A PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDY OF ARAUJIA SERICIFERA B EXTRACTS IN RODENTS

The present study analyses the pharmacological activity in in vitro an d in vivo models of different extracts obtained from Araujia sericifer a. The hexane extract of fruits lacked toxicity, but exhibited an anal gesic effect in models of chemical and thermal stimulation, Such an ex tract was the only one which exhibited antiinffammatory actions. The i ntrinsic effect on arterial blood pressure was biphasic: at low doses it significantly increased blood pressure, whereas at high doses it ex erted the opposite effect, On isolated organs it produced a marked dec rease in the maximum effect of histamine and acetylcholine. The dichlo romethanol extract of fruits decreased arterial pressure and the maxim um effect of histamine. The methanol extract of fruits slightly depres sed the CNS. An analgesic effect was noted following chemical stimulat ion; the maximum effect of serotonin was significantly decreased, The dichloromethanol extract of seeds markedly decreased arterial pressure and the maximum effect of acetylcholine and serotonin. The methanol e xtract of seeds exerted an analgesic effect after chemical stimulation and modified the maximum effect of noradrenaline and serotonin.