Objective: To investigate the direct and the indirect effects of flt3 ligand (FL) on hematopoiesis. Methods: Mononuclear cells from human cord blood were plated in methylcellulose medium containing different cytokines for inducing hematopoietic colony formation. Dendritic cells were induced from the mononuclear cells with a cytokine cocktail with or without recombinant human soluble FL (rhFL; 100ng/ ml). The flt3 receptors on the surface of a human microvascular endothelial cell line (ECV) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The proliferation of ECV stimulated by FL was measured with the microculture tetrazolium assay. We also measured the level of FL in the supernatant of ECV cultures. Results: RhFL stimulates colony formation from cord blood when used as sole stimulant. FL in combination with other cytokines increased colony formation significantly. The number of DC was approximately 2.5 times higher when rhFL was used. RhFL stimulates the proliferation of ECV on which flt3 receptors is expressed. Furthermore, ECV secretes FL and this effect is augmented by tumor necrosis factor-?(?(TNF( ) and reduced by glucocorticoid. Conclusions: FL enhances hematopoietic colony formation and DC proliferation from human cord blood cells. FL not only stimulates the proliferation of ECV, but it is also secreted by ECV. It appears that FL may act as an autocrine growth cytokine of endothelial cells.

Objective: To study the anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra in albino rats and mice. Methods: The anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic extract of roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza glabra (10, 30, 100 and 500 mg/kg, i.p.) in mice was assessed using maximum electroshock seizure (MES) test and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) using albino mice. The lithium-pilocarpine model of status epilepticus was also used to assess the anticonvulsant activity in rats. Results: The ethanolic extract of G. glabra did not reduce the duration of tonic hindleg extension in the MES test even in the dose of 500 mg/kg. However, the extract significantly and dose-dependently delayed the onset of clonic convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazol. The dose of 100 mg/kg afforded protection to all animals. The extract also protected rats against seizures induced by lithium-pilocarpine. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of G. glabra inhibits PTZ and lithium-pilocarpine-induced convulsions but not MES-induced

1. Dopamine produced a dose-dependent contraction of rat anococcygeus muscle. in the presence of sub-threshold dose of metoclopramide (2.8 x 1O-8 M), the responses to dopamina were potontiated. 2. Dopamineinduced contractions were competitively antagonized by haloperidol and phentolamine. Phentolamine induced inhibition of dopamine-receptors was partially uncovered by motociopramide. 3. Dopamine (1 X 10-10 M) inhibited there sponses to field stimulation which was prevented by metoclopramide. 4 . In the reserpinized anococcygeus muscle preparations the responses to dopamine were reduced significantly and metoclopramide failed to produce any potentiation of the responses. 5. The data presented suggest the presence of inhibitory presynaptic dopamino receptors in the rat anococcygeus muscle that are specifically antagonized by metoclopramide.

Extracts of Artemisia japonica, Artemisia maritima. Artemisia nilegarica in ethanol and light petroleum were tested for antimalarial activity.In vivo studies were carried out in mice using the Rane test. All the compounds prolonged survival time of mice as compared to control mice in the dose range of 640-320 mg/kg subcutaneusly. Chloroquine sensitive (FDL-Rl) strain of Plasmodium falciparum was used for in vitro studies. All the three compounds inhibited schizont maturation in concentration dependent manner in the range of 2.5 (g to 40 (g per 10 (g blood.

Extracts of Artemisia japonica, Artemisia maritima. Artemisia nilegarica in ethanol and light petroleum were tested for antimalarial activity.In vivo studies were carried out in mice using the Rane test. All the compounds prolonged survival time of mice as compared to control mice in the dose range of 640-320 mg/kg subcutaneusly. Chloroquine sensitive (FDL-Rl) strain of Plasmodium falciparum was used for in vitro studies. All the three compounds inhibited schizont maturation in concentration dependent manner in the range of 2.5 (g to 40 (g per 10 (g blood.

Extracts of Artemisia japonica, Artemisia maritima. Artemisia nilegarica in ethanol and light petroleum were tested for antimalarial activity.In vivo studies were carried out in mice using the Rane test. All the compounds prolonged survival time of mice as compared to control mice in the dose range of 640-320 mg/kg subcutaneusly. Chloroquine sensitive (FDL-Rl) strain of Plasmodium falciparum was used for in vitro studies. All the three compounds inhibited schizont maturation in concentration dependent manner in the range of 2.5 (g to 40 (g per 10 (g blood.

Extracts of Artemisia japonica, Artemisia maritima. Artemisia nilegarica in ethanol and light petroleum were tested for antimalarial activity.In vivo studies were carried out in mice using the Rane test. All the compounds prolonged survival time of mice as compared to control mice in the dose range of 640-320 mg/kg subcutaneusly. Chloroquine sensitive (FDL-Rl) strain of Plasmodium falciparum was used for in vitro studies. All the three compounds inhibited schizont maturation in concentration dependent manner in the range of 2.5 (g to 40 (g per 10 (g blood.

Extracts of Artemisia japonica, Artemisia maritima. Artemisia nilegarica in ethanol and light petroleum were tested for antimalarial activity.In vivo studies were carried out in mice using the Rane test. All the compounds prolonged survival time of mice as compared to control mice in the dose range of 640-320 mg/kg subcutaneusly. Chloroquine sensitive (FDL-Rl) strain of Plasmodium falciparum was used for in vitro studies. All the three compounds inhibited schizont maturation in concentration dependent manner in the range of 2.5 (g to 40 (g per 10 (g blood.

Ethanol has been shown to contract isolated frog rectus abdominis in a dose-dependent manner and it has been suggested that acetylcholine (Ach) or Ach like neurotransmitter may be responsible for these contractions. To confirm it further, the present work was undertaken. Agents used in the study were hemicholinium, vecuronium and physostigmine. It was observed that hemicholinium (10-5M) inhibited ethanol induced contraction, suggesting action of ethanol through cholinergic mechanisms rather than a direct action. Vecuronium (10-5M) exhibited a non-competitive antagonism with ethanol, while physostigmine (10-5M) did not potentiate ethanol - induced contraction, suggesting that ethanol acts by release of Ach-like substance the nature of which needs to be determined

Objectives: Cleistanthus collinusa toxic plant, is frequently implicated in suicidal and homicidal poisoning. Its exact mode of toxicity is unravelled which is very essential to develop suitable strategy to antagonise toxicity. In congnisance with the prevailing situation of C.collinus the present study was undertaken to characterise the precise mode of action. Methods: C.collinus leaf extract (20% w/v) was administered at 24h LD50 dose orally to 18h starved rats (8g Kg-1) and rabbits (l0gKg-1) which sacrificed after 180 minutes and vital organs were assayed for glutathione and ATPase. Results: Glutathione profile revealed its depletion in various organs of rats (64.95% in liver, 51.60% in kidney, 15.60% in heart, 25.20% in brain and 27% in skeletal muscle) and in rabbits (42.60% in liver, 52.50% in kidney, 17.30% in heart, 13.50% in brain and 48.60% in skeletal muscle) as compared to that of the controls in the respective species. A similar trend of inhibition of ATPase activity was observed in the vital organs of rats (P<0.001, P<0.01) as well as in the case of rabbits (P<0.01). Conclusion: It can be deduced from the present profile that C.collinus during its assualt causes a definite depletion/inhibition of thiol/thiol containing enzymes which is responsible for the manifestation of toxicity and the present finding could pave way for the selection of thiol compounds as probable antidotes to combat C.collinus toxicosis.