strychnine and Edema

Newbouldia laevis is a popular medicinal plant whose leaves and roots are used in Nigeria as ethnomedicinal prescriptions for pain, inflammation, convulsion, and epilepsy. These claims have not been scientifically verified prior to this study.. To determine pharmacognostic profiles of the leaves and roots and evaluate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anticonvulsant activities of methanol leaf and root extracts in Wistar rats.. The pharmacognostic profiles of the leaves and roots were determined using standard procedures to serve as fingerprints for the plant. The methanol leaf and root extracts of Newbouldia laevis were tested for acute toxicity using the OECD's up and down method at the maximum dose of 2000 mg/kg (orally) in Wistar rats. Analgesic studies were carried out in acetic acid-induced writhing in rats and tail immersion. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was evaluated using carrageenan-induced rat paw-oedema and formalin-induced inflammation in rats' mode. The anticonvulsant activity was determined using strychnine-induced, pentylenetetrazol-induced, and maximal electroshock-induced rat convulsion models. For each of these studies, the extracts doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg were administered to the rats following the oral route.. Our study revealed some pharmacognostic profiles of Newbouldia laevis leaves and roots that are vital for its identification from closely related species often used for adulteration in traditional medicine. The study further showed that the leaf and root extracts of the plant possessed dose-dependent analgesics, anti-inflammatory and anti-convulsant activities in rats, thus, justifying its use for the treatment of these diseases in Nigerian traditional medicine. There is a need to further study its mechanisms of action towards drug discovery.

Topics: Analgesics; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Anticonvulsants; Edema; Inflammation; Methanol; Pentylenetetrazole; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Seizures; Strychnine

Brucine (BRU) is a natural product derived from nux-vomica seeds. It is commonly used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive drug to relieve arthritis and traumatic pain. Nevertheless, its use is significantly limited by its low aqueous solubility, as well as the gastrointestinal problems and systemic toxicity that may occur following oral administration. The goal of this study, therefore, was to formulate and evaluate a nanoemulgel formulation of BRU for enhanced topical anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities. Different formulations were developed (BRU gel, emulgel and nanoemulgel) using 1% w/w NaCMC as a gelling agent. The formulated preparations were assessed for their physical appearance, spreadability, viscosity, particle size, in vitro drug release and ex vivo permeation studies. In addition, the carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema method was adopted to scrutinize the anti-inflammatory activity, while the hot plate method and acetic acid-induced writhing test were used to assess the anti-nociceptive activity of different formulations in male BALB/c mice. The formulated BRU-loaded preparations showed good physical characteristics. Cumulative drug release from BRU-loaded nanoemulgel was remarkably higher than that of the other formulations. Ex vivo drug permeation of the nanoemulgel formulation across rat skin showed enhanced drug permeation and higher transdermal flux as compared to BRU-loaded gel or emulgel. Most importantly, the carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema model verified the efficient anti-inflammatory potential of BRU-loaded nanoemulgel. In addition, BRU-loaded nanoemulgel exhibited significant protective effects against thermal stimulation in the hot plate test and remarkably inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing in mice. Furthermore, a skin irritation test indicated that BRU-loaded nanoemulgel elicited neither edema nor erythema upon application to rat skin. Collectively, our results suggest that myrrh oil-based nanoemulgel might represent a promising delivery vehicle for potentiating the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive actions of brucine.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Edema; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Rats; Skin Absorption; Strychnine

The seeds of

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Analgesics; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Arthritis, Experimental; Cell Line; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Dinoprostone; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Delivery Systems; Edema; Formaldehyde; Gels; Humans; Macrophages; Male; Mice; Pain; Phytotherapy; Rats, Wistar; Strychnine; Strychnos nux-vomica; Synoviocytes

To study the differences of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects between oil,sand and vinegar processing Strychnos nux-vomica seeds.. Mouse auricular swelling and writhing test and mice hot water tail flick latency effect method were used to study and compare the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of different processing products of Strychnos nux-vomica seeds.. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of vinegar processing Strychnos nux-vomica seeds was better than that of oil and sand processing products.. This study can provide theoretical basis for the optimization of processing technology of reducing toxicity and enhancing effects of processed Strychnos nux-vomica seeds.

Topics: Acetic Acid; Analgesics; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Edema; Mice; Plant Extracts; Seeds; Strychnine; Strychnos nux-vomica

Strychnos potatorum Linn (Loganiaceae) is a moderate sized tree found in southern and central parts of India, Sri Lanka and Burma. In traditional system of medicine, Strychnos potatorum Linn seeds were used for various ailments including inflammation, diabetes etc. To investigate the folkloric use of the seeds the present study was carried out on Freund's adjuvant induced arthritic rats.. The present study states the effect of the aqueous extract (SPE) and the whole seed powder (SPP) of Strychnos potatorum Linn seeds on the Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritic rat paw edema, body weight changes and alterations in haematological and biochemical parameters in both developing and developed phases of arthritis. Histopathology of proximal interphalangeal joints and radiology of hind legs were studied.. In FCA induced arthritic rats, there was significant increase in rat paw volume and decrease in body weight increment, whereas SPP and SPE treated groups, showed significant reduction in paw volume and normal gain in body weight. The altered haematological parameters (Hb, RBC, WBC and ESR) and biochemical parameters (blood urea, serum creatinine, total proteins and acute phase proteins) in the arthritic rats were significantly brought back to near normal by the SPP and SPE treatment at the dose of 200 mg/kg/p.o in both developing and developed phases of arthritis. Further the histopathological and radiological studies revealed the antiarthritic activity of SPP and SPE by indicating fewer abnormalities in these groups when compared to the arthritic control group.. In conclusion, both SPP and SPE at the specified dose level of 200 mg/kg, p.o. showed reduction in rat paw edema volume and it could significantly normalize the haematological and biochemical abnormalities in adjuvant induced arthritic rats in both developing and developed phases of FCA induced arthritis. Further the histopathological and radiological studies confirmed the antiarthritic activity of SPP and SPE.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Arthritis, Experimental; Blood Proteins; Edema; Freund's Adjuvant; Hematologic Tests; Lower Extremity; Medicine, Traditional; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Seeds; Strychnos; Weight Gain

To further understand the purpose of the traditional processing method of the seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica L. (Loganiaceae) as well as analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of brucine and brucine N-oxide extracted from this medicinal plant, various pain and inflammatory models were employed in the present study to investigate their pharmacological profiles. Both brucine and brucine N-oxide revealed significant protective effects against thermic and chemical stimuli in hot-plate test and writhing test. However, on different phases they exerted analgesic activities in formalin test. Brucine N-oxide showed stronger inhibitory effect than brucine in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, both of them significantly inhibited the release of prostaglandin E2 in inflammatory tissue, reduced acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and the content of 6-keto-PGF1a in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritis rat's blood plasma. In addition, brucine and brucine N-oxide were shown to reduce the content of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in FCA-induced arthritis rat's blood plasma, while increase the content of 5-hydroxytryindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) accordingly. These results suggest that central and peripheral mechanism are involved in the pain modulation and anti-inflammation effects of brucine and brucine N-oxide, biochemical mechanisms of brucine and brucine N-oxide are different even though they are similar in chemical structure.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Arthritis, Experimental; Capillary Permeability; Cyclic N-Oxides; Disease Models, Animal; Edema; Female; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Pain; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Seeds; Serotonin; Strychnine; Strychnos nux-vomica

General pharmacological effects of [Ethyl p-(6-guanidinohexanoyloxy)benzoate] methanesulfonate (FOY), a new antiproteolytic agent, were studied and the following results were obtained. Acute administration of large doses of FOY in conscious dogs and rabbits caused a decrease in spontaneous motility, ataxia, cyanosis, collapse, mydriasis, and respiratory paralysis. The agent had no effect on the central nervous system and exhibited hypotensive effects in dogs in doses of more than 1 mg/kg. Hypotensive responses were not inhibited by treatment with atropine or hexamethonium. FOY had no effects on ECG in the rabbit at doses of less than 30 mg/kg and at doses from 10(-6) to 10(-4)g/ml, distinctly reduced the amplitude of the spontaneous and rhythmic contractions of the isolated rabbit ileum, guinea-pig ileum and rat uterus preparation. The contractile response to nerve stimulation, noradrenaline and barium was suppressed in isolated guinea-pig vas deferens. FOY had no effects on the twitch response of gastrocnemius muscle to sciatic nerve stimulation in rats. The drug caused local irritant effects in rabbits and rats.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Anesthesia, Intravenous; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Aprotinin; Barium; Blood Circulation; Blood Pressure; Bradykinin; Brain; Dogs; Edema; Epinephrine; Female; Guanidines; Guinea Pigs; Heart; Histamine H1 Antagonists; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Mesylates; Mice; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Smooth; Nicotine; Pentobarbital; Pentylenetetrazole; Protease Inhibitors; Rabbits; Rats; Respiration; Reticular Formation; Serotonin Antagonists; Strychnine; Trypsin Inhibitors

Topics: Aminopyrine; Analgesics; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Arthritis; Aspirin; Carrageenan; Codeine; Depression, Chemical; Dextropropoxyphene; Drug Synergism; Edema; Electric Stimulation; Fever; Haplorhini; Male; Mice; Muscle Relaxants, Central; Pain; Pentazocine; Pentobarbital; Phenacetin; Phenylacetates; Phenylbutazone; Rabbits; Rats; Stimulation, Chemical; Strychnine; Tranquilizing Agents