Sadia Afreen Chowdhury

Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq., Rubiaceae, extract shows hypoglycemic effect and eases oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The hydroethanolic extract of the flowering tops of Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq., Rubiaceae, a Bangladeshi medicinal plant, was studied for its potential hypoglycemic effect and antioxidant property in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The extract induced significant reduction in serum glucose, and transaminases, e.g. aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatases (ALP), activities. Significant changes in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), peroxidase and catalase levels during the experimental period were also observed. The results established that the hydroethanolic extract of the flowering tops of A. cadamba possesses hypoglycemic property and is able to protect liver and brain from oxidative damages caused by diabetes.

Pharmacological Investigations of Different Extracts from the Leaf of Ipomoea Fistulosa ( Family : Convolvulaceae ) = فحص التأثيرات الدوائية لعدة مستخلصات من أوراق إيبوميا فستيولوزا ( عائلة : كونفولفيوليسة )

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antimicrobial, cytotoxic, anthelmintic, analgesic and neuropharmacological properties of the leaf of Ipomoea fistulosa. The extracts of the leaf showed very mild antimicrobial activity compared with the standard drug, amoxycillin. The cytotoxic activity of n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts from the leaf of I. fistulosa were evaluated using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The results showed very mild cytotoxicity with the LC50 value of 33.88, 56.23 and 36.31µg/mL respectively while LC50 value of reference drug vincristine sulphate was 0.69 µg/mL. Anthelmintic activity was found to be moderate by the investigation performed on Pheretima posthuma. The analgesic activity of the methanol extract of leaf was evaluated by using acetic acid-induced writhing test and tail immersion method on Swiss Albino mice at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. The writhing test displayed 51.53% and 64.96% of inhibition for the extract in acetic acid which is significant to the reference standard drug, diclofenac-Na (72.16%) of inhibitation in acetic acid at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight). The analgesic activity in tail immersion method was dose dependent. However, the neuropharmacological activity was tested by hole cross and open field test which revealed notable CNS depressant property when compared to the standard drug, diazepam (1 mg/kg b.w.). Over all, the extracts showed notable anthelmintic, analgesic and neuropharmacological activities

Pattern and treatment of Gout in Bangladesh: a hospital based survey at Dhaka city, Bangladesh

Gout is a common metabolic disorder which occurs due to excessive deposition of uric acid in different bone joints. Increasing life expectancy, life style change, changes in diet are causing an increased incidence of the disease nowadays. The present study was aimed to understand the pattern and treatment of gout in Bangladesh. 150 patients at four tertiary care hospitals in Dhaka city were surveyed. The findings of the present study suggests that both male and female are suffering from the disease and age seems to be related to the disease as 62% of gout patients were found over 50 years of age. Body weight may be a contributing factor of the disease. Most of the gout patients under the survey were suffering from high blood pressure (65.33%). Primary gout was found more prevalent in this investigation (70.66%) and viral hepatitis was found to be the most common cause of the disease (50%). The patients presented common sign and symptoms of gout.