RESUMO
Maintaining posture and movement stabilities, that is, balance, is particularly important for safety in daily life along with performing exercises. The purpose of this study was to clarify the changes in static and dynamic balance abilities from 8:00 to 18:00 and investigate the factors of change in balance ability among healthy young people. The subjects were nine relatively active healthy university students. The static and dynamic balance abilities were measured by a body sway test while static standing and the Cross Test, in which the center of gravity was voluntarily moved to the maximum in the front, back, left, and right directions, respectively. No change with time was observed in the static balance index. However, the maximum amplitude in the anteroposterior direction, an index of dynamic balance, significantly increased with time (8:00 vs 18:00, p<0.05). Sleepiness score significantly decreased with time (8:00 vs 18:00, p<0.05). As a result of simple correlation analysis, there were significant relationships between static balance indices (environmental area and rectangle area) and autonomic activity index (heart rate variability) at many times (p<0.05). Thus, it was concluded that the static balance ability was not affected by time. Furthermore, the ability to move the center of gravity in the anteroposterior direction of dynamic balance was low during morning and increased with time in relatively active healthy young people. Additionally, it was suggested that autonomic nervous activity was associated with static balance and the sleepiness was associated with dynamic balance.
RESUMO
The results of neuropharmacological, microbiological and toxicological studies on the ethanol extract of the bark of Excoecaria agallocha are reported. The extract (100 and 200 mg/kg dosages) was found to produce a profound decrease in exploratory activity in a dose-dependent manner. It also showed a marked sedative effect as evidenced by a significant reduction in gross behaviour and potentiation of sodium thiopental-induced sleeping time. The totality of these effects showed that the extract possesses depressant action on the central nervous system (CNS). The extract of E. agallocha exhibited significant in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei and Enterococci with the zones of inhibition ranging from 11 to 15 mm. While the extract showed considerable brine shrimp toxicity (LD50 = 20 mg/mL), it displayed only low level of toxicity in mice.
Os resultados dos estudos neurofarmacológicos, microbiológicos e toxicológicos do extrato etanólico da casca de Excoecaria agallocha são reportados. O extrato (dosagens de 100 e 200 mg/kg) produziu uma diminuição profunda na atividade exploratória de maneira dose-dependente. Ele também mostrou um efeito sedativo marcante conforme evidenciado por uma redução significativa no comportamento total e potencialização do tempo de sono induzido por tiopental sódico. A totalidade destes efeitos mostrou que o extrato possui ação depressora sobre o sistema nervoso central (SNC). O extrato de E. agallocha exibiu significante atividade antibacteriana in vitro contra Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei e Enterococci com as zonas de inibição medindo entre 11 a 15 mm. Enquanto o extrato mostrou considerável toxicidade em Artemia salina (DL50 = 20 mg/mL), ele exibiu apenas baixo nível de toxicidade em camundongos.