• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.280-285
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• 2007

The methanol extract of leaves of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam. (Rhizophoraceae) was screened for its antinociceptive and antidiarrhoeal activities. The extract produced significant inhibition in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice at dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (P < 0.001), comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium at the dose of 25 mg/kg of body weight (P < 0.001). When tested for its antidiarrhoeal effects on castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice, it increased mean latent period (P < 0.02) and decreased the frequency of defecation (P < 0.01) significantly at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight, comparable to the standard drug loperamide at the dose of 50 mg/kg of body weight. The overall results tend to suggest the antinociceptive and antidiarrhoeal activities of the extract.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2004

The leaves of Rhizophora apiculata, a plant belonging to the family Rhizophoraceae were collected from the mangrove forest of Sunderbans, West Bengal, India. Alcoholic extract of the leaves of this plant was prepared and hypoglycemic/anti-hyperglycemic activity was studied in fed rats, glucose loaded rats and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The results of this study reveal that this plant extract has potential hypoglycemic action.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2019

Fumigaclavine C (FC), an active indole alkaloid, is obtained from endophytic Aspergillus terreus (strain No. FC118) by the root of Rhizophora stylosa (Rhizophoraceae). This study is designed to evaluate whether FC has anti-adipogenic effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and whether it ameliorates lipid accumulation in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. FC notably increased the levels of glycerol in the culture supernatants and markedly reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. FC differentially inhibited the expressions of adipogenesis-related genes, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor proteins, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins, and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins. FC markedly reduced the expressions of lipid synthesis-related genes, such as the fatty acid binding protein, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty acid synthase. Furthermore, FC significantly increased the expressions of lipolysis-related genes, such as the hormone-sensitive lipase, Aquaporin-7, and adipose triglyceride lipase. In HFD-induced obese mice, intraperitoneal injections of FC decreased both the body weight and visceral adipose tissue weight. FC administration significantly reduced lipid accumulation. Moreover, FC could dose-dependently and differentially regulate the expressions of lipid metabolism-related transcription factors. All these data indicated that FC exhibited anti-obesity effects through modulating adipogenesis and lipolysis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.150-154
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• 2015

Phytochemical investigation of Kandelia candel resulted in the isolation of six triterpenes (1 - 5) and two glyceryl glycosides (6 and 7) and their structures were determined by comparing the spectroscopic data with those of reported values. In present study, we described the inhibitory effects of fractions and isolated compounds from K. candel on pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-12 p40, IL-6, and TNF-α) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Results indicated that compounds 3, 6, and 7 showed potent inhibition on IL-6 production (IC₅₀ values at less than 0.5 μM, respectively). Meanwhile, compounds 6 and 7 exhibited strong inhibitory effects on the production of TNF-α (IC₅₀ values of 1.7 ± 0.1 and 5.5 ± 0.2 μM). Compounds 1 and 3 were also showed the inhibitory effects on IL-12 p40 production (IC₅₀ values of 8.9 ± 0.4 and 3.3 ± 0.1 μM, respectively).