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Alcoholic extract of the leaves of Andrographis paniculata Ness (= AAP) was obtained by cold maceration. A dose of 300 mg/kg (1/6 of LD50) of the extract was selected to study hepatoprotective action against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. The extract was found to be effective in preventing liver damage which was evident by morphological, biochemical and functional parameters.

The present study attempts to establish a relationship between ethnopharmacological claims and bioactive constituents present in Pinus roxburghii against all possible targets for diabetes through molecular docking and to develop a pharmacophore model for the active target. The process of molecular docking involves study of different bonding modes of one ligand with active cavities of target receptors protein tyrosine phosphatase 1-beta (PTP-1β), dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), aldose reductase (AR), and insulin receptor (IR) with help of docking software Molegro virtual docker (MVD). From the results of docking score values on different receptors for antidiabetic activity, it is observed that constituents, namely, secoisoresinol, pinoresinol, and cedeodarin, showed the best docking results on almost all the receptors, while the most significant results were observed on AR. Then, LigandScout was applied to develop a pharmacophore model for active target. LigandScout revealed that 2 hydrogen bond donors pointing towards Tyr 48 and His 110 are a major requirement of the pharmacophore generated. In our molecular docking studies, the active constituent, secoisoresinol, has also shown hydrogen bonding with His 110 residue which is a part of the pharmacophore. The docking results have given better insights into the development of better aldose reductase inhibitor so as to treat diabetes related secondary complications.

Alcoholic extract of the seeds of Vitex negundo Linn. was obtained by cold maceration. A dose of 250 mg/kg (1/6 of LD50) of the extract was selected to study the hepatoprotective action against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. The extract was found to be effective in preventing liver damage which was evident by morphological, biochemical and functional parameters.

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Purpose: Euphorbia neriifolia Linn. (Euphorbiaceae) plant is traditionally used in the treatment of abdominal troubles, bronchitis, tumours, leucoderma, piles, inflammation, and enlargement of spleen. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and anticancer activities of a sapogenin isolate of this plant. Methods: Euphol was isolated as a major constituent from the triterpenoidal sapogenin fraction of E. neriifolia leaf. Its in-vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by reducing power assay, 1,1-diphenyl-2picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, as well as hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging activities. Radioprotective activity was assessed against radiation-induced chromosomal aberrations and cytotoxicity on murine F1 B16 melanoma. Results: The sapogenin exerted moderate antioxidant activity with highly significant (p < 0.001) reduction of gamma radiation-induced chromosomal aberrations (33.5 % compared to 71.5 % for radiation treatment alone at 4 Gy). It also exhibited cytotoxic activity on melanoma cell lines (IC50 = 173.78 µg/ml). Conclusion: The sapogenin fraction showed antioxidant, radioprotective and cytotoxic activities. This study provides a scientific basis for the claimed traditional anticarcinogenic potentials of E. neriifolia.

Pharmacological screening of Euphorbia neriifolia Linn. (Euphorbiaceous) leaf hydro alcoholic extract were performed to explore the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antidiarrhoeal and antiulcer activities. All tests were conducted on rats using 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg dose as LD 50 of extract was found to 2779.71 mg/kg. Study revealed strong analgesic effect of E. neriifolia against thermal (P<0.001), and in mechanical and chemical (p < 0.01) noxious stimuli and anti-inflammatory activity (P<0.001 to 0.01) at the 1000 mg/kg dose. In carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma model E. neriifolia extract showed significant (P<0.001 to 0.01) antiinflammatory activity. Extract considerably increases urine volume as an effective hypernatraemic and hyperchloraemic diuretic. E. neriifolia showed laxative property by increasing wet defecation along with castor oil. Extract showed very prominent protection against ethanol-induced ulceration as well as on pyloric ligated ulceration in dose dependent manner. Extract increases total hexoses (P<0.001), hexosamine (P<0.05), sialic acid and total carbohydrate content (P<0.001) with a decrease in total protein content (P<0.001) of gastric mucosa at 400 mg/kg dose. Presence of phytoconstituents like tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and triterpenoidal saponins may be responsible for the found pharmacological activities.