Antiarthritic potential of ethanolic extract of Ixora coccinea leaves on complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in animal model.

CONTEXT: Ixora coccinea leaves possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antimutagenic, and gastroprotective properties. On this background, its antiarthritic potential was evaluated. AIMS: The objective is to evaluate the effect of Ethanolic extract of Ixora coccinea leaves (EEICL) on complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. SETTINGS AND STUDY DESIGN: PG research laboratory, Pharmacology Department, MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, Odisha. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-six Wistar albino rats were randomly distributed into sixgroups (n = 6) as follows: Gr 1 (normal control)-DW p.o, Gr-2 (disease control [DC] - Tween 80 p.o), Gr-3 (piroxicam 0.9 mg/kg p.o), Gr-4 (EEICL-1 g/kg, p.o, Gr 4-EEICL-1.5 g/kg p.o, Gr 5-ED50 (0.82 g/kg) + piroxicam (0.45 mg/kg) p.o. After induction of arthritis, drugs, and vehicles were administered daily from 5th to 25th day. On 0, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 25th day, parameters like body weight, rotarod fall time, paw volume displacement, and arthritis index were measured. On the last day, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), and histopathological analysis were done. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Analysis of parametric data was done by one-way ANOVA and nonparametric data by Kruskal-Wallis test using graph pad prism 7.0. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: EEICL (1.5 mg/kg) showed anti-arthritic effect compared with DC. Rotarod fall-off time 137.5 ± 2.5 sec and body weight (139 ± 12.74 g) were increased significantly. The percentage inhibition of paw volume was increased(52%) whereas arthritic score(0.33), ESR(3.51mm/hr), synovial tissue MDA level (0.62±0.13µmol/gm) and Mankin score(2) were reduced significantly as compared to disease control. CONCLUSIONS: EEICL has anti-arthritic potential in rat model.

Effect of telmisartan on the regression of the left ventricular hypertrophy in the patients of essential hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: An increase in the Left Ventricular Mass as a result of muscle hypertrophy, has emerged as a powerful pressure independent risk factor for the cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. It is associated with a risk of death that is 3 times greater than the risk which is associated with hypertension alone. For the development of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH), in addition to a chronic increase in the pressure and/or volume overload, an elevation in the plasma ACE activity, plasma aldosterone levels, and the angiotensin-II concentrations play a major role .In this study, the effect of Telmisartan, a selective angiotension-II receptor blocker, was compared with that of Atenolol, a selective ß1adrenergic receptor blocker, on the regression of LVH in the patients of essential hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Essential hypertensive patients with LVH were selected for this study, as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study was carried out on two groups of hypertensive patients with LVH: Group-1: The patients who were taking telmisartan 80 mg OD. Group-2: The patients who were taking atenolol 50 mg OD. The blood pressure was measured and echocardiography was done in both the groups, prior to the treatment and 6 months after the treatment in the Department of Cardiology, MKCG Medical College Hospital, Brahmapur, India. The data were analysed by using the Student's 't' test. RESULTS: In the cases of Left Ventricular Mass Index (LVMI), which is a better indicator of LVH, in the Atenolol group, the mean value changed from 143.93 ± 2.44 gm/m(2) to 130.16 ± 2.88 gm/m(2) (t=5.83,p<0.01versus baseline).In the Telmisartan group, the mean value changed from 184.67 ± 7.14 gm/m(2) to 133.41± 4.24 gm/m(2) (t=12.12, p<0.001versus baseline). On comparing Telmisartan with Atenolol, Telmisartan was found to produce a greater (27.49%) reduction than Atenolol (9.68%). In the Telmisartan group, 13 patients out of 26 patients achieved a target value of LVMI that was <134 gm/m(2) in males and <110 gm/m(2) in females (50%). In the Atenolol group, only 9 patients out of 22patients achieved a target value (40.90%). CONCLUSION: Thus, Telmisartan a selective AT1antagonist, possesses pharmacological effects beyond a blood pressure reduction in which the blockade of the AT1receptor may lead to attenuation of the growth promoting action of Ang II. From this study, it is clear that Telmisartan is superior to Atenolol in achieving a regression of LVH, which is a better indicator of the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Effect of aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos unripe fruit on inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of Aegle marmelos unripe fruit extract (AMFE) on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Wistar albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Effect of AMFE was studied on acetic acid induced ulcerative colitis (1 ml of 4% acetic acid solution, transrectal) and indomethacin-induced enterocolitis (10 mg/kg, single dose, p.o) in Wistar albino rats. The extract was administered orally at different dose of 150, 200 and 250 mg/kg body weight. Disease pathogenesis was assessed by measuring disease activity index (DAI), macroscopic score, microscopic score, mesenteric mast cell protection, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malonaldehyde (MDA) levels in the above two models. RESULTS: The results showed a dose dependent decrease in intestinal inflammation following treatment with AMFE. Significant protection in mast cell degranulation was observed in acetic acid and indomethacin-induced IBD models. Treatment with AMFE significantly decreased the MDA levels and increased SOD activity. CONCLUSION: In our study, AMFE produced anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mast cell stabilizing effects demonstrating protective effect in inflammatory bowel disease.

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLC)-Based Gel for the Topical Delivery of Aceclofenac: Preparation, Characterization, and In Vivo Evaluation.

The aim of this study was to prepare nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC)-based topical gel of aceclofenac for the treatment of inflammation and allied conditions. Stearic acid as the solid lipid, oleic acid as the liquid lipid, pluronic F68 as the surfactant, and phospholipon 90G as the co-surfactant were used. NLCs were prepared by melt-emulsification, low-temperature solidification, and high-speed homogenization methods. Characterization of the NLC dispersion was carried out through particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and an in vitro release study. The anti-inflammatory effect of the NLC gel was assessed by the rat paw edema technique and compared to marketed aceclofenac gel. The NLC dispersions exhibited d(90%) between 233 nm and 286 nm. All of the NLC showed high entrapment efficiency ranging from 67% to 82%. The particle size of NLC was further confirmed by the SEM study. The result of DSC showed that aceclofenac was dispersed in NLC in an amorphous state. Both the entrapment and release rate were affected by the percentage of oleic acid, but the method of preparation affected only the entrapment efficiency. The nanoparticulate dispersion was suitably gelled and assessed for in vitro permeation. Finally, NLC-based gels were found to possess superior (almost double) the anti-inflammatory activity compared to the marketed product. The anti-inflammatory activity of NLC gel showed a rapid onset of action, as well as a prolonged duration of action as compared with the marketed gel.

Evaluation of the role of erythropoietin and methotrexate in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Erythropoietin, originally recognized for its role in erythropoiesis, has been shown to improve neurological outcome after stroke. Low-dose methotrexate is effective against certain inflammatory diseases, such as severe psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as Crohn's disease. Immunosuppressive effect of methotrexate also reduces the proportion of patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis with modest clinical benefits. Combination of erythropoietin and methotrexate can target neuroinflammation along with immunosupression. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of erythropoietin and methotrexate in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a commonly used animal model of several degenerative human diseases like multiple sclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, C57BL/J6 mice were immunized with 200 µg of myelin basic protein (MBP) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) supplemented with 1 mg/ml of killed mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBP: CFA in 1:1 ratio). These animals were given a combination of methotrexate and erythropoietin. Neurological function tests were scored daily by grading of clinical signs. Cerebral histopathology was performed to detect inflammatory infiltrates and demyelination. RESULTS: Treatment with erythropoietin and methotrexate significantly improved the neurological function recovery, reduced inflammatory infiltrates, and demyelination as compared to controls possibly by stimulating oligodendrogenesis and down-regulating proinflammatory infiltrates. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest an adjunctive use of methotrexate in demyelinating disease.