Evaluation of safety profile and stress suppressant activity of Rosa moschata in mice.

Stress is a state that seriously disturbs psychological or physiological homeostasis of the body and subsequently affects the morphology and function of the hippocampus. Currently available anti-stress medications provide limited benefits with cost of severe adverse effects. In the present study, effect of Rosa moschata extract was evaluated using acute restraint model in mice. The stress suppressant activity of Rosa moschata was evaluated by using elevated plus maze test (EPM), dark light box test and open field test (OFT) following restraint stress protocol. Results showed that the Rosa moschata extract significantly enhanced the number of transitions and the time spent in the open arm in the EPM, increased the number of transitions and time spent in the light compartment of the dark light box, and also enhanced the locomotor activity in OFT, as compared to the stress group. In addition, LD50 of the plant extract is greater than 5000mg/Kg. Thus the findings of our studies show that Rosa moschata significantly alleviates stress following the acute restraint stress in mice. Further studies dealing with underlying mechanism and characterization of active fraction/compound may provide an alternative therapy for stress and related neurological conditions.

Antitussive and toxicological evaluation of Vitex negundo.

Vitex negundo Linn. (Verbenaceae) is used in traditional medical system for respiratory disorders. This study was carried out to investigate its cough-relieving potential. The antitussive effect of the butanolic extract of V. negundo (Vn) on sulphur dioxide (SO(2))-induced cough was examined in mice. Safety profile of Vn was carried out by observing acute neurotoxicity, median lethal dose (LD(50)) and behavioural signs. Vn dose-dependently (250-1000 mg kg(-1)) inhibited the cough provoked by SO(2) gas in mice and exhibited maximum protection after 60 min of administration. At 1000 mg kg(-1), Vn caused maximum cough-suppressive effects i.e. cough inhibition at 60 min was 67.4%, as compared to codeine (10 mg kg(-1)), dextromethorphan (10 mg kg(-1)) and saline having cough-inhibitory potential 75.7%, 74.7% and 0%, respectively. LD(50) value of V. negundo was found to be greater than 5000 mg kg(-1). In toxicity tests, no signs of neural impairment and acute behavioural toxicity were observed at antitussive doses and extract has been well tolerated at higher doses. These results indicate that V. negundo exhibits antitussive effect and it was found devoid of toxicity.

Investigation of antitussive and toxicological activity of Ballota limbata in mice.

CONTEXT: Ballota limbata Benth. (Lamiaceae) (syn, Otostegia limbata Hook.f.) is a species grown in the North West Frontier Province and the lower hills of West Punjab, Pakistan. Ballota species are renowned for their antispasmodic, antiulcer, diuretic, vermifuge, and especially sedative effects. However, little is known about the biological activity of B. limbata. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of antitussive activity and safety profile of dried B. limbata extract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whole air-dried plants were partitioned with various solvents and the butanol fraction was subjected to antitussive evaluation using a sulfur dioxide (SO(2))-induced cough model in mice. Codeine and dextromethorphan were used as positive control. Safety profile of the testing material was established using standard toxicity tests. RESULTS: B. limbata extract inhibited cough provoked by SO(2) gas in mice in a dose-dependent manner. The extract exhibited maximum protection against SO(2)-induced cough after 60 min of administration. B. limbata offered maximum cough suppressive effects, that is, number of coughs during 60 min was 11.66 ± 1.2 (mean ± SEM), after s.c. administration of 800 mg/kg, as compared with codeine 10 mg/kg, s.c., dextromethorphan 10 mg/kg, s.c., and saline showing a frequency of cough of 11.75 ± 1.18, 12.25 ± 0.83, and 46.25 ± 1.52, respectively. LD(50) value of B. limbata was greater than 5000 mg/kg. No sign of neural impairment was observed at antitussive doses and the extract has been well-tolerated at higher doses. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the extract of B. limbata has shown strong cough suppressive effect in mice without yielding any notable toxicity.