The alcoholic extract of Achyranthes bidentata (AAB) has been studied for analgesic, anticonvulsant and CNS depressant activities in animal models. Analgesic activity was studied using acetic acid-induced writing test for assessing peripheral analgesic effect and tail immersion test for central analgesic effect. Anticonvulsant activity was performed by maximal electroshock induced convulsions; ...

The selective glutamate metabotropic receptor agonist (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD) was applied iontophoretically to cells in the rat primary somatosensory cortex (SI) in vivo. In contrast to other in vivo studies, distinct excitatory and depressant effects were observed. The excitatory responses could not be blocked by ionotropic antagonists, as evidence that t...

Recent findings support the hypothesis that CB receptor blockade might be associated with antidepressant and anti-stress effects. In the current study, the anti-depressant-like effects of rimonabant were studied in validated models of depression. Rimonabant (4-8mg/kg, i.p.) significantly decreased the duration of immobility in a dose dependent manner in mice forced swim test (FST) and in tail s...

PREPARATIONS of Averrhoa carambola (star fruit) have been used in an attempt to treat ailments of several different types both by bornohs (the Malay medicine men) and by traditional Chinese herbalists. Among these ailments for which star fruit preparations have been 'prescribed" are headache, vomiting, coughing and restlessness (Burkhill, 1935 : Woei,1970). This paper describes an attempt to de...

BACKGROUND Chai Hu has the hepato-protective, choleretic, anti-tussive, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, hypotensive, hypolipidemic, and anti-tumor pharmacological effects. In this study, the objective of this paper was to study the anti-depressant effect of total saikosaponins. MATERIALS AND METHODS Total saikosaponins were extracted by reflux method, and were identified by thin lay...

Treatment with anti-depressant drugs of 61 inpatients admitted on account of stroke was studied. Eighteen patients (30%) were being so treated. Only 5 patients (17%) with dysphasia were being treated with anti-depressant drugs compared with 13 patients (41%) without dysphasia (P less than 0.05). Dosage levels used were generally low and only one patient had been referred for a psychiatric opini...

The aim of the present study was to investigate CNS depressant activity of methanolic extract of Gelsemium sempervirens roots. G. sempervirens Ait (Loganiaceae) is used traditionally in the treatment of migraine, neuralgia, rheumatism, restlessness, mental irritability, insomnia and ovarian and uterine pain. The plant was found to contain alkaloids gelsemine, gelseminine, gelsemoidine and gelse...

The authors report four cases of Monopolar Depressed patients who developed manic features for the first time while on tricyclic antidepressant therapy. The phenomenon is viewed as tricyclic antidepressant induced mania. The manic symptoms occurred late in therapy, with moderate doses of tricyclic antidepressants (125-150 mg per day) and were easily controlled with antipsychotic medication. Fac...

Certain Rauwolfia alkaloids (reserpine, rescinnamine,serpentine, ajmaline and ajmalicine) were investigated for their central vasodepressant effects in cats. 5-Hydroxytryptamine was included in this study because it has been implicated as a mediator in the action ofreserpine and rescinnamine. Pressor responses were elicited from the medullary vasopressor locus with the steriotaxic technic, and ...