• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.249-252
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• 2004

The methanol extract of Diospyros peregrina bark was studied for its effect on the central nervous system (CNS) using the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time test, the open field test and the hole cross test in Swiss albino mice. The present investigation revealed that the extract, at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, significantly prolonged the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time in mice though the onset of sleep was delayed as compared to the control. In open field test, the depressing effect was prominent from the second observation period (30 min) and persisted throughout the entire experimental period (240 min). In the hole cross test, the depressing effect was observed from the second observation period (30 min) and persisted up to fifth observation period (120 min) for 250 mg dose group and up to sixth observation period (180 min) for 500 mg dose group. These results support the finding that D. peregrina bark extract at the above doses has CNS depressing effects and indicate that D. peregrina bark may contain biologically active constituent(s) having CNS depressant activity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.279-285
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• 2008

Diospyros peregrina Gurke. (Ebenaceae) is a small middle sized tree grows luxuriantly in the plains of costal West Bengal, India. The objective of the study was to explore the antidiabetic activity of methanol extract of matured fruits of Diospyros peregrina to substantiate the folklore claim of traditional practitioners. It was also aimed to establish correlation with reduction of oxidative state associated with diabetes. Methanol extract of matured fruits of Diospyros peregrina was administered orally at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight for 12 consecutive days to normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Fasting blood glucose level was estimated in both normal and diabetic rats while serum lipid profiles, liver glycogen level and pancreatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were evaluated for diabetic rats. Initial and final changes in body weight were also recorded. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed during the course of study. Experimental findings showed significant antidiabetic potential of extract in term of reduction of fasting blood glucose level of both normal and diabetic rats. It was found that extract at the dose of 300 mg/kg body weight is more effective and percentage reduction (55.64) of elevated blood glucose level is comparable to that of standard drug glibenclamide (60.60) at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. Observed data found statistically significant in reduction of serum lipid and pancreatic TBARS levels whilst improvement was observed in liver glycogen level and body weight profiles in extract treated diabetic rats.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 2006

The extracts of some Bangladeshi medicinal plants, Possur (Xylocarpus mekongensis), Dhundul (Xylocarpus granatum), Gab (Diospyros peregrina), Kadom (Anthocephalus chinensis) and Sundari (Heritiera fomes), were assessed for their possible antinociceptive activity using acetic acid induced writhing model in mice. Most of these plants have been used in traditional medicine in Bangladesh as well as in other countries for the treatment of various ailments ranging from common cold to cancer. All these extracts significantly inhibited the acetic acid induced writhing in mice at the oral dose of 500 mg/kg body weight. The extract of Anthocephalus chinensis bark showed the most potent writhing inhibition (69.47%, P < 0.001) and that of Diospyros peregrina bark had the least (33.54%, P< 0.02).

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2004

A number of plants from different geographical origins have been shown to possess antioxidant activity. Some of them have been developed as natural antioxidant formulations for food, cosmetic and other applications. Bangladeshi flora is a rich source of a range of plant species, many of which are medicinal plants, and have been used in the preparations of the Unani and Ayurvedic traditional medicines. There are no, or just a few, reports on any systematic screening of the extracts of Bangladeshi plants for free radical scavenging activity using DPPH assay available to date. As part of our on-going search for biological activity in Bangladeshi plants, Kadam (Anthocephalus chinensis), Goran (Ceriaps decandra), Swarnalata (Cuscuta reflexa), Gab (Diospyros peregrina), Sundari (Heritiera fomes), Dhundul (Xylocarpus granatum) and Possur (Xylocarpus mekongensis) have been selected for the assessment of their free radical scavenging activity, and studies on the contents of alkaloids, anthraqunones, flavonoids and tannins in these extracts. Most of these species have been used in traditional medicine in Bangladesh and other countries for the treatment of various illnesses ranging from common cold to cancer. All extracts, except the methanol extract of Cuscuta reflexa, displayed significant free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay $(RC_{50}$ values within the range of $2.75\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;to\;4.7\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/mL)$. Among these extracts, the methanol extract of Xylocarpus granatum exhibited the most potent activity $(4.7\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/mL)$ and that of Cuscuta reflexa had the least activity $(1.64\;{\times}\;10^{-1}\;mg/mL)$. While none of these plants showed positive tests with Dragendorff's reagent, presence of low to moderate amounts of phenolic compounds, e.g. anthraquinones, flavonoids and tannins was evident in all of these plants, except for the methanolic extracts of C. reflexa and the barks of D. peregrina, which did not display any evidence for the presence of flavonoids and anthraquinones, respectively.