In Vitro Cholinomimetic Effect of Loranthus Ferrugineus in Isolated Guinea Pig Ileum

Omar Ziad Ameer,Ibrahim M. Salman,Mohammad Jamshed Ahmad Siddiqui,Mun Fei Yam,Raghava Naidu Sriramaneni,Amirin Sadikun,Zhari Ismail,Amin Malik Shah,Mohd. Zaini Asmawi 사단법인약침학회 2009 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.2 No.4

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism(s) of the spasmogenic action of Loranthus ferrugineus in isolated guinea pig ileum. Thus the contractile responses of guinea pig ileum to graded additions of either L. ferrugineus methanol extract or its n-butanol fraction were tested in the presence and absence of various pharmacological interventions. The data showed that L. ferrugineus methanol extract and the n-butanol fraction produced a concentration-dependent spasmogenic effect in isolated guinea pig ileum segments. These effects were significantly inhibited in the presence of 1 μM atropine. In contrast, the response to the lowest concentrations of L. ferrugineus methanol extract (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/mL) and n-butanol fraction of L. ferrugineus (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/mL) were considerably enhanced in the presence of 0.05 μM neostigmine. Neither L. ferrugineus methanol extract nor n-butanol fraction contractile responses were affected upon the incubation of the ileal segments with 100 μM hexamethonium. The results of this study show that the spasmogenic effect of L. ferrugineus is possibly mediated through a direct action on intestinal muscarinic receptors. It is suggested that the bioactive constituents of L. ferrugineus serve as a substrate for acetylcholinesterase. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism(s) of the spasmogenic action of Loranthus ferrugineus in isolated guinea pig ileum. Thus the contractile responses of guinea pig ileum to graded additions of either L. ferrugineus methanol extract or its n-butanol fraction were tested in the presence and absence of various pharmacological interventions. The data showed that L. ferrugineus methanol extract and the n-butanol fraction produced a concentration-dependent spasmogenic effect in isolated guinea pig ileum segments. These effects were significantly inhibited in the presence of 1 μM atropine. In contrast, the response to the lowest concentrations of L. ferrugineus methanol extract (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/mL) and n-butanol fraction of L. ferrugineus (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/mL) were considerably enhanced in the presence of 0.05 μM neostigmine. Neither L. ferrugineus methanol extract nor n-butanol fraction contractile responses were affected upon the incubation of the ileal segments with 100 μM hexamethonium. The results of this study show that the spasmogenic effect of L. ferrugineus is possibly mediated through a direct action on intestinal muscarinic receptors. It is suggested that the bioactive constituents of L. ferrugineus serve as a substrate for acetylcholinesterase.

Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects of Elephantopus tomentosus Ethanolic Extract

Mun Fei Yam,Lee Fung Ang,Omar Ziad Ameer,Ibrahim Muhammad Salman,Hesham Abdul Aziz,Mohd. Zaini Asmawi 사단법인약침학회 2009 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.2 No.4

Elephantopus tomentosus is widely used in Asia, especially in Malaysia, for the treatment of pain and inflammation. In the present study, the analgesic and antiinflammatory effects of a 95% ethanol extract of E. tomentosus were investigated in different experimental models. In the anti-inflammation study, 1000 mg/kg of extract significantly reduced carrageenan-induced hind paw edema (p < 0.05) and inhibited abdominal permeability compared with control (p < 0.01). The analgesic activity was assayed in several experimental models in mice: (1) hot plate, (2) tail flick, (3) writhing test; and rats: carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia pain threshold test. However, at the doses tested, no significant activity was found in the hot plate test and the tail flick test. E. tomentosus ethanol extract at 1000 mg/kg significantly (p < 0.05) increased hyperalgesia pain threshold and inhibited writhing activity. The results suggest that E. tomentosus ethanol extract at 1000 mg/kg dose is effective in anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug type anti-nociception activities. Elephantopus tomentosus is widely used in Asia, especially in Malaysia, for the treatment of pain and inflammation. In the present study, the analgesic and antiinflammatory effects of a 95% ethanol extract of E. tomentosus were investigated in different experimental models. In the anti-inflammation study, 1000 mg/kg of extract significantly reduced carrageenan-induced hind paw edema (p < 0.05) and inhibited abdominal permeability compared with control (p < 0.01). The analgesic activity was assayed in several experimental models in mice: (1) hot plate, (2) tail flick, (3) writhing test; and rats: carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia pain threshold test. However, at the doses tested, no significant activity was found in the hot plate test and the tail flick test. E. tomentosus ethanol extract at 1000 mg/kg significantly (p < 0.05) increased hyperalgesia pain threshold and inhibited writhing activity. The results suggest that E. tomentosus ethanol extract at 1000 mg/kg dose is effective in anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug type anti-nociception activities.

Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Effects of Murdannia bracteata Methanol Extract

Mun Fei Yam,Lee Fung Ang,Chung Pin Lim,Omar Ziad Ameer,Ibrahim Muhammad Salman,Mahfoudh Al-musli Mohammed,Mohd. Zaini Asmawi,Muthanna Fawzy Abdulkarim,Ghassan Zuhair Abdullah,Mariam Ahmad 사단법인약침학회 2010 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.3 No.3

Murdannia bracteata (C. B. Clarke) is a local plant that is widely used in Malaysia as a traditional remedy for various diseases of the kidney and liver, including inflammation and cancer. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of M. bracteata methanol extract (MB). 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, lipid peroxidation inhibition and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity of MB were determined. The hepatoprotective activity of MB was studied using a CCl4-induced liver toxicity model in rats. The hepatoprotective effect was assessed by monitoring the plasma malondialdehyde level and serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities. Histopathological changes of hepatic tissue were also investigated. The results indicated that MB possessed potential antioxidant, lipid peroxidation inhibition and free radical scavenging activities. Pretreatment of rats with MB (500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg per os) before induction of CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity showed a dosedependent reduction in the necrotic changes in hepatic tissue. The increases in plasma malondialdehyde level, serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities were also significantly inhibited by MB. The total phenolic content of MB determined using Folin-Ciocalteu assay was found to be 10%. The results of the present study indicated that the hepatoprotective effect of MB is most likely due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties.

Orthosiphon stamineus Leaf Extract Protects Against Ethanol-Induced Gastropathy in Rats

Mun Fei Yam,Lee Fung Ang,Ibrahim Muhammad Salman,Omar Ziad Ameer,Vuanghao Lim,Lai Man Ong,Mariam Ahmad,Mohd. Zaini Asmawil,Rusliza Basir 한국식품영양과학회 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.5

Orthosiphon stamineus Benth., which is used as a gastroprotective herbal remedy in Malaysia, was assessed for its anti-ulcerogenic activity against ethanol-induced ulcers in rats. Fifty percent methanol was used to extract the oven-dried O. stamineus leaves. The extract was then lyophilized with a rotary evaporator and freeze-dried. Oral administration of O. stamineus methanolic extract (OSME) (125, 250, 500, and 1,000mg/kg) was found to significantly decrease the ulcer index (P<.01, P<.001, P<.001, and P<.001, respectively). Histological study of a section of the rat stomach also showed a marked improvement in the gastric mucosal damage in groups receiving OSME. In order to further investigate the gastroprotective mechanism of OSME, mucus secretion and lipid peroxidation level were estimated in vitro and ex vivo. OSME exhibited dose-dependent stimulation of mucus secretion (r=0.718, P<.001) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in rat gastric mucosal homogenates (both in vitro [r=0.819, P<.05] and ex vivo [r=0.981, P<.05]). It was concluded that the gastroprotective mechanism of OSME was partly due to its ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation and stimulate gastric mucus secretion.