Pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Michelia champaca in gut, airways and cardiovascular disorders

Objective:To discover the mechanism behind ameliorative effects of Michelia champaca (M. champaca) in gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders.Methods:Anti- spasmodic potential was evaluated by trying the M. champaca extract (aqueous:ethanolic) on rabbit aorta, trachea and jejunum in vitro. Isotonic and isometric transducers coupled with Power Lab data acquisition system was used to record the responses of isolated tissues.Results:M. champaca extract relaxed the spontaneous and high KConclusion:M. champaca possesses spasmolytic, airways relaxant and vasodilator actions mediated perhaps due to blocking of Ca

Histological and anatomical study of the White Rooster of testis, epididymis and ductus deferens

This study was carried out to investigate the histological and anatomical description of the male genital tract in Iranian Native White Roosters [IWR]. The seminiferous tubules had a dense and compact organization. An average of 12 layers of cells was seen in the seminiferous tubules epithelium. The spermatogonal cell layer showed some variation between different birds in 1 -3 layers; however, the spermatocyte, secondary spermatocytes and spermatids were arranged in 2, 3-4 and 3-5 layers, respectively. The testicles were oval in shape, placed on the left and right sides of midline, situated on the caudal aspect of the lungs and the ventral aspect of either the right or left kidneys, and the visceral surfaces of the left and right lobes of the liver. The epididymis was not divided into recognizable parts and was frontally attached to the corresponding testis on its dorsomedial aspect continuous with the ductus deferens. The ducruli efferentis were moderately large with pseudostratified columnar epithelium lined with three cell types, including ciliated, non-ciliated and basal cells. The connective ducts were covered with scare ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium. The epithelium of the epididymis was pseudostratified and columnar, embedded in a loose connective tissue. The proximal part of the ductus deferens was covered with pseudostratified columnar epithelium, which was continuous with simple cuboidal epithelium towards the distal portion. Anatomical studies revealed a large sac-like accessory process that consisted of two non-discrete parts in the fronto ventricular region of the testes between the epididymis and the ductus deferens, which was closely related ventrally to the epididymis and laterally to the kidneys. This organ was lined with stratified cuboidal epithelium with thick clear mucosal muscle. The tunica sub mucosa was evident, and the outer layer was composed of a fibrous capsule with a well-developed vascular supply. This suggested that the role of the sac-like accessory process was as an organ to supply sperm, equivalent to the tail of the epididymis in mammals

Hepatoprotective effects of artemisia scoparia against carbon tetrachloride: an environmental contaminant

The hepatoprotective activity of crude extract of artemisia scoparia [aerial parts] was investigated against experimentally produced hepatic damage using carbon tetrachloride [CCI[4]] as a model hepatotoxin. CCI[4] at the dose of 1.5 ml/kg, produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the rise in serum level of AST and ALT to 395 +/- 110 and 258 +/- 61 IU/I [mean +/- SEM; n=10] respectively, compared to control values of 106 +/- 15 and 26 +/- 0.4. Pretreatment of rats with plant extract [150 mg/kg] significantly lowered [P<0.01], the respective serum GOT and GPT levels to 93 +/- 05 and 27 +/- 03 IU/I, indicating hepatoprotective action. Pentobarbital sodium [75 mg/kg]- induced sleeping time in mice was found to be 140.8 +/- 1.5 min [n=10] which was similar [P>0.05] to that obtained in the group of animals pretreated with the plant extract [139.9 +/- 1.8 min]. CCI[4] treatment extended the pentobarbital sleeping time to 212.2 +/- 19.1 min and pretreatment of animals with plant extract reversed the CCI[4]-induced prolongation in pentobarbital sleeping time to 143.9 +/- 5.5 min [P<0.001] which further confirms the protective action of the plant extract against CCI[4]-induced liver damage. These data indicate that the plant artemisia scoparia is hepatoprotective and validate the folkloric use of this plant in liver damage