Birendra Kumar Roy

Antidiabetic activity and phytochemical screening of crude extract of Stevia rebaudiana in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Background: Stevia rebaudiana regulates blood sugar, prevents hypertension and tooth decay. Other studies have shown that it has antibacterial as well as antiviral property. Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening of aqueous, ether and methanolic extracts of S. rebaudiana was done. Acute and sub-acute toxicity were conducted on twenty four Albino rats, divided into one control (Group I) and three treatment groups viz. aqueous extract (Group II), ether extract (Group III) and methanolic extract (Group IV). For the study of antidiabetic effect of S. rebaudiana rats were divided into seven groups (n=6). Diabetes was induced by a single dose of 5% alloxan monohydrate (125 mg/kg, i.p.) after 24 hour fasting.Blood samples were analysed on day 0, 1, 5, 7, 14 and 28. Results: Phytochemical tests showed presence of different kinds of phyto-constituents in aqueous, ether and methanol extract of Stevia rebaudiana leaves. Daily single dose (2.0 g/kg) administration of aqueous extract (A.E.) , ether extract (E.E.) and methanol extract (M.E.) for 28 days of S. rebaudiana could not show any significant change in ALT and AST levels in rats. Blood sugar level was found to be decreased on day 28 in groups of rats treated with A.E., E.E. and M.E. of S. rebaudiana. Conclusion: The extracts of Stevioside rebaudiana could decrease the blood glucose level in diabetic rats in time dependent manner.

Hepatoprotective activity of Moringa oleifera against cadmium toxicity in rats.

Aim: The present investigation has been conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Moringa oleifera against cadmium-induced toxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: For this study, 18 Wistar albino rats were taken. Control group, Group I rats were given cadmium chloride @ 200 ppm per kg and Group II rats were treated with M. oleifera extract @ 500 mg/kg along with cadmium chloride @ 200 ppm per kg (daily oral for 28 days). On 29th day, animals were slaughtered and various parameters were determined. Serum biomarkers, oxidative stress parameters, histomorphological examination were carried out with estimation of cadmium concentration in liver tissues. Results: Oral administration of cadmium chloride @ 200 ppm/kg for 28 days resulted in a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), significant (p≤0.01) increase of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), and increase in cadmium accumulation in liver. Treatment with M. oleifera @ 500 mg/kg significantly (p<0.01) decreased the elevated ALP, AST, ALT, LPO levels and increase in SOD levels, and as compared to cadmium chloride treated group. However, there was no significant difference in cadmium concentration in liver when compared with cadmium chloride treated group. Conclusion: The study conclude that supplementation of M. oleifera (500 mg/kg), daily oral for 28 days has shown protection against cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity.

Hepatoprotective activity of Tephrosia purpurea against arsenic induced toxicity in rats

Aim: The present study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Tephrosia purpurea (TP) against sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) induced sub-acute toxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty four wistar albino rats of either sex were randomly divided into three groups. Group II and III were orally administered with sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg) daily in drinking water for 28 days. Additionally Group III was orally treated with hydro-alcoholic extract of Tephrosia purpurea (TP) @ 500 mg/kg daily for the same time period, whereas only deionized water was given to Group I (control). Serum biomarker levels, oxidative stress parameters and arsenic concentration were assessed in liver. Histopathology was also conducted. Results: It has been seen that TPE (500 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.01) reduced serum ALT, AST, ALP activity and increased total protein and reduced necrosis and inflammation in liver of group III compared to group II. A significantly (P < 0.01) higher LPO and lower GSH levels without change in SOD activity in liver was also observed in group II compared to group III, though there was no significant difference in arsenic accumulation between them. The plant extract also protects the animals of group III from significant (P < 0.01) reduction in body weight. Conclusion: Our study shows that supplementation of Tephrosia purpurea extract (500 mg/kg) could ameliorate the hepatotoxic action of arsenic.

Antidiabetic Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Crude Extract of Stevia Rebaudiana in Alloxan-induced Diabetiis Rats

Abstract Results of phytochemical tests showed presence of different kinds of phyto-constituents in aqueous, ether and methanol extract of Stevia rebaudiana leaves. Daily single dose (2.0 g/kg) administration of aqueous extract (A.E.), ether extract (E.E.) and methanol extract (M.E.) for 28 days of S. rebaudiana could not show any significant change in ALT and AST levels in rats. Blood sugar level was found to be decreased on day 28 in groups of rats treated with A.E., E.E. and M.E. of S. rebaudiana .

Ameliorative Effect of Tephrosia Purpurea in Arsenic-induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats.

Objectives: The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the nephroprotective activity of Tephrosia purpurea (TPE) against arsenic-induced toxicity. Materials and Methods: Twenty four number of wistar rats were equally divided into three groups. Sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg) was orally given to group I for 28 days, additionally group II was orally treated with TPE (500 mg/kg), while the control group was kept untreated with neither arsenic nor TPE. Serum biomarker levels, oxidative stress indices and arsenic concentration in kidney were estimated. Histopathology of kidney was also conducted. Results: Group II animals show significantly reduced blood urea nitrogen and plasma creatinine, and increased serum albumin level compared to group I. The higher lipid peroxidation with exhausted superoxide dismutase activity and reduced glutathione level were noticed in group I compared to group II. There was no significant difference in arsenic accumulation in kidneys between the two arsenic treated groups, but the histopathology of kidney of group II rats revealed reduced necrosis and intact tubular architecture as compared to group I. Conclusions: Tephrosia Purpurea extract has a significant role in protecting the animals from arsenic-induced nephrotoxicity.

Free copper: a new endogenous chemical mediator of inflammation in birds.

For acceptance of any chemical agent as an endogenous chemical mediator of inflammation, the agent in question must fulfill some biological requirements which are (a) it should be ubiquitously present in tissues in inactive form, (b) it should be activated during process of inflammation whose increase should be identifiable, (c) it should induce or amplify some events of inflammation, (d) there must be some natural inhibitor of such active form in tissues, (e) it should be able to induce inflammatory reaction after exogenous injection, (f) such reaction should be inhibited by exogenous use of their antagonists, and (g) it should be amplified by use of agonists. Copper in its protein free or protein bound form are reported to act as pathogenic factor in inflammatory processes due to oxidative stress. But their role as endogenous chemical mediator of inflammation does not appear to be investigated thoroughly in light of abovementioned biological criterion of mediator. Present study aims at thorough exploration on role of free copper as endogenous chemical mediator of inflammation in light of above facts. It was done by estimation of total copper, protein-bound copper, and free copper along with estimation of free radical generation, increase in vascular permeability, and cellular infiltration during acute inflammatory reaction induced by carrageenan and concanavalin using chicken skin as test model. It was further evaluated by use of exogenous free copper in experimental model and their subsequent inhibition and amplification by chemical chelators of copper. Present study confirms that free copper fulfilled all the biological requirements for accepting it as an endogenous chemical mediator of inflammation.

Effects of Concurrent Administration of Meloxicam on Pharmacokinetic Parameters of Enrofloxacin in Turkeys

The pharmacokinetic studies of enrofloxacin was conducted in eighteen turkeys (1 to 1.5 years age) weighing between 3 to 4 kg following single i.v. dose (10 mg/kg b.w.) alone and with meloxicam (1 mg/kg b.w.). Quantitative estimation of enrofloxacin and meloxicam was done by high performance liquid chromatography. The maximum concentration of drug in plasma (Cp max ) of enrofloxacin with meloxicam (8.42 ± 0.40 μg/ml) was not significantly different from that of enrofloxacin alone (9.68 ± 0.44 μg/ml). Pharmacokinetic parameters of enrofloxacin alone (C°p =10.38±0.43 μg/ml, t ½ β =2.73±0.12 h, MRT = 3.65±0.21 h, Cl B = 8.41±0.66 ml/kg/min, Vd area = 1.95±0.08 L/kg) as compared to when it was administered with meloxicam ( C°p =9.35±0.62 μg/ml, t ½ β =2.70±0.13 h, MRT =3.73±0.18 h, Cl B = 9.79±0.84 ml/kg/min, Vd area = 2.26±0.15 L/kg) in turkeys did not differ significantly. The t ½ β of meloxicam with enrofloxacin (2.50±0.08 h) was significantly shorter as compared to meloxicam alone (3.03±0.18 h). Based on pharmacokinetic studies ENR may be injected at dose rate of 4.5 mg/kg i.v. at an interval of 20.38 h in turkeys.

Effect of Induced Mastitis on Disposition Kinetics of Gatifloxacin Following Intravenous Administration in Goats

Disposition kinetic studies of gati fl oxacin (GAT) was conducted after single i.v. dose (10 mg/kg) in six healthy and six mastitic Black Bengal lactating goats. Mastitis was induced by coagulase positive S. aureus . The concentration of the drug was estimated by HPLC. The maximum milk concentration was found to be signi fi cantly (p< 0.05) higher in mastitic goats (12.78 ± 3.11 μ g/ml) than healthy (9.17 ± 1.41 μ g/ml). The therapeutic milk concentration in mastitic goats (0.13 ± 0.05 to 12.41 ± 2.99 μ g/ml) was maintained for 48 h which was signi fi cantly (p<0.01) longer than in healthy goats (24 h). The elimination half-life in plasma and milk of mastitic goats (5.82 ± 0.67 and 8.20±0.21 h) was signi fi cantly (p<0.01) higher than healthy (4.54 ± 0.75 and 3.67±0.09 h).It indicates that GAT persisted in the body of mastitic goats for a longer duration. The AUC milk /AUC plasma ratio was 5.82. The t ½ milk /t ½ plasma ratio was 1.41. MIC in this experiment was considered to be 0.1 μ g/ml. The AUC/MIC ratio of plasma and milk of mastitic goats were 180 and 1049 respectively. On the basis of the results obtained it was concluded that GAT exhibited improved pharmacokinetic parameters with good penetration and longer persistence in mastitic milk, which will be of great help in the treatment of mastitis in goats caused by S. aureus .

Pharmacokinetics of Diminazene Aceturate in Buffalo Calves

The pharmacokinetic study of diminazene aceturate (DMZ) was carried out in two separate groups of 4 e ach clinically healthy female Murrah buffalo calves aft er single dose i.v. (8 mg/kg) and i.m. (16 mg/kg) administrat ion. The mean free peak serum concentration of DMZ (CS max ) after i.v. (26.28±0.67μ g/ml) and i.m. (8.41±2.43 μ g/ml) a dmin- istrations were obtained at t max of 5 and 30 min respectively. The DMZ serum concentrations time data were best fi tted to the two compartment open model. The calculated s erum half life (t ½ β ) values of DMZ were 15.099±2.504 and 14.225±2.682 h after i.v. and i.m. administration r espec- tively. The mean values of total body clearance rat e of DMZ (ClB) after i.m. (3.785±1.119 ml/kg/min) was signif icantly higher (P<0.05) as compared with the i.v. (0.537±0. 063 ml/kg/min). DMZ was highly bound (77.14 to 94.40%) to buffalo calf plasma protein and its penetration int o erythro- cytes increased with increasing concentrations in b lood (7.60 to 33.00μ g/ml). Based on pharmacokinetic profiles, the satisfactory dosage regimens of diminazene aceturat e in buffalo calves were derived (2 mg/kg, i.v. and 12mg /kg, i.m). In case of emergent disease conditions to ens ure high DMZ serum concentrations, i.v. route may be preferr ed over i.m. route.

Clinico-anesthetic changes following administration of propofol alone and in combination of meperidine and pentazocine lactate in dogs

Aim: The aim of this study is to find out the effect of propofol and its combination with meperidine and pentazocine lactate on certain clinico-anesthetic profiles in dogs. Materials and Methods: 15 apparently healthy mongrel dogs of either sex of about 1 year of age were randomly divided into three groups of five dogs each. The animals of Group I were administered propofol intravenously alone “to effect,” whereas meperidine at 2 mg/kgb.wt. and pentazocine lactate at 2 mg/kg b.wt. were injected intramuscularly 15 min before propofol “to effect” in Groups II and III, respectively. Atropine sulfate at 0.04 mg/kgb.wt. was injected intramuscularly 20 min before each treatment. Rectal temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, and anesthetic indices were recorded before and at 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min of induction. Results: As compared to Group I, the animals of Groups II and III exhibited a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the level of rectal temperature, respiration rate, and heart rate. Duration of recumbency, time of standing, time of recovery as well as the duration of analgesia were longer in pentazocine lactate (Group III) followed by meperidine (Group II) as compared to propofol alone (Group I). Meperidine treated dogs showed defecation and muscle twitching during anesthesia. Conclusion: Meperidine and pentazocine are suitable opioids used in combination with propofol for achieving surgical anesthesia and helpful in reduction of propofol dose.