International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 068-082, July, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Thai medicinal plants: Potential sources of anti-cholangiocarcinoma drugs

Tullayakorn Plengsuriyakarn¹, Veerachai Thitapakorn¹, Kesara Na-Bangchang¹, Juntra Karbwang^2*

¹International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.

²Department of Clinical Product Development, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.

*Corresponding author.Email:[email protected]. Tel: +818027846053

Abstract

Accepted 04 March, 2013

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), the bile duct cancer, is a major public health problem in several parts of the world particularly in Southeast Asia. The incidence of CCA in northeastern Thailand is high. The most effective treatment is surgical removal in early stage patients. However most patients present to the hospital in advanced stage, which is inoperable. There is no standard chemotherapy regimen for advanced stage. The life expectancy after being diagnosed is 12 weeks. The existing chemotherapeutics are not effective. There is an urgent need to explore other effective agents to combat with this devastating disease. Several medicinal plants used in traditional medicine have been demonstrated to exhibit promising anti-CCA activities either in in vitro and/or in vivo models. These include triptolide from Tripterygium wilfordii, the ubiquitous tannic acid,Atractylodes lancea (Thunb) DC., Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Prasa-Prao-Yhai formulation, and curcumin, the pure compound isolated from Curcuma longa Linn.Their mechanisms of anti-CCA activities are either through direct activities on cancer cells (induction of apoptosis, stimulation of cell cycle arrest, and cytotoxicity, etc.) or through indirect activities through promotion of host immune system (inhibition of inflammation caused by liver fluke infection, inhibition of NF-kB-regulated gene products expression involved in DNA damage, etc.). The candidate leads from these plants for CCA treatment are awaited. Their potential roles in CCA either when using alone or as adjunct therapy should be further investigated.

Keywords:Cholangiocarcinoma,anticholangiocarcinoma,medicinalplants,purecompound,chemotherapyCholangiocarcinoma, anti-cholangiocarcinoma, medicinal plants, pure compound, chemotherapy.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Vol. 2 (4) pp. 064-067, April , 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Management of subclinical mastitis with mastilep gel and herbal spray (AV/AMS/15)

P Hase¹, S Digraskar¹, K Ravikanth², M Dandale², S Maini²

¹College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India.

²Ayurvet Limited, Katha, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 13 April, 2013

Abstract

A clinical trial was conducted to evaluate therapeutic efficacy of Mastilep gel and topical herbal spray (AV/AMS/15) against treatment of sub clinical mastitis. The mastitis suspected bovine cases presented to Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex (TVCC) and the instructional livestock farm, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Parbhani, Maharashtra state, India were incorporated in study. The cows were screened by performing Mastrip test and Modified California Mastitis Test. All animals were grouped in 3 groups of 10 animals in each. Group A (Control Group) was given no treatment, Group B – treated with herbal spray (AV/AMS/15) sprayed on udder/affected quarters post milking BID for 5 days, Group C- Mastilep gel (applied gently by massaging the udder), post milking BID for 5 days. Somatic cell count (SCC), milk fat content, milk yield was evaluated along with microbiological investigations (isolation and identification). SCC in AV/AMS/15 sprayed and Mastilep gel treated group was reduced significantly on the 5^th day of treatment to 2.89±0.83 and 4.01±2.06 respectively. After treatment milk yield in cows suffering from sub clinical mastitis increased significantly with unchanged Milk fat %. Milk samples of all the affected quarters revealed predominance of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Escherichia coli as the causative agents of bovine sub clinical mastitis. On the basis of microbial investigation on the 5^th day, 60% cure rate was recorded in Mastilep gel treated cows and 70% after treatment with AV/AMS/15 herbal formulation. Affected animals were negative for subclinical mastitis at the end of the experiment. As far as comparison between therapeutic efficacy of AV/AMS/15 herbal spray (Group B) and Mastilep gel (Group C) is concerned with both at par. However, the efficacy of AV/AMS/15 herbal spray, in reducing the SCC in milk was higher as compared to Mastilep gel and the significant difference (P<0.01) was observed between them.

Key words: Mastitis, SCC, mastilep, herbal, udder.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Vol. 2 (4) pp. 055-063, April, 2013.  © International Scholars Journals                                                 

Full Length Research Paper                                                           

Opinion and knowledge of Nigerian physiotherapists on relevance and usefulness of pharmacology education on dosage of topical medications

Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim¹, Bamitale Kayode D.S², Olaogun Matthew O. B¹, Makinde Olufisayo Olukemi¹, Adetoogun Gbadegesin Elubode³, Odeyemi Emmanuel¹

¹Medical Rehabilitation department, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun State, Nigeria.*

²Department of Medical pharmacology and therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

³Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

*Correspondingauthor.E-mail: ayotesonigbinde@yahoo.co.uk 

Accepted 25 January, 2013

Abstract

The aims of this study were to evaluate the knowledge of Nigerian physiotherapists on dosage prescription for topical medications using Finger Tip Unit as an index; and also to determine their opinion on impact and usefulness of pharmacology education on topical medications. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized for this study. The participants were classified into 2 groups: those who had pharmacology education (48 participants) and those without formal education (59 participants) during undergraduate training. The data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric inferential statistics. Thirty-five respondents (85.4%) and 37 respondents (67.3%) of those with and without pharmacology education respectively showed poor knowledge of prescription dosages using Finger Tip Unit. A range of 66.1% to 83.3% of respondents did not respond to the questions on dosage of topical medications while only a range of very few (14.6% - 37.2%) knew the equivalence of FTU in gram among the 2 groups. The result showed that 38 physiotherapists (79.1%) and 46 (78.0%) with and without pharmacology education respectively agreed that extensive pharmacology education would have improved their knowledge of topical drugs and prescription. Similarly, 39 physiotherapists (81.3%) and 44 (80.0%) with and without pharmacology education respectively agreed that an extensive knowledge of pharmacotherapy is useful to practice and that it increases the quality of clinical practice. The result of the Chi square test showed that the number of respondents without pharmacology education who agreed with the positive opinion statements was significantly higher than that of those who had pharmacology education (X² = -2.32, P = 0.003). The study concluded that both physiotherapists with and without pharmacology training have poor knowledge of dosage prescription of topical medications using FTU. Also, most respondents opined that pharmacology is relevant and useful to clinical physiotherapy practice.  

Key words: Pharmacology education, clinical physiotherapy, relevance and usefulness, prescription dosages, Finger Tip Unit.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Vol. 2 (1) pp. 047-054, January, 2013.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of the aqueous fruit extract of Solanum macrocarpum L., α-solanidine, nicotinic acid, cholestyramine and simvastatin on liver function of hyperlipidaemic rats administered triton-X orally for 7 days

O. A. Sodipo¹*, F. I. Abdulrahman², U.K. Sandabe³ and B. Wampana³

¹Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

²Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

³Department Veterinary Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, PMB 1069, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +234(0)8034107098. 

Received 01 December, 2012; Accepted 26 January, 2013

Abstract

Studies were conducted on the effect of 50mg/kg each of the aqueous fruit extract of Solanum macrocarpum, α-solanidine, (a steroidal glycoalkaloid found in the Solanaceae), three antihyperlipidaemic drugs nicotinic acid, simvastatin and cholestyramine) on forty two (42) rats made hyperlipidaemic by treating them with 400 mg/kg triton-X for 7 days. The rats were divided into 7 groups of 6 rats each. At 24h, 48h and 72h respectively, the rats in each group were humanely sacrificed and blood samples collected for biochemical liver analysis. The liver function analyzed were total protein, albumin, total bilirubin and liver enzymes (ALP, ALT, and AST). The extract, α-solanidine and the three hypolipidaemic drugs all significantly increased (P<0.05 at 72h of study when compared to the positive control. There was no change (P>0.05) in albumin for the five substances tested. Bilirubin levels however decreased significantly (P<0.05) at 72h for both extract and cholestyramine and were lower than the values recorded for α-solanidine, simvastatin and nicotinic acid. The AST, ALT and ALP decreased significantly (P<0.05) at 72h for both the extract and cholestyramine while high levels of these serum enzymes were recorded for α-solanidine, nicotinic acid and simvastatin. The aqueous fruit extract of S. macrocarpum and cholestyramine probably had hepatoprotective effects on triton-induced hyperlipipidaemic rats when compared to α-solanidine, nicotinic acid and simvastatin under the condition of study.

Key words:    Solanum macrocarpum, aqueous extract, liver function, hyperlipidaemic rats, α-solanidine, hypolipidaemic drugs.  

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Vol. 2 (1) pp. 041-046, January, 2013. © International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

A comparative study of prescribing patterns in two tertiary care teaching hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria

Arinola E. Joda* and Roseline I. Aderemi-Williams

Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Idiaraba Campus, Idiaraba, Lagos, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 234-802-307-3233.

Received 27 November, 2012; Accepted 10 January, 2013

Abstract

Worldwide, it is estimated that over half of all medicines are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately, and that half of all patients fail to take their medicine correctly. Measuring drug use is a requirement for improving drug use either at the individual facility or national level. Much work has been done by World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Network on Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) in providing tools for such measurements. The main objective of this work was to document and compare prescribing patterns in two teaching hospitals in Lagos State using WHO/INRUD developed indicators. The survey was conducted in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Prescriptions were sampled in both facilities and data required to document prescribing patterns collected.  A total of 933 prescriptions were surveyed. Results obtained revealed that in the two facilities the average drugs used per encounter was 3.55, generic prescribing was less than 50% and encounters with antibiotics are high. On analysis, statistically significant differences existed on average number of drugs prescribed, use of generic nomenclature, percentage antibiotic use and percentage injection use in the two facilities. Long-term, intensive interventions should be carried out to ensure rational use of drugs in these facilities that are centers of excellence in medical and pharmaceutical care.

Key words: Rational drug use, investigating drug use, teaching hospitals, prescribing indicators, WHO/INRUD drug use indicators.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 001-009, April, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Anti-ulcerogenic evaluation of root extract of Ficus hispida Linn. in aspirin ulcerated rats

D. Sivaraman* and P. Muralidharan

Department of Pharmacology, C. L. Baid Metha College of Pharmacy, Thoraipakkam, Chennai-600097, Tamil Nadu, India.

Accepted 05 March, 2013

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the anti-ulcer efficacy of methanolic root extract of the Ficus hispida Linn. (FH), which was known to possess various therapeutic properties. The reason for the study was that the known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were full of side effects especially ulceration causes Gastric ulceration an economic loss and a source of welfare concern worldwide. There are 350,000 to 500,000 new cases per year and more than one million are ulcer-related hospitalizations. We found that FH decreased the incidence of ulcers and also enhanced the healing of ulcers. Methanolic extract of FH at doses 200 and 400 mg/kg was found to be effective by 63.8 and 68.44% respectively in aspirin (ASP) induced ulcer model and significantly reduced free and total acidity. It was observed that anti-ulcer effect of FH might be due to its cytoprotective effect rather than antisecretory activity. Conclusively, FH was found to possess potent anti-ulcerogenic as well as ulcer-healing properties and could act as a potent therapeutic agent against peptic ulcer disease.

Key words: Ficus hispida Linn., peptic ulcer, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.