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Research article:- * Kunanusorn Puongtip1, Panthong Ampai2, Nuntasaen Narong3, Pittayanurak Prapadsorn4, Reutrakul Vichai5 .
1 Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Center for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
2 Dr. rer. nat., Department of Pharmacology and Center for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
3 M.Sc., The Forest Herbarium National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok, Thailand.
4 B.Sc., 5 Ph.D., Department of Chemistry and Center for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Abstract:-Clausena excavata Burm. f. has been used in Thailand as a folk medicine for the treatment of several disorders. To evaluate its safety, toxicity studies of the methanol extract from the stems of C. excavata were performed in rats. The extract was administered orally at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg in acute toxicity study, and at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day for 90 days in repeated dose 90-day toxicity study. Toxicological parameters were examined at the end of each study. Student's paired t-test was used to analyze data obtained from acute toxicity study. One-way analysis of variance and post hoc least-significant difference test were used to determine statistical difference between groups in the repeated dose 90-day toxicity study. In acute toxicity study, the extract caused no signs of toxicity, death or any pathological abnormalities at necropsy on day 14. Thus its oral LD50 is suggested to be greater than 5 g/kg. In the repeated dose 90-day toxicity study, no signs of toxicity and death were observed. Some hematological and biochemical parameters as well as some internal organ weights showed statistically significant changes when compared with those of the control group. All parameters of the treated rats were within the normal laboratory ranges for the Sprague-Dawley rats and were considered as biological variations. Moreover, no abnormality of all organs examined was observed in both gross and histopathological examinations. These results suggest that the no-observed-adverse-effect level of the extract is 200 mg/kg/day following daily oral administrations for 90 days.
Keywords:- Acute oral toxicity, Clausena excavata, 90-day oral toxicity, Rats, Stem extract.
Original research article:- *Buch Pankaj M1, Parmar Parin2, Doshi Smita K3, Chudasama Rajesh K4.
1M.D. (Pediatrics) ,Professor, Department of Pediatrics, M P Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
2M.D. (Pediatrics) , Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, P D U Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
3M.D. (Pediatrics), Professor & Head Department of Pediatrics, P D U Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
4M.D. (Community Medicine) , Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, M P Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
Abstract:- Objective: To evaluate possible predictors of immediate outcome in non-traumatic coma in children with infective etiology. Method: An observational prospective study was conducted over a period of 15 months from 1st June 2009 to 31st August 2010 at Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India. Children aged 6 months to 12 years presenting with non-traumatic coma with history, clinical features and laboratory studies suggestive of infective etiology were followed upto immediate outcome. A complete history, general and systemic examination at presentation was recorded. Relevant laboratory and radiological investigations were performed and GCS was recorded every 6 hourly until the immediate outcome. The etiology of coma was determined on the basis of history, clinical examination and investigations. Results: CNS infections (n=34), Respiratory tract infections (n=26) and sepsis (n=34) were most common etiology of non traumatic coma. Severe malnutrition and Anemia were comman associated conditions. Thirty Eight (40.4%) survived and Fifty six patients (59.6%) died. survival was better with Meningitis compared to sepsis (p=0.007). GCS <5 on admission, Shock on presentation, Hypothermia, associated severe Malnutrition and significant anemia, Severe dehydration,, abnormal breathing Pattern, Nonreactive Pupils and jaundice correlated significantly with mortality. On logistic regression poor pulse volume, GCS at 24 hrs <5, CNS infection, Jaundice; severe dehydration and significant Anemia were independent significant predictors of death. Conclusion: CNS infections, Respiratory infections and sepsis were most comman cause of non traumatic coma. Shock and Severe Malnutrition contributes to adverse outcome. Simple clinical signs and GCS were good predictors of outcome.
Keywords:- Non-traumatic coma in children, infective etiology, Predictors of mortality.
Research article:- Onyekwe N. G.1; Ilodigwe E. E.1; Ajaghaku D. L.1; Esimone C. O.2
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu, Anambra state, Nigeria .
2Department of Pharmaceutical microbiology/ Biotechnology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu, Anambra state, Nigeria.
Abstract:- The acute and subchronic toxicities of the ethanol root extract of Psidium guajava, a popular Nigeria traditional aphrodisiac was investigated. For the acute toxicity study, 1000-5000mg/kg of the ethanol root extract were orally administered to rats and obvious toxic symptoms and mortality 24 hours post-administration of the extract were determined. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was determined. In subchronic study, 150-1200mg/kg of the extract were orally administered daily for 90 days. The food and water consumption, body weight changes, as well as haematological and biochemical parameters were determined periodically. The phytochemical constituents of the extract were also investigated. Phytochemical constituents revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins. The estimated LD50 of the extract was 1352mg/kg. During the period of the study, the animals showed signs of anorexia, weakness and sluggishness and significant (p<0.05) reduction in body weight; and mortality from the group receiving the highest dose of the extract was observed. The effects on haemoglobin concentration, PCV and RBC were non-significant (p>0.05) but there was significant dose-time dependent elevation of the WBC counts. The extract caused significant elevation in serum liver enzymes, AST, ALT and ALP. Hepatic photomicrographs showed dose-time dependent toxicities Industrial Relevance: Impotence, weak libido and erectile dysfunction may require life-long management. In resource poor communities, aphrodisiac agents are not readily accessible. The use of medicinal plants especially Psidium guajava root is popular in Nigeria because it is readily available, cheap and relatively free from obvious adverse effects. The results of the resent study will enable the industry to produce from natural products an effective aphrodisiac that is affordable with little or no side effect.
Key words: P. guajave, toxicity, liver enzymes, haematological and histological indices.
Letter to the editor:-
*Dr. M. Dheepa1, Dr. B. Appalaraju2, Ms. S. Chithra 3.
1Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research , Peelamedu, Coimbatore- 641004, Tamil Nadu, India.
2Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research , Peelamedu, Coimbatore- 641004, Tamil Nadu, India.
3PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Peelamedu, Coimbatore- 641004, Tamil Nadu, India.
Research article:-*Swapna Velivela 1, Sashmitha Samuel.B1, V. Asha Ranjani1, P.Muthuprasanna2.
1MLR Institute of Pharmacy, Dundigal (V), Quthbullapur (M), Hyderabad-43, Andhra Pradesh, India.
2.Hindu college of Pharmacy, Guntur-522002, A.P , India.
Abstract:-Trimetazidine (TMZ) is an effective and well tolerated anti-anginal drug that possesses protective properties against ischemia- induced heart injury. However it has a short coming of a shorter half-life. Hence, in the present investigation extended release pellets of Trimetazidine hydrochloride (TMZ) were prepared using ethyl cellulose polymers to achieve a prolonged therapeutic action by continuously releasing medication over an extended period of time after administration of a single dose. The sustained release formulations were optimized by employing suspension / solution layering technique. The drug release characteristics of all the formulations were evaluated by HPLC technique and stability studies were carried out for about three months at different temperature and humidity conditions.
Key words:- Ethyl cellulose (EC), Sustained release (SR), Trimetazidine (TMZ)