@article {221, title = {Screening of Antidepressant Activity of Punica granatum in Mice}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {December 2016}, pages = {27-29}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {27}, abstract = {

Introduction: India is a rich source of medicinal plants used therapeutically to treat various disorders including depression. This study was undertaken to evaluate the antidepressant effect of acute and chronic administration of Punica granatum (pomegranate) whole fruit in mice. Methods: We used the aqueous extract of Punica granatum (250 and 500 mg/kg per day), standard drug used was Imipramine (10 mg/kg) and vehicle was gum acacia (10 ml/kg), orally. Four groups of animals were used and each group had six animals. In the acute study drugs/vehicles were administered 60 min prior to the experiments. In the chronic study drugs/vehicles were administered for 14 days and the last dose was given on the 14th day, 60 minutes prior to experiment. Forced Swim Test and Tail Suspension Test were used for testing antidepressant activity. Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA with drug treatment as the independent factor. Post-hoc comparisons were performed using Dunnett\’s test. Results: In acute and chronic forced swim test as well as acute tail suspension test, duration of immobility was significantly reduced in the PG 500 mg/kg, but not in the 250 mg/kg treated group. In chronic tail suspension test, duration of immobility was significantly decreased in PG 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg treated groups. The antidepressant activity of 500 mg/kg was comparable to that of Imipramine 10 mg/kg. Conclusion: The present study suggests that aqueous extract of whole fruit of P. granatum has antidepressant activity at 500 mg/kg. It would be advisable to encourage consumption of pomegranate extract in patients with depression because of its nutritional and functional properties.

}, keywords = {Depression, Forced swim test, Pomegranate., Tail suspension test}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2017.1.5}, author = {Rajeshwari Shastry and Aadhya Sharma and Vinay Sayeli and Ullal Sheetal Dinkar} } @article {167, title = {Anti-inflammatory activity of BCM-95 (bio-enhanced formulation of turmeric with increased bioavailabilty) compared to Curcumin in Wistar rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {June/2016}, pages = {380-384}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {380}, abstract = {

Objective: To evaluate anti-inflammatory activity of bioenhanced turmeric formulation (BCM-95) compared to commercial Curcumin formulation (Curcuminoids 95\%) in Carrageenan-induced acute inflammatory model. Materials and Methods: Thirty six Wistar rats were divided into six groups-Normal control (2 ml of vehicle), Standard control (Indomethacin 10 mg/kg), 2 doses of BCM 95 (10 and 20 mg/kg) and Curcuminoids 95\% (10 and 20 mg/kg). Paw volume was measured using a digital plethysmometer. Vehicle or test drugs were given to rats 30 min before carrageenan administration. Baseline paw volume reading (V0) was noted just prior to administration of 0.1 ml of 1\% carrageenan to right hind paw of the rat. Test paw volume readings (Vt) were measured at 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 min, after carrageenan injection. Oedema expressed as increased paw volume (vt-v0) was noted and percentage inhibition of oedema was calculated for all treatment groups. Statistical analysis: Difference between groups were analyzed with ANOVA followed by Tukey test. Results: All treatment groups demonstrated significant (p\<0.05) anti-inflammatory activity (oedema suppression) compared to normal control. Anti-inflammatory activity of BCM 95 treated groups were comparable to standard control group except at certain time points, whereas the same activity at all-time points with Curcuminoid 95\% treated groups were significantly less than standard control group. Percentage inhibition of paw oedema was maximum with standard control group followed by BCM 95 treated groups followed by Curcuminoid 95\% treated groups. Conclusion: BCM 95 treated groups showed significant anti-inflammatory activity compared to Curcuminoid 95\% treated groups.

}, keywords = {Anti-Inflammatory agents, Bioavailability, Curcumin, Inflammation, Wistar rats.}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2016.4.11}, author = {Sayeli Vinaykumar and Urval Pundarik Rathnakar and Ullal Sheetal Dinkar and Kamath Priyanka and Tiwary Gaurav and Shenoy Ashok Kudgi and Revappala Sekhar Nishith} }