Journal of Natural Remedies

S. Nikhil , S. Sudha , B. Aruna , R. Amarjeeth , S. Guido , A. Amit

Abstract

Bacopa monnieri (B. monnieri) has been used for various therapeutic purposes in traditional medicine including treatment of constipation and stomach disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate and identify the fractions of B. monnieri extract with maximal laxative effect. Three different types of Bacopa fractions and one extract were prepared: Fraction 1 (non-polar fraction), Fraction 2 (approx. 60-70% bacosides containing fraction), Fraction 3 (polar fraction) and Extract 4 (40% bacosides containing extract). In Study 1, rats and mice were given p.o. different doses of the four different test substances (40, 120 and 500 mg/kg b. wt.). Vehicle, loperamide (5 mg/kg b. wt.) and castor oil (2 ml/rat and 0.4 ml/mouse) were used for comparison. The stools were observed and graded. Animals given vehicle were observed to have normal stools, while all animals showed diarrhea with castor oil and loperamide caused constipation. Significant diarrhea (p < 0.05) was observed in rats administered with Fraction 1 and 2 (100%, and 71% respectively) at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Diarrhea was observed in one mouse administered Fraction 1 at 500 mg/kg. In Study 2, when the four different test substances were given in combination with loperamide, Fraction 1 (500 mg/kg) resulted in non significant diarrhea in 29% of rats. Studies on the rate of small intestine propulsion in mice also indicate that Fraction 1 showed the maximal distance traversed by carbon black (p < 0.05). It could be noted here that Fraction 1 (non-polar fraction) exhibited the maximum diarrhea while Fraction 3 (polar fraction) exhibited no diarrhea.

Keywords

Bacopa Monnieri, Laxative Effect, Polar Fraction, Non Polar Fraction, Bacosides, Rats

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S. John , S. Nikhil , J. Yaswanth , A. Bhaskar , A. Amit , S. Sudha

Abstract

Different extracts of Curcuma longa, code named as PC/CL/SWP05, CL/111107506 and PT/0606188, each at three doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg were evaluated for their analgesic activity using different animal models of analgesia. PT/0606188 exhibited significant analgesic activity in the tail flick test at 400 mg/kg one hour after administration. CL/111107506 exhibited significant analgesic activity in the tail withdrawal test, one hour after administration at a dose of 100 mg/kg. All the three extracts significantly reduced the number of writhes in the acetic acid test except for PT/0606188 at a dose of 100 mg/kg. PC/CL/SWP05 demonstrated only peripheral analgesic activity while CL/ 111107506 and PT/0606188 demonstrated both central and peripheral analgesic activities.

Keywords

Curcuma Longa, Analgesic Activity, Mice

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