clinical study showing altered antioxidants profile in patients with hypertension

We compared the plasma antioxidants level of normal control group with that of hypertensive patients in order to test the hypothesis "that antioxidants level has been diminished in hypertensive patients and that antioxidants are interconnected with each other making a network. The plasma and red blood cells antioxidants level of newly diagnosed hypertensive patients [[n=30], [mean age 53 years], [mean systolic BP 158 mmHg, mean diastolic BP 100 mmHg]] were compared to those of the control subjects [[n=30], [mean age 50 years], [mean systolic BP 126 mmHg, mean diastolic BP 90 mmHg]] using liquid chromatography linked with electrochemical detector [HPLC-ECD]. The data was analyzed by Minitab software at a 95% confidence interval [p?0.05] as significant. The comparison between the two groups was made applying 2-sample and paired t-test. The individual concentration of antioxidants in both plasma and red blood cells of hypertensive patients was lower in comparison with that of control group while the oxidized/ reduced ratios of these antioxidants were higher in hypertensive patients in comparison with that of control group. It is concluded that antioxidants level had been diminished in the hypertensive patients when compared with control group. The overall concentration of all antioxidants has been diminished in the oxidative stress induced pathological conditions which confirm that the studied antioxidants are working in a network. This study may be helpful for the recommendation of antioxidants intervention

Comparative pharmacokinetics of omeprazole and its metabolites in poor and extensive metabolizer Pakistani healthy volunteers and a review of different studies

This study was designed to evaluate a comparative single dose [40mg] pharmacokinetics [PK] of Omeprazole [OMP] and its two metabolites, 5-hydroxy Omeprazole [5-OH-OMP] and Omeprazole sulphone [OMP-S] in poor [PM] and extensive [EM] metabolizer Pakistani healthy adult volunteers. The frequency of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 varies widely in different populations. The present study was conducted to evaluate the PK of OMP and its two metabolites in Pakistani population and to review different studies conducted after administration of single dose of OMP. Twenty two subjects were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups. The CYP2C19 phenotyping was evaluated by the metabolic ratio of OMP to 5-OH-OMP. It was a single dose, open label study and the blood samples from subjects were collected at different time intervals until 24 hours. The PK parameters were calculated using the PK-summit software. The metabolic ratio of area under the plasma concentration-time curve AUCOMP/5-OH-OMP was 1.86 +/- 0.572 and13.84 +/- 2.504 for EM and PM, respectively; maximum plasma concentration [Cmax] of OMP was increased by two folds for PM while the AUC? was increased by 3 folds; the Cmax and AUC? of 5-OH-OMP decreased for PM by 2 folds while there was 3 fold increase observed in the Cmax and AUC? of OMP-S. The PK of OMP and its metabolites in different populations were also discussed, and issues regarding CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 genotyping were also extensively reviewed. In EM of CYP2C19 the concentration of 5-OH-OMP is higher while that of OMP-S is lower. This study as well as reported studies reveals that in PM of CYP2C19 more drugs are available for CYP3A4 to be metabolized. A correlation between CYP2C19 EM and PM activity with CYP3A4 needs to be established

Nephroprotective property of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and its antibacterial activity in combination with gantamicin

Cinnamomum zeylanicum has strong antioxidant properties and has been presented to have nephroprotective effects. Present work was aimed to study the nephroprotective property of the plant extract through urinary enzymes excretion, to confirm its protective effects and to observe the antibacterial activities of gentamicin in combination with the plant extract. 200mg/kg/day of the plant extracts were administered alone and as co-therapy with gentamicin. Urinary lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] and Urinary alkaline phospatase [ALP] excretions were observed through reagents kits with the help of Power-Lab 300. Antibacterial activities were assessed for gentamicin alone and in combination with the extract. Present study showed that the plant extract have excess quantity of flavonoids, which may responsible for attenuating the excessive excretion of urinary LDH. However, Urinary ALP excretion was found remained same throughout the study period in all experimental groups; might be detected in acute damage. Further, the plant also proved to have no decreasing impact on the antibacterial activities of gentamicin

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of leaf extract of Achyranthes aspera [Amaranthaceae] from Pakistan

Alcoholic extract and various fractions of Achyranthes aspera leaves, traditionally used in Pakistan for treatment of infectious diseases was screened for in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity. The chloroform and butanol fractions were found to be the most active among the fractions, showing considerable antibacterial activity against Shigella flexneri and Escherichia coli. The highest activity was found in the ethylacetate fraction [17 mm zone of inhibition] against gram-negative [Salmonella typhi] bacteria, with MIC value as 0.29 mg/mL. In antifungal screening, moderate activity was shown by the chloroform fraction [50 % inhibition] against Microsporum cams, with MIC value as 0.25mg/mL. Considerable level of antifungal activity was depicted by crude extract, hexane and butanol fractions against Aspergillus flavus and Microsporum canis. The ability of various extracts of Achyranthes aspera to inhibit different strains of fungi and bacteria indicates its potential use for the treatment of microbial infections

Screening of selected medicinal plants for their enzyme inhibitory potential - a validation of their ethnopharmacological uses

In present study four medicinal plants namely Valeriana wallichii, Xanthium strumarium, Achyranthes aspera and Duchesnea indica belonging to different families were collected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and crude extract and subsequent fractions were analyzed for their inhibitory potential against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes. Valeriana wallichii, Xanthium strumarium and Achyranthes aspera were significantly active against cholinesterases. Chloroform and ethylacetate fractions of Valeriana wallichii exhibited significant activity against acetylcholinesterase [IC50: 61microg/ml] and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes [IC50: 58microg/ml], respectively. Similarly ethylacetate fraction of Achyranthes aspera showed significant activity against acetylcholinesterase [IC50: 61 microg/ml] and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes [IC50: 61 microg/ml], respectively. In case of alpha-glucosidase enzyme, the chloroform fraction of Xanthium strumarium exhibited significant inhibitory activity [IC50: 72 microg/ml] as compared to the standard compound acarbose [IC50: 483 microg/ml]. Duchesnea indica showed no such activities.

Preparation and in-vitro in-vivo evaluation of sustained release matrix diclofenac sodium tablets using PVP-k90 and natural gums

Conventional dosage form is nowadays mostly replaced by sustained release formulation in order to increase drug efficacy and patient compliance. The sustained release properties of the PVP K90 alone and in combination with guar gum, xanthan gum and gum tragacanth were evaluated using diclofenac sodium [100 mg/tablet] as a model drug. Tablets were processed using wet granulation method and evaluated for sustained drug release properties. The drug release from the formulations was studied in relationship with Commercially available Diclofenac Sodium SR, used as a reference tablets and results were expressed as similarity [f1] and differential factor [f2]. The tablets prepared using PVP K90 160 mg/tablet sustained the release of diclofenac sodium for 12 hours. Formulations where the PVP K90 was partially replaced with different gums also sustained the release of drug for 12 hours. The release of the drug from these formulations mainly followed Higuchi model and super case-II and Non-Fickian diffusion. The in-vivo drug release was studied in healthy human volunteers using non-blinded cross over, two period design using Diclofenac Sodium SR Tablets as a reference drug. The relative bioavailability of the formulation containing PVP K90 and gum tragacanth was 0.91. The studies showed that the use of the PVP K90 in combination with gum tragacanth both in-vitro and in-vivo sustained the release of the drug