BackgroundNardostachys jatamansi DC is a Himalayan medicinal herb that has been described in various traditional systems of medicine for its use in cancer. In view of its traditional claims, and chemical constituents, antioxidant and anticancer activities were evaluated in breast carcinoma.MethodsPetroleum ether (NJPE), methanol extract (NJM) and subsequent diethyl ether (NJDE), ethyl acetate (NJEA) and aqueous (NJAQ) fractions of roots and rhizomes of N. jatamansi were prepared. Total phenolic, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activities were determined using suitable methods. Antiproliferative activity was assessed in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (MCF-7) and ER-negative breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231) cells by MTT and SRB assay. Cell cycle analysis, Hoechst staining, and clonogenic assay were employed to determine the mode of antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity in MDA-MB-231 cells.ResultsNJM/fractions exhibited prominent antioxidant activity with significant correlation between phenolic content and ABTS (IC50) scavenging (R = −0.9680, P < 0.05), and total antioxidant capacity (R = 0.8396, P > 0.05). In MTT assay, NJM exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity (IC50: 58.01 ± 6.13 and 23.83 ± 0.69 μg/mL in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 respectively). Among the fractions, NJPE and NJDE were found to be most potent in MCF-7 (IC50: 60.59 ± 4.78 μg/mL) and MDA-MB-231 (IC50: 25.04 ± 0.90 μg/mL) cells respectively. Statistical analyses revealed NJM and NJDE exhibited significantly higher (P < 0.05) cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that NJM, NJPE and NJEA caused G2/M arrest while NJDE caused G0/G1 phase arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells. Further, NJM/fractions induced significant (P < 0.001) cell death by apoptosis characterized by apoptotic morphological changes in Hoechst staining and inhibited long-term proliferation (P < 0.001) of MDA-MB-231 cells in clonogenic assay. Lupeol and β-sitosterol were identified as anticancer principles in NJM/fractions by HPTLC.ConclusionOur results suggest that NJM/fractions possess significant antiproliferative potential which is mediated through cell cycle perturbation and pro-apoptotic effects in MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, this study highlights the antioxidant potential of NJM/fractions which can be attributed to the presence of phenols. NJDE emerged as the most potent fraction and further mechanistic and phytochemical investigations are under way to identify the active principles.

Access Free Rad. Antiox. www.antiox.org for use in foods or medicinal products to replace synthetic antioxidants, which are being restricted due to their adverse reaction such as carcinogenicity. Antioxidant constituents from natural resources possess multifacetedness in their multitude and magnitude of activity and provide enormous scope in correcting imbalance. [4-6] "Sitopaladi churna" (SPC) is a polyherbal Ayurvedic medicine prescribed for pleurodynia, intercostal neuralgia, cold, cough associated with bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, burning sensation in extremities, supportive agent for allergy, viral respiratory infection, digestive impairment and in pharyngeal and chest congestion. The ingredients present in Sitopaladi churna have been reported to possess antioxidant activity. [7-9] But there is no scientific proof to support antioxidant potential of Sitopaladi churna. The present study therefore carried out to investigate the antioxidant potential of aqueous and methanolic extract of Sitopaladi churna.

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A major drawback with cancer chemotherapy is its severe toxic effects on non-target tissues. Assessment of natural products for their protective effect against anticancer drugs-induced toxicity is gaining importance in cancer biology. The present study was aimed at assessing the protective effect of hydroethanolic extract of Indian propolis (HEIP) against mitomycin C (MMC)-induced genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. Swiss albino mice were injected with various doses of HEIP (100, 200, 300, 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg b. wt., i.p) 1 h prior to MMC (8 mg/kg, i.p.) injection. The geno- and cyto-toxicities were evaluated in mice by performing bone marrow micronucleus and TUNEL assays. In vitro antioxidant and lipid peroxidation inhibitory assays were carried out to understand the mechanism of the protective effects. The significant increase in the frequency of micronculeated cells (12.51 ± 0.48), apoptotic cells (23.43 ± 1.86) and reduction in P/N ratio (0.69 ± 0.04) compared with control indicated the potential geno- and cytotoxic effects of MMC in bone marrow. Pretreatment with HEIP resulted in the significant recovery of the toxic effects induced by MMC. HEIP at 400 mg/kg b. wt. was found to be the optimum dose imparting the maximum protective effects. The in vitro antioxidant and lipid peroxidation inhibitory assays suggest that the extract possesses substantial free radical scavenging activities. In conclusion, HEIP possesses substantial geno- and cyto-protective properties against MMC, which could be mediated through efficient free radical scavenging and inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation.

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Background: Homonoia riparia Lour. (Family: Euphorbiaceae) is an important medicinal plant in Indian and Chinese systems of medicine used in the treatment of various medical conditions like urolithiasis, renal problems, and inflammation. This is the first report on the pharmacognostical standardisation and phytochemical evaluation of whole plant of Homonoia riparia Lour. Objective: To establish the pharmacognostical and physicochemical standardisation parameters of whole plant of Homonoia riparia Lour. Materials and Methods: The plant was studied for the morpho-anatomical characters, standardisation parameters such as ash value, extractive value, fluorescence analysis, loss on drying, swelling index, foaming index according to Indian Pharmacopoeia and WHO guidelines. Phytochemical analysis was also performed by standard methods. Quantification of gallic acid in Homonoia riparia was carried out using HPTLC technique. Results: The detailed microscopy of root revealed the presence of cork, cork cambium, pericyclic fibres, thick walled parenchyma and starch granules. The distinguishing characters of stem are presence of sclereids, xylem, phloem, fibres. Leaf microscopy showed the presence of anomocytic stomata, bicollateral vascular bundles ensheathed by fibres. Rosette crystals are present in all the parts of the plant. Starch grains are abundantly present in root and stem but absent in leaves. Various physicochemical parameters were also determined. Phytochemical screening of the extract and HPTLC quantification of gallic acid was also performed. Conclusion: The present study provides pharmacognostical, physicochemical and phytochemical details of the whole plant of Homonoia riparia which are useful in laying down standardization and pharmacopoeia parameters.

In this study, methanolic extract of Saraca asoca bark was evaluated for its aphrodisiac potential using male and female Wistar albino rats. Male rats were dosed daily for 54 days at a dose of 100 mg/kg p.o. Sexual activity of male rats was assessed after 14, 28, 42 and 54 days of the study. Male rats were placed in a glass chamber lit with a dim red light (10W) followed by the introduction of sexually receptive female rats in a ratio of 1:1. Improvement in sexual behaviour of male rats was characterised by an increase in both mount frequency and intromission frequency and decrease or reduction in mount latency and intromission latency compared to normal control. After completion of the study, the effect of the S. asoca extract on sperm count, sperm motility and sperm morphology was also assessed. The extract of S. asoca bark was found to be safe as it did not affect these sperm parameters. From this study, it was found that methanolic extract of S. asoca bark plays a role in enhancing sexual behaviour and potential without causing reproductive toxicity.

Context: Oxidative stress acts as an essential mediator in the pathophysiology of urolithiasis. Lepidagathis prostrata Dalz. (Acanthaceae) is a Pashanbhed plant that is recommended for the management of urolithiasis; however, no scientific validation has been reported. Objectives: To evaluate the antiurolithiatic and antioxidant potential of L. prostrata. Materials and methods: Methanol extract (LPM) and fractions; petroleum ether (LPPE), ethyl acetate (LPEA), n-butanol (LPBU) and aqueous (LPAQ) were prepared. In vitro antiurolithiatic activity was evaluated by the capacity to inhibit calcium oxalate (CaOx) nucleation and aggregation at different concentrations of extract/fractions (0.04-3 mg/mL) for 30 min. Total phenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant potential were determined. A validated HPTLC method was performed to quantify lupeol and b-sitosterol. Results: LPEA exhibited the highest dose-dependent inhibition of CaOx nucleation (IC 50 : 336.23 ± 30.79 mg/mL) and aggregation (IC 50 : 149.63 ± 10.31 mg/mL), which was significantly (p50.05) better than standard Cystone Õ . The polar LPBU fraction was enriched with phenols (47.34 ± 0.19 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (20.38 ± 0.05 mg QE/g), which correlates with its highest antioxidant potential in DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide scavenging and iron chelating activities (IC 50 : 1.18-87.34 mg/mL). To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the presence of lupeol and b-sitosterol in L. prostrata. Conclusion: The antiurolithiatic activity of L. prostrata is probably mediated through the inhibition of CaOx crystallization. In addition to its free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities, it would act as an excellent agent for the prevention of urolithiasis.