Systemic iron homeostasis dysregulation is primarily associated with inflammation- associated anemia (AI) due to hepcidin up-regulation.
Tinospora cordifolia
(TC) has shown remarkable anti-inflammatory properties and has been found useful in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. However, the effects and mechanisms of TC on AI have not been studied yet. We conducted
in vivo
and
in vitro
studies to evaluate the effect of TC on AI. HPLC studies were also carried out to find out active constituents in TC extract. Model system exhibiting AI was developed by repeated injections of HKBA in Wistar rats. TC treated groups showed significantly higher levels of Hb and RBC count compared to the inflammatory control group. TC treatment showed reduction in the expression of the HAMP (hepcidin) gene in the rat liver. TC extract also inhibited gene expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and decreased NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. The HPLC analysis revealed the presence of tinosporaside, which could have synergistically contributed to the above findings. Overall results indicate that TC therapy was able to maintain circulating iron through reduction of inflammatory cytokines and expression of hepcidin in rats.
In our earlier studies, an ethanol extract of Curcuma amada Roxb. rhizome was reported for anti-inflammatory activity. This ethanol extract was successively partitioned with hexane and ethyl acetate. Each fractionated extract was screened for anti-inflammatory activity, and the most active fraction was purified by column chromatography. This resulted in isolation of the active fraction F, which was characterized by spectral methods. Fraction F was studied for its effect on general behavioral studies in albino mice. Based on these observations, pharmacological investigations were carried out by adopting the following methods in albino mice: effect on exploratory activity, barbiturate sleeping time, acetic acid-induced writhing, and tail-flick test. This fraction showed reduction in exploratory activity and potentiation of barbiturate sleeping time, indicating CNS depressant activity. Further, it also showed reduction in acetic acid-induced writhings, tail-flick response, and carrageenan-induced inflammation, indicating potential antinociceptive and antiphlogistic activity, respectively.
Herbs have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. According to recent investigations, they may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer due to antioxidant properties, which in turn can be attributed to the various phytoconstituents. With this intention, evaluation of antioxidant activity was performed. Methanol extract of aerial parts of Artemisia pallens Wall was screened for its antioxidant activity due to phenolic and flavonoid contents, by employing radical scavenging assays; 2,2 –diphenyl, 1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide. Ascorbic acid was used as a standard. Quantitative determination of phenols and flavonoids were carried out using spectrophotometric method. Total flavonoid content was determined as quercetin equivalent and total phenolic content was determined as pyrocatechol equivalent using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Plant produces more phenolic compounds than flavonoids. IC50 value of methanol extract for DPPH free radical scavenging activity was found to be 292.7 μg, whereas for nitric oxide it was 204.61 μg. The result obtained in the present study indicates that the aerial parts of this plant are a rich source of natural antioxidants
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