Potential anti-inflammatory effect of Cissus quadrangularis L. and Lepedium sativum L. along with their combination extracts

The anti inflammatory activity of methnolic root extract of Cissus quadrangularis L. [CQ] and seed extract of Lepedium sativum L. [LS] were studied in rats also in conjunction with using a mixture [CL] of CQ and LS. The estimation of anti-inflammatory activity was conducted by measuring volumetrically with the help of plethysmometer, the mean increase in hind paw volume of rat. Standard drug like diclofenac sodium within the dose of a 100 mg/kg is used. The doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of both plant extracts individually as well as combination were given. 0.9% NaCI [saline] solution given to control group. All the doses administered orally. Results showed that at dose of 50mg/kg showed potent activity by LS[4.06+/-0.03] and CQ[4.16+/-0.03], as CL [3.96+/-0.03] showed moderate activity while dose 100 and 200 mg / kg showed moderate activity by LS from respective standard i.e. Diclofenac Sodium

Spectrophotometric method development and validation for determination of chlorpheniramine maleate in bulk and controlled release tablets

Spectrophotometric technique is considered to be the simplest and operator friendly among other available analytical methods for pharmaceutical analysis. The objective of the study was to develop a precise, accurate and rapid UV-spectrophotometric method for the estimation of chlorpheniramine maleate [CPM] in pure and solid pharmaceutical formulation. Drug absorption was measured in various solvent systems including 0.1N HCl [pH 1.2], acetate buffer [pH 4.5], phosphate buffer [pH 6.8] and distil water [pH 7.0]. Method validation was performed as per official guidelines of ICH, 2005. High drug absorption was observed in 0.1N HCl medium with lambdamax of 261nm. The drug showed the good linearity from 20 to 60microg/mL solution concentration with the correlation coefficient linear regression equation Y= 0.1853 X + 0.1098 presenting R2 value of 0.9998. The method accuracy was evaluated by the percent drug recovery, presents more than 99% drug recovery at three different levels assessed. The % RSD value

Irrational antibiotic prescribing practice among children in critical care of tertiary hospitals

This study assessed the prescribing pattern of irrational use of antibiotic among children under age of 12 years in public and private sector hospitals in Pakistan. The prospective clinical evaluation of drug utilization pattern of antimicrobials from Patient Bedside File [PBF] of in-patients and Culture Sensitivity Test [CST] reports were evaluated to determine the antibiotic resistance. Two indicators recorded to assess antibiotic prescribing were; dose of prescribed antibiotic [low-dose, rational and high -dose] and Indication [valid or invalid]. Antibiotics resistance for 25 selected antibiotics was determined by culture sensitivity test. This study showed that in Private Sector Hospital 77.7% neonates, 13.3% infants and 9% children admitted in ICU were receiving antibiotics, among them only 57.3% neonates, 62% infants and 59.9% children were found valid that is prescribed antibiotics for right indication. 27% neonates, 19% infants and 22.1% children were prescribed under dose of antibiotics, which may lead to antimicrobial resistance and increased cost of hospital stay. Only 29.1% neonates, 30% infants and 36.8% children were receiving rational dosing. In Public Sector Hospital, 65.6% neonates, 19.4% infants and 15% children were receiving antibiotics. Among them valid indication was found in 35.3% neonates, 35.6% infants and 39.8% in children. 33.3% neonates, 26.6% infants and 28.2% children were receiving under dose that may lead to resistance not only among those who were prescribed under dose but also such bacteria become resistant and spread to other population to increase antimicrobial resistance. The irrational prescribing of antibiotics was found very high [above 50%] in Public sector hospital [Hospital-B] for every age group whereas in Private sector hospital [Hospital-A] this practice was found near to 50%. In this study the prescribing frequency of Amikacin, Cefixime, Cefotaxime, Meropenem, Amoxicillin, Vancomycin, Azithromycin, Levofloxacin and Clarithromycin was found above 80% in both hospitals [A and B]. Among these, Amoxicillin, Penicillin, Erythromycin and Cephalexin showed higher resistance i.e. 49.2%

Analysis of Work-related Injuries among Health Care Workers in Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Safety of healthcare workers (HCWs) is essential for patients safety. Despite of this fact, HCWs are at high risk of work-related injuries (WRI). Those injuries include falls, musculoskeletal disorders, needle stick injuries (NSIs) and workplace violence. These injuries have a negative impact on HCWs and reduces the quality of care. It is, therefore, important to analyze the occurrence of WRIs aiming the design of better targeted interventions to improve safety environment and work conditions in hospitals, which in turn, can improve the quality and outcomes of patient care. Methods: A retrospective study collected data about WRI reports available in the Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region (AFHSR). Injuries were NSIs that occurred during the period from January 2010 to June 2015 and workplace violence during the period from March 2014 to June 2015. Results: Total NSIs were 338 with a peak incidence of 85 (4.39%) during 2010, while the lowest incidence occurred during 2015 (n= 31, 1.12%). Regarding to workplace violence, 211 incidents were reported over the period of two years, and there was decreasing from 125 cases (4.73%) in 2014 to 86 cases (3.11%) in 2015. Discussion: The analysis showed that nurses had the highest rate of NSIs and workplace violence as compared to other HCWs. The highest rate of NSIs took place in dental, family and community medicine clinics which are usually crowded and had more activities, but emergency room and other clinics had the highest frequency of workplace violence. Conclusion: Needle stick injuries and workplace violence represent a major occupational challenge to HCWs in the hospital. To prevent those types of WRIs, there is a need for a system of environmental safety, continuous education, skills development, and infection control surveillance that is based on best available evidence of quality and safety best practices.

Antimalarial and insecticidal activities of newly synthesized derivatives of Benzimidazole

The bioactive benzimidazole and corresponding substituted phenacyl halides has been synthesized [11] new derivatives out of three compounds 8, 10 and 11 were found to inhibit the Plasmodium falciparum moderately after 72 hours of incubation hence acting as antimalarial agents. While these derivatives were exhibited negligible insecticidal activity too when analyzed by impregnated filter paper method

Anethum graveolens seeds aqueous extract stimulates whole brain 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism and reduces feeding behavior and body weight in obese rats

The percentage of overweight and obese person has increased markedly since several decays. Obesity is associated with increased risked factor for many diseases such as, diabetes, heart complications, arthritis and certain types of cancer. Feeding behavior is in controlled by a major interaction between central nervous system and many organs of the body. The role of serotonin [5-HT] in feeding behavior is well recognized. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of Anethum graveolens seeds aqueous extract [AGAE] on food intake, body weight and serotonin metabolism in over weight rats. Five weeks oral administration of AGAE shows significant decrease in body weight, food intake and significant increase in whole brain 5-HT, 5-HIAA and tryptophan level in brain and plasma of experimental animals. Increased level of 5-HT induced satiety and suppressed food intake and result is the reduction in body weight

Annona squamosa Linn: Cytotoxic activity found in leaf extract against human tumor cell lines

Cancer is a common cause of death in human populations. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy still remain the corner stone of treatment. However, herbal medicines are gaining popularity on account of their lesser harmful side effects on non-targeted human cells and biological environment. Annona squamosa Linn is a common delicious edible fruit and its leaf have been used for the treatment in various types of diseases

The objective of present study is to determine the anticancer potential of the organic and aqueous extracts of leaf of Annona squamosa L. MTT [3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazole-2yl]-2, 5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay against hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7404, lung cancer line H460, human epidermoid carcinoma cell line KB-3-1, prostatic cancer cell line DU145, breast carcinoma cell line MDA-MB-435, and colon cancer cell line HCT-116 Human primary embryonic kidney cell line HEK293 as control were used for the study

The crude extract [Zed] and Ethyl acetate extract [ZE] were found significant anticancer activity only on human epidermoid carcinoma cell line KB-3-1 and colon cancer cell line HCT-116

Antineoplastic activity of Holoptelea integrifolia [Roxb.] Planch bark extracts [in vitro]

Cancer remains the major public health concern with a number of cancer patients relying on chemotherapy as a treatment option. Although, advances in biomedical research have led to increased anticancer agents in recent years, the treatment is not always effective due to resistance, toxicity or other factors. Phytochemicals and their active components isolated from plants have provided diversified effective drugs many of them are currently used against cancer and other diseases. Holoptelea integrifolia [Roxb] Planch [Ulmaceae] is a widely distributed plant in many parts of the world, also grown in gardens of Pakistan. It is an ornamental plant with certain medicinal characteristics due to many valuable and active phyto constituents in various parts of the plant. We looked at in vitro antineoplastic effects of four different extracts, in butanol [BMBU], hexane [BMHx], ethyl acetate [BMET] and chloroform [BMCHF], from bark of Holoptelea integrifolia on small cell lung cancer, breast, prostate, coloretal and hepatocellular cancer cell lines. Plant extracts BMHx and BMET showed significant cytotoxic effects on breast and prostate cancer cells. These preliminary studies are encouraging to proceed further this research in future, regarding the isolation of active phytoconstituents in these extracts as well as its mechanism in chemoprevention and combination anticancer therapy

Atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis of some Pakistani herbal medicinal products used in respiratory tract infections

Heavy metals are one of the major causes of widespread occurrence of respiratory tract infections [RTIs]. Unani system of medicines utilizing plant extracts and herbal medicinal products [HMPs] are known to have remedial potential in different RTIs [flue, cough, bronchitis, allergy, asthma, nasal and chest congestion]. Being natural in origin chances of metal contamination cannot be ignored in Phytopharmaceuticals, therefore toxic metal contents [Pb, Cd, As, and Hg] were determined in some Pakistani branded HMPs being used in various RTIs through atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Research findings showed detectable levels of metals in all these formulations. Daily metals intakes via these HMPs were calculated as: 0.86-277.44 [Pb], 1.442-10.986 [Cd], 0.16-5.83 [As], and 0.00-0.09 microg/ day [Hg]. Prevalence of toxic metals in HMPs especially elevated levels of Pb and Cd, pose severe health risks to the consumers. Statistical interpretation of data using ANOVA followed by LSD [p<0.05], revealed significantly different metal concentrations among HMPs. To identify the metal contaminant of HMPs and highlight their toxic manifestations is the basic aim of this research. The study is not a bias to the beneficial effects of the Phytopharmaceuticals, rather is done to improve their quality and safety parameter according to the international health standards

Analgesic activity of various extracts of Holoptelea integrifolia [Roxb] Planch leaves

The various extracts of leaves Holoptelea integrifolia [Ulmaceae] were investigated for analgesic activity in mice by tail flick method. The fresh plant leaves of H. integrifolia were collected, dried, cleaned, weighed and chopped into small pieces and percolated in ethanol. The fractionation of crude extract, followed by the addition of distilled water, ethyl acetate and n-butanol to an aqueous portion of each solvent, to obtain the dried masses of each four layers. Qualitative chemical examination indicates the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavones, phenol, steroids, tannins and triterpenoids. No acute oral toxicity was observed and extracts considered being safe at the dose of 50-2000 mg/kg body weight. At the dose of 500 mg/kg various extracts of leaves of H. integrifolia were found statistically significant [P<0.05]. A maximum effect was established at 150 min, after drug administration. Diclofenace sodium used as a standard