Assessment of Cedrus deodara root oil on the histopathological changes in the gastrointestinal tissues in rats

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Cedrus deodara root oil on the histopathology of different gastrointestinal organs of Wistar rats. This oil was used traditionally as an anti-ulcer agent in the Indus Unic System and extracted from the plant root by destructive distillation method. A total of 90 rats were taken and divided into groups A, B and C, each comprising of 30 animals. The animals of group B and C were given 0.5 ml/kg and 2.5 ml/kg of C. deodara oil respectively while group A served as control and administered vehicle only. The treatment was given to the animals ones only for 24 hours. All animals were sacrificed and the organs like esophagus, stomach and ileum were taken out. Tissue processing and staining procedure was then carried out for any pathological changes in the animal tissues during microscopic examination. The results indicated that Cedurs deodara root oil at both doses 0.5ml/ kg and 2.5 ml/kg exhibited some adverse effects such as erosion of epithelium, edema on sub-mucosal and mucosal layers, congestion of blood vessels as well as presence of inflammatory cells on esophagus, stomach and ileum were seen. Moreover shortening of villi was also seen at both doses. A study conducted on mammalian toxicity previously on rats revealed that the C. deodara root oil used is not very toxic and comes under least toxic group as standardized by toxicologists. Based on the results obtained it was concluded that C. deodara root oil produced some adverse changes in the tissues of GIT when given at 0.5 ml/kg and 2.5 ml/kg doses but the effects were not lethal therapeutically at this dose LC[50] 16.5 ml/kg. The plant oil showed some toxicity and needs further detailed studies to assess its potential toxicity and therapeutic status before using this material as drug

Organophosphate and pyrethroid residues in the milk of women and breast cancer patients from Karachi

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of pesticide residues organophosphate and pyrethroid in the milk of women and in serum of breast cancer patients from different localities of Karachi due to pesticide exposure. An experimental study. This sis a research-based study that was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baqai Medical University, Karachi from March 2008 to March 2010. A total 40 milk samples were collected from private clinics and 6 serum samples from breast cancer patients were also collected from private cancer hospitals based at different areas of Karachi. All the samples were analyzed for the presence of pesticide residues. Samples of milk and serum were prepared accordingly and the purified samples were injected into the HPLC apparatus. The peaks of the samples were compared by the retention time of the standard peaks. The chromatogram obtained indicated the quantity of pesticide residues. Milk samples and serum samples were analyzed using HPLC technique. Pesticides such as malathion, permethrin, deltamethrin and Polytrin-C were detected in different concentrations. The levels were significantly higher than the maximum residual limit. It is concluded that the presence of pesticides in the human body is a major concern in the development of various ailments because of possible immunotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of pesticides

effect of Cedrus deodara root oil on the histopathology of rat stomach

The aim of this study was to observe the anti-ulcer effects of Cedrus deodara root oil on the rat's stomach and compare it with standard anti-ulcer drugs, femotidine and protonix. The study was conducted on 50 albino Wistar rats in three different doses i.e. 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg. The animals were divided into five groups, each group comprised of 10 rats [5 male and 5 female]. The oil was extracted from the plant root by dry destructive distillation method and the dose was calculated by dissolving 1.25 gms of Cedrus deodara in 25ml of 10% ethanol. The drugs were administered to the treated animals orally through feeding tube for two weeks. Animals received the dose of 50 mg cedar oil only, showed the healing effects on the mucosal epithelium of stomach, decreased inflammatory cells and granulation tissues on the submucosal layer upon histopathological examination. Therefore it may be concluded that Cedrus deodara root oil has anti-ulcerative effects and may be used in the management of gastrointestinal disorders particularly in peptic ulcer

effect of abietic acid [cedrus deodara compound] on the histopathology of rat stomach in comparison with ulcer healing drugs

The aim of this study is to observe the anti-ulcer effects of Abietic acid [a compound of Cedrus deodara] on the histopathology of rat's stomach in comparison with standard anti-ulcer drugs such as Femotidine [H2 receptor blocker] and Protonix [a proton pump inhibitor]. Experimental study. This study was conducted in the department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baqai Medical University, Karachi. This study was carried out on 50 albino rats of Wistar Strain for experimental purpose. The animals were divided into five groups and each group comprised of 10 rats [i.e. 5 male and 5 female]. The experimental procedure was repeated for three times. The compound of abietic acid was provided by the chemistry department of Karachi University. The ulcer was induced in the animals by giving 1ml of 100% ethanol after 48 hrs of fasting. The induction of ulcer in animal was then treated with abietic acid [25 mg/kg for 2 weeks] orally through feeding tube. The ulcer healing effects of this compound were then compared with the effect of known anti-ulcer drugs. Abietic acid used in this study showed the healing effects on the mucosal epithelium of stomach, decreased inflammatory cells and formation of granulation tissues on the sub mucosal layer during histopathological examination. It is thus concluded that abietic acid has an anti-ulcerative effects when given in the required dose and may be adapted in the management of gastrointestinal disorders particularly in peptic ulcer

Evaluation of the teratogenic potentials of neem seed oil in albino rat

The safe use of medicines, both modern as well as traditional, during gestation is becoming an increasingly contentious issue because many therapeutic agents have proved to be menace as they produce congenital malformations in offspring when used during pregnancy. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Neem Seed Oil administration during gestation on young ones of albino rat. 300 off springs of albino rat were used in this study. They were obtained from 60 pregnant rats at term or at 20[th] day of gestation. The pregnant rats were divided in four groups. Group A received freshly extracted Neem Seed Oil 0.5 ml orally from 6[th] to 12[th] days of gestation. Groups B and C received 1.0 and 2.0 ml of oil orally for same period. Group D behaved as control and received 0.5 ml of distilled water orally for same period. The pregnant rats were observed for duration of pregnancy, weight gain, abortions and number of pups given birth. The obtained pups were examined for any structural malformations. There was no incidence of abortion in treated animals like controls. There were no resorptions in control group. Treated group A, B and C had incidence of 2.3, 5.7 and 15.3% respectively. no gross structural malformation was found in control or any of the treated groups. Neem Seed Oil was not found to be embryo/feto toxic in terms of causing abortions, reduced number of litter, retarded growth of young ones, fetal death, fetal resorptions and gross structural malformations in all doses tested