Anticonvulsant and sedative effects of Salvadora persica L. stem extracts.

The effect of Salvadora persica L. stem extracts on the potentiation of sodium pentobarbital activity and on generalized tonic-clonic seizure produced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) on the rat is reported. The extracts of Salvadora persica L. extended sleeping-time and decreased induction-time induced by sodium pentobarbital; in addition it showed protection against pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsion by increasing the latency period and diminishing the death rate.

Antiulcer activity of Salvadora persica L.: structural modifications.

In previous work we observed that the decoction of Salvadora persica L. possessed significant protective action against ethanol and stress-induced ulcers. This study was designed to confirm the antiulcer activity of Salvadora persica decoction using optical microscopy. The elements of gastric mucosa tended to be reestablished normally in treated rats.

Hypoglycemic effects of Salvadora persica L. in the rat.

The stem decoction of Salvadora persica L., a drug widely used as a tooth cleaning stick in Arabian countries, shows, in normal rats, hypoglycemic effects, an increase in plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and an incremented oral-glucose tolerance. The decoction also causes a significant decrease in mean body weight without drastic reduction in food consumption.

3,3'-Bi(1,3-thiazolidin-4-one) system. VIII. 3,3'-(1,2-Ethanediyl) derivatives and corresponding 1,1'-disulfones: synthesis, stereochemistry and antiinflammatory activity.

To deeply investigate the influence of lipophilicity, phenyl substitution patterns and stereo-chemistry on pharmacological profiles of chiral bisarylthiazolidinones, frequently endowed with stereoselective antiinflammatory, analgesic, antihistaminic activities, we synthesized and explored some 3,3'-(1,2-ethanediyl) analogues 1-4, along with their S-oxidized derivatives 5-8. Each derivative can be isolated as 2R, 2'R/2S, 2'S (a) and 2R, 2'S- or 2S, 2'R- meso (b) diastereomers, which were explored by means of carrageenin edema test, acetic acid writhing and hot plate tests, and also tested for gastrolesive potential and LD50. Independently of lipophilic and electronic features, disulfides 3b, 4b and disulfones 7a, 8a, 8b displayed interesting activity levels which appear to be mainly linked to the disubstitution pattern on benzenic rings.

In vitro cytotoxic effect of some medicinal plants containing flavonoids.

Aqueous, ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of Citrus sinensis L. (Osbeck), Euphrasia officinalis L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Matricaria recutita L., Rosa canina L. and Ruta graveolens L. have been studied. The cytotoxicity of the drugs assayed was evaluated "in vitro" by means of the dye test using cells of the Yoshida ascites sarcoma. The aqueous extract of Citrus sinensis L. (Osbeck); the petroleum ether extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra L.; the ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of Rosa canina L. and the petroleum ether extract of Ruta graveolens L. showed a quite significative cytotoxic effect.

Biological effects of hesperidin, a Citrus flavonoid. (Note III): antihypertensive and diuretic activity in rat.

Hesperidin, the most important flavanone of Citrus sp., obtained from the solid residue of orange peel, showed antihypertensive and diuretic effects on normotensive rats and on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Effects of fruit juices of Citrus sinensis L. and Citrus limon L. on experimental hypercholesterolemia in the rat.

In Citrus juices there are various substances of different chemical nature, some of which possess already-known hypocholesterolemic properties. Therefore it has seemed interesting to evaluate the effects of a prolonged administration of lyophilized juices of Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck and Citrus limon L. Burm fil. in diet-induced rat hypercholesterolemia. Lyophilized Citrus juices were administered for 15 days (by gavage, at the dose of 5g/kg in aqueous veicle in a volume of 0.5 ml/100 g body weight) and 30 days ("ad libitum", instead of tap water, 5g/kg in 1 ml opportunely diluted with water in the proportion 1:3). Cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride plasma levels were assayed. The results obtained showed that Citrus juices significantly increase HDL and lower cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride plasma levels in the rat. In particular, Citrus limon has more marked effect on cholesterol and triglyceride levels, Citrus sinensis is more able to increase HDL levels. Therefore, the prolonged use of Citrus sinensis and Citrus limon juices determines a considerable protection against insurgence of hypercholesterolemia. This experimental design does not allow us to determine the active principles to which pharmacological effects may possibly be attributed; but, on the other hand, it let us reproduce experimentally a situation similar to the inclusion of the Citrus juices in the human diet, which results in low, but continuous, body levels of their active principles.