ABSTRACT
Background: Terminalia chebula Retz is traditionally used to relieve constipation. The current study was performed to investigate the pharmacological action of aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula seeds (ATC) in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Terminal pieces of rat ileum were suspended in organ bath containing Tyrode solution. The ileum spontaneous motility frequency and contractility were recorded isotonically. To induce ileal contraction, carbachol and ATC were added to the organ bath. In addition, the effect of hexamethonium, indomethacin, atropine, and verapamil on the ATC-induced ileal contractions was also investigated. The effectiveness of ATC on relieving morphine-induced constipation was investigated in an in vivo study by measuring the faecal number, faecal water content, and intestinal transit ratio. Results: ATC increased the frequency of ileum motility and tension of contraction dosedependently (P < 0.05). Responses induced by ATC were inhibited by pre-treatment of the tissue with verapamil. The ATC activities were not affected by atropine, hexamethonium, and indomethacin. The faecal number and faecal water content were increased dose-dependently by ATC (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The excitatory effects of ATC on ileal contractile frequency and tension are possibly mediated through Ca2+ channels activation. The results of the present study support the traditional usage of ATC for the treatment of constipation.
ABSTRACT
Background: The antidiabetic and antilipaemic effects of Phoenix dactylifera leaf extract (PDE) and its fractions were investigated in various rat models. Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by alloxan monohydrate. Diabetic animals were randomly divided into 8 groups (1 diabetic control and 7 treated groups). Diabetic control animals received saline (5 mL/kg) orally, whereas the treatment groups received different doses of PDE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), PDE fractions (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg), or glibenclamide (4 mg/kg) orally once a day for 14 days. Blood was withdrawn for glucose determination on the 1st, 6th, 10th, and 14th days. The rats were fasted overnight and then sacrificed on the 14th day; blood was collected for biochemical evaluation, including the levels of blood glucose, plasma insulin, serum triglyceride, and cholesterol. Results: Subacute administration of PDE or its fractions in alloxan-induced diabetic rats significantly reduced blood glucose (P < 0.01). Water intake, serum triglyceride, and cholesterol also decreased in treated animals compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Plasma insulin level increased in the treated groups relative to the control group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The results suggested that PDE exhibits antidiabetic and antilipaemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
ABSTRACT
It is well established that the esophageal distention [ED] leads to gastric relaxation, partly by vago-vagal reflex, but till now, the effect of ED on gastric acid secretion has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ED on basal and stimulated gastric acid secretion. Adult male Wistar rats [200-240 g] were deprived of food but not the water 24 h before the experiments. Under urethane anesthesia [1.2 g/kg, i.p.], animals underwent tracheostomy and laparotomy. A catheter was inserted in the stomach through duodenum for gastric distention and gastric washout and the esophagus was cannulated with a distensible balloon orally to distend esophagus [0.3 ml, 10 min]. Gastric acid secretion was stimulated by gastric distention, carbachol [4 ?g/kg, i.p.] or histamine [5 mg/kg, s.c.]. Effects of vagotomy, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME, 10 mg/kg, i.v.] and also hexamethonium were investigated. Basal and gastric distention- and carbachol, histamine-stimulated acid secretion were reduced by the ED [P<0.05, P<0.0001, P<0.01 and P<0.02, respectively]. L-NAME [10 mg/kg, i.v.] elevated the acid output [P<0.002]. Vagotomy reduced the inhibitory effect of the esophagus distention on gastric distention-induced acid secretion [P<0.01]. These results indicate that the vagus nerves are involved in the inhibitory effect of the ED on the basal and stimulated gastric acid secretion. Furthermore, nitric oxide could be involved