Relationship of anti-fertility effects of Andrographis paniculata and hormonal assay in female rats.

Aims: This study was aimed to find out anti-fertility effects of Andrographis paniculata (AP) plant. Study design & Methodology: A prospective case control animal study with 85 female and 30 male rats (Total 115 rats) was done in the Department of Pharmacology of Dhaka Medical College and Bangladesh Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2002 to December 2003. The total 85 female rats were grouped into case study or exposure group (N=60 female rats) exposed to water extract of AP & control or non exposure group (N=25 female rats, 30 male rats also considered as control group) Exposure group (water extract) of female were again subdivided in 3 groups according to duration of (A.P) exposure (N=20 in each group) e.g. 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks. Mating schedules were done after the completion of scheduled duration of exposure with A.P (Dose was 1 gm/kg). Results: In group I percentage of infertility was 33.33% in 4 weeks exposure, 50% in 6 weeks exposure & 100% in 8 weeks exposure respectively. In control group (Group II) percentage of infertility was 0%. In case study group of female rats the value of FSH was 1.20 1U/L (4 weeks), 1.12 1U/L (6 weeks), 1.00 1U/L (8 weeks), LH 0.78 1U/L (4 weeks), 0.70 1U/L (6 weeks), 0.64 1U/L (8 weeks), Estrogen 45.30 pg/ml (4 weeks), 44.80 pg/ml (6 weeks), 44.20 pg/ml (8 weeks) and Progesterone 4.84 nmol/L (4 weeks), 4.72 nmol/L (6 weeks) and 3.80 nmol/L (8 weeks). In non exposure group the value of FSH was 1.23 1U/L, LH 0.80 1U/L, Estrogen 47.05 pg/L and Progesterone 5.50 nmol/L. In exposure group all the values were lesser than the normal hormonal value. Conclusion: This study suggests that due to lower level of hormone, female rats have promising percentage of infertility with AP. Further study is needed with rat as well as clinical trial with human being.

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection in children with tuberculosis.

This prospective study was carried out in the pediatric ward and outpatient department of a tertiary care centre to estimate the prevalence of HIV seropositivity in children with tuberculosis. Two hundred and fifty consecutive children below 12 years of age with (pulmonary and extrapulmonary) tuberculosis diagnosed between March 1999 and July 2000 were screened for HIV infection. A patient was labeled as HIV positive if two consecutive ELISA tests were found positive using different antigen/principle. Supplemental western blot test was also done. Parents of seropositive children were also screened for HIV infection and tuberculosis. Total 5 cases were HIV positive giving a seroprevalence of 2%. All the five patients had disseminated tuberculosis. We suggest regular screening of children with disseminated/miliary tuberculosis for HIV co-infection.

Antifertility effect of andrographis paniculata in mice.

Antifertility effect of Andrographis Paniculata (AP) was observed in mice under different experimental conditions. When sun-dried powder of AP was mixed with animal's food (Rats Pelletts) in a dose of 2G per Kg. B.W. per day and was allowed to consume by the female mice daily for a period of six weeks, none of the animal (100%) were pregnant when mated with the male of proven fertility who did not receive the drug. On the other hand, the majority of the control female mice (95.2%) who did not receive the drug were pregnant when mated with the similar type of male as in the experimental group, and they continued to give birth to litters of usual size and number (average 5-6) for subsequent six matings.

Effects of changes in pH of bath fluid on isolated guinea pig ileum preparation.

The effects of changes in the pH of Tyrode's solution on the responses of isolated guinea pig ileum preparation to acetylcholine and histamine were studied. At higher levels of pH (increased alkalinity), the responses of the tissue to both acetylcholine and histamine were increased. At lower pH levels (increased acidity), the response of the tissue to acetylcholine was increased but that to histamine was reduced.