Anwar Ul Islam

Effects of Aqueous Extract of Fresh Leaves of Abroma augusta L. on Oral Absorption of Glucose and Metformin Hydrochloride in Experimental Rats

To get better control in disease conditions, many people take herbs with conventional medicines, therefore, posing a risk of potential pharmacokinetic interactions between herbs and conventional drugs. The aqueous extract of the fresh leaves of Abroma augusta L. (Family: Sterculiaceae, Bengali name: Ulatkambal, English name: Devils cotton, DC) is viscous and used traditionally to treat diabetes mellitus. This study was done to investigate the probable mechanism by which the aqueous extract of Abroma augusta L. is beneficial in managing type 2 DM and to observe the effects of this extract on absorption of metformin hydrochloride from the gastrointestinal tract. Studies were conducted in healthy Long Evans rats using Na-carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as positive control. Both Na-CMC and WSF of DC significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the absorption of glucose administered orally in fasted rats. On the other hand, WSF of DC significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the absorption of metformin hydrochloride in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The results of this study suggest that WSF of DC may be beneficial in diabetic patients to improve glycemic control but should not be coadministered with metformin HCl for management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Water-soluble Fraction of Abelmoschus esculentus L Interacts with Glucose and Metformin Hydrochloride and Alters Their Absorption Kinetics after Coadministration in Rats.

This study was done to investigate the effects of water-soluble fraction (WSF) of the fruits of Abelmoschus esculentus L (okra/ladys fingers) on absorption of oral glucose as well as metformin from the gastrointestinal tract in the Long Evans rats. WSF of A. esculentus significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the absorption of glucose as studied in the 24 hrs fasting rats. The effect of WSF of A. esculentus on metformin absorption was studied in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the average blood glucose level from 2 to 24 hours after metformin therapy in presence (33.6 to 34.2 mmol/L) or absence (15.2 to 20.2 mmol/L) of oral WSF of A. esculentus. In both of the experiments, Na-carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was used as positive control. The results of this study indicate that A. esculentus may improve glycemic control but should not be taken concurrently with metformin hydrochloride in controlling diabetes mellitus.

Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Co-culture of Streptomyces sp. ANAM-5 and AIAH-10 Isolated From Mangrove Forest of Sundarbans, Bangladesh.

In this study we investigated the antimicrobial and anticancer activities of ethyl acetate extract of co-culture of Streptomyces sp. ANAM-5 and AIAH-10 isolated from soil of mangrove forest Sundarbans, Bangladesh. The antimicrobial activity of ethyl acetate extract was determined using broth-dilution method against Candida albicans, Saccharromyces cerevaceae and Aspergillus niger whereas anticancer activity was evaluated against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells in Swiss albino mice with the dose of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight (i.p). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of ethyl acetate extract was found 32μg/ml against Candida albicans while 64 μg/ml against Saccharromyces cerevaceae and Aspergillus niger. The antineoplastic activity of the crude extract was increased in dose dependent manner with a significant value (p<0.01). Bacterial crude extract enhanced the mean survival time (MST) of tumor bearing mice at 71.79% and maximum cell growth inhibition was found 75.75 % with dose of 100 mg/kg body weight (i.p.). Our study revealed that ethyl acetate extract of co-culture of Streptomyces sp. ANAM-5 and AIAH-10 is an excellent source of antimicrobial and anticancer compounds which may become helpful to treat infections and cancer.

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Effects of Dendrophthoe pentranda Leaves on CCl4 -Induced Hepatotoxic Rat

The aim of the study was to evaluate the phytochemical profile, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of aqueous (ADPL), ethanol (EDPL), chloroform (CDPL) and petroleum ether (PDPL) extracts of Dendrophthoe pentandra leaves. The total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) were determined by using Folin Ciocalteu method and aluminium chloride assay, respectively. Antioxidant effect was assessed by using DPPH radical scavenging, ferric reducing power (FRP) and total antioxidant content (TAC) assay. Hepatoprotective effect was evaluated against CCl4-induced liver toxicity in long evans rats. Among the extracts, EDPL and PDPL had the highest TAC and TFC. EDPL and PDPL showed potent antioxidant effect that exhibited IC50 31.62 ± 4.10 and 24.30 ± 3.45 μg/ml (DPPH), EC50 28.18 ± 4.24 and 39.25 ± 5.20 μg/ml (FRP) and 373.83 ± 9.10, 352.67 ± 10.23, mg/g equivalent of ascorbic acid (TAC), respectively. The CCl4 significantly induced elevation of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP) and bilirubin as well as liver damage (cirrosis, ballooning and necrosis). However, treatment with D. pentandra extracts (200 mg/kg, p.o) significantly counter balanced the toxicity towards the normal animals. The research may direct further advanced studies to find out hepatoprotective compounds.

In vitro Development of Resistance to Azithromycin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Antimicrobial resistance has been considered as a growing public health problem all over the world. Due to improper use of antibiotics many bacterial species including the Pseudomonas aeruginosa become resistant. So, the objectives of this study were to determine the success or failure of antibiotic therapy. Tests were performed in vitro and measured the growth response of an isolated bacterium to a particular drug. This study determined the zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and time at which bacteria showed resistance. From sensitivity test, it showed that P. aeruginosa is sensitive to azithromycin antibiotic. MIC level of P. aeruginosa that was found from the analysis was 3 μg/ml and from further analysis it was found that P. aeruginosa grew resistance when it got up to 2.5 μg/ml concentration of antibiotic below MIC level for 24 hours. When the P. aeruginosa was treated with the concentration upto 2.5 μg/ml for 24 hours then it showed growth at the concentration of MIC level. It means that P. aeruginosa got the drug below MIC level for a certain period and became resistant to azithromycin.

Identification of Bacteria that Contaminate Stored Streptomycin Species at 4°C

The discovery of antibiotic phenomenon was developed due to the contamination of an unknown organism to the culture medium. Flemings accidental discovery and isolation of penicillin in September 1928 marks the start of modern antibiotics. The first antibiotics were of natural origin, e.g. penicillin produced by fungi in the genus Penicillium, or Streptomycin from bacteria of the genus Streptomyces. Besides actinomycete bacteria, another important source of antibiotics is the genus Bacillus (Logan and De Vos, 2009). The genus Bacillus has been known as an important source of antibiotic producers since the “golden age” of antibiotic discovery (Schaffer, 1969). Just in the organism B. subtilis, 12 antibiotic compounds have been International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 5 Number 9 (2016) pp. 617-625 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com