Evaluation of Abelmoschus moschatus seed extract in psychiatric and neurological disorders

Background: Abelmoschus moschatus is an aromatic and medicinal plant, used as traditional medicine in the Thirunelveli district and distributed in many parts of Asia, including India. The present study was aimed to evaluate central nervous system (CNS) activities of ethanolic seed extract of A. moschatus (AEAM).Methods: Oral administration of AEAM at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg on various behavioral models forced swim, tail suspension, light-dark box, hole-board, elevated-plus-maze, locomotor, strychnine, maximal electroshock induced seizure, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), rotarod, climbing an inclined screen models were utilized.Results: In the open field test, AEAM (200 and 400 mg/kg) increased the numbers of rearing. However, the number of central motor and ambulation were reduced. The number of entries and the time spent in the open arm were increased, whereas the number of locomotion was decreased (p<0.001) in elevated-plus-maze and actophotometer test, respectively. AEAM (200 and 400 mg/kg) protected the mice against the PTZ and strychnine-induced convulsions; it causes significant dose-dependent increase in latency of convulsion. Treatment with AEAM reduced the duration of the tonic hind limb extension, increased the hypnotics time and decreased motor co-ordination of experimental animals.Conclusion: This study concludes A. moschatus is an alternative source for CNS drug development

The Effect Of Polyherbal Formulation -PHF On Experimentally Induced Reflux Esophagitis In Rats

ABSTRACT The science of life-Ayurveda is practiced in India since time immemorial. Besides being cheap and easily available, Ayurvedic drugs are considered as safe. Moreover, there is surge in the interest in Ayurveda due to quest of alternative medicines. In Ayurvedic system of medicine, Polyherbal formulations were frequently used to enhance the activity or counteract the toxic effect of compounds, from other plants, but may also act synergistically with other constituents from the same plants. Gastro esophageal reflux disease is a disorder of defense mechanism at the esophageal junction, caused by regurgitation of the gastric contents especially of gastric acid. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of Poly Herbal Formulation (PHF) on experimentally induced reflux esophagitis and gastrointestinal motility in animals. The PHF consists of seven medicinal plants namely Aegle marmelos, Elettaria cardamomum, Glycyrrhiza glabra , Citrus aurantifolia, Rosa damascena, Cissus quadrangularis and Saccharum officinarum. Based on acute toxicity study the PHF was considered as safe and 3 dose (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) levels were employed for pharmacological evaluation. The test drugs were administered orally by suspending in 1% carboxy methyl cellulose solution. The PHF exhibited (P&lt;0.001) significant decrease in lesion index and enhance the % protection of lesion in experimentally induced reflux esophagitis at all the 3 doses in rats. In charcoal meal gastrointestinal transit test, PHF dose-dependently propelled the charcoal meal travel through the small intestines in mice. The study indicates that the PHF has protective effect against surgically induced reflux esophagitis