Journal of Natural Remedies

K. Mukherjee , S. Badami , A. M. Wahile , S. Rajan , B. Suresh

Abstract

Objective: Evaluation of tyrosinase inhibitory activity of spices. Materials and methods: Ten different spices considered as usual commodity in Indian food habits was screened for their inhibitory activity against tyrosinase. The mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity was determined by dopachrome method using L-DOPA as the substrate. Results: Amongst the spices tested four spices viz. Turmeric (Curcuma longa ), cumin (Cuminum cyminum), black pepper (Piper nigrum), pipal (Ficus religiosa) showed the specific inhibitory activity against tryrosinase above 50% and out of them turmeric showed maximum inhibition which can be further explored for the characterization of the phytoconstituents. Other spices showed potential inhibition of tyrosinase activity. Conclusion: This finding could lead to the design and discovery of new tyrosinase inhibitors from Indian spices.

Keywords

Tyrosinase Inhibitor, Alcohol Extract, Piper Nigrum, Ficus Religiosa, Myristica Fragrance, Nigella Sativa, Cinnamomum Tamala, Murraya Koenigii, Coriandrum Sativum, Cuminum Cyminum, Carum Carvi, Curcuma Longa

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V. Murugan , S. Gulhana , S. Badami , M. Ramanathan , B. Suresh

Abstract

Objective: To perform the androgenic and anti-androgenic activity of the total alkaloid fraction of Alangium salviifolium (Family: Alangiaceae). Materials and methods: The total alkaloid fraction of the methanolic extract of stem bark of Alangium salviifolium was used for the experiment. Immature male albino rats received orally a dose of 10 mg and 20 mg/kg body weight of the fraction for 7 days. The weight of the reproductive organs of the treated rats was measured on the eighth day of the treatment and histometric measurements were carried out. Results: A significant increase in the weight of testis, seminal vesicles, ventral prostate and epididymis was observed in the treated rats. Conclusion: The results suggest the androgenic behaviour of the total alkaloid fraction.

Keywords

Alangium salviifolium, Total Alkaloid Fraction, Androgenic Activity

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R. Srinivasan , M. J. N. Chandrasekar , M. J. Nanjan , B. Suresh

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the free radical scavenging activity of Ipomoea obscura (L.) whole plant belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. Methods: Three successive whole plant extracts (petroleum ether, methanol and water) of Ipomoea obscura were prepared and the total phenolic content was estimated. The extract were screened for their in vitro antioxidant activity using 2,2'-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethyl-benzo-thiazoline- 6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals by p-nitroso dimethyl aniline (p-NDA) and deoxyribose assays and the IC₅₀ values were calculated. Results: The total phenol content in methanol and water extracts was found to be 18.15 mg/g and 9.12 mg/g, respectively. Among the three extracts tested, the methanol extract showed maximum activity with IC₅₀ values 53.12 ± 0.33, 108.40 ± 2.15, 107.90 ± 1.20 and 424.00 ± 2.90 μg/ml, for ABTS, DPPH, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide radical inhibition assays, respectively. The water and petroleum ether extracts showed moderate to low activity compared to methanol extract when tested for ABTS, DPPH, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide radical inhibition assays. All the three extracts showed less activity at high concentrations when tested against superoxide and hydroxyl radical inhibition assays. Conclusion: The successive methanol extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity and merits further investigations in animal models and isolation of its active constituents.

Keywords

Ipomoea obscura (L.), Free Radical Scavenging Activity, DPPH, ABTS

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P. K. Mukherjee , K. Mukherjee , A. C. J. Hermans-lokkerbol , R. Verpoorte , B. Suresh

Abstract

Objective: Estimation of quercetin content of Eupatorium glandulosum and Coolebroke oppositifolia by HPLC. Materials and methods: The presence of quercetin (3, 3^I, 4^I, 5, 7 - pentahydroxyflavone) present in the leaves of Eupatorium glandulosum (Family- Asteraceae) and Coolebroke oppositifolia (Family : Labiatae) was quantitatively estimated by high performance liquid chromatography using reversed phase (RP-HPLC) with stepwise gradient elution on a RP C18 column. A two step elution with: acetonitrile- water- phosphoric acid (85%): from 16-83-1 to 32-67-1(v/v) was made. Results: The leaf extracts of E. glandulosum and C. oppositifolia contained 4.96 and 2.10 % and the respective powdered leaf contained 0.19 % (w/w) and 0.09 % (w/w) of quercetin . Conclusion: The method developed is useful to obtain quantitative values for quercetin present in these plant species, which may be useful for standardization of the same.

Keywords

Eupatorium Glandulosum, Coolebroke Oppositifolia, Flavonoid, Quercetin, RP-HPLC

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R. Vadivelan , S. Bhadra , Avs. Ravi , A. Shanish , K. Elango , B. Suresh

Abstract

This study reports the anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing property of an ethanolic ischolar_main extract of Rubus ellipticus Smith in rats. The carregeenin-induced rat paw edema was utilized as a model for acute inflammatory and the probable mode by which Rubus ellipticus mediates its effects on inflammatory conditions was studied on rat blood cells exposed to hypotonic solution. The results of the study revealed that the extract possesses antiinflammatory activity. Rubus ellipticus significantly (p<0.01, p<0.001) reduced the oedema swelling induced by carrageenin in rats at both the dose levels of 250 and 500 mg/kg, while 125 mg/kg did not show any significant activity. However, the extract did not exhibit membrane stabilizing property, as it failed to significantly (p<0.05) reduced the levels of haemolysis of RBC exposed to hypotonic solution. The acute toxicity studies of oral doses of ethanolic ischolar_main extract in rats revealed that it has a high safety profile, as the extract was well tolerated by the animals. The results of the study suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity demonstrated by Rubus ellipticus may not be related to membrane stabilization.

Keywords

Rubus Ellipticus, Anti-inflammatory, Membrane Stabilizing Property

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