Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Hepatoprotective effect of Cichorium intybus on CCl₄-induced liver damage in rats

Sadeghi Heibatollah^1*, Nikbakht Mohammad Reza²; Ghaitasi Izadpanah² and Sabzali Sohailla³

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj –Iran and Herbal Medicine Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj –Iran.

²Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj –Iran and Herbal Medicine Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj –Iran.

³Imam Sajjad Hospital, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.

Accepted 11 April, 2008

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of hydroalcholic extract of Cichorium intybus (Cichorium intybus) using a carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) - induced liver injury in rats. The leaf extract at oral dosage of 200, 400 and 500 mg/kg exhibited significant (P<0.05) protective effect against CCl₄ induced hepatoxocity. Level of serum markers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminitransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) were significantly increased in CCl₄ treated rats. Simultaneously, C. intybus extract significantly suppressed mainly the increase in plasma activities of AST, ALT, ALP and TB concentration, which are considered as markers of liver functional state. The results of this study confirmed the hepatoprotective activity effect of the hydroalcholic extract of C. intybus.

Key words: Cichorium intybus, hepatoprotective activity, carbon tetrachloride, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminitransferase, alkaline phosphatase.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Trypanocidal potential of methanolic extract of Bridelia ferruginea benth bark in Rattus novergicus

J.T. Ekanem¹, *O.M. Kolawole², O.C. Abbah¹

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.

²Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Accepted 08 February, 2008

Abstract

An in vivo study of the trypanocidal potential of Bridelia ferruginea benth bark was investigated to determine its possible use against African sleeping sickness. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, steroids and phlobatanins. Four groups of male albino rats weighing 220-250 g were used. The groups included the control, infected -untreated, uninfected-treated, and infected-treated. A daily dose of 20 mg/Kg body weight methanolic extract of B. ferruginea benth bark was administered intraperitoneally at 72 h post-infection with Trypanosoma brucei brucei and parasitaemia was monitored daily. A continuous rise in parasite count was observed in the infected-untreated group. The infected-treated group showed a progressively lowered parasitamia on Days 5 to 8 post-infection, with percentage parasite reduction between 11 and 76%. Treatment also extended the lifespan for 2 days. Results also showed that treatment significantly ameliorated heamatological parameters that were studied. We suggest that methanolic extract of B. ferruginea benth bark can be useful in the management of African sleeping sickness.

Key words: Bridelia ferruginea benth bark, Trypanosoma brucei, sleeping sickness, management.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Hepatoprotective activity of Bi - herbal ethanolic extract on CCl₄ induced hepatic damage in rats

Samudram P.^1*, Rajeshwari Hari², Vasuki R.³, Geetha A.⁴ and Sathiya moorthi P.²

¹Department of Biochemistry, SRM Medical College and Research Centre, Chennai, India.

²Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai, India.

³Department of Biochemistry, Vels college of Pharmacy, Chennai, India.

⁴Department of Biochemistry, Bharathi Women’s College, Chennai, India.

Accepted 6 February, 2008

Abstract

The combined hepatoprotective effect of Bi- herbal ethanolic extract (BHEE) was evaluated against carbon tetra chloride (CCl₄) induced hepatic damage in rats. Ethanolic extract from the leaves of Eclipta alba and seeds of Piper longum at a dose level of 50 mg/kg body weight was administered orally daily once for 14 days. The substantially elevated serum marker enzymes such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, LDH, ACP, gGT and 5’ Nucleotidase, due to CCl₄ treatment were restored towards normalization. The biochemical parameters like total protein, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and urea were also restored towards normal levels. In addition, BHEE significantly decreased the liver weight of CCl₄ intoxicated rats. Silymarin at a dose level of 50 mg/kg was used as a standard reference also exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity against CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity. The results of this study strongly indicate that BHEE has got a potent hepatoprotective action against CCl₄ induced hepatic damage in rats.

Key words: Hepatoprotective, marker enzymes, Bi-herbal ethanolic extract, carbon tetra chloride.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Decreased cardiovascular risk and resistance to hyperlipemia-induced hepatic damage in rats by aqueous extract of Urtica dioica

Alisi C. S¹*, Emejulu A. A¹, Alisi P. N. C², Nwaogu L. A¹ and Onyema O. O¹

¹Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

²Department of Medical Laboratory Science, River State University of Science and Technology Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

Accepted 11 March, 2008

Abstract

Hyperlipemia and Hepatic metabolism was studied in hyperlipemic albino rats maintained on a high fat diet. Aqueous extract (100, 200, 300mg/kg/day) of Urtica dioica corrected dyslipidemia and restored hepatic chemistry in hyperlipemic animals. The extract was effective in normalizing the atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype. Total cholesterol (CHOL), Triglyceride (TG), Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), LDL/HDL-ratio, and Total Non-HDL cholesterol (TNH-CHOL) were significantly reduced by the treatment. There was no significant effect of treatment with extract on the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). Hyperlipemia was associated with significant elevations in serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST, LDH, and -GT) activities that are markers of altered hepatic chemistry. These elevations were however normalized by treatment with the extract. Hyperlipemia also induced a significant increase in bilirubin levels, decrease in total protein and decrease in albumin levels. These alterations in hepatic chemistry were normalized by treatment with U. dioica at aqueous extract concentration of 300 mg/kg. The study shows that aqueous extract of U. dioica may restore lipemic normalcy, and may posses a potential for reduction of cardiovascular risk and a resistance to hyperlipemia-induced hepatic damage in rats.

Keywords: Urtica Dioica, hyperlipemia, hepatic chemistry, cardiovascular risk, rats.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Oxidative injury and enzymic antioxidant misbalance in schizophrenics with positive, negative and cognitive symptoms

Uma Devi P¹* and Chinnaswamy P²

¹Post Graduate and Research Department of Biochemistry, Dr.N.G.P.Arts and Science College, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India.

²Director, Institute of Laboratory Medicines, Kovai Medical Center and Hospitals, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India

Accepted 19 March, 2008

Abstract

With its hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder, and cognitive deficits, schizophrenia affects the most basic human processes of perception, emotion, and judgment. Evidence increasingly suggests that schizophrenia is a subtle disorder of brain development and plasticity and oxidative injury contributes largely to pathophysiology of schizophrenia, indicated by the increased lipid peroxidation products in plasma and altered levels of enzymatic antioxidants in schizophrenic patients. However, the status of antioxidants and the extent of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes have not been investigated so far in schizophrenia patients with different symptoms. In the present study, in order to examine the antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in the schizophrenics with positive, negative and cognitive symptoms, the activities of three free radical scavenging enzymes glutathione transferase (GST), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), ceruloplasmin ferroxidase (Cp) and the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) as an index of lipid peroxidation were analyzed. Results showed that there was a significant increase in GST activity in all the schizophrenics when compared to normal and it was observed that there was a significant decrease in erythrocyte, G6PD and ceruloplasmin ferroxidase levels in patients with schizophrenia, when compared to controls. Schizophrenics with positive symptomology were found to have pronounced decrease in the activities of Cp ferroxidase and statistically more significant decrease in G6PD levels were found in patients with negative symptoms. Further a significant rise in oxidative stress and decreased secondary enzymic antioxidant status was observed in the chronic stage of schizophrenics as compared to those in acute condition. The study showed that the level of malondialdehyde was increased in schizophrenics with positive (163%), negative (137%) and cognitive (132%) symptoms compared to control groups .The increased activities of antioxidant enzymes may be a compensatory regulation in response to increased oxidative stress. The decreased concentrations of the antioxidants status support the hypothesis that lipid peroxidation is an important causative factor in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. These data reveal that antioxidant defense mechanisms might be impaired in schizophrenic patients. Understanding these basic pathologic processes may yield novel targets for the development of more effective treatments.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, symptoms, secondary antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidative stress

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of administration of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Enantia chlorantha stem bark on brewer’s yeast-induced pyresis in rats

Adesokan, A. A.¹*, Yakubu, M. T.¹, Owoyele, B. V.², Akanji, M. A.¹, Soladoye, A. O.² and Lawal, O. K.²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

²Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

Accepted 15 May, 2008

Abstract

The phytochemical screening of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stem bark of Enantia chlorantha Oliv as well as the antipyretic effect of the solvent extracts at 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight was investigated in albino rats. Phytochemical analysis of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of E. chlorantha stem bark revealed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides and saponins. The concentrations of these phytochemicals in the ethanolic extracts were slightly higher than in the aqueous extracts. The 50 - 200 mg/kg body weight of the solvent extracts produced significant reduction (P<0.05) in rectal temperature of the hyperpyretic rats. The antipyretic activities of the solvent extract at these doses also compared favourably (P>0.05) with the indomethacin dosed groups. This study showed that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of E. chlorantha stem bark at 50 - 200 mg/kg body weight possess antipyretic activity and thus supports the folklore use of the plant in the management of fever.

Key words: Enantia chlorantha, brewer’s yeast, antipyretic, rectal temperature.