Background: The objective of this study is to develop a new animal model based on signalingpathways to understand the pathophysiology, therapy of depression, and to investigate theantidepressant activity of Enicostemma littorale which is not yet established.Methods: Animal models of depression were raised by physical methods and administration ofmethyl isobutyl ketone (100 mg/kg b.w., i.p.,) and a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sodiumorthovanadate (30 mg/kg b.w., i.p.,) to young Wistar rats. E. littorale aqueous extract (100 mg/kgb.w., oral) was administered. Forced swimming test (FST), biochemical, and histopathologicalparameters were performed with reference to fluoxetine (20 mg/kg b.w., oral) treatment.Results: High‑performance thin‑layer chromatography confirmed the presence of swertiamarin, a unique glycoside present in the Gentianaceae family. FST indicated high rates of immobility indepressed groups and low rates in plant extract‑administered group with reference to fluoxetine.Biochemical assays indicated significantly (P<0.05) increased levels of total protein, superoxidedismutase, triglycerides, and total serum cholesterol, whereas significant reduction (P<0.05)of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and lipid peroxidation in plant extract‑administered groups incomparison to the depressed groups. Histopathological analysis indicated disorganized neuronalarchitecture during depression whereas rejuvenation of neuronal patterns was observed duringtreatment with plant extract and fluoxetine.Conclusions: This study shows that sodium orthovanadate induces depression in animals andalso establishes the antidepressant activity of E. littorale.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer world wide and has been occurred more in developing regions. The use of conventional chemotherapy agents may lead to various adverse effects. Therefore, it is required to find the potential drug for anticancer from alternative source of natural product including mangrove plants. The present study was conducted to determine the anticancer activity of polyisoprenoids from Avicennia alba Blume. leaves (PAL) in WiDr cells. Cell cycle inhibition, apoptosis activity, and suppression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were also evaluated. The anticancer activity of PAL was determined by observing the activity of these compounds against WiDr cells using the [3-(4, 5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2, 5-difenil tetrazolium bromida] MTT assay. Inhibition of the cell cycle and increased apoptosis were analysed by flowcytometry. Suppression of COX-2 was analysed using immunocytochemistry. PAL exhibited anticancer activity against WiDr cells with an IC50 of 173. 775 μ g/mL. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the inhibition occurred in the G0-G1 phase, and apoptosis occurred in the early apoptosis phase. Furthermore, the result of an analysis of COX-2 expression showed that PAL enabled the suppression of COX-2 expression. PAL can be used as anticancer agents against WiDr colon cancer cells. However, in-vivo studies is required to confirm the in-vitro finding of the anticancer activity of polyisoprenoid extract.

Objective: One of the biggest health problems in the world, which occurs in more than 90 countries, is the spread of malaria. Cepcepan leaves (Castanopsis costata), was empirically used as an antimalarial herb in North Sumatra. Since its use has not been scientifically studied, we investigated the antimalarial activity of extract and fractions of C. costata against Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) in a mouse model. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted using 32 male Balb/C mice. PbA inoculation was performed intraperitoneally with 10 6 parasites/mouse. Immediately after parasitemia reach >2% (day 0), the mice were treated orally with daily artesunate (36. 4 mg/kg/day) (positive control), ethanolic extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day), and the fractions of water, ethyl acetate and n-hexane (108 mg/kg/day each) for 5 consecutive days (from day 0 to 4). Parasitemia inhibition was observed to determine the antimalarial activity of each type of C. costata extract and fractions. Results: The administration of C. costata leaves ethanolic extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the growth of PbA in Balb/C mice (42. 66%, 66. 2 1% and 80. 99 % inhibition, respectively) (p<0. 05). Similarly, all C. costata fractions also produced antimalarial activity against PbA with administration of the ethyl acetate fraction presenting the highest activity (79. 85 % inhibition). Conclusion: The C. costata leaves showed antimalarial activity against PbA. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this effect and the active compounds involved. Our current study revealed that C. costata could be a potential candidate to be used as a new antimalarial drug.

Background and purpose of the study: Amorphophallus campanulatus is widely distributed in Bangladesh, India, and Africa and the tuberous roots of the plant has many traditional uses and is an important source of biologically active compounds. In the present study in vitro antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activities of 3,5-diacetyltambulin which is a flavonoid isolated from Amorphophallus campanulatus was studied. Materials and Methods: In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities was evaluated by disc diffusion and MICs technique was determined by serial dilution technique. Cytotoxicity was determined against brine shrimp nauplii.Results and Major conclusion: The compound showed significant antibacterial activities against four Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus b-haemolyticus) and six Gram-negative bacteria (Escheichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, Pseudomonus aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi). The MIC values against these bacteria ranged from 8 to 64 mg/ml but had weak antifungal activity against a number of fungi. In cytotoxicity determination, LC50 of the compound against brine shrimp nauplii was 10.02 mg/ml