Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Bombax ceiba flowers against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Aim:The flowers of Bombax ceiba are traditionally used as home remedy in the treatment of jaundice and spleen enlargement.The present work investigated the effect of aqueous extract of flowers of Bombax ceiba(BCAE)on experimentally induced hepatotoxicity in rats to substantiate its traditional use as hepatoprotective agent.Methods:Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride(CCl_(4))treatment;at the same time vehicle or BCAE(250 or 500 mg/kg)or silymarin(25 mg/kg)were administered daily orally for seven days.Hepatotoxicity was assessed by estimating the activities of marker enzymes and by histological studies.The antioxidant effect of BCAE was assessed by measuring amount of antioxidant phytochemicals(total phenolics and flavonoids),and DPPH free radical scavenging assay of the extract.Results:BCAE treatment significantly prevented the CCl_(4)-induced elevations in levels of glutamate oxaloacatate transaminase,glutamic pyruvic transaminase,alkaline phosphatase,bilirubin,and triglycerides,and decreased the total protein levels.Treatment with BCAE attenuated the CCl_(4)-induced cytotoxic damage to liver.BCAE exhibited presence of antioxidant phytochemicals and showed scavanging action on DPPH radicals.The hepatoprotective effect of BCAE was comparable to that of the standard antioxidant hepatoprotective agent,silymarin.These findings indicated that BCAE showed hepatoprotective effect against CCl_(4)-induced hepatotoxicity and exhibited in vitro antioxidant effects.Conclusion:Bombax ceiba flowers exhibited hepatoprotective effect which may be attributed to antioxidant potential.This study also validated their traditional medicinal use in liver disorders.

Cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity of kanchnar guggulu,an Ayurvedic formulation

Objective： Kanchnar guggulu is a compound Ayurvedic formulation used in clinical practice for the treat- ment of benign and malignant tumors. The present study investigates its cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities.Methods： The hydro-alcoholic （50%） extract of kanchnar guggulu was prepared. Its antimitotic activity was assessed in an Allium cepa assay, while its antiproliferative effects were studied in a yeast prolifer- ation model. Methotrexate was used as a standard anticancer agent.Results： In the Allium assay, all concentrations of the extract （1, 2 and 3 mg/mL） and methotrexate （0.02 mg/mL） significantly inhibited the division ofA. cepa root cells, decreasing root growth and mitotic index compared to control; this effect was concentration-dependent for kanchnar guggulu extract. In the antiproliferative studies, treatment with the hydro-alcoholic extract of kanchnar guggulu （1, 5 and 10 mg/mL） and methotrexate （0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL） resulted in marked reduction of dividing Saccharornyces cerevisiae cells and inhibition of cell viability compared to control. The cytotoxicity of the hydro-alcoholic extract of kanchnar guggulu, shown by its antimitotic and antiproliferative effects, may be due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolics.Conclusion： Kanchnar guggulu exhibited a cytotoxic effect by inhibiting cell division （antimitotic） and reducing cell proliferation. These results substantiate its potential for the treatment of cancer and support its traditional use in the treatment of cancer.