Correction of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy and its effects on superoxide dismutase

Iron deficiency anemia [IDA] affects not only the hematological parameters but also disturb the oxidative balance of body. In pregnancy, this is much more considerable as oxidative stress is considered to be one of the physiological changes during this period. This study aims to observe the effect of daily iron supplement on oxidative stress in pregnancy. In this study, 30 pregnant women with IDA were treated with daily oral iron supplements for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks hemoglobin [Hb], hematocrit, serum ferritin concentration [SFC] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity were measured and compared with pre-supplement levels. A significant increase in all the parameters was observed after treatment [p<0.05]. When post supplemental values of SFC and SOD were compared with control group comprising of 10 non anemic pregnant women, they were significantly low [p<0.05]. Our results indicate that oxidative stress in pregnancy associated with IDA decreases with daily iron supplements but fail to reach normal pregnant levels. This supports iron over load theory in daily iron supplements and suggests that oxidative stress increases if pregnancy is associated with iron deficiency

Pharmacodynamic study on acute hypotensive activities of Carissa carandas extract in normal rats

This study aims to evaluate the effect of Carissa carandas extract on cardiovascular function of normal rats. Intravenous bolus injection of this extract in the doses of 5 mg kg[-1]-45 mg kg[-1], produced dose dependent reduction in arterial blood pressure [p<0.001]. The 45mg/kg dose caused a 50.75% +/- 2.71 decrease in MABP which was highly significant with P value< 0.0005 when compared with its controls. Significant reduction in heart rate frequency was observed after CC injection at a dose of 45 mg kg[-1] [p<0.001]. The results were comparable with Acetylcholine 10[-4] M. The receptor activity performed for which Atropine 10[-4]M was administered I.V. and then the extract [45mg/kg] was administered. A highly Non Significant fall in Mean Arterial Blood pressure was observed 1.51% +/- 0.22 [P>0.05].It was concluded that the Carissa carandas Ethanol extract possess potent acute hypotensive effect in normal rats. It stimulates the muscarinic receptors located on the endothelial cells of the vasculature. This stimulation results in the release of endothelial-derived relaxing factors [EDRFs] or nitric oxide that diffuses to vasculature smooth muscles and causes their relaxation