@article {313, title = {Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities of Methanolic Extract of Cinnamomum Cassia}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {July 2018}, pages = {237-242}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {237}, abstract = {

Background: Cinnamomum cassia or Chinese cinnamon is one of the fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. C. cassia is used as astringent, antiseptic, and used for the treatment of metabolic disorders. The antioxidant and antidiabetic effects of its extracts are unclear. Hence, the present study is planned to investigate the antioxidant and antidiabetic effects of methanolic extracts barks of C. cassia. Materials and Methods: Bark of C. cassia was extracted with methanol, ethanol, and acetone and its antioxidant activity was studied using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) free radical scavenging assays. Acute toxic effect of methanolic extract of C. cassia (MECC) carried out as Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines. MECC was studied for its antidiabetic effect using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Results: In both DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assay, methanolic and ethanolic extracts exhibited free radical scavenging activity. In acute toxicity testing, MECC did not show any significant toxic signs up to 2000 mg/kg, hence the antidiabetic activity of MECC was carried out at the dose levels of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg. MECC showed antidiabetic activity from 2nd week of the experiment onward. At the end of the study, diabetic animals showed significant increases in the levels of total cholesterol (TC), very-low-density lipoprotein, and TC/high-density lipoprotein radio compare with that of normal control and MECC prevented the STZ-induced hyperlipidemia. In the histopathological analysis, sections from the liver, pancreas, and kidney of the diabetic animals and the animals treated with MECC 500 mg/kg showed mid-to-moderate toxic effects. Conclusion: The MECC exhibited significant antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.

}, keywords = {Cinnamomum cassia, Diabetes, Sprague-Dawley rats, Streptozotocin}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_162_17}, author = {Jasvin Singh and Subramani Parasuraman and Sathasivam Kathiresan} } @article {391, title = {Ameliorative Effect of Curcumin on Olanzapine-induced Obesity in Sprague-Dawley Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {July 2017}, pages = {247-252}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {247}, abstract = {

Objective: To evaluate the effect of curcumin on olanzapine-induced obesity in rats. Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used for experiments. The animals were divided into six groups, namely, normal control, olanzapine control, betahistine (10 mg/kg), and curcumin 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg treated groups. Except the normal control group, all other animals were administered with olanzapine 4 mg/kg intraperitoneally to induce obesity. The drugs were administered once daily, per oral for 28 days. During the experiment, body weight changes and behavior alterations were monitored at regular intervals. At the end of the experiment, blood sample was collected from all the experimental animals for biochemical analysis. Part of the liver and kidney tissues was harvested from the sacrificed animals and preserved in neutral formalin for histopathological studies. Results: Curcumin showed a significant reduction in olanzapine-induced body weight gain on the rats and improved the locomotor effects. The effect of curcumin on olanzapine-induced body weight gain is not comparable with that of betahistine. Conclusion: This study has shown metabolic alteration effect of curcumin on olanzapine, an antipsychotic drug, treated SD rats.

}, keywords = {Betahistine, Curcumin, Obesity, Olanzapine}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_8_17}, author = {Subramani Parasuraman and Khor Ming Zhen and Urmila Banik and Parayil Varghese Christapher} } @article {418, title = {Evaluation of Antidiabetic and Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Leaves of Ocimum tenuiflorum (Lamiaceae) and Prediction of Biological Activity of its Phytoconstituents}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {7}, year = {2015}, month = {June 2015}, pages = {156-165}, type = {Original Article }, chapter = {156}, abstract = {

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Ocimum tenuiflorum (Lamiaceae) and prediction of biological activities of its phytoconstituents using in vivo anti-diabetic model and in silico analysis respectively. Materials and Methods: The leaves of O. tenuiflorum were extracted with 60\% ethanol, and the extract was used for further pharmacological screening. The acute toxicity of the extract was evaluated as per the guidelines set by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, revised draft guidelines 423. The oral anti-diabetic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of O. tenuiflorum (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) was studied against streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg/kg; i.p.) + nicotinamide (120 mg/kg; i.p.) induced diabetes mellitus. The animals were treated with the investigational plant extract and standard drug (glibenclamide) for 21 consecutive days and the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of O. tenuiflorum on blood glucose levels was measured at regular intervals. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected from all the animals for biochemical estimation, then the animals were sacrificed and the liver and kidney were collected for organ weight analysis. Prediction for pharmacological and toxicological properties of phytoconstituents of O. tenuiflorum was carried out using online web tools such as online pass prediction and lazar toxicity prediction. Results: The hydroalcoholic extract of O. tenuiflorum showed significant anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity at 250 and 500 mg/kg, and this effect was comparable with that of glibenclamide. Predicted biological activities of phytoconstituents of O. tenuiflorum showed presence of various pharmacological actions, which includes anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. Prediction of toxicological properties of phytoconstituents of O. tenuiflorum did not show any major toxic effects. Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of O. tenuiflorum showed significant anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity against STZ + nicotinamide induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Further studies are required to confirm the anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activities of individual phytoconstituents of O. tenuiflorum

}, keywords = {Anti-diabetic activity, Anti-hyperlipidemic Activity, In silico analysis, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Phytoconstituents}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.151457 }, author = {Subramani Parasuraman and Subramani Balamurugan and Parayil Varghese Christapher and Rajendran Ramesh Petchi and Wong Yeng Yeng and Jeyabalan Sujithra and Chockalingam Vijaya} } @article {362, title = {Review on Polygonum minus. Huds, a commonly used food additive in Southeast Asia}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {7}, year = {2015}, month = {December 2014}, pages = {1-6}, type = {Review article}, chapter = {1}, abstract = {

Polygonum minus (Polygonaceae), generally known as {\textquoteleft}kesum{\textquoteright} in Malaysia is among the most commonly used food additive, flavoring agent and traditionally used to treat stomach and body aches. Raw or cooked leaves of P. minus are used in digestive disorders in the form of a decoction and the oil is used for dandruff. The pharmacological studies on P. minus have demonstrated antioxidant, in vitro LDL oxidation inhibition, antiulcer activity, analgesic activity, anti-inflammatory activity, in vitro antiplatelet aggregation activity, antimicrobial activity, digestive enhancing property and cytotoxic activity. The spectroscopic studies of essential oil of P. minus showed the presence of about 69 compounds, which are responsible for the aroma. The phytochemical studies showed presence of flavonoids and essential oils. This review is an effort to update the botanical, phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological data of the plant P. minus.

}, keywords = {Antioxidant, Antiulcer, Phytoconstituents, Polygonum.}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.147125}, author = {Parayil Varghese Christapher and Subramani Parasuraman and Josephine Maria Arokiaswamy Christina and Mohd. Zaini Asmawi and Murugaiyah Vikneswaran} }