Gastroprotective effect of the aqueous leaf extract of Guiera senegalensis in Albino rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Guiera senegalensis (G. senegalensis) on gastric mucosal damage using different ulcer models. METHODS: Considering the above claims, the present study was undertaken to validate the gastroprotective potential of the aqueous leaf extract of this plant against ethanol, water immersion and Aspirin induced ulcer models. RESULTS: The leaf extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (P<0.05) decreased the ulcer index in all assays used. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained, provide strong evidence of antiulcer activity of the leaf extract of G. senegalensis and support the traditional uses of the plant for the treatment of ulcer.

Effect of mefloquine on the mechanical activity of the mouse isolated rectal smooth muscle.

The effects of mefloquine on the mechanical activity of the mouse isolated rectal smooth muscle was studied. Mefloquine (4.1 x 10(-5) - 5.2 x 10(-3)M) when applied alone and separately exerted variable effects on the rectum. In some preparations, it caused slight phasic contractions while in others no response was elicited. When the external Ca(2+) was increased from 1.8 mM to 300 mM mefloquine produced phasic contractile activity which was abolished on return to normal 1.8mM suggesting that the contractile activity was due to extracellular Ca(2+) influx. Mefloquine [4.1 x 10(-6)M - 4.1 x 10(-4)M] caused contraction-dependent inhibition of KCL, Carbachol and CaCl2 [in depolarizing Tyrode solution]. Mefloquine [2.1 x 10(-4)M] blocked KCL, but not carbachol contractions which were largely reversed by increasing [Ca2+]. The results show that mefloquine possesses anticholinergic and appreciable calcium channel blocking activity.

Management of anemic effects of chloramphenicol using amino acids on albino rats infected with Salmonella typhi.

Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic originally extracted from the fungus Streptomyces venezuelae, but it is now synthesized. It is a drug of choice for many of its toxicity in the blood-forming organs. The main objective of this study is to find out how to reduce the anemic effects of chloramphenicol and to increase its therapeutic efficacy using amino acid. In albino-rats infected with Salmonella typhi the results indicate that the rats became anemic after treatment with chloramphenicol. They also show that the combined treatment of chloramphenicol with amino acid yielded positive results in the management of anemia caused by chloramphenicol.

Pharmacokinetics of diethylcarbamazine: prediction by concentration in saliva.

The concentration of diethylcarbamazine in saliva was used to determine pharmacokinetic parameters, in comparison to plasma and urine concentrations. Six healthy adult male volunteers were administered 150 mg diethylcarbamazine with 400 ml of water. At seven different time intervals, blood, urine and saliva samples were taken, and different pharmacokinetic parameters measured. The plasma-saliva concentration ratio was calculated as 1.53 whereas the observed ratio was 3.82. The half lives, times to reach peak plasma concentration, and elimination rate constants did not show any significant difference in the different samples. The plasma peak concentration and areas under the curve were significantly (p<0.05) increased from those of the saliva. At 24 h, when diethylcarbamazine was absent in urine, the plasma and saliva concentrations were almost zero. Diethylcarbamazine is secreted in saliva, and its concentration in saliva can be used to monitor drug therapy.