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Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (Amaranthaceae), commonly known as "Mulluharivesoppu" in Kannada, is used in the Indian traditional system of medicine for the treatment of diabetes. The present study deals with the scientific evaluation of alpha amylase and the antioxidant potential of methanol extract of A. spinosus (MEAS). The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro alpha-amylase enzyme inhibition by CNPG3 (2-chloro-4-nitrophenol α-d-maltotrioside) and in vivo antioxidant potential of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and total thiols (TT) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats of a methanolic extract of A. spinosus. Blood sugar was also determined in MEAS-treated alloxan-induced diabetic rats. MEAS showed significant inhibition of alpha-amylase activity and IC50 46.02 μg/ml. Oral administration of MEAS (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 15 days showed significant reduction in the elevated blood glucose, MDA and restores GSH, CAT and TT levels as compared with a diabetic control. The present study provides evidence that the methanolic extract of A. spinosus has potent alpha amylase, anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities.

Object: The present investigation has been carried out to find out the effect of yohimbine on clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats. Methods:The male rats were treated with clomipramine and yohimbine simultaneously for 60 days. During the treatment, all the male rats were challenged with the female rats which are in estrous phase and their sexual behavior was observed under dim red light. Half of the animals in each group and remaining on 60 th day were sacrificed, blood was collected and serum separated. Testis was collected and preserved in 10% formalin for subsequent histopathological examination. Results:The study reveals that yohimbine failed to antagonize the clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats in all aspects, except the partial improvement in the sexual behavior. Conclusion:Yohimbine a well-known aphrodisiac failed to antagonize the clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats. The decrease in testosterone levels, a decrease in spermatozoa count were continued even in the presence of yohimbine except improvement in the sexual behavior parameters. Hence, yohimbine could not be a safe antidote against clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats.

Objective: Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (Amaranthaceae), the leaves were boiled without salt and consumed for 2−3 days to cure jaundice used by tribal of Kerala (India). Methanol extract of whole plant of A. spinosus Linn, (MEAS) was screened for hepatoprotective potency against paracetamol (PCM) (3 gm/kg. o.p.) induced-liver damage in Wistar rats at dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively. Materials and methods: A. spinosus was collected from surroundings of chickballapur, Karnataka (India). Whole plant was extracted with methanol. Hepatoprotective activity of MEAS was evaluated in PCM induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats by measuring liver marker serum enzymatic levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT), albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin levels and the markers for oxidative defense namely malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and total thiols (TT). Histopathological studies of liver were done to assess the cellular damage. Results: The results of our study showed significant (P<0.001) protection against PCM induced hepatic damage in experimental animals following the administration of MEAS. Our results were compared with silymarin (100 mg/kg), a known hepatoprotective drug. Conclusions: This presence of amino acids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds in the MEAS might be responsible for its marked chemoprotective and antioxidant activities in paracetamol induced-liver damage in Wistar rats