ABSTRACT
Hepatoprotective and reno-potective effect of Sargassum species was investigated in rats against carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]] and acetaminophen [AAP] intoxication. The rats were given ethanol extracts of Sargassum ilicifolium, S. lanceolatum and S.swartzii orally at dose of 200mg/kg b.w. [body weight] daily for 14 days. These seaweed treated rats were then intoxicated with single intra-peritoneal dose of CCl[4] or AAP on14[th] day. The administration of CCl[4] and AAP caused significant [p<0.05] elevation in liver enzymes; alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] and other biochemical parameters, bilirubin, glucose, triglyceride and kidney function markers: urea and creatinine. The pre-treatment with ethanol extracts of S. ilicifolium and S. swartzii protected the liver and kidney significantly [p<0.05] by lowering the elevated level of hepatic enzymes, liver and kidney function markers towards normal range. Sargassum species have also showed positive effect on serum glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride
ABSTRACT
Seaweeds have been consumed as human food from thousands of years. In this study ethanol extract of 16 different seaweeds were tested for mosquito larvicidal activity against 4[th] instar larvae of Aedes aegyptii. The ethanol extracts of Padina pavonia and Sargassum ilicifolium caused 50% mortality at 1200ppm concentration. However other seaweeds Halimeda tuna, Ulva lactuca [Chlorophyta], Dictyota dichotoma var intricata, Jolyna laminariodes, Sargassum binderi [Phaeophyta], Melanothamnus afaqhusainii and Solieria robusta [Rhodophyta] showed LC50 at [almost equal to]1500 ppm concentration. The n-hexane fraction of Padina pavonia was most potent and produced lethality at minimum concentration [LC50 at 250ppm].The effect of ethanol and water extracts of S. binderii was also examined on liver function of healthy rats. The ethanol extract of Sargassum binderi given orally to rats [commercial at] 200mg/kg for 14 days slightly increased the concentration of liver enzymes [ALT, AST, ALP and LDH] and urea level as compared with normal control rats, but did not increase bilirubin, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and creatinine. Whereas water extract of S. binderi affected ALT while other biochemical parameters were near normal or slightly decreased as compared to normal control
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Objective: To evaluate the lipid profile in Multibacillary and Paucibacillary leprosy subjects and compare them with age and sex matched healthy control subjects
Materials and Methods: This observational study was performed after approval from BASR, University of Karachi in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, from December 2014 to November, 2015. Present study was conducted in 42 newly diagnosed leprosy patients of both sexes and all ages were included in this study. The diagnosis were on clinical ground and bacterial examination by slit skin smear test, and are classified in two groups, Paucibacillary [PB] and Multibacillary [MB], based on the WHO guide lines. 1-5 skin lesions were regarded as PB with no acid fast rods on the smear and skin lesions more than 5 were regarded as MB. A positive bacterial index classifies the patient as MB, regardless of the number of skin lesions with bacteria visible on a smear
Results: A total of 30 control subjects and 42 leprosy patients among 24 Multibacillary and 18 Paucibacillary leprosy were recruited for this study. Biophysical parameters in Multibacillary and Paucibacillary subjects were completely non significant when compared with control group.In biochemical parameters among Multibacillary and Paucibacillary leprosy cases, all the lipid fractions total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL -cholesterol were significantly decreased [p<0.05] but HDL -cholesterol significantly increased [p<0.05] in both Multibacillary and Paucibacillary leprosy groups when compared with control group
Conclusion: This study showed that, all the lipid fractions except HDL cholesterol were decreased significantly [p<0.05], where as HDL Cholesterol was increased significantly [p<0.05] in both Multibacillary and Paucibacillary leprosy groups when compared with control group
ABSTRACT
Liver is the main site in the body for intense metabolism and excretion. A number of chemicals and drugs which are used routinely cause liver damage. The present study investigates the antihepatotoxic effect of Physalis peruviana whole ripe fruit, water and ethanol extracts of fruit in normal as well as in carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]] intoxicated rats. The CCl[4] treated rats showed marked elevation in liver enzymes: alanine transaminse, aspratate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and other biochemical parameters: bilirubin, creatinine and urea, thus indicating liver injury. Whereas animal treated/fed with various preparations of Physalis peruviana showed significant lowering effect [p<0.05] in the elevated levels of serum markers like ALAT, ASAT, ALP, LDH, creatinine, urea and bilirubin indicating the protection against hepatic cell damage. The water extract of Physalis peruviana showed highest activity in both rat models while ripe fruit and ethanol extract showed moderate activity compared to standard drug.
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Carbon Tetrachloride/toxicity , Rats, Wistar , Liver/drug effects , Plant Extracts , Water , EthanolABSTRACT
A Cross Sectional population based serological studies was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for syphilis women with recurrent miscarriages. Patient's 5ml whole blood was collected through venepuncture technique. Data were collected by all women answered a questionnaire and by investigating blood sample VDRL test and FTA-ABS test. The study was conducted in a confidential manner and numbers were used to identify the participant. Total 256 women were included in the present study. Mean age of women was 29.4 years while range was 21 to 38 years [206/256]. Out of the 256 samples, 05 [1.9%] were positive for active syphilis. Majority belonged to low socioeconomic group, uneducated and had previous congenital anomaly. Active infection with Treponema pallidum [T.P] in women belonging to low socioeconomic level were disquieting. This is probably due to illiteracy and high proportion of unsafe sexual behavior. It is also suggestive that seropositive status is often discovered in routine serological studies during pregnancy
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The present study was undertaken to assess the antidepressant effect of crude ethanolic extract of floral part of Hibiscusrosa sinensis [HRS] at doses l00mg/kg, 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg using three parameters which are forced induced swimming test [FST], tail suspension test [TST] and open field test[OFT]
Flouxetine (15mg/kg, body weight) was used as standard. Significant dose dependent decline in immobility time was observed in all the three doses in FST and TST while in case of OFT none of the dose of HRS exhibited effectual results. To determine MAO[A] and MAO[B] activity HRS extract was used and the results revealed that each dose of this plant exhibited marked effect on MAO[A], while on MAO[B] only 250mg/kg dose was found significant