Antonio Rapisarda

Publications (2)4.62 Total impact

• Article: Protection against murine endotoxemia by treatment with Ruta chalepensis L., a plant with anti-inflammatory properties.

  Liliana Iauk, Katia Mangano, Antonio Rapisarda, Salvatore Ragusa, Luigi Maiolino, Rosario Musumeci, Rosaria Costanzo, Agostino Serra, Annamaria Speciale
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  ABSTRACT: The anti-inflammatory effect of the extract of Ruta Chalepensis L. (Rutaceae) on the course of lethal endotoxemia in BALB/c mice was studied. When administered by gavage as 1 g/kg per day starting 14 or 7 days prior to injection of 0.75 mg endotoxin (LPS: lipopolysaccharide), the extract markedly reduced lethality (32.5% in both experiments versus approximately 85% of the control mice). A delay in lethality, but not cumulative lethality, was observed when prophylaxis was given 24 and 1 h prior to LPS challenge. The effect was associated with reduced LPS-induced blood levels of nitrite, an indicator of nitric oxide production. In contrast, the blood levels of tumour necrosis factor, interleukin 6 and interleukin 10 did not differ significantly from those of controls given LPS alone. These data show that Ruta Chalepensis L. possesses powerful immunopharmacological properties that make it capable of counteracting the lethal effects of high doses of LPS in vivo.
  Journal of Ethnopharmacology 03/2004; 90(2-3):267-72. · 3.01 Impact Factor
• Article: Micromorphological study on leaves of some Cordia (Boraginaceae) species used in traditional medicine

  Antonio Rapisarda, Liliana Iauk, Salvatore Ragusa
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  ABSTRACT: The genus Cordia (Boraginaceae) is made up of a great many species widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The leaves ofCordia myxa, as also those of many other species of the same genus, have been utilized in the traditional medicine of many countries for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Observed by light microscope and by scanning electron microscope the histological characteristics of the leaf ofCordia francisci, C. martinicensis, C. serratifolia andC. ulmifolia, species grown in Sicily, compared also with those of the leaves ofC. myxa originating from Africa, are described in detail. It has been possible to reveal some morphological elements that allow leaf identification and the differentiation of the drugs examined. Le genreCordia (Boraginaceae) est composé d’un trés grand nombre d’especes largement distribuisees dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales du monde. Les feuilles deCordia myxa, tout comme celles de nombreuses autres especes du méme genre, ont été utilisées dans la médicine traditionnelle de maints pays dans le traitement de diverses maladies. On a décrit en détail les caractéristiques histologiques de la feuille de Cordia francisci.,C. martinicensis, C. serratifolia etC. ulmifolia, espéces qui poussent en Sicile et qui ont été observées au microscope optique et au microscope electronique á balayage. On les a également comparées a celles des feuilles deC. myxa L., provenant de l’Afrique. Il a été possible de découvrir quelques éléments morphologiques qui ont permis l’identification de la feuille et la différentiation des drogues examinées.
  Economic Botany 09/1997; 51(4):385-391. · 1.60 Impact Factor