Anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of the Acacia tortilis growing in KSA

In different region of Saudi Arabia Acacia tortilis [Fabaceae] is present but still the medicinal properties of Acacia tortilis have not been studied. However, in Zimbabwe different species of Acacia are already used for the treatment of convulsions and dizziness. In the present study, the anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of the Acacia tortilis, were evaluated by using different paradigms. For extraction, the leaves of acacia were blended with distilled water at 40°C and filtered. Two different doses of the extracts [400 and 800mg/kg] were administered in the mice once orally [p.o.] and after 30 min occurrence of seizures [strychnine at the dose of 1mg/kg, i.m.] were monitored. In the present work, acute toxicity and neurotoxicity of the extracts were also assessed by inducing hypoxic stress. The Acacia tortilis leaves AAq [400 and 800 mg/kg] produced a dose dependent increase in time of onset of seizures [197.8+/-32.4 and 338.2+/-40.6 respectively] when compared with its respective control [184.0+/-13.8sec]. The anticonvulsant effect after administration of AAq [800mg/kg: 338.2+40.6 sec] was more pronounced than diazepam [290.6+/-1.38 sec]. The high dose [800mg/kg] of AAq administered orally prolonged the onset of convulsion and latencies for death following hypoxic stress. The present study suggested that Acacia have anticonvulsant property and may probably be affecting the inhibitory mechanism of glycine. It is also concluded that chemical constituent of acacia might act on BZD or 5-HT [1A]receptor and decrease the oxidative brain membrane damage process induced by psychological/hypoxic stress. Further experiments will be required to identify the active molecules [s] and their mechanism [s] of action

Hyoglycemic and hyocholesterolemic effects of acacia tortilis [FABACEAE] growing in Makkah

Traditional use of herbs and plants in centuries old and they have shown therapeutic properties. But scientific studies are not done to confirm their efficacy and margin of safety. Acacia was collected from UQU, Makkah. Leaves were separated from shoots and aqueous extract of Acacia tortilis was prepared at the concentration of 100mg/ml. Acacia aqueous extract was administered at the dose of 800 mg/kg in treated rats for seven days. The various parameters studied include blood glucose levels, serum cholesterol levels, HDL, LDL, AST, ALT and Urea. All parameters were estimated using diagnostic kits spectrophotometrically. At the end of study autopsy also performed. Administration of Acacia aqueous extract [800mg/kg] for seven consecutive days caused significant [P<0.05] decrease in blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, and LDL level while an increase in serum HDL - cholesterol was observed as compared to their control rats. However a statistically significant [P<0.05] decrease in body weight was also observed. Autopsy did not show any sign of abnormality and all rats were comparable with their control rats. The findings of the present study confirm that above-mentioned plant validates our claim. In the light of our pharmacological and toxicological studies, Acacia tortilis appears to be a valuable plant, which can be useful, at least as an adjunct, in the therapy of diabetes and hypercholesterolemia or in a condition in which hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia coexist quite often. Further the toxicological, hematological and autopsy results further confirm the wide marginal safety of Acacia torilis leaves aqueous extract

Hypotensive activity of methanolic extract of berberis vulgaris [root pulp and bark]

Many plants have been recommended in alternative systems of medicine for hypotensive activity although few systematic studies have been done. In this study, the hypotensive activity was studied in normotensive albino rats at different doses of BRPM and BB. The receptor activity was assessed by the drugs Ach on rat heart. Administration of different methanolic extract [BRPM, BB] showed significant reductions in blood pressure comparable to its respective control. Both methanolic extract completely blocked the Ach receptors in heart. This study suggests that the methanolic extract [BRPM, BB] have significant Ach receptor blocking and hypotensive activity and may be recommended for further investigation

Antinociceptive effects of poly herbal oil extract [PHOE]

A number of drugs are used widely in the traditional system of medicine or Tibb-e-Unani [Unani medicine] in the management of many diseases but these drug mostly, have not been investigated for their described effects. This study aimed to investigate antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Herbal Oil [1, 5 and 10 ml/kg] administered orally in mice and rats, using standard behavioral paradigms. It is a poly herbal preparation used in traditional medicine as a remedy for pains and other ailments. The data show that orally administered herbal oil promotes antinociceptive activity against Acetic Acid induced writhing and Formalin induced pain models. The oil also produced a dose dependent inhibition of carrageenin-induced rat paw edema. These effects were significant when compared with saline control group. The results indicate potent antinociceptive component in oil, which justify at least partially the folkloric use of oil in relieving pains

Toxicological studies of a poly herbal drug Mufarreh Yaqooti Motadil

Mufarreh Yaqooti Motadil was investigated for its toxicological activity in human dose, in rats. The drugs was found to be non-toxic and well tolerated even if treated for a long period of time. The biochemical studies revealed that drug decreased the serum level of cholesterol, triglycerides, glucoseand bilirubin non-significantly [P>0.05]. On liver the drug showed very good affects as caused a significant decrease [P<0.05] in GGT, SGPT and SGOT

Effect of mono-valent anions on active, passive tensions and tension equilibrium length of gastrocnemii of Uromastix Hardwickii

The length tension relationship has been used to determine the contractile and elastic state of the muscle. However, the shape of the active and passive tensions has been found to vary from muscle to muscle and in different animals as well. It depends upon the muscle architecture and specific function it performs. The change in the state of a skeletal muscle produced under the influence of chemical agents is not evaluated for the parameters obtained from the length tension relation. In the present study an attempt has been made to observe the effects of mono-valent anion on the contractile characteristics of isolated Gastrocnemius muscles of Uromastix. The results demonstrated that both the active and passive tensions changed on treatment with mono-valent anions with a shift in their curves. This change was statistically significant for active tensions. Further, Tension equilibrium length [TEL] also affected significantly. It is concluded that length tension parameter, TEL < resting length [Lo] is also a useful indicator of muscle state representing dominant elasticity under the influence of mono-valent anions. It can be used to express the state of different contractile and elastic characters of the skeletal muscle

Physiological and pharmacological effect of somina [herbal preparation] on cardiac parameters

The present study was conducted to investigate the physiological and pharmacological effect of Somina [herbal Preparation] on cardiac activity of Frog. The dose of Somina [20mg/ml] competitively acts on muscarinic receptor and reduced the heart rate while increased the cardiac force and duration of cardiac cycle. It is therefore concluded that somina drug regulates the cardiac activity by increasing efficiency of heart

Effect of herbal drug Somina on neurotransmitter [Dopamine]

The effects of Somina at the dose of 285-mg/kg were studied on the dopamine level in rat brain. Somina resulted in a significant increase in dopamine content. The increased concentrations of the neurotransmitters Dopamine in rat brain might be responsible to improve memory processes and reduces neuropsychiatric disorder