International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

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

Full Length Research Paper 

In -vitro and -vivo antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Strychnos henningsii Gilg.

S. O. Oyedemi, G. Bradley and A. J. Afolayan*

School of Biological Sciences, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa.

Accepted 15 January, 2013

Abstract

Strychnos henningsii Gilg is used traditionally for the treatment of various ailments in southern Africa traditional medicine. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of aqueous extract of this plant was investigated both in -vivo and -vitro using spectroscopic method against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂O₂), nitric oxide (NO), 2,2’- azinobis [3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] diammonium salt (ABTS) and the ferric reducing agent. Total phenols, flavonoid, flavonol and proanthocyanidin were also determined to assess their effects on the antioxidant activity of this plant. Free radical scavenging activity of the plant extract against H₂O₂, ABTS and NO was concentration dependent with IC₅₀ value of 0.023, 0.089 and 0.49 mg/ml respectively. However, S. henningsii exhibited lower inhibitory activity against DPPH with IC₅₀ value of 0.739 mg/ml. The reducing power of the extract was found to be concentration dependent. The administration of the aqueous extract at 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight to male Wistar rats significantly increased the percentage inhibition of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Whereas, lipid peroxidation level in hepatotoxic rats decreased significantly at the dose of 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight at the end of 7 days. The extract yielded high phenol content (48 mg/g tannic acid equivalent) followed by proanthocyanidin (8.7 mg/g catechin equivalent) flavonol (5.5 mg/g quercetin equivalent) and flavonoids (4.8 mg/g quercetin equivalent) respectively. A positive linear correlation was observed between these polyphenols and the free radical scavenging activities.

Key words: Strychnos henningsii, enzymes, free radicals, CCl₄, antioxidant activity.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of some locally used medicinal plants in Sundarban mangrove forest region

Shazid M. D. Sharker¹* and Israt Jahan Shahid²

¹Department of Pharmacy, BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

²Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh.

Accepted 17 February, 2013

Abstract

Polyalthia longifolia (Annonaceae), Elaeocarpus serratus (Elaeocarpaceae) and Trachyspermum ammi (Umbelliferae) are traditionally employed to cure various health ailments in Bangladesh. Extracts of these medicinal plants were tested for their potential antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity using the disc diffusion method and the brine shrimp lethality tests respectively. Ethanol extracts of the barks of P. longifolia, leaves of E. serratus and seeds of T. ammi showed significant antibacterial activity against some pathogenic bacteria and moderate to mild lethality to the brine shrimps tested. This study provides some scientific bases for the use of this plant as a remedy for stomach, skin and bacterial infections in folkloric medicine whose causative agents are some of the pathogens studies. The activities observed could be attributed to the presence of some of the phytochemicals detected which have been associated with antibacterial activity and cytotoxic property.

Key words: Polyalthia longifolia, Elaeocarpus serratus, Trachyspermum ammi, antibacterial activity, cytotoxic activity.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Salivary nicotine and cotinine concentrations in unstimulated and stimulated saliva

N. Robson¹*, A. J Bond² and K. Wolff²

¹University Malaya, Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

²King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.

Accepted 12 January, 2013

Abstract

Salivary nicotine and salivary cotinine is widely used in clinical and epidemiological studies to validate smoking cessation. However, the reported collection for salivary nicotine and salivary cotinine vary by technique and duration. This study investigated the influence of salivary collection by unstimulation and stimulation technique of the concentration of salivary nicotine and salivary cotinine. It was found that unstimulated technique produced the highest salivary nicotine concentration, whereas stimulated technique produced the highest salivary cotinine concentration. The results of this study suggest that it is important to standardise salivary nicotine and cotinine collection technique.

Key words: Saliva, smoker, nicotine, cotinine, technique, biological marker, oral, verify, passive, tobacco, smoke.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 001-020, April, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A comparative study for interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) of chitosan-amino acid beads for controlled drug release

Manjusha Rani¹, Anuja Agarwal¹, Tungabidya Maharana² and Yuvraj Singh Negi²*

¹Department of Chemistry, J. V. Jain College, Saharanpur (U. P.) India.

²Polymer Science and Technology Program, Department of Paper Technology, Saharanpur Campus, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Saharanpur (U. P.) India.

Accepted 13 January, 2013

Abstract

The paper addresses development of novel pH sensitive interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) beads composed of chitosan-glycine-glutamic acid cross linked with glutaraldehyde and their use for controlled drug release. A comparative study has been carried out on these IPN beads with the beads that of chitosan, chitosan-glycine and chitosan-glutamic acid cross linked with glutaraldehyde. The beads were characterized by FTIR to confirm the cross linking reaction and drug interaction with cross linked polymer in beads, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the surface morphology and internal structure and DSC to find out the thermal stability of beads. The swelling behavior of the beads at different time intervals was monitored in solutions of pH 2.0 and pH 7.4. The release experiments were performed in solutions of pH 2.0 and pH 7.4 at 37°C using chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) as a model drug. The swelling behavior and release of drug were observed to be dependent on pH, degree of cross linking and their composition. The results indicate that the newly constructed cross linked IPN beads of chitosan-glycine-glutamic acid might be useful as a vehicle for controlled release of drug. The kinetics of drug release from beads was best fitted by Higuchi’s model in which release rate is largely governed by rate of diffusion through the matrix.

Key words: Cross-linked beads, chitosan, chlorpheniramine maleate, glycine, glutamic acid, controlled drug release.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (3), pp. 001-004, March, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Introducing pharmacoeconomics (PE) in medical undergraduate curriculum

Ujjwala Kulkarni¹*, Y. A. Deshmukh¹, V. V. Moghe¹, Nima Rege² and Madhuri Kate³

¹Pharmacology MGM Medical College, Kamothe Navi Mumbai, India.

²Pharmacology Seth G.S. Medical College, K.E.M Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India.

³Department of Pathology, MGM Medical College, Kamothe Navi Mumbai, India.

Accepted 15 January, 2013

Abstract

Increasing health care cost is a major concern in developing world. Patients are affected by the high pricing of drugs and though the symptoms improve the poor patient compliance sets in if the regimen is heavy on the pocket of the patient. Therefore, concept of Pharmacoeconomics are essential for physicians to prescribe individualized drug therapy based on essential drug concept, STEP as well as rational utilization of drug( R.U.D.) criteria, with minimal costs to improve the cost-effectiveness of the drug therapy. Sensitizing medical undergraduates on pharmacoeconomics during second year training will inculcate the habit of prescribing cost effective medicine and cost consideration throughout their medical career and will decrease the monitory burden on the patient and the society. A module on PE was prepared and implemented in tertiary medical hospital for second year medical undergraduates. Information on essential drug concept and on PE was given to the second year medical undergraduates by organizing didactic lectures. In practical session individual cost, total cost of prescription was discussed by giving exercise on simulated case history with drug therapy. Students performance on the pharmacoeconomics was assessed by pre and post project questionnaire. Statistical analysis shows significant differences between pre and post project questionnaire. This show that second year MBBS students sensitized for Pharmacoeconomics can consider the cost of a drugs while prescription writing in future. Exercise shows successful sensitization of students on PE. Thus PE can be introduced in second year pharmacology curriculum for cost consideration of drugs and total cost of prescription while prescription writing for the patient.

Key words: Medical curriculum, suitability, tolerance, efficacy and price of the drug (STEP), rational utilization of drug (RUD), pharmacoeconomics.

Key words: Apoptosis, ischemia, reperfusion, quercetin.