ABSTRACT
Background: Pain is a complex experience consisting of physiological and psychological response to a noxious stimulus. Analgesics like opiates and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used for relieving pain but are associated with various unwanted side effects; therefore this study was conducted by using Origanum vulgare for their analgesic efficacy.Methods: In vivo model used was tail flick method. Origanum vulgare (84 mg/kg p.o) was administered in mice. The analgesic activity was studied by recording the reaction time after administration of the drug at frequent intervals up to 3 hours. The results were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey’s test. P-value <0.05 was considered as significant. Pentazocine showed statistically prolongation in the reaction time after 30 min as compared to Origanum vulgare.Results: In tail flick method, pentazocine showed statistically significant increase in the reaction time after 30 min of administration as compared to control group. However, Origanum vulgare in a dose of 84 mg/kg showed significant increase in the reaction time after 30 min of administration as compared to control group. On comparing pentazocine and Origanum vulgare, pentazocine showed highly significant increase in the reaction time after 30 min as compared to Origanum vulgare at 84 mg/kg dose.Conclusions: From the present study, it was concluded that extract of Origanum vulgare exerted analgesic activity in both the models. However, it was less potent than pentazocine. Thus, Origanum vulgare can be used in mild to moderate painful conditions.
ABSTRACT
Background: Memory is the most common cognitive ability lost with dementia commonly seen in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Donepezil was the first cholinesterase inhibitor to be licensed in UK for AD. There is preliminary evidence that aspirin decreases the risk and delays the onset of AD. Low dose aspirin users had numerically lower prevalence of Alzheimer’s dementia and had better cognitive function than non-users. Methods: Retention of conditioned avoidance response (CAR) was assessed by using repeated electroconvulsive shocks (ECS) in rats. Rats were divided into five groups: control (pretreated with distilled water), ECS (150 V, 50 Hz, with intensity of 210 mA for 0.5 sec) pretreated, combined aspirin (6.75 mg/kg) and pretreated ECS, combined donepezil (0.32 mg/kg) and pretreated ECS, combined aspirin, donepezil and pretreated ECS groups. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and ANOVA. Results: Findings show that administration of ECS daily for 8 days results in transient amnesia and disruption of retention of CAR. Aspirin and donepezil administration significantly increased the retention of CAR in comparison to ECS. However, aspirin failed to show an increase in the retention of CAR as compared to donepezil. The combination of the two drugs showed statistically significant increase in the retention of CAR than either of these drugs given alone. Conclusion: Neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorder like AD. Combination of aspirin with donepezil increased the nootropic and neuroprotective effect of aspirin and thus may hold great clinical significance in such disorders.