Treatment of A549 cells with 10 μM C-DIM-8 resulted in 74.46 ± 0.66%, 2.15 ± 0.35%, and 23.39 ± 0.75% of cells accumulating in G1, G2, and in S-phase respectively, whereas at 20 μM, C-DIM-8 arrested 81.66 ± 0.22% cells in G1, 2.21 ± 0.44% in G2, and 16.13 ± 0.29% in S-phase (Fig. 2C). The apparent permeability (Papp) of C-DIM-5 and C-DIM-8 under acidic conditions (pH 5.0 and pH 6.0) was investigated as a basis for their oral delivery (Fig. 3). At pH of 5.0 and 6.0 the Papp of C-DIM-5 was 1.12 × 10−7 cm/s and 1.11 × 10−7 cm/s respectively (Fig. 3A). The Papp of C-DIM-8 increased from 1.0712 × 10−7 cm/s at pH 5.0–1.11 × 10−7 cm/s at pH 6.0 (Fig. 3B). While there was no difference between the two Papp of C-DIM-5, the differences in the Papp of C-DIM-8 were not considered significant (p > 0.05). The Papp of C-DIM-5 did not change significantly at either pH of 7.0 or 8.0 ( Fig. Enzalutamide price 3A) while RG7204 in vitro that of C-DIM-8 increased significantly (p < 0.05) to 1.15 × 10−7 cm/s and 1.16 × 10−7 cm/s respectively compared to Papp at pH of 5.0 and 6.0 ( Fig. 3B). Assessment of size and shape characteristics of nebulized C-DIM-5 and C-DIM-8 formulations was done by determining their mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) using ACI as depicted in material

and methods. As shown for nebulized C-DIM-5 and C-DIM-8 (Fig. 4A and B respectively), significant deposition of aerosol droplets were achieved on stages 4 through 6 of

the impactor. C-DIM-5 and C-DIM-8 formulations yielded particles with aerodynamic Bay 11-7085 capabilities for deep pulmonary deposition with MMAD of 1.92 ± 0.22 μm, GSD of 2.31 ± 0.12 and a MMAD of 1.84 ± 0.31 μm and GSD of 2.11 ± 0.15) respectively. Representative lungs (Fig. 5A) with tumor nodules (black arrows) are shown for mice treated with nebulizer vehicle as control, nebulized C-DIM-5, C-DIM-8 and their combinations with doc. Compared to control lungs (12 nodules, Fig. 5A-I), tumor nodules were decreased after treatment with doc (7 nodules, Fig. 5A-II), C-DIM-5 (5 nodules, Fig. 5A-III), C-DIM-8 (3 nodules, Fig. 5A-IV), C-DIM-5 + doc (2 nodules, Fig. 5A-V) and C-DIM-8 + doc (2 nodules, Fig. 5A-VI). Reduction in tumor nodules in all treatment groups were considered significant compared to control (p < 0.05). H&E staining of representative lung sections (Fig. 5B) also showed similar behavior. Evidence of tissue remodeling and migration are evidenced in control (Fig. 5B-I) by abundant nuclei foci. However, less pathology is evident in groups treated with doc ( Fig. 5B-II), C-DIM-5 ( Fig. 5B-III), C-DIM-8 ( Fig. 5B-IV), and more so in C-DIM-5 ( Fig. 5B-V) C-DIM-8 ( Fig. 5B-VI) combinations with doc. There were no variations in body weight (Fig. 5C) or lung (Fig. 5D) across all treatment groups compared to the control mice. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the tumor weights from mice treated with doc (48 ± 3.

Pale yellow color amorphous powder, UV (MeOH) nm: 345; IR (KBr) cm−1: 3450 (hydroxyl),1705 (carbonyl), 1630 and characteristic signals; EIMS m/z: 410 [M]+; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 1.58 (3H, s, H-24), 1.67 (3H, s, H-23), 1.80 (3H, s, H-25), 2.08 (4H, m, H-19 & 20), 3.0 (2H, m, H-9), 3.12 (2H, m, H-8), 3.42 (2H, d, J = 6.7 Hz, H-16), 5.04 (1H, t, J = 6.7 Hz, H-21), 5.16 (1H, t, J = 6.7 Hz, H-17), 6.37 (1H, dd, J = 2.1, 8.7 Hz, H-5), 6.38 (1H, d, J = 2.1 Hz, H-3), 6.68 (1H, d, J = 8.2 Hz, H-11), 6.74 (1H, d, J = 8.2 Hz, H-12), 7.60 (1H, d, J = 8.7 Hz, H-6), 12.8 (1H, s, OH-2); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 16.2 (C-25), 17.7 www.selleckchem.com/epigenetic-reader-domain.html (C-24), 25.7 (C-23), 25.9 (C-16), 26.3 (C-20), 27.8 (C-9), 39.6 (C-19), 39.7 (C-8), 103.6 (C-3), 107.8 (C-5), 112.8 (C-12), 113.7 (C-1), 121.4 (C-11), 121.7 (C-17), 123.7 (C-21), 126.0 (C-15), 131.1

(C-10), 132.2 (C-6), 132.3 (C-22), 138.9 (C-18), 142.4 (C-14), 142.8 (C-13), 162.6 (C-4), 165.2 (C-2), 204.0 (C-1); EIMS m/z (rel. int.): 410 (53, [M]+), 287 (15), 259 (50), 123 (14%). The compound was obtained as pale yellow color amorphous Bioactive Compound Library screening powder from fraction.2. It was readily recognized as chalcone derivative based on its spectral data. Its molecular formula has been fixed as C25H30O5 on the basis of mass, M+ 410. Its UV spectrum showed lambda max value is 345 nm indicating that the molecule is having conjugation. Its IR spectrum showed specific absorption bands at 3450 (hydroxyl), 1705 (carbonyl) and 1630 (aromatic) cm−1. The 1H NMR spectrum (Fig. 1) clearly showed the presence of three double bonded methyls at δ 1.58, 1.67 and 1.80

each as singlet, four allylic methylene over groups at δ 2.08 as multiplet and another methylene group α – to the carbonyl group at δ 3.12 as multiplet. Further, the spectrum also showed two benzylic methylene groups at δ 3.00 (m) and 3.42 (d, J = 6.7 Hz). The second benzylic group showed doublet indicates that this methylene group coupled with only one neighbouring proton. Additionally, the spectrum showed two olefinic protons at δ 5.16 (t, J = 6.7 Hz) and 5.04 (t, J = 6.7 Hz) coupled with methylenic protons, two ortho coupled aromatic protons at δ 6.68 and 6.74 each as doublet (J = 8.2 Hz) belongs to one phenolic ring and three more additional aromatic protons at δ 6.38 (d, J = 2.1 Hz), 6.37 (dd, 2.1 & 8.7 Hz) and 7.60 (d, J = 8.7 Hz) belongs another tri-substituted phenolic ring. The carbon spectrum clearly showed twenty-five carbons.

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5Lansoprazole (b) is an antiulcer agent and proton pump inhibitor.4 and 5 Pantoprazole (c) suppresses the final step in gastric acid production by forming a

covalent bond to two sites of the (H+,K+)-ATPase enzyme system at the secretary surface of the gastric parietal cell.6 and 7Rabeprazole (d) is also demonstrated efficacy in healing and symptom relief of gastric and duodenal ulcers.2, 8 and 9Ilaprazole (e) is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used in the treatment of dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and duodenal ulcer Fig. 1.10 The art has endeavoured to synthesize a variety of piperazine derivatives. Among the piperzine derivatives available as anti-ulcer drugs, 1-[2-(orthochloro-robenzydryloxy)ethyl]-4-(ortho-methylbenzyl)piperzine well known.11 and 12 The selection of well-known skeleton, strategic synthetic approach, technologies applied for reactions.

find more The maximum anti-ulcerative drugs are prazoles. The prazoles skeleton considered for development of novel moieties into literature. The idea to incorporate the piperazine with pyridine derivatives of prazoles considered to design new skeleton (Fig. 2). A strategy of convergent synthesis, that aims to check details improve the efficiency of multi-step chemical synthesis, most often in organic synthesis. In linear synthesis the overall yield quickly drops with each reaction step. Here in, the synthesis of two tiles derivatives and coupled considered easy and found excellent literature for easy synthesis of both ends approached convergent than linear. The reliable technology useful for nearly reaching target is very important to reach target

very simple and cost effective. The second technology is the way of reaction conditions are using, for getting lesser reaction timings and high yield. The N-alkylation step differentiated via Micro Wave, Sonication and Conventional method. The microwave mediated organic reactions13b, 13 and 13a take place more rapidly, safely, and in an environmentally friendly manner, with high yields. Very little solvent and even the use of water as a solvent is a big advantage of microwave chemistry. Recently, microwave,14 and ultrasonication15 assisted synthesis in organic chemistry is quickly growing. Many organic reactions proceed much faster with higher yields under microwave irradiation compared to conventional heating. It has long been know that molecules undergo excitation with electromagnetic radiation is a technique for microwave synthesis.16 Ultra-Sonication reactions enhances the reaction rates up to a million times, believed to be due small cavities (100 microns) which implode, creating tremendous heat and pressure, shock waves, and particular accelerations.

, 2007, Binder and Steinhauser, 2006, Zhang et al., 2004, Ueda et al., 2001 and Tanaka et al., 1997). Glutamate, after being taken up into astrocytes, may be converted to glutamine

by glutamine synthetase (GS), which then is released to extracellular space and taken up by neurons where it is converted again to glutamate and stored in pre synaptic vesicles (Danbolt, 2001 and Suarez et al., 2002). Thus, the GS activity is an essential step in the glutamate–glutamine cycle, and its impairment has been implicated in pathogenesis of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), since GS expression and activity is reduced in the hippocampus of TLE patients (Eid et al., 2004). In adult animals, GS was increased in the latent phase and decreased in the chronic phase of kainate-induced seizures (Hammer et al., 2008). The consequences Selleck CHIR 99021 of status epilepticus (SE) in the developing brain appear to be different from those of mature brain. Comparisons of the findings obtained in the adult and newborn brain reveal a paradox, in that the immature brain has generally been considered ‘resistant’ to the damaging

NVP-AUY922 nmr effects of hypoxia and hypoxia–ischemia, while at the same time exhibiting periods of heightened sensitivity to injury, dependent on the specific developmental stage of the brain ( Holmes, 2005 and Hurn et al., 2005). Despite the that, the immature brain is not immune to

injury in prolonged seizure as SE. Changes in AMPA receptors and EAAC1 transporter expression were reported in SE rats at 10 days post-natal (P10) and these modifications were related to higher susceptibility to another seizure episode (Zhang et al., 2004). Despite the apparent low susceptibility of immature brain to seizure-induced cell death, seizures in the developing brain can result in irreversible alterations in neuronal connectivity (Holmes and Ben-Ari, 2001). Neonatal rats, which suffered from SE displayed synaptic alterations and memory impairment in the adulthood (Cognato et al., 2010, Cornejo et al., 2007 and Cornejo et al., 2008), showing that disturbances in a critical period of brain maturation could persistently compromise its function. Furthermore, neural injuries such as hypoxic or hypoxic–ischemic insult to the developing brain will impact on subsequent maturation, with long-lasting consequences for the adult brain (Hurn et al., 2005). Although some information is available regarding the involvement of glutamate transporters in events triggered by seizure activity in adult animals (Rothstein et al., 1996, Ueda et al., 2001, Simantov et al., 1999 and Miller et al., 1997), little is known about the neonatal brain responses to seizure involving glutamate transporters, especially in the early period post-seizure.

These strategies have produced striking reductions in the reported number of human malaria cases in Thailand over the past 30 years, although there have been regional differences with respect to the extent of the reduction. Epidemiological evidence of declining numbers of cases suggest that control measures may be able to produce substantial reductions Enzalutamide mw in local parasite effective population sizes of malaria parasite species, which in turn might cause reduction in the level of parasite

polymorphism. Thus, after extensive mobilization of non-vaccine control measures, a local population may have sufficiently reduced polymorphism that a location-specific vaccine might be feasible and effective. We tested the hypothesis that control measures can induce a loss of polymorphism at antigen-encoding loci by examining data on numbers of P. falciparum and P. vivax infections and nucleotide sequence polymorphism at selected antigen-encoding loci in two areas of Thailand. We compared data from

two different regions: (1) Tak Province, in northwestern Thailand, along the border of Myanmar (henceforth NW); and (2) from Yala and Narathiwat Provinces in southern Thailand (henceforth South; Fig. 1). Reported cases of malaria have declined sharply in the South over the Venetoclax clinical trial past three decades, but less sharply in the NW [19] and [21]. By comparing sequence polymorphism at antigen-encoding loci, we tested the hypothesis that the more severe decline in malaria cases in the South has been accompanied by a reduction in polymorphism at these vaccine-candidate loci. We randomly recruited blood samples from symptomatic malaria patients from northwestern (Tak Province) and southern Thailand (Yala and Narathiwat Provinces) collected during 1996–1997 for P. falciparum samples and 2006–2007 for both P. falciparum and P. vivax samples. The ethical aspects of this study have been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. DNA was extracted from either venous blood samples using QIAamp kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) or finger-pricked blood spotted onto filter

paper. We excluded multiple clone infections of P. falciparum isolates by genotyping of polymorphic block 2 of the merozoite surface protein-1 science (Pfmsp-1) and the central repeat region of the merozoite surface protein-2 (Pfmsp-2) genes as described by others [22]. Likewise, genotyping of P. vivax isolates was performed using the highly polymorphic block 6 of the merozoite surface protein-1 (Pvmsp1) [23]. Further, samples showing superimposed eletropherogram signals during DNA sequencing were also excluded from analysis. The complete nucleotide sequences of P. falciparum csp and msp-2 and of P. vivax msp-1, ama-1 and msp-4 were obtained by using respective forward and reverse primers for each gene as described previously [10], [12], [19], [23] and [24]. Sequences of P.

Percent reduction

of parasitaemia was calculated as follows: [1 − (mean worm burden of vaccinated group/mean worn burden of BSA group)] × 100. T. crassiceps metacestodes in the 2–3 mm larval stage (characterised by buddings) and in the final stage of development (a non-budding opaque vesicle) [11] were taken from an unrelated infected mouse and fixed in 4% (v/v) paraformaldehyde for 20 min. After washing in PBS (2.7 mM KCl, 1.8 mM KH2PO4, 137 mM NaCl, 10 mM Na2HPO4, pH 7.2, 304 mOsm/kg H2O), the samples were embedded in Tissue-Tek OCT (Sakura), frozen with liquid nitrogen, and stored at −80 °C. The tissues were sectioned 7 μm thick learn more using a Leica CM1850 cryostat (Leica Microsystems, Germany) and placed on slides prepared with a 2% solution of Biobond (EMS) in acetone for 4 min. The slides were then rinsed for 5 min in distilled water and air dried.

Additionally, aldehyde radicals were blocked with 100 mM glycine for 2 min and washed with PBS. Nonspecific sites were blocked for 30 min with 2% casein diluted in PBS and 0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100, and sections were incubated for 2 h with pool of sera from immunised mice diluted 1:50 in PBS containing 2% (w/v) casein. Unbound antibodies were removed with 3 washes in PBS. Finally, Alexa 488 conjugated anti-mouse secondary antibodies (Invitrogen) were diluted 1:250 in PBS containing 2% (w/v) casein and incubated for 1 h protected www.selleckchem.com/products/cb-839.html from light at room temperature. For nuclear staining, 10 μM 4′,6-diamindino-2-phenylindole was applied for 5 min. Samples preparations were examined using a Zeiss Axio Observer Z1 inverted microscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany). The fluorescent probe was excited at 488 nm with emission using the LP 505 nm filter (green channel). Single images were obtained with a monochromatic camera (AxioCam HRm, Carl Zeiss, Germany) using a 40× lens for differential interface contrast and fluorescence intensity. Finally, AxioVision LE software was Methisazone used for

image processing and for morphometric measurements in the Zeiss image format. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical analysis of the results, and the Tukey test was used for pair wise comparison of samples. The significance of the difference in frequency of initial-, larval-, or final-stage cysticerci among groups was determined with the Chi-square test. Mean parasite length between NC-1/BSA and TcCa immunised groups was compared by using Student’s t test. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Using bioinformatic analysis, we compared the NC-1 sequence to primary sequences of Taenia sp proteins deposited in the National Institutes of Health GenBank database. The alignments indicated identity of NC-1 peptide to cytochrome c oxidase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase (NADH), two mitochondrial proteins of the respiratory chain. Some matches with paramyosin, a component of invertebrate muscles, were also observed ( Fig. 1).

Candidate predictors were chosen based on their clinical relevance, common use in the clinic, and availability at the time when the model is meant to be used (Moons et al 2009, Royston et al 2009). Severity of stroke was measured using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (Brott et al 1989, Kasner 2006). NIHSS scores were obtained 24 hours after the administration of recombinant tissue IPI-145 concentration plasminogen activator. Standing up ability was measured using Item 4 (sitting to standing) of the MAS (Carr et al 1985). Combined motor function of the arm was obtained by summing the scores of Items 6 (upper arm function), 7 (hand movements), and 8 (advanced hand activities) of the

MAS (Carr et al 1985). Pre-morbid function was assessed with the Barthel Index (Collin et al 1988, Kasner 2006). Spasticity of the ankle plantarflexors was measured using the Tardieu Scale and was recorded as present if a catch or clonus was detected during fast-velocity limb movements (Patrick and Ada 2006). Validity and reliability of all assessment tools have been established (Carr et al 1985, Kasner

2006, Lannin 2004, Mehrholz et al 2005, Patrick and Ada 2006, Poole and Whitney 1988). Measurements were performed by three experienced neurological physiotherapists who learn more also received online training and certification to carry out the NIHSS. Therapists who performed outcome measures at follow-up were blinded to baseline measures. Patients received ALOX15 standard medical and allied

health care according to the National Stroke Foundation guidelines in Australia. As this was a secondary analysis of a cohort study on contractures, sample size for the current study was not calculated a priori. However, 80 participants achieved independent ambulation and 21 participants achieved independent upper limb function, and we used five candidate predictors in the ambulation models and two candidate predictors in the upper limb models. Therefore the sample size was sufficient to satisfy the widely used criterion of 10 cases per candidate predictor ( Peduzzi et al 1996). Participants who had achieved independent ambulation and upper limb function at baseline had already recovered, so they were excluded from subsequent analyses. Participants who died were also excluded from subsequent analyses. Thus the incidence of independent ambulation and upper limb function is the incidence amongst those who had not already recovered at baseline, conditional on survival. As there were very few missing data (< 6%; 10 missing for Item 7 of MAS, 11 missing for Item 8 of MAS), a complete case analysis was undertaken. For participants with bilateral strokes, measures from the initially worse side were chosen for analysis – if both sides were the same, one side was randomly selected. If predictors were highly correlated (r > 0.6), the predictor that was more widely used and had fewer missing data was used.

The perceived quality of both interventions and the child’s co-operation with them was good or excellent for almost all participants, with no important differences between the interventions. Satisfaction scores were also high for both interventions, although notably satisfaction with the exercise intervention was

significantly higher, especially among the children younger than SCH 900776 mw 12 years. The higher satisfaction scores corroborate our and others’ experience that people with cystic fibrosis get frustrated with conventional airway clearance techniques and prefer exercise or a combination of both interventions (Moorcroft et al 1998, Bilton et al 1992, Baldwin et al 1994). The fact that satisfaction is greater after one treatment is promising for exercise, given that there are many ways it can be modified to keep it novel, enjoyable, and challenging while maintaining a suitable exercise Ceritinib cell line load (Kuys et al 2011). Two more caveats are worth noting here. Some other exercise modalities may not have the same airway clearance effects and any exercise modality may not be effective without the incorporation of the short bouts of expiratory manoeuvres. Therefore extrapolation of these results should be done with caution until further assessment of the airway clearance effects of other exercise

regimens is available. As well as being a satisfying alternative to traditional airway clearance techniques, the exercise regimen we examined appears to be a safe alternative. Adverse events were few, mild and transient. Our results indicate that the participants had relatively low quantities of sputum to expectorate compared to adult studies, which report higher sputum production, eg, 10 to 20 g over periods of 50 to 150 min (Bilton et al 1992, Baldwin et al 1994, Salh et al 1989). The Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase smaller amount of sputum

in our participants is likely to be due to their mild lung disease. Given our efforts to ensure expectoration, we do not think that the small amount of sputum indicates that sputum was swallowed. However, this is a theoretical source of bias that must be considered. The vigour of the exercise intervention may have entailed a higher risk of accidental or unnoticed swallowing of secretions than the control intervention. However, if such bias did occur, this would only further support our conclusion that the exercise intervention was a suitable substitute for the control intervention in this study. The conclusions of our study are limited because each intervention was only applied once for 20 min, and in a hospital environment, where treatment co-operation and quality may surpass that achieved at home. Also, although eligibility was not restricted to a specific FEV1 range, most of the children had excellent lung function so the results may not apply to more severely affected children.

This complemented the original 2006 Roadmap strategic goal CHIR-99021 supplier of developing a highly efficacious vaccine to prevent clinical disease [2] and highlighted the definitive shift of the broader malaria community to a focus on the development of tools to accelerate elimination and eventual eradication of malaria. The leadership of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Gates Foundation), along with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, and other key stakeholders, have challenged the malaria community to renew its efforts

to eradicate malaria [3], therefore leading to a significant refocusing of associated product development efforts [4]. Over the last several years, as the malaria community began to embrace the challenge of eradication, questions arose about the feasibility of such an endeavor, the tools and strategies that would enable it, and the gaps that would need to be addressed in order to support eradication as a long-term goal. A number of meetings and consultations took place in and around 2010 to define the research agenda for malaria eradication, including those associated with the development of a malaria vaccine to interrupt malaria (parasite) transmission selleck compound (VIMT) [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11],

[12], [13], [14], [15] and [16]. Initially P. falciparum and P. vivax were prioritized, with the recognition that to truly eradicate malaria, all species that infect humans must eventually be addressed. This article describes the progress that has since been made in critical focus areas identified Ketanserin during those meetings (Clinical development pathway and regulatory strategy; Assays; Transmission measures and epidemiology; Communications and ethics; Policy and access; Process development and manufacture; specific challenges associated with targeting P. vivax), and highlights the next steps that will be critical to developing the classes of vaccines needed to support the community’s malaria-eradication goals, as laid out in the revised Roadmap. While vaccines have the potential to interrupt malaria transmission at multiple points in the parasite

lifecycle, this paper will focus on strategies targeting the sexual, sporogonic, and mosquito (SSM) stages of the parasite (hereafter referred to as an SSM-VIMT), which are involved in the transmission of malaria parasites from an infected person to a female mosquito, rather than those involved in parasite infection of the human host or causing malaria disease. While not a novel concept, as evidenced by the 2000 meeting report on transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs), “an ideal public good” [17], the product development resources now available to apply to the development of such products have created significant new opportunities. Unique development challenges associated with this class of VIMT, most notably the delayed as opposed to immediate benefit conferred to immunized individuals, require special consideration.

The concentrations PD173074 purchase of sodium and potassium ions were determined by the method of.11 The data obtained from the laboratory results of the tests were

subjected to One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Significant differences were observed at p ≤ 0.05. The results were expressed as means of five replicates ± standard deviations (SD). This analysis was done using the computer software known as Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 16. The qualitative phytochemical analyses showed, the presence of saponins in very high concentration in both fractions of the chloroform–methanol extract of the leaves of P. americana ( Table 1). Flavonoids were found to be present in very high concentration www.selleckchem.com/products/ulixertinib-bvd-523-vrt752271.html and moderately high concentration in the chloroform and the methanol fractions respectively. Tannins, terpenoids and steroids were found to be present in moderately high concentrations in both fractions

as shown in Table 1. The phytochemical constituents of the chloroform and the methanol fractions of the chloroform–methanol extract of the leaves of P. americana are summarised in Table 2. The chloroform fraction of the extract contained higher percentages of alkaloids (2.67 ± 0.13%), flavonoids (3.20 ± 0.17%) and steroids (1.36 ± 0.04%) than the methanol fraction while the methanol fraction contained higher percentages of saponins (2.23 ± 0.09%) and tannins (2.73 ± 0.13%) than the chloroform fraction ( Table 2). The charcoal meal (gastro-intestinal motility) test was used to determine the propulsive movement along the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) of rats. As shown in Fig. 1, the methanol and the chloroform fractions of the extract at the tested doses (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of each) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the percentage distance travelled by the charcoal meal along the gastro-intestinal tract of rats in groups 4, 5, 6 and 7 when compared to Ergoloid the value obtained for rats in the charcoal meal-treated control

group (group 2). The observed effects were dose-dependent with percentage distance travelled by charcoal meal as 62.25 ± 4.57, 57.25 ± 1.50, 58.25 ± 2.22 and 35.25 ± 2.36 for rats in the 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of the methanol fraction-treated groups (groups 4 and 5), 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of the chloroform fraction-treated groups (groups 6 and 7) respectively when compared to the value (70.25 ± 3.30) obtained for rats in the charcoal meal-treated control group (group 2). The effects of the methanol and the chloroform fractions of the extract at the tested doses were comparable to that of the standard anti-diarrhoeal agent (hyoscine butylbromide) as shown in Fig. 1. Result of the intestinal fluid sodium ion concentration test as shown in Fig. 2, shows that the rats of the castor oil-treated control group (group 2) had significantly (p < 0.05) increased intestinal fluid sodium ion concentration (227.00 ± 3.46) when compared to the value (192.75 ± 11.