Plasma Calcium and Phosphorus In Weanling Pigs as Influenced by Dietary Calcium: Phoshporus Ratio and Cestrum Diurnum Ingestion

Twenty Yorkshire piglets weaned at approximately 4 weeks of age, were used in this study to investigate the variations in plasma calcium and phosphorus as influenced by dietary calcium and phosphorus and 3 Cestrum diurnum. In the CCD and TCD pigs, hypercalcemia developed rapidly and persisted following the feeding of 3% C. diurnum. While hypophosphatemia occurred in the CCD pigs, there was an initial and transient hyperphosphatemia with subsequent and terminal hypophosphatemia in the TCD pigs The hypercalcemia induced by the ingestion of 5% C. diurnum in the CCD and TCD pigs is attributed to increased intestinal absorption of calcium and not to bore resorption. The initial hyperphosphatemic response in TCD pigs is also believed to be due to increase absorption of phosphorus from the high phosphorus diet.

PLASMA ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE VALUES IN WEANLING PIGS AS INFLUENCED BY DIETARY CALCIUM : PHOSPHORUS RATIO AND CESTRUM DIURNUM INGESTION

Twenty Yorkshire piglets, weaned at approximately 4 weeks of age were used in this study designed to study the variation in the plasma alkaline phosphatase levels as influenced by dietary calcium and phosphorus and 3% Cestrum diurnum ingestion. Plasma alkaline phosphatase values decreased significantly in the pigs fed either normal calcium: phosphorus or low calcium: high phosphorus diets supplemented with 3% C. diurnum. The decrease in the enzyme values was attributed to the observed histological lesion of retarded osteocytic osteolysis and chondrolysis due to the direct toxic action of C. diurnum factor(s) on resorbing osteocytes.

Anti-inflammatory and NF-κB inhibitory activity of aerial parts of Cestrum diurnum

Background Cestrum diurnum L. (Solanaceae) is used in various traditional medicine for pain and related disorders. The Malayali tribe of Tamil Nadu in India use the leaf in joint pain. In the Chinese traditional medicine it is used for the treatment of burns and swellings. Present study was designed to evaluate its traditional use in pain and inflammation. Methods Methanol extract of the aerial parts of C. diurnum was tested by carrageenan induced paw oedema and formalin induced paw licking test in mice at the oral doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight. NF-κB inhibitory activity was evaluated by TNF-α induced NF-κB activation assay in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells at the concentration of 100 µg/ml. Results The extract, at the doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg, showed significant inhibition (p < 0.05) of carrageenan induced paw oedema and the effect persisted throughout the entire experimental period of 3 h with the highest activity (50% inhibition) at 3rd h. In formalin induced paw licking test, the extract exhibited significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of paw licking, both in the early and late phase of the experiment at the aforementioned dose levels. At the concentration of 100 µg/ml, the extract did not inhibit the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Rather, the extract was found to downregulate NF-κB p65 protein expression. Conclusions The present work supports the folkloric use of the plant for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory action which might involve downregulation of NF-κB p65 protein expression and/or inhibition of autacoid (histamine, serotonin, prostaglandin) synthesis.