Md. Sohel Rana

In vitro α–amylase inhibitory activity and in vivo hypoglycemic effect of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr. fruit

OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic effects of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr.fruit in α-amylase inhibitory activity (in vitro) and hypoglycemic activity in normal and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats (in vivo). METHODS Fruits of Citrus macroptera without rind was extracted with pure methanol following cold extraction and tested for presence of phytochemical constituents, α-amylase inhibitory activity, and hypoglycemic effect in normal rats and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats. RESULTS Presence of saponin, steroid and terpenoid were identified in the extract. The results showed that fruit extract had moderate α-amylase inhibitory activity [IC50 value=(3.638±0.190) mg/mL] as compared to acarbose. Moreover at 500 mg/kg and 1 000 mg/kg doses fruit extract significantly (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively) reduced fasting blood glucose level in normal rats as compared to glibenclamide (5 mg/kg). In oral glucose tolerance test, 500 mg/kg dose significantly reduced blood glucose level (P<0.05) at 2 h but 1 000 mg/kg dose significantly reduced blood glucose level at 2 h and 3 h (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively) whereas glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced glucose level at every hour after administration. Overall time effect is also considered extremely significant with F value=23.83 and P value=0.0001 in oral glucose tolerance test. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the plant may be a potential source for the development of new oral hypoglycemic agent.

Assessment of Toxic Effects of the Methanol Extract of Citrus macroptera Montr. Fruit via Biochemical and Hematological Evaluation in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats

Citrus macroptera Montr. (C. macroptera) is locally known as Satkara. The fruit of this plant is used as appetite stimulant and in the treatment of fever. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the toxic effects of the fruit extract using some biochemical and hematological parameters in rat model. The effects of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr. fruit administered at 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight were investigated on hematological and biochemical parameters in Sprague-Dawley female rats. Moreover, histopathological study was performed to observe the presence of pathological lesions in primary body organs. The extract presented no significant effect on body weight, percent water content, relative organ weight and hematological parameters in rat. Significant decrease from control group was observed in the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein; thus leading to significant decrease of cardiac risk ratio, castellis risk index-2, atherogenic coefficient and atherogenic index of plasma at all doses. 500 mg/kg dose significantly decreased alkaline phosphatase (P<0.05), 1000 mg/kg dose significantly increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.05) and 250 mg/kg dose significantly decreased the level of glycated hemoglobin (P<0.05) from the control group. There were no significant alterations observed with other serum biochemical parameters. Histopathological study confirmed the absence of inflammatory and necrotic features in the primary body organs. Study results indicate that methanolic fruit extract is unlikely to have significant toxicity. Moreover, these findings justified the cardio-protective, moderate hepato-protective and glucose controlling activities of the fruit extract.

Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Leaf Extract of Mallotus repandus (Willd.) Muell. Arg.

In folk medicine Mallotus repandus (Willd.) Muell. Arg. is used to treat muscle pain, itching, fever, rheumatic arthritis, snake bite, hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis. This study aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive as well as the anti-inflammatory activities of the methanol extract of leaf. The leaves were extracted with methanol following hot extraction and tested for the presence of phytochemical constituents. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using acetic acid induced writhing test, xylene induced ear edema, cotton pellet induced granuloma, and tail immersion methods at doses of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight. The presence of flavonoids, saponins, and tannins was identified in the extract. The extract exhibited considerable antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities against four classical models of pain. In acetic acid induced writhing, xylene induced ear edema, and cotton pellet granuloma models, the extract revealed dose dependent activity. Additionally, it increased latency time in tail immersion model. It can be concluded that M. repandus possesses significant antinociceptive potential. These findings suggest that this plant can be used as a potential source of new antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory candidates. The activity of methanol extract is most likely mediated through central and peripheral inhibitory mechanisms. This study justified the traditional use of leaf part of this plant.

Antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of stems of Smilax zeylanica in vitro.

Abstract Background: Plant-derived phytochemicals consisting of phenols and flavonoids possess antioxidant properties, eventually rendering a lucrative tool to scavenge reactive oxygen species. This study was carried out to evaluate in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of methanolic extract and petroleum ether extracts of Smilax zeylanica L. stems. Methods: Phytochemical screening was done following standard procedures. Antioxidant activity was tested using several in vitro assays, viz., 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, NO assay, H2O2 assay, CUPRAC assay, FRAP assay and total antioxidant capacity assay. Total phenol and flavonoid contents were determined by colorimetric method. Brine shrimp lethality and MTT cell viability assays were used for cytotoxic potential. Results: Preliminary phytochemical study revealed the presence of flavonoids and glycosides in both extracts. Methanolic extract was found to possess stronger antioxidant potential than petroleum ether extracts in all assays. The IC50 value of methanolic extract was 29.14±0.39 μg/mL, 120.30±3.32 μg/mL and 78.41±5.53 μg/mL in DPPH assay, NO assay and H2O2 assay, respectively. Likewise, total phenol [56.78 mg/g gallic acid (GAE)] and flovonoid [125.69 mg/g quercetin equivalents (QE)] were higher in methanolic extract. In cytotoxicity assays, petroleum ether extract showed stronger activity in both brine shrimp lethality (LC50 2.85±0.13 μg/mL) and MTT cell viability assay (IC50 15.49±1.18 μg/mL). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that methanolic extracts could be considered as potential sources of natural antioxidant, whereas petroleum ether extracts could be explored for promising anticancer molecules.

Study on Polypharmacy in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases

Article history: We analyzed the prevalence of polypharmacy among cardiac patients in the Natioal Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Polypharmacy was defined as consumption of six or more drugs at the same time. We entered the drugs that were prescribed into the Drug Interaction Checker provided by MedScape online edition. Almost 85% of cardiac patients met criteria for three types of polypharmacy (minor, moderate and serious). However, serious and moderate types of polypharmacy were not influnenced by the increase in number of disorders (polymorbidity) as well as by the total number of drugs taken. The most frequent cause and threat that is associated with polypharmacy comes primarily from the quality of drug-drug interactions and not the total number of drugs prescribed. Most of the dangerous consecuences of polypharmacy came from the interaction of Clopidogrel with either Aspirin or PPIs. Our study emphasizes the need of informing doctors more about the problem of polypharmacy. Careful and thoughtful drug prescription strategy seems to be able to eliminate most of the cases of polypharmacy even in patients who are suffering from a multiplace disorders simultaneously. The results also provide support for development of new drugs that take into account compatibility with other medication, especially in elderly people.

Fusaproliferin, a Fungal Phytotoxin Shows Rapid and Potent Cytotoxicity against Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines

Nazia Hoque 1,3,4, Choudhury Mahmood Hasan 2, Md. Sohel Rana 3, Amrit Varsha5, Md. Hossain Sohrab 4*and Khondaker Miraz Rahman 5* 1 Department of Pharmacy, East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh 3 Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh 4 Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Division (PSRD), BCSIR Laboratories, Dhaka,

Protective effect of chloroform extract of Stereospermum chelonoides bark against amyloid beta42 induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells and against inflammation in Swiss albino mice

Abstract Background This study was designed to evaluate the free radical scavenging property of chloroform extract of the bark of Stereospermum chelonoides (SCBC) and to investigate its potential in Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation, two oxidative stress related disorders. Methods Preliminary phytochemical analysis and in vitro antioxidant potential of SCBC were evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and total antioxidant capacity determination assay. Total phenol and total flavonoid contents were also determined. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) based cytotoxicity and cyto-protective assays were performed on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Thioflavin-T assay and caspase activation measurement assay were carried out to elucidate the mechanism of cytoprotection of SCBC observed here. In vivo anti-inflammatory potential was measured using croton oil and xylene induced ear edema tests. Results Phytochemical screening of SCBC revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents. Dose-dependent in vitro antioxidant activity was observed. The extract was enriched in flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds too. SCBC was found to inhibit amyloid-β peptide 1-42 (Aβ42) induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Encouraged by the cyto-protective effect, its effects on Aβ42 fibrillogenesis and caspase-3 activated apoptosis were observed. SCBC significantly slowed down the Aβ42 fibrillogenesis and caspase-3 activation in a concentration-dependent manner indicating its probable mechanism of rendering cyto-protection. SCBC has been able to reduce inflammation significantly in croton oil induced ear edema in both doses. Conclusions Thus, this study could form the basis for further study for the potential use of SCBC in oxidative stress associated cell death and inflammation.

Evaluation of Antioxidant, Brine Shrimp Lethality and Antimicrobial Activities of Galphimia gracilis Bartl. Leaf Extracts Using in vitro Assay Models

Aims: Galphimia gracilis Bartl. (FamilyMalpighiaceae) is known as gold shower or shower of gold. The current study was designed to evaluate in vitro antioxidant, brine shrimp lethality and antimicrobial activities of methanol, ethyl-acetate and petroleum ether extracts of G. gracilis leaf. Study Design: Phytochemical screening, in vitro antioxidant, brine shrimp lethality and antimicrobial activities. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka1342. The studies were carried out from November 2013 to February 2014. Original Research Article Hasan et al.; EJMP, 5(1): 66-76, 2015; Article no.EJMP.2015.005 67 Methodology: In vitro antioxidant activity of the extracts were studied using DPPH radical scavenging assay, Nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assay, total phenol content, total flavonoid content, total antioxidant content, total tannin content and lipid peroxidation in human erythrocyte cell assays. Lethality bioassay was performed on Artemia salina Leach nauplii. Antimicrobial activity was investigated by disc diffusion technique. Results: Presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins and glycosides were identified in the extracts. Ethyl-acetate extract (GLEA) showed highest activities in DPPH (IC50 of 21.70±0.51 μg/ml), NO (IC50 of 35.50±0.30 μg/ml), lipid peroxidation in human erythrocyte cells (IC50 of 10.38±0.34 μg/ml), total phenol (934.04±3.21 mg/g Gallic Acid Equivalent), total flavonoid (236.88±2.66 mg/g Quercetin Equivalent) and total antioxidant capacity assays (978.58±1.66 mg/g Ascorbic Acid Equivalent) among three different extracts. Methanol extract (GLM) showed promising reducing capacity than other extracts in cupric reducing (correlation coefficient, r= 0.95 and P<0.05) and reducing power capacity assays (r= 0.993 and P<0.001). Besides, it showed dose dependent activity in both assays. Methanol extract showed maximum content in total tannin assay (89.34±1.37 mg/g Tannic Acid Equivalent). In brine shrimp lethality bioassay, methanol extract was found to be more potent than other extracts (LC50=64.46 μg/ml, χ2=39.87, P<0.0001). In disk diffusion technique, all the extracts showed poor activity. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that leaf extracts of G. gracilis have promising antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Moreover, the extracts can be used as potential candidates for lead compounds.