Evaluation of Liver Function Tests in ß-Thalassemia Major Children.

Thalassemia is the most prevalent single gene defect in human beings worldwide. Repeated blood transfusions along with chelation therapy are mainstay of treatment in thalassemia patients. However these recurrent blood transfusions result in iron overload which along with chelation therapy causes deterioration of liver function. Aim of the study was to evaluate the liver function tests in ß-thalassemia major patients. This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2017 to December 2017. In this study, 50 diagnosed patients of ß Thalassemia major (Group A) and 50 apparently healthy children (Group B) of both sexes were selected from the department of Paediatrics, Dhaka medical college. The study parameters were serum ferritin, bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP. The results were compared statistically between groups. Serum ferritin level (mean±SD) in thalassemic major patients in Group A (890±446.38 microgram/L) which is significantly higher above normal level. Serum bilirubin in Group A (3.27±2.62 mg/dl) and in Group B (0.48±0.24 mg/dl), Serum ALT in Group A (53.06±34.0 U/L) and in Group B (16.70±4.81 U/L), AST in Group A (84.56±33.54 U/L) and in Group B (11.60±2.72 U/L) and ALP levels in Group A (422.42±226.99 IU/L) and in Group B (221.86±80.54 IU/L). All the values were significantly higher (p<0.001) in ß-thalassemia patient than that of normal children. This study concludes that liver function parameters are significantly higher in ß thalassemia major patients. So routine evaluation of liver function tests may be advocated for thalassemic patients to predict early onset of hepatic dysfunction.

Triterpenoidal constituents from Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. obtusa leaves.

An investigation on the constituents of the fresh, uncrushed leaves of Ecalyptus camaldulensis var. obtusa has led to the isolation of the triterpenoid amirinic acid and four known triterpenoids ursolic acid lactone, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. Amirinic acid transformed into amirolide in deuterated chloroform at room temperature. The new products were characterized by exhaustive spectroscopic studies as 2alpha,3beta,7beta-trihydroxy-11alpha-methoxyurs -12-en-28-oic acid and 2alpha,3beta,7beta-trihydroxyurs-11-en-28,13beta -olide.

Spasmolytic constituents from Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. obtusa leaves.

Phytochemical studies on the leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. obtusa have resulted in the isolation of a new triterpenoid camaldulin (3beta-formyloxyurs-11-en-28,13beta-olide) (1) along with ursolic acid lactone acetate (2), ursolic acid lactone (3), betulinic acid (4), and beta-sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5). The structures were assigned on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR studies. Compounds 1-3 were tested for spasmolytic activity and were found to possess calcium antagonist activity.