In a study of human yawning Robert Provine (1986) remarked that yawning is a prominent stereotyped action pattem and releasing stimulus which “does not deserve its current status as a minor behavioural curiosity”. Indeed, “yawning may have the dubious distinction of being the least understood, common, human behaviour”. In contrast, a large body of experimental data has been collected during the...

The present study examines the effects of the antidepressant venlafaxine, a dual amine reuptake inhibitor, on (a) in vivo regulation of the densities of high- and low-affinity dihydroalprenolol (DHA) binding sites in the cortex of normal and reserpinized Sprague-Dawley rats and (b) targets beyond the beta adrenoceptor. While venlafaxine (30 mg/kg i.p. b.i.d.) administered for 4 d did not alter ...

Ste, bark of pongamia pinnata, a medicinal tree of importance in Ayurveda has been subjected to various pharmacological studies using the aqueous extract in different dose levels. The aqueous extract of bark exhibited significant CNS sedative and antipyretic effects in experimental animals. But there was no effect on cardiovascular system, through it showed antispasmodic effects on smooth muscl...

1 School of Pharmacy, Jaipur National University, Jagatpura 302017, Jaipur, India 2 School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia 3 Laboratory of Peptide Research and Development, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies 4 School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar...

Since the classical work of Crum Brown and Fraser, the curariform action of many onium salts has been recognized, and other activities exerted by these compounds have been described, such as those commonly called nicotine-like or muscarine-like. In the present paper an account is given of the actions of members of a polymethylene bistrimethylammonium series, whose general formula is (CH,), N+(C...

This review highlights the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological actions, therapeutic uses and adverse effects of cannabinoids. The effect of cannabinoids on anaesthesia is mentioned briefly. Important advances have taken place in cannabinoid research over the last few years and have led to the discovery of novel ligands. The possible clinical applications of these ligands and the dir...

We have identified a new benzopyran derivative, 3-(4-methoxy) phenyl-4-[[4-[2-(1-piperidinyl)ethoxy]phenyl]methyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-7-ol hydrochloride (CHF 4227), with improved in vivo estrogen agonist/antagonist effects. CHF 4227 binds with high affinity to the human estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta (dissociation constant K(i) = 0.017 and 0.099 nM, respectively). In immature rats, oral adminis...

Annona squamosa is a medicinal plant which has been used in alternative medicine from ancient times. Different parts of Annona squamosa such as fruits, seeds, leaves and barks have been used to treat many diseases. Some of the active constituents have been identified and investigated for biological actions while the rest are yet to be explored. Current understanding of pharmacological propertie...

Aqueous extracts of cotton and other vegetable dusts cause contraction of the isolated ileum and tracheal muscle of the guinea-pig, and of isolated human bronchial muscle. The levels of this contractor activity place the dusts of cotton, flax, and jute in the order of the probable incidence of byssinosis occurring in the mills spinning these fibres. Extracts of cotton dust possess a histamine-l...

India has a diverse variety of medicinally important plants which have been claimed with beneficial therapeutic effects along with better tolerability in terms of side effects. G. asiatica also known as phalsa, a member of tiliaceae family is a small fruit crop cultivated in warmer season and is known to contain cyanidin 3glucoside, vitamin C, minerals. A brief review of work so far carried out...