role of garlic powder and gemfibrozil in lowering lipid levels in patients of diabetes mellitus

To study the effects of powdered garlic [Allium sativum] on the lipid profile of patients of diabetes mellitus with hyperlipedemia. DESIGN: Controlled trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients fasting serum cholesterol levels of 280 mg/ 100 ml or more and /or triglyceride 180 mg / 100 ml or more were treated with powdered garlic at a dose of 6 grams/ day for four weeks. Gemfibrozil 1200 mg/day was used on seven patients for 4 weeks as standard drug for comparison. The data obtained showed a marked reduction in total serum lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL- Cholesterol levels while mean serum HDL - Cholesterol levels were significantly raised which was more marked with garlic as compared to gemfibrozil, CONCLUSIONS: Garlic power has got significant effect on lowering most of the serum lipids. HDL- C levels were raised with its use. In diabetic patients the beneficial effects of garlic powder are significant and economical

Effect of garlic [Allium Sativum] powder on lipid profile in patients of ischemic heart disease [IHD]

The effects of garlic [Allium Sativum] powder were studied on the lipid profile in patients of ischemic heart disease [I.H.D] and compared with gemfibrozil [Lopid], a standard lipid lowering agent. Twenty one patients of I.H.D. with raised lipid levels were administered 6 grams of garlic powder, in three divided doses, orally for four weeks. Seven patients of I.H.D. with raised lipid levels were given 1200 mg gemfibrozil orally per day in two doses for four weeks. Garlic powder reduced serum total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C more than gemfibrozil but the differences were non-significant [P>0.05]. Garlic powder increased the level of HDL-C more than gemfibrozil and the difference was significant [p<0.01]. No side effect specifically comparing with gemfibrozil was detected in the patients treated with garlic

Effect of cimetidine, ranitidine and tiotidine on histamine stimulated gastric acid secretion in intact rats under local conditions

Antisecretory effects of cimetidine, ranitidine and tiotidine were studied on histamine-stimulated gastric Secretion in pylorus ligated intact rats at the dose levels. The data obtained showed that the efficacy of these drugs in reducing the volume of gastric juice was in the order of ranitidine> tiotidine> cimetidine. However, their acid reducing capacities were observed to be in the order of ranitidine> cimetidine> tiotidine in the checked doses. Thus, the data suggests that ranitidine is the most effective antiulcer drug of all the three tested H2-bloking agents

Effects of cimetidine, ranitidine and tiotidine on spermatogenesis in albino rats

The effects of cimetidine, ranitidine and tiotidine were studied on spermatogenesis in adult male albino rats after administering these drugs at the dose levels of 5.71 mg/ kg, 2.14 mg/kg and 1.42 mg/kg body weight respectively twice daily for a period of five weeks. The results showed that cimetidine and tiotidine caused a significant decrease [P < 0.05] in the number of spermatocytes. However cimetidine and tiotidine produced a marked decrease [P < 0.05] and [P < 0.001] respectively, in the number of total germ cells in the seminiferous tubules. It is conceivable that ranitidine also possess antispermatogenic activity which was not found out in previous research work

comparative study of bioavailabilities of different brands of chloramphenicol

Different drug manufacturers claim better quality and bioavailability of the similar dosage from of a drug product. In view of this, the bioavailability of four different brands of chloramphenicol was investigated in ninty six albino rabbits of either sex with an average body weight of 2.5 +/- 0.1 kg. Each brand of chloramphenicol was administered to a group of twenty four rabbits and blood concentrations were estimated using the spectronic-20 spectrophotometer at 430 nm against water blank. The study revealed that the bioavailability of brand 'A' of chloramphenicol was significantly higher compared with brands 'B', 'C' and 'D' which did not differ significantly form each other

comparative study of effects of gymnema sylvestre extract, tolbutamide and metformin on blood lactic acid levels of normoglycaemic and hyperglycemic rabbits

To study the possible mechanism of hypoglycaemic action of Gymnema sylvestre, the the effects of the administration of its watery extract in doses of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight, on blood lactic acid levels of normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rabbits were studied blood lactic acid levels were estimated before and after two, four and six hours of administration. The results were compared with the effects produced by tolbutamide [250 and 500 M/ kg] and metformin [50 and 100 mg/kg]. Gymnema sylvestre and tolbutamide did not produce any significant effect on blood lactic, 1-7L -ls. Metformin, however, produced a significant rise [P < 0.05] in blood lactic acid levels -nuglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rabbits. The obseruation that Gymnema sylvestre did not produce any significant effect on blood lactic acid levels suggests that its mechanism of action is different from that of oral comic agents of biguanide group like metformin. Thus it may be indirectly -:red that hypoglycaemic action of Gymnema sylvestre is due to a mechanism of action similar to that sulfonylureas like tolbutamide, which involves release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells of islets of Langerhan. However further controlled studies including S of blood insulin levels are needed to arrive at any definite conclusion

comparative study of effects of gymnema sylvestre extract, tolbutamide and metformin on blood glucose levels of normoglycaemic and hyperglycemic rabbits

The watery extract of the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre was administered in doses of50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight to normo-glycaemic and ACTH induced hyperglycaemic rabbits. The blood glucose levels were estimated before and after two, four and six hours of the administration of the extract. The extract exerted a significant [P < 0.001] hypoglycaemic effect in normolglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rabbits. The mean percent decreases in blood glucose levels produced by Gymnema sylvestre in normoglycaemic rabbits were compared with those produced in hyperglycaemic rabbits at various time intervals and the differences were highly significant [P< 0.001]. The maximum decrease in blood glucose, at all dosage levels, in normoglycaemic and hypergylcaemic rabbits was observed at six hours. Gymnema sylvestre extract in a dose of 150 mg/kg produced maximum decrease in blood levels of both normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rabbits. The mean percent decreases in blood glucose levels produced by 150 mg/kg of Gymnema sylvestre were compared with those produced by 250 mg/kg of tolbutamide at respective time intervals in normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rabbits. In normoglycaemic rabbits, the differences were not significant [P > 0.01]. In hyperglycaemic rabbits, however, the differences were highly significant [P< 0.001]. The mean percent decreases in blood glucose levels, produced by 150 mg/kg of Gymnema sylvestre were also compared with those produced by 250 mg/kg of tolbutamide at respective time intervals in normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rabbits. In normoglycaemic rabbits, the differences were not signifiacant [P> 0.01]. In hyperglycaemic rabbits, however, the differences were highly significant [P < 0.001]. From, this study, it may be concluded that extract of Gymnema sylevestre possesses a significant and consistent hypoglycaemic effect in normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rabbits. Thus it may be recommended in the treatment of hyperglycaemia due to diabetes mellitus

Bioassay for prostaglandin like activity of garlic extract using isolated rat fundus strip and rat colon preparation

Hypotensive effect of garlic extract involving releasing of various prostaglandins is well documented. To further evaluate the prostaglandin-like activity of garlic extract, its effect has been demonstrated using isolated rat fundus strip and rat colon preparation. Garlic extract produced the effects on the isolated tissue similar to those of PGE. The use of this response as a bioassay for prostaglandin is discussed

mechanism of hypotensive effect of garlic extract

Study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of hypotensive effect of garlic extract in dogs. The antagonists for common endogenous hypotensive substances [histamine, Acetylcholine, 5 Hydroxy Tryptamine Kinins and prostaglandins] were tried to confirm or exclude the possibility that garlic extract either acts like or causes release of any one of these endogenous hypotensive agents. The results indicated a possible prostaglandin like effect of garlic extract