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Open Field, Hole Cross and EPM are three widely acceptable experimental methods used to evaluate sedative-anxiolytic potential. The theories behind introducing these fields were to challenge the rodents to a novel environment. However, the behavioral changes caused by these environments often get influenced by rodent's identical neurologic conditions. The major challenges faced by the researchers are variations due to first administration against repeated administration, utilizing same rodent for another experiment but in different time or using different rodent for different experiments. Keeping the drawbacks in consideration, the present study undertook a newly modified (OF-HC-EPM) approach to integrate the experimental fields so as to utilize the same rodents with single oral administration for exposure to different fields which had allowed nullifying the risk of individual and time dependent variance. Anxiolytics, atypical antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants as well as the combined anxiolytics and antidepressants were administered to Swiss Albino Mice and their respective behavioral changes were observed. The new approach proved to be an essential tool for evaluating neuropharmacological potentials.

Background Dicranopteris linearis L. is among the popular tribal plants used for various ailments, although many of its pharmacological potentials have not been investigated yet. The neuropharmacological potentials of the leaf, including sedative-anxiolytic potential, were previously studied however, the antidepressant activity was yet to be examined. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate the serotonergic, noradrenergic and opioidergic response of D. linearis leaf extracts. Methods The plant leaf was extracted in three solvents- water (DLAQ), ethanol (DLET) and ethyl acetate (DLEA) and applied each in 200 and 400 mg.kg− 1 per body weight of Swiss Albino mice. Forced Swim Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST) were conducted to evaluate antidepressant potential. In FST, latency and duration of immobility, swimming and climbing time were recorded. In TST, immobility, swinging, curling and pedaling were observed. Alongside, preliminary screening through acute toxicity study and pentobarbitone induced sleep test were performed. Results Both in FST and TST, the duration of immobility was reduced by the standard imipramine and DLET 200 and 400. In FST, DLEA 200 and 400 increased the climbing time suggesting noradrenergic mechanism of action and decreased the swimming time suggesting deficit of serotoninergic mechanism of action. Interestingly, DLET increased both the parameters presenting a dual action. However, in TST, DLEA decreased immobility but increased swinging and curling response which indicated its opioidergic mechanism. On the other hand, DLET proved to mediate through serotonin and/or NA reuptake mechanism by having decreased curling time. Conclusion Among the three extracts, the ethanol extract proved to be more potent. DLET mimicked the standard imipramine in all parameters except for the curling behavior. The result thus suggests D. linearis as a potent antidepressant agent however, recommends its medicinal use after further investigation to identify bioactive compounds.

Background: Crotalaria verrucosa is a traditional plant frequently prescribed by the tribes for its medicinal value against inflammation. The present study was designed to investigate the scientific basis for medicinal value in inflammation by in vivo and in vitro analysis.Methods: Anti-inflammatory activity of the plant’s leaf was evaluated by two in vivo methods - carrageenan induced rat paw edema and xylene induced mice ear edema. Moreover, in vitro analysis was performed through heat induced hemolysis and heat induced protein denaturation methods.Results: The inflammation produced by carrageenan and xylene were effectively suppressed by the aqueous leaf extract of C. verrucosa (CVAQ) at 600 mg/kg body weight which was comparable to the standards. In heat induced hemolysis test the extract was able to inhibit the lysis up to 70% at 500 µg/ml whereas in heat induced protein denaturation test it reduces the percentage till 69% at the same concentration.Conclusions: The findings suggested that CVAQ possess moderate to high anti-inflammatory activity when applied in low to high concentrated doses. However, the study can only conclude from this basic evaluation that the extract needs to be further investigated for identifying the potential compound which contributed to such medicinal value of the plant.

Background: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance possesses a great threat for the existence of mankind. Antibiotics like penicillin and amoxiclav are at the brink of losing their efficacy entirely in exposure to resistant bacteria. Thus, the present study was aimed to find out the antibacterial efficacy of black seed honey as an alternative natural source which can act independently and boost the efficacy of standard drugs alongside.Methods: Penicillin, amoxiclav and black seed honey were first individually trailed against four gram-positive bacteria - Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus luteus. Afterwards, penicillin and amoxiclav were used in combination with honey and compared the synergistic effects with their individual efficacy. Zones of inhibition from well diffusion method, percentage inhibition, minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations by microdilution method were determined in the present study. Results: Black seed honey alone demonstrated great inhibitory potential against S. aureus (9.7 mm), S. epidermidis (9.9 mm) and M. luteus (9.3 mm) in well diffusion method. Moreover, its combination with amoxiclav showed synergistic effect against all bacteria except S. epidermidis. However, its conjugation with penicillin was not able to produce any synergism as exhibited by zones of inhibition. The lowest concentration (1.56%) of honey applied individually or in combination in microdilution method found highly effective which established an inverse dose dependent relationship with efficacy.Conclusions: From the data it can be concluded that the black seed honey is a highly potent natural agent which can be utilized in antimicrobial therapy. However, further investigation is recommended to identify the responsible compound for such activity.

Objective: To evaluate the analgesic, neuropharmacological, cytotoxic and thrombolytic potentials of the aqueous, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Kalanchoe pinnata leaves. Methods: At the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight, the analgesic activity of the extracts were evaluated by the acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin-induced persistent pain tests while neuropharmacological activity was evaluated by the open field, hole cross and elevated plus maze tests. The cytotoxic potential was observed by brine shrimp lethality bioassay and the thrombolytic potential was investigated by clot lysis test. Results: The aqueous extract significantly suppressed the number of writhing (96.78%) as well as the formalin-induced persistent pain on the early phase (46.92%) and on the late phase (40.98%). Again in case of hole cross and open field tests, the locomotor activity was decreased significantly (P < 0.001) mostly by the ethyl acetate extract. Furthermore, the sedative-anxiolytic activity was supported by the increased percent (P < 0.01) of frequency into the open arm on elevated plus maze test. Besides, the extracts showed moderate lethality and thrombolytic activity. Conclusions: The findings showed that activities are comparable to the standards and in some cases are stronger than the standards. Therefore, based on the results, it is evident that it has great analgesic and sedative-anxiolytic activity with moderate cytotoxic and thrombolytic potential.

Background: Mustard honey, a monofloral honey derived from mustard flower is considered a great source of nutritional and medicinal values. The honey is traditionally used as ethnomedicine in different parts of the world to cure many health problems. The present study aimed to evaluate its sedative-anxiolytic potential by integrating three conventional methods in a sequential order.Methods: Open field, hole cross and elevated plus maze experiments were performed in a row with a single oral administration of honey to the Swiss Albino mice. Behavioral parameters like square crossing, rearing, grooming, hole crossing and entry/duration in open arm were observed for each animal in different time intervals. Results: The findings were compared to that of a standard drug, diazepam (1 mg/kg). Mustard honey at higher doses showed sedative activity (4 g/kg and 6 g/kg) whereas with low doses (2 g/kg) exhibited anxiolytic potential. The physicochemical properties of honey were also screened in this study.Conclusions: The integrated method proved to be an effective approach for assessment of neuropharmacological potential for crude or standard medicine. However, further analysis was recommended to investigate active compound which may lead to a new drug development.

Introduction: Prophetic Medicine is a rich branch of natural prophylactic medicine recommended by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and is scientifically proved to be highly effective against almost all types of ailments. Honey and Black cumin are most investigated ingredients of prophetic medicine for the scientific explanation of their benefits. The present study was designed to explore neuropharmacological potential of Honey derived from Black Seed flower. Materials and Methods: For evaluation, novel OF-HC-EPM approach was applied on female Swiss Albino mice which was basically an integration of Open Field, Hole Cross and Elevated Plus Maze experimental cascade to trial with the rodents after single oral administration where parameters for sedative & anxiolytic behavior such as square crossing, hole crossing, grooming, rearing, entry and duration in open or close arms were observed. Results: Dose dependent (2g/kg, 4g/kg & 6g/kg of body weight) analysis was performed against standard Diazepam (1mg/kg). At low doses (2g/kg), honey possess anxiolytic action avoiding sedation whereas at high doses (4g/kg & 6g/kg) it causes mild sedative response yet developed decision-making capability and increased confidence. On the contrary, Diazepam was associated with sedative followed by anxiolytic activity. Conclusion: From the study, it was concluded that black seed honey exhibits non-sedative anxiolytic activity at dose dependent manner in comparison to established standard drug where sedation is often considered a limitation. Thus, as proved by black seed honey, it can be a good source for new drug development.