Alex Boye

Hypotensive effect of an aqueous extract of Heliotropium indicum Linn (Boraginaceae)

A simple, rapid, accurate and precise isocratic reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP - HPLC) method has been developed for simultaneous estimation of febuxostat and diclofenac potassium in combined dosage form by using phenomenex C18 column (statio nary phase) having dimension of 4.6 × 250 mm and particle size of 5 μm and mobile phase containing a mixtur e of 0.02 M potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate buffer (adjusted to pH 7 with sodium hydroxide): acetonitrile: methanol (35:9:56 v/v/v) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and detection was carried out at 290 nm. The retention times of febuxostat and diclofenac pot assium were 6.01 ± 0.02 minutes and 7.10 ± 0.02 minutes respectively. The developed method was validated as per ICH guideline for specificity, linearity, accuracy and precision , limit of detection and limit of quantification. Linearity studies for the deve loped method were found in the range of 5 to 30 μg/ml for febuxostat and 12.5 to 75 μg/ml for diclofenac potassium respectively. The accuracy of the method was studied by recovery study and found to be in the range of 98 % - 102 %. The % RSD for intraday a nd inter day precision was found less than 2. The new RP - HPLC method was successfully applied to marketed formulation of Febuxostat and Diclofenac potassium without any interference from excipients.

In vivo antimalarial activity of stem bark extracts of Plumeria alba against Plasmodium berghei in imprinting control region mice

License. The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Ltd, provided the work is properly attributed. Permissions beyond the scope of the License are administered by Dove Medical Press Ltd. Information on how to request permission may be found at: http://www.dovepress.com/permissions.php Reports in Parasitology 2013:3 19–25 Reports in Parasitology Dovepress

Anti-asthmatic property and possible mode of activity of an ethanol leaf extract of Polyscias fruticosa

Abstract Context: Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms (Araliaceae) is used as a traditional remedy for asthma in Ghana. Objective: The objective of this study is to establish the anti-asthmatic property and a possible mode of activity of an ethanol leaf extract of P. fruticosa (PFE). Materials and methods: The time (min) for pre-convulsive dyspnea, and time for recovery, after sensitization with 150 μg OVA and induction of bronchospasm with 1% acetylcholine or histamine in normal, and 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg PFE-treated Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs, were recorded. Atropine (0.1 mg), mepyramine (0.1 mg), and PFE (1 mg) effect on a contractile response of 2.0 × 10−2 μg/ml acetylcholine and 5.8 × 10−2 μg/ml histamine on the isolated guinea pig ileum was investigated. Cytological and histological studies were conducted using guinea pig peritoneal mast cells and mesenteric cells, respectively, to establish PFE effect on compound 48/80-induced mast cell degranulation. Results: PFE (100–500 mg/kg) prolonged the onset of pre-convulsive dyspnea by 76.1–180.2% (p ≤ 0.01–0.001), and decreased recovery time by 71.9–78.5% (p ≤ 0.01–0.001). It also enhanced percentage protection against histamine-induced bronchospasm by 15.8–80.1-fold (p ≤ 0.05–0.01), and decreased percentage recovery time 2.5–3.3-fold (p ≤ 0.05–0.01). PFE significantly inhibited (60.4 ± 8.3%) contractile responses of histamine and produced significant inhibition (56–79%: p ≤ 0.001) of mast cell degranulation. Conclusion: PFE has anti-asthmatic, antihistaminic, and mast cell stabilization effect making it useful in traditional asthma management.

Nephroprotective and curative assessment of an aqueous seed extract of Parkia clappertoniana Keay in gentamicin-induced renal damage in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Aim: To assess the nephroprotective and curative effects of an aqueous seed extract of Parkia clappertoniana on gentamicin-induced renal damage (GIRD) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Study Design: Experimental Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medical Laboratory, University of Cape Coast, Ghana between September, 2012 and May 2013. Methodology: In assessing nephro protective effect, rats were pretreated (10 days) with P. clappertoniana aqueous seed extract (1-2 g kg; p.o) prior to induction of renal damage by treatment with gentamicin (0.08g kg; p.o, for 8 days. Serum biochemical markers (Creatinine, Urea, Na and K) and urine parameters (leukocyte, protein, specific gravity and pH) of renal damage were determined and compared with baseline values. In a curative study, GIRD in rats was treated with Normal Saline (2 ml kg; p.o), Losartan Original Research Article European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 4(2): 234-248, 2014 235 (0.05 g kg; p.o), or extract (1-2 g kg; p.o) for 14 days and serum and urine parameters determined for all treatments. Histopathology and changes in kidney weights for normal and treated rats in both studies were assessed. The extract was screened for DPPH radical scavenging activity. Results: The extract significantly (P ≤ .001) reduced elevated serum creatinine and urea secondary to GIRD (P ≤ .05) and significantly (P ≤ .05) reduced elevated serum Na but had no effect on K. Elevated urine proteins and leucocytes secondary to GIRD was significantly (P ≤ .05) reduced; but had no significant effect on urine pH and specific gravity. Elevated kidney weights associated with GIRD was significantly (P≤ .01) reduced. Histopathological assessment revealed healing effect by extract to GIRD. Effects of the extract were similar to Losartan. Pretreatment with extract however had no significant effect on GIRD as serum and urine parameters, as well as kidney weights were significantly (P≤ .01) elevated on induction of renal damage. Conclusion: The aqueous seed extract of Parkia clappertoniana has curative but no nephroprotective effect on gentamicin-induced renal damage in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Follicular Development and Post-implantation Loss Assessments in non-pregnant and pregnant rats orally Exposed to Polyscias Fruticosa Leaf Extract

Background: Previously, folk claims of P. fruticosa were ascertained pharmacologically; and its safety studied, but its effect/safety on female reproductive system remained unknown. Objective: The study assessed P. fruticosa leaf extract (PFE) on follicular development in non-pregnant rats; implantation and post-implantation loss in pregnant rats. Methods: The study used healthy adult non-pregnant and pregnant female and male Wistar rats (150-200 g). Non-pregnant rats were randomly assigned to five groups: normal saline (5 ml/kg po), Clomiphene citrate (50 mg/kg po) and PFE (100, 200, 500 mg/kg po) and treated once daily for 21 days. Dams were sacrificed under deep anesthesia on day 22. ELISA kit was used to measure serum estrogen, FSH and LH. Uterus and ovary were histologically assessed. Dams were co-habited with fertile males for one week; confirmed day 1 pregnant rats were randomly re-assigned to five groups with Misoprostol (200 mg/kg) as reference and treated once daily for 15 days. Implantation and post-implantation loss were assessed (6 and 15 gestations). Results: PFE and clomiphene citrate increased follicular development at the primordial and primary follicle stages compared to control. PFE improved uterine musculature compared to control. PFE decreased serum FSH but increased (P