Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2011 in |
This study was aimed to investigate analgesic and neuropharmacological actions of the methanolic extract of rhizomes of Hedychium coronarium. The analgesic activity was evaluated for its central and peripheral pharmacological actions using tail immersion method and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice respectively. The extract, at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, produced a significant increase in pain threshold in tail immersion methods in a dose dependent manner. In acetic acid-induced writhing test, the extract at 400 mg/kg dose showed a maximum of 73.12% writhing inhibition (p <0.001) compared to the control and this activity was comparable to 75.78% inhibition of writhing by standard drug Diclofenac-Na (25 mg/kg). The extract was also investigated for its neuropharmacological action using hole-cross and open field test in mice. The extract displayed dose dependent suppression of motor activity and exploratory behavior in mice in the tested models. The results of the study indicate that the plant possesses strong analgesic and central nervous system depressant...
Read More
Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2011 in |
The antimicrobial effects of selected medicinal plants commonly used by herbal practitioners in central province Kenya was evaluated on different bacterial strains- Staphylococcus aureus (Gram +ve cocci) – ATCC 20591, Salmonella typhi (Gram –ve rod) – ATCC 2202, Escherichia coli (Gram-ve rod) – STD. 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae (clinical isolate) and Pseudomonas aeroginosa (Gram-ve rod) – ATCC 25852. Also Candida albicans ATCC EK138 was used as a fungal isolate. Methanol was used as the only solvent in the extraction. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was performed by agar disc diffusion method. The most susceptible Gram-positive bacteria was S. aureus (between 19.33-23.33mm), while the most susceptible Gram-negative bacteria was P. aeruginosa (14.66-19.33mm). All the extracts showed sufficient inhibitory activity to the test strains. The Gram positive strain (S. aureus) was more sensitive to the extracts (range 23.33-19.33mm) than the Gram negative strains (range 21.00-14.66mm). The mean inhibition value was between 15.997mm and 19.995mm. Statistical analysis revealed that Hyptis spicigera and Crotalaria quartiniana produced significantly different (P≤0.05) zones of inhibition in all...
Read More
Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2011 in |
The present study was aimed at investigating the antioxidant activities of coumarin in streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide (NA) induced type 2 diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in experimental rats by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of STZ (45 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)), 15 min after the i.p. administration of NA (110 mg/kg b.w.). Diabetic rats were administered coumarin intragastrically at 100 mg/kg b.w. for 45 days. The antioxidant activities of coumarin have been evaluated by using a range of in vivo assays and in vitro assays. In case of in vivo studies the levels of plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxides (HP) and conjugated dienes (CD) were measured. The levels of vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the plasma and tissues were assayed. In case of in vitro assays 2, 2¢-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•), 2, 2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical (ABTS•+), hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion scavenging activity and reducing power were measured. In addition to that ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxyl toluene were used as the reference antioxidant...
Read More
Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2011 in |
Objective – Crataeva magna is a potent medicinal plant in the Indian systems of medicine. Traditionally used for inflammation, fever, arthritis, bronchitis, urinary calculi and cough. The objective of the present work was to study the antipyretic activity of plant Crataeva magna (Lour.) DC belonging to family Capparaceae. Materials & Methods – In the present study the alcoholic extracts of the bark of Crataeva magna were studied for their antipyretic activity by TAB (Typhoid) vaccine-induced pyrexia in rabbits. Result – In TAB vaccine-induced fever, the fever was significantly reduced and the body temperature was normalized by administration of 200 and 400 mg/kg dose orally and the property was comparable to the reference drug. Conclusion – this study has established the antipyretic activity of Crataeva magna and thus, justifies the anecdotal, folkloric and ethnomedical uses of this plant for...
Read More
Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2011 in |
In the present work, oral dispersible tablets of cinnarizine were prepared by direct compression method with a view to enhance patient’s compliance. Five different superdisintegrants viz. crosspovidone, sodium starch glycolate, crosscarmellose sodium and low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose (L-HPC) and pregelatinized starch were used along with microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH 102) and directly compressible mannitol (pearlitol SD-200) which enhances the mouth feel. Fifteen formulations having superdisintegrants at different concentration levels were prepared. These tablets were evaluated for drug content, weight variation, friability, hardness, wetting time and in vitro disintegration time. Among the formulations tablets of batch F9 containing crosspovidone (at 4.5% level) showed superior organoleptic properties along with excellent in-vitro disintegration time and drug release as compared to other formulations. It was concluded that superdisintegrants addition technique is a useful method for preparing oral dispersible tablets by direct compression method....
Read More
