Muhammad Shoaib Akhtar

Studies on antihypertensive and antispasmodic activities of methanol extract of Acacia nilotica pods

A methanol extract of Acacia nilotica pods (AN) caused a dose‐dependent (3–30 mg/kg) fall in arterial blood pressure. Treatment of animals with atropine abolished the vasodilator response of acetylcholine (ACh), whereas the antihypertensive effect of the plant extract remained unaltered. Phentolamine (an α‐adrenergic blocker) abolished the vasoconstrictor effect of norepinephrine (NE), whereas pretreatment of the animal with AN, did not modify the NE response. These results indicate that the antihypertensive effect of plant extract is independent of muscarinic receptor stimulation or adrenoceptor blockade. In the in vitro studies, AN produced a dose‐dependent (0.3–3.0 mg/mL) inhibitory effect on force and rate of spontaneous contractions in guinea‐pig paired atria. Similarly, it inhibited the spontaneous contraction of rabbit jejunum in a concentration‐dependent (0.1–3.0 mg/mL) manner. AN also inhibited K+‐induced contractions in rabbit jejunum at a similar concentration range, which suggests that the antispasmodic action of AN is mediated through calcium channel blockade, and this may also be responsible for the blood pressure lowering effect of AN, observed in the in vivo studies. Copyright

Evaluation of the hypoglycaemic effect of Achyranthes aspera in normal and alloxan-diabetic rabbits

Blood glucose levels of normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits were determined after oral administration of various doses of Achyranthes aspera powdered whole plant and certain aqueous and methanolic extracts. Oral administration of 2, 3 and 4 g/kg of A. aspera powder produced a significant dose-related hypoglycaemic effect in normal as well as in diabetic rabbits. The water and methanol extracts also decreased blood glucose levels in normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits. A 7-day acute toxicity study in rabbits did not reveal any adverse or side effects of this folk medicine at dosages up to 8 g/kg orally. It is possible that the plant could act by providing certain necessary elements like calcium, zinc, magnesium, manganese and copper to the beta-cells.

Evaluation of the gastric antiulcerogenic effects of Solanum nigrum, Brassica oleracea and Ocimum basilicum in rats.

Antiulcerogenic activities of three plant drugs were studied against aspirin-induced gastric ulcers in rats. In addition, their effects on output of gastric acid and pepsin and hexosamine concentrations in gastric fluid were recorded in ulcerated and non-ulcerated rats. Solanum nigrum (aerial parts) powder and its methanolic extract decreased the ulcer index significantly. The activity may be due to inhibition of acid and pepsin secretions and/or their in vitro ability to bind these. Brassica oleracea (leaf) powder did not affect the ulcer index significantly but its aqueous extract lowered the index and increased hexosamine levels, suggesting gastric mucosal protection. Ocimum basilicum (aerial parts) powder and its aqueous and methanolic extracts decreased the index. Moreover, the acid output was decreased by its methanolic extract while hexosamine secretion was enhanced. This suggests that its antiulcerogenic effect is due to decreases of acid and pepsin outputs which enhance gastric mucosal strength. The reference drug gefarnate decreased the ulcer index by increasing the hexosamine level only. Cimetidine inhibited the acid production but did not decrease the ulcer index.

Effect of Amla fruit (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) on blood glucose and lipid profile of normal subjects and type 2 diabetic patients

The present study evaluated the anti-hyperglycemic and lipid-lowering properties of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. fruit in normal and diabetic human volunteers. The results indicated a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in fasting and 2-h post-prandial blood glucose levels on the 21st day in both normal and diabetic subjects receiving 1, 2 or 3 g E. officinalis powder per day as compared with their baseline values. Significant (P < 0.05) decreases were also observed in total cholesterol and triglycerides in both normal and diabetic volunteers on day 21 that were given either 2 or 3 g E. officinalis powder per day. However, diabetic volunteers receiving only 3 g E. officinalis powder exhibited a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in total lipids on day 21. Both normal and diabetic volunteers receiving 2 or 3 g E. officinalis powder significantly (P < 0.05) improved high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and lowered low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels.

Antiulcerogenic Effects of Ocimum basilicum Extracts, Volatile Oils and Flavonoid Glycosides in Albino Rats

AbstractAntiulcerogenic effects of extracts, volatile oils and flavonoid glycosides of Ocimum basilicum leaves were studied in normal as well as aspirin-, acetic acid- and stress-induced ulcerated rats. Also, their effects on outputs of gastric acid, pepsin and hexosamines were recorded in normal and ulcerated rats. The aqueous, methanol and water-methanol extracts and flavonoid glycosides of O. basilicum decreased the ulcer index, inhibited gastric acid and pepsin secretions and enhanced hexosamines in aspirin-treated rats. The aqueous extract increased glucosamine but did not affect the output of acid and pepsin. The methanol extract lowered acid and pepsin output but did not increase the glucosamine level. However, the water-methanol extract decreased acid output, increased glucosamine, and did not affect pepsin. The flavanoid glycosides of O. basilicum decreased the ulcer index and the outputs of acid and pepsin, but increased glucosamines. Volatile oils of the plant were ineffective against stress-in...

Hypoglycaemic activity of Alpinia galanga rhizome and its extracts in rabbits

This investigation was carried out to study effects of Alpinia galanga rhizome on blood glucose levels. In normal rabbits, powdered rhizome and its methanol and aqueous extracts significantly lowered the blood glucose. Gliclazide also produced a significant decrease in blood glucose in the rabbits. In alloxan-diabetic rabbits, A. galanga and its methanol and aqueous extracts did not produce significant reduction in blood glucose. The hypoglycaemic effect of A. galanga in normal rabbits was comparable to gliclazide. The rhizome was found to contain high levels of certain minerals. Acute toxicity and behavioral studies revealed no visible signs of toxicity and any abnormal behavior in rabbits even at high doses. It is concluded that A. galanga produces fall in blood glucose levels in normal rabbits and the principles, both organic and inorganic, are extractable in methanol and water.

Anthelmintic Activity of Vernonia anthelmintica. Seeds Against Trichostrongylid Nematodes of Sheep

Abstract This paper describes comparative in vitro. and in vivo. anthelmintic activities of Vernonia anthelmintica. (L.) Willd. (Compositae) seeds and levamisole. In vitro. studies revealed higher anthelmintic effects (p ≥ 0.05) of crude methanol extract (CME) as compared with crude aqueous extract (CAE) of V. anthelmintica. seeds on live Haemonchus. contortus. as evident from their mortality. For in vivo. studies, seeds of V. anthelmintica. were administered as crude powder (CP), CAE, and CME to sheep naturally infected with mixed species of gastrointestinal nematodes. In vivo., maximum reduction (73.9%) in fecal egg counts per gram (EPG) was recorded in sheep treated with V. anthelmintica. CAE at 3 g kg−1 body weight on day 5 post-treatment (PT) followed by CP at 3 g kg−1 (55.6%) on day 3 PT. However, CME did not exhibit anthelmintic activity in vivo.. It was found that whereas V. anthelmintica. seeds possess anthelmintic activity against nematodes, it was not comparable to levamisole (97.8% to 100% reduction in EPG). It may be suggested that further research on a large scale be carried out with a large number of animals on higher doses than those used in the current study; for the identification of active principles; and for standardization of the doses and toxicity studies for drug development.

Effect of Cooking on Soluble and Insoluble Oxalate Contents in Selected Pakistani Vegetables and Beans

The present study evaluated the effects of cooking on the total, soluble and insoluble oxalate contents in six different types of locally consumed vegetables and beans (spinach, carrots, beet root, white bean, red bean and soybean). The foods were cooked in water until they reached the soft consistency (12–15 min for vegetable and 2 h for beans). The raw and cooked samples were analyzed for their soluble and insoluble oxalate contents using the HPLC techniques. The total oxalate content of raw spinach, carrot, beet root, white bean, red bean and soybean, were found to be 978 ± 5, 49 ± 7, 67 ± 12, 158 ± 16, 113 ± 15, and 497 ± 22 mg/100 g of fresh weight respectively. The total oxalate contents of these foods after boiling were 477 ± 8, 16 ± 9, 52 ± 14, 47 ± 17, 72 ± 17, and 224 ± 25 mg/100 g of fresh weight respectively. The results showed that boiling significantly (P < 0.05) reduced both soluble and insoluble oxalate contents. More losses were observed in the soluble than the insoluble oxalates. The reduction in soluble oxalate in different vegetables ranged from 16 to 66% whereas in beans ranged from 40 to 77%. The data suggests that the use of boiled vegetables can be an effective strategy for reducing the dietary intake of oxalates in individuals predisposed to the development of kidney stones.

Isolation, identification, and in vivoevaluation of flavonoid fractions of chloroform/methanol extracts of Rheum emodi roots for their hepatoprotective activity in Wistar rats

Objective: Even though the rhizome of Rheum emodi (Chinese rhubarb) has been used since centuries as a traditional medicinal plant in treating a number of disease conditions, the bioactive components responsible for its hepatoprotective activity have not been identified. Therefore, we isolated, identified, and evaluated in vivo the compounds in chloroform/methanol extracts of Rheum emodi roots for their hepatoprotective activities in rats. Materials and Methods: Nine different fractions were collected by column chromatography and were further isolated and identified through thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis for the presence of flavonoids. The isolated flavonoids containing fractions were then evaluated for their hepatoprotective activity in paracetamol-induced toxicity in male Wistar rats. Silymarin [50 mg/kg body weight (BW)] was used as a control hepatoprotective drug. To assess liver functions, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin, and bilirubin (total and direct) were determined. Results: Only five collected fractions (F1to F5) showed the presence of different flavonoids and the fraction F2showed the presence of five different types of flavonoids. The isolated flavonoid containing fractions of Rheum emodi were significantly effective in decreasing the elevated the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin (total and direct) due to paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. The fractions at dose level of 0.125 mL/kg BW showed significant hepatoprotective effects in rats. The fraction F2at a dose level of 0.5 mL/kg BW showed the maximum therapeutic efficacy followed by the same fraction at 0.25 mL/kg BW and 0.125 mL/kg BW, fractions F1, silymarin, F3, F4and F5. Conclusion: The results suggest that isolated fractions of Rheum emodi roots contained flavonoids, which showed significant hepatoprotective activity in Wistar rats. Further investigations are however, required for the identification of individual flavonoids as well as other bioactive components in Rheum emodi roots, and to establish their structure and mechanism of action for their hepatoprotective activity.

Synthesis, biological activities and docking studies of novel 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde based Schiff base

The present study describes the synthesis and characterization of a series of novel Schiff bases derived from 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. The biological activities of the newly synthesized compounds were examined by investigating their antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, enzyme inhibition and DNA interaction potential. The potential of these compounds as an antioxidant was determined by 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of these compounds were assayed by the disk diffusion method, while the enzyme inhibition studies were carried out against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. The aforementioned studies revealed that the newly synthesized Schiff bases can be used as potential inhibitors for cholinesterase. In addition, the molecular docking studies also agreed well with the experimental results with better interaction patterns in the cases of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. The DNA binding interactions in these synthesized compounds was studied by the UV–Vis absorption titration method and the results of calculated thermodynamic parameters such as binding constant (K) and free energy change (ΔG) were calculated accordingly. Most of these Schiff bases displayed relatively higher positive values for K and larger negative values for ΔG, indicating efficient binding of these Schiff bases with the DNA. During the course of this study, we also carried out the computational analysis for the determination of the mode of binding of these compounds with the DNA structure.