ABSTRACT
Lyophilised decoction (10%) of the leaves of Bridelia atroviridis Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) was studied in the rat cardiovascular system. In vivo, the extract (15 and 30 mg/kg) caused a decrease of arterial pressure and a decrease of heart rate in an anaesthetized rat (ethylcarbamate 1.2 g/kg). If administrations of Bridelia were repeated (three times) a tachyphylaxie phenomena was observed. After administrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline, acethylcholine and isoprenaline the extract had no effect on the action of these neuromediators on blood pressure. In vitro the extract induced dose-dependent negative inotropic and chronotropic effects in isolated rat heart. It was ineffective in rat aorta preparations. Bridelia seemed to have a direct effect on rat heart. Hypotension is not due to an action on the vessels. The extract did not appear to interact with adrenergic nor cholinergic receptors. However, the extract was able to potentiate barium chloride induced contractions of rat aorta preparations. The extract might act through potential dependent calcium channels.
Subject(s)
Blood Pressure/drug effects , Heart Rate/drug effects , Heart/drug effects , Myocardial Contraction/drug effects , Neurotransmitter Agents/antagonists & inhibitors , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Receptors, Adrenergic/drug effects , Receptors, Cholinergic/drug effects , Animals , Aorta/drug effects , Aorta/metabolism , Calcium Channels/drug effects , Cardiotonic Agents/administration & dosage , Cardiotonic Agents/pharmacology , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Interactions , Hypotension/chemically induced , In Vitro Techniques , Male , Medicine, Traditional , Muscle Contraction/drug effects , Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Plant Extracts/toxicity , Plant Leaves , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , TachyphylaxisABSTRACT
The study aimed at evidencing the suppressive effect of daily hassles on salivary immunoglobulin A (S-IgA); in fact, previous research did not detect a clear relationship between the two variables. Twenty-four subjects were tested as to the hassles that had occurred in their recent life and to S-IgA; the tests were repeated three times, with an interval of four weeks between each. The results show that the variation of S-IgA values between times 2 and 3 is associated with the variation of hassles between times 1 and 2 (r = -.46, p < .01).
Subject(s)
Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/analysis , Saliva/immunology , Salivary Proteins and Peptides/analysis , Stress, Psychological/immunology , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Psychological Tests , Saliva/chemistry , Students, Medical/psychologyABSTRACT
The research investigated the autogenic training (AT) effects, analyzing the emotional and somatic distress symptoms of patients during their learning of the AT standard exercises (N = 79). An improvement was observed even before the beginning of the course, thus demonstrating the Balint effect of the drug-doctor phenomenon. The control subjects, entered in a waiting list, showed no further improvements from this phase of the study; the experimental ones, who had begun their AT exercises, continued to show significant improvement.
Subject(s)
Autogenic Training , Psychophysiologic Disorders/prevention & control , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Adult , Affect , Anxiety/psychology , Emotions , Female , Humans , Interview, Psychological , Male , Middle Aged , Psychological Tests , Psychophysiologic Disorders/etiology , Stress, Psychological/therapyABSTRACT
The effects of the aqueous extract of leaves of Bridelia atroviridis (Bridelia), a small African tree, on the mechanical activity of rat uterus were studied. The aqueous extract of leaves of B atroviridis administered in a concentration-dependent manner (5 x 10(-6)-1.2 x 10(-3) g/ml) induced contractions that were antagonized by various calcium entry blockers (nifedipine, diltiazem, manganese chloride). In absence of external calcium ions, repeated applications of a supramaximal concentration of Bridelia (1.2 x 10(-3) g/ml) evoked sustained and repeated contractions the amplitude of which was congruent to 20% of those obtained in the physiological external calcium concentration. Bridelia-induced contractions in calcium-free medium were inhibited by isoprenaline (8 x 10(-7) M), caffeine (15 x 10(-3) M) and trifluoperazine (10(-5) M). Contractile responses induced by Bridelia in both calcium-containing and calcium-free media were antagonized by prior incubation of uterus with phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (6 x 10(-7) M), cholera toxin (6 x 10(-8) M) or pertussis toxin (5 x 10(-7) g/ml). These results show that Bridelia has a potent uterotonic action in the rat. The cellular basis of this action appears to be complex, and involves various mechanisms including calcium mobilization from both intra and extracellular compartments and activation of phospholipase C through a G-protein.
Subject(s)
Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Uterine Contraction/drug effects , Animals , Calcium/physiology , Cholera Toxin/pharmacology , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , In Vitro Techniques , Myometrium/cytology , Myometrium/drug effects , Myometrium/physiology , Pertussis Toxin , Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal , Rats , Rats, Inbred Strains , Uterus/drug effects , Uterus/physiology , Virulence Factors, Bordetella/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The research investigated the autogenic training (AT) immediate effects, analysing the emotional reactions of patients during their learning of the AT standard exercises. An improvement has been observed in all the conditions even before the beginning of the course, thus demonstrating the presence of the drug-doctor-phenomenon; the control subjects, entered in a waiting list, showed no further improvement at this phase of the study.
