Venture Capital and Business Angels and the Creation of Innovative Firms in Poland

The article also points out that conditions fostering further development of the described types of entrepreneurship and innovation financing and a dynamic environment generating innovative capacity should be created.W artykule zasygnalizowano również potrzebę kreowania uwarunkowań sprzyjających rozwojowi opisanych form finansowania przedsiębiorczości, innowacyjności i dynamicznego otoczenia generującego zdolności innowacyjne

Neuropharmacological evaluation of Annona senegalensis leaves

The neuropharmacological activities of methanol leaf extract (ME) of Annona senegalensis Pers (Annonaceae) and its bioactive fractions (MF and F7) were studied in rodents using pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures, pentobarbitone-induced sleep, apomorphine-induced stereotypy, open field, elevated plus maze (EPM) and rotarod performance tests. The extract and fractions inhibited PTZ-induced seizures, prolonged pentobarbitone-induced sleep, reduced stereotypic behaviour induced by apomorphine, decreased the frequency of line crossing and centre square entries and increased rearing in the air in the open field. The frequency of grooming and rearing against the wall were decreased, whereas the duration of grooming increased. Also, the extract and fractions increased the duration of stay in the open arm when compared to the closed arm of the EPM, and reduced the average time spent on the rotarod. Acute toxicity test showed an oral LD50 of ME greater than 5 g/kg in mice. Phytochemical analysis showed that ME tested positive for carbohydrates, reducing sugar, resins, saponins,  tannins, steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids and glycosides; MF tested positive for saponins, steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, reducing sugar, flavonoids and glycosides; while F7 tested positive for flavonoids. These findings suggest that leaves of A. senegalensis possess anticonvulsant, central depressant and anxiolytic-like properties attributable to flavonoids.Keywords: Annona senegalensis, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, sedative, stereotypy

ANTIOXIDANT AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE POTENTIALS OF STEMONOCOLEUS MICRANTHUS HARMS (FABACEAE) STEM BARK EXTRACT

Objective: This study evaluated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of the methanol-dichloromethane (1:1) extract of Stemonocoleus micranthus Harms (Fabaceae) stem bark (SME).Methods: In vitro ferric reducing power, hydrogen peroxide and α, α-diphenyl–β–dipicryl–hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays, were used to determine the antioxidant activity of SME (25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 µg/ml). Also the effects of SME (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) on liver enzymes alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-inducedhepaticoxidative damage were studied in rats.Results: The results showed that SME (25-400 µg/ml) significantly (P<0.01) reduced iron III (Fe3+) to iron II (Fe2+) with 400 µg/ml eliciting 135.4% reducing power. The SME demonstrated significant (P<0.01) hydrogen peroxide scavenging with 400 µg/ml eliciting 20.37% activity, comparable to ascorbic acid (20.32%). The SME (25-400 µg/ml) also elicited 77-81% DPPH free radical scavenging, lower than ascorbic acid (25-400 µg/ml) with 83-88% activity. The in vivo study showed that SME protected the rats from liver damage as shown by the reduction of liver enzymes in serum. The SME (400 mg/kg) elicited 7.7, 33.8 and 7.2% inhibition of ALP, ALT and AST respectively. The acute toxicity test revealed that SME has high margin of safety, with oral lethal dose (LD50)>5 g/kg. Phytochemical analyses on the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, proteins, reducing sugars, saponins, resins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, fats, and oils.Conclusion: The findings suggest that the methanol-dichloromethane extract of S. micranthus stem bark possess antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects.Keywords: Stemonocoleus micranthus, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Albino rats, Ascorbic aci

Acanthus montanus: An experimental evaluation of the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunological properties of a traditional remedy for furuncles

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Acanthus montanus </it>(Nees) T. Anderson (Acanthaceae) is a shrub widespread in Africa, the Balkans, Romania, Greece and Eastern Mediterranean. It is used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of urogenital infections, urethral pain, endometritis, urinary disease, cystitis, leucorrhoea, aches and pains. In southeastern Nigeria, the root is popular and acclaimed highly effective in the treatment of furuncles. This study was undertaken to experimentally evaluate the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of the root extract as well as its effect on phagocytosis and specific cell-mediated immune response which may underlie the usefulness of the roots in treatment of furuncles.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The aqueous root extract (obtained by hot water maceration of the root powder) was studied for effects on the growth of clinically isolated strains of <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa </it>and <it>Staphylococcus aureus</it>. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using acute topical edema of the mouse ear induced by xylene, acute paw edema induced by agar in rats, formaldehyde arthritis in rats, vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in mice and heat- and hypotonicity-induced haemolysis of ox red blood cells (RBCs). Also evaluated were the effects on <it>in vivo </it>leukocyte migration induced by agar, phagocytic activity of macrophages on <it>Candida albicans </it>and specific cell-mediated immune responses (delayed type hypersensitivity reaction (DTHR) induced by sheep red blood cell (SRBC)). The acute toxicity and lethality (LD₅₀) in mice and phytochemical constituents of the extract were also determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The extract moderately inhibited the growth of the test organisms and significantly (<it>P </it>< 0.05) inhibited (57%) topical acute edema in the mouse ear. It significantly (<it>P </it>< 0.05) suppressed the development of acute edema of the rat paw in a non-dose-related manner and was not effective in inhibiting the global edematous response to formaldehyde arthritis. It also inhibited vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in mice and the haemolysis of ox RBCs induced by heat- and hypotonicity. The extract increased total leukocyte and neutrophil counts and caused a significant (<it>P </it>< 0.05) dose-related increase in the total number of macrophages at the 800 mg/kg dose. On phagocytic activity, the extract evoked a significant (<it>P </it>< 0.05) increase in the number of macrophages with ingested <it>C. albicans </it>at 800 mg/kg dose, and significantly (<it>P </it>< 0.05) inhibited DTHR in a dose-related manner. Phytochemical tests on the extract revealed an abundant presence of alkaloids and carbohydrates while saponins, glycosides, and terpenoids occurred in trace amounts. Acute toxicity test established an oral and intraperitoneal LD₅₀greater than 5,000 mg/kg.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The effectiveness of the root of <it>A. montanus </it>in the treatment of furuncles may largely derive from mobilization of leukocytes to the site of the infection and activation of phagocytic activity as well as suppression of exacerbated immune responses by its constituents. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities are likely contributory mechanisms. Phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids and carbohydrates may be responsible for these pharmacological activities.</p

A review on herbal antiasthmatics

In traditional systems of medicine, many plants have been documented to be useful for the treatment of various respiratory disorders including asthma. In the last two decades the use of medicinal plants and natural products has been increased dramatically all over the world. Current synthetic drugs used in pharmacotherapy of asthma are unable to act at all the stages and targets of asthma. However some herbal alternatives employed in asthma are proven to provide symptomatic relief and assist in the inhibition of disease progression also. The herbs have shown interesting results in various target specific biological activities such as bronchodilation, mast cell stabilization, anti-anaphylactic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory and inhibition of mediators such as leukotrienes, lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase, platelet activating, phosphodiesterase and cytokine, in the treatment of asthma. This paper is an attempt to classify these pharmacological and clinical findings based on their possible mechanism of action reported. It also signifies the need for development of polyherbal formulations containing various herbs acting at particular sites of the pathophysiological cascade of asthma for prophylaxis as well as for the treatment of asthma

Frusemide potentiates acetylcholine and carbachol in contracting the rat urinary bladder

Abstract The interaction between acetylcholine and carbachol, and frusemide, a loop diuretic, have been studied on the rat isolated urinary bladder strip preparation. Acetylcholine (4.36 × 10−8–1.3 × 10−6 M) and carbachol (5.5 × 10−8–6.9 × 10−6 M) induced contractions and these were significantly potentiated by frusemide (3.02 × 10−6 M). The ratio of EC50 in the absence of frusemide to EC50 in the presence of frusemide was 1.58 ± 0.03 (s.e.m.) for acetylcholine and 1.86 ± 0.14 for carbachol. Potentiation of acetylcholine and carbachol contractions by frusemide was not observed in tissues treated with hexamethonium (2.5 × 10−5 M). Rhythmic contractions induced by frusemide alone were markedly reduced by hexamethonium (2.5 × 10−5 M) and tetrodotoxin (10−6 M) but they were not significantly reduced by atropine (1.7 × 10−6 M). The result suggests that frusemide increases the sensitivity of the bladder to acetylcholine and carbachol, and that it may have a nicotinic stimulant effect on the bladder. This extra-renal action may contribute to its prompt diuretic property.</jats:p

Muscarinic receptor agonist-antagonist interaction in the rat rectum: are there ways of activating the same receptors?

Abstract The interaction between the muscarinic receptor agonists, carbachol, acetylcholine (ACh) and methacholine, and antagonists, atropine, gallamine, 4-DAMP and pirenzepine, was studied on the rat isolated rectum preparation. ACh (1.93 times 10−8-1.95 times 10−6M), methacholine (8.7 times 10−8-1.1 times 10−6 M) and carbachol (1.1 times 10−7-3.5 times 10−6 M) induced contractions that were reversibly antagonized by atropine (1.9 times 10−9-4.8 times 10−8 M), 4-DAMP (1.5 times 10−8-2.86 times 10−7 M) gallamine (1.12 times 10−6-1.12 times 10−4 M) and pirenzepine (2.8 times 10−7-7.0 times 10−6 M). The pA2 values were atropine: 8.99 ± 0.28, 9.29 ± 0.14 and 8.86 ± 0.05; 4-DAMP: 8.39 ± 0.10, 8.66 ± 0.15 and 8.26 ± 0.30, gallamine: 5.85 ± 0.23, 5.73 ± 0.25 and 5.96 ± 0.10 and pirenzepine: 6.85 ± 0.44, 7.17 ± 0.13 and 7.21 ± 0.03 against ACh, methacholine and carbachol, respectively. The experimental dose-ratio (atropine + gallamine) was greater than the expected dose-ratio (as predicted by the Paton &amp; Rang rule) for ACh and methacholine while the experimental dose-ratio closely approximates the expected dose-ratio for carbachol. It is suggested that atropine, 4-DAMP pirenzepine and gallamine act on the same receptors but gallamine allosterically altered the binding of the agonists and antagonists to varying extents.</jats:p