IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS (IJPT)
Year:2010 | Volume:9 | Issue:1|Papers Count:9

This study was carried out to evaluate the protective effect of Ocimum sanctum (tulsi) on lead-induced alteration in disposition kinetics of sulphadimidine (SD) in cockerels. Twenty-one, four-week male white leghorn (WLH) chicks were randomly divided into groups I, II and III (7 in each) and were fed at dietary with 0 ppm lead and no tulsi (group I, Control), 100 ppm lead (group II), or 100 ppm lead + 100 ppm tulsi (group III). After four weeks, disposition kinetics of intravenous single dose administration of SD (50 mg /kg) was determined in each bird. The mean values of elimination half-life, distribution-half, AUC, and volume of distribution were significantly (p<0.01) higher in lead-treated group than those in lead plus tulsi group (III) The clearance (Cl, mL/kg/h) of SD was slower in lead-treated groups than lead plus tulsi and control groups The priming dose of SD (mg/kg) in chicks following single i.v. administration is proposed as 68.91 and 122.57 for group I (control), 51.42 and 79.21 for group II (lead) and 61.38 and 106.59 for group III (lead plus tulsi), at 8 h and 12 h interval, respectively. The maintenance doses (Dm, mg/kg) were minimum in group II (39.31 and 57.54) followed by group III (41.03 and 86.25) and control (47.13 and 100.80) at 8 and 12h interval, respectively. It is concluded that feeding of lead at 100 ppm dietary level altered the kinetics and dosage regimen of SD which were significantly ameliorated following simultaneous feeding with powdered tulsi (100ppm) in cockerels.

Pharmacokinetics of cefepime was studied following single dose intravenous and intramuscular administration at the dose of 20 mg/kg of body weight in sheep. Drug concentration in serum was determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Following single dose intravenous administration, the drug was rapidly distributed (t1/2a: 0.20±0.02 h) and eliminated (t1/2b: 2.54±0.12 h) from the body. The area under curve (AUC0-¥) was 135.50±5.63 mg h/mL. The drug was cleared at the rate of 2.48±0.09 mL/min/kg with mean residence time (MRT) of 2.84±0.13 h. Following IM administration, the drug was rapidly absorbed (Cmax: 26.34±1.44 mg/mL; tmax: 0.75 h) and slowly eliminated (t1/2b: 5.17±0.44 h) from body. The volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss), area under curve (AUC), total body clearance (ClB) and mean residence time (MRT) were 1.11±0.10 L/kg, 140.90±8.67 mg h/mL, 0.15±0.01 mL/min/kg and 6.89±1.0 h, respectively. The bioavailability of cefepime following intramuscular administration was 103±8.0%.

Mimosa pudica Linn (Mimisoideae) is a plant used in traditional medicine for various disorders. The aim of this work was to evaluate the acute toxicity and antinociceptive activity of the aqueous extract of Mimosa pudica in animal models. In the acute toxicity study, a single dose of aqueous extract of 2000 mg kg-1 body weight p.o. was administered. For 48 h, animals showed no clinical signs and mortality. In the acetic acid-induced writhing model, the extract at a dose of 200 & 400 mg kg-1 body weight showed significant (p<0.001) inhibition of writhing response of 46.24 and 56.0% respectively. In the hot plate test, the extract produced a significant (p<0.001) increase in the latency in a dose-related manner. This study established the analgesic properties of Mimosa pudica Linn.

The present study was carried out to determine the effect of hydro alcoholic extract of Tylophora indica (HETI) on experimentally-induced myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Albino rats were treated with HETI at doses of 100 mg/kg, (HETI-100) or 200 mg/kg (HETI-200) and propranolol 10 mg/kg (PRO-10) for 30 days orally. MI was induced by subcutaneous administration of isoprenaline (IPL) 150 mg/kg for two consecutive days. Pretreatment of animals with PRO-10 and HETI-200 provided significant myocardium protection from IPL damage as indicated by significant decrease in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase-MB (CK-MB) activities in serum and an increase in activities of these enzymes in heart tissue homogenate (HTH). Moreover, HETI-200 significantly increased endogenous antioxidants (SOD and catalase) activities when compared to IPL control as well as normal. The protection offered by HETI could be attributed to the presence of flavanoids which shows antioxidant effect by either inhibiting the release of oxygen free radicals (OFR) or enhancing the synthesis of endogenous antioxidants such as SOD and catalase in IPL-induced cardio toxicity. These biochemical findings were further confirmed by histological investigations.

The present investigation explores the blood glucose lowering potential of Berberis aristata stem bark extract (methanolic extract) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats as well as its in vitro antioxidant property. It is observed that methanolic extract of B. aristata stem bark exhibits significant antidiabetic activity in a dose-dependent manner, but not better than glibenclamide. The extract also has enough reducing power to manifest its antioxidant nature.

The stem bark of Oroxylum indicum (Fam. Bignoniaceae) was extracted with methanol. The methanol extract was fractionated with pet ether, chloroform, hexane and carbon tetrachloride using modified Kupchan partitioning method. Extensive chromatographic separation and purification with the organic solvent was done. One compound was extracted from the n-hexane fraction of stem bark of O. indicum which was then confirmed as flavonoid type of compound by using 1H NMR spectrometric analysis. Three fractions (hexane, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform), obtained from methanolic crude extract, were tested for antimicrobial activity by standard disc diffusion method. The extracts were found to show antimicrobial activities towards the gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and some fungi. The results were compared with same microbial strains against a standard antibiotic disc of ampicillin (10 mg/disc)

The objective of the study was to investigate the antidiabetic action of aqueous extract of Cassia glauca leaf in different models of rats. The antidiabetic activity of aqueous extract of Cassia glauca leaf was evaluated by using normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. After the oral administration of aqueous extracts at doses of 500 mg/kg body weight, blood glucose levels and body weights were monitored at specific intervals. Glibenclamide was used as a reference drug at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg mg/kg. The various parameters studied included serum lipid levels, liver glycogen content, serum insulin level, urea creatinine, total hemoglobin and glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetic and normal rats. On oral administration of aqueous extract of Cassia glauca leaf at a dose of 500 mg/kg, normoglycemic rats did not show any significant effect on blood glucose levels, whereas aqueous extract showed statistically significant effect (p<0.001) by reducing the effect of external glucose load. In chronic model of diabetic, aqueous extract of Cassia glauca leaf at a dose of 500 mg/kg and glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg) were administered for 21 days. At the end of treatment, there was significant increase in the body weight, liver glycogen, serum insulin level and the HDL cholesterol levels. There was a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol and serum triglycerides. Our results suggest that Cassia glauca leaf have potent antidiabetic property, justifying the use of drug for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Hematological side effects are rare with lamotrigine. We report two cases (two men; 46 years old and 65 years old) with epilepsy that developed combined leucopenia and thrombocytopenia after receiving low dose lamotrigine for a time. Three weeks after discontinuing lamotrigine, all of the hematological abnormalities disappeared. We suggest that combined leucopenia and thrombocytopenia is one of the side effects of lamotrigine that must be considered.

This is the first clinical case report of patient with ocular inflammation caused by plant sap from Euphorbia species in Iran. We examined a patient with history of recent ocular exposure to the sap of Euphorbia species. Initial symptoms were generally burning or stinging pain, blurred vision, ocular itching, agitation, and lacrimation. All symptoms were stable during course of disease except lacrimation that not continued following first day of exposure. Clinical findings confirmed mild keratoconjunctivitis. All signs and symptoms had resolved by 8 days. The patient was treated with antibiotic drop (chloramphenicol). Cycloplegic drop, steroid injection and potato poultice were also used. In conclusion, people who work with Euphorbia plant species must wear goggle and glove. Clinicians managing ocular problems caused by Euphorbia should be aware of sight-threatening infection. Our suggestion for managing of Euphorbia sap keratoconjunctivitis is applying freeze potato poultice as supportive therapy.