Preventive Effect of an Extract of Terminalia avicennioides on Acetylcholine-Induced Tracheoconstriction in Wistar Strain Rats

Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory pathologies worldwide. The cost of its treatment, particularly for populations in developing countries like Senegal, requires an alternative which consists of developing research into new therapeutic approaches with the use of plants from traditional pharmacopoeia. The objective of this study was to determine whether the hydroalcoholic extract of Terminalia avicennioides leaves has a preventive effect on the constriction of tracheal smooth muscle induced by Acetylcholine in Wistar strain rats. Methods: The species used in our experiments were male Wistar rats aged between 12 and 14 weeks. Rings of rat trachea were suspended in isolated organ chambers connected to tension sensors. Two pharmacological agents were used: acetylcholine, for its constrictor effect and adrenaline, for its dilating effect on the pulmonary trachea. Our plant material consisted of a hydroalcoholic extract of Terminalia avicennioides leaves. The experimental protocol was that of the preventive model which consisted of impregnating these rings with the extract at a defined concentration then testing its contractility in the presence of Acetylcholine which was the contractile agonist used in this study. The preventive effect of the extract was studied with an Acetylcholine contraction range on rings pre-incubated with Terminalia avicennioides extract. Results: The results showed that Acetylcholine contracts the trachea and the increase in its contractility was dependent on the dose of Ach added cumulatively (10−5 to 4 × 10−5 mol/l). The administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of Terminalia avicennioides leaves led to a modification of the contractile response to Acetylcholine. Indeed, this extract induced a significant attenuation of the contractile responses of the treated tracheal rings compared to those untreated. Conclusion: Terminalia avicennioides had a relaxing effect on tracheal smooth muscle and this effect could play an important role in the prevention of bronchial hyperreactivity in certain respiratory diseases, particularly asthmatic disease.

Evaluation of antidepressant activity of methanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts of Acorus calamus L.rhizome through tail suspension test and forced swimming test of mice

Objective:Acorus calamus(AC)L.(Araceae)is an annual semi-aquatic and aromatic plant found in Europe,North America and Asia.Its rhizomes are often used by Native Americans,Americans,and Chinese as well as by other cultures.Ethnobotanical studies and documents have shown their use in various disease treatments,such as insomnia,mental disorders,diabetes mellitus,epilepsy,inflammation,asthma,neuropathic pain,and diarrhea.In this study,the antidepressant activity of methanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts of the AC rhizome part in mice was investigated.Methods:Three doses of methanolic extract of AC rhizome(MEACR)(25,50 and 100 mg/kg b.wt),three doses of hydroalcoholic extract of AC rhizome(HAACR)(100,200 and 400 mg/kg b.wt),and standards(imipramine,15 mg/kg b.wt and fluoxetine,20 mg/kg b.wt)was daily oral administration to the mice for consecutive 14 days.The extract effect on the immobility time was monitored by a tail suspension test(TST)and a forced swimming test(FST).Monoamine oxidase(MAO)levels were also analyzed using standard methods.Results:The optimum antidepressant activity was viewed at 100 mg/kg b.wt of MEACR extract and400 mg/kg b.wt of HAACR extract with 23.82%and 20.59%immobility period reduction,respectively.Besides,the extracts weakened the FST-induced elevation of MAO activity significantly and returned to near-normal levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.100 mg/kg b.wt or above of MEACR extract significantly prevented the MAO-A and MAO-B activities in mice brain at a dose-dependent fashion.But,just 400 mg/kg b.wt of HAACR extract prevented the activity of MAO-A and MAO-B.Fluoxetine and imipramine showed a tendency to prevent the activity of MAO-A and MAO-B.Conclusion:This study suggests that AC rhizome extract mediated antidepressant activity by modulating the central neurochemical and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis in response to FST and TSTinduced stress.Therefore,AC rhizome extract can be used as a valuable plant supplement to treat depressive disorders.

Safety evaluation of a polyherbal formulation containing hydroalcoholic extracts of Hippophae salicifolia, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Ocimum tenuiflorum, and Reinwardtia indica in rodents

Dear Editor, Herbal medicines have been used for prevention and treatment of human diseases and promotion of healthy living. These medicines, often self medicated and consumed as concentrated extracts, are not strictly regulated. Considering their popular use and increasing safety concerns, thorough evaluations of their efficacy and safety are warranted to protect consumers from potential adverse effects. Toxicity tests （acute, sub- acute and chronic） using animals are widely applied to evaulate adverse effects of a drug and thereby determine its ＂No Observed Adverse Effect Level＂ （NOAEL）.

Effect of two different extracts of red maca in male rats with testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia

Aim： To determine the effect of two different extracts of red maca in male rats. Methods： Prostatic hyperplasia was induced in male rats with testosterone enanthate （TE）. The study comprised six groups： one control group （group 1）, one group treated with TE （group 2）, two groups treated with TE and aqueous extract of red maca （groups 3 and 4）, one group treated with hydroalcoholic extract of red maca （group 5） and one group treated with finasteride （0.1 mg, group 6）. Differences in the aqueous extract dependent on the length of time of boiling, whether for 2 or 3 hours, for groups 3 and 4 was assessed. Extracts of red maca contained 0.1 mg of benzylglucosinolate. Thereafter, a doseresponse effect of different doses of benzylglucosinolates （0.02-0.08 mg） in red maca extracts was assessed. Results： Prostate weight was similar in rats treated with freeze-dried aqueous extract of red maca prepared after 2 and 3 hours of boiling. Freeze-dried aqueous extract of red maca, hydroalcoholic extract of red maca and finasteride reduced prostate weight in rats with prostatic hyperplasia. No difference was observed between the data obtained from aqueous extract or hydroalcoholic extract of red maca. A dose dependent reduction of prostate weight was observed with the increase of the dose of benzylglucosinolates in red maca extracts. Conclusion： The present study showed that hydroalcoholic or aqueous extract of red maca containing 0.1 mg of benzylglucosinolate can reduce prostate size in male rats in which prostatic hyperplasia had been induced by TE.

“In Vitro”Antibacterial Activity of the Hidroalcoholic Extract of the Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi Barks

The Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi is a native plant of South America popularly known in Brazil as aroeira. It is a medium-sized plant, which demonstrates a high adaptive potential in various environments, besides having various medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal. Bacterial susceptibility tests were carried out and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was obtained. The results were interpreted based on the conventionally microbiological protocols and data from the CLSI. For the microbiological tests, microorganisms obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), specifically, (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Encherichia coli) were used. Of the tested bacterial strains, only the Staphylococcus aureus 6538 presented susceptibility to the aroeira’s hydroalcoholic extract, forming zones of inhibition of 8.0 mm of diameter up to the MIC of 35.3 mg/mL, while the other tested strains showed to be resistant in all the concentrations of hydroalcoholic extract of the Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi bark. Our aim is to analyze the “in vitro” antibacterial potential of the 70% hydroalcoholic extract of the Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi.