. The xanthones of Calophyllum inophyllum and Mesua Ferrea namely, dehydrocycloguanandin (DCG), calophyllin-B (CPB), jacareubin (JR), 6-desoxy jacareubin (DJR), mesuaxantbone-A (MXA), mesuaxanthone-B (MXB) and euxanthone (EX) were screened for various pharmacological effects in experimental animals. All the xanthones produced varying degrees of C.N.S. depression characterised by ptosis, sedation, decreased spontaneous motor activity, loss of muscle tone, potentiation of pentobarbitone sleeping time and ether anaerthesia in mice and rats.None of the xanthones had any analgesic, antipyretic and anticonvulsant activities. The xanthones did not produce any pharmacological effect in the cardiovascular system of frogs and dogs. All the xanthones exhibited anti inflammatory activity both by intraperitoneal and oral routes in rats as tested by carrageenin induced hind paw oedema, cotton pellet granuloma and granuloma pouch techniques, in normal and adrenalectomised rats. The xanthones did not have any mast cell membrane stabilising effect, and the degranulating effect of compound 48/80, diazoxide and Won-X-100 on rat peritoneal mast cells in vitro war not prevented. JR and DJR exhibited antiulcer activity in rats. The xanthones did not alter the prothrombin time in rats.

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. The plasma and milk concentrations of nitrofurantoin and furazolidone have been determined in goats after single dose administration (10 mg/kg oral). The mean peak plasma concentrations obtained with nitrofurantoin and furazolidone were 1.86ñ 0.83 and 2.61 ñ0.09'g/ml respectively at 4 h after administration of the drugs. The mean peak milk concentrations of nitrofurantoin and furazolidone were 1.04+0.16 and 0.57ñ 0.05'g/ml at 4 h. There was a lag in the appearance of these two drugs in the goat milk. The results have indicated that the milk obtained from treated goats may preferably be withheld from human consumption for 48 h after the administration of last dose.

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. Histamine, 2-(2-pyridyl) ethylamine (PEA), a specific H, receptor agonist and 4-methyl-histamine (4-MH). A specific H2- receptor agonist all produced dose dependent contraction of uterine strips obtained from estrogen primed guineapigs. Mepyramine, a specific H1 receptor antagonist inhibited responses to histamine and PEA. Metiamide, a specific H2- receptor antagonist inhibited responses to histamine and 4-MH. Neither phentolamine (1 x 10-6 M), nor propranolol (1x I0-6 M), modified the histamine induced contraction of the estrogen primed guineapig uterus. Even reserpine pretreatment did not abolish responses to histamine. Our findings suggest the presence of both H1 and H2 receptors in the estrogen primed guineapig uterus. Both receptors appear to be excitatory and directly acting.

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. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of the effects of methamphetamine and diazepam an short-term memory (STM) was undertaken in 30 healthy volunteers, aged 17 to 44 years. 'Two doses of 5 and 7 mg i.m of each drug were given. After adequate training, eight fixed digit-span strings (one digit/sec) from a prerecorded magnetic tape were presented to the subject, and the number of errors committed at different recall intervals (1,2,4,8,16 and 32 sec) was taken as an index of STM. To avoid rehearsal effect, the longer than one second recall intervals were occupied by a letter shadowing task. Methamphetamine 5 mg did not affect the number of errors (P> 0.6); whereas, with the higher dose (7 mg) it increased errors significantly (P<0.01). Diarepam had no significant effects on error rates at either dose level.

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. Venom obtained from the Wasp Vespa cincta Fabr. was studied for its ability to release histamine from chopped perfused guinea piglung and to degranulate rat mesenteric mast cell..Venom released a considerable amount of histamine and degranulated mast cell. The time course of histamine release was studied. The release of histamine may contribute to pain after the wasp sting.

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. Pretreatment with the neuroleptics viz, haloperidol and molindone significantly antagonised the vasodepressor response induced by apomorphine in anesthetized dogs. This vasodepressor response to apomorphine was, however, not significantly affected by atropine or propranolol pretreatment. Further, moliodone was also effective in antagonising apomorphine stereotypy in rats, apomorphine induced cage climbing behaviour in mice and apomorphine induced emesis in dogs. The results suggest that molindone is capable of blocking the peripheral dopamine receptors responsible for mediating apomorphine induced fall in blood pressure and also the central dopamine receptors responsible for mediating apomorphine induced stereotypy and emesis.

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. The effect of gossypin in comparison with phenylbutazone has been studied on the quantitative temporal characteristics of carrageenin induced rat paw oedema and protein extravasation. Both parameters showed a biphasic response with identical time courses, indicating that the protein extravasation took place throughout the reaction and that it was proportional to the severity of paw swelling. Gossypin significantly reduced initial as well as late phases of paw oedema and protein extravasation, while phenylbutazone failed to reduce the initial increase of vascular permeability in response to carrageenin. Possible difference in the mechanism of action of gossypin and phenylbutazone and the role of mediators involved in the inflammatory process have been discussed

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. Histamine, 2-(2-pyridyl) ethylamine (PEA), a specific H, receptor agonist and 4-methyl-histamine (4-MH). A specific H2- receptor agonist all produced dose dependent contraction of uterine strips obtained from estrogen primed guineapigs. Mepyramine, a specific H1 receptor antagonist inhibited responses to histamine and PEA. Metiamide, a specific H2- receptor antagonist inhibited responses to histamine and 4-MH. Neither phentolamine (1 x 10-6 M), nor propranolol (1x I0-6 M), modified the histamine induced contraction of the estrogen primed guineapig uterus. Even reserpine pretreatment did not abolish responses to histamine. Our findings suggest the presence of both H1 and H2 receptors in the estrogen primed guineapig uterus. Both receptors appear to be excitatory and directly acting.

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. The effect of L-dopa on copulatory behaviour was studied in sexually receptive female rats and sexually trained male rats. L-dopa 100 mg/Kg inhibited the copulatory behaviour in female rats. They showed rejections and exhibited no lordosis when males attempted to mount. The same animals on treatment with normal saline a week earlier or later accepted the males without any rejection and showed different grades of lordosis as an index of acceptance. Haloperidol 75 'g/rat given prior to L-dopa reversed the inhibition of female copulatory behaviour produced by L-dopa. L-dopa 100 mg/kg did not alter the male copulatory behaviour either in normal copulators or sexually sluggish males.

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. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of serotonin (5-HT) in a dose of 100) 'g caused significant increase in water intake in albino rats. Cyproheptadine (100 'g, i.c.v.) per se had no significant effect on water intake. However, its pretreatment blocked excitatory effect of 5-HT. If is proposed that central serotonergic receptors are involved in hyperdipsic behaviour of rats.

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