We investigated the effects of a standardized extract of Caralluma fimbriata Wall (CFE) on learning and memory in mice using various behavioural models. Unusually, CFE exerts both nootropic and anxiolytic effects.

Plumbagin (PLB), a member of the quinine family, mainly found in the plant Plumbago zeylanica Linn., potentially exhibit anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antifungal, neuroprotective, hypolipidemic and antibacterial activities. However, it has been well known that the application of PLB was limited owing to its water insolubility, instability and poor bioavailability. For decades, many attempts have been made to compensate for these disadvantages with the development of improved delivery platforms as the feasible approaches. This review aims to describe the various studies supporting the biopharmaceutical aspects of PLB. In addition, it includes a section devoted to discussing the challenges associated with the drug and strategies to improve the properties of PLB such as solubility, stability and bioavailability. Also, this paper summarizes the recent works on the design and development of novel delivery systems of PLB such as liposomes, niosomes, microsphares, nanoparticles, micelles, complexization, metal nanoparticles, crystals modification, etc., with the goal of harnessing the true difficulties of this multifunctional agent in the clinical arena.

The methanolic whole plant extract of Biophytum sensitivum (感应草gǎnyìng cǎo) has been found to possess antiurolithiatic effect. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antiurolithiatic effect of some fractions of methanolic whole plant extract of B. sensitivum (MBS) in rats as a step toward activity-directed isolation of antiurolithiatic component. The MBS was successively extracted with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water to obtain fractions. Sodium oxalate (70 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to rats for seven days to develop calcium oxalate urolithiasis. These rats were treated with two doses (20 and 40 mg/kg, p.o.) of the fractions, 1 h before sodium oxalate injections. Antiurolithiatic activity was assessed by estimating biochemical changes in urine, serum and kidney homogenate along with histological changes in kidney tissue. Sodium oxalate administration caused biochemical alterations in urine which was found to be prevented significantly by the ethyl acetate fraction. Supplementation with ethyl acetate fraction prevented the elevation of serum creatinine, uric acid and blood urea nitrogen levels. The elevated calcium, oxalate and phosphate levels in the kidney tissue homogenate of lithiatic rats were significantly reduced by the treatment with ethyl acetate fraction. The ethyl acetate fraction also caused significant decrease in lipid peroxidation activity, accumulation of calcium oxalate deposits and histological changes in the kidney tissue. The results showed that the antiurolithiatic component of the methanolic whole plant extract of the plant is contained in the ethyl acetate fraction. The effect is attributed to its diuretic, antioxidant, nephroprotective properties and effect on lowering the concentration of urinary stone-forming constituents.

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Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC (family: Oxalidaceae) has been used in the Indian indigenous system of medicine, Ayurveda, for the treatment of various health aliments including renal calculi. The present study was undertaken to investigate the anti-urolithiatic activity of standardized methanolic extract of whole plant of B. sensitivum (MBS) in rats. Urolithiasis was induced by surgical implantations of zinc disc in the urinary bladders of rats. Upon postsurgical recovery, different doses of MBS (viz., 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight) were administered to zinc disc-implanted rats for the period of 7 days by the oral route. Anti-urolithiatic activity was evaluated by measuring various dimensions of stones and estimating levels of various biomarkers in serum and urine samples. A significant decrease in urinary output was observed in the disc-implanted animals, which was prevented by the MBS treatment. Supplementation with MBS caused significant improvement in glomerular filtration rate and protein excretion. The elevated levels of serum creatinine, uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen were also prevented by the MBS treatment. The MBS treatment showed reduced formation of deposition around the implanted zinc disc. The higher dose of MBS (400 mg/kg) found more effective. These results indicate that the administration of MBS significantly prevents the growth of urinary stones. The possible mechanism underlying this effect is mediated collectively through diuretic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the plant. The results concluded that the methanolic extract of whole plant of B. sensitivum possessed significant anti-urolithiatic activity.

Background:The commonly used techniques for removing renal calculi are associated with the risk of acute renal injury and increase in stone recurrence which indicates an urgent need for alternate therapy.Objectives:The aim was to evaluate the antiurolithiatic activity of Abelmoschus moschatus seed extracts in rats.Materials and Methods:Urolithiasis was induced by surgical implantations of zinc disc in the urinary bladders of rats. Upon postsurgical recovery, different doses of chloroform (CAM) and methanolic (MAM) extracts of A. moschatus seeds (viz., 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) were administered to disc implanted rats for the period of 7 days by the oral route. Antiurolithiatic activity was evaluated by measuring various dimensions of stones and estimating levels of various biomarkers in serum and urine samples.Results:A significant decrease in urinary output was observed in disc implanted animals, which was prevented by the treatment with extracts. Supplementation with extracts caused significant improvement in glomerular filtration rate and urinary total protein excretion. The elevated levels of serum creatinine, uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen were also prevented by the extracts. The extracts significantly reduced deposition of calculi deposition around the implanted disc. This antiurolithiatic potential is observed at all doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) of MAM, whereas only higher dose (400 mg/kg) of CAM showed significant antiurolithiatic potential.Conclusion:The extracts of A. moschatus seeds possessed significant antiurolithiatic activity. The possible mechanism underlying this effect is mediated collectively through diuretic, antioxidant, and free-radical scavenging effects of the plant.

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