Chemo preventive potential of Methanolic extract of bark of Albizia lebbeck (L.) benth on n-methyl-n-nitrosourea induced mammary carcinoma in female sprague dawley rats

Introduction: Use of plants as a source of medicine has been inherited and is an important component of the health care system. Plants are a good source of biologically active compounds known as phytochemicals. The search for anticancer agents from plant sources started in 1950s with the discovery and development of vinca alkaloids, vincristine and vinblastine and the isolation of cytotoxic podophyllotoxin. Many chemotherapeutic agents are avilable their usage is limited due to development of side effects. Recent research demonstrates that plant based phytonutrients are effective in combating the incidence of carcinogenesis. So the purpose of this study is to reveal the relationship between breast cancer and chemopreventive effect of bark of Albizia lebbeck benth to protect against NMU induced mammary cancer in female spraque- dawley rats, and would foster further studies that could ultimately lead to prevention and therapy for breast cancer. Materials and methods: Virgin Female Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped into 5 groups (n=6). Thirty days before the induction of tumor the animals were treated with extracts. At the end of the 30th day tumor was induced by administrating NMU (50 mg/ kg i.p) was induced by single i.p injection, and then the treatment is continued up to a period of 120 days. At the end of the 120th day the animals were sacrificed through cervical decapitation, the mammary tumors were excised out and various parameters were studied such as tumor incidence, tumor burden, tumor volume, tumor weight and tumor latency. Also immunohistochemistry and histopathology were performed. Result: The i.p administration of NMU to the rats showed significant decrease in the body weight compared to normal control rats. After the administration of methanolic extract of Albizia lebbeck benth at different doses showed considerable prevention of weight loss when compared to NMU control rats. Also,in treated groups tumor incidence and tumor burden was decreased and tumor latency got increased. In addition histopathological studies supported significant decrease in formation of infiltrating duct carcinoma in mammory tissue sections. Conclusion: In the present study, methanolic extract of Albizia lebbeck benth showed protective effect against N-methyl-N-nitrosourea induced breast cancer.

Evaluation of the insecticidal activity of the methanol extracts of Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae) and Albizia lebbeck (Mimosaceae) on larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823

Background Vector-borne diseases are mostly transmitted by mosquitoes. Therefore, these mosquitoes constitute a socio-economic scourge. Due to the resistance of mosquitoes to synthetic chemical insecticides and the pollution they generate, this study was conducted to assess the larvicidal activity of plant crude extracts on larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus. Results Bioassays performed on larvae shown that the extract of Calotropis procera at 0.6 mg/mL recorded the highest mortality rate of 100% for L1, L2 and L3. However, the extract of Albizia lebbeck at 0.7 mg/mL recorded the highest mortality rate of 100% for all the four stages of larvae. Negative and positive controls recorded 16% and 100% mortalities, respectively, after 24 h of exposure. The extract of Calotropis procera recorded LC50 values as follows: 0.194, 0.251, 0.258 and 0.284 mg/mL for L1, L2, L3 and L4, respectively. The LC90 of Calotropis procera were: 0.340, 0.433, 0.444 and 0.502 mg/mL for L1, L2, L3 and L4, respectively. In contrast, the extract of Albizia lebbeck recorded the following LC50: 0.238, 0.264, 0.290 and 0.316 mg/mL for L1, L2, L3 and L4, respectively. Also, its LC90 were: 0.456, 0.498, 0.531 and 0.580 mg/mL, respectively, to L1, L2, L3 and L4. Conclusion The larvicidal bioassays performed revealed that these plant extracts have significant larvicidal properties. In the framework of fighting against vector-borne diseases, these two plants constitute alternative products to control mosquitoes.

Anti-Diabetic Effect of Methanolic Extract of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth Leaf on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Albino Rats

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a debilitating metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia due to insufficient insulin or inability of insulin receptors to respond positively to circulating insulin. Prevalence of the disease is on the global increase annually with tendency to rise from 380 to over 592 million by 2035 in developing countries. Toxicity of some Orthodox drugs in use has led to searches for alternative sources for treatment and management of the disease. Aim: This work was aimed at investigating the effect of methanolic extract of Albizia lebbeck leaf on Alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic albino rats. Materials and Methods: Qualitative Phytochemical analysis of the plant extract was carried out in Biochemistry Division of National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. Forty female Wistar albino rats were used for the study, divided into five groups (A-E) in two replicates. Group A- negative control (non-induced, not treated) and group B- positive control (induced with Alloxan - 120mg/kg body weight (b.w), administered intra-peritoneally but not treated). Groups C- and D- induced and treated with 100 and 200mg/kg b.w extract respectively. Group E- non-induced but treated with 100mg/kg b.w of extract. Diabetes was established on day 3 after induction. Blood samples were collected through retro-orbital plexus into Fluoride oxalate bottles on days 0, 3, 5 and 9. Glucose was estimated by Glucose Oxidase method. Results/Conclusion: Phytochemical analysis of the extract showed the presence of saponins, tannins, steroids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenes. Glucose analysis results showed dose dependence and statistically significant reduction (p<0.05) in blood glucose from 3rd, 5th and 9th days post induction following treatment with Albizia lebbeck in group C- 14.5±3.5, 10.4±4.6 and 8.4±3.7; in group D- 14.0±4.7, 10.2±3.3 and 6.5±2.5; and in group E- 5.0±0.6, 3.7±0.5 and 3.5±0.5 respectively. We conclude that methanolic leaf extract of the plant Albezia lebbeck (L.) Benth, possesses anti-diabetic properties effective on both normal and Alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Roost-Tier Preference in Roost-Trees: A Case Study in the Bats Pteropus giganteus

The Indian flying foxes Pteropus giganteus are habituated to spend the day hours roosting in suitable roost trees. They are seen hanging here and there in a roost tree. It is not known whether they have preferred roost sites rather hanging spots in the concerned roost tree. To testify the said hypothesis we selected two roost trees, Albizia lebbeck and Tamarindus indica locating at distant places (75 km apart) in the arid zone of West Bengal, India during the period of last ten years. It is revealed that P. giganteus preferred branches of the roost tree which are locating in the mid-tier of tree. But depending upon the situations the less preferred sites are not spared as these sites are used by the late comers. Statistical tests following application of one-way ANOVA justified significant effect of the roost branch on the abundance of bat population (P<0.05), abundance of bats in the roost branches is highly correlated in respect to the study years (r=0.96) is also justified from the study of normality distribution plot, and the results of GLMM strongly support the hypothesis irrespective of the variables, that is branches of the roost tree and the year of observations (P = 0.0).