Achillea fragrantissima,rich in flavonoids and tannins,potentiates the activity of diminazine aceturate against Trypanosoma evansi in rats

Objective:To evaluate activity of methanol extract of Achillea fragrantissima(meth)(A.fragrantissima) alone or in combination with diminazine aceturate(DA) against Trypanosoma evansi in experimentally infected rats.Methods:Sixty adult male Wister albino rats were divided equally into 6 groups(A-F).Rats in groups A-E were experimentally infected with T.evansi and those in group F were uninfected.The groups were treated respectively as follows:group A- with 3.5 mg/kg DA;group B- with 1 000 mg/kg meth,A.fragrantissima;group C-3.5mg/kg DA plus 500 mg/kg meth A.fragrantissima;group D-3.5 mg/kg DA plus 1 000 mg/kg meth A.fragrantissima.Group E was left untreated.Parasitaemia,survivability,packed cell volume,hemoglobin concentration,total leucocytes count,lymphocyte count,and serum malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione(GSH) levels were estimated.Phytochemical screening of meth A.fragrantissima was also performed.Results:The phytochemical analysis of the meth A.fragrantissima indicated a higher content from polyphenols tannins and non tannins and flavonoids.The efficacy percentage against trypanosomiasis in groups A to E was respectively as follows 80,40,90.100,0.The administration of meth-A.fragrantissima(1000)mg/kg b.wt.) produced a moderate efficacy against trypanosomiasis.Untreated rats in group E died between 25 and 30 d post infection.The rats given DA and meth A.fragrantissima combinations(C and D) showed faster and higher recovery rates than the uninfected control and groups A and B.The initial reduction in packed cell volume,hemoglobin,total leucocytes count,increases in serum malondialdehyde and decreases in GSH levels were reversed by the treatments.C onclusions:The administration of the methanol extracts of A.fragrantissima and DA combination therapy was more effective than each product alone in the treatment of rats infected with Trypanosoma evansi and further studies are required to isolate more active ingredients.

Biological activities of the hydro-alcoholic and aqueous extracts of <i>Achillea fragrantissima</i>(Forssk.) grown in Jordan

Aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts of Achillea fragrantissima L. (Asteraceae) grown in Jordan were screened for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiplatelet, anti-proliferative and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition efficacy. Total phenols and flavonoids were determined colorimetrically. The radical scavenging activities were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity assays. High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLCMS) analysis resulted in the identification of 7 phenolic compounds in the hydro-alcoholic extract and 4 compounds in the aqueous extract;quercetin 3-β-D-glucoside was the main component for both extracts. Antimicrobial activities were determined by antimicrobial susceptibility testing such as agar well-diffusion method, minimum inhibition concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration. Gram positive bacteria showed sensitivity to hydro-alcoholic extract in the agar-well diffusion test. No significant activity was observed against gram negative bacteria and Candida albicans. Hydro-alcoholic extract had a bactericidal activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Bacillus cereus at high concentrations (MIC 12.5 mg/ml) rather than inhibitory effect. In vitro antiplatelet activity was tested on human whole blood using an electrical impedance method. At concentrations (50, 100, and 200 μg/ml), no effect on platelet aggregation was noticed. Anti-proliferative activity was investigated using the MTT assay. At concentrations up to 200 μg/ml, extracts did not possess cytotoxic activity against the MCF-7 cells. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory capacity of A. fragrantissima extracts was tested using TLC assay method, and neither aqueous, nor hydroalcoholic extracts showed AChE inhibition. The present investigation supported the traditional use of A. fragrantissima in the Jordanian folk medicine as an antimicrobial active representative of the genus Achillea. A. fragrantissima extracts should be further studied for their potential use in preventing/treating diseases in which oxidative stress is a part of the pathophysiology.

Anti-inflammatory and Chemical Composition of Two Plants Family Asteraceae Growing in Saudi Arabia

The study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and composition of essential oil of two plant family Asteraceae, Achillea fragrantissima and Lactuca serriola growing under dry desert condition. The anti-inflammatory effect of volatile oil extracted by hydrodistillation of plants was studied using carrageenan induced paw edema. Essential oil （100 mg/kg） and （200 mg/kg） were tested the two plant show high inhibition after 4 h, concentration （200 mg/kg） show high inhibition than （100 mg/kg） after 4 h. Sesqui sabinene hydrate, Azuline and u-Bisabolol are the main constituents of the volatile oil were investigated by capillary GC （gas chromatography） and GC-MS （gas chromatography-mass spectrometry）. The discussion shows the role of chemical compound azulene in inflammatory inhibition.