J.A. Patel’s research while affiliated with Nirma University and other places

Isolated rat primary hepatocytes were used as in-vitro model to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of Justicia gendarussa Burm. Carbon tetrachloride was chosen as hepatotoxin and silymarin was the reference hepatoprotective agent. The isolated primary rat hepatocytes were incubated with standardized hepatotoxic dose of CCl4 (10 mM), and various concentrations (10, 50 and 100μg/ml) of the extract and silymarin (100μg/ml). Trypan blue exclusion assay was used to measure the cell viability. Marker transaminase enzymes (GOT, GPT) and Total Protein (TP) in the cell culture suspension were determined. Methanolic extract has shown moderate hepatoprotective activity on isolated rat hepatocytes. The extract produces significant (P<0.05) moderate protective effect, however it is similar but less than silymarin. This result suggests that the Justicia gendarussa possess moderate hepatoprotective activity on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The ancient literature reports Justicia gendarussa (JG) for its various uses in folk medicine including its hepatoprotective activity. The methanolic extract of air dried leaf was prepared by soxhlet extraction method and marc remained was further extracted with double distilled water by hot percolation. Preliminary phytochemical studies were carried out and total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined. Both the extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using DPPH free radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and reduction of ferric ion in presence and absence of EDTA. Methanolic extract has more phenolic and flavonoid content and shows good antioxidant activity. The methanolic extract was further studied for its in vivo hepatoprotective activity using CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. The various biochemical parameters were evaluated to asses its hepatoprotective nature. The extract showed significant hepatoprotective activity at 300 mg kg-1 body weight. Interestingly its hepatoprotective activity decreases as the dose increases. This study concludes that, leaf extract of JG has moderate hepatoprotective activity, which may be due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging potential. High total phenolic content and flavonoid content are responsible for its antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity. Further studies are required to elucidate the exact phytochemical(s) and their mechanism responsible for hepatoprotective potential of JG.

Papaya (Carica papaya Linn.) is commonly known for its food and nutritional values throughout the world. The medicinal properties of papaya fruit and other parts of the plant are also well known in traditional system of medicine. Since, each part of papaya tree possesses economic value, it is grown on commercial scale. During the last few decades considerable progress has been achieved regarding the biological activity and medicinal application of papaya and now it is considered as valuable nutraceutical fruit plant. It can be chosen as a source of papain for the development of various industrial and pharmaceutical products. In the present review nutritional value of the fruit and medicinal properties of its various parts have been discussed to provide collective information on this multipurpose commercial fruit crop.