Effects Of Various Plant Extracts Research Articles

Induction of Rhabdomyosarcoma in albino rats by sub cutaneous injections of various carcinogens and co-carcinogens

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of a crude water extract of Fagonia Arabica, a malignant tumour (Rhabdomyoscarcoma) was produced in albino rats with the help of a carcinogen (20-Methylcholanthrene) and co-carcinogens including Qawam (tobacco extract). DESIGN: An experimental study. SETTING: Basic Medical Sciences Institute (BMSI), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi Pakistan. METHODS: Thirty Albino rats were given subcutaneous injections of 75 micro grams of 20-Methylcholanthrene in 0.5 ml of olive oil twice a day for two weeks. Various carcinogens and co-carcinogens like tobacco tar, tobacco paste (Qawam), euphorbia plant extract and croton oil were also applied at different occasions locally on the right side of the back of these animals after shaving about 6 square cms area. This was continued till thirty-first week. RESULTS: At the end of fortieth week, a palpable nodule firm in consistency was noticeable in twenty-six out of thirty animals initially taken for this purpose. Histological examination of biopsy in two animals confirmed malignancy that on special staining showed striations and a diagnosis of Rhabdomyosarcoma was made. CONCLUSION: An animal model of producing Rhabdomyosarcoma in albino rats has been described. This model can be used for studying the anti-tumour effects of various plant extracts.

Plant extracts as corrosion inhibitors of mild steel in HCl solutions

The effects of various plant extracts on the dissolution of mild steel in HCl solutions were studied. The additives investigated were Papaia, Poinciana pulcherrima, Cassia occidentalis and Datura stramonium seeds and Papaia, Calotropis procera B, Azydracta indica and Auforpio turkiale sap. Weight-loss determinations and electrochemical measurements were performed. It was found that all extracts except those of Auforpio turkiale and Azydracta indica reduced the corrosion of steel with an efficiency of 88%–96% in 1 N HCl and with a slightly lower efficiency in 2 N HCl. Both the cathodic evolution of hydrogen and the anodic dissolution of steel are inhibited. We believe that the inhibition action is mostly due to the products of the hydrolysis of the protein content of these plants.