Background: Amorphophallus companulatus (Araceae) is a tuberous medicinal plant commonly used in Ayuvedic medicines as well as tribal medicines of India. Aim: Aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of A. companulatus tuber extracts against H 2 O 2 induced oxidative damage in human erythrocytes and leucocytes. Setting and Design: The experiment was set and design as per available method in the literatures. Three measurements were performed under each set of extracts. Materials and Methods: The extracts of tuber of A. companulatus such as methanol, ethanol, acetone (70%) and hydro-alcohol (1:1) used to assess catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels of human erythrocytes and leucocytes. Statistical Analysis: All experimental data were statistically analysed and expressed as means ± SD by using the one-way analysis of variance. Results: Results of present studies revealed that, increased in the CAT, SOD, GPx and reduction of GSH and LPO levels in H 2 O 2 group compared with control group. The extracts of tuber of A. companulatus treated groups showed effective reduction of CAT, SOD, GPx and increased the GSH and LPO levels as compared with H 2 O 2 group on human erythrocytes and leucocytes. The methanol extract was found more effective than others. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that, the extracts of tuber of A. companulatus possess protective effect against H 2 O 2 induced oxidative damage. Furthermore, these tuber extracts may appeared to be beneficial in preventing H 2 O 2 oxidative human red blood cell (RBC) damage in human and can improve RBC membrane permanence. The tubers of A. companulatus are the potential source of natural antioxidants for the treatment and prevention of disease in which LPO takes place.

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Background:Extensive researches are going on to explore the effective and safe drug for their hair growth. Tobacco leaves are traditionally known to potentiate hair growth promotion. Therefore, the aim of present study was to formulate and evaluate the microbial biotransformed extract of tobacco leaves for hair growth potential in male albino wister rats.Materials and Methods:The extract of was prepared by microbial biotransformation of tobacco leaves in cow urine for 28 days. The herbal formulations (lotion) were formulated by general method using o/w type base in various rations or concentrations such as 10%, 20% and 30% of extract. These lotions were applied on shaved skin area of rats for 30 days once in a day and hair length, serum total protein, and total testosterone were measured.Results:Our formulations show increase in hair growth and serum total protein at concentration dependent manner with effect to standard and control groups. Serum total testosterone decreases according to a concentration dependent manner.Conclusion:Further, series of investigations are, however, necessary to remain exploration, which includes their structural elucidation, characterization, clinical safety, reliability and molecular mechanism involved in this pharmacological activity.

Objective:The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of aqueous enriched fraction of Premna integrifolia root (AEFPIR) against cafeteria diet induced obesity in Swiss albino mice. Materials and Methods: Female Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups, which received cafeteria diet, standard drug simvastatin (10 mg/kg) and AEFPIR (200 and 400 mg/kg) daily for 40 days. The body weight, body mass index (BMI), food consumption, serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were studied along with histopathological assessments for screening the effect of AEFPIR against cafeteria diet induced obesity. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint profile of AEFPIR was also studied using quercetin as the reference standard. Results: The results of present study revealed that, there was a significant decrease in body weight, BMI, food consumption and in the levels of serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL with a significant increase in the level of HDL in mice treated with simvastatin and AEFPIR groups compared with cafeteria diet group. Mice treated with AEFPIR shows dose dependent effect. The AEFPIR (400 mg/kg) supplementation attenuated all the above alterations, which indicates the protective effect against cafeteria diet induced obesity that was further confirmed by histopathological analysis. The solvent system was used for HPLC fingerprint profile of AEFPIR, 50 Mm potassium diphosphate (pH-3 with ortho phosphoric acid): Methanol (50:50 v/v) at 360 nm. The chromatograph showed three peaks at retention times 3.835, 5.649 and 11.106. Conclusion: The present study suggests that AEFPIR possess protective effect against cafeteria diet induced obesity that was substantiated its ethno-medicinal use in the treatment of obesity. The exploration of chemical constituents and further pharmacological evaluation will give us basis for its therapeutic use. Further series of studies are required to prove its clinical reliability, safety and efficacy.

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