ABSTRACT
Background: The herbal formulation consisting of Andrographis paniculata Nees., Cassia fistula L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and Cuminum cyminum L. is widely used by the local traditional practitioners in rural Northern Karnataka for spasmodic abdominal pain. Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate safety and spasmolytic effect of poly‑herbal formulation. Materials and Methods: Acute toxicity studies were carried out in Swiss mice, as per the Organization for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. The spasmolytic activity of the formulation was studied in isolated guinea pig ileum model using histamine and acetylcholine as agonists. The data were analyzed by one‑way ANOVA, followed by Dunnetts post‑hoc test and P ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The formulation did not show any adverse toxic effects and found to be safe. It also showed significant (P < 0.05) relaxation in different agonist like histamine and acetylcholine‑induced contractions in guinea pig ileum. Conclusions: Antispasmodic activity of the herbal formulation can be attributed to its atropine‑like activity. The present findings, therefore, support its utility in spasmodic abdominal pain.
ABSTRACT
Background: The pastes prepared from roots of Plumbago zeylanica Linn. and barks of Holoptelea integrifolia Roxb. are widely used by traditional healers for the treatment of arthritis in rural northern Karnataka. Objective: The present study was undertaken to scientifi cally evaluate the safety and effi cacy of traditionally used formulations in experimental animals. Materials and Methods: The study, approved by IAEC was carried out in male Wistar rats and dermal toxicity in rabbits. Carrageenan model was used to assess effect on acute infl ammation. Paw volume were measured at 1, 2, 4, and 6th hour postchallenge. Chronic infl ammation was developed by using Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA). Paw volume, ankle joint circumference, and body weight were assessed on 1st, 4th, 8th, 14th, 17th, and 21st day. Paste was applied once every day to the infl amed area of the paw of respective groups of animals, continuously for 14 days. Statistics: The data were analyzed by one way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test. P ≤ 0.05 was considered as signifi cant. Results: The formulations did not show any dermal toxicity and found to be safe. Both the pastes signifi cantly (P < 0.05) suppressed, carrageenan-induced paw edema at 6th hour and Holoptelea integrifolia appears to be more effective than Plumbago zeylanica. Signifi cant reduction was observed in paw volume, ankle joint circumference and animal body weight gained. Conclusions: The tested formulations (P. zeylanica root and H. integrifolia bark pastes) showed signifi cant antiinfl ammatory activity. The present fi ndings therefore support its utility in arthritic pain, infl ammation and the claim of traditional practitioners.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Glycine max L. with Drakshasava, widely used by traditional healers as a formulation for the treatment of peptic ulcer in rural northern Karnataka in India, appears to be effective as assessed by patients and in our previously published research work of traditionally used formulation. Aim: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and effi cacy of the overnight water soaked G. max grains. This is one of the components of traditional formulation. The study, approved by Institutional Animal Ethics Committee was carried out in male Wistar rats after assessing its toxicity in mice. Materials and Methods: Four groups of rats (n = 6 in each group) were treated with aspirin 200 mg/kg oral. In addition to aspirin control group received normal saline, standard group received 20 mg/kg omeprazole and 3rd and 4th group received G. max 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively. All treatments were administered orally every 24 h for 7 days. After 24 hours fasting, on the 8th day stomach contents were aspirated under anesthesia to estimate free and total acidity. Stomachs were opened along the greater curvature to calculate ulcer index and subjected to histopathology studies. Statistics: The results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed-by Dunnett’s post hoc test. P ≤0.05 was considered as signifi cant. Results: The severity of aspirin induced ulceration was found signifi cantly (P < 0.05) decreased in test groups compared with the control group. Free and total acidity was signifi cantly reduced in 500 mg/kg treated group, compared with the control group and was inferior to omeprazole treated group. Conclusion: The grain of G. max was found to be effective against aspirin induced ulcers.