[ effect of donepezil on morphine-induced withdrawal syndrome in rats]

Long-term exposure to opiates induces physical and psychological dependency. Despite a large number of studies on this subject, cellular mechanism involved in this phenomenon is not yet exactly clear. In this study, we investigated the effects of donepezil, an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, on morphin-induced withdrawal symptoms in rats. In this experimental study,6 groups of male Sprague Dawly rats weighting between 225 and 300 g, received 10 mg/kg, ip morphine/ day in addition to 1 ml/kg,ip saline or 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg/kg, ip donepezil. In order to induce dependency, morphine was administered subcutaneously every 12 hours for nine days. On the ninth day, 30 minutes after the last dose of morphine, control groups received 1 ml/kg, ip saline and experimental groups received ip donepezil. After 30 min, naloxone [4 mg/kg, ip] were administered for all groups and the withdrawal symptoms including: jumping, rearing, genital grooming, abdomen writhing, body grooming and wet dog shake, were recorded for 60 minutes. Our results showed that donepezil decreased withdrawal symptoms, also it could attenuate the total withdrawal score, significantly. The results of this study showed that donepezil as an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, could decrease withdrawal symptoms in rats

[Effect of methanolic and n-hexanic extracts of allium porrum L. on some human coagulation tests in vitro]

Allium porrum L. is a plant from the Liliaceae family and has been used in Iranian foods as flavor. It has been used in traditional medicine in different ways. In the western parts of Iran, people believe that the fresh Allium juice can inhibit epistaxis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of methanolic and n-hexanic extracts of Allium porrum L. on coagulation tests in human beings in vitro. The methanolic and n-hexanic extracts of Allium porrum L. were prepared using continuous extraction method. Effect of different concentrations of extracts on prothrombin time [PT], partial thromboplastin time [PTT] and clotting time [CT] was evaluated. The result was analyzed by analysis of variance. The results of the present study showed that the methanolic extract of Allium porrum increased PT and PTT but failed to change the clotting time. In the presence of N-hexanic extract, clotting time increased but PT decreased. The results of this study indicated that Allium porrum extracts had a significant anti-coagulatory effect. However, some of the findings of this study are controversial, and further studies on animal models are needed in order to clarify the possible mechanisms