Evaluation of the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of asiatic acid, a compound from Gotu kola or Centella asiatica, in the male Sprague Dawley rat.

Herbal medication use continues to rise and interactions with existing medications propose risks and may have significant effects and consequences on the administration of anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of asiatic acid and its potential modulation of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor. Fifty-five male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: vehicle (DMSO), asiatic acid (AA), midazolam, or a combination of flumazenil + AA or midazolam + AA, and injected intraperitoneally 30 minutes prior to testing. The rats were tested on the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and the Forced Swim Test (FST). Data were analyzed using a two-tailed multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Significance was found regarding the ratio of open arm time, maximum speed, and time spent mobile in the AA group and the midazolam + AA group (P < .05). Flumazenil decreased the anxiolytic effects, suggesting that AA modulates the benzodiazepine site on the GABAA receptor. Further studies are recommended to determine the efficacy of prolonged treatment for anxiety and depression.

An evidence-based review of the use of a combat gauze (QuikClot) for hemorrhage control.

Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Uncontrolled hemorrhage related to the traumatic event is often the major cause of complications and death. The use of hemostatic agents may be one of the easiest and most effective methods of treating hemorrhage. The US military recommends a hemostatic combat gauze (QuikClot Combat Gauze) as the first-line hemostatic agent for use in treatment of severe hemorrhage. This review provides essential information for evidence-based use of this agent. The PICO (patient, intervention, comparison, outcome) question guiding this search for evidence was: Is QuikClot Combat Gauze, a hemostatic agent, effective and safe in controlling hemorrhage in trauma patients in the prehospital setting? The evidence appraised was a combination of lower-level human and animal research. It did not conclusively demonstrate that this combat gauze is an effective hemostatic agent for use in trauma patients, but the results are promising in supporting its use. The evidence does not describe serious side effects, exothermic reaction, and thromboemboli formation associated with other hemostatic agents. Further investigation to determine the effectiveness of hemostatic agents, specifically QuikClot Combat Gauze, in the management of trauma casualties in the prehospital setting is required. These should include large-scale, multicenter, prehospital randomized controlled trials.

Evaluation of the anxiolytic properties of tetrahydropalmatine, a Corydalis yanhusuo compound, in the male Sprague-Dawley rat.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects of tetrahydropalmatine (THP) and its potential interaction with the benzodiazepine binding site on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor in the male Sprague-Dawley rat. Tetrahydropalmatine (THP), an active component isolated from the Chinese herbal plant Corydalis yanhusuo, is used in Asia for its analgesic, sedative, and hypnotic properties during herbal therapy. Fifty-five rats were assigned to 1 of 5 groups with 11 rats per group: 1) control (vehicle), 2) THP, 3) midazolam, 4) midazolam with THP, and 5) flumazenil with THP. In this study, the elevated plus-maze measured the behavioral components of anxiety and motor movements. The data were analyzed using a 2-tailed multivariate analysis of variance to determine if a significant difference existed followed by the least significant difference post hoc test. The findings suggest that THP, 25 mg/kg, given via intraperitoneal injection, results in significant anxiolysis and decreased motor movements. Furthermore, flumazenil, 3 mg/kg, does not fully antagonize the effects of THP.