Chemical constituents, cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory of Maytenus arbutifolia growing in Saudi Arabia

The petroleum ether fraction of the aerial parts of Maytenus arbutifolia upon repeated chromatography afforded five compounds identifies as: beta -amyrin - 3 - tridecanoic acid ester [1], beta -amyrin [2], beta -sitosterol [3], lupeol oxide [4] and beta -sitosterol glucoside [5], while from the ethyl acetate fraction [-] epicatechin [6] was isolated. The structures of these compounds were established on bases of spectral [UV, IR, MS, [1]H and [13]C-NMR] as well as physical and chemical data. Antimicrobial activity for extracts indicated weak potency [200 micro g/ml]. The cytotoxic activity of all extracts conducted by the brine shrimp and the cell lines as well showed the same IC[50] [micro g/ml] on Hep-2 cell, whereas, the different extracts showed different activity on Hela cell [ethanol> ethyl acetate> pet.ether; IC[50] 103.5, 108.5 and 142 micro g/ml, respectively]. The Pharmacological activity of the different extracts showed sedative effect; slowing of respiration; dose-dependent decrease In arterial blood pressure by 40.1 mm Hg [at a dose 200 mg/kg]; decrease in the body temperature by 2.1[degree sign]C after 2hr [at a dose 120mg/kg]. The anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract [0.39 g/kg, i.p.] using formalin - induced oedema in rat hind paw, produced a significant dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect: 19.6 +/- 9.1, 30.5 +/- 4.3 and 43.3 +/- 3.9% after 1, 2 and 3 hr. respectively

Novel HPLC method for statins in their dosage forms

The statins form a class of hypolipidemic drugs used to lower cholesterol in people with or at risk of Coronary Heart Diseases [CHD] through inhibitionof 3-Hydroxy-3-MethylGutaryl-coenzyme A [HMC-CoA] reductase, which is the rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway of cholesterol synthesis. Aorvastatin, lovastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin are commonly marketed statins. Previous studies involved estimation of statins either separately or in combination only through gradient elution. The novelty in the present study involved the use of a reversed phase HPLC C[18] column in one isocratic run through hydrolysis into the hydroxyacids of the mixture components via pH gradient vehicle. The study develops rapid, precise, accurate and reproducible method to determine these statins in a mixture and in their dosage forms. The method was validated over a wide concentration range [0.08 micro g to 3.2 micro g], its repeatability was ascertained and the applicability is confirmed