Browsing by Author "Abaitey, A.K."
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Item Analgesic activity and safety assessment of heliotropium indicum linn. (boraginaceae) in rodents(2012) Boye, A.; Koffuor, G.A.; Amoateng, P.; Ameyaw, E. O.; Abaitey, A.K.This study presented the analgesic and safety assessment of Heliotropium indicum, a plant traditionally used for the management of abdominal pains, dysmenorrhoea and post-labour inflammatory conditions in Ghana using formalin-induced pain model in mice. For comparison of analgesic effect, morphine (1-10 mg kg-1) and diclofenac sodium (1-10 mg kg-1) were used as a reference opioid and NSAID, respectively. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts (30-300 mg kg-1) dose-dependently inhibited both the first and second phases of the formalin-induced nociception. Oral doses of the aqueous extract (1-5 g kg-1) in imprint control region mice were well tolerated in acute toxicity studies; however a 14-day oral administration of 1-2 g kg-1 of the extracts in sprague-Dawley rats produced pathologic effects on the heart, kidney, liver and lungs. Therefore, although the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of H. indicum have analgesic activity, it could have a cumulative toxic effects hence prolonged and continuous use is not advised.Item Investigating the site of action of an aqueous extract of heliotropium indicum linn (boraginaceae) on smooth muscles(Research Journal of Pharmacology, 2012) Koffuor, G.A.; Boye, A.; Amoateng, P.; Ameyaw, E.O.; Abaitey, A.K.Heliotropium indicum has various traditional medicinal uses such as treating abdominal pains, dysmenorrhoea, hypertension, convulsion, post-partum inflammatory disorders, wounds and infections and skin rashes. The aim of this study therefore is to find receptors that possibly mediate the activity of H. indicum as a means of finding explanation to some of its reported traditional uses. The effect of various concentrations of agonist drugs and an aqueous extract from the plant as well as the effects of these agonist drugs and the extract in the presence of specific reference antagonist drugs were established on isolated guinea-pig ileum, rabbit jejunum, rat uterus and rat anococcygeus preparations. Data obtained was analyzed using GraphPad Prism Version 5.0 for Windows. The extract caused dose-dependent contractions similar to the acetylcholine, methylcholine, carbamylcholine, nicotine, histamine and oxytocin used on the smooth muscle preparations studied. The contractions were significantly inhibited by atropine and hexamethonium, suggesting muscarinic and nicotinic activity, adrenaline and salbutamol, suggesting adrenoceptor activity and diclofenac sodium, suggesting the inhibition of synthesis and/or effect of products of COX such as prostaglandin. The extract was significantly stable to plasma cholinesterase. The receptor activity of H. indicum explains some of its traditional medicinal uses such as relieving abdominal pain, hypertension and impotence and sexual weakness.