@article {798, title = {Anti-allergic Activity of the Morinda citrifolia Extract and its Constituents}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {6}, year = {2014}, month = {May,2014}, pages = {260-265}, type = {Short Communication}, chapter = {260-265}, abstract = {

Background: Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae), commonly known as noni is distributed throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Anti-allergic effects of noni have not been reported despite the clinical usage as an anti-allergic agent. Materials and Methods: To investigate the anti-allergic effects of the 50\% ethanolic extract of M. citrifolia fruits and leaves (MCF-ext and MCL-ext), dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced triphasic cutaneous reaction and picryl chloride-induced contact dermatitis (PC-CD) tests were performed. Results: In DNFB-induced triphasic cutaneous reaction, oral administration of MCF-ext and MCL-ext exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of cutaneous reaction at 1 h (immediate phase response) after the DNFB challenge. MCF-ext also inhibited ear swelling at 24 h (late phase response) and 8 days (very late phase response) after the DNFB challenge. The effect of MCL-ext on the immediate phase response was attributed to the anti-degranulation from RBL-2H3 cells, while MCF-ext had no significant effect on degranulation. The active components of anti-degranulation activity in MCL-ext were determined to be ursolic acid, rutin and kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1{\textrightarrow}6)-β-D-glucopyranoside. In the PC-CD test, both MCF-ext and MCL-ext showed an anti-swelling effect but the potency of MCF-ext was stronger than MCL-ext. Conclusion: These data suggest that noni fruits and leaves can be a daily consumable material for the prevention of allergic symptoms.

}, keywords = {Allergy, Contact dermatitis, Degranulation, IgE-mediated triphasic cutaneous reaction, Morinda citrifolia}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.132608}, author = {Kazuya Murata and Yumi Abe and Kaito Shinohara and Megumi Futamura-Masuda and Akemi Uwaya and Fumiyuki Isami and Hideaki Matsuda} } @article {734, title = {Margaritaria Discoidea (Euphorbiaceae) Stem Bark Extract Attenuates Allergy and Freund{\textquoteright}s adjuvant-induced Arthritis in Rodents}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {6}, year = {2014}, month = {March,2014}, pages = {163-171}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {163}, abstract = {

Background: Various parts of Margaritaria discoidea find use in traditional medicine in the treatment of pain and oedema. This study evaluated the anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of a 70\% (v/v) aqueous ethanol extract of the stem bark of Margaritaria discoidea, MDE in rodents. Materials and Methods: Systemic anaphylaxis was induced by the injection of compound 48/80 into mice and their survival rate was monitored to evaluate the anti-allergic action of the extract. The effect of MDE assessed on the maximal and total oedema responses in the mouse carrageenan-induced paw oedema was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory action of the extract while the Freund{\textquoteright}s adjuvant-induced arthritis model was employed to study the anti-arthritic effects of MDE. Results: MDE dose-dependently increased the time for compound 48/80-induced mortality in mice. MDE suppressed the mean maximal swelling and the total paw swellings induced over 6 h in the carrageenan-induced paw oedema when administered either prophylactically or therapeutically. MDE caused a reduction in serum levels of TNFα and IL-6 and significantly suppressed Freund{\textquoteright}s adjuvant-induced arthritis. Conclusion: Margaritaria discoidea suppresses allergy and exhibits anti-inflammatory activity in mice. In addition it attenuates Freund{\textquoteright}s adjuvant-induced arthritis through a reduction in serum levels of TNFα and IL-6 in rats.

}, keywords = {Allergy, Anaphylaxis, Anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, Margaritaria discoidea}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.129039}, author = {David D Obiri and Newman Osafo and Joshua Oppong-Sarfo and Jude K Prah} }