Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

U. S. Jijith ¹, C. R. Sudhakaran Nair ¹, K. Pramod ²

Affiliations
1 College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram – 695011, Kerala, IN
2 College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode – 673008, Kerala, IN

Abstract

Anamirta cocculus Willd is a well known medicinal plant belonging to the family Menispermaceae. Its ethanolic extract was evaluated for locomotor activity, analgesic activity and muscle relaxant activity. The rotarod apparatus was used for evaluation of muscle relaxant activity. The extract showed significant decrease in fall off time which indicated that it has CNS depressant activity when compared with diazepam. Photoactometer was used to study of locomotor activity in mice. The effects were found to be dose dependent statistically significant when compared with control groups. Hot plate was used to study of analgesic activity of extract. The reaction time was increased in the extract treated groups than that of morphine as standard drug. The antipyretic activity of extract was investigated experimental rats. The antipyretic was retained in all the dose of extract tested was comparable to that of paracetamol as standard drug.

Keywords

Muscle Relaxant Activity, Locomotor Activity, Analgesic Activity, Antipyretic Activity.

Full Text

     

U. S. Jijith ¹, C. R. Sudhakaran Nair ¹, K. C. Ajithkumar ², K. Pramod ²

Affiliations
1 College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram – 695011, Kerala, IN
2 College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode – 673008, Kerala, IN

Abstract

Anamirta cocculus is a woody climber of Menispermaceae family remains popular folk remedy in Asia and adjacent regions. It crude drug is officially listed in many Pharmacopoeias. The fruits, especially the seed contain picrotoxin, a very strong poison that was toxic to all vertebrates affecting the CNS, stimulating the respiratory and vagus centres in the medulla and acting on the heart and lungs with diminished pulse. The toxicity results in vomiting, purging, profuse sweating, dimness of vision, unconsciousness and clonic convulsions. Death occurs rapidly due to respiration failure, or slowly from gastro-intestinal symptoms, particularly the medulla oblongata and respiratory centre. In South-East Asia the fruit of Anamirta cocculus is used mainly as a fish poison and as an insecticide. The plant was large-stemmed and, stem and ischolar_mains contains quaternary alkaloids, such as beriberine, palmatine, magnoflorine, columbamine, oxypalmine, stepharine and the major tertiary alkaloid as 1- 8-oxotetrahydropalmatine. The alkaloids of Anamirta cocculus have antibacterial, antimicrobial, sympatholytical (acetylcholine), and antifertility activities and the isolated alkaloids were confirmed and characterized by UVspectrophotometry, Mass spectroscopy, H1-NMR and C13-NMR spectroscopy.

Keywords

Anamirta cocculus, Picrotoxin, Quaternary Alkaloids, Tertiary Alkaloids, Mass Spectroscopy.

Full Text

     

Suby Mary Samuel ¹, K. Pramod ¹, E. N. Bijin ¹, K. C. Ajithkumar ², U. S. Jijith ²

Affiliations
1 College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram – 695011, Kerala, IN
2 College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode – 673008, Kerala, IN

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory disease affecting 0.5 - 1% of the total population worldwide. RA is a useful model for the study of many inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. As such, the information obtained from these studies has offered novel and unique insights into the mechanisms of normal immunity. Adaptive and innate immune responses in the synovium have been used in the pathogenesis of RA. The correct reasons for rheumatoid arthritis remain unknown. Although RA was considered as a disease of the joints, associated abnormal immune responses could cause variety of extra-articular manifestations. In certain cases, rheumatoid factor (RF) production with immune complexes formation would fixed the complement, contributes to extra-articular findings. The mystery behind RA was that why the synovium was primary target. Use of vaccines, gold salt injections causes malignancies and therefore complementary and alternative medicines came into existence. It includes acupuncture and herbal extracts which are safer and provides lesser side effects.

Keywords

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Adaptive Immunity, Pathogenesis, Alternative And Complementary Medicines.

Full Text