The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) soluble fraction of methanol extracts of Perilla frutescens (P. frutescens) inhibits aldose reductase (AR), the key enzyme in the polyol pathway. Our investigation of inhibitory compounds from the EtOAc soluble fraction of P. frutescens was followed by identification of the inhibitory compounds by a combination of HPLC microfractionation and a 96-well enzyme assay. Thi...

Background: Steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are most commonly used to treat inflammation, and shown to have severe side effects. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory and acute toxicity effects of Baccharoides schimperi (DC.) in order to get new anti-inflammatory agents of natural origin. Materials and methods: The aerial part of the plant was dried und...

BACKGROUND Various parts of Pandanus foetidus Roxb. are used as traditional medicines. However, scientific reports concerning the effect of this plant on central nervous system (CNS) depression and analgesia are unavailable. This study investigated the CNS depressant and antinociceptive effects of Pandanus foetidus leaf extracts in a rodent model. METHODS The sedative and anxiolytic activitie...

Plants have been the source of several effective drugs for the treatment of cancer and over 60% of anticancer drugs originate from natural sources. Therefore, extracts of the rhizome of Smilax spinosa, an ethnomedicinal plant from Guatemala which is used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, were investigated regarding their anti-neoplastic activities. By using several solvents the meth...

Objective: Fascioliasis caused by Fasciola hepatica L. (Fasciolidae), a digenetic trematode, is a parasitic disease infecting many people worldwide. The present study was carried out to evaluate the molluscicidal and larvicidal activities of Capparis spinosa L. (Capparaceae) aerial parts against Galba truncatula Müll. (Lymnaeidae) and Fasciola hepatica larval stages contaminating this snail in ...

The antioxygenic activity of Solanum nigrum L. leaves and its various solvent extracts were evaluated using sunflower oil model system. Leaf powder and its methanol/water (80:20) soluble fraction showed strong antioxygenic activity in refined sunflower oil. On the other hand, ethyl acetate fraction exhibited marginal antioxygenic activity, whereas the water soluble fraction was practically devo...

We evaluated the effects of Rikkunshi-to and several of its ingredients on the delay of gastric emptying induced by a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). After oral administration of L-NNA to rats, the gastric emptying rate at 24 h was decreased from 82.8 +/- 2.4% to 53.3 +/- 5.7%. The decrease of the gastric emptying rate induced by L-NNA treatment was markedly...

We evaluated the effects of Rikkunshi-to and several of its ingredients on the delay of gastric emptying induced by a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine (LNNA). After oral administration of L-NNA to rats, the gastric emptying rate at 24 h was decreased from 82.8 ± 2.4% to 53.3 ± 5.7%. The decrease of the gastric emptying rate induced by L-NNA treatment was markedly amelior...

Zizyphus spina-christi (Rhamnaceae) grows wild in tropical Africa and Asia and can be domesticated. It has folkloric usage in pain related ailments throughout these regions. In view of the claimed therapeutic potentials, investigation of the plant’s root bark was initiated in our laboratory. The plant material was first sequentially extracted with hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and methanol, ...

Background and objectives: Heracleum persicum (Golpar)is a native medicinal plant of Iran which belongs to Apiaceae family. The fruits of the plant have been used as spice for flavoring. They have also showed carminative, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and cytotoxic properties. In this study, toxicity of different fractions ...