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The Achillea genus is often used in traditional medicine for the treatment of digestive disorders. The current research sought to understand the mechanisms of action of the decocted extract of Achillea odorata L., with a focus on its possible effects on neurotransmitters that control gastrointestinal motility, as well as how it affected intestinal transit (IT) and gastric emptying (GE). Mice were given ADE treatments at 100, 200, or 400 mg.kg-1 doses, and an hour later they were given phenol red meal. To determine the effect of the extract on IT and GE, rats were given ADE (200 mg.kg-1) in a different set of experiments while also receiving different pharmacological agents, such as atropine (3.45 mmol.kg-1), L-Nitro-N-Arginine (L-NNA) (1.36 mmol.kg-1), or indomethacin (5.58 mmol.kg-1). At doses of 100, 200, or 400 mg.kg-1, ADE showed a significant decrease in GE and IT; the corresponding values for GE were 45.62±2.69%, 42.92±4.91%, and 28.80±3.02%, respectively. and, similarly, 57.87±3.97%, 48.72±2.01%, and 42.81±3.96% for IT. These effects on GE delay and antimotility activity were mediated through the cholinergic, nitric oxide, and cyclooxygenase pathways induced by ADE. A chemical analysis of ADE using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector (HPLC-DAD) revealed the presence of 12 phenolic acid compounds. The predominant phenolic compound identified in A. odorata was chlorogenic acid, with a concentration of 33.43±0.18 mg.g-1. These results suggest that components of A. odorata L. may have potential applications in controlling gastrointestinal motility problems, such as diarrhoea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysmenorrhea a painful gynecological problem reported by women in their reproductive years, is a common condition and is refers to painful menstruation with severe cramping affecting the lower part of the abdomen caused by excessive prostaglandin production within secretory endometrial cell. Already existing drugs have numerous limitations. The objective of the study is to evaluate the cyclooxygenase inhibitory and radical scavenging potential of Heliotropium indicum L. (Boraginaceae) in the management of dysmenorrhea. The entire dried Heliotropium indicum plant was extracted by successive extraction procedure. Cyclooxygenase assay was carried out using COX-2 Test kit and ABTS assay was also carried out using ABTS Radical cation decoloration assay. HPLC-DAD was used to detect polyphenolic molecules. In cyclooxygenase assay, methanol extract showed highest anti-inflammatory activity with the lowest IC50 of 0.553±0.05 mg/mL when compared with Ibuprofen (IC50 of 0.065±0.00 mg/mL) at 1-0.03125 mg/mL, nhexane and ethyl acetate have IC50 of 0.782±0.01mg/mL and 0.608±0.01mg/mL, respectively. Heliotriopium indicum extract also showed an antioxidative activity when tested with ABTS radical cation decoloration with ethyl acetate having the highest activity (IC50 of 0.315±0.00 mg/mL) when compared with Trolox (IC50 of 0.034±0.00 mg/mL) at 1-0.03125 mg/mL. Tannic acid, naringenin, garlic acid, quercetin, maleic acid and saponin were identified from HPLC-DAD analysis at various concentration. Heliotriopium indicum has the potential to prevent the production of excessive prostaglandin by its ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase-2. Therefore, could be a source of new COX-2 inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]