Preliminary and Pharmacological Profile of Melia azedarach L.: An Overview.

The tree Melia azedarach (Family: Meliaceae) is known locally as bakain or drek (Hindi), Persian lilac or China tree (English), and Fleurs lilas (French). In South America is commonly known as “paraiso” or paradise, and in the US as Indian lilac or white cedar. The whole plant or its specific parts (leaves, stem, and roots) are known to have medicinal properties and have a long history of use by indigenous and tribal people in India. Melia azedarach is used as an ayurvedic medicine in India and Unani medicine in Arab countries as an antioxidative, analgesic, anti-Inflammatory, insecticidal, rodenticidal, antidiarrhoeal, deobstruent, diuretic, antidiabetic, cathartic, emetic, antirheumatic and antihypertensive. It is highly nutritious having a calorific value at 5100 kcal/kg. Also, it is used to manufacture agricultural implements, furniture, plywood, boxes, poles, tool handles and fuel wood. It is widely planted as a shade tree in coffee and abaca (Musa textilis) plantations. It is a wellknown ornamental tree. The present review is therefore, an effort to give a detailed survey of the literature on its botanical details, phytochemical reports, pharmacological studies and its therapeutic importance.

Aplicación web para la realización de estudios farmacocinéticos, versión 2. 0 / Web application for pharmacokinetic studies, version 2.0

La realización de estudios farmacocinéticos es una actividad que se efectúa en algunos centros investigativos del país. Para llevarlos a cabo se hizo necesario procesar los datos obtenidos de los análisis que se realizan a las especies de laboratorio, ya que actualmente es una labor engorrosa que demanda la utilización de medios de cómputo. En el Centro de Isótopos se usan dos software que además de ser obsoletos, no satisfacen las necesidades de los especialistas, por lo que el objetivo del trabajo se enmarca en realizar una aplicación Web que integre las funcionalidades de los software existentes en esta actividad e incluya otras nuevas que faciliten el proceso investigativo. Anteriormente, se implementó una aplicación web para estudios farmacocinéticos, dicha aplicación permite gestionar y almacenar la información obtenida al realizar un estudio farmacocinético, así como el cálculo de parámetros, pero esta primera versión del software está muy lejos de cumplir las expectativas de los especialistas, por lo que se decide trabajar en una segunda versión del software PK-Web, la versión 2.0 a la cual se le agregarán nuevas funcionalidades a implementar como son: la gestión de archivos referentes al plan de estudio, la implementación de un Web Service y el ajuste de curva, entre otras(AU)

In Cuba the studies of pharmacokinetic is an activity which takes place at some research centers of the country. In order to do so it is necessary to process the data obtained from the analysis that are performed to laboratory species, which currently is a cumbersome task that requires the use of computing resources. The researchers at Isotopes Center uses two software which, besides being obsolete, do not meet the needs of specialists, so the goal of this project is making a web application that integrates the functionality of existing software in this activity and include other new to facilitate the research process. Previously, we implemented a web application for pharmacokinetic studies, this application allows researchers to manage and store the information obtained from a pharmacokinetic study, as well as calculation of parameters, but this first version of the software is far from meeting the expectations of specialists, so it was decided to work on a second version of the PK-Web software, version 2.0 which will add new features to implement, such as: file management regarding the curriculum, the implementation of a web Service and curve fitting, among others(AU)

A comparative pharmacological and phytochemical analysis of in vivo & in vitro propagated Crotalaria species

Objective To compare the efficacy for phytochemical, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol, and aqueous extracts of in vitro propagated plants and field grown plants of Crotalaria sps., for against five human pathogens. Methods The preliminary phytochemistry, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities were evaluated using disc diffusion and DPPH radical scavenging methods. Results The ethanolic extract of in vitro raised Crotalaria retusa (C. retusa) was effective on tested microorganisms and optimal ZOI values of 38 mm was obtained against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The optimal concentration (IC50) required for 50% inhibition of the DPPH radical scavenging was 57.6 μ g/mL obtained for ethanolic extract of in vitro propagated C. retusa. The in vitro propagated C. retusa has significant pharmacological activities while the Crotalaria prostrate (C. prostrate) and Crotalaria medicaginea (C. medicaginea) has low pharmacological activites. It was cleared that ethanolic extract of in vitro regenerated plants was most effective. Conclusions These findings indicate compounds isolated from ethanolic extracts of Crotalaria sps., possesses pharmacological properties and potential to develop natural compounds based pharmaceutical products. The IC

Preparation and in vitro/in vivo pharmacological studies of bFGF/collagen composite sponge / 中国药科大学学报

Aim: To investigate a new type wound dressing,basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)/collagen com-posite sponge,and conduct its pharmacological studies in vitro and in vivo.Methods: bFGF/collagen composite sponge was prepared using fresh pig skin and bFGF.The sponge's physicochemical properties were studied.MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation effect of the sponge extract on 3T3 cells.Delayed allergy of the sponge was tested for the assurance of its biosafety.Results: Results showed that the physicochemical properties of bFGF/collagen composite sponge with high and low doses of bFGF have no significant difference from those of blank collagen sponge.SDS-page analysis indicated that the composite sponge has apparent strip in 18 kD.It was also found that bFGF/collagen composite sponge was responsible for significant effects on 3T3 cell proliferation in comparison to saline treatement(P <0.01,P <0.05).In the allergy study,during the periods of the induction and stimulation,no allergic reaction was found in bFGF/collagen composite sponge groups with high and low doses of bFGF,while severe reactions and inflammation occurred in positive group(2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene).Furthermore,pathological examination indicated the intact dermal structure and no sign of inflammation.Conclu-sion: The developed sponge has good physicochemical propertis and noticed cellular proliferation without dermal irritation.There is much potential to develop bFGF/collagen composite sponge into a new kind of wound dressing material for clinical use.

Primary pharmacological studies on the saponins from the solid fermented roots of Radix Notoginseng produced in Yunnan province / 中华中医药杂志

Objective: To compare the pharmacodynamic action of Radix Notoginseng after fermented by different strains bioconversion.Methods:The models of cerebral ischemia and hypoxia were established,thrombosis in vivo were induced by collagen-Adr,ventricular fibrillation of mice by chloroform,and perfusion experiment of the ex vivo heart of cavia cobaya was used.Results:100,200mg/kg doses of all samples had protective effects on ischemia and hypoxia mice,1# sample can inhibit thrombosis induced by collagen-adrenaline obviously after intraperitoneal injection in dosage of 200mg?kg-1?d-1 for 5days.All groups significantly reduced the incidents of ventricullar fibrillation induced by chloroform in mice except 100mg/kg dose of 1#,furthermore,compared with control high dose group(5#),the incidents of high dose groups of 3、4# deceased significantly.All samples had the effect of dilating coronary artery,but there effects on myocardial contractile force and cardiac preload were different.Conclusion:The primary cardiovascular related pharmacological researches demonstrated the vary action changes of 1-4# samples compared with the sample 5#.This result has revealed that the chemical structure of Radix Notoginseng transformed and that is coincide with initial analysis of phytochemical analysis.

Pharmacological studies on anti-DIC effect of a recombinant hirudin in rabbits / 中成药

AIM: To investigate the anti-DIC effect of the domestic recombinant hirudin (rH) in order to provide preclinical pharmacological basis for its new drug application. METHODS: DIC was induced by constant iv infusion of thrombin (100 U?kg -1 ?h -1 ?1 h) plus PAMBA (50 mg?kg -1 ?h -1 ?1 h). Platelet count (PLT), PT and fibrinogen (FIB) determination as well as plasmaprotamine paracoagulation (3P) test served as diagnostic indexes of DIC, while pathlogical examination of microthrombosis of lungs and kidneys was followed. RESULTS: rH 125,62.5,31.25 and 15.625 ?g?kg -1 iv. gtt demonstrated a dose-dependant inhibitory effect on DIC. The inhibitory effects on DIC of rH(%) were 89.38%, 52.60%, 49.71% and 25.58% for PT, and 100.01% , 61.86%, 58.40% and 32.68% for PLT, and 85.22%, 73.01%, 33.60% and 14.86% for FIB respectively at the descending order of rH doses. CONCLUSION: Domestic rH being tested has powerful anti-DIC effect which is comparable with refludan—an r-hirudin product approved by European Community for marketing.