’ p. Beau. [acanthaceae]

D. O. Moronkola*, O. C. Atewolara-Odule and O. O. Olubomehin

Department of Chemical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P. M. B. 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun-State, Nigeria.

Accepted 11 March, 2012

Abstract

Leaf and stem volatile oils were obtained differently from Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘Rosea’ (Acanthaceae) in 0.36 and 0.13% yields, respectively. GC -MS analyses revealed 38 compounds are responsible for 99.86% of the leaf oil, and 26 compounds make-up 99.89% of the stem oil. Identified compounds were 26 in leaf, which make-up 93.43% of it; 21 identified in stem, which represent 90.45% of it. Leaf oil is dominated by sesquiterpenoids (69.37%), while stem oil contain mostly sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (87.25%). Most abundant compounds in leaf oil are: -elemenone (20.04%), 8-cendren-13-ol (19.35%), 5-cendranone (10.60%), guaiol (4.43%), geranyl tinglate (4.30%) and germacrene B (4.21%). Prominent compounds in stem oil are: viridiflorene (31.28%), allo-aromadendrene (14.65%), acoradiene (6.99%), -gurjunene (4.15%) and valencene (3.97%) . The known ubiquitous monoterpenes are not in both leaf and stem essential oils. We report 20 other compounds in leaf oil, and 16 other compounds in stem oil as composition of Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘Rosea’ which is scarce in literature.

Key words: Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘Rosea’, acanthaceae, essential oils, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy [GC-MS], sesquiterpenoids.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (7), pp. 001-004, July, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of Solanum nigrum Linn.

V. Ravi²*, T. S. M. Saleem², P. P. Maiti², K. Gauthaman² and J. Ramamurthy¹

¹Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, K. M. College of Pharmacy, Madurai, TN, India.

²Department of Pharmacology, Himalayan Pharmacy Institute, Majhitar, East Sikkim-737136, India.

Accepted 17 April, 2012

Abstract

The present investigation designed to evaluate the phytochemical and pharmacological activity of ethanolic extract of Solanum nigrum in experimental animal models. The ethanolic extract of S. nigrum was used in three different doses (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg bw) to evaluating anti- inflammatory and anti-convulsant activity by employing carrageenan paw edema and Supramaximal electric shock (MES) methods. Ethanolic extract of S. nigrum produced significant anti-inflammatory (P < 0.01) and anti-convulsant (P < 0.05) effect in dose dependent manner. The flavonoids present in the berries might be a responsible active constituent for this activity.

Key words: Solanum nigrum, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-convulsant, flavonoids.