Attia H. Atta

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of some Jordanian medicinal plant extracts.

The anti-nociceptive effect of ethanolic extract of 11 traditionally used Jordanian plants was studied by using the acetic acid-induced writhing and hot-plate test in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of these plants was determined by xylene-induced ear oedema in mice and cotton pellet granuloma test in rats. Mentha piperita, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Apium graveolens, Eucalyptus camaldulentis, and Ruta graveolens possess an anti-nociceptive effect against both acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate-induced thermal stimulation. M. piperita, Jasminum officinale, Commiphora molmol, and Beta vulgaris possess an anti-inflammatory effect against acute (xylene-induced ear oedema) and chronic (cotton-pellet granuloma) inflammation. The anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects were dose dependent. These data affirm the traditional use of some of these plants for painful and inflammatory conditions.

Pharmacological screening of the anti-ulcerogenic effects of some Jordanian medicinal plants in rats

Ethanolic extracts of 18 medicinal plants traditionally used in Jordan for the treatment of gastric ulcers were evaluated for their possible anti-ulcer activity. Among the tested plants, 12 extracts lowered the severity of ethanol-induced gastric damage in rats with curative ratios ranging from 62.9 to 99.5%. The most active extract was that of Quercus coccifera, with a curative ratio of 99.5%.

Hepatoprotective effect of methanol extracts of Zingiber officinale and Cichorium intybus.

The present work was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of ginger, chicory and their mixture against carbon tetrachloride intoxication in rats. Carbon tetrachloride treatment significantly elevated the alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltransferase activities and the serum triglycerides and cholesterol concentration as compared to control group. It also increased RBCs counts and Hb concentration, total or differential leucocytes counts. However it decreased platelet counts, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume, platelet larger cell ratio. Methanol extract of ginger (250 and 500 mg/kg) and chicory (250 and 500 mg/kg) given alone or mixed (1:1 wt/wt) significantly restored the carbon tetrachloride-induced alterations in the biochemical and cellular constituents of blood. No toxic symptoms were reported in doses up to 5 g/kg. Alkaloids and/or nitrogenous bases, carbohydrates and/or glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and unsaturated sterols and/or triterpenes are the main active constituents of their methanol extract. The hepatoprotective effect of ginger and chicory was also confirmed by the histopathological examination of liver tissue.

Benzodioxole–Pyrazole Hybrids as Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Agents with COX-1,2/5-LOX Inhibition and Antioxidant Potential

Two series of benzodioxole–pyrazole hybrids were synthesized and the IC50 values for in vitro inhibition of the enzymes cyclooxygenase 1/2 (COX‐1, COX‐2) and 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LOX) were investigated. All compounds were tested for their in vivo anti‐inflammatory and analgesic potentials using diclofenac sodium as a reference standard. Compounds 4, 11, 17, 20, 21, 26, and 27, which showed good analgesic and/or anti‐inflammatory activities, were also evaluated for their ability to inhibit tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α production, myeloperoxidase and proteinase, beside their antioxidant activity. Collectively, compounds 11, 17, and 26 displayed significant anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant activities, beside dual COX‐2 and 5‐LOX inhibition. Among these, compound 26 showed high selectivity for in vitro COX‐1/COX‐2 inhibition, whereas the analogs 11 and 17 noticeably ameliorated the TNF‐α level by 85.19 and 97.71%, respectively. A molecular docking study was performed to investigate the possible binding mode of compounds 11, 17, and 26 with the active sites of the COX‐2 and 5‐LOX enzymes, where they showed nearly the same binding pattern as that of celecoxib and meclofenamic acid, respectively.

Depletion of trimethoprim and sulphadiazine from eggs of laying hens receiving trimethoprim/sulphadiazine combination

Abstract The depletion of trimethoprim (TRM) and sulphadiazine (SDZ) in egg yolk and egg albumen of laying hens was studied after administration of TRM/SDZ combination in a dose of 0.2 and 0.4 g l −1 drinking water for five successive days. TRM and SDZ were extracted using a solid-phase extraction method and assayed by HPLC. TRM and SDZ appeared in egg yolk and egg albumen 1 day after administration of 0.2 or 0.4 g l −1 drinking water. Maximum concentration of TRM and SDZ was achieved 1 day after drug withholding. Maximum concentration of TRM was 0.43 and 0.81 μg g −1 in egg yolk and 0.24 and 0.43 μg g −1 in egg albumen after a dose of 0.2 and 0.4 g l −1 drinking water, respectively. Maximum concentration of SDZ was 0.15 and 0.18 μg g −1 in yolk and 0.22 and 0.32 μg g −1 in albumen after administration of the small and the large dose, respectively. TRM was detected up to day 5 and 7 in egg yolk and day 4 and 6 in albumen following the small and large dose, respectively. SDZ was detected up to day 4 and 6 in egg yolk and day 5 and 7 in egg albumen after the small and large dose, respectively. A suggested withdrawal time to tolerance level (0.05 and 0.1 μg g −1 for TRM and SDZ, respectively) is not less than 3 and 4 days after the use of 0.2 and 0.4 g l −1 drinking water, respectively.

Disposition of tylosin in goats

The disposition kinetics of tylosin was studied in goats after intravenous (i.v.) or intramuscular (i.m.) injection of 15 mg/kg body wt. Following i.v. injection, tylosin was rapidly and widely distributed with a distribution half-life of 0.2 h and volume of distribution of 1.7 l/kg. It was slowly eliminated with a mean elimination half-life of 3.04 h and a total body clearance rate of 6.8 ml/kg/min. Following i.m. injection, tylosin was slowly absorbed (tau 1/2 ab of 1.82 h). Tylosin concentration in serum was greater than 1 microgram/ml after 1 h and persisted up to 12 h post-injection. The peak concentration (Cmax 2.38 micrograms/ml) was obtained after 4.19 h. The systemic bioavailability of tylosin injected intramuscularly was 72.6% and the serum protein bound fraction was 37.59% of the total drug. Tylosin was excreted in milk and urine at concentrations much higher than that in serum. Low concentrations of tylosin were reported in ruminal juice of goats. In conclusion tylosin should be injected every 14 h to obtain an appreciable concentration in serum, milk and urine.

Anti-Inflammatory, Antipyretic and Antioxidant Effect of Some Medicinal Plant Extracts

The anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antioxidant effect of the methanol extract of Alhgi maurorum, Conyza dioscoridis and Convolvulus fatmensis was investigated. The anti-inflammatory effect was studied using carageenan-induced rat paw edema, while the antipyretic effect was estimated using Brewers yeast-induced hyperpyrexia in rats. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity method of different concentrations of the plant extracts using ascorbic acid as a standard antioxidant. The results revealed that oral administration of Alhgi maurorum and Convolvulus fatmensis at 1 g/ kg exhibited anti-inflammatory effect comparable to the standard diclofenac sodium (0.03 g/kg). The anti-inflammatory effect of Conyza dioscoridis appeared at lower doses 0.5g/kg. In all cases the maximum effect was obtained 2h after administration. None of the tested plant extracts showed antipyretic effect. The tested plant extracts showed variable degrees of antioxidant activity. Conyza dioscoridis showed the highest antioxidant effect (91.14%) and Alhgi maurorum has the least (28.78%) compared to the standard ascorbic acid (87.8%).

Phytochemical, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of different fractions of Moringa oleifera leaves methanol extract against liver injury in animal model

Objective: To evaluate the potential antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of n-hexane, dichloromethane(DCM), ethyl acetate(EtOAc), n-butanol and aqueous fractions of Moringa oleifera(M. oleifera) leaves methanol extract against carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats. Methods: These fractions were prepared from the M. oleifera leaves methanol extract by solubilization in water and partitioning in n-hexane, EtOAc, DCM and n-butanol. Their phyto-components were identified by GC-MS analysis. The in vitro antioxidant effect of these fractions was carried out by assessment of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity. A total of 40 Sprague Dawley rats were allocated into 8 equal groups: group 1 given olive oil (1 mL/kg b.wt.), group 2 injected with CCl4, group 3 to 7 administered with n-hexane, DCM, EtOAc, n-butanol and aqueous fractions, respectively after CCl4, group 8 administered with silymarin after CCl4. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, total proteins and albumin in serum were determined spectrophotometrically. Glutathione reduced, lipid peroxide by-products levels, glutathione-s-transferase and catalase enzyme activities in the liver homogenate were determined by spectrophotometer. Liver specimens were also examined for histopathological alterations under light microscope. Results: The GC-MS analysis of different fractions of the M. oleifera leaves methanol extract revealed that n-hexane, DCM, EtOAc, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions contained 17, 22, 23, 19 and 32 compounds, respectively. The percent and the molecular structure of each component in each fraction were identified. The n-butanol and EtOAc fractions exhibited the strongest in vitro antioxidant activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. CCl4 significantly decreased glutathione reduced and total proteins concentration and glutathione-s-transferase and catalase activities but increased lipid peroxide by-products and total cholesterol levels. The n-hexane followed by aqueous and DCM fractions were the most potent to regulate serum enzyme activities and lipid peroxide by-products levels in the liver homogenate. Conclusions: n-hexane, DCM, and aqueous fractions have the highest effectiveness against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Isolation and purification of the active constituents require further experiments.

Pharmacokinetics of cefquinome following intravenous and intramuscular injection in camels

The pharmacokinetics of cefquinome was determined in camels following single intravenous and intramuscular injection at a dose of 1 mg/kg into 5 healthy she-camels. A crossover study was carried out in 2 periods separated by 30 days clearance period. Cefquinome concentrations in plasma were determined by LC-MS/MS assay. Cefquinome concentration vs time data after IV and IM was best fitted to a two-compartment open model. Cefquinome mean values of area under concentration-time curve (AUC) were 15.37 ± 1.06 and 12.85 ± 2.15 μg/ml/h after IV and IM injection, respectively. Distribution and elimination half-lives were 0.14 ± 0.04 h and 3.15 ± 0.22 h after IV dose and 1.42 ± 0.11 h and 6.68 ± 0.87 h after IM administration. The value of total body clearance (Cltot) was 0.07 ± 0.001 L/kg/h and volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) was 0.27 ± 0.02 L/kg. In conclusion, cefquinome persisted in plasma for 12 hours at concentration that exceeds the MIC for many microorganisms such as Streptococcus spp., Staphylococci, Klebsiella spp., Pasteurella spp., Salmonella spp. and enteric and systemic Escherichia coli. Therefore, it is suggested using cefquinome twice daily intravenously or intramuscularly at a dose of 1mg/kg in camels.