Increased lipid peroxidation, depleted non-enzymatic antioxidant, and variability in trace elements concentration in serum are correlated with Bangladeshi end-stage renal disease population.

INTRODUCTION: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is an abnormality where the kidneys are not usually working. This case-control study was planned to determine the extent of serum lipid peroxidation, non-enzymatic antioxidant (vitamin c), and trace elements in 50 patients with ESRD as cases and 50 normal healthy individuals as controls. METHODS: Determination of lipid peroxidation was carried out by ascertaining concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin C in serum using UV spectrophotometry whereas atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for trace elements estimation. The statistical analysis was conducted via the independent t-test samples and Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: The blood serum study has shown substantially higher MDA values than the control level and lowers vitamin C levels in the patient population (P < .001). A negative correlation was found between the vitamin C in serum with BMI and MDA for both patients (r = -0.017 and r = -0.132, respectively) and the control group (r = -0.014 and r = -0.229, respectively) after Pearson's correlation analysis. Regarding trace elements, significantly (P < .001) lower concentrations of zinc, copper, and manganese were found in the patient group than control subjects. Inter-element-relationship established a strong positive harmonization between these studied elements in both the cases of patients and control subjects. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate strong associations of the pathogenesis of ESRD with depleted non-enzymatic antioxidant, increased lipid peroxidation, and inconsistency in trace elements concentration in serum, which may provide a prognostic tool for the treatment of this concerning the disease.

Pharmacological investigation of analgesic and antipyretic activities of methanol extract of the whole part of Aeginetia indica.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Aeginetia indica (Linn.), commonly known as aankuri bankuri, guan-jen-huang, forest ghost flower, dok din daeng, dapong tubo; is a root parasitic plant of the Orobanchaceae family native to South and South-East Asian region. Different parts of the plant are traditionally used to treat fever, pain, inflammation, arthritis, cough, diabetes, and chronic liver disease. Local practitioners often recommend this plant as a folk remedy for dermal swelling, painful menstrual periods, wounds, and knee pain. However, the antipyretic and analgesic activity of A. indica have never been investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was aimed to evaluate the analgesic and antipyretic potential of Aeginetia indica plant extract to verify its effectiveness as reported in traditional uses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preliminary phytochemical analysis of Aeginetia indica crude extract was performed using previously established methods and antioxidant capacity was determined by phosphomolybdenum assay. In vivo analgesic activity of Aeginetia indica methanol extract (AiME) was evaluated by acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin-induced paw licking test, and hot plate test model. The antipyretic activity was studied in Baker's yeast induced pyrexia model. RESULTS: Phytochemicals screening revealed cardiac glycosides, saponins, phenols, tannins, and flavonoids in the crude extract of Aeginetia indica. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were recorded as 101 ± 1.1 mg GAE/g of the extract and 35 ± 0.8 mg QE/g of the extract, respectively. The total antioxidant capacity observed in phosphomolybdenum assay was 68.3 ± 1.3 mg ascorbic acid equivalent per gram of the extract. AiME showed significant dose-dependent analgesic activity against acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced paw licking, and hot plate pain model. A higher dose of A. indica (200 mg/kg) produced significant (P < 0.001) inhibition of writhing by 69% whereas, standard aspirin showed maximum 85.6% inhibition. AiME at all doses showed a significant (P < 0.001) decrease of paw licking time in both early neurogenic and late inflammatory pain phase of formalin-induced licking test. In the hot plate test, AiME at a 200 mg/kg dose produced antinociceptive activity (55.18%) higher than the standard ketorolac (49.88%) at 1 h. However, after 2 h, ketorolac showed a maximum effect of 62.66% and AiME 200 mg/kg showed a 60.24% effect. A significant (P < 0.001) reduction of rectal temperature (4.54 °F↓) was recorded for AiME 200 mg/kg, which was higher than the standard paracetamol (3.86 F°↓) after 24 h of treatment. CONCLUSION: The in vivo investigational studies' results demonstrated promising analgesic and antipyretic activities of A. indica, which supported the claim of its folk uses.

Evaluation of antinociceptive, antihyperglycemic, and membrane stabilizing activities of Garcinia lancifolia Roxb.

This study was undertaken to examine the antinociceptive, antihyperglycemic, and membrane stabilizing activity with phytochemical screening of methanolic extract of Garcinia lanceifolia whole plant. The extracts were subjected to in-vivo antinociceptive, antihyperglycemic activity in laboratory animals and in-vitro membrane stabilizing activity. In peripheral antinociceptive activity, G. lanceifolia (400 and 200 mg/kg) exhibited significant (P < 0.001) inhibition of writhing with 59.15% and 49.30% respectively comparable to standard Diclofenac (54.92% inhibition). In central antinociceptive activity, the extract (400 and 200 mg/kg) exhibited significant analgesic activity having 78.31% (P < 0.05) and 89.95% (P < 0.01) elongation of reaction time respectively in 90 min after administration of sample comparable to the standard Morphine (708.99% elongation). In hypoglycemic activity, the extract (400 and 200 mg/kg) exhibit statistically significant (P < 0.001) antihyperglycemic activity compared to standard drug Glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) at different time interval. In membrane stabilizing activity assay, clearly evident that the methanolic extracts of G. lanceifolia were highly effective to prevent the lyses of erythrocytes induced by heat. The outcomes of the present study revealed that this plant possess noteworthy pharmacological activities that may be basis for further research to disclose feasible mode of action of the plant part.

Effect of lipid peroxidation, antioxidants, macro minerals and trace elements on eczema.

The exact etiology and pathogenesis of eczema are not yet fully understood, although different factors are considered as pathogenic mechanisms in the development of eczema. Our study was designed to determine extent of serum lipid peroxidation, antioxidants, macro minerals and trace elements in patients with eczema, and thereby, find any pathophysiological correlation. The study was conducted as a case-control study with 65 eczema patients as cases and 65 normal healthy individuals as controls. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by measuring the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA). Antioxidants- vitamin A and E concentration was determined by RP-HPLC method whereas vitamin C was evaluated for serum ascorbic acid by UV spectrophotometric method. Serum macro minerals (Na, K, Ca) and trace elements (Zn, Fe) were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). This study found significantly higher level of MDA (p < 0.001) and lower level of antioxidants (p < 0.05) in patients in comparison to the control subjects. Analysis of serum macro minerals (Na, K and Ca) and trace elements (Zn, Fe) found that the mean values of Na, K, Ca, Zn and Fe were 2771.60 ± 75.64, 66.33 ± 3.03, 48.41 ± 2.50, 0.30 ± 0.02 and 0.29 ± 0.009 mg/L for the patient group and 3284.81 ± 34.51, 162.18 ± 3.72, 87.66 ± 2.10, 0.75 ± 0.06 and 0.87 ± 0.06 mg/L for the control group, accordingly. There was a significant difference for all the minerals between the patients and controls (p < 0.001). This study suggests a strong association between the pathogenesis of eczema with the elevated level of MDA and depleted level of antioxidants, macro minerals, and trace elements.

Evaluation of In vitro Anthelmintic Activity, Total Phenolic Content and Cytotoxic Activity of Crinum latifolium L. (Family: Amaryllidaceae).

PURPOSE: Crinum latifolium is a widely used plant in Asian folk and traditional medicine.In the present study, we have tried to find out the anthelmintic activity, total phenolic contents and cytotoxicity of the methanolic extract of the target plant. METHODS: Anthelmintic activity was assessed applying five different concentrations of the plant extract and recording the time of paralysis and death. Total phenolic contents were determined using Folin-Ciocaltu method, using Gallic acid as standard; while brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) method was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the plant extract, where vincristine sulphate and DMSO was used as positive and negative control respectively. RESULT: The lowest time for paralysis and death of worms, for test sample at highest concentration (50mg/ml), were found 24±0.45 and 46.4±0.60 min respectively, which gradually increased with the decrease of concentration. On the other hand, albendazole, which was used as standard, caused paralysis and death of worms at 56.2±0.20 min and 77.4±0.24 min respectively; whereas no mortality of the worms was observed, when distilled water was used as control. The crude methanolic extract exhibited lower amount of total phenolic content (17.50±2.64 mg/ml). In case of cytotoxicity measurement, the crude methanolic extract showed positive result (with LC50 15.652 µg/ml) compared to standard Vincristine sulphate (0.839 µg/ml); which indicated that the leaves of Crinum latifolium possess mild cytotoxic principles. CONCLUSION: Therefore, further studies are suggested to evaluate the possible mechanism of action and the active compounds responsible for the biological activities of the plant extract.