The objective of the study is to formulate and evaluate a topical herbal gel containing Cardiospermum halicacabum and Vitex negundo leaf extracts for their anti-arthritic activity in rats. Twelve herbal gel formulations were prepared using 1.5% of gelling agents carbopol 934 (F1-F6) and carbopol 940 (F6-F12) and they were evaluated for physical appearance, net content, viscosity, extrudability, pH, spreadability, in vitro diffusion profile and primary skin irritation tests. The stability study for the topical herbal gel formulation was done as per ICH guidelines and anti-arthritic activity was evaluated by Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritis method. Assessment of body weight, paw volume, hematological and biochemical parameters, histopathological examination and In vitro determination of serum biomarkers were also carried out. Formulated gels were homogenous, stable and complied with the guidelines. Among the formulations, F4 showed better release (98.4 %) characteristics than other formulations. No erythema or edema was observed in the skin irritation test confirming the gel was nontoxic and safe. Topical application of the herbal gel F4 containing carbopol 934 displayed significant (p < 0.001) anti-arthritic activity compared to diseased rats. Reduction in paw volume, no agglutination in C -reactive protein and rheumatic factor, reduction in TNFα level, regaining of normal hematological, and biochemical parameters, reduction in spleen and thymus weight and histopathological examination supported the anti-arthritic activity of the gel formulation.Uniterms: Arthritis/treatment/herbal gel. Cardiospermum halicacabum/topical herbal gel. Vitex negundo/ topical herbal gel. Medicinal plants/arthritis.

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Background: Canscora heteroclita (C. heteroclita) being used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India for the treatment of various diseases. No systematic toxicity study for this plant was described. Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess the safe use of this plant in traditional practice. Materials and Methods: The acute oral toxicity study of aqueous extract of Canscora heteroclita (AECH) was carried out as per the OECD guidelines 423 in mice and the sub-acute toxicity was carried out at a dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg as per OECD 407 guidelines in male and female rats. Results: Mice administered upto 2000 mg/kg as a single dose orally not caused any signs of toxicity or mortality in mice. In sub-acute toxicity study in rats, AECH at two different daily doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg for 28 days did not cause any significant change including the hematological and biochemical parameters. Histopathological examinations showed normal architecture suggesting no morphological disturbances.

Background Anogeissus latifolia Wall. (A. latifolia) bark has been traditionally used in the treatment of various diseases which includes diabetes and general debility. The present study was aimed to investigate the comparative hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity of various extracts of A. latifolia bark in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats. Methods Acute toxicity was carried out at 2 g/kg dose of petroleum ether extract of A. latifolia bark (PEALB), chloroform extract of A. latifolia bark (CEALB) and methanol extract of A. latifolia bark (MEALB) in rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg, i.p.) and it was confirmed at 72 h. Diabetic rats received above extracts at 100 and 200 mg/kg doses for 28 days. Body weight and blood glucose level were determined at every week after the treatment schedule. Serum biochemical parameters and lipid profile levels were estimated at the end of the study. Results PEALB, CEALB and MEALB were non-toxic and no death was observed at 2 g/kg dose. Administration of MEALB at 100 and 200 mg/kg showed significant (p< 0.01, p< 0.05) improvement in body weight and reduction in blood glucose at third and fourth week of treatment. Altered serum biochemical parameters and lipid profiles level were brought to near normal level significantly (p<0.001) compared to diabetic control rats after the administration of both doses of MEALB. However, PEALB and CEALB did not exhibit significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity. Conclusions Our findings revealed that long-term (28 days) treatment of MEALB possesses significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity compared to PEALB and CEALB in type 1 diabetic rats and given evidence to the traditional use of A. latifolia bark in diabetes.

Pentacyclic Phytomolecule 3-O-Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) from Frankincense family has proven for the neuroprotection and recognized as an orphan drug for the treatment of cerebral edema. Nonetheless, AKBA have promising indications with Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) associated to cognitive function not deliberated so far. In order to substantiate the potential role of AKBA on memory function, we examine the contribution of PPARγ activation and its downstream process. Modified method of scopolamine induced dementia rats were treated with AKBA (5, 10&15 mg/kg,i.p) and Donepezil (2.5 mg/kg,i.p). Scopolamine induced short term spatial, working memory and recognition memory impairment was reversed significantly after AKBA treatment. AKBA administration diminished the Acetylcholine esterase (AchE) activity and preserved brain GABA and glutamate mediated neuronal excitability. Further, gene expression study reveals AKBA ameliorates the memory impairment via activating PPARγ and its downstream regulators, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) genes in hippocampus. This study concludes that the treatment with AKBA can be a novel Phyto-molecule of interest for treating dementia via up-regulating hippocampus genes mediated cholinergic activation.

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The primary aim of the study is to detect the flavonoids, phenolic acids and xanthones in three commercial herbal raw materials namely Aegle marmelos, Citrus aurantifolia and Murraya koenigii obtained from Rutaceae family used in daily domestic needs to confirm the presence of mentioned common secondary metabolites in herbal raw materials. Results of the study clearly revealed that these raw materials from rutaceae family contains flavonoids, phenolic acids and xanthones. The developed HPTLC method can be employed for the routine investigations of flavonoids, phenolic acids and xanthones in herbal raw materials. Aegle marmelos, Citrus aurantifolia and Murraya koenigii was ascertain the presence of Rutin and shows the 0.072%,0.005%0.002% respectively. Ellagic acid was originate to be not more than 0.004% each of Aegle marmelos and Citrus aurantifolia. Quercetin was found to 0.034% .062% 0.021% respectively in all test three extracts. Vitexin was found to be 0.019% in Citrus aurantifolia. Murraya koenigii revels presence of 0.002%, 0.001% of mangiferin and catechin respectively