Dry extract obtained from leaves of Passiflora alata yielded 0.217 mg% of harman-like alkaloids and 44.8 mg% of flavonoids. Intraperitoneal administration (i. p.) of 75 and 150 mg/kg of this extract reduced the spontaneous motor activity and prolonged the sleeping time induced by pentobarbital sodium in mice. The extract showed anticonvulsant action on pentylenetetrazole induced seizures, increasing both its onset time and survival period. All animals treated previously with 75 mg/kg of extract died after clonic and tonic convulsions, while 16.7% of the group treated with 150 mg/kg survived. The DL5O value of the extract was estimated as 456 (424-491) mg/kg i. p. in mice.
Antiinflammatory activities of aqueous and saponin extracts and ecdysterone obtained from Pfaffia iresinoides (Sprengel) were studied by using three experimental inflammatory models in rats. The saponin extract (25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced the leukocyte migration, particularly of mononuclear cells in the carrageenin-induced pleurisy. It also inhibited the granuloma tissue formation following cotton pellet implantation and the complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis. The aqueous extract, in the same conditions, was effective on both carrageenin-induced pleurisy and complete Freund's adjuvant arthritis. However, it did not alter the granuloma formation. The ecdysterone (5 mg/kg, p.o.), isolated from P. iresinoides, showed no effect on these inflammatory processes.
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