Effect of cardamom oil on gastric secretions, gastric mucosa and induced contractions in rat stomach fundus

The aim of this work was to demonstrate the effect of cardamom oil on gastric secretions, gastric mucosa and induced contractionsin rat stomach fundus. This study was carried out on 40 rats divided into five groups each of 8 rats: Group 1: Control group. Group 2: Received a single dose of cardamom oil [5 ul Kg orally] Group 3: Received a single dose of cardamom oil [50 ul Kg orally] Group 4: Pretreated with cimetidine before cardamom administration. Group 5: Pretreated with atropine before cardamom oil. In all groups the gastric secretion was collected by pyloric ligation, for estimation of HCL concentration, mucin content and peptic activity. Furthermore. isolated stomach fundus strips were used for demonstration of cardamom oil effect on induced gastric contractions. The oil produced a dose dependent increase in both free and total gastric acidity as well as peptic activity. It also produced a slight increase in gastric mucin content. The oil at a dose of 5 ul/kg produced gastric hyperemia in 50% of rats, while a dose of 50 ul/kg produced mild gastric erosinos in 75% of the tested rats. Pretreatment with cimetidine [50 mg/kg] before administration of cardamom oil resulted in a significant reduction in both free and total gastric acidity as compared to that of the untreated animals. Moreover, pretreatment with atropine [1 mg/kg] before administration of cardamom Oil also produced a significant reduction in free and total gastric acidity as compared to that of the untreated animals. Additionally, the oil inhibited the histamine induced stomach fundus contractions on one hand and enhanced that induced by acetylcholine on the other. Cardamom oil has a stimulatory effect on gastric secretion

Effect of praziquantel on blood and liver granuloma histamine and brain serotonin contents in experimental schistosomiasis

The effects of schistosoma mansoni infection and praziquantel treatment on blood and liver granuloma histamine contents and brain and liver granuloma serotonin contents were studied in mice experimentally infected each with 60 cercariae of an Egyptian strain of S. mansoni. Praziquantel [5x250 mg/kg] was- administered 8 and 12 weeks after infection and mice were sacrificed 2 weeks after treatment. Infection produced a transient increase in blood histamine and brain serotonin contents 10 weeks after infection. Praziquantel has no effect on the previously mentioned parameters. Liver granulomas up to 200 mg wet weight showed no serotonin contents. Local increase in granuloma histamine contents with chronicity of infection was observed amounting to 0.584 +/- 0.04 and 3.027 +/- 0.244 ug/g. Net weight 10 and 14 weeks after infection respectively. Praziquantel administered 12 weeks after infection produced significant increase in liver granuloma histamine contents