1. In rats, acute I.V. administration of CdCl2 (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) produced a depressor response followed by a pressor response while the acute i.p. administration of CdC12 (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) produced only a pressor.response. 2. The blood pressure responses to a low dose of NA (0.5 (g/kg) was significantly reduced after the acute i.v. CdCI2( 1 mg/kg) administration while those to higher doses were not morliiied. 3. He amethonium (10 mg/kg. i.v.), phentolemine (5 mg/kg, i.v.). propranolol (2 mg/kg, i.v.) or indomethscin (20 mg/ kg i.p.) did not modify the pressor response to CdC12 (i.v. and i.p.). 4. Acute reserpinisation. bilateral adrenalectomy or chemical sympathectomy by guanethidine did not modify the acute pressor response to CdCl2 (i.v. and i.p.). 5. Verapemil(0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg, i.v.) or nifedipine (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) prevented the acute pressor response to CdC12 (i.v. and i.p.) 6. It s concluded that cadmium might mimic calcium ion and produce a direct contractile effect on the vascular smooth muscle.

1. Dose dependent increase in chilli induced gastric vascular damage was documented by measuring lea kage of Evan's blue dye into gastric tissue and contents. 2. Misoprostd and free radical removing agents DMSO. SOD and allopurind protected against chilli induced damage. 3. Cimetidine, ranitidine and sucralfate also reduced chilli induced gastric vascular damage.

1. The effect of the aqueous, alcoholic and petroleum ether extracts of A. marmelos have been studied for t he hypoglycaemic and other pharmacological actions. 2. The aqueous snd alcoholic extracts at 500 mg/kg dose produced hypoglycaemia in normal fasted rabbits, but the petroleum other extract did not. 3. The aqueous extract revealed cardiac stimulant, smooth-muscle relaxant and uterine stimulant properties. 4. The alcoholic extract showed cardiac depressant, smooth muscle relaxant and uterine relaxant properties. 5. Daily sdministrrtion for six weeks showed necrosis and congestion of liver and kidney, with both the extracts. But more pronounced with the aqueous extract.

1. The effect of various extracts of flowers of Rhododendron arboreum viz. aqueous, 50% ethanolic and methanolic extracts have been investigated against carrageenan. PG(E2). histamine and 5-HT induced rat's hind paw oedema. 2. The extracts exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity against all the four phlogistic agents. Mean changes in the psw volumes revealed the efficacy of extracts against the four phlogistic agents in the following order : Carrageenan > 5-HT > PG(E2) > Histamine. 3. Among the three extracts tested. the acqueous extracts showed maximum anti-inflammatory activity followed by 50% ethanolic and methanolic extracts.

1. The effect of oral feeding of methaqualone on the pharmacokinetica of paracetamol diapoeition waa studied. 2. Rats given methaqualone (60 mg/kg) orally for a prolonged period were given in addition a single dose of paracetamol (100 mg/kg ip) and pharmacokinetic profile of paracetamol in the plasma and drug levels in liver were estimated. 3.Repeated oral methaqualone intake increased parecetamol disposition.

1. curcumin which is the active ingredient in turmeric was found to be cytotoxic to various cell lines in vitro at concentrations 8(g/ml or more. Complete disintegration of cells could be seen upon incubation with higher concentration (50(/ml) of curcumin. 2. Due to the insolubility of curcumin. liposomally encapsulated curcumin wee prepared which showed the same acvitiy es curcumin in tissue culture. 3. Roth curcumin end liposmally encepeulsted curcumin inhibited the tritisted thymidine incorporation into DNA. Liposomally encapsulated curcumin also inhibited ascites tumour formation in mice induced with Dalton's lymphoma ascites tumour cells. 4. Sodium curcumate. a soluble curcumin derivetive wes found to be not cyotoxic in vitro end in tissue culture. Sodium curcumate inhibited thvmidine incorporation into PNA only at higher concentration.

1, Dicspyros peregrina (ethyl acetate extract) was studied for the anti-stress activity in albino mice and rats in diverse stressful situations. 2. It significantly increased the swimming performance, prevented stress induced adrenal function changes and milk induced leucocytosis in mice. 3. It also protected rats from stress and aspirin induced gastric ulcers and CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity and mortality. 4. These effects appear to be due to improvement in the general adaptation processes during stress.

1. Test is of 20 mg/kg of Glyzophrol treated rats showed degenerative changes in most of seminiferous tubules. edema in Interstitial tissue. maturation arrest (only spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes and degenerating sperms. 2. After 60 mg/kg of Glvzophrol treatment, the colourof test is turned brownish black due to haemorrhage. Edemain interstitial tissue. Tubular degeneration with loss of normal tubular pattern and exfoliation of degeneration cells intubularlumina. Thickening of basement membrane. Maturation arrest after primary spermatocytes formation in all the seminiferous tubules. call debris and eosinophilic masses in stripe-like-appearance might be the products of degenerating sperms were observed in test is of 60 mg/kg of Glyrophrol treated rats.Testis exhibited depressed alkaline phosphatase activity due to Glyrophrol treatment.

1. This study investigated effects of two drugs of abuse. viz. cocaine and morphine on two selected parameters of visual function in rabbits. The e-end-b- wave amplitudes of electroretinogram (ERG), and the wavelength of maximum absorbance (( max.) of the major photosensitive pigment, rhodopsin were studied. 2. There was reduction of a - and b - wave amplitudes under the influence of cocaine. end increase of a - end b-wave amplitudes under the influence of morphine. 3. ER 3 pattern wee distorted by both drugs. 4. High correlation was found between changes of a - end b-wave amplitudes end drug dose levels. 5. ( max. of rhodopsin remained unchanged under the influence of either durg.

1. Histamine a non-specific H-receptor agonist & 2 (2-pyridyl) ethylamine (PEA).an H1 receptor agonist produced dose dependent contractions of guinea-pig ileum at 37". 25" and 15ø C. 2. The responses were blocked competitively by mepyramine (1 X 10-9 M) at 37oC and 25ø C. The antagonism appeared to be non-competitive at 15ø C. 3. Ranitidine (1 X 10 -7M) inhibited the responses to histamine at all temperatures. 4. Dimaprit, a specific H2 receptor agonist did not produce any effect at 37øC. However at 25øC and 15øC. it produced a dose dependent contraction and the responses were competitively blocked by rantidine. 5. Our data suggests decrease in H1-receptors and appearance of excitatory H2-receptors at lower temperatures in guinea pigileum. ,

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.

1. Histamine (9.7 X 10-7M - 2.3 X 1O-5M) produced a dose dependent relaxation of the estrogcn primed rat uterus. These reponses were significantly potantiated by nialamide (2.2 X 10-6M). pyrogallol (7.9 X 10-5 M) and desmathylimipramine (4.3 x 10-6 M). 2. Guansthidine (2.5 x 1D-6M) produced time dependent effect on histamine induced responses. The responses to histamine were significantly potentiated at the end of 10 min exposure to guanethidine However. after 30 min there was significant time-dependent inhibitinn of the responses to histamine. 3. The responses to histamine were inhibited significantly when NaCl concentration of the perfusion fluid (de-Jalon) was reduced to zero. Further. When Cacl 2 concentration (0.25 mM) in the NaCI free solution was increased to 1.0 mM. the responses to histamine were restored to the normal. 4 . Unlike that of histamine the absence of Nacl did not effect the responses to tyramine or isoprenaline in to rat uterus. 5. Our data suggest that the mechanism of release of noradrenaline in the rat uterus may be consequence of pre-synaptic H2 receptor stimulation.

1. Vulpinic acid (VA) isolated from the rare Himalayan Lichen Alectoris Virens exhibited hypotensive. anti-inflammatory. analgesic. anti-spasmodic (non-specific) and neuromuscular junction blocking properties. 2. Hypotensive effect of VA is attributed to its direct cardiac depressant action coupled with its property of: peripheral vasodilatation. 3. Anti-inflammatory effect of VA is attributed to its anti-histaminic and anti-serotonin properties. 4.The mechanism of action of VA at the neuromuscular junction appears to be complex.

1. Four experiments wereconduted in whichelementalzincwasorallyadministeredasZnSo4.7H2O dissolvedin water to acne vulgaris patients at the following doses for the given durations:froup A-25mg for 12 weeks,group B-50 mg for 5 weeks, group C-50 mg for 12 weeks and group D-100 mg for 12 weeks. 2. The zinc status of the patients was examined before and after treatment by measuring zinc in serum erythrocyte hair and nail;serum alkaline phosphatase and ribonuclease activities; blooduresandrissofserum zincfrom the fasting level 1 hour after oral administration of 5 mg elemental zinc. 3. There was approximately 50% fell of acne severity et the completion of all zinc treatment schedules. 4. considering the clinical improvement repair of the existing zinc deficit and side reactions the regimen of 50 mg zinc per day for 12 weeks seemed to be safe end effective.

1. The present Investigation was undertaken to study the cholinergic effects of clonidine on the isolated rat anococcygeus musIce. 2. Clonidine produced dose dependent contractions of rat anococcygeus muslce which were completely antagonised by phentolamine and atropine. 3. Sub-threshold dose of clonidine produced potentiation of carbachol and acetylcholine induced responses. but did not alter responses to noradrenaline dopamine or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). 4. Clonidine. however. failed to potentiate the carbachol induced responses on preparations which We re bathed with physiological salt solution containing low Ca++ low Na++ or niludipine. However the potentiation was maintained in PSS containing more Ca ++.yohimbine. prazosin or ouabain. 5. It is concluded that clonidine has indirect cholinomimetic effect, which involved extracellular sodium (NA+) and calcium (Ca++).

1. Fe nfluramine. on ( norexogenic drug, is believed to exert itr effectvia the serotonergic system et the level of hypothalamus. Since tryptophan is the precursor of serotonin. the effect of this drug on tryptophan metabolism in the rat was investigated. 2. Serum total tryptophan level increased transientlyfollowing fenfluramine administration (10 mg/kg) for 10 days returning to the normal level despite the continuation of the treatment for long period of time up to 45 days. Furthermore, the bound fraction of this amino acid was mainly effected end the free fraction remained unchanged. 3. Brain tryptophan rose in parallel with the serum level, whereas brain serotonin level showed a significant decrease after fenfluramine injection. 4. These results explain the transient action of fenfluramine in production of anorexia and bring further, evidence to support the view that serotonergic system is involved in the mechanism of action of this agent.

1. Plasma end liver lipid fractiona were estimated in Wisiar rats after fenfluramine administration (10mg K ) ip) for 10.20 and 45 days. 2. The level of plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLC) was remarkably elevated after fenfluramine administration. 3. The liver and plasma total cholesterol concentrations followed an initial decrease in the first 20 days and subsequent increase after45 days of treatment. 4. The effect of fenfluramine on plasma and liver triglyceride was lees remarkable es compared to that of either total cholesterol or HDLC.

1. In the present investigation the effect of few (-Iactam antibiotics end their intermediates were studied on the barbiturate induced hypnosis in mice. 2. Sodium ampicillin, amoxicillin end 7-aminodeacetoxy cephalosporanic acid failed to inhibit herbitone-induced hypnosis and animals pretreated 2 end 12 h before did not affect the pentabarbitone sleeping time. indicating the induction of hepatic microsomal enzyme bythese agents end which is a slow process.

1. Ajmaloon is a unani polypharmaceutical preps&ion and wasfound to be cardioprotective in myocardial infarc-tion induced by isoproterenol.

1. Life-threatening hypoglycemia occurs in fulminant infections by Palsmodium falciparum and in patients treated with quinine and quinidine. 2. Quinine bihydrochloride was administered in thirty uncomplicated cases of vivax malaria. 3.Significant hypoglycemia occured in patients receiving quinine in saline infusion. Hypoglycemia did not ocurinpatients receiving quinine indextrose infusion. It is concluded that quinine should always be given in destrose infusion.