International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (11), pp. 001-005, November, 2011. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of crude extracts from the root, stem bark, and leaves of Terminalia glaucescens

Adebayo, E. A.¹ and Ishola, O. R.²

¹Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

²Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Accepted 28 April, 2011

Abstract

The root, stem-bark and leaves of Terminalia glaucescens were investigated for activity against some pathogenic organisms. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, steroids, flavonoids, anthraquinones and phlobatannins (mostly in root and stem -bark). The results of in-vitro antimicrobial screening of the crude methanol extract exhibited a wide range of activity on Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis and Candida albicans. The crude leaf extracts inhibited the growth of E. coli, S. aureus, S. typhi and C. albicans at a concentration of 50, 80, 40 and 60 mg/ml respectively, while the stem-bark extract had minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 40 mg/ml on K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, S. typhi and 30 mg/ml on C. albicans. The extract from the root inhibited the growth of E. coli at a concentration of 10 mg/ml while K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis and C. albicans were inhibited at a concentration of 60 mg/ml. The findings indicated that the extracts from T. glaucescens, contained bioactive components that have antimicrobial properties.

Key word: Terminalia glaucescens, phytochemical, antimicrobial agents, crude extract, minimum inhibitory concentration.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (11), pp. 001-005, November, 2011. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Gentamicin and erythromycin modify post prandial glucose excursion in New Zealand rabbits

Bello, Shaibu Oricha* and Chika, Aminu

Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.

Accepted 05 May, 2011

Abstract

The influence of gentamicin and erythromycin on glucose excursion after oral glucose loads was evaluated in twelve New Zealand rabbits, weighting between 1278 and 1861 g. The rabbits were randomized into three equal groups and were given either 5 mg/kg of Gentamicin i.m., 50 mg/kg of Erythromycin per oral or 0.9% Saline. One hour later, all the rabbits were given 2.5 g/kg of glucose per oral in 5 mls of 0.9% saline. Blood glucose levels were determined just before oral glucose loads, then every 1 h for 4 h, using commercial glucometer. Gentamicin pre-treatment significantly increased the peak glucose level (1 h) and significantly reduced the half -life of the rise in glucose level compared to controls. On the other hand, erythromycin pre-treatment caused significant increase in the glucose levels at 3 and 4 h while the peak glucose level (1 h) was not significantly different. The perturbation of glycemic response to glucose load revealed by both drugs may be clinically important in persons undergoing screening for glycemia and patients under care.

Key words: Gentamicin, erythromycin, glucose, insulin, rabbits, kinetics, prandial.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (11), pp. 001-011, November, 2011. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The protective effect of quercetin, green tea or malt extracts against experimentally-induced lung fibrosis in rats

Nesrine S. El-Sayed¹* and Sherine M. Rizk²

¹Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University, Cairo, Egypt.

²Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt.

Accepted 28 April, 2011

Abstract

The possible protective potentials of quercetin (50 mg/kg, p.o.), green tea extract (1 mg/kg, p.o.) malt extract (625 mg/kg, p.o.) and deprenyl (10 mg/kg, i.p.) against paraquat (PQ) -induced lung injury in rats were examined. PQ was administered twice a week (20 mg/kg, i.p.) with or without daily pretreatment with any of the chosen agents for 3 successive weeks. Changes in the enzymatic activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as reduced glutathione (GSH), protein thiols (Pr-SHs) and nitric oxide (NO) contents of the lungs were determined. In addition, estimation of lung content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) measured as malondialdehyde. Moreover, histopathological examination of the lung tissue was performed. On the biochemical level, PQ provoked remarkable lung damage noted by elevation of neutrophils MPO activity accompanied by decreased activities of cytosolic SOD and LDH, depletion of GSH and Pr-SHs contents as well as increased production of NO and TBARS. Furthermore, histopathological examination revealed marked edema, subpleural hemorrhage, acute inflammation and lymphocytic infiltration. Treatment significantly protected against most of PQ-induced lung biochemical and histopathological changes. It could be concluded that quercetin, green tea, malt extract and deprenyl offered remarkable protection against PQ-induced lung injury.

Key words: Paraquat, quercetin, green tea, malt, deprenyl, lung, rats.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (11), pp. 001-004, November, 2011. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Saffron (Crocus sativus) increases gastric acid and pepsin secretions in rats: Role of nitric oxide (NO)

Fatemeh Nabavizadeh¹*, Ehsan Salimi², Zahra Sadroleslami³, Seyed Morteza Karimian¹ and Jalal Vahedian⁴

¹Department of Physiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.

²Department of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.

³Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.

⁴Department of surgery, Firuzgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.

Accepted 28 April, 2011

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effects of saffron extract on gastric acid and pepsin secretion. In this study wistar rats (n = 8) were divided into 3 groups, N-L-Nitro-L- arginine methyl ester (LNAME) + saffron and control groups. In the saffron group 100 mg/kg saffron extract was administered orally for 5 days. In the LNAME + saffron group, 40 mg/kg LNAME was injected intraperitoneally 1 h before using saffron extract. In the control group normal saline was given orally for 5 days before the experiment. Under general anesthesia with 50 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p) sodium thiopental, laparotomy was done and a cannula was inserted into the duodenum. Gastric content was collected by wash out technique. Basal and stimulated acid and pepsin secretions were measured using titration and the Anson method, respectively. In this study, pentagastrin (25 µg/kg, i.p) was used as a stimulator. In the saffron group, basal and stimulated acid and pepsin secretions were significantly more than control group (p = 0.006, p = 0.008). But there were no significant differences in basal and stimulated acid and pepsin secretions in the LNAME + saffron and control groups. Saffron extract increased basal and stimulated gastric secretions. It seems that the saffron extract increases them via NO increment.

Key words: Saffron, gastric acid secretion, pepsin secretion, NO.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (11), pp. 001-010, November, 2011. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Anti-diabetic properties of Tinospora cordifolia stem extracts on streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats

M. Rajalakshmi, J. Eliza, Cecilia Edel Priya, Nirmala A and P. Daisy*

Department of Biotechnology (DST-FIST Sponsored), Holy Cross College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.

Accepted 28 April, 2011

Abstract

The oral administration of various extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol) of Tinospora cordifolia stem (TCS) were found to have potent antidiabetic activity that reduces blood sugar level in streptozotocin-(STZ) induced diabetic rats. In this study, the chronic (100 days) antihyperglycemic effect of the extracts at a dose of 250 mg/kg b.w.p.d of TCS were investigated. Insulin was used as a reference drug at a dose of 3 I.U/kg.b.w.p.d. Fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA₁C), serum insulin, C- peptide and liver enzymes levels were evaluated in normal, diabetic and treated rats. Supplementation of methanol extract significantly reduces the fasting blood glucose level when compared to other 2 extracts. Moreover this supplementation significantly decreases the glycosylated hemoglobin level as compare to diabetic control (p < 0.001), reduced glucokinase and increased glucose-6- phoaphatase activity were reversed significantly by the treatment of TCS methanol extract in respect to diabetic group. In the TCS treated groups, the insulin and C-peptide levels were improved which shows the regeneration of -cell which secretes insulin, histopathological studies of pancreas of TCS methanol extract treated groups substantiate the regenerating capacity of extract.

Key words: Tinospora cordifolia, streptozotocin, hypoglycemic, glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA₁C), serum insulin, C-peptide, glucokinase and glucose-6-phoaphatase.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (10), pp. 001-007, October, 2011. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Potential antioxidant phenolic metabolites from doum palm leaves

Omayma A. Eldahshan, Nahla A. Ayoub*, Abdel-Nasser B. Singab and Mohamed M. Al-Azizi

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

Accepted 27 March, 2011

Abstract

The antioxidant activity of the aqueous ethanolic extract of doum leaves, Hyphaene thebaica L. (Palmae) was studied. Data obtained showed that the extract can inhibit reactive oxygen species attack on salicylic acid (IC₅₀ = 1602 µg/ml) in a dose dependant manner using xanthine/hypoxanthine oxidase assay. Four major flavonoidal compounds were identified by LC/SEI as; Quercetin glucoside, Kaempferol rhamnoglucoside and Dimethyoxyquercetin rhamnoglucoside. While, further in-depth phytochemical investigation of this extract lead to the isolation and identification of fourteen compounds; their structures were elucidated based upon the interpretation of their spectral data (UV, ¹H, ¹³C NMR and ESI/MS) as; 8-C- -D-glucopyranosyl-5, 7, 4`-trihydroxyflavone (vitexin) 1, 6-C- -D-glucopyranosyl-5, 7, 4`-trihydroxyflavone (iso-vitexin) 2, quercetin 3-O- - ⁴C1-D-glucopyranoside 3, gallic acid 4, quercetin 7-O- -⁴C₁-D-glucoside 5, luteolin 7-O- -⁴C₁-D-glucoside 6, tricin 5 O- -⁴C₁-D-glucoside 7, 7, 3` dimethoxy quercetin 3-O-[6''-O- -L-rhamnopyranosyl]- -D-gluco-pyranoside (Rhamnazin 3-O-rutinoside) 8 kaempferol-3-O-[6''-O- -L-rhamnopyranosyl]- -D-glucopyranoside (nicotiflorin) 9, apigenin 10, luteolin 11, tricin 12, quercetin 13 and kaempferol 14.

Key words: Doum leaves, Hyphaene thebaica (Palmae), phenolics, hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase assay.