The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of crude aqueous extract of Boswellia serrata Roxb. oleo gum on urinary electrolytes, pH and diuretic activity in normal albino rats. Moreover, acute toxicity of the gum extract was assessed using mice. Albino rats were divided into five groups. Control group received normal saline (10 mg/kg), reference group received furosemide (10 mg/kg) and test groups were given different doses of crude extract (10, 30 and 50 mg/kg) by intra-peritoneal route, respectively. The Graph Pad Prism was used for the statistical analysis and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Significant diuretic, kaliuretic and natriuretic effects were observed in the treated groups in a dose dependent manner. Diuretic index showed good diuretic activity of the crude extract. Lipschitz values indicated that the crude extract, at the dose of 50 mg/kg, showed 44 % diuretic activity compared to the reference drug. No lethal effects were observed among albino mice even at the higher dose of 3000 mg/kg. It is concluded that aqueous extract of Boswellia serrata oleo gum, at the dose of 50 mg/kg showed significant effects on urinary volume and concentration of urinary electrolytes with no signs of toxicity.
Echinops echinatus is traditionally an important plant that finds its extensive use as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, nerve tonic, abortifacient, aphrodisiac, antiasthmatic, and antidiabetic agent. The current study investigates protection against the hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in alloxan-induced (type I diabetes) and fructose-fed insulin resistance (type II diabetes) models of diabetes treated with aqueous methanolic root extract of E. echinatus (Ee.Cr). Albino rats were treated orally with Ee.Cr at doses 100, 300 and 500mg/kg. The fasting blood glucose was measured by glucometer, while standard kits were used to determine the levels of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL. The administration of Ee.Cr significantly (P<0.001) reduced the FBG concentration in a dose-dependent pattern in alloxan-induced and fructose-fed diabetic rats. The Ee.Cr also corrected the dyslipidemia associated with fructose and alloxan-induced diabetes by significantly (P<0.001) decreasing the concentration of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL and by increasing HDL concentration. Ee.Cr also significantly (P<0.001) improved the glucose tolerance in fructose-fed rats. We conclude that Ee.Cr has antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic effects in both insulin-dependent alloxan-induced diabetes and fructose-induced insulin resistance diabetes rat models.
Previous studies have investigated the cardiovascular activity of Gynura procumbens Merr. single-solvent extracts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro vasorelaxant properties and the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of serial extracts and fractions of Gynura procumbens (GP). The leaves of GP were serially extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water using the maceration method. Suspended aortic ring preparations were pre-contracted with phenylephrine (PE 1 µM), followed by cumulative addition of GP extracts (0.25-3 mg/mL). The petroleum ether extract (GPPE) was the most potent among the four extracts. Pre-incubation of endothelium-intact aorta with atropine (1 µM), indomethacin (10 µM), methylene blue (10 µM), propranolol (1 µM) and potassium channel blockers such as TEA (1 µM), glibenclamide (10 µM), 4-aminopyridine (1 µM) and barium chloride (10 mM) had no effect on GPPE-induced vasorelaxation. The vasorelaxant effect of GPPE was partly diminished by pretreatment of aortic rings preparations with L-NAME (10 µM) and even more so in endothelium-denuded aortic rings, indicating a minimal involvement of endothelium-dependent pathway in GPPE-induced vasorelaxation. The calcium-induced vasocontractions were antagonized significantly and concentration-dependently by GPPE in calcium free and high potassium medium. These results illustrate that Ca2+ antagonizing actions of GPPE in rat isolated aorta are comparable to that of verapamil and may be mainly responsible for its vasodilation effect. The antioxidant activity of GPPE supports its vasorelaxant effect by attenuating the production of deleterious free radicals and reactive oxygen species in the vasculature.