Moringa pterygosperma
The herb's anti-inflammatory activity was also tested and confirmed. Carrageenan (a standard inflammatory agent)-induced paw oedema in mice was significantly reduced after oral administration. Furthermore, its local anaesthetic activity was tested in frog and guinea pig models, and it was seen that in both animals, the plant (root bark) produces significant local anaesthetic activity.1
Tinospora cordifolia
Most of the classical properties of Tinospora credifolia; antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic etc. have been confirmed after experimental trials. The significant anti- inflammatory activity was observed against carrageenan, 5-HT, formaldehyde, and granuloma pouch and adjuvant arthritis in experimental animals. The anti- inflammatory activity of the plant resembles that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. The herb is also a morphine potentiator.
The bitter principle present shows antiperiodic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. Studies on induced oedema and arthritis and on human arthritis proved anti-inflammatory potency of the water extract of plant. It is also antipyretic in action. This drug relaxes the intestinal and uterine smooth muscles.
Boerhavia diffusa (Rakta punarnaba)
The juice of fresh leaves of Boerhavia diffusa L. markedly reduces pain in mice. The decoction or juice of leaves of Boerhavia diffusa L. is used in Martinican folk medicine for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Boerhavia diffusa stimulates cell-mediated immune response by upregulating IL-2 and downregulating the pro-inflammatory cytokines and GM-CSF in B16F-10 metastatic melanoma bearing mice.2
Effect of Boerhaavia diffusa extract on the Cell Mediated Immune (CMI) response in metastatic condition was studied using C57BL/6 mice model.
Manu KA, Kuttan G. J Exp Ther Oncol. 2008; 7(1):17-29.
Administration of Boerhaavia diffusa enhanced Natural Killer (NK) cell activity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent complement mediated cytotoxicity (ACC) and the activity was observed in treated group much earlier compared to the metastatic tumor bearing control. Production of the cytokine IL-2 was significantly enhanced by the administration of Boerhaavia diffusa compared to the untreated metastatic tumor bearing control. Levels of GM-CSF and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-a were significantly lowered by Boerhaavia diffusa administration compared to metastatic control. The gene expression level of IL-2, IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and GM-CSF in B16F-10 cells also correlate the above result. These results indicate Boerhaavia diffusa could enhance the immune response against metastatic progression of B16F-10 melanoma cells in mice.
Studies on the protective effects of Boerhaavia diffusa L. against gamma radiation induced damage in mice.
Manu KA, Leyon PV, Kuttan G. Integr Cancer Ther. 2007 Dec; 6(4):381-8.
The radioprotective effect of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa was studied using the in vivo mice model. The sublethally irradiated mice (600 rads, single dose) were treated intraperitoneally with 20 mg/kg of the extract. The animals were sacrificed at different time periods after the whole-body radiation. The most affected tissues—bone marrow and intestine—were considerably protected by the intraperitoneal administration of B. diffusa as estimated by bone marrow cellularity, maturing monocytes, and intestinal glutathione. Total white blood cell count was lowered drastically after radiation exposure (ninth day, 1500+/-500 cells/ mm(3)). When the animals were exposed to radiation and treated with B. diffusa, the total white blood cell count was lowered only to 4000+/-400 cells/mm(3) on the third day, and it reached an almost normal level (6250+/-470 cells/mm(3)) by the ninth day. The elevated level of serum and liver alkaline phosphatase after radiation exposure was reduced in the B. diffusa-treated group. The serum and liver glutamate pyruvate transferase, which were elevated after radiation exposure, were also reduced by treatment with B. diffusa compared to the control. The lipid peroxidation level also increased in the irradiated animals both in the liver and serum, but in B. diffusa-treated animals, there was a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation levels. The agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA isolated from bone marrow of mice exposed to gamma radiation showed heavy damage that was reduced by treatment with B. diffusa. These results are indicative of the radioprotective effect of the whole-plant extract of B. diffusa.
References
Bandana Medhi, H.N. Khanikor, L.C. Lahon, P. Mohan and C.C. Barua Pharmaceutical Biology 2003, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 248-252
Nayak P, M Thirunavoukkarasu M. J Phytopharmacology 2016; 5(2): 83-92
