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

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2004-08, Vol.93 (2), p.397-402
• Main Authors: Nayak, Siva Sankar, Ghosh, Ashoke Kumar, Debnath, Bikash, Vishnoi, Satya Prakash, Jha, Tarun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abies; Abies webbiana; Animals; Anti-inflammatory activity; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Carrageenan; conifer needles; Diazepam; Diclofenac sodium; Edema; Edema - chemically induced; Edema - prevention & control; Extracts; Female; General pharmacology; Hypnotics and Sedatives - administration & dosage; Hypnotics and Sedatives - pharmacology; Hypnotics and Sedatives - therapeutic use; Lethal Dose 50; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Pentobarbitone sodium; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plant Leaves; Rats; Rats, Wistar; sedation; sedatives; Sleep - drug effects; Sleeping time; Synergistic effect; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2004.04.014

During the determination of LD 50 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 LD 50 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.