[Antioxidant effect of ziziphus vulgaris, portulaca oleracea, berberis integerima and gundelia tournefortti on lipid peroxidation, Hb glycosylation and red blood cell hemolysis]

Oxidative damage may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus. Antioxidant could help to protect against oxidative stress related disorders. We studied the antioxidant effects of some plants, namely, Ziziphus vulgaris, Portulaca oleracea, Berberis integerima, Gundelia tournefortti on the above mentioned reactions. Ethanolic and water extracts of the mentioned plants were prepared in three different concentrations: 2.5, 5 and 10 micro g/ml. Hepatocytes of rat were exposed to AAPH. The amount of Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transferase [SGOT] released from membrane lipid peroxidation was also measured in presence and absence of the plant extract. The changes of hemoglobin [Glycosylation[and red blood cell hemolysis were measured in the presence and absence of the extract. The percent of oxidation inhibition was compared with that in control subjects. The results showed all plants had antioxidant effects on hemolysis of red blood cell. The highest extent of hemolysis inhibition of red blood cell was due to Ziziphus. The highest glycosylation inhibition of hemoglobin was shown by Gundelia and Berberis. Portulaca, Gundelia and Berberis decreased SGOT release from hepatocytes, but the least extent of lipid peroxidation inhibition was shown by Ziziphus. This study showed that the plants have an antioxidant effect and they can be probably used as an antioxidant in food supplement in diabetic, atherosclerotic and liver disease patients

[ correlation between neonatal phototherapy and risk of childhood asthma in children referred to pediatric clinic of Kashan Shahid Beheshti hospital during 2009-10]

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood. Several factors have been considered as the disease risk factors. The neonatal phototherapy has recently been recognized as the main childhood risk factor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the neonatal phototherapy and childhood asthma. This analytical case-control study was conducted on the asthmatic children with a history of neonatal icterus as the case group and those with no history of neonatal icterus as the control group with similar characteristics [age, gender, type of delivery and birth weight]. Twenty-eight out of 200 subjects in the case and 34 in the control group had the inclusion criteria. Phototherapy and its duration were compared in the case and control groups. Data were analyzed using chi-square and t-test. Twenty-six [92.8%] subjects in the case group and 20 [58.8%] subjects in the control group had a past history of phototherapy [P=0.002]. The mean number of days for neonatal phototherapy in the case and control groups was 4.9 and 3.2, respectively [P=0.001]. This study shows that neonatal phototherapy, as well as its duration, is an effective factor affecting childhood asthma. So, the phototherapy must be avoided except in rare situations with the least duration

[Effect of Gundelia tournefortii L. on some cardiovascular risk factors in animal model]

There is no certain result in the field of industrial pharmacy approaching to find effective drugs in prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, like the control of lipid factors that are a major risk factors of atherosclerosis. Also the tendency of people to use herbal medicine is increasing. In this study effect of Gundelia tourenfortii L. on some cardiovascular risk factors in animal model assigned by analysis of biochemical factors. Twenty male rabbits were randomly divided in to 4 groups as: Normal diet, Normal diet supplemented with Gundelia tourenfortii L., high cholesterol diet, and high cholesterol diet supplemented with Gundelia tourenfortii L. Fasting Blood samples were taken at the first and end of the study. Gundelia tourenfortii L. decrease the cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL - cholesterol, VLDL-Cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, oxidized LDL and factor VII. Also increase the level of HDL-Cholesterol and apolipoprotein A comparing to high cholesterol diet. Gundelia tourenfortii L. by decreasing lipid, lipoproteins and some cardiovascular new risk factors like apolipoprotein B, Oxidized-LDL and coagulation factor decrease atherosclerosis

Inhibitory effects of crataegus curviseoala, salvia hydrangea, and betula pendula on in-vitro protein glycosylation

Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine diseases spreading rapidly in the world. Diabetes complications are classified into acute and chronic. Non-enzymatic glycosylation of body proteins such as hemoglobin and albumin is the main cause of pathogenesis in chronic complications of diabetes. Protein glycosylation is an oxidative reaction. Antioxidants such as vitamin C may be able to reduce the chronic complications of diabetes through inhibiting protein glycosylation. The inhibitory effects of vitamin C and the polyphenolic extracts of Betula pendula, Saliva hydrangea and Crataegus curvisepala on the extent of glycosylation of albumin, insulin and hemoglobin were investigated in this study. Polyphenolic extracts of the aforesaid plants were prepared at three different concentrations, namely 3.6, 1.8 and 0.9 mg/ml. Vitamin C solutions were also prepared at 5 concentrations, namely 0.5, 5, 10, 50 and 500 micro g/ml. The highest extent of glycosylation inhibition of albumin and insulin was due to S. hydrangea by 100% and 97%, respectively, and that of hemoglobin was due to B. pendula by 80%. At its highest concentration, vitamin C inhibited the glycosylation of insulin, albumin and hemoglobin by 100%, 93%, and 58% respectively [P<0.05]. Based on our findings, the studied plants might be able to prevent the chronic complications of diabetes

In vitro - in vivo evaluation of sustained - release lithium carbonate matrix tablets: influence of hydrophilic matrix materials

Background: conventional Lithium carbonate [LC] tablets produce rapid and relatively high peak blood levels resulting in adverse effects. These drawbacks can be overcome by designing a suitable sustained or controlled-release LC preparation

Methods: sustained-release matrix tablets were therefore developed using different types and ratios of polymers including carbomer [CP], Na carboxymethylcellulose [Na CMC] and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose [HPMC], to assess the release profiles and in vivo performance of the formulations. The tablets were prepared by either direct compression [DC] or wet granulation [WG]. In the DC method, 69% [450 mg] LC, 5, 10 or 15% CP or Na CMC [of total tablet weight], lactose and /or Avicel [to maintain constant tablet weight] were mixed and directly compressed. In the WG method, 450 mg LC and 10, 20, or 30% HPMC were granulated with Eudragit S100 solution, dried, and then compressed to formulate the tablets. In vitro and in vivo, newly formulated sustained-release LC tablets were compared with sustained-release commercial tablets [Eskalith® and Priadel®]. In vivo studies were conducted in nine healthy subjects in a cross-over design, with a 3x3 Latin square sequence, and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using classical methods

Results: the matrix tablets containing 15% CP exhibited suitable release kinetics and uniform absorption characteristics comparable to that of Eskalith®. In vivo, this formulation produced a smooth and extended absorption phase very much similar to that of Eskalith® with the identical elimination half-life and extent of absorption

Conclusion: the matrix tablets containing 15% CP reduces the incidence of side effects often associated with high serum concentration of Lithium and blood level variations. Direct correlation between the dissolution profiles and the relative bioavailability of the formulations could be observed