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OCCURRENCE OF THE GENUS CHARA (CHAROPHYTA) IN SHEIKHUPURA DISTRICT
OF PAKISTAN
SAIDA HAIDER, MISBAH ROOHI, SAIMA KHALIQ, TAHIRA PERVEEN AND DARAKHSHAN
J. HALEEM
Abstract:
Central 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) system plays a key role
in the regulation of food intake and body weight. Evidence also shows
that causes of obesity are also linked to the brain serotonin levels.
Most of the medications for the treatment of obesity work by increasing
the availability of anorexiogenic neurotransmitter in the central nervous
system (CNS). In the present work Phytolacca baccis, a weight
reducing homeopathic medication was used to study its effects on food
intake and brain serotonin metabolism in rats. After 4 weeks of daily
administration of drug, the rats exhibited a decrease in food intake
and body weight. Brain serotonin metabolism on the other hand increased.
The drug also exhibited anxiogenic effects in rats when tested in an
elevated plus maze (EPM). The results of the present study suggest that
Phytolacca baccis induced increases of brain 5-HT levels may
be involved in the weight reducing effects of the drug.
Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department
of Biochemistry,
University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
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