@article {337, title = {Attenuation of Methotrexate-induced Hepatorenal Damage by Terminalia bellerica Fruit Extract in Experimental Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {July 2018}, pages = {301-308}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {301}, abstract = {

Background: Methotrexate (MTX) is used for numerous malignancies and autoimmune disorders. With such widespread use, MTX-induced hepatorenal toxicity is an issue of concern that still needs to be addressed. Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of Terminalia bellerica extract (TBE) in MTX-induced hepatorenal toxicity in Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: Rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6) {\textendash} received MTX 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally on the 4th day along with pretreatment with different doses of TBE (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg, p.o) given from 1st to 15th day. MTX-induced hepatorenal toxicity was evaluated by biochemical hepatic and renal parameters along with histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Results: Hepatorenal toxicity induced by MTX was attributed to increased oxidative stress, biochemical liver, and kidney parameters and upregulation of caspase-3 and nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB). MTX-treated group observed twofold to threefold rise in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine values{\textendash}138.49 IU/L, 125.81 IU/L, 63.09 mg/dl, and 1.895 mg/dl, respectively. Groups pretreated with TBE (400 mg/kg) observed a significant decrease (P \< 0.001) in oxidative stress and biochemical parameters {\textendash} AST (63.94 IU/L), ALT (55.98 IU/L), BUN (37.02 mg/dl), and creatinine (1.065 mg/dl). Pretreatment with TBE 400 mg/kg, histopathology of both liver and kidney tissues showed improved architectural damage and immunohistochemistry showed downregulation of increased antigens-caspase-3 and NFkB. Conclusion: T. bellerica fruit extract (400 mg/kg) showed significant hepatorenal protection by reducing oxidative stress, elevating serum enzymes, and downregulating the tissue expressions of caspase-3 and NFkB.

}, keywords = {caspase-3, Hepatotoxicity, Methotrexate, Nephrotoxicity, Nuclear factor kappa B, Terminalia bellerica}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_159_17}, author = {Prerna Chauhan and Himanshu Sharma and Surender Singh and Yogendra Kumar Gupta and Uma Kumar} } @article {441, title = {Anti-inflammatory and Antiarthritic Activity of UNIM-301 (a polyherbal unani formulation) in Wistar Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {7}, year = {2015}, month = {June 2015}, pages = {188-192}, type = { Original Article}, chapter = {188}, abstract = {

Background: UNIM-301 is a polyherbal formulation used in the Unani system of medicine for the treatment of joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objective: The objective was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activity of UNIM-301 in carrageenan-induced paw edema and complete Freund{\textquoteright}s Adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis. Materials and Methods: The anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activity of UNIM-301 was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema and CFA induced animal arthritis models, respectively, in doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight. Anti-inflammatory activity of UNIM-301 was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema model using a digital plethysmometer. Anti-arthritic activity was evaluated using CFA induced arthritis, and joint sizes were measured at regular intervals using a micrometer screw gauge. Serum was collected and subjected to estimation of pro-inflammatory cytokine. Indomethacin 3 mg/kg body weight) was used as a standard drug in both the models. The acute and chronic toxicity study was carried out to evaluate the safety of the test drug. Results: UNIM-301 treatment produced a dose-dependent reduction in paw edema and paw thickness in carrageenan-induced paw edema and CFA-induced arthritis, respectively, as compared to control. UNIM 301 also reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory mediator in a dose-dependent manner as compared to control. Conclusion: The result of the present study suggests that anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of UNIM-301, which might be accredited to inhibitory activity on pro-inflammatory cytokines to its various individual constituents.

}, keywords = {Adjuvant Arthritis, Carrageenan-induced Paw Edema, UNIM-301}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.150515}, author = {Surender Singh and Rohit Kumar and Hitesh Jain and YK Gupta} }