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ABSTRACT: The present study aimed to evaluate the possible antispasmodic and lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of some Pakistani medicinal plants. Extracts from Aconitum laeve Royle (Ranunculaceae), Trichodesma indicum Linn. (Boraginaceae), and Sauromatum guttatum Schott (Araceae) (corms) were tested on the isolated rabbit jejunum. All the extracts caused reduction in spontaneous and acetylcholine-induced contractions. A. laeve displayed excellent spasmolytic activity and almost (95%) diminished the normal contraction of rabbit jejunum at a concentration of 0.25 mg/mL of final bath. T. indicum inhibited the intestinal contractions by 78% at 5 mg/mL while S. guttatum (corms) caused 69% inhibition of spontaneous contractions at a concentration of 2 mg/mL. Extracts from A. laeve, T. indicum, S. guttatum (leaves and berries) and Paeonia emodi Wall. (Paeoniaceae) were screened in vitro for lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. All the extracts except A. laeve, showed good to excellent inhibition of the tested enzyme. P. emodi and S. guttatum (leaves) each inhibited the enzyme by 90% while T. indicum and S. guttatum (berries), respectively, showed 64.5% and 65% inhibitory activity against this enzyme.
11/2009; 47(12):1137-1141.
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ABSTRACT: Two new N-acylsphingosines (ceramides) named longifoamide A {6'-tetracosenamide, (6'-Z)-N-[2,3-dihydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)octadecyl]} and B {6'-tetracosenamide, (6'-Z)-N-[2,3,4-trihydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)octadecyl]} were isolated from a methanol extract of Mentha longifolia. Both ceramides were characterized with the aid of 1D and 2DNMR spectroscopic techniques and high resolution mass spectrometry.
Natural Product Research 09/2006; 20(10):953-60. · 1.01 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The ethanolic extract derived from the aerial parts of Paeonia emodi was screened for various in vitro biological activities including antifungal, antibacterial, insecticidal, phytotoxic and haemagglutination activities. General toxicity (brine shrimp lethality assay) of this extract has also been assessed. The extract was found to possess excellent phytotoxicity against Lemna minor L., moderate heamagglutination activity against human erythrocytes and reasonable insecticidal activity against Bruchus pisorum. The crude extract did not display any antifungal or antibacterial activity against the fungi and bacteria used in this study. No significant general toxicity was observed with the extract at tested concentrations.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 12/2005; 4:1313-1316. · 0.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Twenty two crude ethanolic extracts from 14 indigenous medicinal plants were subjected to enzyme inhibition screening against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and lipoxygenase enzymes (LO). Three extracts showed activity against AChE, nine extracts were found to be active against BChE and four extracts inhibited the enzyme LO. The most significant inhibition activities (> or =50%) were found in extracts derived from Aloe vera (leaves), Alpinia galanga (rhizome), Curcuma longa (rhizome), Cymbopogon citratus (leaves), Ocimum americanum (leaves), Ocimum americanum (stem) and Withania somnifera (roots).
Natural Product Research 10/2005; 19(6):567-71. · 1.01 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The ethanolic extract derived from aerial parts of an indigenous medicinal plant Paeonia emodi was screened for enzyme inhibition activities against Urease (jack bean and Bacillus pasteurii) and alpha-Chymotrypsin. The extract was also investigated for its radical scavenging activity using DPPH assay. The crude extract was found to possess significant enzyme inhibition activities against jack bean (74%) and Bacillus pasteurii (80%) urease and a moderate activity (54%) against alpha-Chymotrypsin. The extract also displayed excellent (83%) radical scavenging activity. On the basis of these results, the crude extract was subsequently fractionated into n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions and tested independently for the aforesaid activities. Significant inhibitory activity against urease enzyme was observed for the ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions while the n-hexane and chloroform fractions were devoid of any such activity. In the alpha-Chymotrypsin enzyme inhibition studies the activity was concentrated into the ethyl acetate fraction. All the fractions displayed potent radical scavenging activity. The crude extract and fractions thereof were also subjected to total phenolic content determination. A correlation between radical scavenging capacities of extracts and total phenolic content was observed in the majority of cases.
Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry 07/2005; 20(3):245-9. · 1.62 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the concentration of copper and iron in the aqueous humour of steroid-treated eyes, particularly to study the concentration of these metals in relation to steroid-induced increases in intraocular pressure (IOP).
Adult rabbits of both sexes were selected in order to study the effect of steroids on the concentrations of copper and iron in the aqueous humour and on IOP. The rabbits were acclimatised for 2 weeks prior to the instillation of various drugs into the eyes. Then a steroid (dexamethasone, betamethasone or fluoromethalone) was instilled in both eyes of the rabbits, for about 1 month. Intraocular pressure was measured twice a week. When IOP was significantly increased, the animals were killed. The aqueous humour was collected and analysed for copper and iron using atomic absorption spectrophotometry coupled with graphite fumace.
After about 30 days of steroid treatment the mean (+/- SD) IOP in dexamethasone, betamethasone and fluoromethalone treated groups was 17.5 (+/- 4.81) mmHg, 18.48 (+/- 4.5) mmHg and 21.8 (+/- 5.7) mmHg, respectively. These values were significantly higher compared to the control group where the mean IOP was 11.6 (+/- 2.2) mmHg. The concentration of copper in the aqueous humour of steroid-treated rabbits was significantly lower (P < 0.001) compared to the control group. However, the concentration of iron was not significantly different between the control and steroid treated rabbits.
A greater increase in IOP was observed in the fluoromethalone-treated group compared to the dexamethasone and betamethasone-treated groups, but the difference was not significant. The lower concentrations of copper in aqueous humour in steroid-treated eyes may play an important role in the maintenance of IOP. The concentration of iron was not significantly different compared to the control group. These results may help to explain the role of these metals in the pathogenesis of open angle glaucoma.
Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 03/2002; 30(1):28-35. · 1.98 Impact Factor
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Zafar Lqbal PhD,
Zia Muhammad FCPS,
M Tahir Shah PhD,
Shumaila Bashir MPhil,
Taous Khan MPhil,
Muhammed Daud Khan FRCS,
Zafar Lqbal,
Zia Muhammad,
M Tahir Shah,
Shumaila Bashir, Taous Khan,
Muhammed
Daud Khan
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ABSTRACT: Purpose: To evaluate the concentration of copper and iron in the aqueous humour of steroid-treated eyes, particularly to study the concentration of these metals in relation to steroid-induced increases in intraocular pressure (IOP).Methods: Adult rabbits of both sexes were selected in order to study the effect of steroids on the concentrations of copper and iron in the aqueous humour and on IOP. The rabbits were acclimatised for 2 weeks prior to the instillation of various drugs into the eyes. Then a steroid (dexamethasone, betamethasone or fluoromethalone) was instilled in both eyes of the rabbits, for about 1 month. Intraocular pressure was measured twice a week. When IOP was significantly increased, the animals were killed. The aqueous humour was collected and analysed for copper and iron using atomic absorption spectrophotometry coupled with graphite furnace.Results: After about 30 days of steroid treatment the mean (± SD) IOP in dexamethasone, betamethasone and fluoromethalone treated groups was 17.5 (± 4.81) mmHg, 18.48 (± 4.5) mmHg and 21.8 (± 5.7) mmHg, respectively. These values were significantly higher compared to the control group where the mean IOP was 11.6 (± 2.2) mmHg. The concentration of copper in the aqueous humour of steroid-treated rabbits was significantly lower (P < 0.001) compared to the control group. However, the concentration of iron was not significantly different between the control and steroid treated rabbits.Conclusion: A greater increase in IOP was observed in the fluoromethalone-treated group compared to the dexamethasone and betamethasone-treated groups, but the difference was not significant. The lower concentrations of copper in aqueous humour in steroid-treated eyes may play an important role in the maintenance of IOP. The concentration of iron was not significantly different compared to the control group. These results may help to explain the role of these metals in the pathogenesis of open angle glaucoma.
Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 01/2002; 30(1):28 - 35. · 1.98 Impact Factor
