Antidiarrhoeal and neuropharmacological activities of Avicennia officinalis Linn.

The methanolic extract of the leaves of Avicennia officinalis Linn. was tested for its antidiarrhoeal and neuropharmacological activities The extract showed a significant antidiarrhoeal activity against castor oil induced diarhoea in mice in which it decreased the frequency of defecation and increased mean latent period at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight Moreover, it potentiated the pentobarbital induced sleeping time in mice at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight, and decreased the number of holes crossed from one chamber in the hole cross test and decreased the head dip responses. The overall results tend to suggest the antidiarrhoeal and central nervous system depressant activities of the extract

Chemical and biological investigation of kigelia pinnata

The crude ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Kigelia pinnata was evaluated for its antioxidant, cytotoxic and antinociceptive activities. The antioxidant property of the ethanol extract of Kigelia pinnata was assessed by 1, l-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl [DPPH] free radical scavenging assay. The extract showed potential antioxidant activity [IC[50] about 110 micro g/ml], which was comparable to standard drug ascorbic acid [IC [50] at about 3.16 micro g/ml]. Brine Shrimp lethality bioassay indicated its cytotoxic property [LC[50] 100 micro g/ml]. Moreover, it produced significant [P < 0.001] writhing inhibition in acetic acid induced writhing in mice at the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively, which was comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium. The results tend to suggest the antioxidant, cytotoxic and antinociceptive activities of the crude ethanolic extract of Kigelia pinnata

Antibacterial and antinociceptive activity of Hoya parasitica

The ethanol extract of leaves of Hoya parasitica was tested for its antibacterial and antinociceptive activities. The extract showed moderate antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It also produced significant [P<0.01] writhing inhibition in Swiss albino mice at oral dose of 500 mg/kg body weight comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium