Clinical efficacy of Unani medicine Renax for treatment of Urolithiasis

Stone formation occurs most commonly in acute and chronic renal failure. A kidney stone is a solid lump made up of crystals that separate from the urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. The current study was conducted to investigate the clinical efficacy of Unani medicine Renax in comparison with allopathic medicine [Spironolactone + Furosemide] to treat urolithiasis. The study was conducted in District Dera Ghazi Khan, South Punjab region. This was case control, randomized, double blind clinical study. All patients were examined by the Physician and given either herbal or allopathic medicine for Urolithiasis. The patients were divided "into two groups" a control group and test groups. A Total of 24 patients were completely cured out of 50 by use of Renax while a total of 9 patients was cured out of 50 with allopathic medicine [Spironolactone + Furosemide]. This study validated the claim of traditional healer for use of Unani medicine in the treatment of urolithiasis

Evaluation of hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of piroxicam sulfonated derivatives

Background: Pain management requires new pharmacotherapy with good efficacy and less side effects. Piroxicam is used routinely in clinical practice but it is associated with side effects. To minimize the chances of adverse effects, sulfonated piroxicam derivatives [SPD] have been introduced. We sought to find hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of SPD in Albino rats

Methods: An experimental study on SPD was carried out at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. Healthy 24 albino rats were divided into 5 groups. One control group and four experimental groups [compound I and II, each with a dose of 10mg/kg and 20mg/kg] received treatment for 7 days. Liver function tests [LFTs], renal function tests [RFTs] and histology of liver and kidney specimens was performed after culling rats. The difference between median values of samples was assessed using Kruskal-Wallis test with post-hoc [for LFTs and RFTs]. SPSS-21 was used for all statistical analysis and p?0.05 was considered statistically significant

Results: The alanine aminotransferase [ALT] values were significantly high in the 20 mg/Kg group than control for both compounds [p=0.03, p=0.001 respectively]. The aspartate aminotransferase [AST] values were significantly high in the 10 mg/Kg and 20 mg/Kg group than control for compounds II [p=0.01, p=0.0001 respectively]. The alkaline phosphatase [ALP] values were significantly high in the 20 mg/Kg group than control for compounds II [p=0.002]. The blood urea values were significantly high in the 20 mg/Kg group than control for compounds II [p=0.008]. The mean final score of liver injury in all experimental groups [mean range 5-7] was less suggesting that the damage in liver was less pronounced. Renal injury was more pronounced in the 20 mg/Kg dose for both compound I and compound II [mean score 7] compared to 10 mg/Kg dose [mean score 4]

Conclusion: Piroxicam sulfonated derivatives can cause focal changes in liver and kidney which might be reversible. The changes are less pronounced for compound I with a low dose

Antiurease and anti-oxidant activity of Vaccinium macrocarpon fruit

The objective of present study was to evaluate the antiurease and anti-oxidant activity of Vaccinium macrocarpon fruit. The parent extract was ethanolic extract while its sub fractions were prepared in n-hexane, chloroform and n-butanol. The method based on scavenging activity and reduction capability of 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl radical [DPPH]. N-butanol fraction was the most effective antioxidant with 87.0 +/- 1.15 activity but the activity was less than ascorbic acid i.e. 93.74 +/- 0.12. Highly significant urease inhibition was shown by crude ethanolic extract [71.00 +/- 0.2a] with IC[50] [392.66 +/- 2.1] followed by aqueous fraction [68.00 +/- 0.5e] with IC[50] [159.83 +/- 2.8]. The results of crude ethanolic extract and aqueous extracts were highly significant [p<0.05] than standard Thiourea. Present study showed that Vaccinium macrocarpon exhibits potent antiurease and antioxidant activities

Clinical evaluation of herbal coded formulation cran-off to urixin in the treatment of urinary tract infection

Urinary Tract Infections are the largest group of infections after the respiratory tract infections. In 85% of the cases the causative organism is E. Coli. A clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of coded herbal formulation [Cran off] [Test drug] for the treatment of Urinary tract infection comparing with Urixin [Control]. One hundred and thirty patients suffering from Urinary tract infection from both groups [Males: 45, mean age: 34+/-14 and females: 85, mean age: 33+/-13 year, range: 15-55] were enrolled in the trial and divided in to two groups according to treatment regimens. Cran off [Test drug] 500mg two capsules and Urixin [Pipemidic Acid Trihydrate JP15] [Control] 400mg capsules twice daily were prescribed for 2-3 weeks. Urinary tract infection was improved in 23 [35.38%] patients out of 65 patients by the use of Cran off [Test drug], and in 15 [23.07%] patients out of 65 by the use of Urixin [Control drug]. Furthermore, there was a significant improvement in Urinary tract infection associated clinical features as compared to Urixin. It is concluded that Cran off possesses a therapeutic value for the improvement of urinary tract infection and its associated symptoms as compared to Urixin