Diabetes mellitus is the most severe metabolic pandemic of the 21st century, affecting essential biochemical activities in almost every cell in the body. Indian literatures have already mentioned herbal remediation for a number of human ailments. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of Coccinia grandis extract on serum and liver marker enzymes (ALP, AST, ALT and LDH) and lipid profile (total cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides and free fatty acids in serum and liver) in streptozotocin induced diabetic animals. The experimental animals were treated with methanolic extract of Coccinia grandis and the levels of marker enzymes and lipid profile were estimated. The ALP, AST, ALT and LDH levels were increased in diabetic rats and restored to near normal levels after administration of plant extract. The lipid profile increased in diabetic group and after the treatment with the plant extract the levels were reverted to near normal. Thus the methanolic extract of Coccinia grandis has a potent ability to restore the marker enzymes and the lipid profile was reverted to near normal levels.

The activities of defensins HBD-1, HBD-2, and HBD-3 and their C-terminal analogs Phd1, Phd2, and Phd3 against Candida albicans were investigated. Phd1 to Phd3 showed lower-level activities than HBD-1 to HBD-3, although metabolic inhibitors did not render Phd1 to Phd3 inactive. Their activities were also less salt sensitive than those of HBD-1 to HBD-3. Confocal microscope images indicated that the initial site of action was the fungal membrane.

Corrigendum to Acta Cryst. (2004), E60, o117–o119.

The chemical name of the title compound in the paper by Devi, Malathi, Rajan, Aravind, Krishnakumari & Ravikumar [Acta Cryst. (2004), E60, o117–o119] is corrected and the structural diagram is updated.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of T. arjuna stembark extract and to study the activities of hexokinase, aldolase and phosphoglucoisomerase, and gluconeogenic enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase in liver and kidney of normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of ethanolic extract of bark (250 and 500mg/kg body weight) for 30 days, resulted in significant decrease of blood glucose from 302.67±22.35 to 82.50±04.72 and in a decrease in the activities of glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-disphosphatase, aldolase and an increase in the activity of phosphoglucoisomerase and hexokinase in tissues. However, in the case of 250 mg/kg body weight of extract, less activity was observed. The study clearly shows that the bark extract ofT. arjuna possesses potent antidiabetic activity.

The effect of Achyranthes aspera on lipid peroxidation were studied in rats fed with Sesame Oil. Increase in the levels of LPO in sesame oil treated groups returned towards normalcy in the plant extract treated groups revealing the antioxidant potential of the plant. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of secondary metabolites. According to the results obtained Achyranthes aspera inhibited Ferrous Ascorbate stimulated LPO.

The present study was designed to evaluate the antihyperlipidemic effect of aqueous extract of Achyranthes aspera a in experimental rats fed with diet containing sesame oil. Hyperlipidemia and the effect of Achyranthes aspera in experimental rats were studied by assessing parameters such as cholesterol, phospholipids, freefattyacids and triglycerides in serum, liver, and heart and kidney tissues. The levels of HDL, LDL, VLDL and atherogenic index were assessed. Hyperlipidemia in experimental rats were evidenced by a significant enhancement in the levels of cholesterol phospholipids, freefattyacids and triglycerides in serum, liver heart and kidney tissues by atherogenic diet feeding. A significant fall in HDL in both Anjali and Idhayam oil treated groups were observed in serum. These values retrieved towards normalcy in Achyranthes aspera treated groups. This study unveiled the antihyperlipidemic activity of Achyranthes aspera.

C.halicacabum is wide spread in tropical and sub-tropical Asia and Africa. Our laboratory results showed crude ethanolic extract of this plant exerted anti-inflammatory activity in chronic inflammatory models. In this present study, we tried to investigate the presence of anti-inflammatory compound in this extract.

Insight of evidence that some complications of diabetes mellitus due to hyperglycemia, we investigated the effect of T. arjuna bark extract on serum, liver and kidney marker enzymes in alloxan - induced diabetic rats. T. arjuna was administered orally at a doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight for 30 days, after which serum liver and kidney tissues were assayed for the degree of pathological changes by means of markers such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) resulted in a significant reduction in serum and tissue of liver and kidney marker enzymes when compared with control rats T. arjuna at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight exhibited higher efficacy.