Studies on the effect of the opioid receptor agonist "trimebutine" on inflammation, pain and gastric ulceration in rats

The effects of trimebutine, a peripheral opiate agonist, were investigated on the development of paw oedema by carrageenan, on visceral nociception caused by i.p. injection of acetic acid, on gastric mucosal injury induced by indomethacin and on gastric acid secretion in rats. I.p administration of trimebutine at 30, 60 or 120 mg/kg, at 30-min pretreatment, decreased paw oedema caused by carrageenan injection by 18.2-21.6%, 27.3%- 22.8% and 33.6%- 29.3%, respectively, with maximal inhibition being observed at 1-2 hr post-carrageenan. In addition, trimebutine in doses of 30, 60 or 120 mg/kg [i.p.] 30 mm after carrageenan challenge inhibited the paw oedema response by -21.2, -17%, 22.3, -21.2% and -33.1, -30% at 3 and 4 hr post-carrageenan, respectively. Trimebutine [60 mg/kg] co-administered with meloxicam [3.8 mg/kg], indomethacin [18 mg/kg] or dexamethasone [0.2 mg/kg] resulted in an additive effect. Abdominal writhes induced by i.p. injection of acetic acid were effectively inhibited by trimebutine. The drug enhanced the development of lesions by indomethacin in a dose-dependent manner. In anaesthetised rats, trimebutine caused dose-dependent inhibition of gastric acid secretion. Results indicate that trimebutine possesses anti-inflammatory properties in addition to its visceral analgesic effects. The drug likely exacerbates gastric mucosal lesions by non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs and consequently their concurrent administration is not advisable

Study on the possible oestrogenic activity of origanum majorana L.[bardaqoush] oil on female albino rats

The oestrogenic activity of Origanum majorana [0. majorana] oil was studied biologically by uterine weight and vaginal epithelium cornification method. A Significant increase in vaginal cornification and uterine weight was found in immature and overiectomized rats given 0. majorana oil for five days orally. The immature and overiectomized rats after administration of Oestradiol in a dose 0.1 g /0.1 ml per day for 5 days also induce a significant increase in uterine weight and significant increase in vaginal cornification when compared by control groups. These results indicated that both doses of 0. majorana oil [1 and 2 ml/ rat/day] have oestrogen like activity but less in activity from that of Oestradiol group. Concerning the effect of both 0. majorana oil and Oestradiol on body weight it was found that there were non significant changes from the initial body weight. These finding suggested that the 0. majorana oil exerts an oestrogen like activity