Journal of Nepal Pharmaceutical Association

Neuroprotective effect of Scutellaria baicalensis flavones against global ischemic model in rats

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SB) is the medicinal plants mainly used in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been used for the treatment of various chronic inflammatory syndromes including respiratory disease, fever and gastric ulcer in traditional Eastern medicine and its major components; baicalin, baicalein and wogonin; were reported to have various biological effects. The aim of this study was to isolate the neuroprotective flavones from the root of S. baicalensis (SB) by bioactivity-guided fractionation of S. baicalensis methanol extract (SBME). Neuroprotective effect of isolated flavones, namely was studied on global ischemic model in rat by 4-VO. SBME was fractionated with different solvent and resulting fractions were administered at a dose of 25 mg/kg to the rat and potent neuroprotective fractions were sub-fractionated. At a dose of 10 mg/kg, isolated compounds, wogonin, and baicalein inhibited the hippocampal neuronal cell death by 78.6% and 81.0% respectively. Our study suggested that SB and its isolated flavones have potential neuroprotective effect and these findings may be one of the alternative therapies for the management of stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnpa.v27i1.12144

Journal of Nepal Pharmaceutical Association 2014 Vol.XXVII: 1-8

Assesment of 28 days repeated adminstration toxicity profile of dexamethasone palmitate injection

Ganesh N Sharma, Shaili Rasania, Paresh Dadhaniya, Chintan Patel, Kapil Vachhani — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Although, the dexamethasone have been used for the managements, against various ailments as single API or in combination with other drugs as acetate or palmitate salt. However, Dexamethasone as palmitate salt has not been investigated so far for sub acute toxicity on intravenous administration. Therefore, an attempt has been made to investigate sub-acute toxicity of dexamethasone palmitate injection. The drug was administered in experimental animals at different dose levels (0.07, 0.18 and 0.44 mg/kg, b.w.), for 28 days, and alteration in biochemical and haematological parameters was recorded along with histological examinations. The result data revealed that intravenous administration of dexamethasone palmitate does not causes any significant alteration in experimental animals examined at different levels. The observed changes were either well established adverse effects of Dexamethasone or were in laboratory reference range limit. The intravenous administered doses of drug were found safer, although somewhat adverse reactions may be observed at higher dose level (s).

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnpa.v27i1.12145

Journal of Nepal Pharmaceutical Association 2014 Vol.XXVII: 9-19

Investigations of phytochemical, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of Ixora pavetta Andrews leaf

Sumanta Mondal, S Raja, PNVSS Prasad, Padilam Suresh — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Ixora pavetta Andrews, (var.: I. Parviflora Vahl.) is a small tree or evergreen shrub belongs to the family Rubiaceae, and is used for many ailments, especially for the treatment of to treat chronic wounds, urinary diseases, skin infection, pulmonary troubles, liver disorder, hair tonic, sedative, diuretic, diarrhoea, dysentery, leucorrhoea and veneral diseases. Preliminary phytochemical screening of ethanol exract of I. pavetta leaf showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponin glycoside. In the analgesic activity, ethanol extract provoked a significant reduction of the number of writhes in acetic acid-induced writhing response, also significantly reduced the licking time in both phases of the formalin test and highest analgesia in hot-plate test (P < 0.01) compared to the control group. The anti-inflammatory effects were investigated employing the both carrageenan and arachidonic acid -induced hind-paw oedema in rats and results of the study revealed the extract to have significant (P < 0.05) anti-inflammatory effects at a dose of 400 and 600 mg/kg p.o., rats in both the models. The antipyretic activity was evaluated using Brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia in rats and the extract showed significant lowering of body temperature in rats at doses of 400 and 600 mg/kg p.o., and no promising results with 200 mg/kg dose level. These findings suggest that ethanol extract of I. pavetta leaves possess potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretics effects.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnpa.v27i1.12146

Journal of Nepal Pharmaceutical Association 2014 Vol.XXVII: 20-27

Fagonia: A potential medicinal desert plant

Dinesh Puri, Anil Bhandari — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Desert plants are unique adaptation from environmental conditions. Fagonia is a genus of plant in the family zygophyllaceae with about 20 species around Mediterranean to India, S. Africa, California, Chili. The local name of fagonia is dhamasa. They are traditionally well known for the treatment of hemorrhoids, inflammation, sores, leprosy, open wounds and fever in the form of internal and external conventional formulation. When the powder that is made up of the whole plant of F. schweinfurthii is dusted on boils and skin eruptions, it causes healing, when the whole plant is boiled in water, its bath is useful for allergies and other skin diseases and decoction is given orally as blood purifier. The other species like Fagonia bruguieri its aqueous extract is claimed for anti-allergy. Methanolic extract of Fagonia cretica is claimed for good antimicrobial potential and it exhibited strong free radical scavenging properties against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. The other effects of Fagonia species include anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and thrombolytic activities are observed. Many chemical constituent's, such as triterpenoids, saponins, flavonoid glycosides, etc., have already been reported in different Fagonia spp.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnpa.v27i1.12147

Journal of Nepal Pharmaceutical Association 2014 Vol.XXVII: 28-33

Pharmacological studies of Neopicrorrhiza scrophularii-flora and its antidiabetic effect

Nayan Manandhar — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Neopicrorrhiza srophulariiflora (NS), locally known as “kutki / katuki” in nepali is available in 3500-4800 m of Nepal. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antidiabetic property of NS in streptozotocin (STZ) induced type 2 diabetic model rats. NS dried rhizomes, was extracted with 80% ethanol and water by cold percolation method. The extracts were administered at a dose of 1.25gkg^-1 body weight for 21 consecutive days to type 2 diabetic male Long-Evans rats, bred at BIRDEM animal house. Serum glucose was estimated by GOD PAP method. Ethanol extract of N. srophulariiflora significantly (p<0.05) improved oral glucose tolerance in type 2 rats in comparison to control group. The water extract and ethanol extracts significantly lowered serum glucose level of type 2 diabetic rats in both prandial states (simultaneously with oral glucose load p<0.05; at 75min and 30 minutes prior to oral glucose load p<0.05; at 105min) compared to control group. N. srophulariiflora is beneficial for treating Type 2 diabetes and therefore needs further exploration and researches, both chemically and biologically to identify the active principle(s) and mechanism of action.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnpa.v27i1.12148

Journal of Nepal Pharmaceutical Association 2014 Vol.XXVII: 34-39

Extraction, isolation and evaluation Trigonella foenum-graecum as mucoadhesive agent for nasal gel drug delivery

Dharmendra Kumar, Aditi Singhal, Sumedha Bansal, SK Gupta — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of the study is to formulate and evaluate a new, cheap and effective natural mucoadhesive agent that can be used as an effective alternative for traditional mucoadhesive agent. The study procedure involved extraction of mucoadhesive agent from the Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds, solubility testing of the mucilage obtained, phytochemical testing, determination of swelling index, preparation of nasal gel, measurement of viscosity, The study showed that the extraction of fenugreek seeds had 36% w/w of mucoadhesive agent. The natural mucoadhesive agent was soluble in hot water and cold water. The swelling index was found to be 160%.Fenugreek seeds produce high viscosity mucilage at low concentration levels.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnpa.v27i1.12149

Journal of Nepal Pharmaceutical Association 2014 Vol.XXVII: 40-45