Mohammed Abu Sayeed

Studies on the anti–diarrheal properties of leaf extract of Desmodium puchellum

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the pharmacological activity against diarrhea of methanol and petroleum ether extract of Desmodium puchellum (Family: Fabaceae) leaves. METHODS The extract was evaluated for castor oil-induced diarrhea and enteropooling as well as intestinal motility in rats. Both of the extracts were given to the rats at 200 mg/kg orally. Loperamide was used as a standard drug for diarrhea. RESULTS The diarrheal severity was reduced significantly (P<0.05) by methanol and petroleum ether extracts by 31.95% and 28.33%, respectively, whereas 54.75% inhibition was found for standard drug loperamide at 5 mg/kg. The two extracts also significantly (P<0.05) reduced the intestinal volume in case of castor oil induced enteropooling. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that both fractions contain some biologically active ingredients that are active for anti-diarrheal actions whereas methanol fraction has better potential.

Estimation of in vivo neuropharmacological and in vitro antioxidant effects of Tetracera sarmentosa

Abstract To determine the in vivo neuropharmacological and in vitro antioxidant activities of methanolic extract of Tetracera sarmentosa. Open field (OFT), hole cross (HCT), thiopental-induced sleeping time (TIST), elevated plus-maze (EPMT) tests were used to determine the neuropharmacological activity and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, reducing power assay, total phenolic content tests were used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of T. sarmentosa. In the case of OFT and HCT, the extract showed a decrease in exploratory and locomotion activities at both dose levels (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight). In the thiopental-induced hypnosis test, 400 mg/kg dose of T. sarmentosa produced quick onset of sleep and prolonged duration of sleep than that of 200 mg/kg dose. T. sarmentosa extract showed the lessening percentage of entries of mice into the open arm and decreased percentage of time spent in open arm compared to the standard drug diazepam. In the case of DPPH scavenging activity, IC50 value of methanolic plant extract of T. sarmentosa is 151.56 μg/ml whereas the value of ascorbic acid is 23.53 μg/ml. In this current study, the phenolic content of T. sarmentosa was found to be 140.34 ± 1.56 GAE mg/gm dry extract. Results of this study revealed that methanolic extract of T. sarmentosa contains significant neuropharmacological and antioxidant activities.