ABSTRACT
Background:Mustard honey, a monofloral honey derived from mustard flower is considered a great source of nutritional and medicinal values. The honey is traditionally used as ethnomedicinein different parts of the world to cure many health problems. The present study aimed to evaluate its sedative-anxiolytic potential by integrating three conventional methods in a sequential order. Methods:Open field, hole cross and elevated plus maze experiments were performed in a row with a single oral administration of honey to the Swiss Albino mice. Behavioral parameters like square crossing, rearing, grooming, hole crossing and entry/duration in open arm were observed for each animal in different time intervals.Results:The findings were compared to that of a standard drug, diazepam (1mg/kg). Mustard honey at higher doses showed sedative activity (4g/kg and6g/kg) whereas with low doses (2g/kg) exhibited anxiolytic potential. The physicochemical properties of honey were also screened in this study.Conclusions:The integrated method proved to be an effective approach for assessment of neuropharmacologicalpotential for crude or standard medicine. However, further analysis was recommended to investigate active compound which may lead to a new drug development
ABSTRACT
Setaria italica (Poaceae) has been used in folk medicine to treat inflammation, pain, arthralgia and many neurological disorders. The objective of the study is screening of ethanolic extract of Setaria italica seeds for possible anti-inflammatory and neuropharmacological activities in rats and mice respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carrageenan induced paw edema inhibition method while the neuropharmacological potential was evaluated by three separate methods: Hole-cross test, Open-field method and Phenobarbitone induced sleeping time test. The crude ethanolic extract of seeds of Setaria italica at 400 mg/kg body weight showed a strong anti-inflammatory activity with 20.16, 65.44, 65.5 and 71.15% inhibition of paw edema respectively after 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th hrs of carrageenan injection which is comparable to that of standard drug diclofenac sodium at 100 mg/kg body weight (% inhibition 92.3% at 4th hour **P<0.001). In Hole-cross test, ethanolic extracts of Setaria italica at 400 mg/kg body weight dose have prominent CNS depressant activity which is comparable to standard Diazepam. In open field test, S. italica at 400 mg/kg body weight significantly suppressed the movements which is comparable to standard Diazepam. In Phenobarbitone induced test, Setaria italica did not show any significant CNS-depressant activity. The findings of the studies demonstrate anti-inflammatory and neuropharmacological properties of Setaria italica which could be therapeutic option against inflammation and neurological disorders.
ABSTRACT
The results of neuropharmacological, microbiological and toxicological studies on the ethanol extract of the bark of Excoecaria agallocha are reported. The extract (100 and 200 mg/kg dosages) was found to produce a profound decrease in exploratory activity in a dose-dependent manner. It also showed a marked sedative effect as evidenced by a significant reduction in gross behaviour and potentiation of sodium thiopental-induced sleeping time. The totality of these effects showed that the extract possesses depressant action on the central nervous system (CNS). The extract of E. agallocha exhibited significant in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei and Enterococci with the zones of inhibition ranging from 11 to 15 mm. While the extract showed considerable brine shrimp toxicity (LD50 = 20 mg/mL), it displayed only low level of toxicity in mice.
Os resultados dos estudos neurofarmacológicos, microbiológicos e toxicológicos do extrato etanólico da casca de Excoecaria agallocha são reportados. O extrato (dosagens de 100 e 200 mg/kg) produziu uma diminuição profunda na atividade exploratória de maneira dose-dependente. Ele também mostrou um efeito sedativo marcante conforme evidenciado por uma redução significativa no comportamento total e potencialização do tempo de sono induzido por tiopental sódico. A totalidade destes efeitos mostrou que o extrato possui ação depressora sobre o sistema nervoso central (SNC). O extrato de E. agallocha exibiu significante atividade antibacteriana in vitro contra Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei e Enterococci com as zonas de inibição medindo entre 11 a 15 mm. Enquanto o extrato mostrou considerável toxicidade em Artemia salina (DL50 = 20 mg/mL), ele exibiu apenas baixo nível de toxicidade em camundongos.