ABSTRACT
The psychopharmacological effects of a saponin-rich fraction (SFG) obtained from crude methanolic extract of Ficus platyphylla stem bark were studied on spontaneous motor activity (SMA); pentobarbitalinduced sleep; motor coordination; amphetamine-induced hyperactivity and stereotyped behaviour; catalepsy; forced swim and tail suspension tests in rodents. SFG reduced SMA dose dependently; suggesting that it may contain psychoactive principles with sedative effects. The fraction shortened the onset and prolonged the duration of pentobarbital-induced sleep; which confirmed its sedative properties. The fraction diminished immobility time in forced swim and tail suspension tests; which is indicative of antidepressant properties. It attenuated amphetamine-induced hyperactivity and stereotyped behaviour; induced catalepsy and exacerbated haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rodents; but had no effect on motor coordination in the treadmill experiment at the doses tested. These effects were similar to those of classical neuroleptics and antidepressants. Our study provides scientific evidence of psychopharmacological effects of the saponin fraction of Ficus platyphylla stem bark and therefore supports further development of its psychoactive components as antipsychotics and antidepressants
Subject(s)
Depression , Ficus , Psychopharmacology , Saponins , Stereotyped BehaviorABSTRACT
"Cost effective primary and secondary wound care is needed and have significant importance in current medicine. The steroidal saponin Flabelliferin B with a UV active binder attached (FB); isolated from palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) has a known structure and proven antibacterial activity. The objectives of the study were to (i) study the effects of FB on male Wistar rats in relation to toxicity by wound healing (ii) study the toxicity of FB by the eye tests on rats and rabbits (iii) test the allergenic reactions by topical application of FB on healthy human skin by the ""patch test"" (iv) evaluate the feasibility of full scale clinical trial of the FB on infected wounds of humans. Toxic or other adverse effects on animals were not observed. Allergic reactions were also not observed on normal healthy human skin by the patch test. Having obtained ethical approval a prospective clinical trial was carried out in Colombo South Teaching Hospital. An ointment of 2FB was tested on wounds and ulcers with no subcutaneous tissue involvements. Human volunteers (n = 14) were employed in this study. Wound healing rates after treatment of FB ointment were monitored by measuring the percentage decline in wound area with time using normal standard hospital treatment as control. Microbiological tests by swabbing were carried throughout these experiments. The rate of wound healing was not significantly different from current hospital treatment (p = 0.512) and no allergic or other adverse symptoms were shown. It is concluded that it may be possible to use FB in treatment of wounds and ulcers with no subcutaneous involvement"