Comparison of hypotensive and hypolipidemic effects of catharanthus roseus leaves extract with atenolol on adrenaline induced hypertensive rats

The leaves extract of Catharanthus roseus was investigated for hypotensive and hypolipidemic effects in adrenaline-induced hypertensive rats [AIHR] and compared with those of Atenolol in a crossover design. The pharmacologically Active components responsible for hypotensive activities were isolated from plant using bioassay guided purification approach and the structure of the compounds was proposed by spectroscopic methods. Catharanthus roseus leaves extract and commercial drug Atenolol were administered through intraperitoneal [i.p] route for one week. Different biochemical parameters such as heart weight, blood glucose level, serum cholesterol level, serum triglyceride level, body weight and the relationships between them were measured. Catharanthus roseus leaves extract at a dose of 30 mg/155 +/- 15 gm of body weight was injected in rat at every morning during the treatment period. The dose of Atenolol was determined according to its pharmacokinetic parameters. Clinically effective plasma concentration as a hypotensive drug was obtained after the injection of 0.1 mg/155 +/- 15 gm of body weight of the drug. The Catharanthus roseus leaves extract made significant changes in each cardiovascular parameter after investigation. Catharanthus roseus leaves extract treated animals have shown the hypotensive effects. Hypotensive effects were also shown by Atenolol

Oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] in normal control and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats with Coccinia Cordifolia L. and Catharanthus roseus L

The aim of this study is to investigate the hypoglycemic effects of petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions isolated from ethanolic extracts of Coccinia cordifolia and Catharanthus roseus on normal control and orally glucose-induced hyperglycemic rats. Single doses [150 mg/kg] of different fractions of C. cordifolia and C. roseus extracts were intraperitonelly administered. The serum blood glucose level was obtained by pricking the tail vein using glucometer at time 0, 30, 60, 90, 150 and 270 minutes.In the orally glucose induced hyperglycemic rats, chloroform-coccinia [CHCl[3]-CC] fraction showed maximum reduction of blood glucose level by 21.94% on 60 minute of the experiment. On the other hand maximum reduction [p<0.05] of 17.92% was observed for petroleum ether-catharanthus [PET-CR] on 30 minute of the experiment. Metformin HCl was used as standard drug.Our results indicate that the CHCl[3]-CC fraction is relatively more potent than other fractions of C. cordifolia. Similarly the PET-CR is found to be better than other fractions of catharanthus. Phytochemical screening test results showed that chloroform fraction of C. cordifolia contain saponins and flavonoids compounds, which are known to be hypoglycemic. On the other hand petroleum ether fraction of C. roseus contains tannins, flavonoids and alkaloid compounds produced varying degree of blood sugar reduction. On the pharmacological point of view C. cordifolia and C. roseus appears to be a valuable plant, which can be useful, at least as an adjunct, in the therapy of diabetes

Characterization of cardiac dysrhythmias induced by the modification of sodium channels and the inhibition of Na+ -K+ ATPase in guinea pigs

Delayed after depolarizations [DADs] and triggered activity are the mechanisms by which lethal ventricular dysrhythmias are induced. A plenty of studies have been done with whole animal model, isolated heart and isolated cardiac muscles, however, there is no report on the abnormal automaticity in isolated cardiac myocytes. We induced, recorded and analyzed the abnormal electrical activity in single cells. Current-clamp and voltage-clamp methods were applied to collagenase digested single myocytes to record the action potential configurations and ionic membrane currents. The dysrhythmias induced by aconitine [modification of sodium channels] occurred as the abnormal automaticity with spontaneous diastolic depolarization, gradually increased its firing rate [warming up phenomenon] and finally developed to the continuous oscillatory activity. Voltage-clamp study revealed that the amplitude of sodium current decreased and the current voltage relationship shifted to negative potential and that other major ionic currents were barely affected. DADs were induced by ouabain. The higher the concentration of ouabain and the more frequency of the stimulation, the amplitude of DADs became more variable and the duration of oscillation became longer. Induction of dysrhythmias at single-cell level might be useful for further understanding and analysis of the ventricular dysrhythmias

study on the packaging information of essential drug products used at union and Thana health complex level in Bangladesh

The samples of secondary packaging items [cartons, labels and package inserts] of 45 essential drug products used at Union health and family welfare center and Thana health complex level, that included 23 solid [tablet and capsule], 34 liquid [syrup, suspension, and injectables] and 4 semisolid [ointment and cream] preparations either manufactured in Bangladesh or imported by local distributing agencies, were thoroughly examined from April 30, 2005 to March 31, 2006 on the basis of 32 parameters which are usually regarded important for the labeling of any pharmaceutical preparation including essential drug products. Many of the products were available simultaneously as solid, liquid and topical [total 74 different] dosage forms and all dosage forms have been considered in this study. The secondary packaging items of a total of 58 pharmaceutical companies for 45 generics of essential drug products have been collected, sorted/arranged and meticulously studied, and packaging parameters were accumulated for analysis. It has been observed that many of the important packaging information were either completely missing or not properly described. This study was aimed at examining the extent of the packaging information provided in the secondary packaging items