Cyphostemma glaucophilla is used in the management of kwashiorkor, because impaired immune responses is associated with malnourishment the modulatory activity of aqueous leaves extract of Cyphostemma glaucophilla on primary and secondary humuoral responses, in vivo leucocyte mobilization, Delayed Type Hypersensitive Reaction (DTHR), haemoglobin, packed cell volume and white blood cell count were evaluated. The extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg stimulated significant (p<0.05) dose dependent increase in primary and secondary sheep red blood cell specific antibody titre comparable to Levamisol. Extract at doses of 100 and 250 mg/kg induced leucocyte mobilization while 500 mg/kg inhibited leucocyte mobilization. The extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg produced significant (p<0.05) inhibition of DTHR in rats by 20.24 and 67.77%, respectively. The extract also induced significant (p<0.05) increases in packed cell volume by 3.0% at the lowest dose of 0.5 mg/kg and 11.2% at the highest dose of 2.0 mg/kg. However, the extract was insensitive to haemoglobin and total white blood cell count. Result has established cellular and humoral immunomodulatory activities of Cyphostemma glaucophilla aqueous leaves extract.
Abstract:Gymnema sylvestre is a rare herb with significant medical attributes and ethno-botanical uses. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders around the world. In this study, the effect of the aqueous extracts of this plant was investigated for its hypno-sedative effect in rats as well as acute toxicity. Leaf, stem and flowers of G.sylvestre have several therapeutic applications in folk medicine in curing or managing of a wide range of diseases including insomnia. Sleep was induced using sodium barbiturate in albino rats. Rats of either sex weighing between 100-115g were grouped into five groups A,B,C,D and E of four animals each. Group A was the negative control and received only water, groups B the positive control received 10mg/kg b.w of diazepam .Groups C,D and E were administered 150,700 and 1500mg/kg b.w of extracts respectively, each of the rat was placed in individual cage and observed over a period of 24 hours at 6 hours interval .The aqueous extracts produced significant sedative effect at the dose of 150mg/kg b.w and was more effective than diazepam. The extracts at the doses of 150 and 700mg/kg b.w exhibited hypno-sedative activity comparable to the reference drug. The stem extract at 1500mg/kg produced no sedative effect. No toxicity signs were observed following acute toxicity evaluation. The extracts showed hypno-sedative activity at lower doses of 150mg/kg b.w in this increasing order, stem→leaf →flower. In conclusion, these results suggest that the aqueous extract of G. sylvestre is relatively non-toxic and possess potent sedative and hypnotic effects which could support its therapeutic use for insomnia in folk medicine.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.