Background:Ambrex is a polyherbal formulation which consists of Withania somnifera, Orchis mascula, Cycas circirnalis, Shorea robusta with amber.Objective:The present study was designed to explore the potential effects of ambrex on the antioxidant status in high fat diet fed rats and to investigate the possible mechanisms focusing on the gene expression involved in adipogenesis and inflammation in 3T3-L1 cell line.Materials and Methods:Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 6); Group A received normal diet, Group B received high fat diet for 30 days, Group C and D received high fat diet for 30 days and treated with ambrex (40 mg/kg b.w) and atorvastatin (10 mg/kg b.w) for successive 15 days respectively. This study also assesses the effect of ambrex on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.Results:The serum total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly decreased in ambrex treated hyperlipidemic animals when compared to untreated animals. The activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione were significantly augmented in the serum, liver, and heart of hyperlipidemic rats treated with ambrex when compared to control. Ambrex treated rats had significant reductions in malondiadehyde levels in the serum, liver and heart compared to untreated rats. In addition, we observed that treatment with ambrex resulted in a major inhibition of pre-adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells in vitro by suppression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma, sterol regulatory binding proteins, tumor necrosis factor-α, inducible nitricoxide synthase, leptin, and upregulation of thioredoxin 1 (TRX1) and TRX2 mRNA expression.Conclusion:Therefore, ambrex may be a potential drug for treatment of hyperlipidemia and related disorders.

The present study planned to study the combined effect of Bromelain and Turmeric in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in Wistar rats. Methodology: Wistar rats of either sex (n = 30) were divided into 5 groups. Group -I, Sham control, administered a single dose of vehicle rectally; Group -II, colitis control, colitis was induced by rectal administration of a single dose of 2 ml of 3%, v/v of acetic acid in 0.9% saline; Group-III, treated with Turmeric (50 mg/kg/p.o); Group-IV, treated with Bromelain (100 mg/kg/p.o) and Group -V, treated with both Turmeric (50 mg/kg/p.o) and Bromelain (100 mg /kg/p.o). Colitis was induced in all the treatment groups on the first day and drug treatment was continued for 7 days. During the treatment period, Disease Activity Index (DAI) was assessed daily and on the 8 th day White Blood Cell (WBC) Count and Differential Leucocyte Count (DLC) was performed and on the 9 th day, all the rats were sacrificed for the assessment of intestinal inflammation, colon myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels and, Histopathology. Results obtained were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test. Results: Overall changes in DAI, Inflammatory scores, WBC, DLC and, MPO have shown significant improvement with Turmeric and Bromelain compared to Colitis control. However, the combined therapy has shown to be more effective in alleviating ulcerative colitis compared to individual therapies. Conclusion: The present study recommends that the combination of Turmeric and Bromelain has a synergistic effect in treating ulcerative colitis.