Posted by admin on Jun 1, 2014 in |
The antibacterial activity of the hexane, methanol, and water extracts of Tamarindus indica, Azadirachta indica, Cucumis sativus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Switenia mahagoni, and Psidium guajava extensively used in traditional medicine were investigated. The disc diffusion assay method was used for the evaluation of the antibacterial activity of these extracts against 11 bacteria species. Kanamycin (30 µg /disc) was used as a standard antibacterial agent. The results indicated that all the six plant species (not all extracts) showed a moderate antibacterial activity against a wide variety of gram positive and gram negative bacteria at a concentration of 500 µg/disc. The hexane extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Switenia mahagoni revealed the moderate antibacterial activity against 10 and 6 bacteria respectively with zone of inhibition of 10-19 mm. The methanol extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Psidium guajava, and Switenia mahagoni also exhibited antibacterial activity against 6, 4 and 5 bacteria respectively with a zone of inhibition of 9-15 mm whereas the water extract of Azadirachta indica and Cucumis sativus was only active against only...
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Posted by admin on Jun 1, 2014 in |
The present experiment was designed to assess oxidative stress, if any, caused by diethyl phthalate and its amelioration by Nigella sativa seed extract. For this, the liver and kidney homogenates were treated with different concentrations (10-40 µg/mL) of DEP with or without Nigella sativa seed extract. Lipid peroxidation, a marker for oxidative stress along with total protein content was analyzed. The results revealed that DEP (10-40 µg/mL) caused, significant and concentration – dependent increase in lipid peroxidation, whereas protein content reduced significantly. Maximum effect on lipid peroxidation was obtained with 40 µg/mL DEP concentration and hence used for further studies. On addition of Nigella sativa seed extract(25-200 μg/mL) along with DEP (40 µg/mL) significantly reduced DEP – induced lipid peroxidation in a concentration-dependent manner. However, protein content was higher as compared to toxin alone treated ones. The effect of both DEP alone and DEP along with Nigella sativa seed extract were almost similar in liver and kidney homogenates. It is concluded from the present study that supplementation of Nigella...
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Posted by admin on Jun 1, 2014 in |
Traditional medicine plays a very important role in Bangladesh, particularly at the primary health care level. The modern types of traditional medicine, namely, the Ayurvedic and Unani medicines are now officially recognized in Bangladesh .The objective of the present study was to evaluate antioxidant potential and cytotoxicity of ethanolic extract of root bark of Phyllanthus acidus L. The phytochemical screening demonstrated the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, and tannins. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) free radical assay. In DPPH assay, free radical scavenging activity of the extracts was evaluated comparing with ascorbic acid at the wavelength of 517 nm and the IC50 value of Phyllanthus acidus extracts was found to be 26 µg/ml, whereas ascorbic acid showed the value of 17.49 µg/ml. In case of brine shrimp cytotoxicity assay, LC50 value was obtainedto be 35.48 μg/ml. This is the first research report regarding in vitro evaluation of DPPH scavenging activity of ethanolic extracts of the root barks of Phyllanthus acidus L. The present study might be...
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Posted by admin on Jun 1, 2014 in |
Inappropriate prescription and use of drugs is a major public health concern worldwide especially in developing countries and account for huge national health budgets. The objective of this study was to evaluate prescribing pattern of drugs under the national health insurance scheme in a rural and peri-urban setting using the World Health Organization prescribing indicators and to establish determinants of irrational drug prescribing patterns. A retrospective cross sectional study carried out for the whole of 2012 in the Kintampo North Municipality of the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. Vetted outpatient department claim forms submitted by all facilities to the Kintampo Municipal Mutual Health Insurance Scheme were used. A total of 4238 claim forms were reviewed resulting in 12415 drugs prescribed. The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.9. Percentage of drugs: prescribed under their generic names, which contained an antibiotic, in injection form and from the essential drugs formulary were 99.8%, 36.6%, 3.8% and 100% respectively. Significant determinants of antibiotic prescription were all age groups (5-11 years p<0.0001; 12-59...
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Posted by admin on Jun 1, 2014 in |
Drug-induced hepatotoxicity represents a major clinical problem and an impediment to new medicine development. In vitro evaluation of hepatotoxicity is an essential stage in the research and development of new pharmaceuticals as the liver is one of the most commonly impacted organs during preclinical toxicity studies. The effect of an aqueous leaf extract of Tridax procumbens was evaluated against acetaminophen-induced free radical reaction and liver cell necrosis in mouse primary hepatocyte culture. The liver was excised from the male albino mouse and cells were isolated and cultured. After monolayer developed, cells were treated with acetaminophen and different concentrations of Tridax procumbens aqueous extract. After the treatment for 3 to 24 h, free radical reaction, mitochondrial and extramitochondrial dehydrogenase activity, lactate dehydrogenase release, glutathione level, trypan blue uptake and haptocyte morphology were determined. Increased free radical reactions, LDH release, trypan blue uptake, liver cell necrosis and decreased levels of cellular glutathione, mitochondrial and extramitochondrial dehydrogenase activity were detected in acetaminophen-treated groups. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with Tridax procumbens extract caused attenuation...
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