Correction of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy and its effects on superoxide dismutase.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects not only the hematological parameters but also disturb the oxidative balance of body. In pregnancy, this is much more considerable as oxidative stress is considered to be one of the physiological changes during this period. This study aims to observe the effect of daily iron supplement on oxidative stress in pregnancy. In this study, 30 pregnant women with IDA were treated with daily oral iron supplements for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, serum ferritin concentration (SFC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured and compared with pre-supplement levels. A significant increase in all the parameters was observed after treatment (p<0.05). When post supplemental values of SFC and SOD were compared with control group comprising of 10 non anemic pregnant women, they were significantly low (p<0.05). Our results indicate that oxidative stress in pregnancy associated with IDA decreases with daily iron supplements but fail to reach normal pregnant levels. This supports iron over load theory in daily iron supplements and suggests that oxidative stress increases if pregnancy is associated with iron deficiency.

Pharmacodynamic study on acute hypotensive activities of Carissa carandas extract in normal rats.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of Carissa carandas extract on cardiovascular function of normal rats. Intravenous bolus injection of this extract in the doses of 5 mg kg(-1)_-45 mg kg(-1), produced dose dependent reduction in arterial blood pressure (p<0.001). The 45mg/kg dose caused a 50.75% ± 2.71 decrease in MABP which was highly significant with P value < 0.0005 when compared with its controls. Significant reduction in heart rate frequency was observed after CC injection at a dose of 45 mg kg-1 (p<0.001). The results were comparable with Acetylcholine 10(-4) M. The receptor activity performed for which Atropine 10(-4)M was administered I.V. and then the extract (45mg/kg) was administered. A highly Non Significant fall in Mean Arterial Blood pressure was observed 1.51% ± 0.22 (P>0.05). It was concluded that the Carissa carandas Ethanol extract possess potent acute hypotensive effect in normal rats. It stimulates the muscarinic receptors located on the endothelial cells of the vasculature. This stimulation results in the release of endothelial-derived relaxing factors (EDRFs) or nitric oxide that diffuses to vasculature smooth muscles and causes their relaxation.

Healing potential of cream containing extract of Sphaeranthus indicus on dermal wounds in Guinea pigs.

A cream containing ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Sphaeranthus indicus, Linn. (Asteraceae) was evaluated for wound healing activity in guinea pigs. The cream was applied in vivo on the paravertebral area of six excised wounded models once a day for 15 days. The cream significantly enhanced the rate of wound contraction and the period of epithelialization comparable to neomycin.

Hypotensive and toxicological study of citric acid and other constituents from Tagetes patula roots.

Study of the effects of the methanolic extract of Tagetes patula roots on blood pressure led to the isolation of well known citric (1) and malic acid (7) as hypotensive, and pyridine hydrochloride (4) as hypertensive constituents of the plant along with a new constituent, 2-hydroxy, 5-hydroxymethyl furan (9). Citric acid and malic acid caused 71% and 43% fall in Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MABP) of rats at the doses of 15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg respectively while pyridine hydrochloride produced 34% rise in the MABP of rats at the dose of 30 mg/kg. LD50 and LD100 of citric acid in mice have been determined as 545 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg, respectively.

Effect of cream containing Melia azedarach flowers on skin diseases in children.

A herbal cream containing a methanolic HPLC-standardized extract of Melia azedarach flowers has been prepared and found potent against bacterial skin diseases like cellulitis, pustules, pyogenic infections, etc. in children. The results obtained are comparable to those with neomycin.

Hypotensive activity, toxicology and histopathology of opuntioside-I and methanolic extract of Opuntia dillenii.

Methanolic extract of Opuntia dillenii cladodes and its pure compound alpha-pyrone glycoside, opuntioside-I showed potent hypotensive activity in normotensive rats. Both the extract and opuntioside-I showed comparable effect of 44-54% fall in Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MABP) at the dose of 10 mg/kg. No mortality was observed in rats even at the doses of 1000 mg/kg/d and 900 mg/kg/d per oral of extract and opuntioside-I respectively. However, histopathology revealed adverse effects of high doses on liver and spleen of the experimental animals.

Hypotensive activity and toxicology of constituents from Bombax ceiba stem bark.

A novel constituent, shamimicin, 1"', 1"""'-bis-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-3,7-dihydroxy-5-O-xylopyranosyloxy-2H-1-benzopyran along with lupeol, which possesses potent hypotensive activity, has been isolated from Bombax ceiba stem bark. BCBMM--one of the most active hypotensive fractions has revealed its adverse effects on heart, liver and kidneys of mice at the dose of 1000 mg/kg/d.