Aims:The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of Asparagus racemosus on urolithiasis in rats.Materials and Methods:Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6). Ethylene glycol (EG) 0.75% and ammonium chloride (AC) 2% in drinking water were fed to all groups (Groups II–VI) except normal control (Group I) rats for 10 days to induce urolithiasis. Group III–VI rats were treated with ethanolic extract of Asparagus racemosus at doses 200, 400, 800, and 1600 mg/kg, respectively, for 10 days. Positive control (Group II) rats were treated with EG/AC alone. Group I rats were administered drinking water and distilled water (6 μl/g) by gavage. After 10 days, blood samples were collected and analyzed for serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, urea, and creatinine. The kidneys were removed and sectioned for histopathological examination. The data were presented as mean ± standard error of mean and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Student's “t”-test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Conventional windows software was used for statistical analysis.Results:The rats treated with ethanolic extract of A. racemosus at doses 800 and 1600 mg/ kg significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, urea, and creatinine. Histopathology of the kidneys in Groups V and VI revealed less tissue damage and were almost similar to Group I rats.Conclusions:The ethanolic extract of A. racemosus has protective effect against urolithiasis.

An aqueous extract from roasted seeds of Carum copticum (omum) has cholinomimetic effects. It shows muscarinic effects on rabbit duodenum, guinea-pig ileum and rat jejunum, and on the blood pressure of rat and cat. These effects are blocked by atropine. It also has a nicotinic action on the frog rectus preparation and atropinized cat blood pressure. Its effect is potentiated by physostigmine and antagonized by cholinesterase or alkalinization. Paper and gas chromatography have confirmed the presence of acetylcholine and choline in the roasted omum seed extract.Aqueous extracts from seeds of Carum copticum (Benth.) f. Umbelliferae (commonly known as omum or Bishop's weed) are used in household remedies and also as a spice in food in India. A watery extract of omum seeds is used to relieve gripe in children. In diarrhoea, either roasted omum seeds are taken, or a watery extract made from them is given as a draught. In the present study the pharmacological effects of cold or hot aqueous extracts of whole or ground seeds of Carum copticum were investigated. MethodsPreparation of omum extracts Aqueous extracts were made by leaving the seeds of Carum copticum (10 g to 100 ml) either in cold or hot water for a period of 4 hours. These were designated as follows: (1) extract from whole seeds soaked in cold water (at room temperature of about 250 C) (OE 1); (2) extract from powdered seeds soaked in cold water (OE 2); (3) infusion with whole seeds (OE 3); (4) whole seeds roasted to dark brownish hue in a glass pan, added to water and left (OE 4). The fourth procedure is the one adopted commonly in households for preparing a draught against diarrhoea. I Present address: Psychopharmacology program,

Summary1. In anaesthetized patients under controlled respiration, samples of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid were withdrawn 15 and 60 min after an intravenous injection of 30 mg tubocurarine. When tested on the frog rectus muscle preparation contracted by acetylcholine, they exerted curare-like activity which corresponded to between 0 05 and 0-33 ,ug/ml tubocurarine. 2. In dogs anaesthetized with pentobarbitone sodium and artificially ventilated, two procedures were adopted to find out if tubocurarine passes into the liquor space after an intravenous injection of 0-3 or 3 mg/kg and during its intravenous infusion at a rate of 10 (jug/kg)/minute. Either samples of cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (c.s.f.) were collected, or different regions of the liquor space were perfused with artificial c.s.f. and the effluent was collected. The samples of c.s.f. and the effluent were assayed for curare-like activity on the frog rectus muscle. 3. After the intravenous injection of tubocurarine samples of cisternal effluent collected during perfusion from lateral ventricle to cisterna exerted curare-like activity. It corresponded to 20 ng/min tubocurarine in the sample collected during the first 15 min after the injection of 0 3 mg/kg and to 40-60 ng/min in the samples collected up to 2 h after the injection of 3 mg/kg. 4 During intravenous infusion of tubocurarine the cisternal c.s.f. as well as the effluent from the perfused regions of the liquor space exhibited curare-like activity. Expressed in equivalents of tubocurarine, the activity in the cisternal c.s.f. ranged from between 0-1 and 0-75 ,ug/ml. On perfusion from lateral ventricle to aqueduct or cistema, the activity ranged from between 3 and 25 ng/min in the aqueductal and from between 4 and 40 ng/min in the cisternal effluent. On perfusion from the lumbar-spinal subarachnoid space to cisterna it ranged from between 6 and 55 ng/min in the cisternal effluent.

Objectives:To evaluate the anti-infl ammatory effect of ethanolic extract of Cassia occidentalis seeds on acute infl ammation (carrageenan-induced paw edema) and sub-acute infl ammation (cotton pellet granuloma) in animal models. Materials and Methods: Four groups (n = 6) of Wistar albino rats (150-200 g) of either sex were used for both acute and sub-acute experimental groups. Group I (control) received saline (5 ml/ kg) and group II rats were treated with aspirin (200 mg/kg). Ethanolic extract of C. occidentalis seeds at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg was given orally to group III and IV rats, respectively. 0.1 ml of carrageenan was injected s.c. to plantar region of right hind paw of each rat, 1 hour after the drug administration. The change in paw volume was measured at 2, 4 and 6 hour intervals. For sub-acute model of infl ammation, sterilized cotton pellets, weighing 10 mg each, were implanted, one on each side of the groin, under light ether anesthesia. Drug treatment was given for 7 days. On the eighth day, cotton pellets along with granuloma were removed surgically, dried at 60°C overnight and then the dry weight was taken. Results: Ethanolic extract of C. occidentalis seeds at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg produced signifi cant reduction in paw edema in acute infl ammation model. It also signifi cantly (P < 0.05) reduced granuloma formation in sub-acute model of infl ammation. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of C. occidentalis seeds possesses anti-infl ammatory effects in both acute and sub-acute infl ammatory conditions.