Non-invasive and non-chemical method of stimulating the brain and inducing hypermotility in normal Wistar rats

The effect of diffuse transcranial electrical stimulation (DTES) on motility was investigated in healthy male and female Wistar rats. Diffuse transcranial electrical stimulation (5V, frequency 100Hz, pulse width 1ms), was delivered with the aid of ear clip electrodes, while locomotor activity was measured with the aid of motility counter for 10 seconds before, during and after stimulation. Diffuse transcranial electrical stimulation was found to induce reproducible hypermotility in the rats. Locomotor activity in normal rats, measured for 10 seconds, averaged 10.1±4.1 before stimulation. The activity significantly (p0.05) vary from the values obtained before and after electrical stimulation. These results suggest that diffuse transcranial electrical stimulation produces reproducible hyper-motility which is inhibited by diazepam in normal conscious rats. DTES may serve as a simple method of stimulating the CNS and increasing its levels of catecholamines. The inhibition by diazepam further shows that brain catecholamines are raised during stimulation. Keywords: Hypermotility, Noradrenergic pathway, Diazepam, GABA Receptors Journal of Pharmacy and Bioresources Vol. 4 (1) 2007: pp. 14-1

Somatic And Behavioral Changes Associated With Difuse Transcranial Electrical Stimulation In Anaesthetized And Unanaesthetized Normal Wistar Rats

Aims: The effects of diffuse transcranial electrical stimulation on somatic and behavioral changes in anaesthetized and unanaesthetized normal male and female Wister rats was studied. Method: Diffuse transcranial electrical stimulation (0-25v, frequency 90Hz,pulse width 1ms) was administered via two electrodes clipped to the ear lobes of the rat. Results: DTES causes apparent-irritability, apprehension, micturation, and piloerection and increase activity in unanaesthetised wistar rats at voltage below 10v. Tonic-clonic seizures were observed at voltages above 10v. In anaesthetized normal wistar rats, DTES has no effects on the rats at voltages below 20v. At voltages 20v and above, tonic- clonic seizures were observed. Conclusion: These results suggest that higher voltages are needed to induce seizures in anaesthetized rats than unanaesthetized wistar rats. Some of the response to diffuse transcranial electrical stimulation can be abolished or attenuated by administering anaesthetic. Key words: DTES, Hypermotility, Anaesthesia, Urethane, Wistar rats. Highland Medical Research Journal Vol.2(1) 2004: 33-3

The possible value of

Prosopis africana, Family Leguminoceae, is used in ethnomedicine to treat different ailments including, malaria in Nigeria, male sterility in Sudan and as a cardiotonic agent in Senegal. This research aims at evaluating the antituberculosis activity, analgesic and anti-inflammatory action of the stem bark extract of P. africana. Preliminary studies using the agar dilution method show that the stem bark extract of Prosopis africana (1000, 1500, 2000 ìg/ml) hasinhibitory activity against clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative organism of tuberculosis (TB). It also significantly inhibited B. subtilis and S. aureus but not the gram-negative organisms: E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. typhii and yeast (C. albicans) at all test concentrations (1000, 2000, 3000 ìg/ml). Aqueous extracts of Prosopis (100 and 200 mg/kg i.p) significantly inhibited acetic acid induced writhing in mice and a dose and timedependentinhibition of the egg white induced paw oedema (

Antiinflamatory and analgesic activities of Ficus thonningii and Pseudocedrela kotschyi extracts

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic studies were conducted on rats and mice using ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Ficus thonningii and stem back of Pseudocedrela kotschyi using egg white induce inflammation, hot plate and writhing tests method. The ethanolic extracts of both plants inhibited egg-albumin induced edema, pain induced by hot plate and acetic acid induced writhing. Ficus thonningii and Pseudocedrela kotschyi significantly alter the stay time of the rats on hot plate with Pseudocedrela kotschyi showing a higher activity. Both plants extracts show analgesic activity in the acetic acid induced writhing (chemical method) with Pseudocedrela kotschyi showing a higher activity. Intraperitoneal LD50 were 7g/kg and 1.5g/kg for Ficus thonningii and Pseudocedrela kotschyi respectively and preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of glycosides, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids in both extracts. These results suggest that these plants possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties for which they are used by traditional healers. Key words: Medicinal plants; Anti-inflammatory; Analgesic; Writhing test Nig. J. Pharm. Res. 3(1) 2004: 82-8