In vitro antimicrobial activity of the leaves of KAT-SE-NAE Plant (Urena lobata Linn) against some strains of micro-organisms causing skin infections.

The objective of the study was to evaluate scientifi cally the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of leaves of Kat-Se-Nae plant (Urena lobata Linn). Dried powder of the leaves of Kat-Se-Nae (Urena lobata Linn) was obtained by extracting with water, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate. Screening for antimicrobial activity of all the extracts were done by Agar Disc Diffusion Technique on seven control strains: Escherichia coli (0157) and American Type Culture Collections (ATCC): Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans which are common causal agents for skin infections. Ciprofl oxacin and Norfl oxacin were used as control antibiotics. Petroleum ether extract showed small zone of inhibition on Escherichia coli (0157) (11 ± 1.000 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (13 ± 1.732 mm) but no signifi cant activity on other tested organisms. Ethyl acetate extract showed signifi cant zone of inhibition (20 ± 2.000mm) against Staphylococcus aureus comparable to that of control drug (Ciprofl oxacin) (15 mm) but had no activity on other tested organisms. Watery extract had no antimicrobial activity on any of the tested organisms. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the active extracts already shown to have antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli (0157) was done by Tube Dilution Method. MIC of petroleum ether extract on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was more than 5 mg/mL and that of ethyl acetate extract on Staphylococcus aureus was more than 1.25 mg/mL. Acute toxicity studies of the watery extracts were performed by using the albino mice. The results indicated that there was no lethality up to 8 g/kg body weight. The phytochemical analysis of watery extracts and dried leaves powder of Kat-Se-Nae (Urena lobata Linn) showed that they have alkaloid, steroid, saponin, tannin, carbohydrate, glycoside, reducing sugar, fl avonoid and amino acid, but lack of cyanogenic glycoside and polyphenol. Based on the above fi ndings, it can be concluded that ethyl acetate extract of the leaves of Kat-Se-Nae (Urena lobata Linn) may have useful antimicrobial activity in skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Importance of plasma protein binding of antituberculosis drugs on the response to shortcourse chemotherapy

Recently, there has been an increasing concern over the consequences of altered plasma protein binding of drugs in disease states, malnutrition and concomittant drug use on the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of many antituberculous drugs. The increasing awareness of the problems associated with altered plasma protein binding necessitates studying the plasma protein binding profile of drugs used in short- course therapy for tuberculosis since such a study has not been done regardless of the fact that malnutrition and multiple drug use is often unavoidable and where drug resistance and hepatotoxicity has been a major issue. A total of 5 clinically healthy volunteers and 18 smear-positive tuberculosis patients, who were undertaking a short-course chemotherapy at the Union Tuberculosis Institute, were recruited and the plasma protein level and their binding property to rifampicin, isonazid and pyrazinamide at steary-state were studied. The findings showed that although the total plasma protein level was not significantly reduced, there is decrease in the mean albumin level in relation to the globulin level in tuberculous patients. The protein binding profile showed rifampicin to be highly bound (74-87 per cent) and pyrazinamide to be moderately bound (22-40 per cent ) to plasma proteins but no significant binding was seen with isoniazid (0.7-2.4 per cent ). All 3 drugs achieved adequate serum concentration well above the MIC throughout the study accompanied by rapid clinical improment and sputum conversion to negativity in 88.9 per cent of patients within one month of treatment. No sign of hepatic toxicity was seen in the study. Two patients (11.1 per cent ) had relapse after completion of therapy. The study highlights the importance of plasma protein binding of drugs and its influence on the metabolism and interaction between drugs used concomitantly in short-course chemotherapy. The study also showed that addition of pyrazinamide in short-course chemotherapy is very effective and well tolerated but increase in dosage of pyrazinamide during the twice-weekly phase may be necessary to prevent relapse.

Comparative multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of chloroquine in P. vivax malaria patients and healthy volunteers

Recent evidence of the emergence of resistance of P. vivax to chloroquine in Myanmar has increased the importance and urgency of understanding the cause of resistance as well as the need for devising the strategies to limit its spread. A comparative multiple-dose pharmacokinetic study was conducted on 5 clinically healthy volunteers and 10 malaria patients with P. vivax, admitted to the No. 2 Miliysty Hospital, Yangon, with the object to study whether there is any pharmacokinetic-dynamic relationship underlying the response of patients to standard chloroquine (1500 mg given over 3 days) therapy. Serum chloroquine concentrations reached well above the MIC level in all subjects with the patients' serum concentration (both peak and trough) and the AUC being significantly (2-3 times) higher than jnormal volunteers (p < 0.02). Both the clearance and the volume of distribution were also significantly lower in the malaria patients as compared to the healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). The elimination half-life (T1/2el) was shorter in malaria patients but the difference was not statistically significant. No significant difference was seen with other pharmacokinetic parameters, between normal volunteers and patients and between patients who do and do not recrudescenced. The study supports the emergence of chloroquine-resistant P. vivax in Myanmar and also excludes the possibility of apparent resistance due to pharmacokinetic causes, especially reduced bioavailability.

Potential use of Kyethingha-thee (Momordica charantia L. fruit) in the treatment of maturity onset diabetes mellitus

The hypoglycemic efficacy of Kyethingha-thee dired powder capsule was conducted on five uncomplicated type II non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients, who were admitted to the No. 2 Military Hospital, Yangon. Preliminary study revealed that it has hypoglycaemic effect with minimum effective dose of 3 grams for each patient and the time of maximum effect was 4 to 6 hours respectively. Kyethingha-thee was found to be 79.94 percent as effective as tolbutamide and 154.53 percent as effective as TMF 32. So far no adverse side effects were observed in any of these patients.

Clinical trial to compare the analgesic efficacy of selected Traditional Medicine Formulations (TMF-06,-24,-25) on experimentally induced pain in human subjects

Forty clinically healthy volunteers participated in the study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of three Traditional Medicine Formulations (TMF-06, TMF-24 and TMF-25) on experimentally-induced cold compressor stimulation pain. The rationale underlying the study is that these formulations have beenproduced locally and used extensively as standard analgesics for pain relief at the Traditional Medicine Hospitals and dispensaries as well as through self-medication over-the-counter-durgs by the local community for many years but has yet received little investigative attention regarding efficacy and sefety. The study was a placebo controlled double-blind, complete cross-over single dose design using aspirin (acetyl salicylate) as positive standard and was evaluated on three basic pain response parameters namely, pain threshold, pain tolerance and pain sensitivity range. All three formulations showed a significant analgesic efficacy (p < 0.01) when compared to placebo (TMF-25 > TMF-24 > TMF-60). No, adverse effects were noted even when given at maximum recomended dose. It was concluded dose. It was concluded that the three TMFs can be used as an alternative to aspirin for the symptomatic relief of mild to moderate pain.

Clinical trial to determine the antidiarrhoeal potential of traditional medicine formulations TMFs-16, TMF-35a and TMF-43

Clinical trial to determine the therapeutic efficacy of three Traditional Medicine Formulations, claimed to have antidiarrhoeal action, were studied on 150 acute diarrhoeal patients admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yangon. TMF-16 was found to possess a good antidiarrhoeal action with the antidiarrhoeal index (ADI) of 28.71 percent, which is approximately equal to that of the standard drug, loparamide which had the ADI of 27.94 percent. TMF-35a also possess a mild to moderate antidiarrhoeal action (ADI = 21.5 percent), but TMF-43 showed little or no antidiarrhoeal action (ADI = 9.64 percent). The cllinical significance of the study is that both TMF-16 and loparamide were found to reduce the stool output as well as the amount of fluid replacement required. TMF-16 is well tolerated, available locally and cheaply, and thus, may prove beneficial in the symptomatic relief of non-specific acute diarrhoea.