Cytotoxic, embryotoxic, insecticidal and anti-microbial activities of standardized Areca catechu nut

The study was aimed at evaluating various biological actions of widely consumed Areca catechu nut. The nut's ethanolic extract exhibited cytotoxicity [lung cancer cell line], embryotoxicity [chick embryo], phytotoxicity [Lemna minor], insecticidal [Rhyzopertha dominica], anti-bacterial [Pseudomonas aeruginosa], anti-fungal [Microsporum canis] and mitogenic [human blood lymphocytes] actions. The standardization results revealed presence of 1.7 microg arecoline per mg of extract. In conclusion, the Areca nut is endowed with both harmful and beneficial biological actions. Keeping in view its wide consumption and ease of availability, the aforesaid information should be channelized for health and agricultural benefits

Depressive symptoms, monoamines levels, MAO-B activity and effect of treatment in a subset of depressed individuals from government sector hospital at Karachi

Depression is one of the leading causes of disability in developing countries including Pakistan. This study was designed to assess the frequency and severity of depressive symptoms, monoamines and their metabolite levels, MAO-B activities before and after treatment with antidepressants in a sub-set of Karachi population in Pakistan. Drug naive depressed subjects were evaluated before and after treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Symptoms of depressed mood and anxiety psychic [90%] were more frequent whereas, suicidal thoughts [tilde50%] and feelings of guilt [tilde30%] were less common. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were 21.4 +/- 0.8 in both genders with a significantly higher score [1.3x] in females. Homovanillic acid, 5- hydroxyindoleacetic acid and MAO-B activity were significantly higher 43%, 66% and 25% respectively, in depressed than normal subjects. A significant decline after 2 weeks treatment in HDRS scores with fluoxetine [19%] and paroxetine [40%] and in MAO-B activity [20%] was observed. In conclusion, in our population early decline in HDRS scores supports that they are SSRIs responders, whereas a concomitant reduction in MAO-B activities indicates that it can be considered as one of the parameters for early detection of response. Additionally, the low frequency of suicidal thoughts could be associated with higher levels of monoamine metabolites

Phytochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of flowers of phlox drummondii

The extracts and fractions of flowers of Phloxdrum mondii were evaluated for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Their purification resulted in the isolation of four known constituents of which uracil and 2-methyl-1,2,3,4- butantetrol have not been obtained previously from any specie of the genus Phlox, while isolation of the flavonoid glycosides [1] and [2] have been reported from the flowers of the plant. Among all the samples PhFC and its fraction PhFCM showed significant activity against both bacteria and fungi. Flavonoid glycoside O-rhamnosyl-6-C-xylosylapigenin 1 and O-rhamnosyl- 6- C-xylosylluteolin 2 demonstrated antioxidant activity which were of same magnitude [IC50 42.67 +/- 4.99 micro g/ml and 46.33 +/- 6.65 micro g/ml, respectively]. Thereby, suggesting that the presence or absence of hydroxyl group at position C-3' does not play a significant role in said activity in this case. Interestingly, the mixture of 1 and 2 apparently showed synergism as reflected by 45% improvement in antioxidant activity as compared to the individual values obtained for either 1 or 2

Comparison of monoamine reuptake inhibitors for the immobility time and serotonin levels in the hippocampus and plasma of sub-chronically forced swim stressed rats

The current study was aimed at comparing the behavioral and biochemical [5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels] effects of monoamine reuptake inhibitors [fluoxetine, venlafaxine and imipramine] in sub-chronically forced swim stressed rats. At the given doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg, among aforesaid antidepressants, the imipramine treatment alone caused significant decline in the immobility time of rats [IC[50] - 20 mg/kg]. In the hippocampus of rats, the imipramine treatment caused significant elevation of 5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT] whereas, the fluoxetine and venlafaxine elicited significant increase in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid [5-HIAA] levels. Likewise, in the plasma of rats, the imipramine treatment significantly increased the 5-HIAA levels whereas, the fluoxetine and venlafaxine treatment significantly elevate the 5-HT levels. It can therefore be inferred that the imipramine did not act like other monoamine reuptake inhibitors in biochemical study, which could possibly underlie its ability to be detected in forced swim test [behavioral study]. Moreover, the re-uptake inhibition of 5-HT is not accountable for the antidepressant action exhibited in forced swim test