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The neuropharmacological studies of Paramphistomum cervi were conducted ex vivo by extracellular electrical activity. The instrumentation and methodology described in the experiment, quantitatively measure the extracellular electrical potentials associated with motor activity and provide highly sensitive objective techniques for studying the effects of antitrematodal compounds and for evaluating P. cervi as a model for neuropharmacological investigations. In the present investigation, the effects of various neuropharmacological agents viz. amino acid neurotransmitters [l-glutamate, gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), glycine], GABA antagonists (picrotoxin and bicuculline) and glycine antagonist (strychnine) were investigated on the spontaneous muscular activity of P. cervi. l-Glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter produced significant increase in amplitude and baseline tension at 10−7–10−5 M concentration, and frequency at 10−4–10−3 M concentration. Glycine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter on the other hand, produced significant reduction of amplitude at 10−6–10−3 M concentration and baseline tension and frequency at 10−3 M concentration. On the contrary, strychnine an antagonist of glycine produced significant increase of amplitude, baseline tension and frequency at 10−6–10−3 M concentration. Another inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA mediated significant reduction in amplitude and baseline tension at 10−3 M concentration. Picrotoxin, being an antagonist of GABA produced marked significant increase in amplitude (g) and baseline tension (g) at 10−7–10−3 M concentration with an increase in frequency at 10−4 and 10−3 M concentration. In the present study another GABAA antagonist, bicuculline was found to be non responsive in P. cervi.

The methanol extract of Alternanthera brasiliana Kuntze (Family: Amaranthaceae) leaf was investigated for its wound healing effect by excision wound model (in vivo) in aged Sprague Dawley rats. In excision wound model, compared to the control group, percent contraction of wound was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in A. brasiliana-treated group (5% w/w ointment). The collagen, elastin, and hydroxyproline contents of the granulation tissue of A. brasiliana-treated group increased significantly (P < 0.01) compared to the control group, indicating better wound healing activity of the test plant. These findings were also confirmed by histopathological examination. The results suggested that methanol extract of A. brasiliana possesses significant wound healing potential in aged animal wound model.

The floral richness of the North-East Indian region cannot be neglected in context to its medicinal importance. Achyranthes aspera Linn. (Amaranthaceae; Prickly Chaff flower) is an indigenous plant species of this region. Although the local traditional healers have ethnomedical knowledge on the use of this plant, there is no scientific study on wound-healing activity of this plant.The healing efficacy of methanol leaf extract of A. aspera (MEAA) in granulation tissue of burn wound and its antioxidant activity are investigated.Methanol extract of leaves of A. aspera was used for compounding 5% (w/w) ointment, which was applied topically twice daily in experimental burn wound in rats. Healing potential was assessed by rate of wound contraction, antioxidant and biochemical assay which was supported by gelatin zymography and histopathology.In the present study, 5% ointment of A. aspera showed significant (p0.05) wound healing, which was evident by wound contraction, elevation of various antioxidant enzymes viz. SOD, catalase, vitamin C and prohealing and biochemical parameters like hydroxyproline and protein content than the control animals. Up-regulated expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and 9) was also observed by gelatin zymography. Histopathological examination of the granulation tissues in the A. aspera-treated animals showed collagen deposition, fibroblast proliferation and formation of epidermis.The methanol leaf extract of A. aspera showed excellent wound-healing activities which has great potential for development of plant-based product.