Phytochemical and biological study of petrea volubilis L. [verbenaceae]

Petrea volubilis L. was studied for its secondary metabolites and biological activities. The phytochemical screening of dried aerial parts revealed the presence of different constituents such as unsaturated sterols, triter pens, and flavonoids. The biological activities of the total extract and different fractions were evaluated in a series of bioassays [antioxidant, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and antibacterial], the majority of them showed significant activities in the applied test systems. Extensive purification of the ethyl acetate extract led to isolation of apigenin [1], quercetin [2], 4, 6-dimethylscutellarien [3], hypogallic acid [3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid] [4], trans-caffeic acid [5] vanillic acid [6] and acteoside [7]. The structure elucidation of 1-7, was carried out by [1]H-NMR, UV and MS analyses

Synthesis and antidepressant activity of some novel fluoxetine derivatives

The present work involves the synthesis of three series of novel fluoxetine derivatives in order to evaluate their potential as antidepr ess ants. The first series consists of 1 -methyl- 1-[3-phenyl-3-[4-trifluoromethylphenoxy]propyl]-3-substituted ureas 2a-c and thioureas as their bioisosters 3a-m which were prepared by reacting fluoxetine 1a with different isocyanates and isothiocyanates respectively. The second series N-acyl/aroyl-N-methyl-3-phenyl-3-[4-trifluoromethylphenoxy]-propylamines 4a-d were synthesized by refluxing 1a with acyl/aroyl chloride and trifluoroacetic anhydride. The third one, N-chloroacyl-fluoxetine 5a-c was obtained via the reaction of la with chloroacyl chloride. In addition to a propionitrile derivative 8 which was achieved by refluxing 1a with acrylonitrile. The twenty four final compounds were biologically screened throughout the work for their potential as serotonin reuptake inhibitors by measuring potentiation of 5-HTP induced neurotoxity and some as norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor by measuring yohimbine-induced mortality in mice to calculates-HTP/NE ratio as a parameter for selectivity to inhibit serotonin reuptake. Four compounds [3e, 3h, 3i, 5b] were found to be as potent as fluoxetine

Local installation of bupivacaine: Does it reduce post laparoscopic cholecystectomy shoulder-tip pain

This study was conducted to evaluate the value of local installation of Bupivacaine in the subphrenic space in reduction of post-laparascopic cholecystectomy shoulder-tip pain [STP]. A total of 150 patients were included in the study, 75 of which were randomly assigned in a group to receive the treatment and the other group served as a control. STP was significantly less in the group treated with Bupivacaine [p<0.05]

Indirect haemagglutination versus direct methods in diagnosis of mansonmsis

The aim of the present work was to evaluate some laboratory parasitological and serological methods used in the diagnosis of S. mansoni infection. These methods were direct smear method, Kato-thick smear and modified Ritchie formal-ether concentration technique. The serological method used was the indirect hemagglutination test. Sixteen healthy children negative for parasitic infections were taken as control. 39 children presenting with acute or chronic intestinal schistosomiasis, their age ranged from 7 to 12 years with a mean of 9.6. Stool analysis by Kato-thick smear gave 60% positivity in group 1 [acute schistosomiasis], i.e. 14 out of 23 patients, and 25% positivity in group 2 [chronic cases], i.e. 4 out of 16 patients. Stool analysis by the Ritchie formal-ether concentration technique gave 82% positivity in the first group [19 out of 23 patients] and 37% in group 2 [6 out of 16 patients]. The indirect hemagglutination test gave 95% positive in group 1 [22 out of 23 patients] and 87% in group 2 [14 out of 16 patients]. Out of all patients examined [39], 18 [46%] were positive by Kato-test, 25 [64%] were positive by Ritchie test and 36 [92%] by indirect hemagglutination test. All control subjects were negative by the 3 tests used. From results, it could be concluded that the Ritchie method is more sensitive than Kato test in detection of eggs of Schistosoma mansoni in stools. Also, the indirect hemagglutination test seemed to be both sensitive and specific