Antidepressant effects of natural and micropropagated Bacopa monnieri (L.) plant extracts

Linn. an important medicinal plant in Indian system of alternative medicine belonging to Scrophulariaceae family. It is distributed in the wet and marshy lands throughout India, Nepal and many other parts of world. This study was carried out to evaluate the natural and micropropagated plant extract for antidepressant activity. Antidepressant effects of natural and micropropagated plant extract was evaluated by spontaneous motor activity. All the extracts were administered 30 min prior to the test. The standard drug chlorpromazine (2mg/kg) was used. The locomotor activity was performed using an actophotometer after different doses of test drug. Result: The locomotor activity of control and treated mice were recorded and statistically correlated among the control, standard and the test drugs. The inhibition of spontaneous motor activity in case of BMN, BMS extract was found 291, 93.5 and 277, 93.66 count at interval of 30 and 60 min. respectively. But in case of BMM plant extract it was found 290, 87.33 and 146 count at 30, 60 and 120 min. interval respectively so results showed that a significant antidepressant-like effect at a dose of 100 mg/kg. It can be used as adjuvant therapy for depression. There was statistically highly significant (p value <0.001) association observed. Further evaluation on the different mechanisms of action of ethanolic extracts of natural and micropropagated plant needs to be studied in the future.

Individual and Combined Inhalational Sedative Effects in Mice of Low Molecular Weight Aromatic Compounds Found in Agarwood Aroma

Agarwood is known to have a sedative effect and the less studied volatile aromatic constituents it contains may have contribution to the activity. In this study, two Kyara grade (highest-grade agarwood in Japan) samples were extracted using headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Six low molecular weight aromatic compounds (LACs) and one structurally simple compound (diethylene glycol monoethyl ether) present in the aromas were individually evaluated for inhalational sedative activity in mice through open field test. Doses of 0.0001 g/L to 1 g/L were prepared for each compound and administered to mice (n = 6/dose/compound). Results revealed all compounds decreased spontaneous motor activity at almost all doses. Strongest sedative activity of each compound reduced total spontaneous motor activity by more than half against control, demonstrating their contribution to agarwood aroma and potential as independent sedating agents. Mixtures of compounds using their most effective dose were made and evaluated again for inhalational sedative effect. Interestingly, the combination of all compounds showed no significant effect and even caused stimulation in mice movements. This result suggests antagonistic-like interaction between the compounds, which is probably due to structural similarities. Consequently, it implies the other constituents present in agarwood, along with LACs, are also important to the overall sedative activity.

Effect of Caffeine at Different Concentrations on Behavior and Motor Activity in Mice

Aims: This article aimed to study the effect of different caffeine concentrations on behaviour and motor activity of mice. Place and Duration of Study: This study took place in Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tripoli, and was conducted between 2017 to 2018. Methodology: The experiment was carried out using 24 male mice (25-30 gm). Plus maze was used for screening antianxiety effect of caffeine. While swimming maze was used to test the antidepressant effect. Descriptive statistics was performed using SPSS (version 22), followed by one sample Kolmogorov-Simirnov test. One-Way ANOVA was applied to compare between groups and Post Hoc test (LSD). Results: At a dose of 100 mg/kg, caffeine produce significant decrease in the duration of immobility using forced swimming maze; while the lower (25 mg/kg) and the higher (200 mg/kg) doses did not produce any changes compared to the control. In plus maze, Caffeine decreases the anxiety measure at the dose used of 100 mg/kg; but did not change the anxiety measure when lower (25 mg/kg) or higher (200 mg/kg) doses used compared to the control. The spontaneous motor activity was decreased significantly after administration of the higher dose of 200 mg/kg; the lower dose (25 mg/kg) showed insignificant increase, while the dose of 100 mg/kg produce insignificant decrease in the spontaneous motor activity. Conclusion: Caffeine has dose dependent effect, in a dose 100 mg/kg it produce anxiolytic and antidepressant like action, while lower (25 mg/kg) and higher (200 mg/kg) doses did not show any changes. Caffeine also produce dose dependent decrease in the spontaneous motor activity, this indicate that caffeine produce CNS depression with higher doses.

FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY OF CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM IN NEWBORNS WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SPONTANEOUS MOTOR ACTIVITY

The concept of typological variability of the physiological individuality is considered to be the methodological basis of the research. It is proved that the level of habitual motor activity is a tempostabile personal and genetically programmed characteristic (in toddlehood, midchildhood, adolescence, and adulthood). In age-specific physiology and pediatrics, there is also a need to determine quantitative indicators of motor activity in the early stages of ontogenesis, in particular, in the neonatal period, since, according to modern law, indicators of psychomotor status are criteria for the harmonious development of a newborn. The knowledge of the basic key characteristic – the level of spontaneous motor activity (SMA) – allows clinicians to study morphofunctional and psychophysiological characteristics of newborns. The purpose of the paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of functional capacity of the cardiovascular system in newborns with different levels of spontaneous motor activity at rest and during the circadian cycle. Materials and Methods. The study enrolled 137 newborns of health groups 1–2 (age: 10–14 days: gestation period: 38–42 weeks; second stage of nursing). According to SMA quantitative indicators, the authors identified three groups of newborns: with low, medium and high SMA. In each constitutional group, centile tables were used for anthropometric assessment; cardiovascular system functional capacity was evaluated at rest and during the circadian cycle. Results. The authors distinguished three groups of newborns: with low, medium and high spontaneous motor activity. For each group the authors determined quantitative indicators of locomotion, established individual and typological anthropometric characteristics and cardiovascular indicators. Statistically significant differences were defined in the extreme groups. Newborns with low SMA are characterized by brachymorphy, high heart rates, and the lowest blood pressure indicators; newborns with high SMA demonstrate dolichomorphy, the lowest heart rates, and high blood pressure. Circadian rhythm of cardiovascular indicators was of a typical pattern. Conclusion. Each group of newborns revealed individual typological characteristics in terms of cardiovascular indicators. The most significant differences were noted in newborns with low and high SMA, which may serve as a basis for prenosological diagnostics. Keywords: newborns, spontaneous motor activity, functional capability, cardiovascular system. Методологической основой проводимых исследований явилась концепция типологической вариабельности физиологической индивидуальности. Доказано, что уровень привычной двигательной активности является стабильным индивидуальным и генетически запрограммированным признаком (у лиц дошкольного, школьного, юношеского и зрелого возрастов). В возрастной физиологии и педиатрии также существует необходимость определения количественных показателей двигательной активности на ранних этапах онтогенеза, в частности в неонатальном периоде, так как согласно действующим приказам показатели психомоторного статуса являются критериями гармоничного развития новорожденного. Установление ведущего типового признака – уровня спонтанной двигательной активности (СДА) – позволяет в дальнейшем изучить морфофункциональные и психофизиологические особенности детей этого возрастного периода. Цель работы  провести сравнительный анализ функциональных показателей сердечно-сосудистой системы новорожденных с различным уровнем спонтанной двигательной активности в покое и в течение суточного цикла. Материалы и методы. Обследовано 137 новорожденных I–II групп здоровья (возраст – 10–14 дней, срок гестации – 38–42 нед., второй этап выхаживания). По результатам определения количественных показателей СДА выделены три группы детей с низкой, средней и высокой СДА. В каждой конституциональной группе проведена антропометрическая оценка по центильным таблицам; функциональные показатели сердечно-сосудистой системы оценивали в состоянии покоя и в течение суточного цикла. Результаты. Для каждой группы определены количественные показатели локомоций, установлены индивидуально-типологические особенности антропометрических параметров и показателей сердечно-сосудистой системы. Статистически значимые различия определены в крайних группах. Для новорожденных с низкой СДА характерна брахиморфия, высокие показатели ЧСС, наименьшие показатели артериального давления, для детей с высокой СДА – долихоморфия, наименьшие показатели ЧСС, высокие показатели артериального давления. Хроноструктура суточного ритма показателей сердечно-сосудистой системы носила типовую направленность. Выводы. В каждой группе новорожденных выявлены индивидуально-типологические особенности по показателям сердечно-сосудистой системы. Наиболее существенные различия отмечены в группах новорожденных с низкой и высокой СДА, что может являться основой для выделения критериев донозологической диагностики. Ключевые слова: новорожденные, спонтанная двигательная активность, функциональные показатели, сердечно-сосудистая система.

Forelimb Movement Disorder in Rat Experimental Model

Study of motor activity is an important part of the experimental models of neural disorders of rats. It is used to study effects of the CNS impairment, however studies on the peripheral nervous system lesions are much less frequent. The aim of the study was to extend the spectrum of experimental models of anterior limb movement disorders in rats by blockade of the right anterior limb brachial plexus with the local anesthetic Marcaine (Ma), or with aqua for injection administered into the same location (Aq) (with control intact group C). Two other groups with anterior limb movement disorders underwent induction of cellular brain edema by water intoxication (MaWI and AqWI). Results showed a lower spontaneous motor activity of animals in all experimental groups versus controls, and lower spontaneous motor activity of animals in the MaWI group compared to other experimental groups in all categories. There was no difference in spontaneous activity between the groups Ma, Aq and AqWI. Our study indicates that alterations of spontaneous motor activity may result from the impaired forelimb motor activity induced by the anesthetic effect of Marcaine, by the volumetric effect of water, as a result of induced brain edema, or due to combination of these individual effects.