2019, Vol.9, No.1

CELLMED 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.03

pISSN : 3022-6805 / eISSN : 3022-6791
https://journal.kci.go.kr/cellmed

Background: Contents of bioactive substances extractable from different parts of terrestrial plants vary enormously. Aim: To ascertain that parts of Withania somnifera other than its roots can also be used for prevention and cure of unavoidable stress triggered central hypersensitivity to pain. Material and Methods: Groups of male or female mice treated either with Withania somnifera extracts or with metformin, aspirin, imipramine, diazepam and niacin for 11 consecutive days were subjected to “foot-shock stress-induced hyperthermia” and “hot plate” tests on the 1st, 5th, 7th, and 10th days of the experiments. On the 11th day, they were subjected to tail suspension test and on 12th day pentobarbital hypnosis test. Results: Except for diazepam and imipramine, protective effects of all other tested drugs as well as of the Withania somnifera extracts against stress-induced central hypersensitivity to pain were accompanied by their preventive effects against foot-shock stress-induced body weight losses. All observed stress response suppressing effects of all test agents increased with increasing numbers of treatment days. However, mean duration of pentobarbital-induced sleep was shorter in the extracts treated groups and longer in the diazepam treated ones only. Conclusions: Reported observations reveal that pharmacological activity profile of Withania somnifera extracts in male and female mice are almost identical, and are not like those of several drugs currently often prescribed for the treatment of diabetes-associated comorbidities. Withanolides are not the only extractable bioactive constituents of Withania somnifera. The described bioassay system is well suited for pharmacological standardization of diverse types of Withania somnifera extracts.

Decoction of Cocos nucifera husk fibre is used indigenously in Nigeria for malaria treatment. Polyphenols have been identified as the phytochemicals responsible for the antimalarial activity of Cocos nucifera husk fibre, though their toxicity has not been evaluated. The polyphenols of Cocos nucifera husk fibre were therefore evaluated for their effects on selected kidney function indices in mice. Fifty mice were randomly divided into five groups (A-E) of ten mice each. Mice in group A were orally administered 5% DMSO solution while those in groups B, C, D and E were orally administered 31.25, 62.5, 125 and 250 mg/Kg body weight of the polyphenols respectively for seven days. Serum urea, creatinine and uric acid concentrations were determined. Serum levels of sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium ions and kidney alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities were also determined. The results showed that the polyphenols significantly reduced (p<0.05) urea concentration at 250 mg/Kg body weight and creatinine concentration at all doses compared to controls. The polyphenols caused no significant alteration (p>0.05) in serum uric acid concentration and kidney ALP, GGT and GDH activities compared to controls. There was significant increase (p<0.05) in serum sodium ion concentration at 31.25, 125 and 250 mg/Kg body weight of polyphenols whereas significant increase (p<0.05) in serum potassium and chloride ions was observed at 62.5 and 250 mg/Kg body weight compared to controls. Thus, polyphenols of Cocos nucifera husk fibre may adversely affect some osmoregulatory functions of the kidney, especially at higher concentrations.

Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases globally and currently affects approximately 300 million people worldwide. As per scientific data, approximately 10–12% of adults; and 15% of children are affected by the disease. The increasing global prevalence of the disease imposes a high health care costs into its mechanisms and treatment. Unani system of medicine (USM) is a well known traditional therapy for number of diseases since ancient times. Time has proved that USM has a special role in treatment of chronic diseases, due its special Usooleillaj (Line of treatment). Dhiq al-Nafas (bronchial asthma) is also considered as a chronic disease. Since ancient times, the disease was cured by number of single as well as compound formulations by renowned Unani scholars. This review provides a comprehensive summary of medicinal plant throughout the world, with reference to renowned Unani scholars and physicians for treatment of Dhiq al-Nafas. A number of Unani single and compound drugs, highly efficacious and safe drugs are available for the asthma. The data were taken from classical literature of USM, Modern reference books & electronic journals. The recent information was collected from different authentic search engines. This review will provide the centuries therapeutic information’s of classical literature and recent scientific studies of 12 herbal drugs mentioned in USM, which will help the academia, clinicians, research scholars and post graduate students from Unani Medicine, Traditional & Complementary Medicine and other related disciplines, having research interest or work in the Unani medicine.