A study on anxiolytic activity and locomotor behavior of Curcuma amada rhizomes using Wistar albino rats

Background: Global burden of disease statistics indicate that 4 of 10 most important causes of disease worldwide are psychiatric in origin. Anxiety affects 1/8th of total population of the world and is a very important area of research interest in psychopharmacology. Medicinal plants and plant products are the oldest tried health-care products. Their importance is growing not only in developing countries but in many developed countries. Curcuma amada Roxb. (CA) commonly known as Mango Ginger is a rhizomatous aromatic herb which is used in this country for culinary purposes and also to treat various diseases. The rhizomes of Curcuma amada was screened for anxiolytic activity and locomotor behavior in Wistar albino rats.Methods: Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups as control (Distilled water with 0.1% CMC), standard (Diazepam - 1mg/kg) and test - Ethanolic Extract of Curcuma amada Rhizome (EECAR-250 mg/kg). They were administered drugs orally for a period of 10 days, and screened for anxiolytic activity using Light dark arena model and Actophotometer for assessing the locomotor behavior on the 10th day. The number of crossings and time spent in light arena for anxiolytic activity, and the number of movements in Actophotometer was noted. Data was analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by Tukey Kramer multiple comparison test using GraphPad InStat software.Results: Curcuma amada (250mg/kg) showed increased time spent in light arena and decreased locomotor behavior which was statistically significant.Conclusions: Curcuma amada possesses significant anxiolytic with CNS depressant activity.

Preclinical evaluation of Boswellia serrata for anxiolytic activity.

Background: Boswellia serrata (BS) has been described in the ancient Ayurvedic texts Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita. It possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-arthritic and antioxidant properties. It is found that BS helps in surging of GABA levels in mice brain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible anxiolytic activity of BS in Swiss albino mice by light and dark arena (LDA) and elevated plus maze (EPM) models. Methods: In this study, BS (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg; p.o) was evaluated for anxiolytic action and compared with standard drug (diazepam) and control (normal saline) in mice by LDA and EPM models. In LDA, number of entries and time spent in light and dark boxes were noted for individual mouse. Similarly, number of entries and time spent in open and closed arms were recorded for EPM model. Results: One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett’s post-hoc test was used to analyze the data. BS in a dose of 50 mg/kg has shown significant increase in time spent in light box (p<0.05) and decrease in time spent in dark box (p<0.05) when compared to control group in LDA model. Similarly, in EPM model 200 mg/kg of BS significantly increased time spent in open arm (p<0.001) and decrease in time spent in closed arm (p<0.001) when compared to control group. Conclusion: BS in dose of 50 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg has significant anxiolytic action in animal models.

Pro-Convulsant Effect of Olanzapine, an Atypical Antipsychotic on Maximal Electro Shock Induced Seizures in Wistar Albino Rats.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the chronic effect of Olanzapine; an atypical antipsychotic drug on maximal electroshock (MES) induced seizures in Wistar albino rats. Methods: Olanzapine (2mg/kg, 10 days orally) was used to study its effect on MES induced seizures in Wistar albino rats. Duration of the tonic hind limb extension was noted. Results: Olanzapine (2mg/kg) significantly (p<0.001) increased the duration of hind limb extension induced by MES. Conclusions: The data suggests that Olanzapine, the atypical antipsychotic drug has a proconvulsant action.

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.

Chronic Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Leaves of Clerodendrum viscosum by Carrageenin Induced Paw Oedema in Wistar Albino Rats.

Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate chronic anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of the leaves of Clerodendrum viscosum (EELCV) by carrageenin induced paw oedema in Wistar albino rats. Study Design: Prospective. Place and Duration of Study: Dept of Pharmacology, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya University, Derlakatte, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India. June 2010-August 2010. Methodology: Dried powdered leaves of Clerodendrum viscosum were subjected to Soxhlet extraction by using 90 % ethanol. Based on acute oral toxicity study according to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines no. 423, three doses of the test drug was selected (75, 150 & 300 mg/kg) for rats, and were subjected to screening for anti-inflammatory activity. Results: Oral administration of EELCV at doses of 150 mg/kg (P = .01) and 300mg/kg (P = .05) has shown significant anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenin induced paw oedema in Wistar albino rats compared to control. A significant inhibition of oedema formation was also observed at 4th hour. Conclusion: Administration of EELCV orally at the doses of 150 mg/kg (P = .01) and 300mg/kg (P = .05) showed significant anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenin induced paw oedema in Wistar Albino rats. The percentage inhibition of the oedema at 3rd hour was 63.75 % for the dose of 150 mg/kg and 46.30 % for the dose of 300 mg/kg. A significant inhibition was also observed at 4th hour.

Acute anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Leucas indica by carrageenan induced paw oedema in wistar albino rats.

Background: Inflammation is basically a defense phenomenon but can lead to serious pathological conditions. It is treated by various agents with good to moderate success because of both considerable toxicity and side effects. There are various mediators to cause an inflammatory reaction that can contribute to the associated symptoms and tissue injury. Even though non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world, their use as anti-inflammatory agents continues to be principally limited by their undesired side effects. Hence, the traditional medical practitioners and scientists are turning towards Indian System of Medicine (ISM). Methods: Dried powdered leaves of Leucas indica were subjected to solvent extraction by using 90 % ethanol. Based on acute oral toxicity study according to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines No. 423, three doses of the test drug 75, 150 & 300mg/kg were selected and subjected to preclinical anti-inflammatory screening by carrageenin induced paw oedema in Wistar Albino rats. Results : Oral administration of Ethanolic Extract Of Leaves of Leucas Indica (EELLI) at doses of 150 mg/kg and 300mg/kg showed significant anti-inflammatory activity 52.58% (p<0.01) and 36.87% (p<0.05) respectively compared to control. Conclusion: Even though oral administration of EELLI has shown significant anti-inflammatory activity, further studies are required to evaluate its comprehensive analysis including quantitative / semi quantitative analysis, characterize its chemical structure and assess its pharmacotherapeutic activities with exact mechanism of action as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Phyllanthus Amarus and Tylophora Indica on Isoniazid Induced Hepatic Injury in Wistar Albino Rats.

Objective: To assess the hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract of leaves and stem of Phyllanthus amarus and ethanolic extract of leaves of Tylophora indica against Isoniazid induced liver toxicity in experimental animals. Methods: Liver toxicity was induced by administering Isoniazid 27mg/kg orally for 30 days in Wistar albino rats. Ethanolic (90%) extracts of Phyllanthus amarus (PAEE) and Tylophora indica (TIEE) was administered orally to the experimental animals for 30days. The hepatoprotective activity of the extracts was assessed by analyzing the levels of various biochemical parameters like Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ‐Glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBL) and albumin (ALB) in serum. Mean while the levels of antioxidant enzymes like Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in rat liver homogenate. Results: The results showed that on administration of Isoniazid for 30 days caused a significant increase (p<0.001) in the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, TBL in serum. At the same time, the serum level of ALB was significantly (p<0.01) reduced in Isoniazid administered rats. The levels of SOD, CAT and GSH in liver homogenate were also decreased significantly (p< 0.01) in Isoniazid administered animals. The levels of above biochemical parameters were significantly (p< 0.001) reversed in rats which received PAEE and TIEE. Conclusion: The present study proves that the ethanolic extracts of Phyllanthus amarus and Tylophora indica have a significant protective action against isoniazid induced hepatic injury.

Chronic central and peripheral analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of the leaves of clerodendrum viscosum in rodent models.

The aim of the study was to investigate the chronic peripheral analgesic activity of Ethanolic Extract of the leaves of Clerodendrum viscosum (EECV) by acetic acid induced writhing reflex test in mice and chronic central analgesic activity of EECV by tail immersion method in rats. Dried powdered leaves of Clerodendrum viscosum were subjected to solvent extraction by using 90 % ethanol. Based on acute oral toxicity study according to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines No. 423, three doses of the test drug was selected and were subjected to chronic analgesic activity. EECV showed significant chronic peripheral analgesic activity (p<0.01) in mice in the dose of 200 mg / kg and moderate analgesic activity at the dose of 400 mg/kg (p<0.05) as compared to control and the standard drug Indomethacin. But failed to show any chronic central analgesic activity by tail immersion method at any of the three doses selected compared to control and standard drug Pentazocin in rats.

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.

Co-existence of lepromatous leprosy and myasthenia gravis.

Various circulating autoantibodies are known to occur commonly in patients with lepromatous leprosy. However, the association with autoimmune diseases has rarely been reported. One such association of lepromatous leprosy with myasthenia gravis is being reported.

Local anaesthetic for minor oral surgical procedures. Review.

Pain following any surgical procedure is difficult to combat by man. Analgesics can be given for some amount of symptomatic relief. The need for a long lasting local anaesthetic is with the intention to reduce the most severe nature of pain, and decrease the analgesic consumption. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of, Bupivacaine over Lidocaine for minor oral surgical procedures. The popularly used lidocaine works for 3 to 3.9 hours. This is not sufficient since the most severe nature of pain is felt six to eight hours post surgery, where as Bupivacaine has duration of action of seven to eight hours. Hence the post operative pain experienced following administration of bupivacaine was found to be considerably lesser in degree than compared to the lidocaine group. To avoid severe pain and discomfort to the patient following any minor oral surgical, the use of bupivacaine is recommended.

A new nomenclature for oral and maxillofacial surgery that is facial and oral surgery.

To assess whether majority of the public and medical professionals do understand the field Oral & Maxillo-Facial Surgery. To find this, a questionnaire was devised based on P. Ammerally et al. 200 members of the public with educated background and 100 general medical practitioners participated in this study. The results revealed that majority of the public needed more information on the field where as the General medical practitioners were aware, but lacked information about the majority of activity in the field.

Effect of dietary fish on antioxidant parameters of normal and cholesterol stressed rats.

Feeding fish (Sardinella longiceps) to normal rats increased lipid peroxidation and total and Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity in erythrocytes and manganese dependent superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activity in liver. Feeding fish to cholesterol stressed rats showed a significant increase in the activity of GSH-px and cholesterol feeding alone, resulted in a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation and liver Mn-SOD activity. The results suggest that the high polyunsaturated fatty acid content of S. longiceps, the fish abundantly available in the west coast of India, does not have any deleterious effect by way of free radical generation. The observed lipid peroxidation is not critical as is evident from the results of glutathione level and other scavenging enzymes.

Thymomatous myasthenia gravis.

Ten cases of thymoma associated myasthenia were seen in the last 7 years. They constitute 17.2% of all cases of Myasthenia gravis seen during the same period. Five of these patients presented in the third decade, all of them presenting with acute generalised Myasthenia (Osserman stage-III). Two patients presented with tumour related symptoms of chest pain, cough and dyspnea both of them having large, invasive and partially resectable tumours. Five patients underwent complete thymectomy and 3 patients underwent partial resection of tumour. Two patients underwent radiotherapy subsequently. Histologically, mixed lymphoepithelial tumours were common (70%). Tumour recurrence was seen in one patient. Two patients died, one in the post operative period. The surviving 8 patients followed up over 1-8 years remained in partial remission, on maintenance dose of steroids. The special problems related to thymomatous MG and practical approach to management are highlighted.

Conformations of deoxydinucleoside phosphates containing pyrimidine-pyrimidine photodimers.

Conformational analysis of deoxydinucleoside monophosphates with the sequences TpT and CpC have been carried out with the incorporation of both cyclobutane type pyrimidine dimers and 6-4 photoadducts using the methods of molecular mechanics energy minimization. The effect of flexibility with respect to sugar geometries and glycosidic torsions have been studied and the relative energies of a large variety of structures have been compared. The salient features obtained from these calculations have been compared with the crystallographic and spectroscopic data on pyrimidine dimer incorporated deoxydinucleoside monophosphates. Effects of "inserting" the energetically favourable conformations of such structures into B-DNA helices have been discussed in terms of the distortions in helical structures.