A comparative evaluation of pentazocine and dipyrone on diazepam-induced sleep in mice

This work reports on the evaluation of pentazocine and dipyrone analgesics on diazepam-induced sleep in mice. Diazepam (10 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally (ip) was used to determine the onset and duration of sleep in mice and the mean of both set values were calculated and recorded. Pentazocine 20, 30 and 50 mg/kg administered (ip) was found to significantly decrease the onset of diazepam (10 mg/kg) induced sleep dose dependently (

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-hyperglycaemic activity of tuber extract of Chlorophytum alismifolium Baker in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemic rats

The tubers of Chlorophytum alismifolium (Liliaceae) are widely used in Nigerian Herbal Medicine to treat diabetes mellitus and their efficacy is widely acclaimed among the rural communities of Northern Nigeria. This study was aimed at investigating the antihyperglycaemic potential of the tuber extract of Chlorophytum alismifolium (CAE) in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemic rats. Phytochemical screening and oral median lethal dose (LD50) estimation of CAE in rats were carried out. Antihyperglycaemic screening of the extract (at oral doses of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) was performed using normal and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemic rats for 28 days. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured and serum lipids were analyzed. Liver, kidney, heart and pancreatic tissues were examined for histopathological damages using standard histological processing. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, triterpenes and glycosides. Oral LD50 was estimated to be >5000 mg/kg body weight in rats. C. alismifolium extract at all the doses tested showed blood glucose lowering effect. Statistical significant (p < .01) blood glucose lowering effect at 150 mg/kg on day 21, at 300 mg/kg on days 21 and 28 (p < .001 and p < .01 respectively) and 600 mg/kg on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 (p < .05, p < .01, p < .001 and p < .01 respectively) was produced by the extract. The extract also reduced the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein. Histopathological examination of the pancreas showed restoration of pancreatic islet cells at the doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg of the extract. In conclusion, the results obtained suggest the tuber extract of Chlorophytum alismifolium possesses antihyperglycaemic activity

Saponins are involved in the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Ficus platyphylla stem bark

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of saponins (FPS) from the methanol extract of Ficus platyphylla stem bark were studied in rodents. FPS significantly attenuated acetic acid-induced writhes in mice and inhibited responses in both phases I & II of formalin-induced nociception. FPS demonstrated significant antinociceptive activity in Analgesy-meter model of nociception and significantly attenuated albumin-induced oedema in rats. Morphine significantly (

Whole Genome Transcriptome Analysis of the Association between Obesity and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Caucasian Women

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive form of breast cancer, with poor outcomes. The molecular basis of TNBC remains poorly understood. The objective of this exploratory study was to investigate the association between obesity and TNBC in premenopausal and postmenopausal Caucasian women using transcription profiling. Methods: We compared gene expression levels of tumor samples drawn from normal weight, overweight, and obese pre and postmenopausal women diagnosed with TNBC. We performed hierarchical clustering to assess similarity in patterns of gene expression profiles, and conducted network and pathway analysis to identify molecular networks and biological pathways. Results: We discovered gene signatures distinguishing normal weight from obese, normal weight from overweight, and overweight from obese individuals in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The analysis revealed molecular networks and biological pathways associating obesity with TNBC. The discovered pathways included the unfolded protein response, endoplasmic reticulum stress, B cell receptor, and autophagy signaling pathways in obese premenopausal women; and the integrin, axonal guidance, ERK/MAPK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase/mitogen activated protein kinase) and glutathione biosynthesis signaling pathways in obese postmenopausal women. Conclusions: The results suggest that both overweight and obese status are associated with TNBC, highlighting the need for conformation of these results in independent studies

Neuropharmacological Effects of \u3cem\u3eHibiscus sabdariffa\u3c/em\u3e Aqueous Extract

The neuropharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) calyx were studied in rodents. HS (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a remarkable dose-dependent decrease in spontaneous motor activity in mice and increased the duration of pentobarbital (40 mg/kg, i.p.) induced sleep in rats. The extract (100-400 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the exploratory behaviour in mice. The extract significantly inhibited the intensity of apomorphine (1 mg/kg, s.c.) induced stereotypic behaviour and attenuated climbing in the mice dose-dependently. Similarly, chlorpromazine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked apomorphine induced stereotype behaviour significantly. The intraperitoneal LD 50 of the extract was estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. These results suggest that the aqueous extract of HS may contain psychoactive substances that are sedative in nature and which contribute to its use in traditional medicine as sedative

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Nociceptive Effects of \u3cem\u3eFicus platyphylla\u3c/em\u3e Extract in Mice and Rats

The methanolic extract of Ficus platyphylla Del.-Holl. stem bark was investigated for anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities. The anti-inflammatory activity was tested against egg albumin-induced edema, while the analgesic effects were studied using the acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and formalin test in mice. The results revealed that the aqueous extract of Ficus platyphylla possess significant, dose dependent anti-inflammatory effects. The extract also inhibited pain caused by acetic acid in mice and reduced pain episodes induced by formalin. The intraperitoneal LD50 in mice was 2000 mg/kg