International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phenolic content and antioxidant activity of crude and fractionated extracts of Pereskia bleo (Kunth) DC. (Cactaceae)

K. S. Sim¹, A. M. Sri Nurestri ¹* and A. W. Norhanom²

¹Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

²Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Accepted 16 September, 2019

Abstract

The total phenolic content of the extracts of Pereskia bleo were assessed by the Folin-Ciocalteau’s method while the antioxidant activities were determined by three different assays, namely scavenging activity on 1,1- diphenyl-2 -picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, reducing power assay and ß-carotene method. In the present study, the ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content (40.12 mg of GAEs/g of extract) and showed the strongest antioxidant activity in the ß -carotene bleaching assay significantly. Whilst, the hexane extract showed significantly the highest antioxidant activity when determined by scavenging effect on DPPH radicals (EC₅₀ 210 µg/ml) and the reducing power assay.

Key words: Pereskia bleo, Cactaceae, antioxidant activity, phenolic content.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Efficacy and safety of long-acting risperidone on early onset schizophrenia in adolescent patients

Liming Ruan, Shaohua Hu, Manli Huang, Jianpo Hu and Wei Cai*

The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China

Accepted 13 October, 2019

Abstract

The present study is aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of long-acting risperidone on early onset schizophrenia in adolescent patients. A total of 31 adolescent patients (13 - 18 years) with schizophrenia met the DSM-IV-TR criteria for schizophrenia and their symptoms were stable when orally taking risperidone or olanzapine. They were admitted into a 24 week, open-label study on the long-acting risperidone. Risperidone was administered every 2 weeks at a dose of 25, 37.5 and up to a maximum dose of 50 mg. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) and the Extrapyramidal symptom rating scale (ESRS) were used to assess the improvement in the symptoms. Improvements in the symptoms of schizophrenia occurred in patients treated with long-acting risperidone at week 6 and continued throughout the study with significant reduction in total PANSS score at week 24 ( -4.2 ± 0.2, P < 0.01). At the same time, 51.6% of patients were rated as clinical improvement at the end of study. Among these 31 cases, the most frequently reported adverse events were depression (12.9%), anxiety (9.7%), headache (9.7%) and insomnia (6.4%). ESRS scores were reduced during the treatment with long-acting risperidone. The mean decrease in serum prolactin and body weight was 13.1 ng/ml and 4.5 kg, respectively. Intramuscular administration of long-acting risperidone was safe and well tolerated in adolescent patients. Long-acting risperidone also could improve the symptoms of schizophrenia in adolescent patients.

Key words: Long-acting risperidone, early onset schizophrenia, oral risperidone, olanzapine, adolescents.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of corn peptides on exercise tolerance, free radical metabolism in liver and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activity of mice

Fusheng Miao¹*, Wenqian Yu¹, Yaoguang Wang¹, Meijuan Wang², Xiangyan Liu¹ and Fenglin Li³

¹Physical Education College, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, P.R. China.

²Department of National Traditional Sports,Shandong Sport University, Rizhao 276826, P.R. China.

³Department of Bioengineering, Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology College, Jilin 132101, P. R. China.

Accepted 21 September, 2019

Abstract

In order to carry out research on the effects of corn peptides on exercise tolerance, free radical metabolism in liver and serum Glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activity of mice, sixty Kun-Ming male mice were randomly divided into two experimental groups, that is , Group   (20 mice) and Group (40 mice). Group    was a quiet group in which the mice were not trained; Group    was a trained group in which the mice were trained. Either group was divided into control group and administered group. The control groups were administered with 1.5 ml distilled water by gavage every morning. The administered groups were administered with 1.50% corn peptides solution at the same dose for 28 days. The trained groups were trained to swim for 4 weeks and then were forced to swim without a load until being exhausted. The time of swimming to exhaustion and the Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Malondialdehyde (MDA) of liver and serum GPT were measured. The results indicated that corn peptides could significantly increase the body exercise tolerance, have a potent function of anti-lipid peroxidation injury and could reduce the body damage caused by endogenous free radicals produced in the movement. In addition, corn peptides had obvious protective effects on the body's liver cell membrane.

Key words: Corn peptide, exercise tolerance, free radicals, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biological activity of progesterone-dihydropyridimidine derivative on perfusion pressure and coronary resistance in isolated rat heart

Figueroa Valverde Lauro¹*, Guillermo Ceballos-Reyes², Francisco Díaz-Cedillo³, Abelardo Camacho-Luis⁴, Maria López Ramos¹ and G. Maldonado-Velazquez¹

¹Laboratorio de Investigación de la Facultad de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Av. Agustín Melgar, Col Buenavista C. P. 24039 Campeche Cam., México.

²Laboratorio de investigación, área de posgrado de la Escuela de Medicina del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de san Luis s/n Col. Santo Tomas, México, D. F. C. P. 11340.

³Laboratorio de Química Orgánica de la Esc. Nal. de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Prol. Carpioy Plan de Ayala s/n Col. Santo Tomas, México, D.F. C.P. 11340.

⁴Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Durango, Dgo, México.

Accepted 15 October, 2019

Abstract

Experimental studies suggest that progesterone can regulate blood pressure. Nevertheless, there is scarce information about the effects of progesterone and its derivatives at cardiovascular level. In addition, to date the cellular site and mechanism of action of progesterone at cardiovascular level is also unclear. In order, to clarify on those phenomena, we evaluated the effects of progesterone and progesterone-dihydropyridimidine derivative on perfusion pressure in isolated rat heart using Langendorff flow model. Our results demonstrated that progesterone- derivative at a concentration of 10^-9 mM, significantly increase the perfusion pressure (p = 0.006) and coronary resistance (p = 0.005) in isolated heart. The activity exerted by progesterone-dihydropyridimidine derivative on perfusion pressure [10^-9 to 10^-4 mM] was blocked in presence of indomethacin [10^-6 mM] and PINANE TXA₂ [10^-6 mM]. These data suggest that activity induced by progesterone-derivative on perfusion pressure and coronary resistance involves the thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂) synthesis and secretion.

Key words: Progesterone-dihydropyridimidine derivative, Langendorff, perfusion pressure.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of the antidiarrhoeal effect of Lannea welwitschii Hiern (Anacardiaceae) bark extract

Amole Olufemi Olatokunboh¹*, Salahdeen Hussein Mofomosara² and Onyeahialam Anthony Ekene³

¹Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

²Department of Physiology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

³Department of Pharmacology, University of Lagos, College of Medicine Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 14 October, 2019

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance encompasses the aqueous bark extract of Lannea welwitschii (Hiern), LW is used in Traditional African Medicine (TAM) for the treatment of diarrhea. However, the scientific basis for this usage has not been established. To evaluate the antidiarrhoel activity of LW using various pharmacological methods. The intestinal transit, castor oil induced diarrhea, enteropooling and gastric emptying methods were used in this study. LW (50 - 400 mg/kg per oral (p.o)) produced significant (P < 0.05) dose dependant reduction in propulsive movement in both the normal and castor oil induced intestinal transit tests in mice. Peak effect was elicited at 200 mg/kg but this effect was lower than that produced by morphine (10 mg/kg, s.c). The effect of LW on castor oil induced intestinal transit was antagonized by isosorbide dinitrate, IDN (150 mg/kg, P.O.), but not by yohimbine (1 mg/kg s.c.) LW produced a significant decrease in the frequency of defecation, severity of diarrhea and protection from diarrhea in mice treated with castor oil. Also, LW at the dose of 400 mg/kg, significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the castor oil induced intraluminal fluid content. The acute toxicity tests carried out showed a well tolerated effect of the drug via the oral route, a dose of 20 g/kg produced no death in the animals. The LD₅₀ was 631 mg/kg given i.p. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones and reducing sugars. The results obtained in this study suggest that the aqueous bark extract of L. welwitschii possesses antidiarrhoel property due to inhibition of gastrointestinal propulsion and fluid secretion possibly mediated through inhibition of the nitric oxide pathway. This justifies the use of the plant extract in TAM for the treatment of diarrhea.

Key words: Lannea welwitschii, diarrhea, antidiarrhoeal activity, intestinal transit, enteropooling, gastric emptying.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Challenges of DOTS implementation strategy in the treatment of tuberculosis in a tertiary health institution, Ilorin, Nigeria

S. I. Bello

Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 05 November, 2019

Abstract

Despite the fact that Directly Observed Treatment Strategy (DOTS) short course has recorded significant improvement in the tuberculosis (TB) disease detection, treatment and control in Nigeria, neither the set target for the TB detection rate nor the cure rate has been achieved nationwide, as several challenges detract its effective implementation. The objective of this study was to examine the challenges of DOTS implementation strategies in the treatment of TB patients with the view to determine factors militating against its effective implementation. Majority (75.3%) of the patients were within the age bracket of 16 - 45 years, while half (52.8%) of the patients that received proper counseling on medication at the hospital did not adhere to anti-TB drug dosage regimen. However, dark urine features prominently (72.1%) as side effects of anti-TB drugs among the patients followed by nausea and vomiting (25.4%), impaired vision (1.8%) and yellowish eyes (0.7%). There is a positive effect of finance on the TB patients and only very few patients could afford to purchase anti-TB drugs during stock-out due to financial constraints. Patients’ defaulted rates were 22.3 and 14% among the males and females respectively. Low treatment failure rates of 7.2 and 7.9% were also recorded in both men and women respectively. For effective DOTS strategy in eliminating TB nationwide, there is dire need for holistic approach in reaching all the patients with high-quality health care services even in the remote areas. Also, literacy level and social economic status of Nigerian citizens should be improved to enhance effective DOTS implementation.

Key words: Tuberculosis treatment, DOTs strategy, Nigeria.