In uterine smooth muscle, the effects of watermelon and its citrulline content are unknown. The aims of this study were therefore, to determine the effects of watermelon extract and citrulline on the myometrium and to investigate their mechanisms of action. The effects of extracts of watermelon flesh and rind and L-citrulline (64 μmol/L) were evaluated on 3 types of contractile activity; spontaneous, those elicited by potassium chloride (KCl) depolarization, or oxytocin (10 nmol/L) application in isolated rat uterus. Inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) and its mechanisms of action, N ω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME, 100 μmol/L), LY83583 (1 μmol/L), and tetraethylamonium chloride (5 mmol/L), as well as Ca signaling pathways, were determined. Both flesh and rind extracts significantly decreased the force produced by all 3 mechanisms, in a dose-dependent manner. The extracts could also significantly decrease the force under conditions of sustained high Ca levels (depolarization and agonist) and when the force was produced only by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca release. L-citrulline produced the same effects on force as watermelon extracts. With submaximal doses of extract, the additive effects of L-citrulline were found. The inhibitory effects of extracts and L-citrulline were reversed upon the addition of NO inhibitors, and pretreatment of tissues with these inhibitors prevented the actions of both extracts and L-citrulline. Thus, these data show that watermelon and citrulline are potent tocolytics, decreasing the force produced by calcium entry and SR release and arising by different pathways, including oxytocin stimulation. Their major mechanism is to stimulate the NO-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) relaxant pathway.

Lasia (Lasia spinosa (L.) Thwaites) has long been used since ancient time for the treatment of various ailments in man. However, the use of this plant in fish culture as a natural feed additive in fish diets to improve growth rate has not yet been studied. Thus, the aims of this research were conducted to investigate the effects of lasia extract (LSE) on growth performance and intestinal histology of hybrid catfish (Clarias macrocephalus x C. gariepinus). Arial parts of lasia were extracted with 75% ethanol. Preliminary phytochemical screening was examined by using colorimetric assay. Fish with an average of initial weight of 7.00±1.00 g were divided into 4 treatments of 3 replications before being fed diets incorporated with different levels (0, 1, 3 and 5% based on dried weight) of LSE. Fish were fed ad libitum two times a day with a rate of 3% of live body weight for 8 weeks. Phytochemical prospecting of LSE exhibited the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, steroids, saponins, coumarins, glycosides and anthraquinones. After a feeding trial, growth performance and feed utilization efficiencies of fish fed with the experimental diets were significantly improved when compared to the basal diet (P<0.05). Survival rate, intestinosomatic index and condition factor were not affected by the diets (P>0.05). Villi height, villi width, muscularis thickness, microvilli

The effects of red watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) flesh extract on male sexual behavior as well as its adverse effects were investigated using animal models. The suspension of the flesh extract was administered orally at doses of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg to different groups of male rats (n = 5) daily for 22 days. The receptive female rats were prepared by hormonal treatment. The mating behavior was investigated and compared with the standard reference drug, sildenafil citrate. The adverse effects of the plant extract were also evaluated by observing at least once daily for any sign of toxicity, water and food intake, stress and changes in behavior. The animal procedures were conducted in accordance with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, Thailand. The results indicated that oral administration of watermelon flesh extract caused a significant increase in Mounting Frequency, Intromission Frequency and Ejaculatory Latency in first and second series and caused a significant decrease in the Mounting Latency and Intromission Latency (P<0.05). The extract at a dose of 1000 mg/kg did not produce clinical signs of toxicity or mortality in any of animals during the treatment duration. The weight of body and reproductive organs showed no significant difference in the flesh extract groups compared to the control group (P>0.05). Based on the aphrodisiac property of watermelon in animal models observed in this present study, this plant may be useful for men with erectile dysfunction. In addition, watermelon flesh extract did not produce undesirable effects on male rats, indicating that its short-term use is apparently safe. Thus, our findings support the use of watermelon flesh for increasing potency in males.

New Findings r What is the topic of this review?How do medicinal plants act on the myometrium? What are the underlying mechanisms whereby medicinal plants exert their effects? r What advances does it highlight?We show that medicinal plants can affect uterine contraction at many loci. These studies give us a better understanding of how medicinal plants work on the uterus and can be applied in other areas of smooth muscle physiology, as well as pharmacy and medicine. This knowledge is also useful for developing new agents with potential to improve women's reproductive and gynaecological heath. This report summarizes work investigating the effects of some medicinal plants on uterine contraction. As there is a clinical need to find better drugs to help control uterine activity, and novel compounds are sought, the mechanisms whereby the medicinal plants exert their effects, as well as their major compounds, are discussed. By identifying the plants, major constituents and mechanisms, this review also illustrates the potential for development of new drugs, so that better ways to treat uterine disorders will be available to women worldwide.

This research was aimed to evaluate the effects of cardamonin enriched diets on growth, intestinal histology, hematology, and biochemical parameters of hybrid catfish (Clarias macrocephalus × Clarias gariepinus). Fish (the initial weight of 7.00 ± 1.00 g) were fed with the diets containing cardamonin at 0 (control), 5, and 10 mg/kg diet for 8 weeks. After the feeding period, it was found that cardamonin enriched diets significantly enhanced growth parameters and feed utilization efficiency compared with the control (P<0.05). Additionally, cardamonin enriched diets significantly increased villi height, villi width, absorptive area, muscle thickness, and goblet cell compared with the control diets (P<0.05). Hematological indices including hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cell, red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration did not differ among the treatments (P>0.05). Serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine were unaffected by cardamonin enriched diets (P>0.05), meanwhile, albumin levels of the tested fish were significantly increased compared with the control (P<0.05). In conclusion, these findings indicate that cardamonin could be used as a phytogenic feed additive to enhance the growth of hybrid catfish and the effective level observed was 10 mg/kg diet.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract