Phytotherapy research : PTR
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The present study was carried out to evaluate the antitussive potential of methanol extract of Ionidium suffruticosam Ging. (Violaceae) which was investigated for its effect on a cough model induced by sulfur dioxide gas in albino mice. It exhibited significant dose-dependent antitussive activity when compared with the control, 250 and 500 mg/kg (p.o.) of the extract showing 28.37% and 54.16% inhibition of the cough with respect to control group. The antitussive activity of the extract was comparable to that of codeine phosphate, a prototype antitussive agent.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of valepotriates (valerian extract) in generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized placebo-controlled pilot study.
The aim of the present study was to carry out a controlled pilot study on the putative anxiolytic effect of valepotriates. Thirty-six outpatients with generalized anxiety disorder (DSM III-R), after a 2-week wash-out, were randomized to one of the following three treatments for 4 weeks (n = 12 per group): valepotriates (mean daily dose: 81.3 mg), diazepam (mean daily dose: 6.5 mg), or placebo. A parallel, double-blind, flexible-dose, placebo-controlled design was employed. ⋯ Although the principal analysis (HAM-A between group comparison) found negative results (probably due to the small sample size in each group), the preliminary data obtained in the present study suggest that the valepotriates may have a potential anxiolytic effect on the psychic symptoms of anxiety. However, since the number of subjects per group was very small, the present results must be viewed as preliminary. Thus, further studies addressing this issue are warranted.
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Vimang is an aqueous extract of Mangifera indica used in Cuba to improve the quality of life in patients suffering from elevated stress. To assess its possible analgesic and antiinflammatory effects, the results of a standard extract evaluation are presented. Analgesia was determined using acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction and formalin-induced licking. ⋯ Vimang (20-1000 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly inhibited oedema formation (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) of both carrageenan- and formalin-induced oedema in rat, guinea-pigs and mice (maximal inhibitions: 39.5, 45.0 and 48.6, respectively). The inhibitions were similar to those produced by indomethacin and sodium naproxen, p.o. The different polyphenols found in Vimang could account for the antinociceptive and antiinflammatory actions reported here for the first time for M. indica bark aqueous extract.
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The antitussive activity of a methanol extract of Jussiaea suffruticosa Linn. (MEJS) (family Onagraceae) leaves has been evaluated for its potential on a cough induced by sulphur dioxide (SO(2)) gas model in mice. The extract (MEJS) showed significant antitussive activity in a dose dependent manner. The antitussive potential of MEJS was comparable to that of codeine phosphate (10 mg/kg), a standard drug. The extract (MEJS) at a dose level of 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. showed appreciable inhibition on the cough reflex by 48.52% and 59.8% respectively during 120 min of the experiment.