Bangladesh Journal Of Pharmacology 0401

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF BANGLADESH PHARMACOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology V O L U M E

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Chemical composition and antimicrobial properties PAPERS IN OTHER PAGES • Effects of the extract of Nigella sativa

(kalajira) upon diabetic rats • Pattern of use of analgesics in a surgical unit

• Analysis of essential

oil of eaglewood tree by GC-MS

• In vitro cytotoxic

activity of Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon nardus

essential oils

of different basil essential oils chemotypes from Togo Koffi Koba, P.W. Poutouli, Christine Raynaud, Jean-Pierre Chaumont and Komla Sanda

The aerial parts essential oils of Ocimum basilicum from Togo were steam-distilled and investigated for their percentage composition and in vitro antimicrobial activities. Five oil chemotypes were identified and classified as follows in line with their principal components: estragole type; linalool/ estragole type; methyleugenol type; methyleugenol/t-

anethole type; t-anethole type. The in vitro microbiological experiments revealed that only the methyleugenol and methyleugenol/t-anethole chemotypes were active against tested fungi and bacteria. Their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranged from 80 to 150 µl.l-1 and from 200 to 500 µl.l-1 respectively. Likewise, on tested bacteria

the MIC varied from 200 µl.l-1 to 400 µl.l-1 and from 250 to 500 µl.l-1 respectively. These findings are supportive of the potential of both basil oil chemotypes for use as active ingredients in natural antibiotic drugs.

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Chemical investigation of the leaf and rhizome

essential oils of Zingiber zerumbet from Bangladesh Md. Nazrul Islam Bhuiyan, Jasim Uddin Chowdhury and Jaripa Begum

Zingiber zerumbet leaf and rhizome oils, obtained by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. Twenty-nine components were identified in the leaf oil. The major compo-

nents were zerumbone (36.98%); α-caryophyllene (16.35%) and camphene (9.24%). Thirty components were identified in rhizome oil with the main components being in zerumbone (46.83%);

α-caryophyllene (19.00%) and 1,5,5,8-tetramethyl-12oxabicyclo[9.1.0]dodeca-3,7diene (4.28%). The compositions of both oils varied qualitatively and quantitatively. Page 9

Synergistic activity of methanolic extract of Thespesia

populnea flowers with oxytetracycline

Arthanari Saravana Kumar, K. Venkateshwaran, J. Vanitha, V.S. Saravanan, M. Ganesh, M. Vasudevan and T. Sivakumar

The object of this study was to formulate new, cost effective anti-microbial combination for multidrug resistant diseases based on the synergistic activity of oxytetracycline with methanolic extract of Thespesia populnea (Malvaceae) a medicinal plant common in South India. The MIC of methanolic

extracts in combination with oxytetracycline using 12 different both gram positive and gram negative bacteria was found to be around (62.5 µg/ ml to 1000 µg/ml). The synergistic activity was verified using Kirby and Bauer techniques. 83.3% shows synergistic activity against all 12 dif-

ferent bacteria both gram positive and gram negative species. The highest synergism rate was attained against Shigella boydii (ATCC8700).

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Effects of the extract of Nigella sativa (kalajira) upon

diabetic rats

Matira Khanam and Zesmin Fauzia Dewan

The study was carried out to investigate into the effect of concomitant administration of the crude and the nhexane extract of Nigella sativa (kalajira) upon streptozotocin-induced diabetic adult male rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin on day 1 while crude nigella powder in deionized water and the

n-hexane extract of nigella were administered orally concomitantly from day 1 to 21. Rats were sacrificed on day 22. The serum glucose and cholesterol concentrations that were elevated in diabetic rats were normalized or near normalized by the crude nigella or the nhexane extract administration; while the elevated serum triglyceride concentra-

tions of the diabetic rats were brought down to lower than control values. The pancreatic GSH was closer to control value, and pancreatic histology suggested reappearance of β cells. The crude nigella concomitant to streptozotocin (STZ+Nc) administration appeared to provide better alleviation compared to the n-hexane extract. Page 17

Pattern of use of analgesics in a surgical unit Mohammad Abdullah Al Masud, Syed Ashrafuzzaman and Md. Jalaluddin Iqbal

The present study was designed to evaluate the prescribing pattern of analgesics in post-operative patients in a surgical unit. Total number of 180 prescriptions containing analgesics was collected randomly. The only drug in the operation day that was used was pethidine (90.6%). Patients (9.4%) did not receive any analgesics in the operation

day. Associated analgesics in the operation day were either tramadol (42.2 %) or ketorolac (54.4%). Only 3.3% did not receive any such drugs. In first postoperative day most of the patients received single drug tramadol (48.3%), ketorolac (38.9%) and pethidine (0.6%). In second, third, forth and fifth postoperative day most patients

received tramadol (47.8%) (44.4%), (41.4%) and (33.2%) respectively. In sixth postoperative day most of the patients (81.1%) did not receive any analgesics. In this study tramadol was found to be widely used post-operative analgesics with minimal side effects and better adherence to this drug by the patient. Page 21

Analysis of essential oil of eaglewood tree by GC-MS Md. Nazrul Islam Bhuiyan, Jaripa Begum and Md. Nurul Huda Bhuiyan

The study shows the differences in composition of oils obtained from healthy, naturally infected and artificially screws wounds eaglewood (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.) using chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Natural healthy plants agar contained octacosane (19.83%), naphthalene, 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a -octahydro-1,8a-dimethyl-7 -(1-methylethenyl)-, [1R(1.alpha.,7.beta.,8a.alpha.)]-

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(12.67%), 5-isobutyramido-2 -methyl pyrimidine (13.52%), caryophyllene oxide (11.25%) and (.+-.)cadinene (5.46%). Natural infected plants agar (super agar) contained cycloheptane, 4-methylene-1-methyl2-(2-methyl-1-propen-1-yl)1-vinyl- (46.17%), caryophyllene oxide (33.00%) and 7-Isopropenyl-4a-methyl-1methylenedecahydronaphthalene (20.83%). Artificially screw injected plants agar

contained diisooctyl phthalate (71.97%), 1H-Cycloprop [e]azulen-4-ol, decahydro1,1,4,7-tetramethyl-, [1ar(1a.alpha.,4.beta.,4a.beta., 7.alpha., 7a.beta., 7b.alpha.)](9.16%), hexadecanoic acid (7.05%), naphthalene, 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro1,8a-dimethyl-7-(1methylethenyl)-, [1R(1.alpha.,7.beta.,8a.alpha.)](6.45%) and aristolene (5.36%). Page 24

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In vitro cytotoxic activity of Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon nardus essential oils from Togo Koba Koffi,, Sanda Komla, Guyon Catherine, Raynaud Christine, Chaumont Jean-Pierre, Nicod Laurence

The leaf essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus L. and Cymbopogon nardus L. (Poaceae) from Togo were steam-distilled, analyzed for percentage composition and investigated in vitro for their potential cytotoxic activity on human epidermic cell line HaCat. The percentage composition showed that the main constituents of essential oils samples were respectively geranial

(45.2%), neral (32.4%) and myrcène (10.2%) for C. citratus essential oil and citronellal (35.5%), geraniol (27.9%) and citronellol (10.7%) for that of C. nardus. The in vitro cytotoxicity bioassays on human epidermic cell line HaCaT revealed that the toxicity of the essential oil from C. citratus (IC50: 150 µL.mL-1) was higher than that of the essential oil from C. nardus (IC50: 450 µL.mL-

1).

Pure commercial neral, geranial, and citronellal standards showed respectively the following IC50 values: 100, 250 and 300 µL.mL-1). Conversely, pure citronellol standard appeared almost non-toxic (IC50>1000 µL.mL-1), proving the major role played in synergy by neral and geranial in the overall toxicity showed by the citratus oil sample tested in this work. Page 29

Analgesic property of extracts of Fragaria vesca in

experimental animal models Lalit Kanodia and Swarnamoni Das

The aim of the study was to compare the analgesic activities of ethanolic extract of fruits and whole plant of Fragaria vesca in experimental animal models. The extracts were prepared by percolation method and oral toxicity testing was performed as per OECD guidelines. Analgesic activity was assessed by

tail flick method (for central action) and acetic acid-induced writhing test (for peripheral action). Fruit extract, whole plant extract and aspirin showed significant analgesic activity, both central and peripheral, as compared to control (p< 0.01). Although fruit extract at dose of 500 mg/kg showed

better activity than 250 mg/kg (p<0.05). Analgesic activities of fruit extract 250 mg/kg and whole plant extract 500 mg/kg were almost equivalent while aspirin was most potent among all with significantly greater activities as compared to all the extracts (p<0.05). Page 35

Prescribing pattern in a pediatric out-patient department in Gujarat Nazima Y. Mirza, Sagun Desai and Barna Ganguly

This study was carried out to find the medicine-prescribing pattern in children taking treatment in pediatric out-patient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital in rural Gujarat. Prescriptions of 606 patients were collected over a period of six months and analyzed for (i) average number of medicines per prescription, (ii) percentage

of medicines prescribed by official names, (iii) essentiality status of medicines, (iv) appropriateness of medicines used and (v) cost of prescription. The average number of medicines per prescription was 3.72 ± 0.07 and 46.7% patients were prescribed up to 3 medicines. Of the 1483 medicines prescribed, 456 (30.7%) were prescribed by offi-

cial names and 77.61% were essential. Only 20.13% prescriptions could be reckoned as most appropriate. Twenty percent of the total cost was on account of non-essential medicines, of which 95% was contributed by non-essential fixed dose drug combinations. Page 39

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Consumption patterns of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs by the community without prescription in Dhaka City Md. Khoshroz Samad

A cross-sectional study on consumption patterns of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by the community without prescription was conducted in Dhaka Metropolitan City. A total of 608 encounters from 16 pharmacies were interviewed from people found to purchase drugs of the pharmacy from their self demand. The commonest

purchased NSAIDs per encounter was paracetamol (37.0%). Ibuprofen (13.8%), diclofenac sodium (12.7%), aspirin (7.4%), naproxen (6.9%) and other group of NSAIDs (22.2%) were also purchased. The influence by friends/relatives (30.3%) previously advised by the doctor to purchase the NSAIDs for the same complaint were (29.1%); pharmacy salesmen’s advice

(28.3%) and other reasons (12.3%). The total cost of purchased NSAIDs per encounter were less than Tk. 5 (6.9%), Tk. 5 to less than Tk. 10 (45.4%), Tk. 10-25 (35.5%) and more than Tk. 25 (12.2%). Single item of drug was purchased along with NSAIDs by 17.1% of encounters. Page 43

Organochlorine insecticides (DDT and heptachlor) in dry fish: Traditional washing and cooking effect on dietary intake Md. Nurul Huda Bhuiyan, Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan, Kabir Ahmed, Mamtaz Dawlatana, K. M. Formuzul Haque, Matiur Rahim and Md. Nazrul Islam Bhuiyan

The concentrations of organochlorine insecticides (DDT and heptachlor) were investigated to estimate the effect of various washing and boiling/cooking to elucidate the concentration level we intake actually. For this study five most popular dry fish samples namely

bombay duck (loittya), ribbon fish (chhuri), shrimp (chingri), chinese pomfret (rupchanda) and Indian salmon (lakhua) were analyzed. The highest concentrations of DDT and heptachlor were found 737.238 ppb (Indian salmon, normal) and 44.806 ppb

(shrimp, normal) respectively; after boiling treatment a big amount was washed out and remained only 135.516 ppb and 16.868 ppb respectively. Boiling treatment was found more effective than the others. Page 46

Anticonvulsant activity of bioflavonoid gossypin Duraisami Rasilingam, Srinivasan Duraisamy and Ramaswamy Subramanian

The anticonvulsant activity of gossypin was investigated by studying the effects on seizures induced by pentelentetrazole, strychnine and maximal electroshock convulsive methods in mice. Gossypin (10 and 20 mg/kg) significantly reduced the duration of

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convulsion in tonic seizure induced by pentelenetetrazole (95 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Gossypin (20 mg/ kg p.o) significantly reduced the tonic extensor convulsion induced by strychnine and maximum electroshock-induced convulsions. The data obtained

suggest that gossypin have anticonvulsant property and may probably be affecting both GABA aminergic and glycine inhibitory mechanism.

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Antiamoebic activity of marine sponge Haliclona exigua (Krikpatrick) V. Lakshmi, A. Saxena, S.K. Mishra, M. Mishra, S. Srivastava and S. Ghoshal

The methanol and methanolchloroform (1:1) extracts of the freshly collected Haliclona exigua showed minumim inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 125 µg/ ml and 250 µg/ml respectively in in vitro studies, but when both of these were tested in vivo in rats, only methanol-chloroform showed 80% inhibition of tro-

phozoites at the dose of 900 mg/ kg body weight against Entamoeba histolytica. Therefore only methanol-chloroform extract was further fractionated into four fractions (hexane, chloroform, n-butanol soluble and nbutanol insoluble fractions). Out of these, only hexane and nbutanol soluble fractions

showed 80% inhibition of trophozoites at 900 mg/kg dose. Further the chromatography of the n-butanol fraction yielded araguspongin-C which showed promising results at different doses.

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Cerebroprotective effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. root extract on Hypoxic rats P. Muralidharan, G. Balamurugan and Venu Babu

The present study was carried out to evaluate the cerebroprotective effect of the aqueous extract of the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. (250 and 500 mg/ kg) in hypoxic rats. Hypoxia was induced by providing sodium nitrite drinking water to rats for 14 days. Extract at the tested doses promoted the locomotor activity and spatial behavior significantly, which was

impaired in hypoxic rats. The extract administration restored the decreased levels of brain enzymes such as glutamate and dopamine and decreased acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity significantly. Levels of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase were reduced due to hypoxia and were restored to

near normalcy by administration of ethanol extract of G. glabra. Increased lipid peroxidation in hypoxic rats was also restored significantly by extract treatment. Thus, this study suggests that ethanol extract of G. glabra possess a cerebroprotective effect in hypoxic rats, which may be mediated by its antioxidant effects. Page 60

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