Evaluation of anticonvulsant activity of Mesua ferrea Linn. ethanolic flower extract

Abstract To study the anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic extract of Mesua ferrea in albino mice. Anticonvulsant activity for Mesua ferrea was evaluated in albino mice of either sex at 3 different dose levels (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg p.o.) by MES assessed using albino mice against Maximum Electroshock Seizure (MES) test. The ethanolic extract of Mesua ferrea reduced the duration of hind limb tonic extension (HLTE) in a dose dependent manner against MES model. The ethanolic extract of Mesua ferrea inhibits MES-induced convulsions. The extract showed significant (p<0.001) against both MES (maximal electroshock)

Hypoglycemic Effect of Calotropis gigantea Linn. Leaves and Flowers in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Objectives: To evaluate the hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic activity of chloroform extract of Calotropis gigantea leaves and flowers in normal rats and streptozotocin induced diabetes.Methods: The hypoglycemic activity in normal rats was carried out by treatment using chloroform extract of Calotropis gigantea leaf and flower 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg, orally. The oral glucose tolerance test was carried out by administering glucose (2 g/kg, p.o), to non-diabetic rats treated with leaf and flowers extracts at oral doses 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg, p.o and glibenclamide 10 mg/kg. The serum glucose was then measured at 0, 1.5, 3 and 5 hr after administration of extracts/drug. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were administered the same doses of leaf and flower extracts, and standard drugs glibenclamide was given to the normal rats or 0.5 ml of 5�0Tween-80, for 27 days. The blood sample from all groups collected by retro-orbital puncture on 7, 14, 21 and 27th days after administration of the extracts/drug and used for the estimation of serum glucose levels using the glucose kit.Results: The Calotropis gigantea leaves and flowers extracts were effective in lowering serum glucose levels in normal rats. Improvement in oral glucose tolerance was also registered by treatment with Calotropis gigantean. The administration of leaf and flower extracts to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats showed a significant reduction in serum glucose levels.Conclusion: It is concluded that chloroform extracts of Calotropis gigantea leaves and flowers have significant anti-diabetic activity