Evaluation of nephroprotective activity of Musa paradisiaca L. in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.

The objective of the study was to investigate the nephroprotective activity of methanolic extract of different morphological parts (bract, flower, trachea and tracheal fluid) of Musa paradisiaca L. (Family: Musaceae) against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. Gentamicin produced significant changes in biochemical (increased levels of blood urea nitrogen level, blood urea, and serum creatinine), and histological parameters in mice. Treatment with methanolic extract of bract (100 and 250mg/kg, b.w) and flowering stalk (trachea) (250 and 500mg/kg, b.w) significantly prevented biochemical and histological changes produced by gentamicin toxicity. The extracts of M. paradisiaca (bract and flowering stalk) could contribute a lead to discovery of a new drug for the treatment of drug-induced nephrotoxicity.

Risk for oral cancer from smokeless tobacco.

Tobacco products which are used in a way other than smoking are known as smokeless tobacco. The most common smokeless tobaccos are chewing tobacco, naswar, snuff, snus, gutka, and topical tobacco paste. Any product which contains tobacco is not safe for human health. There are more than twenty-five compounds in smokeless tobacco which have cancer causing activity. Use of smokeless tobacco has been linked with risk of oral cancer. Smokeless tobacco contains tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), polonium, formaldehyde, cadmium, lead, and benzo[a]pyrene, which are carcinogenic agents. Although there is presence of some compounds, carotenoids and phenolic compounds, that have cancer inhibiting properties, they are in low concentrations. Dry snuff use is linked with higher relative risks, while the use of other smokeless tobacco is of intermediate risk. Moist snuff and chewing tobacco have a very low risk for oral cancer. Therefore, from this review article, it was concluded that smokeless tobacco has risk for oral cancer - either low, medium or high depending on the balance between cancer causing agents and cancer inhibiting agents.

Spasmolytic, bronchodilator and vasorelaxant activity of methanolic extract of Tephrosia purpurea.

The methanolic extract of the whole plant of Tephrosia pupurea, Linn. was subjected to find out its possible therapeutic utility to validate its folkloric use in native systems of medicine. The extract on application to spontaneous contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations exerted a concentration dependent (0.003-3.0 mg/mL) relaxant effect. The extract also caused concentration dependent relaxation of K+(80 mM)-induced spastic contractions. These findings were further supported by the observations that the extract caused a concentration dependent right ward shift of the Ca2+ response curves in manner similar to that of verapamil. The extract exhibited a relaxant effect on carbachol and high K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions of isolated rabbit tracheal preparations in a manner similar to verapamil. The observed non-specific bronchodilator response is possibly mediated through Ca2+ channel blockade. Moreover, the extract also exhibited a dose dependent relaxant effect on phenylephrine (1 microM) and K+(80 mM)-induced contractions in a manner similar to verapamil. On the basis of the above-mentioned findings, it can be concluded that the use of Tephrosia purpurea, in gastrointestinal spasm, asthma and hypertension is likely to be mediated through calcium channel blockage.

Tuberculosis: burning issues: multidrug resistance and HIV-coinfection.

Tuberculosis is an infection of respiratory tract and Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent. Multidrug resistance and HIV-coinfection are the burning issues for tuberculosis. The management of drug resistance to tuberculosis is the necessity of the day so by taking effective and controlled measures and giving high doses of 2nd line drugs, we can minimize the death rate in TB. For the HIV-related TB infection, it is necessary to treat TB infection first so that effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy may not be altered and the transmission of M. tuberculosis to other healthy individuals of community could be prevented. All HIV positive individuals who are at a greater risk of acquiring TB infection, either due to suppressed immune system or unhealthy circumstances, must be investigated and if indicated must be treated effectively at immediate basis so that latent TB infection may not progress to active TB.

Spasmolytic, bronchodilatory and antioxidant activities of Erythrina superosa Roxb.

The present study was undertaken to explore the possible antioxidant, spasmolytic, bronchodilator and antioxidant activities of Erythrina suberosa Roxb. flowers. The crude aqueous methanolic extract of Erythrina suberosa Roxb. flowers (Es.Cr), on application to isolated rabbit jejunum preparations, caused concentration dependent relaxation of the spontaneous contractions as well as inhibition of K(+) (80 mM)-induced contractions, suggested that Es.Cr exhibited spasmolytic activity may possibly be mediated through Ca(2+) channel blocking effect. This was confirmed further as Es.Cr treatment of the isolated rabbit jejunum preparations resulted in a rightward shift in the Ca(2+) concentration-response curves in a manner similar to verapamil, a standard calcium channel blocker. Similarly, Es.Cr on application to isolated rabbit tracheal preparations; caused the concentration dependent relaxation of the carbachol (1 microM) and K(+) (80 mM)-induced contractions indicating its bronchodilator activity in a manner similar to verapamil. The crude methanolic extract of Erythrina suberosa exhibited antioxidant activity as manifested by strong scavenging activity on DPPH free radicals, whereas weaker scavenging activity was shown on NO free radicals in comparison with standard antioxidant quercetin, which is equally potent against both free radicals. It is concluded from this study that the crude aqueous methanolic extract of the flowers of Erythrina suberosa Roxb. possesses the antioxidant, spasmolytic and bronchodilator activities likely to be mediated through Ca(2+) channel blocking mechanism.

Novel drugs from marine microorganisms.

Marine microorganisms have expected mounting consideration on the basis of bioactive metabolites and propose an exclusive prospect to both enhance the amount of aquatic natural foodstuffs in clinical trials as well as speed up their progress. This review focuses particularly on those molecules, originated from marine microorganisms, presently in the medical pipeline that have been recognized or highly expected to be identified based on growing incidental evidence. Particularly karlotoxin class compounds, isolated from dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum, offer chances to create new molecules for control of cancer and high serum cholesterol levels.

Plasma lipid profile in sarcoma patients.

Objective of the present study was to observe plasma lipid profile (triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol) in sarcoma patients. 120 subjects were included in the project. The subjects comprised of two groups ; first as Controls (60 in number) and the second as Patients of Sarcoma (also 60 in number). Fasting blood samples were collected for estimation. Sarcoma patients showed highly significant (P<0.01) decrease, when compared with the normal control subjects.

Zinc: Role in the management of diarrhea and cholera.

Diarrhea and cholera are major health problems. Vibrio cholera, the causative agent of cholera, infects the small intestine, resulting in vomiting, massive watery diarrhea and dehydration. Reduced water and electrolyte absorption is also due to zinc deficiency. Zinc has an important role in recovery from the disease. The combination of zinc with cholera vaccine and oral rehydration solutions has a positive impact on cholera and diarrhea. It has led to a decrease in the mortality and morbidity associated with diarrhea.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of levofloxacin in healthy volunteers and in patients suffering from typhoid Fever.

The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of typhoid fever on pharmacokinetic parameters of levofloxacin (LF) and compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of the said antibiotic in healthy human volunteers and patients with typhoid fever. Total of 12 subjects were divided into two groups "A" (healthy volunteers) and "B" (typhoid patients). Single oral dose of LF 500 mg was given and 5 mL of blood was collected from each subject at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 72 h. Plasma concentrations of LF were measured by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from plasma concentration-time data by using MW/PHARM pharmacological analysis. In healthy volunteers, the average pharmacokinetic parameters were as Cmax (6.79 µg/mL), Tmax (1.84 h), T(½) (10.03 h), Ka (2.23 h(-1)), AUC (110.09 µgh/mL), Vd (85.84 L), Cl (4.57 L/h) and in typhoid patients were Cmax (6.90 µg/mL), Tmax (1.82 h), T(½) (9.42 h), Ka (2.21 h(-1)), AUC (105.55 µgh/mL), Vd (64.31 L), Cl (4.75 L/h). The difference between pharmacokinetic parameters of LF in healthy human volunteers and typhoid patients was calculated by using unpaired t-test. As the p-value in case of all pharmacokinetic parameters was more than 0.05, the difference between pharmacokinetic parameters in both healthy human volunteers and typhoid patients was insignificant. It is concluded that there is no need to adjust the dose of LF in typhoid patients.