The Activities of the Central Nervous System Following Ethyl Acetate Extract of Mucuna pruriens Seed Administration in Male BALB/c Mice

A number of reports showed the beneficial psychotropic effects of many of the Nigerian medicinal plants, but few scientific studies have been carried out as empirical evidence. This study investigated the possible neurobehavioural effects of ethyl acetate extract of Mucuna pruriens (MP) seed in male BALB/c mice. Male BALB/c mice (2½-3 months old) were grouped into 5 (n=6), treated with normal saline (0.1 mL), n-propanol extract of MP (200, 100, 50 mg/kg) or reference drug haloperidol (HP) or diazepam (DZP); thereafter, subjected to diverse behavioural models to evaluate the central nervous system (CNS) effects of the extract. A bolus of MP (200, 100, and 50 mg/kg) decreased the rectal temperature, exploratory activities (locomotion, rearing and grooming), anxiety-like responses (% open-arms time, open-arm entries, and the total number of enclosed arms times). Additionally, a one-shot of intraperitoneal administration of MP decimated the total score of apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviours. Latency to hexobarbitone-induced sleep increased significantly in the 200 mg/kg MP, unchanged in the 100 mg/kg MP, and decreased in the 50 mg/kg MP treated groups. There was a marked decrease in the markers of convulsion (tonic flexion, extension, clonic convulsion, stupor, and recovery time) following MP treatment, especially the higher doses (200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg). In conclusion, the CNS effects of systemic administration of MP seed are not unrelated to its hypothermic, hypnotic, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant effects.

Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Anti-Parkinson’s profile of Mucuna pruriens

Mucuna pruriens is a recognized herbal drug which contains numerous pharmacological activities. Mucuna pruriens commonly known as cow-age or cowitch or velvet bean or Alkushi. Mucuna pruriens has been traditionally used as a food source in a number of countries. It belongs to the Mucuna genus of Fabaceae family and it is cultivated in Asia, America, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. Mucuna pruriens is used in India since 1500 B.C. it contains various important phytoconstituents which are for medicinal purposes. Pods of Mucuna pruriens are used as a vegetable for human consumption. Its fresh leaves are used as animal fodder. Mucuna contains various species, 130 species of Mucuna are metioned in this review. The present review is an attempt to provide all the reported details of information regarding to the Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Anti-Parkinson’s Profile of Mucuna pruriens.

Anti-hyperglycemic Efficiency of the Aqueous Seed Extract of Mucuna pruriens in Nicotinamide-Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

This study was undertaken to evaluate the remedial effect of the aqueous seed extract of Mucuna pruriens (ASEMP) on the endocrine region of pancreas of nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Wistar rats. The anti-hyperglycemic efficiency of two varieties of Mucuna pruriens var utilis; IIHR Selection 3 and Arka Dhanvantari was investigated. Oral administration of ASEMP against the nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced diabetes in the Wistar rats showed anti-hyperglycemic effect on the blood glucose level (94 ± 0.2 mg/dl ASEMP 400 mg/kg) when compared with the control group (92 ± 0.2 mg/dl glibenclamide 5 mg/kg), (248 ± 0.3 mg/dl Diabetic control) and (90 ± 0.3 mg/dl Normal control). Significant reduction in creatinine level of the nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with ASEMP was also recorded. Histopathology examination of the endocrine region of pancreas of the rats revealed restoration of pancreatic islet cells in the diabetic-ASEMP treated rats as the beta cell mass increased and necrotic changes was reduced significantly in contrast with the diabetic control group which showed degenerated pancreatic islet cells. Therefore, this study supports and recommends the exploration of the aqueous seed extract of M. pruriens as an alternative medicine for the management of type-2 diabetes.

In Vitro Rumen Degradability of Tropical Legumes and Their Secondary Metabolites Depends on Inoculum Source

In this study, the in vitro apparent rumen degradability of organic matter (ARDOM) and plant secondary metabolites (ARDPSM) of three tropical legumes (Mucuna pruriens, Canavalia ensiformis and Leucaena leucocephala) were assessed. For this, single end-point incubations (24 h) as well as kinetic assessments (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 24 h) were set up with different inocula sources, i.e. ruminal inocula from Belgian and Cuban sheep. L-mimosine, L-canavanine, Concanavaline A (Con A) and trypsin inhibitor (TI) were the plant secondary metabolites (PSM) targeted in this study. Bean and forage/bean meals of M. pruriens and C. ensiformis as well as their PSM were extensively degraded during 24 h incubation (0.70 and 0.78 g ARDOM/g of organic matter (OM), respectively and > 0.80 g/g for L-canavanine, > 0.76 TIU/TIU for TI and > 0.95 g/g for Con A, for both legumes). Forage meal of L. leucocephala was considerably less degraded, with apparent ruminal degradabilities of 0.20 and 0.35 g ARDOM/g OM after 24 h incubation with Belgian or Cuban sheep inoculum, respectively. This could - at least partially - be related to L-mimosine, present in L. leucocephala, which was hardly degraded in the Belgian incubation, while a more extensive ruminal breakdown was observed under the Cuban conditions (0.05 to 0.78 g ARDPSM/g PSM, respectively). The negative effect of L-mimosine on OM degradability was supported by in vitro incubations with straw and inoculum from Belgian sheep, as ruminal degradation of straw was 31% lower when L-mimosine was supplemented.

Die Behandlung des M. Parkinson aus der Perspektive der Āyurveda-Medizin

ZusammenfassungĀyurveda bietet vielfältige wirksame Behandlungsansätze zur Behandlung des idiopathischen Parkinson-Syndroms. Da es in der klassischen āyurvedischen Literatur keine direkte Entsprechung zum modern definierten Krankheitsbild des M. Parkinson gibt, muss man stets eine individuelle Einschätzung von Krankheit und Konstitution des jeweiligen Patienten nach āyurvedischen Kriterien vornehmen. Aus āyurvedischer Sicht liegt beim Parkinson-Syndrom vor allem eine Vāta-Störung sowie eine Schwäche der Verdauungskraft vor. Aufgrund dieser Einschätzung erfolgt dann eine individuelle Therapie. Der erste Schritt in der āyurvedischen Behandlung besteht aus Empfehlungen zu Ernährung und Lebensweise.Darüber hinaus verfügt der Āyurveda über eine reiche Arzneimittelkunde, insbesondere pflanzliche Arzneien. Im Zusammenhang mit der Behandlung des M. Parkinson haben die Samen der Juckbohne (Mucuna pruriens) eine gewisse Prominenz erlangt, da sie unter anderem L-Dopamin enthalten. Auch das Pañcakarma-Therapieverfahren, ein komplexes āyurvedisches Therapieverfahren aus ausleitenden und krankheitsbesänftigenden Therapieansätzen, bewährt sich in der Behandlung des M. Parkinson.

The Potency of Six Medicinal Plant Extracts Against the Stored Grain Insect Pest Sitophilus granarius L.

Jawalkar, N.B., S.P. Zambare and M.I. Al Ghannoum. 2021. The Potency of Six Medicinal Plant Extracts Against the Stored Grain Insect Pest Sitophilus granarius L. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 39(4): 323-328. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-039.4.323328 This study was conducted on six medicinal plants viz., Vitex negundo (leaves), Xanthium strumarium, Caesalpinia bonduc, Mucuna pruriens, Moringa oleifera (seed kernels), Tagetes erecta (petals) for their bio-insecticidal activity. The powders of various parts of plants were extracted using the MARS6 microwave acid digestion system. Three different concentrations (20, 30, and 40%) of plant extracts were tested against granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for their bio-insecticidal activities under laboratory conditions. The results of statistical analysis showed a good performance of all plant extracts, especially at the high concentrations of the extracts, where they showed different levels of insect mortality and their developmental rate was also reduced leading to significant reduction in insect numbers. The mortality rate ranged was 0-100% with S. granarius adults (p < 0.01). There was significant correlation (R=1) between mortality rate and the concentration of plant extracts. However, the extract of Mucuna pruriens with solvents (Acetone + Petroleum Ether) showed the highest mortality rate of 100% at the three concentrations used (p < 0.01), whereas, the lowest average mortality of 43.3% (p < 0.01) was observed with Xanthium strumarium and Vitex negundo extracts with solvents (Methanol + n-Hexane) compared with 0% mortality in the control. All plant extracts have revealed insecticidal as well as propitious protective effect on grains, and it can be selected as effective control treatment after proper dose formulation to prevent weevil infestation in stored grains. Keywords: Bioinsecticide, stored grains, Sitophilus granarius, mortality, medicinal plants, MARS 6.