The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the protective effect of a 70% methanolic leaf extract of Cyclea peltata Lam on cisplatin-induced renal toxicity. The concentration of creatinine, urea, sodium, and potassium in serum and levels of malonyldyaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), as well as gluathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were determined in kidney tissue. The marked cisplatin-induced renal damage, characterized by a significant increase in creatinine and urea levels, decreased in extract-treated group, whereas sodium and potassium levels did not change significantly. C. peltata Lam extract significantly changed the increased MDA level and decreased GSH levels found in rats treated with cisplatin alone. The reduced activities of GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT in groups treated with cisplatin alone were significantly increased by the extract. The protective effect was greater in the post-treated than in the pre-treated group of animals. The results indicate that the post-treatment of C. peltata Lam extract might effectively ameliorate the oxidative stress parameters observed in cisplatin induced renal toxicity and could be used as a natural antioxidant against cisplatin-induced oxidative stress.

The biological effects of the anthraquinone fraction (AQf) isolated from in vitro cultures of Ophiorrhiza rugosa Wall. var decumbens (Rubiaceae) were evaluated. AQf showed differential activity on reactive oxygen species; it mediated the generation of superoxide radical and inhibited hydroxyl radical and lipid peroxidation. No considerable nitric oxide scavenging activity was observed for AQf. The AQf induced 50% cytotoxicity in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and Dalton's lymphoma ascites at concentrations of 130 and 60 µg/mL, respectively. It effectively reduced the inflammation induced by carrageenan in mice. An AQf concentration of 200 mg/kg body weight reduced solid tumor progression in mice. It also prolonged the life span of ascites tumor-bearing mice compared with control mice.

Pseudarthria viscida is the preferred source of the raw drug Salaparni in Ayurvedic system of medicine, especially in the preparation of Dasamoolarishtam. Due to its scarcity, other trifoliate leguminous plants, particularly the species of Desmodium and Uraria are used as substitutes. The phytochemical and biological properties of these plants were analyzed to sort out the genuineness of the substitutes. Qualitative as well as quantitative chemical profiles obtained for P. viscida showed similarity to U. rufescens. In vitro antioxidant and in vivo gastroprotective assays carried out to determine the biological properties of the extracts revealed that the acetone extract of P. viscida inhibited the formation of hydroxyl, superoxide, nitric oxide radicals, and lipid peroxidation. The oral administration of P. viscida extract significantly reduced ethanol-induced gastric ulceration in mice. Even though more or less the same chemical profile was obtained for P. viscida and U. rufescens, only P. viscida exhibited significant biological properties.

Justicia gendarussa Burm.f, belonging to the family Acanthaceae, is widely used for various ailments traditionally. Antioxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticancerous, properties of the plant have been widely reported. The present study analyzed the cardioprotective effect of J. gendarussa on doxorubicin (DOX) induced toxicity in mice. Ethanolic extract of J. gendarussa was administered orally for 7 consecutive days. The alterations in oxido-reduction status, biochemical and histopathological parameters were analyzed in heart tissue. DOX increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities to 3.4 ± 0.5 and 3.68 ± 1 from their normal values 2.43 ± 0.8 and 2.72 ± 0.88, respectively. The increased activities of both the enzymes were found reduced to 3.12 ± 0.24 and 3.41 ± 0.65 by the treatment of the extract. Similarly, DOX elevated glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity to 44.6 ± 3.71 from the normal level 32.33 ± 3.41. DOX decreased the glutathione (GSH) level to 15.66 ± 2.51 from the normal values 31.66 ± 4.05. Upon treatment, GPx activity and GHS level found restored. The increased lipid peroxidation 2.53 ± 0.25 of DOX was also decreased to 2.0 ± 0.34 by the extract. Histopathology observations substantiate the protective effect of J. gendarussa extract. In conclusion, DOX-induced disturbance of oxido-reduction status and histopathology of heart attenuated closer to the normal indicating the protective effect of J. gendarussa against DOX-induced toxicity in cardiomyocytes.