Antidepressant Activity of Phyllanthus Amarus Ethanolic Extract in Experimental Animal Model.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the antidepressant effect of Phyllanthus amarus ethanolic extract in Wistar albino rats. Methods: The ethanolic extract of leaves of Phyllanthus amarus [PAEE] at a dose of 100mg/kg/body weight was administered orally for ten days. On tenth day, after one hour, the animals were taken for forced swimming test, to assess the level of depression. Results: The results indicate PAEE has significant antidepressant activity Conclusions: The antidepressant activity of Phyllanthus amarus can be due to its effect on brain neurotransmitters or due to antioxidant property.

Effect of Electron Beam Radiations on Anxiety in Experimental Animal Models.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to test the effect of whole body electron beam radiation on anxiety statein Swiss albino mice. Methods: Mice were irradiated with three different doses (2Gy,4Gy,6Gy)of electron beam radiations.After 24hours of radiation exposure animals were taken for testing level of anxiety using elevated plus maze and light dark arena apparatus. Results: Whole body electron beam irradiation at doses of 2, 4 and 6Gy lead to significant (p<0.001) anxiogenic activity in irradiated mice. Conclusions: Electron beam radiation has the potential to cause anxiety.

Effect of Phyllanthus Amarus on Haloperidol Induced Catalepsy in Experimental Animal Models.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the anticataleptic effect of Phyllanthus amarus ethanolic extract in Swiss albino mice. Methods: The ethanolic extract of leaves of Phyllanthus amarus [PAEE] at a dose of 100mg/kg/body weight was administered orally for ten days. On tenth day, one hour later Haloperidol [1 mg/ kg IP] was administered to induce catalepsy. Results: The results indicate that induction of catalepsy by Haloperidol in Swiss albino mice was significantly prevented by PAEE. Conclusions: The anticataleptic activity of Phyllanthus amarus can be due to its effect on brain neurotransmitters or due to antioxidant property.

Anticonvulsant Activity of Moringa Oleifera in Swiss Albino Mice.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate anticonvulsant effect of Moringa oleifera on maximal electroshock (MES), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and pilocarpine induced seizures. Methods: The ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (200mg/ Kg) was used to study its anticonvulsant effect on MES, PTZ and pilocarpine induced seizures in Swiss albino mice. Suppression of the tonic hind limb extension, duration of convulsion, abolition of convulsions was noted respectively for the above tests. Results: The ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves (200mg/ Kg) significantly (p<0.001) abolished the hind limb extension induced by MES. The same dose also significantly (p<0.001) protected the animals from PTZ induced tonic convulsions. None of the animals treated with same dose of plant extract reached the status epilepticus state in pilocarpine induced seizures. Conclusions: The data suggests that the ethanolic extracts Moringa oleifera leaves may produce its anticonvulsant effect via different mechanisms since it prevented the hind limb extension induced by MES, decreased the duration of convulsions produced by PTZ and abolished status epilepticus in pilocarpine induced seizures.

Pre-Clinical Screening of Indigenous Medicinal Plant Phyllanthus Amarus for its Analgesic Activity.

Background: Phyllanthus amarus aqueous extract was investigated for its central and peripheral analgesic activities. Objectives: To evaluate the central and peripheral analgesic activities of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus. Materials and Methods: The aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus was prepared using soxhlet apparatus. An in vivo study using Swiss albino mice was done to screen the central and peripheral analgesic activity of P.amarus extract. The extract was administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight I.P. The peripheral analgesic activity was assessed using acetic acid induced writhing test.The central analgesic activity was assessed using Eddy’s hot plate apparatus. Results: The aqueous extract of P.amarus showed significant (p<0.05) peripheral and central analgesic activity.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that P.amarus aqueous extract exhibited significant analgesic activities.

Protective Role of Tylophora Indica Ethanolic Extract on Artesunate Induced Liver Toxicity.

Objective: The hepatoprotective role of Tylophora indica ethanolic extract was studied on artesunate induced liver injury in wistar albino rats. Methods: Liver toxicity was induced by administering artesunate110mg/kg orally for 14 days in wistar albino rats. Ethanolic (90%) extracts of Tylophora indica (EETI) was administered orally to the experimental animals for 14 days. The hepatoprotective activity of the extracts was assessed by analyzing the levels of various biochemical parameters like alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkalinephosphatase (ALP), γ‐glutamyltransferase (GGT), bilirubin (BIL) and albumin (ALB) in serum. Meanwhile thelevels of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured in rat liver homogenate. Results: The results showed that on administration of artesunate for 14 days caused a significant increase (p<0.001) in the levels of ALT, AST, ALP and GGT in serum. The levels of SOD and CAT in liver homogenate were also decreased significantly (p<0.01) in artesunate administered animals. The levels of above biochemical parameters were significantly (p< 0.001) reversed in rats which received EETI. Conclusions: The present study proves that the ethanolic extract of Tylophora indica has a significant protective action against artesunate induced hepatic injury.

Anticonvulsant activity of phyllanthus amarus in experimental animal models.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate anticonvulsant effect of Phyllanthus amarus on maximal electroshock-induced seizures (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures. Methods: The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the leaves and stems of P. amarus (70 mg/kg, p.o) were studied for their anticonvulsant effect on MES and PTZ induced seizures in Swiss albino rats. The latency of tonic convulsions and the number of animals protected from tonic convulsions were noted. Results: The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the leaves and stems of P. amarus (70 mg/kg, p.o) significantly (p<0.001) abolished the hind limb extension induced by MES. The same dose also significantly (p<0.001) protected the animals from PTZ induced tonic convulsions. Conclusions: The data suggests that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of P. amarus may produce its anticonvulsant effects via non-specific mechanisms since it abolished the hind limb extension induced by MES as well as delayed the latency of seizures produced by PTZ.