Alpha-adrenergic receptor blocking effect of Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth. and Hook f. leaf extract on guinea pig isolated smooth muscle preparations.

Aqueous extract of C. collinus leaves inhibited norepinephrine induced contraction in guinea pig vas deferens and aortic strip in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction in ileum was dose independent. C. collinus extract per se had no effect on isolated guinea pig vas deferens and aortic strip, but inhibited norepinephrine induced contraction in a dose-dependent manner probably by its antagonist action on alpha-adrenergic receptor. It had inconsistent effect on guinea pig ileum in vitro preparation.

Association of polymorphisms in apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B genes with lipid profile in Tamilian population.

To study the influence of ApoAI and ApoB gene polymorphisms on lipid profile in healthy Tamilian volunteers of south India. Genotyping of ApoAI and ApoB polymorphisms was done in 185 subjects by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.The frequency of the M1-, M2- and R- alleles were 21%, 4.3% and 5.4% respectively and were similar to that reported from Asian Indians. An increase of 9.1mg/dl in HDL-C levels was observed with M1-/- genotype when compared to M1+/+. A paradoxical increase in levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C was observed with M2+7divide;- genotype when compared to M2+/+ genotype. Analysis of combination of genotypes of ApoAI revealed no influence on the lipid parameters. ApoB EcoRI had no significant effect on lipid profile. For the first time genotype distribution of ApoAI and ApoB polymorphisms and their effect on lipid profile was established in Tamilians. Only -75G/A polymorphism of ApoAI was significantly associated with HDL7ndash;C levels.