Study of antidiarrheal activity of Hydrocotyle javanica in mice

The effect of the methanolic leaf extract of Hydrocotyle javanica (family Hydrocharitaceae) was investigated in mice to evaluate its antidiarrheal activity on magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) induced diarrhea and gastrointestinal motility. Hydrocotyle javanica, at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, was tested for its effect on fecal output in magnesium sulfate induced diarrhea in albino mice and the results (percentage of animals showing diarrhea) were compared with those of diphenoxylate hydrochloride, a standard allopathic antidiarrheal drug. Hydrocotyle javanica (at a dose of 100 mg/kg) inhibited the magnesium sulfate induced diarrhea and also reduced gastrointestinal motility in mice. The results indicate that the leaf extract significantly reduced diarrhea in mice with a reduction in weight of stools. Keywords: Hydrocotyle javanica, antidiarrheal, magnesium sulphate, diphenoxylate hydrochloride, gastrointestinal motility, methanolic leaf extract The East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 8(2) 2005: 31-3

In Vitro Anticholinergic and Antihistaminic Activities of Acorus Calamus Linn. Leaves Extracts

The present investigation was aimed at determining the effects of hexane, acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of Acorus calamus leaves (ACHE, ACAE, ACME and ACAQE) on cholinergic and histaminic system using isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle and guinea pig ileum. A dose dependent potentiation of Ach response (anticholinesterase like effect) was found with ACAE and ACME at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 mg/ml, but at higher dose of ACAE, ACME, ACAQE and ACHE (5, 20 mg/ml) inhibit the Ach response (antinicotinic effect). These results revealed biphasic effect of Acorus calamus leaves extracts on acetylcholine induced contractile response in isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle preparation (i.e. potentiation effect at lower dose and inhibitory effect at higher dose). Studies on isolated guinea pig ileum demonstrated antihistaminic effect in a dose dependent manner (100-1000 μg/ml) with ACAE, ACME and ACAQE. In addition, the dose dependent inhibition of Ach response (antimuscarinic effect) was observed with ACAE and ACME. In conclusion, Acorus calamus leaves extracts exerts antinicotinic, anticholinesterase like activities in isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle and antihistaminic, antimuscarinic effect in guinea pig ileum. It has been suggested that these observed activities can be further studied for therapeutic potential of Acorus calamus leaves in the treatment of cognitive disorders and asthma

Hepatoprotective effect of euphorbia hirta on carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of alcoholic extract of Euphorbia hirta on carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in albino rats. Intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (1 ml/kg body weight every 72 hrs for 16 days significantly increased serum pyruvate transaminase, serum oxalate transaminase and serum bilirubin levels in rats. Histopathologically it produced hepatic necrosis, especially in the central lobular region. Simultaneous treatment with Euphorbia hirta (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight daily) and carbon tetrachloride, caused improvement ofboth biochemical and histopathological parameters compared to that of carbon tetrachloride treatment group alone. However, the extract exhibited significant (p < 0.001) hepatoprotective activity at 200 mg/kg p.o, which was comparable to the activity exhibited by the standard reference silymarin in carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity model. These findings were confirmed by the results of the histopathological study of liver