Proanthocyanidins are secondary metabolites found in plants and they belong to a class of polyphenolic compounds called flavonoids. Proanthocyanidins have been reported to exhibit diverse biological activities. We have previously reported the extraction, purification, characterization and progestrogenic activity of ethyl acetate soluble proanthocyanidins (EASPA) in the inflorescence of Cocos nucifera L. EASPA was evaluated for its effect on histological changes of female rat endometrium during proestrous and oestrous phases of the reproductive cycle. EASPA (0.33 mg/day) dissolved in water was administered orally to female rats for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the study period, uteri were dissected and subjected to histological studies. There were no detectable histological changes of the endometrium of the test group rats compared to that of the respective control groups. This may be due to an inadequacy of the dose and time duration that EASPA was administered to female rats. This may also be due to the reproductive cycle of the rats being different to that of humans and the histological changes of the endometrium of female rats being independent of the increase in the progesterone levels after administration of EASPA.

Obesity is abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents risk to health. The body mass index (BMI) of a person is 25-30 kg/m2 indicates overweight and above 30 kg/m2 represents obesity. The successful management of obesity is possible through lifestyle changes in diet and physical activity. Hordeum vulgare is traditionally used as weight losing remedy so, present study selected grains of Hordeum vulgare plant for evaluation of anti-obesity activity by using high fat diet induced, anti-psychotic drug induced obesity in rats.

To evaluate the In-vivo anti-oxidant potential of ethanolic extract of Hugonia mystax leaves in Streptozotocin - nicotinamide induced diabetic rats. The present studies revealed that Hugonia mystax has significant in-vivo antioxidant activity and can be used to protect tissue from oxidative stress. The result showed that the activities of glutathione, SOD, catalase and peroxidase in group treated with Glibenclamide declined significantly than that of normal group. Ethanolic extract of Hugonia mystax in the dose of 400 mg/kg, p.o., has improved the glutathione, SOD, catalase, and peroxidase levels significantly, which were comparable with Glibenclamide. Based on this study we conclude that Ethanolic extract of Hugonia mystax possesses in vivo antioxidant activity and can be employed in protecting tissue from oxidative stress.

This review summarizes the receptor-mediated vascular activities of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP is a 37-amino acid neuropeptide, primarily released from sensory nerves. It has a vasodilator activity, though to varying extents depending on species and tissue. CGRP has potent activity in the cerebral circulation, which is possibly relevant to the pathology of migraine. CGRP exhibits potent activity in micro-vascular beds. CGRP acts through G protein-coupled receptors whose presence and changes in function modulate the peptide’s effects in various tissues. This peptide acts on its receptor that consist of calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CL) linked to one of three receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) that are essential for functional activity. The association of CL with RAMP1 produces a CGRP receptor. Several endogenous substances such as glucocorticoids, nitric oxide (NO), nerve growth factors (NGF), and steroid hormones modulate CGRP release and synthesis. Both peptide and non-peptide agonists and antagonists of CGRP receptors are being developed. Also the therapeutic benefits of some antagonists such as BIBN 4096 BS i have been promising. This review provides a preliminary understanding of the diverse biological effects of the CGRP in various systems with a special emphasize on its role in path physiological changes. While the current state of knowledge on CGRP and its receptors in many body systems are not fully explored, yet future pharmacotherapeutic relevant findings are greatly awaited.

Two, Eritrean endemic, medicinal plants that are used to treat diseases associated with microbial infection were collected and identified. Leaf, stem, and seed parts of acacia nilotica as well as leaf and root parts of cometes abyssinica extracts were obtained using water and methanol. Eight crude extracts were screened for antimicrobial activities against staphylococcus aureus (NCTC-12981, ATCC-25923), escherichia coli (NCTC-12241, ATCC-25929) and candida albicans (NCTF-3255, ATCC-2091) using well streak method. The results from this study demonstrated that all parts of the acacia nilotica inhibited the growth of staphylococcus aureus, escherichia coli except water extract of stem and seed on candida albicans. The methanol extract of the leaf part of cometes abyssinica showed inhibition against all organisms. From all the different parts screened, the seed extracts of acacia nilotica and the leaf part of cometes abyssinica showed maximum inhibition. And among the solvents used, the methanol extracts showed better activities.Two, Eritrean endemic, medicinal plants that are used to treat diseases associated with microbial infection were collected and identified. Leaf, stem, and seed parts of acacia nilotica as well as leaf and root parts of cometes abyssinica extracts were obtained using water and methanol. Eight crude extracts were screened for antimicrobial activities against staphylococcus aureus (NCTC-12981, ATCC-25923), escherichia coli (NCTC-12241, ATCC-25929) and candida albicans (NCTF-3255, ATCC-2091) using well streak method. The results from this study demonstrated that all parts of the acacia nilotica inhibited the growth of staphylococcus aureus, escherichia coli except water extract of stem and seed on candida albicans. The methanol extract of the leaf part of cometes abyssinica showed inhibition against all organisms. From all the different parts screened, the seed extracts of acacia nilotica and the leaf part of cometes abyssinica showed maximum inhibition. And among the solvents used, the methanol extracts showed better activities.