Acute and Chronic Effect of Hibiscus rosa sinensis Flower Extract on Anxiety Induced Exploratory and Locomotor Activity in Mice

Total phenolic, flavonoid contents, and biological activities of stem extracts of Astragalus spinosus (Forssk.) Muschl. grown in Northern Border Province, Saudi Arabia

Background and objective

Genus Astragalus belongs to the family Fabaceae and is one among the largest genera consisting of around 3000 species. The plants have been used traditionally in treatment of various ailments in folklore. The study was planned to assess the analgesic and inflammatory activity of Astragulus spinosus (Forssk.) Muschl extract of the stem.

Materials and methods

Course powder of stems of Astragulus spinosus was extracted using chloroform and methanol as solvents. Folin ciocalteu method was employed for determination of the phenolic acid content. Aluminum chloride colorimetric procedure was followed for estimating the flavonoid content. Both chloroform and methanolic extracts at 250 and 500 mg/kg, were tested for the analgesic activity, however, only methanolic extract was selected for anti-inflammatory property based on the results of analgesic activity. The analgesic effect was executed on male rats by the hot plate model. The anti-inflammatory effect was studied in the carrageenan rat paw edema model. The experimental information was interpreted statistically using one-way ANOVA and p < 0.05 was used to express importance of the results.

Results

The total phenolics of the methanol extract was 420 µg and that of chloroform extract was 265 µgwhile total flavonoid content in terms of quercetin was found to be 68 µg and 17.5 µg for methanol and chloroform extract respectively. Only methanolic extract exhibited significant (p < 0.001) analgesic activity by elevating the pain threshold starting from 15 min. The methanolic extract inhibited (p < 0.001) the edema in carrageenan induced model. The performance of higher dose (500 mg/kg) was better with reference to lower dose (250 mg/kg).

Conclusion

Outcome of the results show that the methanolic stem extracts exhibited significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory-like activity with reference to chloroform extract. Credit of which is given to flavonoids and phenolic content present in the methanolic extract. However, more research is suggested to establish the safety and effectiveness of the herbal drug to manage diseased states including pain and inflammation.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of butein in different nociceptive and inflammatory mice models

Background

Around 30% world population affected by acute and chronic pain due to inflammation and accidental injuries. Pain is a uncomfortable sensation and it reduce the patients’ life quality.

Objective

The present exploration focuses to explore the beneficial effects of butein on the different chemical and thermal-provoked nociceptive and inflammatory mice models.

Methodology

The nociception was induced to the Swiss mice using different chemical (formalin, acetic acid, glutamate, and capsaicin) and thermal (hot plate and tail immersion) methods. the mice were supplemented with 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg of butein and respective standard drugs like morphine, diclofenac sodium, and dexamethasone. The anti-inflammatory effects of butein was studied using carrageenan-provoked inflammation in mice.

Results

The present findings clearly demonstrated that the butein was substantially lessened the different thermal and chemical provoked nociception in mice. The carrageenan-triggered paw edema and inflammatory cell infiltrations were appreciably suppressed by the butein treatment. The TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in the carrageenan-induced mice were effectively depleted by the butein.

Conclusion

Altogether, the present findings evidenced the potent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the butein in different nociceptive mice models.

Attitudes Toward Psychological Disorders and Alternative Medicine in Saudi Participants

Background: This study was designed to investigate Saudis' attitudes toward mental distress and psychotropic medication, attribution of causes, expected side effects, and to analyze participants' expectations toward alternative or complementary medicine using aromatic and medicinal plants, through a survey. Method: The study included 674 participants (citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia) who were randomly contacted via email and social media and gave their consent to complete a questionnaire dealing with 39 items that can be clustered in six parts. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square for cross-tabulation were generated using SPSS. Results: Among the 664 participants, 73.4% believed that there are some positive and negative outcomes of psychotropic medication. Participants (72.0%) think that the most important reason leading to psychological disorders is mainly due to the loss of a relative or beloved person, and 73.9% considered psychic session as one of the possible treatments of psychological disorders. Surprisingly, only 18.8% of the participants agreed that medicinal and aromatic plants could be a possible treatment of the psychological disorder. Participants (82%) consider that physicians are the most trustful and preferred source of information about alternative and complementary medicine.

Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects of Polygonum orientale L. Extracts

Background and Purpose:Polygonum orientale L. (family: Polygonaceae), named Hongcao in China, is a Traditional Chinese Medicinal and has long been used for rheumatic arthralgia and rheumatoid arthritis. However, no pharmacological and mechanism study to confirm these clinic effects have been published. In this investigation, the anti-inflammatory, analgesic effects and representative active ingredient compounds of P. orientale have been studied. Methods: Dried small pieces of the stems and leaves of P. orientale were decocted with water and partitioned successively to obtain ethyl acetate and ethyl ether extract of P. orientale (POEa and POEe). Chemical compositions of them were analyzed by UPLC-Q-Exactive HRMS. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of POEa and POEe were evaluated using xylene induced ear edema, carrageenan induced paw edema, Freunds' complete adjuvant induced arthritis, and formaldehyde induced pain in rat. Their mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects were also studied via assays of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and PGE2 in serum. Results: UPLC-Q-Exactive HRMS analysis showed that POEa and POEe mainly contained flavonoids including orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, luteolin, and quercetin. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory effects of POEa and POEe were evident in xylene induced ear edema. The paw edema in Freund's complete adjuvant and carrageenan were significantly (P < 0.05, 0.01) inhibited by POEa (5, 7.5 g/kg). POEe (7.5 g/kg) was significantly (P < 0.05, 0.01) inhibited Freunds' complete adjuvant induced paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma formation. Similarly, POEe significantly (P < 0.05, 0.01) inhibited the pain sensation in acetic acid induced writhing test. POEa (5, 7.5 g/kg) significantly (P < 0.05, 0.01) inhibited formaldehyde induced pain in both phases. POEa (7.5 g/kg) markedly (P < 0.05) prolonged the latency period of hot plate test after 30 and 60 min. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and PGE2 were significantly (P < 0.01) decreased by POEa (3.75, 5 g/kg). Conclusion: POEa and POEe have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which was mainly relevant to the presence of flavonoids, including orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, luteolin, and quercetin. The mechanism of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of POEa may be to decrease the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and PGE2 in serum.

Anti-inflammatory and associated analgesic activities of HPLC standardized alcoholic extract of known ayurvedic plant Schleichera oleosa

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken. commonly known as 'Koshamra' in Ayurveda is a tropical tree readily found in Asia and is used to treat pain and rheumatism, as traditional medicine in different parts of India. However, scientific evidences to justify these claims are lacking. Considering the traditional use of S.oleosa and the lack of information about its pharmacological properties, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of the alcoholic extract of S.oleosa (SE) against different animal models in rodents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated against carrageenan induced paw edema and TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) induced ear edema. To assess the mechanism of anti-inflammatory action the extract was tested against different phlogistic agents like histamine, serotonin, bradykinin and, prostaglandin E2. The analgesic activity was assessed against formalin induced pain.

RESULTS

The ethanolic extract of S. oleosa bark, did not exhibited any signs of toxicity up to a dose of 2000mg/kg. The extract significantly inhibited increase in paw edema and ear edema. A percent reduction of 60.84% was found against carrageenan induced paw edema by 400mg/kg dose of SE. The extract was effective against edema induced by serotonin, histamine and PGE₂. In formalin test the extract inhibited both the neurogenic 1st and mainly the inflammatory 2nd phase. Significant reduction in tissue levels of inflammatory mediators was also observed (p<0.05 for NO and p<0.01 for MDA). The extract showed presence of potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory compounds lupeol, lupeol acetate, betulin and betulinic acid on HPLC analysis which can be held responsible for its studied biological activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that SE is effective in inflammatory processes and targets multiple mediators of inflammation. Its action is markedly influenced by the inhibition of neutrophil migration, anti-oxidant action and reduction in inflamed tissue.