Journal of Natural Remedies

K. Mukherjee , S. Badami , A. M. Wahile , S. Rajan , B. Suresh

Abstract

Objective: Evaluation of tyrosinase inhibitory activity of spices. Materials and methods: Ten different spices considered as usual commodity in Indian food habits was screened for their inhibitory activity against tyrosinase. The mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity was determined by dopachrome method using L-DOPA as the substrate. Results: Amongst the spices tested four spices viz. Turmeric (Curcuma longa ), cumin (Cuminum cyminum), black pepper (Piper nigrum), pipal (Ficus religiosa) showed the specific inhibitory activity against tryrosinase above 50% and out of them turmeric showed maximum inhibition which can be further explored for the characterization of the phytoconstituents. Other spices showed potential inhibition of tyrosinase activity. Conclusion: This finding could lead to the design and discovery of new tyrosinase inhibitors from Indian spices.

Keywords

Tyrosinase Inhibitor, Alcohol Extract, Piper Nigrum, Ficus Religiosa, Myristica Fragrance, Nigella Sativa, Cinnamomum Tamala, Murraya Koenigii, Coriandrum Sativum, Cuminum Cyminum, Carum Carvi, Curcuma Longa

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V. Murugan , S. Gulhana , S. Badami , M. Ramanathan , B. Suresh

Abstract

Objective: To perform the androgenic and anti-androgenic activity of the total alkaloid fraction of Alangium salviifolium (Family: Alangiaceae). Materials and methods: The total alkaloid fraction of the methanolic extract of stem bark of Alangium salviifolium was used for the experiment. Immature male albino rats received orally a dose of 10 mg and 20 mg/kg body weight of the fraction for 7 days. The weight of the reproductive organs of the treated rats was measured on the eighth day of the treatment and histometric measurements were carried out. Results: A significant increase in the weight of testis, seminal vesicles, ventral prostate and epididymis was observed in the treated rats. Conclusion: The results suggest the androgenic behaviour of the total alkaloid fraction.

Keywords

Alangium salviifolium, Total Alkaloid Fraction, Androgenic Activity

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K. K. Chitra ¹, S. Babitha ¹, Sharanbasappa Durg ², B. S. Thippeswamy ¹, V. P. Veerapur ¹, S. Badami ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Pharmacology, Sree Siddaganga College of Pharmacy, Tumkur-572102, Karnataka, IN
2 Department of Pharmacology, Sree Siddaganga College of Pharmacy, Tumkur-572102, Karnataka Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore-560041, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Ipomoea reniformis Chaos is claimed in Indian traditional medical practice to be useful in the treatment of epilepsy and neurological disorders. In the present study, pretreatment effect of methanolic extract of Ipomoea reniformis on epilepsy and psychosis was evaluated in rodents using standard procedures. Besides evaluating epileptic and behavioral parameters, neurotransmitters such as Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) in epilepsy and in psychosis dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin contents in the rodent brain were estimated. The extract pretreatment reduced maximal electro shock; Isoniazid (INH) and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures and also significantly inhibited the attenuation of brain GABA levels by INH and PTZ in mice. These results suggested that the observed beneficial effect in epilepsy may be by enhancing the GABAergic system. The test drug also inhibited the apomorphine induced climbing and stereotyped behavior and showed significantly reduced levels of brain dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin which may be due to blocking of central dopaminergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic pathways or by enhancing the GABAergic system. The results obtained in present study suggest that the title plant possesses antiepileptic and antipsychotic activities in rodents.

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