<b><i>Objective:</i></b> To determine the potential antiulcer activity of methanol extract of <i>Melastoma malabathricum</i> leaves (MEMM) using various established rat models. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Ten groups of rats were used and orally administered 10% DMSO (negative control), 100 mg/kg ranitidine (positive control) or MEMM (50, 250 and 500 mg/kg) followed by gastric ulcer induction either using ethanol or indomethacin. The stomachs were collected and subjected to macroscopic and microscopic analyses. <b><i>Results:</i></b> MEMM exhibited significant (p < 0.05) antiulcer activity in the ethanol, but not in the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer model. The percentage of antiulcer activity for 50–500 mg/kg MEMM ranged between 3 and 75%, respectively. The gross observations were supported by histological findings. MEMM also aggravated the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer, leading to an increase in ulcer area formation and ulcer score. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The <i>M. malabathricum</i> leaves showed antiulcer activity, which could be attributed to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This requires further in-depth studies.
Development of early stage atherosclerosis involves the activation of endothelial cells by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) with subsequent increases in endothelial permeability and expression of adhesion molecules favoring the adherence of monocytes to the endothelium. Cryptotanshinone (CTS), a major compound derived from the Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza, is known for its protective effects against cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether CTS could prevent the oxLDL-induced early atherosclerotic events. OxLDL (100 µg/mL) was used to increase endothelial permeability and induce monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) concentrations, a permeability-regulating molecule, and expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were measured. Results show that a) endothelial hyperpermeability was suppressed by 94 % (p < 0.005), b) monocyte adhesion by 105 % (p < 0.01), and c) ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions by 90 % (p < 0.01) and 150 % (p < 0.005), respectively, when CTS was applied. In contrast, CTS increased NO levels by 129 % (p < 0.01) and was found to be noncytotoxic in the concentrations between 1–10 µM. These findings indicate that CTS suppresses an increase in endothelial permeability, likely due to the restoration of NO bioavailability in endothelial cells. They also indicate that CTS may attenuate monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells through the inhibition of adhesion molecules' expression. Thus, CTS may play an important role in the prevention of early or pre-lesional stage of atherosclerosis.
Objective: The main aim was to demonstrate the anti-nociceptive effects of Psidium guajava leaves extract. Methods: Ethanol extract of P. guajava leaves was administered intraperitoneally to mice 30 min before administration of acetic acid. The number of abdominal constriction was noted. Results: P. guajava leaves extract showed statistically significant decrease in abdominal constriction (writhing) when compared to controls. The percentage inhibition was 20.9, 53.9 and 97.3 for 2, 3 and 4 mg/kg extract respectively. These mice showed normal behavior and motor activity. The antinociceptive effect was statistically similar to equivalent doses of mefenamic acid. Morphine, an opioid analgesic revealed 29.0, 57.3 and 100.0 inhibition of abdominal constriction for 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mg/kg respectively. Interestingly, pretreatment with Naloxone did not significantly decrease the analgesic effect of P. guajava leaves extract. Conclusions: Results from this present study revealed P. guajava extract exerted a potent anti-nociceptive effect, which was similar potency to mefenamic acid and 10 times less potent to morphine. The antinociceptive effects were dose-dependent, without behavior changes and may not involve the opioid receptors.
This study demonstrated the optimum growth of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4 with prebiotics via statistical model.Commercial prebiotics [inulin and fructooligosaccharide (FOS)], together with sorbitol, arabinan and inoculum rate, were tested by fractional factorial design to determine their impact on growth of Bif. pseudocatenulatum G4 in skim milk. At 48 h incubation, bacterial growth was mainly influenced by FOS and inoculum rate. Growth reduction was observed in all samples incubated for 72 h. Central composite design (CCD) was adopted using FOS and inoculum rate at 48 h incubation to develop the statistical model for optimization. The model predicted that 2.461 log CFU ml(-1) produced the optimum growth increase of Bif. pseudocatenulatum G4. The combination that produced the optimum point was 2.86% FOS (g/v) and 0.67% inoculum rate (v/v).At optimum combination of inoculum rate and FOS, validation experiments recorded 2.40 +/- 10.02 log CFU ml(-1). The application in 1-l bioreactor for 24 h showed higher growth increase of 2.95 log CFU ml(-1).Response surface methodology approach is useful to develop optimum synbiotics combination for strain G4 with FOS.
Piper sarmentosum is a creeping herb belongs to the family of Piperaceae. It is locally known to the Malays as 'Pokok kadok' and can be found in different regions of South-East Asia including Malaysia. Ethnopharmacologically, various parts of the plant (e.g. leave, fruit and root) are widely used in Asian countries for centuries to treat different types of diseases and ailments such as hypertension, diabetes, joint aches, muscle pain, coughs, influenza, toothaches and rheumatism. Scientific findings also demonstrated different pharmacological actions of various parts of P. sarmentosum such as adulticidal, antitermite, antioxidant, antifungal, antituberclosis, antiplasmoid, antimalarial, hypoglycemia, antiinflammatory, antinoceptive, antipyretic, antibacterial, anticancer, antituberculosis, antiangiogenesis, antimicrobial, antifeedant and cytotoxic activities. Different types of phytochemical constituents have been successfully identified and isolated from various parts of P. sarmentosum. Therefore, the information related to the botany, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities of P. sarmentosum were reviewed here.
<i>Objective:</i> The present study was carried out to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of virgin coconut oil (VCO) produced by theMalaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI) using various in vivo models. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> Two types of VCOs, produced via standard drying (VCOA) and fermentation (VCOB) processes were used in this study. Both VCOA and VCOB were serially diluted using 1% Tween 80 to concentrations (v/v) of 10, 50 and 100%. Antinociceptive and anti- inflammatory activities of both VCOs were examined using various in vivomodel systems. The antinociceptive activity of the VCOs were compared to those of 1% Tween 80 (used as a negative control), morphine (5 mg/kg) and/or acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg). <i>Results:</i> Both VCOA and VCOB exhibited significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Both VCOs also exerted significant (p < 0.05) antinociceptive activity in both phases of the formalin and hot-plate tests. Interestingly, the VCOs exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in an acute (carrageenan-induced paw edema test), but not in a chronic (cotton-pellet-induced granuloma test) model of inflammation. <i>Conclusion:</i> The MARDI-produced VCOs possessed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Further studies are needed to confirm these observations.
This study was focused on the quantitative analysis of Conjugated Linoleic Acids (CLAs) in rumen liquor and assessment of the relationship between CLAs and other carbon 18 fatty acids and rumen pH of cattle slaughtered for meat consumption.The fatty acids were extracted using modified Folch method and determined by gas chromatography.The mean (n = 22) level of CLAs in the rumen liquor was 14.97 ±7.46 mg/100 mL.t11) was the dominant isomer of CLA followed by trans-10,cis-12 (t10, c12).The level of CLAs was positively correlated with the concentration of octadecatrienoic (18:3), cis-9, cis-12 octadecadienoic (18:2), trans-11octadecenoic (18:1) and octadecenoic (18:0) acids.Ruminal pH was positively correlated with the amount of c9, t11 and total CLA and negatively correlated with t10, c12 CLA isomer.All these correlations and relationships indicated that CLAs production in the rumen is dependent on availability of carbon 18 fatty acids and pH of the rumen liquor.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis or "bunga raya" is the national flower of Malaysia. This flower is found in abundance throughout the country. The aim of this study was to assess the anti-inflammatory properties of leaves from Hibiscus.
Bixa orellana or anatto is a fruiting shrub that belongs to Bixacea family. The leaves extracts have been shown to have anti-gonorrhoeal [1] and anti-microbial properties [2]. Recently, it was also proven to possess neuropharmacological, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antidiarrhoeal and antibacterial activities [3]. The objective of this study is to investigate the anti inflammatory activities of Bixa orellana leaves. Acute inflammation was induced in adult Sprague-Dawley rats using various inflammatory mediators. The paw edema model was employed for this study, whereby mediators such as carageenan, histamine, serotonin and bradykinin were injected into the rat hind paws to induce inflammation. 96 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 16 groups (4 groups per mediator) consisting of six rats per group respectively. Example of groupings is as follows: e.g. for carageenan, Group 1A (positive control group) was given 10mg/kg mefenamic acid orally, whereas group 1B was not treated but fed orally with distilled water as vehicle. The treated rats (group 1C & 1D) were treated respectively with 50 and 150mg/kg of aqueous extract of Bixa orellana (BOE) via oral administration. The treatments mentioned earlier were given once daily to all rats from every groups for 4 days. On the fourth day, the treatment was given orally 1 hour prior to injection of Carageenan (0.1ml of a 1% solution in 0.9% saline solution) into the plantar region of the right hind paw of each rat. For other mediators, specific antagonists were given to the positive control group, but the rest were treated similarly to the carageenan group. The paw volume was measured before the injection and each hour after for a period of 5 hours by means of volume displacement method by using plethysmometer. The average increase in paw volume of each group was calculated at every time point and compared statistically using one-way ANOVA. For carageenan, the paw volume of negative control rats had increased starting from 0hr and peaked at the second hour and then gradually declined during the 3rd to 5th hours. Significant inhibitions were seen in rats treated with Bixa orellana, group 1C &1D, at where the peak should be (p<0.05). Other mediators also induced paw swelling with various peaks. Histamine in group 2 caused maximum paw volume to be reached during the first hour and all treatments, histamine antagonist, Loratadine (group 2A), 50mg/kg BOE (2C) and 150mg/kg BOE (2D) significantly reduced their paw volumes at that hour (p<0.05). Serotonin also induced a peak at 1hour and the peak was abolished when treated with 5HT antagonist and BOE (group 3A, C & D) (p<0.05). Bradykinin similarly followed by inducing a peak at 30 mins and significant inhibitions were seen in groups treated with Ketoprofen and BOE (group 4A, C & D) (p<0.05). Another 4 groups of rats (n=6 per group) were used in the cotton-pellet granuloma test to induce chronic inflammation. Under light anaesthesia, a small cut was made onto the dorsal part on the right and left sides of each rats by using a sterile surgical blade. Upon incision, two sterile cotton pellet weighing±30mg were implanted inside the wound in the right and left sides of the dorsal part of each rat. The parted skin is further being sutured using a surgical thread and curved needle. The wound is left undressed for eight days to produce chronic inflammation and within that period of time each rats were treated similarly as the acute inflammation study. As sutures being removed on the eighth day, the degree of inflammation is measured by weighing the cotton wet weight and compared with the cotton dry weight. The cotton inside the wound may contain dead cells as well as transudates as the product of prolonged inflammation. The percentage of inhibition (anti-transudate and anti-proliferative) is highest in the rats treated with 150mg/kg of Bixa orellana extract and compared to non-treated rats. As a conclusion, this preliminary study has shown that Bixa orellana has proved to be an excellent anti-inflammatory agent not only in acute but chronic inflammation model as well.
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