Antitumor potential of Castanopsis indica (Roxb. ex Lindl.) A. DC. leaf extract against Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma cell.

Methanol extract of C. indica (MECI) leaves showed direct cytotoxicity on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell in a dose dependant manner and there was significant decrease in the tumor volume, viable cell count, tumor weight and elevated the life span of EAC tumor bearing mice. Hematological profile and biochemical estimations were significantly restored to normal levels in MECI treated as compared to EAC control mice. MECI treatment significantly modulated the tissue antioxidant assay parameters as compared to the EAC control mice. The results revealed that MECI possesses significant dose dependent antitumor potential which may be due to its cytotoxicity and antioxidant properties.

Fibrous dysplasia on the skull.

A young rickshaw puller admitted in Neurosurgery ward of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital due to ugly looking skull swelling on right side and iatrogenic ulceration on the postero-superior surface of the swelling. He also mentioned that he was not socially well-excepted and facing difficulty in getting married for that ugly lesion and was very unhappy at that time. CT scan was suggestive of fibrous dysplasia of skull bone and no other abnormalities were present on other part of the body. Then complete excision of the mass was done and fibrous dysplasia was confirmed by histopathological study. Two months after surgery he got married and expressed his happiness. In fibrous dysplasia, normal bone is replaced by fibrous connective tissue with varying degrees of osseous metaplasia. It is a benign disorder of bone commonly seen from childhood to the third decade. Virtually any bone in the body can be affected. Regarding investigations, plain radiography in the first line study. CT may be required to assess complex region such as the spine, pelvis, chest and facial skeleton. Histologically, fibrous dysplasia appears as multiple areas of fibrous tissue contained within islands of bone with evidence of both blastic and clastic activity.

Clinical picture of craniopharyngioma in childhood.

This cross sectional and observational study was carried out among the admitted patients of the department of Neurosurgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka during the period of 1st March 2004 to 31st March 2005. Among the all intracranial tumours, 2.5-04% are Craniopharyngiomas. Although there is a bi-modal age distribution-1st peak at 5-10 years and the 2nd peak at 55-65 years, the common patients are children (9% of childhood tumour). A typical child with Craniopharyngioma (CP) is short, obese and half blind and has a poor school record. The study has been undertaken to know in details, how child patients with Craniopharyngiomas in Bangladesh present their disease at the hospital. Earlier diagnosis and management may improve the quality of life and longivity. The average age of the patients was 13 years ranging from 07 to 17 years. The vast majority patients were admitted with visual problems as their presenting complaints. Among the patients 33% had total blindness of which 03 had primary optic atrophy and 1 has secondary optic atrophy. Among the remaining 08 patients, 75% were found to have field defect. All patients showed fundal changes ranging from early papilloedema to optic atrophy. We found major endocrinological deficiency in child patients with Craniopharyngioma in 17% cases. Raised Prolactin level may not be significant, because it could be due to stalk effect. Although 25% patients were of short stature, their hormonal profile was within normal range according to age and sex.

Clinico-pathological study in large posterior fossa midline tumors.

This cross sectional analytic study was carried out among the admitted patients of the department of Neurosurgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka during the period of 1st July 2002 to 31st December 2004. The age ranged from 2.5 years to 70 years. The size of all posterior fossa tumors at presentation were more than 3 cm and the mean size of posterior fossa tumor was 4.38 cm. 62% of posterior fossa mid-line tumors were mixed density in NECT (non-contrast CT).Regarding enhancement characteristics, mild-moderate enhancement and marked heterogeneous enhancement was equally distributed 46% followed by marked homogeneous enhancement only 08%.. The calcification was present only in 07 (14%) patients and most of them were ependymoma. Histopathologically, medulloblastoma was the common variety (32%). The CT scan diagnostic modality sensitivity, accuracy and positive predictive value were 100%, 84.78% and 84.78% respectively but in MRI diagnostic modality 100%, 91.30% and 91.30% respectively.

In vitro antioxidant activity of Diospyros malabarica Kostel bark.

Antioxidant activity of defatted methanol extract of D. malabarica bark was studied for its free radical scavenging property on different in vitro models e.g. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide, superoxide, hydroxyl radical and lipid peroxide radical model. The extract showed good dose-dependent free radical scavenging property in all the models except in hydroxyl radical inhibition assay. IC50 values were found to be 9.16, 13.21, 25.27 and 17.33 microg/ml respectively in DPPH, nitric oxide, superoxide and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. In hydroxyl radical inhibition assay 1000 microg/ml extract showed only 10% inhibition with respect to the control. Measurement of total phenolic compounds by Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol reagent indicated that 1 mg of the extract contained 120.7 microg equivalent of pyrocatechol. The results indicate that the antioxidant property of the extract may be due to the high content of phenolic compounds. However, the underlying mechanism may not involve hydroxyl radical scavenging property.

Anti-steroidogenic activity of methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa roxb. stem and Corchorus olitorius Linn. seed in mouse ovary.

Methanolic extract (ME) of both C. reflexa stem and C. olitorius seed arrested the normal oestrus cycle of adult female mouse and significantly decreased the weight of ovaries and uterus. The cholesterol and ascorbic acid contents in ovaries were significantly increased in the treated mice. Two key enzymes, delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, were decreased significantly in ME of both C. reflexa stem and C. olitorius seed after 17 days of treatment. High level of substrates and low level of enzymes indicate the inhibition of steroidogenesis in treated mice and may be due to the presence of flavonoids.

Molecular mechanics aided design of antineoplastic agents from ruthenium coordinate complexes.

Through energy minimization using molecular mechanics force field four ruthenium cordinate complexes have been synthesized. Compound I to IV showed antineoplastic activity with varying degree on EAC bearing mice. Mode of action may be through inhibition of antioxidant property of tumor cell as evident from lipid peroxidase activity. Among the complexes Bis pyridine tetrachloro ruthenium exhibits highest order of activity with respect to increase mean survival time, inhibition of tumour volume, total blood count, hemoglobin and lipid peroxidase activity.

Evaluation of hematological and hepatorenal functions of methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. root treated mice.

Methanolic extract of M. oleifera root was found to contain some alkaloids (total alkaloid 0.2%). Effects of multiple weekly (35, 46, 70 mg/kg) and daily therapeutic (3.5, 4.6, 7.0 mg/kg) i.p. doses of the crude extract (CE) on liver and kidney functions and hematological parameters in mice were studied. No alteration in hematological and biochemical parameters at low and moderate dose level of daily and low dose level of weekly treatment of the extract was observed. However, the extract at moderate dose level in weekly treatment changed serum aminotransferase and plasma cholesterol levels significantly. High dose in addition to the above parameters changed total bilirubin, non protein nitrogen, blood urea and plasma protein. High dose of daily treatment and moderate and high dose of weekly treatment of CE increased WBC count and decreased clotting time significantly. The results indicate that the weekly moderate and high dose (> 46 mg/kg body wt.) and daily/therapeutic high dose (7 mg/kg) of CE affects liver and kidney functions and hematological parameters whereas the weekly dose (3.5 mg/kg) and low and moderate daily/therapeutic dose (3.5 and 4.6 mg/kg) did not produce adverse effects on liver and kidney functions.

CNS activity of Vitex negundo Linn. in mice.

Methanolic extract (ME) of the leaves of V. negundo potentiated significantly the sleeping time induced by pentobarbitone sodium, diazepam and chlorpromazine in mice. ME possesses analgesic properties and potentiated analgesia induced by morphine and pethidine. ME also showed significant protection against strychnine and leptazole induced convulsions. The results suggest that ME exhibits CNS depressant activity in a dose dependent manner.

Effect of leaf extract from Clerodendron colebrookianum on CNS function in mice.

Effect of acute multiple (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg body wt, i.p.) doses of C. colebrookianum leaf extract on behaviour, convulsion, analgesia and sedative-hypnosis was studied in mice. A marginal reduction of awareness and motor activity was observed in low (20 mg) and moderate (40 mg) dose level of extract. However, 80 mg dose caused marked inhibition of awareness and motor activity. Grip strength and stereotypy was observed in all the dose levels. The extract alone did not show loss of righting reflex but it prolonged the effect of meprobamate, diazepam, chlorpromazine and pentobarbitone significantly in a dose dependent manner. The extract neither produced analgesia alone nor it altered analgesic effect of morphine and pethidine. Pretreatment of the extract caused significant protection of strychnine and leptazol induced convulsion and mortality. The results suggest a mild (or dose dependent) CNS depressant action of leaf extract of C. colebrookianum in mice.

Effect of alkaloidal extract from Clerodendron colebrookianum on hematological parameters and hepatorenal functions in mice.

Effects of multiple weekly (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg) and daily therapeutic (2, 4 and 8 mg/kg) ip doses of C. colebrookianum leaf extract on liver and kidney functions and hematological parameters in mice were studied. No alteration in hematological and biochemical parameters at low and moderate dose level of daily and low dose level of weekly treatment of alkaloidal extract was observed. However, alkaloidal extract at moderate dose in weekly treatment increased significantly serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, nonprotein nitrogen, blood urea, plasma protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. High dose of alkaloidal extract increased all the above parameters of weekly treated mice including serum aspartate aminotransferase and plasma cholesterol and decreased significantly serum bilirubin and clotting time. Whereas, in high dose daily treatment erythrocyte count and hemoglobin content were increased and serum bilirubin was decreased. The present study reveals that the high dose (above 40 mg/kg body weight) of alkaloidal extract of C. colebrookianum affects liver and kidney functions and metabolism and also alters only clotting time and ESR whereas the therapeutic dose level (hypotensive action at 2 to 8 mg/kg, i.v., dose level) did not exhibit any toxic action on the above mentioned system; the toxic action may be due to overdose. Hepatorenal dysfunction and alteration of hematological parameters were noted at moderate and high dose in a dose dependent manner.

Effect of leaf extract from Clerodendron colebrookianum on blood pressure in rats.

Hypotensive effect of the extract of leaves of C. colebrookianum was investigated. An extremely bitter fraction was isolated, which gave positive test for alkaloids. The fraction produced fall of blood pressure in a dose dependent manner. The fall of blood pressure was blocked by atropine. Hypertensive effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline were slightly antagonised by the alkaloidal extract.

Antimicrobial activities of mycotoxin MT81 and its structural derivatives.

Antimicrobial activities of mycotoxin MT81 and its acetylated, benzoylated and acetic acid derivatives were determined by zone inhibition method. MT81, acetylated MT81 and acetic acid MT81 exhibited sensitivity (31.25, 62.50, 62.50 micrograms/ml respectively) to all the test bacteria. Benzoylated-MT81 did not exhibit any activity even up to 1000 mcg/ml. MT81, its acetylated and acetic acid derivatives exhibited antifungal activity up to 62.5 micrograms/ml and 125.0 micrograms/ml respectively against test yeasts and other fungi. Benzoylated MT81 also exhibited antifungal activity but the degree was comparatively less.