Abstract. The methanol extract of Caesalpinia bonducella FLEMING (Caesalpiniaceae) leaves (MECB) were evaluated for antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC)-bearing Swiss albino mice. The extract was administered at the doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg / kg body weight per day for 14 days after 24 h of tumor inoculation. After the last dose and 18 h fasting, the mice were sacrificed. The present study deals with the effect of MECB on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of EAC-bearing hosts, hematological profile, and biochemical parameters such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione content (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities. MECB caused significant (P<0.01) decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume, and viable cell count; and it prolonged the life span of EAC-tumor bearing mice. Hematological profile converted to more or less normal levels in extract-treated mice. MECB significantly (P<0.05) decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation and significantly (P<0.05) increased the levels of GSH, SOD, and CAT. The MECB was found to be devoid of conspicuous short-term toxicity in the mice when administered daily (i.p.) for 14 days at the doses of 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg / kg. The treated mice showed conspicuous toxic symptoms only at 300 mg / kg. The results indicate that MECB exhibited significant antitumor and antioxidant activity in EAC-bearing mice.

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Phytic acid, inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) a natural plant constituent and antioxidant exhibits protective action in carcinogenesis, Alzheimer's, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and inflammations when taken in diet. The aim of this study is to evaluate effect of phytic acid in streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetes in rats. The STZ-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats were orally treated with vehicle (2%w/v Tween 80), glimepiride (2.5 mg/kg) and IP6 (650 mg/kg) for 28 days. The blood glucose level, body weight, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C), lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status (liver and small intestine) was measured and compared with control. Xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and xanthine (XO) activity was measured in small intestine of diabetic rats. In vitro inhibition of carbohydrate digestive enzymes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) was also determined. IP6, significantly (P<0.01) reduced glucose level, HbA1C, lipid profile and lipid peroxidation, and increased body weight, high density lipoprotein level and antioxidant status in liver and small intestine. Decrease in XO and increase in XDH activity was observed in treatment groups compared to diabetic control. Dose dependent inhibition of α-glucosidase and (α-amylase activity was observed for phytic acid when compared to standard drug acarbose. These results clearly indicate that IP6 possess promising in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic activity.

The anti-inflammatory effect of the leaves of Bryonia laciniosa was evaluated using carrageenan, dextran, histamine, serotonin induced rat paw oedema and cotton pellet induced granuloma (chronic) models in rats. In mice, carrageenan peritonitis test was performed for the extract by oral administration. The chloroform extract of Bryonia laciniosa (CEBL) exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effect at the dose 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Maximum inhibition (52.4%) was noted at the dose of 200 mg/kg after 3 h of drug treatment in carrageenan induced paw oedema, whereas the indomethacin (standard drug) produced 62.1% of inhibition. The extract exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in dextran induced paw oedema in a dose dependent manner. The extract also exhibited significant inhibition on the hind paw oedema in rats caused by histamine and serotonin respectively. In the chronic model (cotton pellet induced granuloma) the CEBL (200 mg/kg) and standard drug showed decreased formation of granuloma tissue by 50.1 and 57.3% (p<0.001) respectively. The extract also inhibited peritoneal leukocyte migration in mice. Thus, the present study revealed that the chloroform extract of Bryonia laciniosa exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in the tested models.

Background:Diabetes mellitus and concomitant dyslipidemia, being referred to as ‘diabetic dyslipidemia’, are the foremost detrimental factors documented to play a pivotal role in cardiovascular illness. Diabetic dyslipidemia is associated with insulin resistance, high plasma triglyceride levels, low HDL-cholesterol concentration and elevated small dense LDL-cholesterol particles. Maintaining an optimal glucose and lipid levels in patients afflicted with diabetic dyslipidemia could be a major task that might require a well-planned diet-management system and regular physical activity, or otherwise an intake of combined antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic medications. Synchronized treatment which efficiently controls insulin resistance-associated diabetes mellitus and co-existing dyslipidemia could indeed be a fascinating therapeutic option in the management of diabetic dyslipidemia. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α/γ (PPARα/γ) dual agonists are such kind of drugs which possess therapeutic potentials to treat diabetic dyslipidemia. Nevertheless, PPARα/γ dual agonists like muraglitazar, naveglitazar, tesaglitazar, ragaglitazar and aleglitazar have been reported to have undesirable adverse effects, and their developments have been halted at various stages. On the other hand, a recently introduced PPARα/γ dual agonist, saroglitazar is an emerging therapeutic agent of glitazar class approved in India for the management of diabetic dyslipidemia, and its treatment has been reported to be generally safe and well tolerated.Conclusion:Some additional and new compounds, at initial and preclinical stages, have been recently reported to possess PPARα/γ dual agonistic potentials with considerable therapeutic efficacy and reduced adverse profile. This review sheds light on the current status of various PPARα/γ dual agonists for the management of diabetic dyslipidemia.

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The aim of the present investigation deals with the hematology and hepatorenal function of Caesalpinia bonducella Flem. and Bauhinia racemosa Lam. belonging to the Family: Caesalpiniaceae, and used in the traditional system of medicine. The tribal people of Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, India, use the leaves of Caesalpinia bonducella and the stem bark of Bauhinia racemosa in combination with some other herbs for the treatment of various tumors, liver disorders, inflammation and some other diseases. In ancient Ayurveda medicine these plants were mentioned to possess antitumor agents. Since there are no scientific reports regarding the toxicological aspects of these plants, the present investigation deals with the sub-chronic toxicity studies of a methanol extract of Caesalpinia bonducella (MECB) leaves and Bauhinia racemosa (MEBR) stem bark in Swiss albino mice. The MECB and MEBR were administered intraperitoneally (i.p) to Swiss albino mice twice a week for thirteen weeks. No significant alterations in hematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters were observed in the MECB- and MEBR-treated groups at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. Administration of MECB and MEBR at the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight elevated the levels of serum enzymes and altered the hematological parameters. Our results suggested that MECB and MEBR at doses 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight did not induce any toxic effects in the mice. Adverse effect was noted at the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight.

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