International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of ethanol extract of Piper guineense seeds (Schum. and Thonn) on the conception of mice (Mus Musculus)

A. P Ekanem¹*, F. V. Udoh² and E. E. Oku³

¹Institute of Oceanography, University of Calabar, P. M. B 1115, Calabar, Nigeria.

²Department of Pharmacology, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria.

³Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, Nigeria.

Accepted 25 March, 2015

Abstract

The effects of Piper guineense seeds (Piperaceae) on conception of mice ( Mus musculus) were investigated. Thirty sexually mature mice (3 weeks old) were distributed in plastic cages with each cage containing two females and one male animal. Similar cages and same number of animals were set up as controls. Animals were fed a mixture of feed with extracts of P. guineense seed at various test concentrations (10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/kgBW). Controls were fed similar ration of normal diet without extract. The experiment lasted for 42 days, consisting of 21 days of feeding with extracts with males and females mice staying together in cages, and 21 days of feeding without extracts but male and female animals kept in separate cages to stop further sexual behavior. All the female mice in the control cages gave birth to young ones between the 28 and 35th day of the test periods but no animal in the test group showed signs of pregnancy and none had implantation of fetus in the womb. Histopathology sections of testis and ovary of test animals showed inflamed cells of the gonads compared to normal cells in the controls. Three alkaloidal amides (Piperanine, , -dihydrowasanine and isobutyl-(E,E)-2,4-decadienamide) were isolated by HPLC analysis of the extracts. On the bases of the results obtained, it was concluded that seeds of P. guineense contain substances that interferes with conception in mice.

Key words: Piper guineense, conception, mice.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (9), pp. 001-007, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro antimicrobial activity of crude leaf and stem bark extracts of Gmelina arborea (Roxb) against some pathogenic species of Enterobacteriaceae

A. M. El-Mahmood*, J. H. Doughari and H. S. Kiman

Department of Microbiology, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 2076 Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Accepted 14 April, 2015

Abstract

Phytochemical screening of the Gmelina arborea reveals the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones and cardiac glycosides. The presence of these bioactive compounds in plants is linked to biological activity. Determination of antimicrobial activity using the agar diffusion method showed that the crude extracts of the leave and stembark of the plant inhibited the growth of such recalcitrant pathogenic Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonieae, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella dysenteriea and Salmonella typhi that frequently show above average resistance, the extent of which depended on the solvent and organism. Activity of the extracts was consistently less than the conventional antibiotic, tetracycline. The effectiveness of the extracts was more in the acidic than in alkaline conditions and also increased with increase in temperature. Results provided the scientific bases for the folkloric application of G. arborea as a medicinal plant and ways the plant can be used as source for newer antibiotic substances for the possible control of dysentery, diarrhea, typhoid fever and wound infections associated with these bacteria.

Key words: Gmelina arborea, phytochemicals, resistance, extracts, antibiotics, pathogenic, traditional medicine.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (8), pp. 001-009, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Formulation optimization of nifedipine containing microspheres using factorial design

Solmaz Dehghan^1,3, Reza Aboofazeli¹, Mohammadreza Avadi¹ and Ramin Khaksar²*

¹School of pharmacy, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

²Food Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Food Science and Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Science and Food Technology, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

³Mashhad University of Medical Science, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad, Iran.

Accepted 26 March, 2015

Abstract

Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker which is used in the treatment of hypertension angina pectoris. The aim of this study was to formulate and optimize nifedipine containing microspheres in an attempt to prepare a suitable sustained release delivery system using factorial design. Drug loaded microspheres were prepared using Eudragit RL100, through solvent evaporation technique. In the next step, the effect of different formulation variables, including the amount of polymer (1 - 2 g), stabilizer (0.1 - 0.5 g) and drug/polymer ratio (0.05:1 – 0.1:1) on the appearance, physical properties of particles, and the amount of loaded drug was investigated. Based on the type and the variables studied, 8 formulations were designed using factorial design method, and were then prepared and their drug contents were determined. In order to detect the precise effect of the formulation variables and their interactions, design expert software was used. Data analysis showed that microspheres with optimum drug loading could be prepared using 1 g polyvinylalcohol, 1 – 2 g polymer and 0.07:1 drug/polymer ratio. Among the formulations suggested and based on the predicted responses and their desirability indices, 6 formulations were selected as the optimum formulations. Finally, selected microspheres were evaluated from the view points of morphology and release pattern. Results revealed that microspheres obtained from the formulations S¹⁹, S²⁰ and S²⁴ could be selected as the best and optimized formulations due to their high drug contents, appropriate invitro drug release after 12 h and desired morphology.

Key words: Nifedipine, microsphere, solvent evaporation, eudragit RL100, factorial design.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of cimetidine on gentamicin-losartan induced - nephrotoxicity in rats

S. M. Poormoosavi¹, M. A. Behmanesh¹ and H Najafzadeh²*

¹Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.

²Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.

Accepted 07 April, 2015

Abstract

Drug-induced nephrotoxicity is an important cause of renal failure. Aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as gentamicin can produce nephrotoxicity, due to in part to an imbalance of pro and anti-oxidants (oxidative stress). Cytochrome P 450 is one enzyme that involved in acute renal failure. Inhibition of this enzyme may decrease drug-induced nephrotoxicity. The aim of present study was evaluating the effect of cimetidine on gentamicin-losartan nephrotoxicity in rats. A control group (saline, group 1, n = 6) was compared with rats administrated gentamaicin by intrapritoneal injection, at dose rate of 80 mg/kg, once daily for 7 days (group 2, 3 and 4). The effect of losartan (group 3) and losartan and cimetidine in combination (group 4) were compared on gentamaicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Losartan alone (group 5) and losartan with cimetidine (group 6) were used for evaluation effect of these drugs in absence of gentamicin. Renal function was assessed using serum biochemical markers including creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), sodium and potassium. Serum creatinine concentration was increased significantly in group 2 compared with group 1. Serum creatinine concentrations were significantly elevated in groups 3 than in group 2 (p = 0.001). Serum creatinine concentration was significantly decreased in groups 4 than in group 3 (p = 0.001) . Serum creatinine concentration in group 5 and 6 was similar group 1. Serum BUN concentrations were significantly elevated in groups 3 than in group 2 (p = 0.001). The cimetidine prevented BUN elevation in group 4 with comparison to group 3 but serum BUN in this group was significantly more than groups 1 and 2. Serum sodium level was significantly decreased in group 3. Serum potassium level significantly increased in group 3 and 4. Losartan severely increased gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Cimetidine appears to have protective effect on gentamicin-losartan-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Key words: Gentamicin, cimetidine, losartan, vitamin E, rats, nephrotoxicity.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Promising antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the aqueous ethanolic extract of carob leaves

Khaled Nagib¹, Omayma A. Eldahshan²* and Walid F. A. M. El-Khatib³

¹Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

²Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

³Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Accepted 10 January, 2015

Abstract

Plants are endless reservoir for several phytochemicals including antioxidant and cytotoxic drugs. The objective of this study was the investigation of the antioxidant and the cytotoxic activities (against Vero and HEp-2 cell lines) of the aqueous ethanolic extract of carob leaves. The extract inhibited xanthine oxidase at IC₅₀ of 244 µg/ml. There is a marked cytotoxic activity of crude aqueous extract of carob on both mammalian cell lines (Vero and HEp-2) and the effect is more obvious on the human cell line (HEp-2). The results revealed that the crude aqueous extract of carob leaves could be a promising source for antioxidant as well as antitumor bioactive agents.

Key words: Carob leaves, aqueous ethanolic extract, Ceratonia siliqua, antioxidant, xanthine oxidase, cytotoxicy.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biological screening of seventeen medicinal plants used in the traditional systems of medicine in Pakistan for antimicrobial activities

Farnaz Malik¹, Tahira Mirza¹, Humayun Riaz², Abdul Hameed³ and Shahzad Hussain¹

¹Drugs Control and Traditional Medicines Division, National Institute of Health, Islamabad-45500, Pakistan.

²School of Pharmacy, Punjab University, Lahore-Pakistan.

³Quaid-e Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Accepted 24 April, 2015

Abstract

Antibacterial properties of 51 aqueous, ethanolic and n- hexane extracts of seventeen medicinal plants from fourteen families used in the traditional system of medicines in Pakistan were tested against ten commonly prevalent gram negative and gram positive bacteria. In particular we examined the enteric pathogens and yeast using agar well diffusion method. The extracts of Eucalyptus globulus, Emblica officinalis and Sphaeranthus were found to have high levels of activity against all ten of the microorganisms. Ethanolic extracts of Azadirecta indica, Cedrella toona, Punicia granatum, Berginia ciliata and Lawsonia alba have shown considerable activity. Aqueous extracts of B. ciliata, L. alba and P. granatum have also shown low to moderate antimicrobial activity. The hexane extracts of the other fourteen medicinal plants and extracts from Calotropics procera, Melia azdirecta, Myrtus communis, Berberis aristata, Aspholedus tinuipholius had either no activity against most of the organisms or moderate activity against few organisms. Antibacterial activity of some of these plant extracts was comparable with commercially available antibiotics. Pakistan has a rich flora with broad potential for new antimicrobial agents which can be used as a substitute for current antibiotics against which wide spread resistance has developed.

Key words: Antimicrobial properties, crude extracts, Pakistani medicinal plants.