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STUDIES AVAILABLE OF VASA

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1. Anticestodal activity of Adhatoda vasica extract against Hymenolepis diminuta infections in rats.

Yadav AK, Tangpu V.

Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India. akynehu@hotmail.com

AIM OF THIS STUDY: Adhatoda vasica Nees has been commonly used in the indigenous system of medicine of Naga tribes in India for curing intestinal worm infections. In this study the anticestodal efficacy of Adhatoda vasica leaf extract was evaluated using Hymenolepis diminuta-rat experimental model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anticestodal efficacy of leaf extract was determined by monitoring the eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces counts and percentage worm recovery rates following treatment with methanol leaf extract of this plant to different groups of rats harbouring immature and mature Hymenolepis diminuta infections. RESULTS: The result indicated 800 mg/kg double dose of extract has profound efficacy against mature worms, where the EPG count was reduced by 79.57% and percentage worm recovery rate by 16.60%. These effects were better than treatment with 5 mg/kg single dose of praziquantel, the standard drug. In case of efficacy against immature worms, the extract showed a significant reduction in worm recovery rate (from 100% in control to 20.00% at 800 mg/kg dose of extract). CONCLUSION: The study shows that the leaf extract of Adhatoda vasica possesses significant anticestodal efficacy and supports its use in the folk medicine.

PMID: 18691645 [PubMed - in process]

2. Outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Silti woreda, Ethiopia: risk factor assessment and causative agent identification.

Negera E, Gadisa E, Yamuah L, Engers H, Hussein J, Kuru T, Hailu A, Gedamu L, Aseffa A.

Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

An outbreak of skin lesions was reported in June 2005 in the district of Silti woreda, 150 km south of Addis Ababa, by the Christian Children's Fund (CCF) and confirmed to be cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) by our group from the Armauer Hansen Research Institute in July 2005. A house-to-house survey of 1907 residents in three kebeles of Silti woreda conducted in April 2006 showed a prevalence of 4.8%. RFLP analysis of the internal transcribed spacer RNA (ITS1) showed that Leishmania aethiopica was the causative agent. In the survey, it was found that the age group 11-20 years was the most affected. Environmental factors such as proximity of the house to the gorge where hyraxes reside, presence of the plants Adhatoda schimperiana and Acacia spp. in the compound and sharing the same room with domestic animals were significantly associated with developing CL. The prevalence of active disease was higher in Kibet town (10.4%) compared to the rural kebeles. The identified risk factors of CL in the area need further study. The appearance of leishmaniasis in Silti, which was not known to be endemic for the disease, underlines the need to initiate a leishmaniasis control program in Ethiopia to limit its expansion.

Publication Types

PMID: 18479722 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3. Fungal contamination of raw materials of some herbal drugs and recommendation of Cinnamomum camphora oil as herbal fungitoxicant.

Singh P, Srivastava B, Kumar A, Dubey NK.

Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.

The paper explores fungal infection and aflatoxin B1 contamination of six medicinal plant samples viz. Adhatoda vasica Nees, Asparagus racemosus Linn., Evolvulus alsinoides Linn., Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn., Plumbago zeylanica Linn. and Terminalia chebula Retz. A total of 858 fungal isolates were detected from the raw materials. Maximum number of fungal isolates was detected from A. racemosus (228). The genus Aspergillus was found to be the most dominant genus causing infection to most of the raw materials. Among the 32 isolates of A. flavus tested, 13 isolates were found to be toxigenic elaborating aflatoxin B1. The highest elaboration of aflatoxin B1 was 394.95 ppb by the isolates of A. flavus from G. glabra. The essential oil of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl showed efficacy in arresting aflatoxin B1 by the toxigenic strain. The growth of a toxigenic strain of A. flavus decreased progressively with increasing concentration of essential oil from leaves of C. camphora. The oil completely inhibited aflatoxin B1 production even at 750 ppm. Hence, the oil of C. camphora is recommended as herbal fungitoxicant against the fungal contamination of the raw materials.

Publication Types.

PMID: 18322727 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

4. Quantitative determination of vasicine and vasicinone in Adhatoda vasica by high performance capillary electrophoresis.
 

Avula B, Begum S, Ahmed S, Choudhary MI, Khan IA.

National Center for Natural Products Research, University of Mississippi, MS 38677, USA. bavula@olemiss.edu

A new method of capillary electrophoresis was developed for the quantitative determination of vasicine and vasicinone from Adhatoda vasica (L.) Nees. The electrophoretic separation was performed using a 47 cm x 50 microm ID (38.5 cm effective length) fused silica capillary. The samples were injected by pressure for 3 s at 50 mbar and the running voltage was 19 kV at the injector end of the capillary. The capillary temperature was maintained at 40 degrees C. The separation of the two alkaloids has been achieved within 11 min with good repeatability. The method was validated in terms of reproducibility, linearity, accuracy and applied for the quantitative determination of vasicine and vasicinone in A. vasica plant samples/extracts. Parameters affecting the resolution such as pH, temperature, organic modifier, buffer concentration and capillary dimensions were reported.

Publication Types:

 

PMID: 18271297 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

5. Protective Effect of Adhatoda vascia Nees Against Radiation-Induced Damage at Cellular, Biochemical and Chromosomal Levels in Swiss Albino Mice.

 

Kumar M, Samarth R, Kumar M, Selvan SR, Saharan B, Kumar A.

Laboratory of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan Jaipur 302004, India and Hoag Comprehensive Cancer Center, Newport Beach CA 92663, USA.

Extract of Adhatoda vasica (L) Nees leaves has been used for treatment of various diseases and disorders in Ayurved and Unani medicine. Modulatory effect of ethanolic extract of A. vasica (L) Nees against radiation-induced changes in terms of histological alterations in testis, reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LPO), acid and alkaline phosphatases levels, and chromosomal alterations in Swiss albino mice was studied at various post-irradiation intervals between 1 and 30 days. Mice exposed to 8 Gy radiation showed radiation-induced sickness including marked changes in histology of testis and chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells with 100% mortality within 22 days. When ethanolic leaf extract of A. vasica was given orally at a dose of 800 mg kg(-1) body weight per mouse for 15 consecutive days and then exposed to radiation, death of Adhatoda-pretreated irradiated mice was reduced to 70% at 30 days. The radiation dose reduction factor was 1.43. There was significantly lesser degree of damage to testis tissue architecture and various cell populations including spermatogonia, spermatids and Leydig cells. Correspondingly, a significant decrease in the LPO and an increase in the GSH levels were observed in testis and liver of Adhatoda-pretreated irradiated mice. Similarly, a significant decrease in level of acid phosphatase and increase in level of alkaline phosphatase were observed. Adhatoda pretreatment significantly prevented radiation-induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells. The study suggests that Adhatoda plant extract has significant radioprotective effects on testis that warrants further mechanistic studies aimed at identifying the role of major ingredients in the extract.

PMID: 17965765 [PubMed - in process]

PMCID: PMC1978234

6.Rapid micropropagation via axillary bud proliferation of Adhatoda vasica Nees from nodal segments.

 

Abhyankar G, Reddy VD.

Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, Osmania University, Hyderabad 500 007, India.

A protocol for rapid multiplication of Adhatoda vasica has been developed through nodal explants from field grown mature plants. The maximum number of shoots, i.e., 7.75 +/- 0.392 differentiated from split nodal halves on MS medium supplemented with BA (10.0 mg/l) during 4 weeks of culture. Maximum number of shoots formed per explant increased to ca. 30 within 6 weeks of subculture on medium containing BA (1.0 mg/l) and Kn (1.0 mg/l). The isolated shoots rooted 90% in MS medium containing IBA (0.1 mg/l) in 2 weeks. The rooted plantlets were successfully transferred to soil in glasshouse and subsequently in field. The plantlets rooted in liquid medium did not survive, but those rooted on solid medium showed more than 75% survival. In vitro raised plants grew successfully ex vitro till flowering.

Publication Types:

 

PMID: 17373372 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

7.Anti-ulcer activity of Adhatoda vasica Nees.

 

Shrivastava N, Srivastava A, Banerjee A, Nivsarkar M.

Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, B.V. Patel Pharmaceutical Education & Research Development Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Adhatoda vasica Nees (Acantheceae), commonly known as Vasaka, is a well-known plant in indigenous systems of medicine and is used for its beneficial effects, particularly in bronchitis. The present investigation was carried out to study the anti-ulcer activity of Adhatoda vasica leaves using two ulcer models (1) Ethanol-induced, and (2) Pylorus ligation plus aspirin-induced models. Adhatoda vasica leaf powder showeda considerable degree of anti-ulcer activity in experimental rats when compared with a control. The highest degree of activity (80%) was observed in the ethanol-induced ulceration model. Results of the study suggest that in addition to its classically established pharmacological activities, the plant also has immense potential as an anti-ulcer agent of great therapeutic relevance.

Publication Types:

 

PMID: 17182484 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

8.Reversal of cadmium chloride-induced oxidative stress and genotoxicity by Adhatoda vasica extract in Swiss albino mice.

 

Jahangir T, Khan TH, Prasad L, Sultana S.

Section of Chemoprevention and Nutrition Toxicology, Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110062, India.

Adhatoda vasica Nees (Acanthaceae) that is used by Ayurvedic physicians possesses some established medicinal properties. Environmental and occupational exposure with cadmium affects the renal system adversely. Cadmium is an established genotoxic agent. In the present study, we evaluated the antioxidant and anticlastogenic efficacy of A. vasica against cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced renal oxidative stress and genotoxicity in Swiss albino mice. A single intraperitoneal dose of CdCl2 (5 mg\kg BW) resulted in significant (p<0.001) increase in chromosomal aberration and micronuclei formation. Oral administration of A. vasica at two doses (50 and 100 mg/kg BW) for seven consecutive days showed significant (p<0.001) suppression of mutagenic effects of CdCl2 in plant-pretreated groups. To study the mechanism by which A. vasica exerts its antimutagenic potential, enzymes involved in metabolism and detoxification were also estimated. Cadmium intoxication altered the antioxidant levels and enhanced MDA formation significantly (p<0.001). A. vasica showed significant (p<0.001) recovery in antioxidant status, viz., GSH content, its dependent enzymes, and catalase activity. Prophylactic pretreatment of A. vasica extract in cadmium-intoxicated mice showed marked (p<0.001) inhibition of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity. The present findings support that antimutagenic efficacy of A. vasica can be attributed to its restoring effects on antioxidant status and suppression of MDA level formation.

Publication Types:

PMID: 16943607 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

9.Randomized trial of a fixed combination (KanJang) of herbal extracts containing Adhatoda vasica, Echinacea purpurea and Eleutherococcus senticosus in patients with upper respiratory tract infections.
 

Narimanian M, Badalyan M, Panosyan V, Gabrielyan E, Panossian A, Wikman G, Wagner H.

Department of Family Medicine, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia.

The clinical efficacy of KanJang oral solution, a fixed combination of standardised extracts of Echinacea purpurea, Adhatoda vasica and Eleutherococcus senticosus, was compared with the combined extracts of Echinacea purpurea and Eleutherococcus senticosus alone (Echinacea mixture) in a controlled, double blind, randomized trial, and with Bromhexine (a standard treatment) in a controlled, open, randomized clinical trial on patients with non-complicated acute respiratory tract infections. Many of the parameters evaluated, such as severity of coughing, frequency of coughing, efficacy of mucus discharge in the respiratory tract, nasal congestion and a general feeling of sickness, showed significantly greater improvement in patients treated with KanJang compared with those receiving the standard treatment. However, no significant differences in the improvement of these symptoms (except in a reduced frequency of coughing) were observed between patients treated with the Echinacea mixture and those receiving the standard treatment. The only explanation is that the lack of extract of A. vasica in the Echinacea mixture reduces its efficacy compared with the complete KanJang oral solution even though direct double-blind comparison yielded no significant differences between these two groups of patients. The recovery time of patients being treated with KanJang or Echinacea mixture was 2 days shorter than that of patients receiving the standard treatment. None of the patients completing the study reported adverse reactions to the medication taken. The significance of the results obtained in this study is discussed with respect to the efficacy of KanJang in the treatment of acute respiratory infection and to the concept that multi-drug therapy offers higher efficacy compared with mono-drug treatment of such infections.

Publication Types:

PMID: 16121513 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

10.First total synthesis of justicidone, a p-quinone-lignan derivative from Justicia hyssopifolia.

 

Boluda CJ, López H, Pérez JA, Trujillo JM.

Instituto Universitario de Bioorgánica Antonio González, Universidad de La Laguna, Carretera de la Esperanza, 2, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.

The first synthesis of justicidone (4-(1',3'-Benzodioxol-5'-yl)-6-methoxynaphtho[2,3-c]furan-1,5,8(3H)-trione) was carried out from piperonal, as a starting compound, through a lineal process using well known reactions.

Publication Types:

PMID: 16079522 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

11.Modulatory influence of Adhatoda vasica Nees leaf extract against gamma irradiation in Swiss albino mice.

Kumar A, Ram J, Samarth RM, Kumar M

Radiation and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India. mamsjpr@hotmail.com

The radiomodulatory influence of ethanolic extract of Adhatoda vasica Nees leaf extract against radiation-induced hematological alterations in peripheral blood of Swiss albino mice was studied at various post-irradiation intervals between 6 h to 30 days. Oral administration of A. vasica leaf extract (800 mg/kg body weight) prior to whole body irradiation showed a significant protection in terms of survival percentage and hematological parameters. Mice exposed to radiation (8.0 Gy) without A. vasica leaf extract pre-treatment exhibited signs of radiation sickness like anorexia, lethargicity, ruffled hairs and diarrhoea and such animals died within 25 days post-irradiation. The dose reduction factor (DRF = 1.6) for A. vasica leaf extract was calculated from LD50/30 values. A significant decline in hematological constituents (RBCs, WBCs, Hb and Hct) was evident till day 15 and no animal could survive beyond day 25. Conversely, animals pre-treated with A. vasica leaf extract showed 81.25% survival till 30 days after exposure and a gradual recovery was noted in the hematological values. However, these hematological values remained significantly below the normal even till day 30. A significant decrease in blood reduced glutathione (GSH) content and increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level was observed in control animals (Radiation alone). However, A. vasica leaf extract pretreated irradiated animals exhibited a significant increase in GSH content and decrease in LPO level. A significant increase in the serum alkaline phosphatase activity and decrease in acid phosphatase activity was observed in A. vasica leaf extract pretreated irradiated animals during the entire period of study.

Publication Types:

 

PMID: 15898706 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

12.HPTLC determination of vasicine and vasicinone in Adhatoda vasica.

Das C, Poi R, Chowdhury A.

Regional Quality Control Laboratory for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Department of Agricultural Chemicals, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur - 741 252, Nadia, West Bengal, India.

A simple high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of the pharmacologically important quinazoline alkaloids vasicine and vasicinone in Adhatoda vasica. The assay combines the separation and quantification of the analytes on silica gel 60 GF254 HPTLC plates with visualisation under UV and scanning at 270 and 281 nm. Using this technique, the alkaloidal content of different parts of the title plant have been determined.

Publication Types:

 

PMID: 15881115 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

13.Hepatoprotective activity of Adhatoda vasica aqueous leaf extract on D-galactosamine-induced liver damage in rats.
 

Bhattacharyya D, Pandit S, Jana U, Sen S, Sur TK.

Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medicine, Calcutta, India.

Adhatoda vasica leaf showed significant hepatoprotective effect at doses of 50-100 mg/kg, p.o., on liver damage induced by D-galactosamine in rats.

PMID: 15752635 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

14.A novel podophyllotoxin lignan from Justicia heterocarpa.

Al-Juaid SS, Abdel-Mogib M.

Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Chromatographic separation of the extract of Justicia heterocarpa T. ANDERS. afforded, in addition to known fatty acids, terpenoids and steroids, a new podophyllotoxin lignan. Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, and the structure of the new lignan was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies, which have shown that there is a H-bonding stabilized dimer.

PMID: 15133198 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

15.N-H.N hydrogen bonding in 4,6-diphenyl-2-pyrimidinylamine isolated from the plant Justicia secunda (Acanthaceae).

Gallagher JF, Goswami S, Chatterjee B, Jana S, Dutta K.

School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland. john.gallagher@dcu.ie

The title compound, C(16)H(13)N(3), isolated from Justicia secunda (Acanthaceae), comprises two molecules (which differ slightly in conformation) in the asymmetric unit of space group P-1. Intermolecular N(amino)-H.N(pyrm) interactions (N(pyrm) is a pyrimidine ring N atom) involve only one of the two donor amino H atoms and pyrimidine N atoms per molecule, forming dimeric units via R(2)(2)(8) rings, with N.N distances of 3.058 (2) and 3.106 (3) A, and N-H.N angles of 172.7 (18) and 175.8 (17) degrees. The dimers are linked by C-H.pi(arene) contacts, with an H.centroid distance of 2.77 A and a C-H.centroid angle of 141 degrees.

Publication Types:

PMID: 15071219 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

16.The effect of medicinal plants of Islamabad and Murree region of Pakistan on insulin secretion from INS-1 cells.

Hussain Z, Waheed A, Qureshi RA, Burdi DK, Verspohl EJ, Khan N, Hasan M.

Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan. chem63@yahoo.com

In vitro testing of the extracts of medicinal plants collected from Islamabad and the Murree region on insulin secretagogue activity was carried out. Dried ethanol extracts of all plants (ZH1-ZH19) were dissolved in ethanol and DMSO, and tested at various concentrations (between 1 and 40 microg/mL) for insulin release from INS-1 cells in the presence of 5.5 mM glucose. Glibenclamide was used as a control. Promising insulin secretagogue activity in various plant extracts at 1, 10, 20 and 40 microg/mL was found, while in some cases a decrease in insulin secretion was also observed. Artemisia roxburghiana, Salvia coccinia and Monstera deliciosa showed insulin secretagogue activity at 1 microg/mL (p < 0.05) while Abies pindrow, Centaurea iberica and Euphorbia helioscopia were active at 10 microg/mL (p < 0.05). Extracts of Bauhinia variegata and Bergenia himalacia showed effects at 20 microg/mL (p < 0.05), and Taraxacum officinale and Viburnum foetens at 40 microg/mL (p < 0.05). Insulin secretagogue activity could not be detected in the extracts of Adhatoda vasica, Cassia fistula, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Morus alba, Plectranthus rugosus, Peganum harmala and Olea ferruginea. The results suggest that medicinal plants of Islamabad and the Murree region of Pakistan may be potential natural resources for antidiabetic compounds. Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Publication Types:

PMID: 14750205 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

17.Antifertility activity of Derris brevipes variety coriacea.

Badami S, Aneesh R, Sankar S, Sathishkumar MN, Suresh B, Rajan S.

JSS College of Pharmacy, Rocklands, Ootacamund-643 001, India. shribadami@yahoo.com

Traditional physicians in and around Kotagiri village near Ootacamund, use a mixture of powdered roots of Cassia occidentalis, Derris brevipes variety coriacea and Justicia simplex to control female fertility. A mixture of powdered roots of these three plants, powdered root of Derris brevipes variety coriacea and its ethanolic extract were screened for antifertility activity in proven fertile female rats at 200 and 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively and given orally on D(1-7) of pregnancy. Both doses of the root powder of Derris brevipes variety coriacea showed 50% anti-implantation activity and also a significant reduction in the number of litters born. The ethanolic extract exhibited 40% anti-implantation activity when given orally at 600 mg/kg body weight. The rats, which continued their pregnancy, did not deliver any litters after their full term. Hence, the combined antifertility (anti-implantation and abortifacient) activity of the ethanolic extract was 100%. The results suggest that the ethanolic extract possesses more abortifacient type effect than the anti-implantation activity. The ethanolic extract also exhibited weak estrogenic activity when given alone and tested in immature ovariectomised female albino rats. But, when given along with ethinyl estradiol, it exhibited slight antiestrogenic activity. Histological and biochemical estimations were carried out to confirm this. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.

PMID: 12499083 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

18.Study of alkaloids from Adhatoda vasica Nees on their antiinflammatory activity.

Chakraborty A, Brantner AH.

Institute of Pharmacognosy, Universitaetsplatz 4/1, A-8010 Graz, Austria.

Adhatoda vasica Nees is a shrub widespread throughout the tropical regions of southeast Asia. It possesses a wide spectrum of medicinal properties including positive effects on inflammatory diseases. The antiinflammatory activity of the methanol extract, the non-alkaloid fraction, the saponins and the alkaloids was evaluated by the modified hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane test. The alkaloid fraction showed potent activity at a dose of 50 microg/pellet equivalent to that of hydrocortisone while the MeOH extract and the other fractions showed less activity. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Publication Types:

 

PMID: 11536385 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

19.Modulatory influence of Adhatoda vesica (Justicia adhatoda) leaf extract on the enzymes of xenobiotic metabolism, antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in mice.
Singh RP, Padmavathi B, Rao AR.


Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.

The effect of two different doses (50 and 100 mg/kg body wt/day for 14 days) of 80% ethanolic extract of the leaves of Adhatoda vesica were examined on drug metabolizing phase I and phase II enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, glutathione content, lactate dehydrogenase and lipid peroxidation in the liver of 8 weeks old Swiss albino mice. The modulatory effect of the extract was also examined on extra-hepatic organs viz. lung, kidney and forestomach for the activities of glutathione S-transferase, DT-diaphorase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Significant increase in the activities of acid soluble sulfhydryl (-SH) content, cytochrome P450, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, cytochrome b5, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, glutathione S-transferase (GST), DT-diaphorase (DTD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were observed in the liver at both dose levels of treatments. Adhatoda vesica acted as bifunctional inducer since it induced both phase I and phase II enzyme systems. Both the treated groups showed significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in liver, suggesting its role in protection against prooxidant induced membrane damage. The cytosolic protein was significantly inhibited at both the dose levels of treatment indicating the possibility of its involvement in the inhibition of protein synthesis. BHA has significantly induced the activities of GR and GSH in the present study. The extract was effective in inducing GST and DTD in lung and forestomach, and SOD and CAT in kidney. Thus, besides liver, other organs viz., lung, kidney and forestomach were also stimulated by Adhatoda, to increase the potential of the machinery associated with the detoxification of xenobiotic compounds. But, liver and lung showed a more consistent induction. Since the study of induction of the phase I and phase II enzymes is considered to be a reliable marker for evaluating the chemopreventive efficacy of a particular compound, these findings are suggestive of the possible chemopreventive role played by Adhatoda leaf extract.

Publication Types:

PMID: 11129964 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

20.Adhatoda vasica: a critical review of ethnopharmacological and toxicological data.

Claeson UP, Malmfors T, Wikman G, Bruhn JG.

Center of Applied Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, BMC Box 579, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden. claeson@inbio.se

Adhatoda vasica (L.) Nees is a well-known plant drug in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine. It has been used for the treatment of various diseases and disorders, particularly for the respiratory tract ailments. During the last 20 years, several scientific reports on oxytocic and abortifacient effects of vasicine and alkaloid derived from the plant have appeared. This leads to questions concerning the safety of A. vasica as a herbal medicine. In this article, the major data on traditional uses as well as ethnopharmacological and toxicological studies, both published and unpublished, are reviewed and commented upon. The data have been evaluated from the point of view of correctness, reliability, relevance and importance for the overall evaluation of the safety of A. vasica.

Publication Types:

PMID: 10967448 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

21.Mechanism of action of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12-hexahydro-azepino-[2, 1-b] quinazolin-12-one-(RLX)--a novel bronchodilator.

Johri RK, Zutshi U.

Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu-Tawi.

The present study presents a mode of action profile of RLX (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12-hexahydro-azepino-[2, 1-b]-quinazoline-12-one) a bronchodilator obtained by the chemical modification in the molecule of alkaloid vasicine (Ex: Adhatoda vesica). The effect of RLX (p.o.) was observed on: (a) mast cell degranulation, (b) release of histamine and prostaglandin E (PGE), (c) 45Ca uptake and (d) activities of cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDEase) and lipoxygenase enzymes in mesenteries/peritoneal mast cells/lung tissue homogenates in rats under systemic anaphylaxis. RLX (10 and 20 mg/kg) inhibited antigen-induced mast cell degranulation and released of histamine from target tissues. An increased outflow of PGE (lungs) and an inhibited 45Ca uptake (peritoneal mast cells) were noted. Lung PDEase and lipoxygenase activities were decreased. These results suggested that RLX could be acting like disodium cromoglycate and aminophyline with additional attributes its oral efficacy and long duration of action.

PMID: 10919099 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

22.Pharmacokinetics and in-situ absorption studies of a new anti-allergic compound 73/602 in rats.

Paliwa JK, Dwivedi AK, Singh S, Gutpa RC.

Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics Division, Ranbaxy Research Laboratories, Gurgoan, India.

Compound 73/602 (AA) is a structural analogue of vasicinone, an alkaloid present in the leaves and roots of Adhatoda vasica (Acanthaceae). It possesses potent antiallergic activity in mice, rats and guinea pigs. The pK(a) of AA was determined to be 2.87+/-0. 19 by UV spectrophotometry. The absorption kinetics of this compound were studied in-situ using a rat gut technique at pH 2.6 and 7.4. The rate of absorption at pH 2.6 (0.0288+/-0.004 min(-1)) was slightly less than at pH 7.4 (0.035+/-0.0008 min(-1)). This characteristic behavior was attributed to the low pK(a) of AA, a weekly basic compound, where nearly 35% of the compound remained in the unionized form at pH 2.6. Also, the return of compound into the mucosal lumen from the blood capillaries over a period of 2 h after administering a 2 mg dose in tail vein was less than 0.3%. Hence it was concluded that entero-enteric circulation of AA did not contribute significantly to the in-situ absorption rates. Pharmacokinetic parameters of AA were determined in male rats after administering a single 10 mg/kg intravenous dose (i.v.) and 50 mg/kg oral bolus dose. Following i.v. administration the initial decline in serum concentration was rapid with half-life of 20.2 min. After a single oral dose the concentration-time data of AA in rats was best described by a one-compartment model with equal first order absorption and apparent elimination rate constants. The half-life of the decline in serum concentration of AA following oral administration was 50.6 min, indicating absorption rate limiting disposition at the high dose given. Comparison of AUC of oral and i. v. data indicates that only about 60% of the oral dose reach the systemic circulation.

PMID: 10704808 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

23.Antitussive effect of Adhatoda vasica extract on mechanical or chemical stimulation-induced coughing in animals.

Dhuley JN.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd., Pimpri, Pune, India.

The antitussive activity of Adhatoda vasica (AV) extract was evaluated in anaesthetized guinea pigs and rabbits and in unanaesthetized guinea pigs. AV was shown to have a good antitussive activity. Intravenously, it was 1/20-1/40 as active as codeine on mechanically and electrically induced coughing in rabbits and guinea-pigs. After oral administration to the guinea-pig the antitussive activity of AV was similar to codeine against coughing induced by irritant aerosols.

PMID: 10617073 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

24.In vitro evaluation of inhibitory nature of extracts of 18-plant species of Chhindwara against 3-keratinophilic fungi.

Qureshi S, Rai MK, Agrawal SC.

Department of Botany, Danielson College, Chhindwara, India.

Effect of extract of 18 plant species, viz., Acorus calamus, Adhatoda vasica, Amomum subulatum, Andrographis paniculata, Boerhaavia diffusa, Cassia occidentalis, Centella asiatica, Cymbopogon citratus, Hemidesmus indicus, Hyptis suaveolens, Malvestrum sp., Passiflora edulis, Pergularia daemia, Peristrophe bicalyculata, Shuteria hirsuta, Solanum nigrum, Tecoma stans, and Verbascum chinense on the growth of Microsporum gypseum, Chrysosporium tropicum and Trichophyton terrestre was evaluated and discussed. The sensitivity of the keratinophilic fungi was evaluated by dry-weight method. The maximum inhibition of mycelial growth was shown by M. gypseum (86.62%) followed by T. terrestre (81.86%) and C. tropicum (74.06%) when treated with S. hirsuta whereas the minimum inhibition was exhibited by M. gypseum (0.29%), C. tropicum (0.16%) and T. terrestre (1.76%) when tested with the extract of P. edulis, A. vasica and B. diffusa respectively.

Publication Types:

PMID: 10386016 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

25. Activity of bromhexine and ambroxol, semi-synthetic derivatives of vasicine from the Indian shrub Adhatoda vasica, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro.

Grange JM, Snell NJ.

Department of Microbiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK.

The benzylamines, bromhexine and ambroxol, widely used as mucolytics, have a pH-dependent growth-inhibitory effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. As these compounds are concentrated in macrophages, they might exert a clinically useful effect on intracellular tubercle bacilli. This, combined with indirect effects including enhancement of lysozyme levels in bronchial secretions and levels of rifampicin in lung tissue and sputum, and possibly clearance of bacilli-laden mucus from cavities and bronchi, suggests a potentially useful adjunctive function for these agents in the therapy of tuberculosis, and adds credibility to early reports of the beneficial effect of benzylamines in this disease.

PMID: 8778507 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

26. Commonly used Indian abortifacient plants with special reference to their teratologic effects in rats.

Nath D, Sethi N, Singh RK, Jain AK.

Division of Toxicology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.

A survey programme was organised in Lucknow and Farrukhabad, two towns of Uttar Pradesh, from March 1987 to July 1987. During the survey, the common folk medicine plants used by women were recorded and Ayurvedic and Unani drug encyclopedias were consulted for the antireproductive potential of these plants. Aqueous or 90% ethanol extracts of the plants of interest were studied in rats orally dosed for 10 days after insemination with special reference to effects on foetal development. Leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera and Adhatoda vasica were 100% abortive at doses equivalent to 175 mg/kg of starting dry material. Only the flowers of Acacia arabica and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis appeared to lack teratologic potential at the doses tested.

Publication Types:

PMID: 1608272 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

27. Toxigenic Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxins in Sri Lankan medicinal plant material.

Abeywickrama K, Bean GA.

Department of Botany, University of Maryland, College Park 20742.

The fungal flora of 6 Asian medicinal plants, Aerva lanata (Linn.) Juss. Alyssicarpus vaginalis D.C., Tribulus terrestris Linn. Adhatoda vasica Nees., Centella asciatica (L.) Urb., Cardiospermum halicacabum Linn. was determined. After surface disinfection Aspergillus spp. were most frequently observed. Aspergillus flavus, isolated from Alyssicarpus vaginalis and Aerva lanata produced aflatoxins in culture. Aflatoxin B1 was also detected in a sample of Aerra lanata at a level of 0.5 micrograms/g. Plant material destined for medicinal use should be stored carefully prior to its use to prevent growth of naturally occurring toxigenic mold fungi.

PMID: 1906136 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

28. New antiasthmatic drugs from traditional medicine?

Dorsch W, Wagner H.

Children's Hospital of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, FRG.

Several plants are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of bronchial asthma. We are trying to identify the active compound(s) and their mode of action. For the isolation and identification of the active principles, different chromatographic methods, HPLC, MPLC, elementary analysis, UV, mass, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy are used. Whole plant extracts, fractionated extracts and pure compounds are tested in the following pharmacological systems: cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, bronchial obstruction of guinea pigs after inhalation of allergens, platelet-activating factor (PAF), histamine or acetylcholine, PAF-induced bronchial hyperreactivity of guinea pigs, histamine release, chemoluminescence and chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes as well as thromboxane biosynthesis of human platelets. As active compounds in onion extracts, thiosulfinates and cepaenes could be identified. They exert a wide spectrum of pharmacologic activities, both in vitro and in vivo. Tetragalloyl quinic acid from Galphimia glauca, suppressed allergen- and PAF-induced bronchial obstruction, PAF-induced bronchial hyperreactivity (5 mg/kg orally) in vivo and thromboxane biosynthesis in vitro. Hitherto unknown alkaloids from Adhatoda vasica showed pronounced protection against allergen-induced bronchial obstruction in guinea pigs (10 mg/ml aerosol). Androsin from Picrorhiza kurroa prevented allergen- and PAF-induced bronchial obstruction (10 mg/kg orally; 0.5 mg inhalative). Histamine release in vitro was inhibited by other compounds of the plant extract yet to be identified. Pharmacological effects of plant extracts and pure compounds in man are under investigation.

PMID: 1937886 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

29. Search for new plant constituents with potential antiphlogistic and antiallergic activity.

Wagner H.

Structure-activity relationships obtained from in vitro screening results obviously indicate that the highest inhibition effects on cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase are found amongst the class of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, polyphenols, coumestans, phenol carboxylic acids) and arachidonic acid analogous (alkylamides, retinoids, arylheptanoids, thiosulfinates, sulfinyl disulfides). The antiinflammatory activities of some triterpenenic acids, sesquiterpene lactones, and polysaccharides may be due to their immunomodulating activities on the complement and/or T-lymphocyte populations, respectively. In the search for potential antiallergic and antiasthmatic compounds, the thiosulfinates of onion were found to be active principles of the drug. The mechanism of action of some other antiallergic plant drugs (i.e. Tylophora asthmatica, Adhatoda vasica, etc.) has not yet been clarified.

Publication Types

PMID: 2662231 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

30. Biotransformation of a [14CH3]-2-Methylaminobenzophenone by Plant Cell Cultures.

Baumert A, Rosza Z, Schliemann W, Lewis JR, Gröger D.

Institut für Biochemie der Pflanzen, Akademie der Wissenschaften der DDR, Weinberg 3, DDR-4050 Halle (Saale), German Democratic Republic.

2-[ (14)C]-Methylamino-2',4'-dimethoxy-6'-hydroxybenzophenone ( 4) was synthesized and administered to RUTA GRAVEOLENS cell suspension cultures. Compound 4 was not incorporated into acridone alkaloids but glucosylated giving 7. This reaction takes place also in cell suspension cultures of ADHATODA VASICA and PEGANUM HARMALA.

PMID: 17268971 [PubMed - in process]

 

31s.Anti-implantation activity of some indigenous plants in rats.

Prakash AO, Saxena V, Shukla S, Tewari RK, Mathur S, Gupta A, Sharma S, Mathur R.

Various extracts of one hundred and eight medicinal plants were screened for their anti-implantation activity in female albino rats. Out of these, 50% ethanolic extract of Codonospis ovata Benth (PL); 50% ethanolic, acetone and benzene extracts of Puararia tuberosa DC (TUB); aqueous and methanolic extracts of Punica granatum Linn. (PX) and ethanolic and acetone extracts of Rubus ellipiticus Smith (PX) inhibited pregnancy in 70-90% of rats. Similarly ethanolic extract of Adhatoda vasica Nees (LF) and Kigelia pinnata DC (PL); ethanolic and acetone extracts of Acrostichum aureum Linn. (PL), Juniperus communis Linn. (SD), Lepidium capitatum H.f. & T. (PL); ethanolic and benzene extracts of Citrulus colocynthus Schrad (LF) and acetone extract of Codonopsis ovata Benth (PL) showed 60-70% anti-implantation activity. Extracts of a few plants VIZ. Dolichos biflorus Linn. (SD), Ferule orientalis Linn. (PL), Nerium odoratum Lamk (RT), Randia dumetorum Lamk (SD) and Ruta graveolens Linn. (PL) could inhibit pregnancy in 50-60% of rats. The rest of the plants were either inactive or showed insignificant antifertility activity.

Publication Types:

PMID: 3832714 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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