Divya Bansal

Rutin exerts antiulcer effect by inhibiting the gastric proton pump

415 Indian Journal of Pharmacology | August 2013 | Vol 45 | Issue 4 marker of a complete DPD deficiency phenotype. In this light, Johnson et al., reported a profound DPD deficiency case with absent DPD activity and a particularly elevated plasmatic U levels.[3] The result obtained by Johnson et al., was completely consistent with our findings. Moreover, another study showed that the Uracil / dihydrouracil plasmatic ratio could be used as a phenotypic test for the assessment of DPD deficiency,[4] which was also in agreement with our findings. The molecular analysis performed on the patient‘s DPD gene (DPYD) revealed the absence of known pathogenic mutations.[1] Therefore, we looked for some mutations that could be responsible for the deleterious effects on the DPD activity in the studied subjects, but none of these mutations was found. This data demonstrated that the absence of known mutations in some cancer patients and the great number of mutations involved in DPD deficiency could be a limitation for the molecular approaches used as tools to screen for DPD deficiency in cancer patients. The simple and rapid phenotypic approach described in this report could be a reliable method to pre-screen DPD deficiency in cancer patients.

An experimetal evaluation of nephroprotective potential of Butea monosperma extract in albino rats.

Objective: The current work was aimed to evaluate the nephroprotective potential of Butea monosperma. Materials and Methods: Butea monosperma was collected from local forest of Jabalpur and extracted with ethanol. Healthy adult male Wistar albino rats between 5 and 6 months of age and weighing about 150-200 g were used for the study. Acute toxicity studies were performed to determine dose of extract. Nephrotoxicity was induced by gentamicin. Animals were divided in four groups in which first group served as positive control, second group as gentamicin treated toxic control; animals of group three and four were treated with Butea monosperma extract. Extract was administered to animals via oral route. Serum creatinine, serum urea, and blood urea nitrogen were estimated. Body weight was also determined. Histopathological studies were performed to access gross anatomical changes in animals. Results: The extract of Butea monosperma was found to be rich in flavonoids, polyphenolics, and alkaloids. Urine creatinine, serum urea, and blood urea nitrogen were found to be significantly (P < 0.001) increased in rats treated with only gentamicin; whereas, treatment with the ethanolic extract of leaf of Butea monosperma reversed the effect of gentamicin indicating nephroprotective activity. Conclusion: The present study revealed that ethanolic extract of Butea monosperma is a good source of phytochemicals. The phytoconstituents flavonoids, phenolics, and alkaloids present in the extracts may be responsible for antioxidant activity. By the virtue of antioxidant activity, Butea monosperma demonstrated nephroprotective activity.

Delivery of amphotericin B for effective treatment of Candida albicans induced dermal mycosis in rats via emulgel system: Formulation and evaluation

Background: Amphotericin B (AmB) is among the gold standard antifungal agents used for the treatment of the wide range of fungal infections. However, the drug has various side- effects. Transdermal approach for the delivery of drug is one of the accepted and convenient modes of drug delivery. Aim: The current work was designed to formulate and to evaluate the AmB emulgel system. Materials and Methods: In the preparation of AmB emulgel, Carbopol 930 was used as a gel in this study. The formulation was evaluated for viscosity, spreadability, drug content, drug release and in vitro and in vivo antifungal testing. Results: AmB emulgel was found to penetrate skin effectively and without any irritation. Further, in vivo studies revealed effective therapeutic potential against Candida albicans induced dermal mycosis. Conclusions: The current work, for the first time, revealed effective delivery of AmB across the skin.

Harnessing the potential of bacterial ghost for the effective delivery of drugs and biotherapeutics.

It seems to be a necessary need to develop an effective drug carrier system for targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals. Bacterial ghosts are emerging drug delivery platform that are capable of delivery of proteins, antigens, nucleic acids, and pharmaceuticals. Bacterial ghosts are generally produced by lysis of gram-negative bacteria. Pharmaceutically, these ghosts could be utilized to deliver proteins peptides, vaccines, drugs effectively. However, this technology is at initial stage and systematic studies are required to implement such system over humans.

Experimental studies on bioactive potential of rutin

Background: Plant-derived phytochemicals are gaining wide popularity owing to their diverse therapeutic potential and less side effects. Rutin is one of the plant-derived flavonoid. Rutin has demonstrated cardio protective, analgesic, and anticancer effects. Aim: The current work was focused to evaluate bioactive potential of rutin. Materials and Methods: Rutin was isolated from tobacco leaves. The structure was confirmed by H 1 NMR spectroscopy. The isolated rutin was studied for possible antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, larvicidal, and cytotoxic effects. Results: Results of studies demonstrated that rutin effectively inhibited growth of bacteria and fungi, as well as demonstrated anthelmintic potential. There was a positive response for larvicidal and cytotoxic effects. Conclusion: These studies justify chemotherapeutic potential of rutin.

In vitro prevention of chick pancreatic lipase activity by Abroma augusta extract

Abstract Objective To investigate chick pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities of the Abroma augusta ( A. augusta ). Methods A. augusta was first extracted with methanol and subjected to phytochemical screenings. Quantitative estimation of flavonoids, phenolics and alkaloids was done. Pancreatic lipase from chick pancreas was isolated and used as substrate for anti-lipase studies. Results A. augusta extract effectively inhibited concentration dependent lipase activity, whereby extract at concentration 100 μg/mL inhibited 88.6% enzyme activity. Conclusions From these results, it could be concluded that A. augusta can be used as a potential source anti-lipase agents.

Ethanol extract of Moringa oliefera prevents in vitro glucose induced cataract on isolated goat eye lens

Aim of Study: The aim of current work was to evaluate in vitro anticataract potential of Moringa oliefera extract. Materials and Methods: Goat eye lenses were divided into 4 groups; Group served as control, Group II as toxic control, Group III and Group IV were incubated in extract (250 μg/ml and 500 μg/ml of extract of M. oliefera) Group II, III and IV were incubated in 55 mM glucose in artificial aqueous humor to induce lens opacification. Estimation of total, water soluble protein, catalase, glutathione and malondialdehyde along with photographic evaluation of lens was done. Results: Group II (toxic control) lenses showed high amount of MDA (Malondialdehyde), soluble, insoluble protein, decreased catalase and glutathione levels, while lenses treated with Moringa oliefera extract (Group III and Group IV) showed significant (* P < 0.05) reduction in MDA and increased level of catalase, glutathione, total and soluble protein. Conclusion: Results of present findings suggest protective effect of Moringa oliefera in prevention of in vitro glucose induced cataract.

Nootropic potential of Bauhinia variegata: A systematic study on murine model

Objectives: Bauhinia variegata Linn (leguminosae) is one of the important medicinal herbs used traditionally to treat fever, as tonic, astringent, diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhoids, piles, edema. Recent findings on Bauhinia variegata Linn have demonstrated its antioxidant, anti-hyperlipidemic, and hepatoprotective potential. The present work is focused to evaluate nootropic potential of Bauhinia variegata Linn in rats. Materials and Methods: The leaves of Bauhinia variegata were collected in the month of January from Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh). Leaves were subjected for isolation of crude flavonoids and characterized by total flavonoid content assay. Flavonoid-rich extract of Bauhinia variegata was studied for acute oral toxicity as per revised Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development guidelines No. 423. Nootropic activity was determined by elevated plus maze, rotating rod apparatus, baclofen-induced catatonia, diazepam-induced amnesia. Results: Flavonoid-rich fraction of Bauhinia variegata caused no alteration in locomotion in animals. In the current study, animals treated with flavonoid-rich fraction of Bauhinia variegata (400 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease in transfer latency as compared to the control group, which indicates cognitive enhancement effect flavonoid-rich fraction of Bauhinia variegata. In rota rod studies, flavonoid-rich fraction of Bauhinia variegata increased fall of time as compared to diazepam. In baclofen-induced catatonia, administration of flavonoid-rich fraction of Bauhinia variegata demonstrated protective effect on rats. Over all, flavonoid-rich fraction of Bauhinia variegata was found to enhance the performance of murine models. Conclusion: Thus, it could be concluded that flavonoids from Bauhinia variegata possess nootropic potential. However, more systematic studies are required to determine its exact mechanism of action.