Bioassay-guided evaluation of Dioscorea villosa - an acute and subchronic toxicity, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory approach.

Background: Dioscorea villosa (DV) has been used in Brazil as an alternative medicine to attenuate menopause symptoms, as well as for the treatment of joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis. In spite of the popular use of DV for the treatment of various disorders, there are limited scientific data regarding safety aspects of this herb. In this regard, we carried out to evaluated both antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in experimental models and assess the toxic effects of the acute (single dose) and subchronic (30 days) oral administration of dry extract of Dioscorea villosa in rodents.

Aqueous fraction from Costus spiralis (Jacq.) Roscoe leaf reduces contractility by impairing the calcium inward current in the mammalian myocardium.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Brazilian folk medicine uses infusion of Costus spiralis leaf to help people to treat arterial hypertension and syndromes of cardiac hyperexcitability.

Aim Of The Study: Evaluate the aqueous fraction (AqF) effect on atrial contractility and investigate its mechanism of action.

Materials And Methods: The AqF effect on the cardiac contractility was studied on isolated electrically driven guinea pig left atria.