Premature ejaculation - dose and duration dependent effect of fluoxetine: a histological study on seminal vesicle of albino rats

Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Potential of Methanolic Extract of Neurada procumbens Linn. in Mice

Neurada procumbens Linn. possesses a wide range of phytochemical and bioactive entities such as flavonoids and polyphenols that decrease the oxidative stress and enhance synaptic plasticity, resulting in accelerated healing processes. Almost all parts of the plant have been used in the traditional system of medicine for various disorders including its use as an anticonvulsant, sexual tonic, and anti-rheumatic agent. This study is designed to evaluate the anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of the methanolic crude extract of N. procumbens (Np.Cr) based on its use in traditional medicine and presence of the phytochemical constituents. Aqueous methanolic extract of Np.Cr was prepared under reduced pressure using rotary evaporator, and different chemical constituents were identified by phytochemical screening. Light/dark exploration, elevated plus maze (EPM), and hole board tests were used to assess the anxiolytic activity, while forced swim and tail suspension tests were used to assess the antidepressant potential of the crude extract. Treatment groups treated individually with 3 different doses; i.e., 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of Np.Cr, showed a dose-dependent increase in time spent in light compartment and in open arms as well as increased number of head poking by the experimental animals. Np.Cr showed significant antidepressant potential (P < .05) as evident from marked decrease in behavioral despair. Findings of the present study assure that N. procumbens possess significant anxiolytic and antidepressant potential with the demands of further investigations to identify the active compound(s) responsible for these pharmacological effects.

Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Induced Weight Changes: A Dose and Duration Dependent Study on Albino Rats

INTRODUCTION

Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most significant and safe drugs among the antidepressants. Fluoxetine is the prototype drug of SSRIs. Various clinical studies showed that SSRI causes change in body weight in patients. This study was conducted to know the extent of weight change with different doses for different durations.

AIM

The aim of this study was to find out whether fluoxetine causes weight gain or weight loss, and to deduce the comparative weight change after intraperitoneal injection of fluoxetine for different duration and doses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Present study was conducted on 72 adult (36 males and 36 females) albino rats, in 3 phases of 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 12 weeks duration. Each phase consisted of 24 (12 males and 12 females) albino rats. These 24 rats were further randomly subdivided into 4 Groups of 6 albino rats each (3 males & 3 females). Group 1(Control) received normal saline (vehicle). Rest 18 rats of each phase were experimental rats, of Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4 (6 rats each). Group 2, group 3 and group 4 experimental rats received 10mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 40mg/kg of intraperitoneal injection of fluoxetine respectively. All rats were weighed on each day for growth monitoring. Data was subjected to statistical analysis (Mean, standard deviation and Student's t-Test).

RESULTS

All experimental group rats which received fluoxetine showed decrease of body weight. Rats which received high doses of fluoxetine could not tolerate the drug for more than two weeks and died due to excessive body weight loss, loose stools and muscle twitching.

CONCLUSION

Present study conclude that SSRIs can cause weight change in the form of decrease of body weight. This property of SSRIs can be used clinically by prescribing these drugs to obese psychiatric patient without any fear of withdrawal of drug.