Mechanisms of Anticonvulsant Action of Residual Aqueous Fraction (RAF) of the Ethanol Root Bark Extract of Carissa edulis

Preparations of Carissa edulis (Vahl) have been used in the Nigerian traditional medicine for the management of fever, sickle cell disease, epilepsy, pain cancer and inflammatory conditions for many years and their efficacy is widely acclaimed among the Hausa communities of Northern Nigeria. The possible mechanism(s) involved in the anticonvulsant action of residual aqueous fraction of ethanol root bark extract of Carissa edulis (RAF) were determined using flumazenil, naloxone, cyproheptadine, bisindolylmaleimide (BIM), ibuprofen and misoprostol. Flumazenil antagonized the anticonvulsant effect of both RAF and diazepam, while BIM promoted their anticonvulsant effect. However, naloxone and cyproheptadine did not affect the RAF anticonvulsant effect. Ketoprofen increased the RAF and valproate anticonvulsant activity while misoprostol did not alter their effects. The interaction studies revealed that GABAergic, glycine, serotonergic and opioid neurotransmission were found to be involved in the RAF anticonvulsant effects. Keywords: Anticonvulsant, Bisindolylmaleimide, Flumazenil, GABA, serotonergic, opioid

Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory activities of Rothmannia Longiflora Salisb In Mice And Rats

Abstract: In this study, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanolic leaf extract of Rothmannialongiflora were investigated. The methanolic leaf extract of the plant at the doses of 250, 500, and 1000mg/kg orally was evaluated for analgesic activity using acetic acid-induced writhing test, hot plate test and formalin test. The anti-inflammatory potential of the extract was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw oedema test in rats. The methanolic leaf extract exhibited significant dose dependent analgesic and antiinflammatory effects comparable to piroxicam (20mg/kg body weight orally), which is a standard analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the methanolic leaf extract of Rothmannialongiflora revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, steroids/terpanoids, and carbohydrates. The oral median lethal dose (LD 50 ) of the extract in mice and rats were found to be greater than 5000mg/kg, suggesting that the methanolic leaf extract of Rothmannialongiflora is non-toxic. The present findings suggest that the methanolic leaf extract of the plant possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, and supports the ethno medical claims of the use of the plant in the management of pain and inflammatory conditions

Anti-seizure activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Solanum nigrum linn (solanaceae) in experimental animals

Background: Solanum nigrum is claimed in traditional medical practice, to be useful in the treatment of epilepsy in some parts of Nigeria. Objectives: To study the anti-convulsant property of the aqueous extract of the leaves of S. nigrum in chicks, mice and rats. Method: Aqueous extracts were administered intraperitoneally, at a pre-treatment time of 30 minutes, at graded doses and animals were challenged with different types of proconvulsants. Results: The aqueous leaf extract produced a significantly (P <0.05) dose dependent protection against electrically-induced seizure in chicks and rats, pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure in mice and rats and picrotoxin-induced seizure in mice and rats. The anti-seizure property of the extract was potentiated by amphetamine. Conclusion: The result obtained in this study suggests that the leaves of this plant may possess anti-convulsant property in chicks, mice and rats

Some in vivo and in vitro studies of the aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus (Euphorbiaceae) in laboratory animals

The aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus (5–30 mg/kg, ip) was found to induce behavioural sedation/sleep in young chicks (2-day old) resulting in decreased locomotor activity as well as pecking behaviour. The extract (0.16-1.4 mg/ml) relaxed the rabbit and rat ilea with the rabbit ileum being more responsive. The effect of the extract on rat ileum was antagonized mainly by propranolol and to a lesser extent by phenoxybenzamine (0.16 &#956;g/ml). At doses ranging from 5–30 mg/kg, the extract produced a rise in cat blood pressure (BP) which increased with increase in dose. The rise in BP was also blocked by (2 &#956;g/kg) phenoxybenzamine and propranolol. The extract (5-30 mg/kg) produced a significant (

Neuro-pharmacological effects of Crinum zeylanicum in mice

Objectives: The aim of present study was to evaluate some effects of Crinum zeylanicum (C. zeylanicum) on central nervous system. Materials and Methods: C. zeylanicum methanolic bulb extract (250-1000 mg/kg orally), 2 mg chlorpromazine and 4 mg diazepam /kg body weight intraperitoneally respectively were tested in mice using Irwin test, pentobarbitone-induced sleep test, spontaneous motor activity, apomorphine-induced stereotype behaviour, and rota-rod performance. Results: The C. zeylanicum bulb extract significantly and dose-dependently decreased apomorphine-induced hyperactivity in mice (

Annals of Experimental Biology 2014, 2 (4):21-27 Anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antinociceptive activities of Orally Administered Aqueous Extract of Carica papaya Seeds in Animal Models

ABSTRACT It is generally agreed that medicinal plants and their products are safer than their synthetic counterpart

Renal impact of sub acute lamivudine-artesunate treatment in wistar rats

Background and objectives: Lamivudine and artesunate are life saving drugs in the treatment of HIV/HBV and malaria respectively, and available data shows artesunate having anti-tumour properties. The concurrent administration of both drugs presents important safety concerns. This study investigated possible effects of lamivudine-artesunate co-administration on renal function and histology in wistar rats. Method: Four groups of rats (n=5) were used in the study with one group as control. Two groups received lamivudine at 20 mgkg-1, with another receiving artesunate at 10 mgkg-1. Artesunate was added to one of the lamivudine groups. While lamivudine treatment was for three weeks, artesunate was introduced only in the last week of the study alone, or in combination with lamivudine. At termination, animals were humanely killed and kidneys harvested, weighed and subjected to H and E stain and observation. Serum urea and electrolytes were also determined. Results: Serum biomarkers and kidney weights did not differ significantly (p&gt;0.05). Various histological changes were observed in the treated groups although these didn’t directly correlate the biomarkers determined. Conclusion: The concurrent use of lamivudine and artesunate appears to be safe within the dose levels used. However caution may be needful when repeated or long term exposure is required. Keywords: artesunate, lamivudine, HIV, HBV, malaria, concurrent drug therap

Anticonvulsant Properties of Saponins from Ficus platyphylla Stem Bark

Preparations of Ficus platyphylla have been used in Nigerian traditional medicine for the management ofepilepsy for many years and their efficacy is widely acclaimed among the Hausa communities of northern Nigeria. The anticonvulsant properties of the saponin rich fraction (SFG) obtained from the methanol extract of F. platyphylla stem bark were studied on pentylenetetrazole-, strychnine- and maximal electroshockseizures in mice. Effects of SFG were also examined in murine models for neurological disease and on relevant in vitro targets for anticonvulsant drugs. SFG protected mice against pentylenetetrazole- and strychnine-induced seizures; and significantly delayed the onset of myoclonic jerks and tonic seizures. SFG failed to protect mice against maximal electroshock seizures at doses tested. SFG neither abolished the spontaneous discharges induced by 4-aminopyridine in a neonatal rat brain slice model of tonic–clonic epilepsy nor could it modulate chloride currents through GABAA receptor channel complex in cultured cortical cells. However, it was able to non-selectively suppress excitatory and inhibitory synaptic traffic, blocked sustained repetitive firing (SRF) and spontaneous action potential firing in these cultured cells. Our results provide scientific evidence that F. platyphylla stem bark may contain psychoactive principles with potential anticonvulsant properties. SFG impaired membrane excitability; a property shared by most anticonvulsants particularly the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) blocking drugs, thus supporting the isolation and development of the saponin components of this plant as anticonvulsant agents