Effect of cuminum extract on the motility of isolated rabbit jejunum

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of decoction of Syrian cuminum seeds [1:3 W/V] was evaluated on the isolated rabbit's jejunum. 2 ml of the extract was added to the [100mL] nutrient solution of the jejunum. Two parameters were used to evaluate the effect of cuminum extract: the frequency and width of the intestinal motility within 5 mints on the strip. Cuminum extract showed a significant inhibition on the width of the motility of isolated rabbit's jejunum [P< 0.05]. However this extract had no significant effect of the frequency of the motility. Cuminum cyminum water extract can inhibit the motility of rabbit's jejunum that support the traditional use of this plant as antispasmodic herb in the Syrian traditional medicine

Hypotensive effect of hibiscus subdarifia and hawthorn in patients with mild to moderate hypertension compared with captopril

40 volunteers were involved in this study, 20 of them suffering from mild to moderate hypertension, the other 20 volunteers were healthy [control group]. Water extract of 3 g mixture of 1:1 w: w of dried hibiscus and Hawthorn [leaves and flowers] was used to treat both groups. Blood presser and pulse were measured during one-month therapy. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was decreased significantly in average of 9.9%, 4.7% respectively in healthy volunteers after using plants extract, on other hand blood pressure decreased significantly in average of 20.5% and 11.8% respectively in patients with hypertension treated with plants extract. After stopping the extract therapy and substitute it with captopril 25mg tid, a similar decrease in blood pressure noticed on the patients. water extract of 3 g hibiscus and hawthorn 1:1 W:W, three times daily may decrease blood pressure similar to 25 mg captopril 3 times daily

[Actual antibiotic prescribing in Syria and its irrational use]

During one year we have studied 3500 antibiotic prescriptions in 4 cities in Syria [Damascus, Aleppo, Hims and Latakia]. We found that 38% of all prescriptions contained antibiotics, also we divided these prescriptions according to the specialization and found that general physicians prescribed more antibiotic than specialized physicians. General physicians showed more tendency to prescribe second and third cephalosporin generations, while the specialized physicians tend to prescribe amoxicillinl glavulanic acid combination products or first generation of the cephalosporin. On the other hand, most of the prescriptions studied did not contain instructions for the medication administration or the relationship of the drug with food of other drugs. More than 125 of these prescriptions, contained more than one antibiotic showing certain antagonism between the prescribed drugs