Anti-epileptic effect of morin against experimental pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures via modulating brain monoamines and oxidative stress

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of morin against pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced tonic-clonic convulsions in mice. Methods: Swiss albino mice (18-22 g) was used to induce convulsions by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of PTZ (90 mg/kg). Mice were either pretreated with morin (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) or vehicle (distilled water, 10 mg/kg) 45 min before PTZ administration. Various behavioral and biochemical parameters were assessed. Results: PTZ administration resulted in significant production (P<0.001) of tonic-clonic conclusion and mortality in mice. PTZ-induced increase in the duration of convulsion, onset of convulsion and mortality was inhibited significantly by morin (20 and 40 mg/kg) administration. The PTZ-induced decrease in brain GABA, dopamine and Na

Prophylactic effects of asiaticoside-based standardized extract of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban leaves on experimental migraine: Involvement of 5HT1A/1B receptors / 中国天然药物

The present study aimed at evaluation of prophylactic efficacy and possible mechanisms of asiaticoside (AS) based standardized extract of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban leaves (INDCA) in animal models of migraine. The effects of oral and intranasal (i.n.) pretreatment of INDCA (acute and 7-days subacute) were evaluated against nitroglycerine (NTG, 10 mg·kg(-1), i.p.) and bradykinin (BK, 10 μg, intra-arterial) induced hyperalgesia in rats. Tail flick latencies (from 0 to 240 min) post-NTG treatment and the number of vocalizations post-BK treatment were recorded as a measure of hyperalgesia. Separate groups of rats for negative (Normal) and positive (sumatriptan, 42 mg·kg(-1), s.c.) controls were included. The interaction of INDCA with selective 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT1D receptor antagonists (NAN-190, Isamoltane hemifumarate, and BRL-15572 respectively) against NTG-induced hyperalgesia was also evaluated. Acute and sub-acute pre-treatment of INDCA [10 and 30 mg·kg(-1) (oral) and 100 μg/rat (i.n.) showed significant anti-nociception activity, and reversal of the NTG-induced hyperalgesia and brain 5-HT concentration decline. Oral pre-treatment with INDCA (30 mg·kg(-1), 7 d) showed significant reduction in the number of vocalization. The anti-nociceptive effects of INDCA were blocked by 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B but not 5-HT1D receptor antagonists. In conclusion, INDCA demonstrated promising anti-nociceptive effects in animal models of migraine, probably through 5-HT1A/1B medicated action.

Protective effect of aqueous extract of Feronia elephantum correa leaves on thioacetamide induced liver necrosis in diabetic rats

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evalueate hepatoprotective effects Feronia elephantum (F. elephantum) correa against thioacetamide (TA) induced liver necrosis in diabetic rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male wistar rats were made diabetic with alloxan (160 mg/kg) on day 0 of the study. They were intoxicated with hepatotoxicant (thioacetamide, 300 mg/kg, ip) on day 9 of study to produce liver necrosis. Effects of 7 day daily once administration (day 2 to day 9) of EF (400 and 800 mg/kg, po) were evaluated on necorosis of liver in terms of mortality, liver volume, liver weight, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and serum alanine transaminase (ALT), and histopathology of liver sections (for signs of necorosis and inflammation) on day-9 of the study. Separate groups of rats with treated only with alloxan (DA control), thioacetamide (TA control) and both (TA+DA control) were maintained.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>FE significantly lowered the mortality rate and showed improvement in liver function parameters in TA-induced diabetic rats without change in liver weight, volume and serum glucose levels.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>FE showed promising activity against TA-induced liver necorsis in diabetic rats and so might be useful for prevention of liver complications in DM.</p>

Effect of newly synthesized 1,2,4-triazino5,6-bindole-3-thione derivatives on olfactory bulbectomy induced depression in rats

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the derivatives of 1,2,4-triazino[5,6-b]indole-3-thione for antidepressant activity in olfactory bulbectomized (OBX) rats. Out of various derivatives tested for acute tail suspension test, the two derivatives showing prominent action were selected for bilateral olfactory bulbectomy model of chronic depression in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The sub acute effects of 14-day oral pretreatment of two derivatives labeled as 3a (70 mg/kg) and 3r (70 mg/kg), imipramine (20 mg/kg), fluoxetine (30 mg/kg) and moclobemide (15 mg/kg) were evaluated on bilateral bulbectomy induced rise in body weight, hyperphagia, hyperactivity, and on sexual dysfunction. The serum sodium concentration, body temperature, and heart rate were also recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The derivatives 3a and 3r showed reversal of drop in body weight, reversed OBX induced hyperactivity, normalized body temperature, heart rate, and serum sodium concentration. In elevated maze test, moclobemide, 3a, 3r treatment significantly reduced time spent in open arm as compared to OBX rats. 3a and 3r also improved sexual behavior parameters.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The present study shows promising antidepressant action and provides a proof of concept for the chronic treatment of 3a, 3r to treat depression.</p>

Ameliorative effects of standardized extract from Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seeds on painful peripheral neuropathy in rats

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the effects of the standardized extract of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Family: Leguminasae) seed (IND01) in animal models of peripheral neuropathy.@*METHODS@#IND01 was prepared from fenugreek seeds and standardized by high performance liquid chromatography to a marker compound, trigonelline. The effects of daily oral administration of IND01 (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) were studied in rats after partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) and sciatic nerve crush injury (SNCI) during 30-days period. The measurements on thermal hyperalgesia (TH), motor function test (MFT) score and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were recorded.@*RESULTS@#IND01 offered sustained protection against TH and deranged MFT scores in both models from 7-day onwards. Fifteen days of daily oral administration of IND01 restored MNCV reduction in rats with SNCI but not with PSNL.@*CONCLUSIONS@#IND01 was found to be effective in rat models of painful peripheral neuropathy.

In vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity cycloart-23-ene-3β,-25-diol (B2) isolated from Pongamia pinnata (L. Pierre)

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the in-vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of cycloart-23-ene-3β, 25-diol (called as B2) isolated from stem bark of Pongamia pinnata.@*METHODS@#In vitro antioxidant activity of B2 was determined by methods for determination of DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, metal chelating and nitric oxide radical scavenging at the doses of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μg/mL, respectively. β-tocopherol with same concentration was used as a standard antioxidant. In vitro antimicrobial activity of B2 was determined by cup plate method in different concentration range of 10-100 μg/mL.@*RESULTS@#The results indicated that dose dependent % reduction against DPPH radical, reducing power, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, metal chelating, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and nitric oxide radical scavenging by B2 and β-tocopherol.@*CONCLUSIONS@#It is concluded that cycloart 23-ene-3β, 25 diol (B2) showed dose dependent antioxidant activity. B2 showed more DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power, superoxide scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, metal chelating scavenging, hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity than β-tocopherol and in case of antimicrobial activity B2 exhibited broad-spectrum activity against bacteria and strong activity against yeast type of fungi.

Anti-hyperglycaemic activity of IND 01 and its interaction with glyburide and pioglitazone in alloxan induced diabetic mice

The antihyperglycaemic activity of IND 01 and its interaction with glyburide and pioglitazone on serum glucose, body weight and oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] was determined in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. IND 01 [100 mg/kg], glyburide [10 mg/kg], pioglitzone [10 mg/kg] and their concomitant administration were administered orally in alloxan [80 mg/kg, i.v.] induced diabetic mice. The study design consisted of estimation of serum glucose after acute, subacute and glucose load administration. Administration of IND 01 [100 mg/kg] alone significantly [p<0.001] reduced serum glucose level at 6 h after administration. The antihyperglycaemic effect of glyburide and their concomitant administration of IND 01 with glyburide were similar, that is, onset was 2 h; peak effect was 6 h but the effect waned at 24 h. The onset of concomitant administration of IND 01 with pioglitazone was 4 h; peak effect was at 6 h but the effect waned at 24 h. In the subacute study, reduction in serum glucose was observed on 28[th] day after withdrawal for 7 days. The effects of concomitant administration were more pronounced than single drug treatment. In mice treated with either IND 01 [100 mg/kg], glyburide, pioglitazone alone or their combination, the body weight was not reduced in contrast to that in the control group. In the oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT], increased glucose utilization was observed in animals after concomitant administration of IND 01 [100 mg/kg] and glyburide [10 mg/kg] as well as IND 01 [100 mg/kg] and pioglitazone [10 mg/kg]. The concomitant administration of IND 01 with glyburide as well as pioglitzone produced synergistic antihyperglycaemic effect than either drug alone