Anti-nociceptive effects of taurine and caffeine in sciatic nerve ligated wistar rats: involvement of autonomic receptors

In this study, we investigated the effects of co-administration of taurine and caffeine on thermally induced pain in sciatic nerve ligated rats as well as the roles of autonomic receptors. Rats were rendered neuropathic by unilateral sciatic nerve ligation. The anti-hyperalgesic effect of combined systemic (i.p.) administration of taurine and caffeine were assessed using tail flick tests and hot plate test for two weeks. To determine the involvement of autonomic nervous system, the study examined how administration of cholinergic (atropine and hexamethonium) and adrenergic (prazosin and propranolol) receptor blockers altered the combined effect of taurine and caffeine. Likewise, the serum level of oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) was evaluated. The results showed that co-administration of taurine and caffeine attenuated thermal hyperalgesia in sciatic nerve ligated rats as shown by significant (p<0.05) increase in tail and paw withdrawal latencies in the treated groups compared to the ligated control group after two weeks of administration. The anti nociceptive effects were reversed by pre-treatment with cholinergic blockers especially atropine while the adrenergic blockers spared the effects of taurine and caffeine. Also, the increase in tissue level of MDA induced by sciatic nerve ligation was significantly attenuated by combined administration of high dose of taurine and caffeine. It can be concluded that co-administration of taurine and caffeine attenuates thermal hyperalgesia in sciatic nerve-ligated rats (a model of neuropathic pain) and this effect involves cholinergic system. The findings suggest that coadministration of taurine and caffeine might be useful for the treatment of neuropathic pain.Keywords: Caffeine, taurine hyperalgesia, neuropathic pain

Honey health benefits and uses in medicine

The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other free radicals during metabolism is an essential and normal process that ideally is compensated through the antioxidant system. However, due to many environmental, lifestyle, and pathological situations, free radicals and oxidants can be produced in excess, resulting in oxidative damage of biomolecules (e.g., lipids, proteins, and DNA). This plays a major role in the development of chronic and degenerative illness such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, aging, cataract, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases (Pham-Huy et al. 2008; Willcox et al. 2004). The human body has several mechanisms to counteract oxidative stress by producing antioxidants, which are either naturally synthetized in situ, or externally supplied through foods, and/or supplements (Pham-Huy et al. 2008).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Serum testosterone and heart rate response to short-term intense exercise in young-athletic subjects

The serum testosterone and heart rate responses to short strenuous physical exercise were studied in twenty-one non-athletic male students. The body mass index was also determined. Serum testosterone rose significantly (

Antinociceptive And Antipyretic Properties Of Tapinanthus Dodoneifolius Leaf Extract In Albino Rats

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Effect Of Unfermented Pakia biglobosa Seeds On Calcium And Lipid Levels And Pain Perception In Adult Male Wistar Rats

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Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the ethanolic extract of Lagenaria breviflora whole fruit in rat and mice

The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of an ethanol extract of whole fruit of Lagenaria breviflora (LB) in rat and mice. Analgesic activity was measured by hot plate, formalin-induced paw licking, and acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing tests, while anti-inflammatory activity was determined by inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw oedema. Extract-treated animals exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher pain threshold, lower number of licking of paws in response to formalin-induced irritation and writhing movements in response to acetic acid-induced writhing movement. There was significant (P<0.05) inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats pre-treated with the extract (50, 100, 200mg/kg) by 6.4%, 27.5%, 55.9% respectively. Analgesic effect of the extract (50, 100, 200mg/kg) in hot plate test was observable within 30 minutes of administration with maximum effect obtainable 90 minutes post-administration. Also, the effect of the extract (50, 100 and 200mg/kg) was dose dependent in both the early (88.17±6.21, 80.33±3.49 and 72.33±5.16) and late (72.50±3.95, 53.83±3.96 and 35.83±3.78) phases of formalin-induced paw licking, and in acetic acid-induced writhing with inhibition of 26.8%, 48.1% and 58.1% respectively. Its effect was comparable especially at 200mg/kg body weight to those of diclofenac, indomethacin and ibuprofen. It could be suggested from the findings of this experiment that the extract may be mediating its action as a central analgesic agent but the peripheral analgesic effect was preponderant based on its outcome from the pain models.

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of the ethanol extract of Acalypha wilkesiana leaves in rats

The leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana are commonly used for the treatment of pain, fever and ulcer by traditional medical practitioners without any scientific data to evaluate the appropriateness of some of the practices. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine whether the ethanol extract of Acalypha wilkesianahas analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic as well as anti-ulcer effects. The hot plate latency assay and formalin- induced paw licking models were used to evaluate analgesic effects. Animals were divided into groups comprising of five rats each. There were control (administered saline) and reference (administered indomethacin) groups. Also there were three extract groups administered 25, 50 or 100 mg/Kg body weight of extracts. Ulcer was induced using absolute ethanol followed by pylorus ligation in all animals; inflammation was induced using carrageenan while pyrexia was induced by injecting brewer’s yeast intramuscularly into the dorsal part of the abdominal cavities of the rats. Different sets of rats were used for the anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic studies although animal grouping for extract administration were as in analgesic studies. The results show that the extract produced dose-dependent and significant (p&lt;0.05) analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. The extract also significantly protected against ethanol induced ulcer. Likewise, the extract significantly (p&lt;0.05) reduced the pyretic states of the animals. This study has therefore further provides evidences that may support the ethnomedicinal uses of the ethanolic extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana leaves.Keywords: Acalypha wilkesiana, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic, Anti-ulcerNig. J. Physiol. Sci. 26(June 2011) 077 – 08

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Allium Ascalonicum

The methanol and aqueous extract of Allium ascalonicom were investigated for analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Thermal and chemical models of pain assessment were used while albumin was used to induce inflammation. The extracts were administered at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. The methanol extract produced analgesic activity at all the doses tested by reducing significantly (P< 0.05) the early and the late phases of formalin induced paw licking in rats, while the aqueous extract reduced the early and late phases of paw licking at a dose of 200mg/kg and only the early phase at a dose of 100mg/kg. In the thermally induced pain, both the methanol and aqueous extract showed significant (P< 0.05) inhibition only at a dose of 200 mg/kg for temperatures of 45oC and 50oC but no significant inhibition at 55oC and 60oC. Both the methanol and aqueous extracts significantly (P< 0.05) exhibited dose dependent inhibition of albumin-induced paw oedema in rats (at 3 hours post treatment with the extracts). In conclusion this study has shown that the aqueous and methanol extracts of Allium ascalonicum have mild analgesic activity and strong anti-inflammatory activities. Keywords: Allium ascalonicum, anti-inflammatory activity, analgesic activity, oedema The Tropical Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 13(1) 2006: 28-3