Subject(s)
Biopsy , Humans , Male , Maxillary Neoplasms/diagnosis , Middle Aged , Plasmacytoma/diagnosis , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
A methanolic extract of W. somnifera root inhibited the specific binding of [3H]GABA and [35S]TBPS, and enhanced the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam to their putative receptor sites. The extract (5 micrograms) inhibited [3H]GABA binding by 20 +/- 6 per cent whereas a concentration of 1 mg of the extract produced 100 per cent inhibition. The extract (5-100 micrograms) produced 20 +/- 4 to 91 +/- 16 per cent enhancement of [3H]flunitrazepam binding. In functional studies using 36Cl-influx assay in mammalian spinal cord neurons, W. somnifera root extract increased 36Cl-influx in the absence of GABA. This effect on 36Cl-influx was blocked by bicuculline and picrotoxin; and enhanced by diazepam. These results suggest that the W. somnifera extract contains an ingredient which has a GABA-mimetic activity.
Subject(s)
Animals , Chlorides/metabolism , Female , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Pregnancy , Receptors, GABA-A/drug effects , gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolismABSTRACT
A preliminary study with various pharmacological agents revealed the presence of contractile muscarinic and H1-histamine receptors as well as inhibitory alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors and purinoceptors in rat caecum-appendix. Histamine also produced indirect actions mediated through the release of catecholamines. 5-Hydroxytryptamine produced variable response, the contractile response was mediated through 5-HT receptors and the relaxant response through the release of catecholamines.