No abstract

Sonneratia caseolaris is a widely distributed mangrove plant having much therapeutic importance in traditional medicine. This plant is reported for possessing numerous compounds that are already used for many therapeutic purposes. After finding the presence of antioxidant components in the qualitative antioxidative assay, we went to conduct quantitative tests where the total contents of phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins were estimated as 122 mg GAE/gm, 613 mg QE/gm, and 30 mg GAE/gm, respectively. In DPPH free radical, H2O2, and superoxide radical scavenging assay, the SC50 values were found to be 87, 66, and 192 μg/ml, respectively. In FeCl3 reducing power assay, the RC50 of SC extract and ascorbic acid were 80 and 28 μg/ml, respectively. This extract revealed a significant peripheral analgesic effect in the acetic acid-induced writhing model in mice by reducing the writhing impulse by about 21% and 39% at 250  and 500 mg/kg doses, respectively, and a central analgesic effect in the tail immersion method by elongating the time up to about 22% and 37% at the same doses. In the anti-inflammatory test in mice, this extract reduced the paw edema size over the observed period in a dose-dependent manner. It also showed a significant reduction in the elevated rectal temperature of mice in the observing period in Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia model. In silico analysis revealed better binding characteristics of ellagic acid and luteolin among other compounds with various receptors that might be responsible for antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. From our observation, we suppose that SC fruits might be a potential source of drug leads for various inflammatory disorders.

Stenochlaena palustris is a widely found fern in mangrove forests and other areas of different countries over the world. This plant has many uses in traditional medicine of many countries. This study was conducted on its leaves extract to investigate its different phytochemical and pharmacological properties based on its local medicinal uses. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of different secondary metabolites in this plant. On silica coated TLC plates, the extract exhibited the presence of different antioxidative compounds. Total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents were determined (97 mg GAE/g, 90 mg QE/g and 23 mg GAE/g, respectively). This extract also scavenged DPPH, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radicals (SC50 = 80, 158 and 236 μg/ml, respectively). It also showed ferric ion reducing capability (RC50 =166 μg/ml). This plant showed significant antihyperglycemic, peripheral analgesic (acetic acid induced), anti-inflammatory (formaldehyde induced) and laxative activities in mice. This plant also showed little cytotoxic activity in brine shrimp lethality bioassay. These results are also compared with respective standard drugs and our findings justified its traditional usage.

In recent years, polymer-supported magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIO-NPs) have gained a lot of attention in biomedical and healthcare applications due to their unique magnetic properties, low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In this study, waste tissue papers (WTP) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) were utilized to prepare magnetic iron oxide (MIO)-incorporated WTP/MIO and SCB/MIO nanocomposite particles (NCPs) based on in situ co-precipitation methods, and they were characterized using advanced spectroscopic techniques. In addition, their anti-oxidant and drug-delivery properties were investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that the shapes of the MIO-NPs, SCB/MIO-NCPs, and WTP/MIO-NCPs were agglomerated and irregularly spherical with a crystallite size of 12.38 nm, 10.85 nm, and 11.47 nm, respectively. Vibrational sample magnetometry (VSM) analysis showed that both the NPs and the NCPs were paramagnetic. The free radical scavenging assay ascertained that the WTP/MIO-NCPs, SCB/MIO-NCPs, and MIO-NPs exhibited almost negligible antioxidant activity in comparison to ascorbic acid. The swelling capacities of the SCB/MIO-NCPs and WTP/MIO-NCPs were 155.0% and 159.5%, respectively, which were much higher than the swelling efficiencies of cellulose-SCB (58.3%) and cellulose-WTP (61.6%). The order of metronidazole drug loading after 3 days was: cellulose-SCB < cellulose-WTP < MIO-NPs < SCB/MIO-NCPs < WTP/MIO-NCPs, whereas the sequence of the drug-releasing rate after 240 min was: WTP/MIO-NCPs < SCB/MIO-NCPs < MIO-NPs < cellulose-WTP < cellulose-SCB. Overall, the results of this study showed that the incorporation of MIO-NPs in the cellulose matrix increased the swelling capacity, drug-loading capacity, and drug-releasing time. Therefore, cellulose/MIO-NCPs obtained from waste materials such as SCB and WTP can be used as a potential vehicle for medical applications, especially in a metronidazole drug delivery system.

The project work was designed to investigate the phytochemical and selected pharmacological activities (anti-diarrheal, analgesic, neuropharmacological behavior and anthelmintic) of leaves of Sanchezia nobilis. Hook. F. (Family: Acanthaceae). From its phytochemical analysis we found the presence of reducing sugar, combined reducing sugar, phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, gums, steroids, alkaloids, glycosides and terpenoids. In vivo antidiarrheal activity was substantiated by prolongation of latent period and decrease in total number of stools. The extract produced 62.49% and 74.01% decrease in stool count at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively while the standard drug Loperamide decrease in stool count was found to be 87.05% at a dose of 3 mg/kg body weight. The leaves extract produced 32.7% and 41.78% inhibition of writhing at the doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively while the standard drug Diclofenac Na was found to be 74.23% at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight. The extract showed dose dependent CNS depressant activity by reducing the locomotors activity. Higher dose of this extract (500 mg/kg body weight) comparing with standard Diazepam exposed sedative effect potentially. The extract exhibited concentration dependent anthelmintic activity against Paramphistomum cervi using Albendazole (15 mg/mL) as standard. The paralysis occurred between 9.00 to 83.91 min and death occurred between 11.33 to 86.33 min which were comparable to standard drug Albendazole. So, the present study concluded that the extract is fortified with significant antidiarrheal, CNS depression and anthelmintic activity and moderate analgesic activity.