Objectives: The present study was carried out to evaluate the hydroalcoholic extract of Mucuna pruriens (HAMP) seeds for its acute oral toxicity in albino rats. Methods: Acute oral toxicity of MP seed extract was assessed in albino rats with three different doses of the extract with 175, 550, and 2000 mg/ kg body weight. Body weight, mortality, and clinical signs were recorded on 0 (before administration), 7th, and 14th days. Rats were sacrificed after day 14 and observed for any histological changes in the brain, heart, liver, and kidney tissues. Rats were normal up to 1 h and exhibited dullness and piloerection after 1 h which continued up to 2–4 h of observation period on day 0 of administration. All animals appeared normal from day 1 to throughout the experimental procedure. Results: No significant changes in the histological structure of the liver, kidney, and heart were noticed except mild congestion and hydropic changes only in liver tissue seen for 2000 mg/kg body weight of HAMP seeds. The seed extract of MP is non-toxic to rats and did not show any mortality nor the behavioral changes. In addition, it showed an increase in the body weight with the administration up to 2000 mg/kg body weight. Conclusion: MP seed extract signified as neurosuppressant, and the drug can be used in the treatment of neurological disorders characterized by hyperactivity of the neurons. The present data could provide adequate confirmation of the safety of MP for further experimental studies on a standardized formulation of the seeds extract.

Objective The present study was performed to evaluate the ethanolic extract of leaves of Acacia catechu (A. catechu) for its effect on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) and its renal complications in male Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods Male Wistar albino rats were grouped into control (A), STZ-induced DM (B), STZ-induced DM rats with A. catechu orally of 75 mg/kg body weight (kbw) for 35 days (C), with each group having six rats (n = 6) weighing between 200 to 250 g each. Group A receives only water, orally; group B receives a single dose of STZ at 45 mg/kbw intraperitoneal administration (IP); group C receives STZ IP and oral A. catechu for 35 days. On the 36th day, animals were euthanized, the kidney tissues were analyzed for biochemical parameters, such as GOT (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase), GPT (glutamic pyruvic transaminase), oxidative stress assessment parameters, and histopathological studies. Results In group C rats, activities of the enzymes were nearer to group A when compared with group B. Histopathological findings were also suggesting that renal toxicity were observed at a lesser extent in group C. Conclusion The ethanolic extract of A. catechu signified as nephroprotective effect. The present data could provide adequate confirmation of the efficacy of ethanolic extract of leaves of A. catechu for further experimental studies on a standardized formulation.

Establishment of standardization for the Ayurvedic formulations is most important for its chemical compounds, biological action, and its quality reassurance in production and manufacturing of traditional herbal medicines. As most of the drugs are standardized, drug companies are using substitute drugs instead of true drugs. So, to make finest superiority drugs it is necessary to validate raw drugs. Observing the existing trend in mind, hydroalcoholic extract of Mucuna pruriens seeds (HAMP) was subjected to standardize the procedures for phytochemical tests. The separation of bioactive substances from HAMP was performed using both manual methods and high-profile thin layer chromatography. From the current study, it is revealed that the seed contains alkaloids, steroids, carbohydrates, tannins, flavonoids, and coumarins, which gave the medicine numerous therapeutic properties.

Aim: To evaluate the antidiabetic activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of Ficus gibbosa Blume (leaves and stem bark) in streptozotocin–nicotinamide induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods: The animals were rendered diabetic by single intraperitoneal injections of nicotinamide (195 mg/kg body weight) followed by streptozotocin (65 mg/kg body weight). Induction of experimental diabetes was confirmed by blood glucose analysis. The test extracts were used at 3-dose levels viz., low dose (100 mg/kg body weight), average dose (250 mg/kg body weight and high dose (500 mg/kg body weight). Male Sprague Dawley rats were used in the experiment, each containing 6 animals. Oral glucose tolerance test was carried out 7 days post test extract administration at 3 doses. The diabetic animals were given the test extracts at different doses for a period of 5 weeks and blood sugar was evaluated at weekly intervals. Results: Both leaves and stem bark extracts of Ficus gibbosa Blume significantly reduced the elevated blood glucose levels at 60- and 120-minute postglucose overload. The test extracts showed significant antidiabetic activity against streptozotocin- and nicotinamide-induced diabetes in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Conclusion: The extracts of Ficus gibbosa Blume showed significant antidiabetic activity against experimental type 2 diabetes in SD rats.

Objective The aim of this study was to establish the safe and effective dose of rotenone-induced Parkinson’s disease (PD) in Wistar albino rat. Materials and Methods Male Wistar albino rats (n = 6) aged between 9 and 11 weeks, weight 200 to 250 g, were selected for the study. Rats were divided into four groups namely, A, B, C, and D; Group A served as control received only isotonic saline, groups B, C, and D were administered with rotenone 2, 2.5, and 3 mg/kg body weight (BW), respectively, with a specialized vehicle through intraperitoneal (IP) route once daily. During the procedure, they were observed for the development of the PD signs such as stooped posture, postural instability, akinesia, bradykinesia, and muscular rigidity. BW and behavioral pattern were recorded before the rotenone introduction and also after the onset of PD signs in them. They were sacrificed when the PD phenotype became debilitating and followed by neurochemical assay for dopamine and antioxidants; histological assay for TH-neuronal density and Lewy bodies were performed in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of midbrain. Results Group C and D animals were developed with the PD signs by the 9th day and also there was a significant decrease in the BW noticed in them. Additionally, histological studies revealed the decrease in neuronal density and the presence of Lewy bodies in the dopamine neurons of the SNpc. However, it was also noticed that the group D had shown more mortality rate when compared with the Group C. Conclusion Rotenone with 2.5 mg/kg BW IP was an ideal dose to develop PD signs in Wistar albino rats model that is a highly reproducible and may offer an excellent tool to establish the new neuroprotective treatment strategies.