Antitussive effect of Asparagus racemosus root against sulfur dioxide-induced cough in mice

The methanol extract of Asparagus racemosus root (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant antitussive activity on sulfur dioxide-induced cough in mice, the cough inhibition (40.0 and 58.5%, respectively) being comparable to that of 10-20 mg/kg of codeine phosphate (36.0 and 55.4%, respectively).     

Antitussive effect of Asparagus racemosus root against sulfur dioxide-induced cough in mice

The methanol extract of Asparagus racemosus root (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant antitussive activity on sulfur dioxide-induced cough in mice, the cough inhibition (40.0 and 58.5%, respectively) being comparable to that of 10–20 mg/kg of codeine phosphate (36.0 and 55.4%, respectively).     

CNS depressant activity of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides

The aqueous root extract of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides was used to study the central nervous system depressant activity pattern of the plant. The extract protected mice from strychnine-induced convulsion at 400 mg/kg p.o. and 100 mg/kg i.p. A dose-dependent prolongation of seizure latency was produced at 400 mg/kg, p.o. and 100 mg/kg i.p. for strychnine-induced seizure; and at 400 mg/kg p.o. and 100 mg/kg i.p. for picrotoxin-induced seizure. Moreover, the CNS depressant activity of the extract (200 mg/kg p.o. and 50 mg/kg i.p.) was demonstrated by a significant prolongation of 40 mg/kg, pentobarbitone sleeping time, and significant reduction in exploratory behavior of mice at a dose of 400 mg/kg p.o., with both effects comparable to effects produced by 4 mg/kg chlorpromazine. Acute oral toxicity test, up to 14 days, did not produce any visible signs of toxicity; however, acute (24 h) i.p toxicity test produced a dose-dependent mortality with LD50 of 455.2 mg/kg.     

Antiinflammatory activity of Solanum trilobatum

The antiinflammatory effect of solasodine (50 mg/kg p.o.), of a purified component named sobatum (50 mg/kg p.o.) and of methanol extract of Solanum trilobatum (100 mg/kg p.o.) was evaluated. All the tested articles showed significant antiinflammatory activity.     

Antinociceptive activity of Eupatorium buniifolium aqueous extract

The antinociceptive properties of the aqueous extract of Eupatorium buniifolium aerial parts were investigated in chemical and thermal models of nociception in mice. Oral doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg produced an inhibition of 42.3% and 73.9%, respectively, of the abdominal writhes induced by acetic acid in mice. This antinociceptive effect was not reversed by pretreatment with naloxone. In the formalin test, the administration of 500 and 1000 mg/kg p.o. had no effects in the first phase (0-5 min) but produced a dose-dependent analgesic effect on the second phase (15-30 min) with inhibitions of the licking time of 38.9% and 57.3%, respectively. In the hot plate test, no effect was seen at the dose of 500 mg/kg p.o.     

Antinociceptive activity of Malvastrum coromandelinum

The aerial parts of Malvastrum coromandelinum showed antinociceptive activity in the 0.6% acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice, the effects of acetone extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.) being comparable with acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg, p.o.)     

Anti-inflammatory activity of Butea frondosa leaves

In the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema, the aqueous extract of Butea frondosa leaves showed dose-dependent (25–100 mg/kg, p.o.) anti-inflammatory activity which at the highest dose was almost comparable to ibuprofen (25 mg/kg, p.o.).The LD₅₀ was higher than 5 g/kg, p.o. in rats.     

Hypoglycemic activity of Abutilon indicum leaf extracts in rats

Alcohol and water extracts of Abutilon indicum leaves (400 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant hypoglycemic effect in normal rats 4 h after administration (23.10% and 26.95%, respectively).     

Vernonia polyanthes as a new source of antiulcer drugs

Methanolic (VPME) and chloroformic (VPCL) extracts, obtained from the aerial parts of Vernonia polyanthes, were investigated for its antiulcerogenic properties. Administration of VPME (250 mg/kg) and VPCL (50 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the gastric mucosa damage (64% and 90%, respectively) caused by absolute ethanol (p.o.). Otherwise, in NSAID-induced gastric damage, their gastroprotective effects have decreased. Since the VPCL extract resulted to be more effective than the VPME we focused our efforts over VPCL action mechanism of action.     

Studies on the anti-inflammatory properties of Entada abyssinica.

The defatted methanolic extract of Entada abyssinica was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic models of inflammation. The extract (50--200 mg/kg, p.o.) exhibited dose-dependent and significant inhibition of both the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema and granuloma tissue formation in rats. The extract (50--200 mg/kg, p.o.) was also found to inhibit the acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in a dose-dependent fashion in mice. This study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity of Entada abyssinica.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of Pothomorphe peltata leaf methanol extract.

The methanol extract of Pothomorphe peltata leaves, orally administered at the dose of 20 mg/kg (equivalent to 2.50 g dry plant/kg) body weight, exhibited a significant anti-inflammatory activity, comparable with phenylbutazone (80 mg/kg, p.o.), against adjuvant-carrageenan-induced edema in rats.     

Acute toxicity and diuretic studies of Rungia repens aerial parts in rats

Ethanolic extract of Rungia repens aerials parts (300 and 600 mg/kg p.o) showed diuretic activity in rats. The acute toxicity, orally evaluated in mice, was found to be higher than 3000 mg/kg.     

Analgesic sesquiterpene dilactone from Mikania cordata.

The crude extract of Mikania cordata (1 and 3 g/kg, p.o.) and deoxymikanolide (1) (10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Three other sesquiterpene dilactones isolated from the same plant, namely mikanolide, dihydromikanolide and scandenolide, did not show significant analgesic activity.     

Analgesic and antidiarrheal properties of Ocimum selloi essential oil in mice

Ocimum selloi essential oil (2, 20, and 200 mg/kg; p.o.) reduced, in a dose-dependent way, the abdominal contraction induced by acetic acid (0.6%; i.p.) and the diarrhea episodes induced by castor oil in mice. At the higher dose (200 mg/kg; p.o.), the essential oil significantly reduced intestinal transit (P<0.05) in the charcoal meal test. The main component detected in O. selloi essential oil was methyl chavicol (98%; GC and GC/MS).These effects seems to support the use of O. selloi against diarrhea, intestinal spasm and visceral pain.     

Analgesic and antipyretic activities of the aqueous extract of Urtica macrorrhiza in experimental animals

Oral administration of the aqueous extract of the stem of Urtica macrorrhiza (100-400 mg/kg) dose dependently reduced the number of writhings and stretchings induced by acetic acid and decreased licking activity of the late phase in formalin test at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. At doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. it suppressed yeast-induced fever in rats.     

Diuretic, laxative and toxicity studies of Cocculus hirsutus aerial parts

The aqueous extract of the Cocculus hirsutus aerial parts (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant diuretic activity and laxative effect in rats. The acute toxicity, orally evaluated in mice, was found to be higher than 3000 mg/kg.     

Hypoglicemic effect of Leandra lacunosa in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Leandra lacunosa, popularly known as "erva-do-jabuti", is used in Brazilian folkloric medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Based on this traditional indication, the aim of this work was to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of L. lacunosa aerial parts (LLH) in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Chromatographic fractionation of LLH was also carried out by several techniques, affording isolation of the following major compounds: ursolic acid (1), kaempferol (2), luteolin (3), and quercetin (4). The oral administration of LLH (500 mg/kg) in normal rats caused a significant reduction of 24.7% (P<0.05) in the blood glucose levels after 2 h of treatment, while the administration of chlorpropamide (20 mg/kg, p.o.) led to a reduction of 40.2% (P<0.01). After oral administration of glucose (10 g/kg, p.o.), LLH (500 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly inhibited the increase in blood glucose levels compared with the negative control group. The oral treatment with LLH (500 mg/kg) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats significantly reduced the blood glucose levels in 47.8% after 4 h of treatment, while chlorpropamide resulted in a significant reduction of 71.7% in the 4th hour. Our results showed that LLH, displays hypoglycemic activity, which may be related to the effect of the major compounds identified in the crude extract. This study seems to provide biological evidence for the folkloric use of L. lacunosa in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.     

Antinociceptive effect and acute toxicity of the Hyptis suaveolens leaves aqueous extract on mice

The aqueous extract of Hyptis suaveolens leaves was studied for their antinociceptive property in chemical and thermal models of nociception in mice. Oral administration of the aqueous extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced the number of writhings induced by acetic acid, decreased the licking activity of the early phase in formalin test and increased the reaction time in hot-plate test. The antinociceptive effect was significantly antagonized by naloxone (3 mg/kg; i.p.). Preliminary acute toxicity study showed that no animal death with doses up to 5 g/kg (p.o.).     

Anthelmintic activity of crude aqueous extract of Nauclea latifolia stem bark against ovine nematodes

The anthelmintic efficacy of Nauclea latifolia stem bark aqueous extract was studied in sheep with natural acute/sub-acute parasitic gastro-enteritis due primarily to mixed nematode species. Graded doses of the extract (400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg, p.o for 5 consecutive days) significantly reduced faecal egg counts in infected animals. The percentage reduction (93.8%) by 1600 mg/kg of the extract was comparable to that of 5 mg/kg of albendazole (94.1%). The administration of the extract resulted in improved haemoglobin and leucocytosis values in worm-infected sheep.     

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect of Acanthus ilicifolius

The alcoholic extract of Acanthus ilicifolius leaves inhibited the formation of oxygen derived free radicals (ODFR) in vitro with IC(50) of 550 microg/ml, 2750 microg/ml, 670 microg/ml and 600 microg/ml (Fe(2+)/ascorbate system), 980 microg/ml (Fe(3+)/ADP/ascorbate system) for superoxide radical production, hydroxyl radical generation, nitric oxide radical formation and lipid peroxide formation, respectively. The oral administration of the extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) significantly reduced CCl(4) induced hepatotoxicity in rats, as judged from the serum and tissue activity of marker enzymes [glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)]. These results were comparable with those obtained with curcumin (100 mg/kg, p.o.).