Protective Effect of Bergapten against Human Erythrocyte Hemolysis and Protein Denaturation In Vitro

Bergapten, a furocoumarin found in many medicinal plants, is used for the management of various conditions. The present in vitro study evaluated the ability of bergapten to prevent human erythrocyte hemolysis and protein denaturation. Bergapten administered at 10, 30, and 100 μg/ml exhibited a significant concentration-dependent protection on the erythrocyte membrane exposed to hypotonicity and heat-induced hemolysis. The concentration at which bergapten inhibited 50% of the cells from hemolysis (IC50) was determined on a dose-response curve, plotted as logarithmic (concentration) against percentage inhibition, keeping the hemolysis produced within the control group at 100%. Bergapten treatment produced an IC50 value of 7.71 ± 0.27 μg/ml and 4.23 ± 0.42 μg/ml for hypotonicity and heat-induced hemolysis, respectively. Diclofenac sodium at similar concentrations produced an IC50 value of 12.22 ± 0.30 μg/ml and 9.44 ± 0.23 μg/ml in the hypotonicity and heat-induced hemolysis, respectively. The ability of bergapten to inhibit protein denaturation was studied as part of an investigation on its mechanism of action. The results showed a significant concentration-dependent reduction in protein denaturation. When administered at 10, 30, and 100 μg/ml, bergapten produced a concentration-dependent reduction in albumin denaturation. Bergapten inhibited protein denaturation with IC50 values of 5.34 ± 0.30 μg/ml and 12.18 ± 0.20 μg/ml in the heat-treated egg albumin and bovine serum albumin denaturation experiments, respectively. Diclofenac sodium (10, 30, and 100 μg/ml) exhibited a similar protection against heat-treated egg albumin and bovine serum albumin denaturation experiments with IC50 values of 8.93 ± 0.17 μg/ml and 12.72 ± 0.11 μg/ml, respectively. Taken together, data from this study show that the pharmacological properties of bergapten may in part be related to its membrane-stabilizing and antidenaturation properties.

Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Evaluation of Parinari curatellifolia Methanol Leaf Extract on Albino Rats

Aim: This research was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Parinari curatellifolia methanol leaf extract in albino rats. Methodology: Phytochemical screening was carried out using standard methods. Anti-inflammatory activity of the extract was done using egg albumin and formalin induced hind paw edema model. Analgesic effect was evaluated using hot plate induced pain and acetic acid induced writhing test. For each model twenty (20) rats were used, divided into five (5) groups of four (4) rats each. Results: Parinari curatellifolia revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and phenols while steroids, anthraquinone, terpenoids and glycoside were not detected. For the egg albumin induced inflammation, the group treated with the standard drug (indomethacin) and the group that received the highest dose of the extract were significantly lower (P<0.05) than all the other groups with percentage inhibitions at 25.56% and 24.44% respectively there was no significant difference (P>0.05). For the formalin induced anti-inflammatory activity, at the 1st hour, the normal control group had its paw volume significantly different (P<0.05) from the treated groups. This trend was observed at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th hour. The hot plate method results revealed significant increased (P<0.05) in the analgesic activity of PCMLE at 400mg/kg body weight and the drug treated group when the control was compared with the treated groups with percentage inhibition of 34.32% and 52.94% respectively. The acetic acid induced writhing test revealed that the extract at the three doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, showed a significant (P<0.05) percentage inhibition of 32.31%, 36.92% and 47.69%, respectively compared to negative control. Conclusion: This justifies the use of Parinari curatellifolia locally in the management of pain and inflammation.

Evaluation of Antiasthamic Activity of Electrohomeopathy Formulation Pettorale on Experimental Animals

Objective: The current study was planned to evaluate the antiasthamatic effect of Electrohomeopathic medicine Pettorale in various experimental models. Methods: The antiasthmatic activity of Electrohomeopathic medicine Pettorale was studied on different experimental animals like histamine induced bronchospasm in guinea pig, haloperidol induced catalepsy in rats, egg albumin induced paw anaphylaxis in rats and milk induced leukocytosis in mice. Conclusion: Preliminary phytochemical screening has revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, steroids and terpenoids. Petorella exhibited best antihistaminic activity at the dose of 400 mg/kg. It inhibited haloperidol-induced catalepsy, increased leukocyte count and increased eosinophil count due to milk allergen. Antiasthmatic activity of Pettorale may be possible due to the membrane stabilising potential, suppression of antibody production and inhibition of antigen induced histamine release. Keywords: Electrohomeopathy, Pettorale, catalepsy, asthma, histamine

Effect of Adding Chia Seeds (Salvia L.) to Japanese Quail Diet on Productive Performance and Egg Quality

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of adding chia (Salvia hispanica) to Japanese quail diet on productive performance and egg quality. A total of 240 female were randomly distributed into four treatments with three replicates per each (10 bird/replicate). The experimental treatments were as follows: T1 control (without any addition), T2.T3 and T4 involved adding 4,8 and 12 g chia seeds/kg diet respectively. Results showed a significant increasing in egg production% in T4 at most of experimental weeks, moreover, egg mass was increased in all addition treatments. Feed consumption was significantly increased in T4 at 4th,5th, and 8th weeks, from other hand, T2 showed a significant improve in feed conversion ratio. With the progress in age, a significant increase was found in egg albumin and yolk height in T4. We can conclude from this study that adding chia seeds to Japanese quail female diet could increase egg production and feed consumption with the progress in age especially with the rate12g/kg diet.

Screening of wound healing effect of Elaeis guineensis Oil, extract of Vernonia amygdalina mixed with dried egg albumin on burn wound inflicted guinea pig

Combined action of Vernonia amygdalinaone of the herbs belonging to the family Asteraceae and other pharmacognostic raw materials has been used in traditional medicine for ages. It produces quick therapeutic results in the treatment of various conditions and diseases such as malaria, diabetes, inflammation, hypertension to mention but few. Aim: This work is the“screening of wound healing effect of Elaeis guineensis oil, extract of vernonia amygdalina, mixed with egg albumin on burn wound inflicted guinea pig”. Method: Five male guinea pigs were used for the study. Burn injury was inflicted on the anaesthetized guinea pigs using hot metallic knife. The extract at different doses (low, medium and high conc.) was applied on the injury for subject A – C respectively, subject D (Negative control) was cleaned with only Normal saline and Dermazin cream (Positive control) was applied on the injury for subject E. Result: The measurement of wound contraction and epithelialization were observed and results were recorded after 7days, 14days and 21days respectively. There was initial increase in burn wound surface area in the guinea pig used as negative control before the wound contraction and epithelilization reduced a bit. There was rapid reduction in the wound size of the guinea pig treated with the medium concentration of the extract and the dermazin cream (positive control), although the dermazin healed neatly, the medium concentration of the extract healed faster. The results obtained encourage the use of the mixture of v. amygdalina, palmoil and egg albumin in wound healing.

Inhibition of phospholipase A2, platelet aggregation and egg albumin induced rat paw oedema as anti-inflammatory effect of Peltophorun pterocarpus stem-bark

Background Most medicinal plants presently employed in traditional medicine are used without scientific evidence, thereby suggesting a need to explore efficient and reliable investigations of their potential. We, therefore, conducted the present study to ascertain the efficacy of flavonoid-rich extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum sterm-bark in the treatment and management of inflammatory disorders as employed in folk medicine. Materials and methods Flavonoid-rich extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum sterm-bark and a total of fifty-five (55) Wistar rats were used for this study. Eighteen (18) mice were used for toxicity testing, and the phytochemical analysis was done using the Trease and Evans method, while the acute toxicity was done using Lorke’s method. In vivo anti-inflammatory study was done using the egg albumin-induced paw oedema method, while the in vitro anti-inflammatory studies were performed for the extract using phospholipase A2 inhibition and calcium chloride-induced platelet aggregation assays. Results The phytochemical analysis revealed that the extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum sterm-bark contains tannins, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, and saponins ranging from 0.307 ± 0.02 to 1279.567 ± 149.868. The acute toxicity test of the extract showed no toxicity up to 5000 mg/kg body weight. In the systemic oedema of the rat paw, scalar doses of the extract significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed the development of paw oedema induced by egg albumin, particularly with the Indomethacin (1.77 ± 0.41) when compared with the control (5.50 ± 0.26). However, varying doses of the extract significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited phospholipase A2 activity and CaCl2-Induced platelet aggregation in a concentration, dose, and time-dependent manner, in comparison to prednisolone. Conclusion These results indicate that the extract exhibited anti-inflammatory potential, and the mechanism of this activity has a promising ability to inhibit phospholipase A2 activity and platelet aggregation in rats inflicted with paw oedema.

Effect of Addition of Chokeberry Juice Concentrate and Foaming Agent on the Physical Properties of Agar Gel

This study aimed to determine the effect of the addition of chokeberry juice concentrate (CJC) and foaming agent (egg albumin) with different percentages on the selected physical properties of agar gel. The agar gels with the addition of 5, 10, and 20% concentrations of chokeberry juice concentrate and with fructose addition were prepared. In addition, the foamed gels with different concentrations of egg albumin (in the range 0.5–2.0%) and CJC were produced. The water content, colour, density, hold-up and some mechanical and TPA (Texture Profile Analysis) descriptors as well some structural and acoustic emission parameters of non-aerated and foamed gels were analysed. The addition of CJC changed the colour of agar gel with fructose, the attractive appearance of the aerated gel was also linked with the addition of concentrate. The addition of 20% of CJC and foaming agent created samples with very low hardness, cohesiveness, and gumminess, and the structure of the aerated samples was characterised by the larger bubble diameter and the wider distribution of their size. The more promising texture and structure properties were obtained for samples with aerated gels with 5 and 10% addition of chokeberry juice concentrate.

Optimization of foaming process: drying behaviour, physicochemical, and powder properties of hot air-assisted foam-mat dried nectarine

Nectarine powder is widely used in the industries of baking and confectionery. The production of nectarine powder can be made by several drying techniques such as spray, tray, drum, freeze, and foam mat. This study was aimed to optimize the parameters of the nectarine foaming process. Besides, hot air-assisted foam-mat drying of nectarine was carried out to evaluate the effect of different temperatures (50, 60, and 70 °C) on drying kinetics, physicochemical and powder properties of nectarine powder. Factors studied were egg albumin concentration, carboxymethyl cellulose concentration, and whipping time that varied between 10 and 30% (by weight), 0.2–0.8% (by weight), and 3–5 min, respectively. Optimum conditions were determined as 30% of egg albumin, 0.8% carboxymethyl cellulose, and a whipping time of 5 min to get maximum foam expansion, high foam stability, and minimum foam density. The drying rate and effective moisture diffusivity of nectarine foam powder increased with increasing drying temperature. Carr Index and Hauser Ratio values were in the range of 32.31–47.00 and 1.48–2.00, respectively. Foamed nectarine powder dried at 70 °C had the lowest hygroscopicity value and the highest wettability value. No significant difference was found between the powders’ porosity (p > 0.05). The powders produced at 50 °C resulted in higher total phenolic, vitamin C, and carotenoid content.