International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Safety evaluation of the extract from the roots of Pelargonium reniforme Curtis in male wistar rats

E. A. Adewusi and A. J. Afolayan*

Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa.

Accepted 08 January, 2012

Abstract

Pelargonium reniforme Curtis is an herb used for the treatment of various human and animal diseases especially in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The effects of the oral administration of aqueous extract of the plant roots at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight for 21 days on some haematological and biochemical parameters in male Wistar rats were investigated. Oral treatments with this extract did not cause any significant change in the white blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, neutrophils, monocytes, large unsustained cells, basophils, total and conjugated bilirubin. Also, the extract did not affect the level of albumin, gamma glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate aminotransaminase, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and the organ body-weight ratio of the animals. The levels of potassium, urea, calcium and magnesium were also not affected by the extract. However, the red blood cell count, haemoglobin, platelets, lymphocytes, total proteins, globulin and sodium levels were increased significantly while the levels of alkaline phosphatase, chloride and uric acid were reduced significantly by the extract. In addition, the levels of packed cell volume, red cell distribution width, eosinophils, triglycerides, creatinine and inorganic phosphorus were altered at specific doses. The available results of this study suggest that the aqueous root extract of P. reniforme is not toxic at the doses used in this study and may be safe for medicinal uses.

Key words: Pelargonium reniforme, haematological parameters, biochemical parameters.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Pharmacoeconomics: An emerging branch in health sciences for decision making

U. Kulkarni*, K. Dalvi, V. V. Moghe and Y. A. Deshmukh

Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai.

Accepted 07 February, 2012

Abstract

Increasing health care cost is a major concern in the developing world and has increased the individual economical burden for a common man. Patients are affected by the high pricing of drugs and though the symptoms improve, the poor patient’s compliance sets in if the regimen is heavy on his/her pocket. Therefore, the concepts of pharmacoeconomics are essential for physicians to prescribe individualized drug therapy based on essential drug concept, STEP and R.U.D. criteria, with minimal costs to improve the cost- effectiveness of the drug therapy. Medical education is not purely technical in knowing about diseases and their treatment but also involves understanding socio-economic issues. Consumption decisions in health care are taken by the provider that is, the physician and not by the consumer – patient and these are driven by many factors including pharmaceuticals. Hence apart from professional, moral and ethical obligations as care providers, it is imperative to deliver quality care cost effectively. Pharmacoeconomics, a branch of health care economics offers important guidance for the management of limited health care resources and medical practice. The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction of pharmacoeconomics, its various methods of evaluations such as cost minimization analysis (CMA), cost benefit analysis (CBA), cost utility analysis (CUA), cost effectiveness analysis (CEA) and guidelines to delivering quality care cost effectively and also throw light on the limitations of pharmacoeconomics.

Key words: Pharmacoeconomics, cost minimization analysis (CMA), cost benefit analysis (CBA), cost utility analysis (CUA), cost effectiveness analysis (CEA).

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Acute and oral subacute toxicity of methanolic extract of Bauhinia monandra leaf in rats

G. O. Alade⁴, M. A. Akanmu¹*, E. M. Obuotor², S. A. Osasan³ and O. R. Omobuwajo⁴

¹Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

³Department of Morbid Anatomy, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Pharmacognosy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 January, 2012

Abstract

In this study, the acute and subacute toxicity of Bauhinia monandra methanolic leaf extract were investigated in rats. Acute administration of the extract up to a dose of 8 g/kg body weight to the animals elicited no deaths or treatment related signs of toxicity. Oral subacute administration of the extract (2.0 and 4.0 g/kg body weight) did not show any macroscopic changes in the key organs investigated in the rats. Histopathological examination revealed no significant adverse effects on the liver, spleen, testes and kidneys except for focal expansion of the interstitial stroma and lymphoid follicles in the lungs. Biochemical investigations revealed no significant (p>0.05) alterations in the total cholesterol, total protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the serum. However, there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the serum triglyceride concentration at 4.0 g/kg, which represented 33% of the control values. The extract produced no significant changes in the total protein concentration and LDH activity in the liver of the treated groups when compared with the control. The results suggest that the acute administration of methanolic extract of B. monandra may possess relatively low toxicity but caution has to be exhibited when used subacutely as anti-diabetic remedy.

Key words: Toxicity, Bauhinia monandra, rat, acute, subacute.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 001-003, April, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Bilirubin lowering potential of Orthosiphon stamineus in temporarily jaundiced adult rats

Faizah M. Faizul, Norhaniza Aminudin, Habsah A. Kadir and Saad Tayyab*

Biomolecular Research Group, Biochemistry Program, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Accepted 09 February, 2012

Abstract

Bilirubin (BR) lowering potential of Orthosiphon stamineus (OS) aqueous extract was evaluated in temporarily jaundiced adult rats. Treatment of these rats with OS aqueous extract for three days reduced the BR level significantly to the normal value. Whereas smaller dose (50 mg/kg body weight) resulted in the reduction in BR level from 2.53 ± 0.16 to 1.12 ± 0.17 mg/dL, higher doses of 500 and 1250 mg/kg body weight were found to be more effective in reducing the BR level from 2.44 ± 0.12 to 0.52 ± 0.12 mg/dL and from 2.67 ± 0.29 to 0.32 ± 0.21 mg/dL, respectively. Therefore, OS aqueous extract can be used to reduce BR concentration to a normal level in jaundiced subjects.

Key words: Orthosiphon stamineus, Misai Kuching, hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice, bilirubin.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antidiarrhoeal and antibacterial properties of crude aqueous stem bark extract and fractions of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. Ex G. Don

A.  Y. Tijani¹, S. E. Okhale ², T. A. Salawu³*, H. O.Onigbanjo³, L. A Obianodo¹, J. A Akingbasote¹, O. A. Salawu¹, J. I. Okogun², F. O. Kunle² and M. Emeje⁴

¹Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu, Abuja, Nigeria.

²Department of Medicinal Plants Research and Traditional Medicine, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu, Abuja, Nigeria.

³Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu, Abuja, Nigeria.

⁴Department of pharmaceutical Technology and Raw material Development, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu, Abuja, Nigeria.

Accepted 16 January, 2012

Abstract

Stem bark of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. Ex G. Don (Fabaceae) is used in African traditional medicine for management of diarrhoea- related disorders. The anti-diarrhoeal and anti-microbial activities of the aqueous stem bark extract of P. biglobosa and its fractions designated PF1-PF4 were investigated in mice and against selected diarrhoea-causing micro-organisms. The oral median lethal dose (LD₅₀₎ of the extract in mice was estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg B.W. The extract and its column chromatographic fraction F₃ significantly (p < 0.05) and dose-dependently reduced frequency of stooling in castor- oil-induced diarrhoea, castor-oil-induced intestinal fluid accumulation and intestinal transit. The crude extract as well as fractions F₃ and F₄ strongly inhibited growth of selected micro-organisms. The study showed that the aqueous extract possess both anti-diarrhoeal and anti-microbial activities. The anti-diarrhoeal action may be linked partly to direct inhibitory effect of the extract on the propulsive movement of the gastrointestinal tract smooth muscle, and the anti-microbial effect on the diarrhoea-causing pathogenic organisms.

Key words: Antidiarrhoeal, antimicrobial, Parkia biglobosa, fractions, castor oil.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Stability indicating high performance liquid chromatographic assay for the pharmacokinetics of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitor etoricoxib in rats

Mahasen A. Radwan¹*, Iman Y. Zaghloul¹ and Nayira A. Abd Elbaky²

¹Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P. O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia.

²Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P. O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia.

Accepted 12 January, 2012

Abstract

An accurate, sensitive and simple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay with UV detection has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of etoricoxib and its internal standard (IS) flurbiprofen in plasma has been developed. After plasma samples clean up by protein precipitation, followed by solvent evaporation and reconstitution with the mobile phase, an aliquot of the resulted solution were injected into the chromatograph. Peaks were eluted from a Novapak-C8 column using a mobile phase consisting of acetic acid: triethylamine: acetonitrile: water (0.02: 0.01: 41: 59.97, v/v), pH 4.0 at flow rate of 1 ml/min. The detection wavelength was 245 nm with a limit of detection of 50 ng/ml, with a coefficient of variation of 9.8%. Small volumes of plasma were required (200 µL) for etoricoxib determination. The run time was 10 min with etoricoxib and IS eluted in 3.8 and 7.2 min, respectively. The standard curve for the drug was linear in the range of 100 - 5,000 ng/ml for etoricoxib with correlation coefficient > 0.997. This method has been fully validated and shown to be specific, accurate and precise. The assay was selective, where the drug peak was well resolved with no interference from different drugs which could be given concomitantly. The extraction procedure was simple and rapid producing good recovery and a clean baseline, and providing excellent resolution and peak shape for all analytes. The assay was applied to determine the pharmacokinetics of etoricoxib in rats after 15 mg/kg oral dose. Etoricoxib plasma concentrations time profile follows two-compartmental open model with fast distribution and slow elimination phases. This assay is being utilized in determining etoricoxib pharmacokinetics in animals to monitor its interactions with other drugs or food supplements in our laboratory.

Key words: Etoricoxib, COX-2, HPLC, pharmacokinetics, flurbiprofen, rats.