Journal of Natural Remedies

S. B. Acharya , S. U. Yanpallewar , R. K. Singh

Abstract

Objective: The present study was designed to assess the protective effect of Azadirachta indica on bronchial smooth muscles and mast cells. Methods: Azadirachta indica (200 mg/kg p.o.) leaf juice was administered to animals and its protective effect was determined on histamine aerosol induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs, comp 48/80 induced mast cell degranulation and active anaphylaxis in rats. Results: A significant protection against histamine induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs was observed. There was 63% delay in onset of dyspnoea in A. indica treated animals against that of 16% in control animals. A. indica neither could prevent mast cell degranulation nor could protect against active anaphylaxis. Conclusion: The results of the present preliminary study reveal that A. indica has bronchoprotective role. Moreover, it also suggests that mechanisms other than that associated with mast cell degranulation or active anaphylaxis are possibly involved in bronchoprotective role of A.indica.

Keywords

Azadirachta indica, Bronchospasm, Mast Cell Degranulation, Active Anaphylaxis

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Anshuman Trigunayat , M. Raghavendra , R. K. Singh , A. K. Bhattacharya , S. B. Acharya

Abstract

Objective: The present study investigates the effect of Withania somnifera (WS), a well known adaptogenic agent in Indian system of Medicine, on acute cerebral reperfusion and long-term cerebral hypoperfusion in rats. Materials and methods: Acute ischemia-reperfusion (30 min occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries followed by 45 min reperfusion) and Long-term cerebral hypoperfusion (for 15 days) in C.F. strain rats were produced following standard technique. WS, Indian chemotype-1, rich in withanolide glycosides (= sitoindosides) was used for the present study. Effect of WS on lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, cyclic AMP level and histopathological changes in forebrain regions in acute ischemia - reperfusion and on long-term cerebral hypoperfusion induced behavioral and histopathological alterations were evaluated. Results: WS pre-treatment (50 mg/kg p.o. for 5 days) attenuated the reperfusion induced biochemical and histopathological alterations. Long term hypoperfusion induced anxiety and listlessness (open field paradigm) accompanied by deficits in learning and memory (Morris' water maze testing) along with histopathological changes in rat forebrains were attenuated with WS treatment. Conclusion: The results suggest that WS may be useful in cerebrovascular insufficiency conditions.

Keywords

Withania somnifera, Reperfusion Injury, Cerebral Hypoperfusion, Oxidative Stress, Behavior, Cognition

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