ABSTRACT
Background: Anxiety has become a very important area of research interest in psychopharmacology as it affects one-eighth of the population worldwide. Benzodiazepines are still the most commonly used drugs for anxiety despite a number of side effects.There is a need for newer antianxiety drugs with increased safety and efficacy, hence this study was undertaken to evaluate the anxiolytic activity of Nerium oleander flowers.Methods: Aqueous extract of Nerium oleander flowers (NA) was prepared using soxhalet apparatus. A total of 24 Albino rats aged 8-10 weeks of either sex weighing about 100-150g were obtained and divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each. Group I: Normal saline 10mL/kg. Group II: Diazepam 2mg/kg Group III: NA at a dose of 200 mg/kg Group IV: NA at a dose of 400mg/kg. The anxiolytic activity of Aqueous extract of NA was tested by elevated plus maze and digital actophotometer models. Data was analysed using one way ANOVA followed by Posthoc Tukey’s test.Results: In EPM model, the NA at 200, 400mg/kg doses showed that the number of entries and time spent in the open arms were increased significantly as compared to the control animals. (p<0.001). In Actophoptometer model, two different doses of NA (200 and 400mg/kg) showed a dose-dependent decrease in the locomotor activity, when compared to the control animals (p<0.001).Conclusions: Both the doses of aqueous extract of Nerium oleander flowers (200mg and 400mg/kg) possess anxiolytic activity and could be used as a new approach to treat anxiety.
ABSTRACT
Background: Global burden of disease statistics indicate that 4 of 10 most important causes of disease worldwide are psychiatric in origin. Anxiety affects 1/8th of total population of the world and is a very important area of research interest in psychopharmacology. Medicinal plants and plant products are the oldest tried health-care products. Their importance is growing not only in developing countries but in many developed countries. Curcuma amada Roxb. (CA) commonly known as Mango Ginger is a rhizomatous aromatic herb which is used in this country for culinary purposes and also to treat various diseases. The rhizomes of Curcuma amada was screened for anxiolytic activity and locomotor behavior in Wistar albino rats.Methods: Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups as control (Distilled water with 0.1% CMC), standard (Diazepam - 1mg/kg) and test - Ethanolic Extract of Curcuma amada Rhizome (EECAR-250 mg/kg). They were administered drugs orally for a period of 10 days, and screened for anxiolytic activity using Light dark arena model and Actophotometer for assessing the locomotor behavior on the 10th day. The number of crossings and time spent in light arena for anxiolytic activity, and the number of movements in Actophotometer was noted. Data was analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by Tukey Kramer multiple comparison test using GraphPad InStat software.Results: Curcuma amada (250mg/kg) showed increased time spent in light arena and decreased locomotor behavior which was statistically significant.Conclusions: Curcuma amada possesses significant anxiolytic with CNS depressant activity.
ABSTRACT
Background: Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent class of psychiatric condition. Medications commonly given for treatment can elicit several central nervous system (CNS) side-effects that patients find difficult to tolerate. So there is a need for new pharmacotherapeutic approaches to treat anxiety with greater efficacy and fewer side effects. Hence this study has been taken up to evaluate the anxiolytic effect of furosemide at three different doses (75mg/kg, 150mg/kg and 200mg/kg) in Albino rats.Methods: After obtaining approval from the institutional animal ethical committee 30 Albino rats weighing about 150-200gm were taken and divided into 5 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1: Normal Saline 10ml/kg (control); Group 2: Diazepam 2mg/kg (standard); Group 3: Furosemide 150mg/kg (test group 1); Group 4: Furosemide 200mg/kg (test group 2); Group 5: Furosemide 75mg/kg + Diazepam 1mg/kg (sub threshold dose). The anxiolytic activity of furosemide was tested by elevated plus maze and digital actophotometer models. Data was analysed using one way ANOVA followed by Posthoc Tukey’s test.Results: Furosemide (150mg/kg and 200mg/kg) have shown significant increase in open arm entries (p<0.05) and time spent in open arm (p<0.05) compared to control. Also furosemide (150mg/kg and 200mg/kg) have shown statistically significant decrease in locomotor activity (p<0.05) compared to control in actophotometer model. Potentiation of time spent and number of entries in open arm and decrease in locomotor activity were noticed when sub threshold doses of combination of diazepam and furosemide were used.Conclusions: These results suggest that furosemide possesses significant anxiolytic activity at both the doses. Furosemide given in sub threshold dose potentiates the antianxiety effect of sub threshold dose of diazepam when used in combination. Hence, after further studies, furosemide can be used as an anxiolytic drug.
ABSTRACT
Pupalia lappacea Juss (Family: Amaranthaceae) is claimed to be useful in treatment of bone fracture, wounds, boils, cough, toothache, fever and malaria. The study was aimed to evaluate the 80% aqueous ethanolic extract of aerial parts of P. lappacea for antinociceptive and antipyretic activities to verify the traditional claim. The extract was orally administered at doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg. The extract has significantly (P<0.01) reduced the nociception induced by acetic acid. The effect produced was in dose dependent manner. The antinociceptive effect was not reversed by pretreatment with naloxone in acetic acid induced writhing test. In hot plate method, the extract has significantly increased the latency time of jump. The naloxone has partially antagonised the antinociception of extract in hot plate test indicating P. lappacea has morphinomimetic properties. In the study of the CNS-depressant effects, the extract was found to produce significant reduction in head pokes and locomotion in mice by using hole board and locomotor activity test respectively. The extract has significantly reduced the rectal temperature in yeast induced pyrexia in rats at 600 mg/kg. The activity produced by extract was in dose dependent manner. Phytochemical investigation of ethanolic extract of P. lappacea revealed the presence of steroids and/or triterpenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds which may be responsible for antinociceptive and antipyretic activity of P. lappacea.
ABSTRACT
Pupalia lappacea Juss (Family: Amaranthaceae) is claimed to be useful in treatment of bone fracture, wounds, boils, cough, toothache, fever and malaria. The study was aimed to evaluate the 80% aqueous ethanolic extract of aerial parts of P. lappacea for antinociceptive and antipyretic activities to verify the traditional claim. The extract was orally administered at doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg. The extract has significantly (P<0.01) reduced the nociception induced by acetic acid. The effect produced was in dose dependent manner. The antinociceptive effect was not reversed by pretreatment with naloxone in acetic acid induced writhing test. In hot plate method, the extract has significantly increased the latency time of jump. The naloxone has partially antagonised the antinociception of extract in hot plate test indicating P. lappacea has morphinomimetic properties. In the study of the CNS-depressant effects, the extract was found to produce significant reduction in head pokes and locomotion in mice by using hole board and locomotor activity test respectively. The extract has significantly reduced the rectal temperature in yeast induced pyrexia in rats at 600 mg/kg. The activity produced by extract was in dose dependent manner. Phytochemical investigation of ethanolic extract of P. lappacea revealed the presence of steroids and/or triterpenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds which may be responsible for antinociceptive and antipyretic activity of P. lappacea.