Taskina Ali

Evaluation of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of essential oil of Nepeta pogonosperma Jamzad et Assadi in rats

Background and the purpose of studyConcerning the different effects of essential oils from Nepeta genus on the central nervous system including pain killing effect, this study was designed to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of essential oil of Nepeta pogonosperma Jamzad et Assadi (NP), a recently identified species.MethodsAir-dried aerial parts of NP were hydrodistillated and GC-MS analysis of obtained essential oil was conducted. Total 24 male Wister rats weighing 225 ± 25 gm were studied. Essential oil of NP was administered intraperitoneally at the doses of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg for the experimental groups. Control rats received equal volume (2 ml/kg) of normal saline. Antinociception was assessed by tail flick test (after 30 minutes) and formalin test (for further 60 minutes). Then the animal was sacrificed and the paw edema was measured using a water plethysmometer.Results4aα,7α,7aβ-nepetalactone and 1,8-cineole were found as the main concentrated components of NP essential oil. All the doses of NP showed antinociception. NP 200 mg/kg reduced the pain sensation in tail flick (p <0.01) and formalin test (p <0.001 in both phases). In paw edema test, NP 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly reduced the inflammation (p <0.01 and p <0.05).ConclusionThis study reveals that the essential oil of NP may minimize both the acute and chronic forms of nociception and may have potent role against inflammation, but the dose should be maintained precisely to obtain the intended effect.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil of Nepeta crispa Willd. in experimental rat models.

This study was conducted to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil of Nepeta crispa. The study was done using the tail-flick and formalin test pain models and the paw oedema model of inflammation. Male Wistar rats were used as the animal model. The essential oil dose-dependently produced analgesia in the acute pain models, including the tail-flick (p < 0.001) and the first phase of the formalin test (p < 0.01). In the late phase of the formalin test, as a model of chronic pain, the essential oil significantly reduced the pain-induced behaviour (p < 0.01). Nepeta crispa essential oil caused potent anti-inflammatory effects in the formalin-induced paw inflammation model and significantly reduced the paw oedema in all applied doses (p < 0.01). Its effects on pain in both the acute and chronic pain models and its anti-inflammatory effect suggest both central and peripheral mechanisms of action for the essential oil obtained from N. crispa.

Measurement of Blood Pressure as Cardiovascular Risk in Stable COPD Patients

COPD is one of the major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Among the extra pulmonary effects of COPD cardiovascular disorders are significant. Although its silent involvement is known, but little attention paid to this major comorbidity while treating these group of patients. To assess the cardiovascular risk even in stable COPD patients their systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) were observed and correlated these with the severity of airflow limitation (FEV 1 ). This crosssectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka from January to December, 2010. For this purpose 60 (sixty) male, smoker (5-10 pack year) patients of stable COPD (FEV 1 /FVC% <0.70; FEV 1 ≤80%; without any exacerbation for last 4 weeks) were randomly selected from the Out Patient Department (OPD) of the Cardiovascular unit of the Department of Cardiology, BSMMU and also from a private clinic in Dhaka. On the basis of spirometric (group B 2 ) of COPD patients with age 35-45 years were included in this study. In addition, 30 age, BMI, serum lipid profile and smoking status matched apparently healthy male persons were studied as control (group A). SBP, DBP, PP and MAP (by sphygmomanometer and stethoscope) were measured and calculated. Data were expressed as mean±SD. For statistical analysis Independent sample t-test and Pearsons Correlation Coefficient test were performed, as applicable and p<0.05 was accepted as significant. Significantly (p<0.001) higher SBP, DBP, PP and MAP were found in moderate stage (group B 2 ) than those of control and mild stage (group B 1 ) of COPD patients. In addition, 4 types of BP were negatively correlated with FEV 1 in moderate stage and were statistically significant for SBP (p<0.01), PP and MAP (p<0.05). This study reveals that, cardiovascular function status may be altered even in stable COPD and this alteration is inversely related to the severity of the disease. Medicine Today 2016 Vol.28(1): 17-21

Fvc, Fev1 and Fev1/Fvc % in Female SLE Patients and Their Relationship with Duration of the Disease

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder which affects multiple organs of human including lungs. To assess FVC, FEV 1 and FEV 1 /FVC % in SLE patients and to correlate them with the duration of the disease. This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, BSMMU, Dhaka, from January 2010 to December 2010. A total number of 120 female subjects were selected, among which 30 were age and BMI matched apparently healthy subjects for comparison (control) and 90 were patients of SLE ( study group) . Ages of all the patients were ranged from 20 to 50 years and they were matched in terms of age, sex and BMI. Based on the duration of the disease, patients were subdivided into B 1 (1-6 months), B 2 (2-5 years) and B 3 (6-10 years). Controls were selected from the community and the patients from the Out Patient Department (OPD) of SLE clinic, Department of Medicine, BSMMU, Dhaka. Lung function were assessed by measuring Forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV 1 ), Forced expiratory ratio (FEV 1 /FVC%) with a Digital MicroDL spirometer. For statistical analysis Independent Sample ‘t’ test, One way ANOVA test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient test were performed as applicable. The mean percentage of predicted values of lung function parameters in healthy female subjects were within normal ranges. The mean percentage of predicted values of FVC, FEV 1 were significantly lower in all study groups when compared to control. Again, the mean percentage of predicted values of FVC, FEV 1 significantly lower in the patients of Group B 3 compared to Group B 2 except FVC which were non significantly lower. Moreover, these comparisons were significantly lower when compared to Group B 1 . The differences of the mean percentage of predicted values of FVC, FEV 1 were significantly lower in Group B 2 when compare to Group B 1 . In addition, FVC and FEV 1 were positively correlated in B 2 and B 3 when correlated with duration of SLE. All these values were statistically non significant. In addition The mean percentage of predicted values of FEV 1 / FVC% were almost similar and the differences among the groups were statistically non-significant. Pulmonary function decrease in SLE female and the reduction is inconsistently associated with duration of the disease. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/medtoday.v26i1.21307 Medicine Today 2014 Vol.26(1): 22-27