title: Synergistic effect of methanol extract of Abies webbiana leaves on sleeping time induced by standard sedatives in mice and anti-inflammatory activity of extracts in rats.
abstract: During the determination of LD50 values of extracts of Abies webbiana, it was observed that the methanol extract (MEAW) produces sedation of animals. This led to investigation of the effect of MEAW on sleeping time in mice. When various doses of the methanol extract (100, 150, and 200 mg/kg body weight) were administered alone, no hypnotic activity was observed. However, these exhibited significant synergistic effects (P < 0.001) at those dose levels in mice when administered prior to the administration of standard sedatives (pentobarbitone sodium: 50 mg/kg and diazepam: 6 mg/kg, respectively). In addition anti-inflammatory effects of methanol, chloroform, and petroleum ether extracts of Abies webbiana leaves in rats were performed to assess scientific validity of the medicinal claim of Indian folk medicine. The effects of leaf extracts (methanol, chloroform, and petroleum ether) against inflammation were studied by carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats. The methanol extract (400 mg/kg p.o.) of leaves of Abies webbiana showed the best significant anti-inflammatory activity as compared to that of diclofenac sodium (150 mg/kg p.o.). The LD50 values of methanol, chloroform, and petroleum ether extracts were found to be 986, 1387, and > 3200 mg/kg, respectively. Thus, the therapeutic index of methanol extract may be favorable to open a new vista on combination therapy of hypnotics and may also against inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Natural Science Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India.
authors.forename: Siva Sankar
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.forename: Ashoke Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Bikash
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Debnath
authors.forename: Satya Prakash
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Vishnoi
authors.forename: Tarun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jha
mesh_terms: D028202:Abies; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002351:Carrageenan; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002351:Carrageenan