Tanzir Ahmed Khan

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status in Neonates Born to Pre-eclamptic Mother

OBJECTIVE Pre-eclampsia is a significant health problem and is the leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Low birth weight and prematurity are very common in pre-eclamptic mothers. Pre-eclampsia is associated with oxidative stress in the maternal circulation. To observe the effect of pre-eclampsia on neonates, this study was designed to explore oxidative stress and anti-oxidant status in the fetal circulation in pre-eclampsia. MATERIALS AND METHODS For this purpose, we collected cord bloods during delivery from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Twenty samples were collected from uncomplicated (normotensive) mothers and 15 samples were collected from pre-eclamptic mothers (maternal age matched). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxide, protein carbonyl value, lipid profile, total anti-oxidant status (TAS), vitamin C, serum total protein and albumin were measured. RESULTS It was observed that TBARS and lipid hydroperoxide were significantly (P < 0.001) increased, protein carbonyl content were also significantly (P < 0.001) increased but total anti-oxidant status (P < 0.001) and vitamin C level were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in cord blood from pre-eclamptic mother compared to control group. Cholesterol, TG, LDL level was elevated and HDL were lowered in cord blood in pre-eclamptic group compared to normotensive group. In pre-eclamptic group, cord blood total protein, albumin and globulin level were significantly decreased compared to control group. CONCLUSIONS As pre-eclampsia is associated with increased oxidative stress and decreased anti-oxidant status, the results of these investigations suggest that oxidative stress and antioxidant status are altered towards proatherogenic level in cord blood of pre-eclamptic women which may ultimately be responsible for different complications of newborn babies of pre-eclamptic mothers.

Antinociceptive and Antioxidant Activity of Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall (Rutaceae) Seeds

Different parts of the medicinal plant Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall enjoy a variety of uses in ethnobotanical practice in Bangladesh. In the present study, a number of phytochemical and pharmacological investigations were done on the ethanol extract of Z. budrunga seeds (ZBSE) to evaluate its antinociceptive and antioxidant potential. ZBSE was also subjected to HPLC analysis to detect the presence of some common antioxidants. In acetic acid induced writhing test in mice, ZBSE showed 65.28 and 74.30% inhibition of writhing at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg and the results were statistically significant (P < 0.001). In hot-plate test, ZBSE raised the pain threshold significantly (P < 0.001) throughout the entire observation period. In DPPH scavenging assay, the IC50 of ZBSE was observed at 82.60 μg/mL. The phenolic content was found to be 338.77 mg GAE/100 g of dried plant material. In reducing power assay, ZBSE showed a concentration dependent reducing ability. HPLC analysis indicated the presence of caffeic acid with a concentration of 75.45 mg/100 g ZBSE. Present investigation supported the use of Zanthoxylum budrunga seed in traditional medicine for pain management. Constituents including caffeic acid and other phenolics might have some role in the observed activity.

Spatial distribution and source identification of heavy metal pollution in roadside surface soil: a study of Dhaka Aricha highway, Bangladesh

IntroductionIn this study, metal pollution and their sources in surface soils were evaluated by pollution indices and multivariate statistical techniques in association with a geographical information system (GIS).MethodsSurface soil samples were collected in dry season from different locations of Dhaka Aricha highway and analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF).ResultsThirteen different metals were found in the tested samples. Pollution indices are determined by enrichment factor in an order of Zr > Sn > P > Mn > Zn > Rb > Fe > Ba > Sr > Ti > K > Ca > Al. The resulting geoaccumulation index (Igeo) value shows the following order: Sn > Zr > P > Mn > Zn > Rb > Fe > Ba > Ti > Sr > K > Ca > Al. Contamination factors (CFs) of the metals range from 1.422 to 3.979 (Fe); 0.213 to 1.089 (Al); 0.489 to 3.484 (Ca); 1.496 to 2.372 (K); 1.287 to 3.870 (Ti); 2.200 to 14.588 (Mn); 5.938 to 56.750 (Zr); 0.980 to 3.500 (Sr); 2.321 to 4.857 (Rb); 2.737 to 6.526 (Zn); 16.667 to 27.333 (Sn); 3.157 to 16.286 (P); and 0.741 to 3.328 (Ba). Pollution load index calculated from the CFs indicates that soils are strongly contaminated by Zr and Sn. Principal component analysis (PCA) of parameters exhibits three major components. R-mode cluster analysis reveals three distinct groups in both site and metal basis clustering that shows a similar pattern with the PCA.ConclusionsThese results might be helpful for future monitoring of further increase of heavy metal concentrations in surface soils along highways.

Antioxidant Properties and HPLC Assay of Bioactive Polyphenols of the Ethanol Extract of Excoecaria agallocha Stem Bark Growing in Bangladesh

DOI: 10.9734/BJPR/2014/12425 Editor(s): (1) Dongdong Wang, Department of Pharmacogonosy, West China College of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, China. Reviewers: (1) Anonymous, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, Greece. (2) Anonymous, Shanghai University, China. (3) Anonymous, National Research Center, Egypt. Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history.php?iid=633&id=14&aid=5973