Isolation And Identification Of Chemical Markers From Labisia Pumila (Blume) And Preparation Of Standardised And Nanoformulated Extracts For Anti-Obesity, Antiuterine Fibroid And Anti-Cervical Cancer Studies

Labisia pumila Blume, dikenali setempat sebagai Kacip Fatimah, telah lama digunakan sebagai tonik wanita dan produk kesihatan. L. pumila juga telah digunakan secara tradisional untuk merawat disentri, dismenorea dan gonorea Labisia pumila Blume, locally known as Kacip Fatimah, has long been used as female tonics and health products. L. pumila has also been used traditionally in the treatment of dysentery, dysmenorrhoea and gonorrhoe

Effect of Addition of Different Levels of Commercial Baker's Yeast to Concentrate Diet of Multiparous Mid-Lactation Holstein Friesian Cows on Rumen Fermentation Characteristics

أجريت الدراسة في محطة أبقار الديوانية الكبرى/شركة تاج النهرين- محافظة الديوانية لمدة 84 يوما للتحري عن تأثير مستوى إضافة خميرة الخبز التجاريةSaccharomyces cerevisiae , 0 و15 و 30 غم/بقرة/يوم الى العليقة المركزة على خصائص تخمرات الكرش في أبقار الهولشتاين فريزيان المانية المنشأ. أستخدم في هذه الدراسة 9 أبقار هولشتاين فريزيان متعددة المواسم وفي المرحلة الوسطية من الإنتاج. وقد تضمن برنامج التغذية المتبع في تلك المحطة تقديم العليقة المركزة 1 كغم لكل 3-4 كغم حليب منتج يومي وبوجبتين متساويتين صباحية ومسائية, مع 10 كغم من العلف الأخضر و السايلج إضافة الى تبن الرز بصورة حرة. وقد تميز السايلج المستخدم في الدراسة بنوعية ومعايير تخمرات مقبولة, إذ بلغت قيم الأس الهيدروجيني وتركيز نتروجين الأمونيا والأحماض الدهنية الطيارة الكلية 3.5 و 0.98% من النتروجين الكلي و 2.55 ملي مكافئ/مادة جافة. وقد أظهرت النتائج أن إضافة الخميرة بمستوى 15 و30 غم/بقرة/يوم أدت الى انخفاض (P<0.01) في تركيز نتروجين الأمونيا من 18.14 الى 13.92 و 14.21 ملغم/100 مل على التوالي. و لوحظ حصول ارتفاع (P<0.01) في تركيز الأحماض الدهنية الطيارة الكلية من 7.32 الى 9.3 مليمول/100 مل نتيجة لإضافة الخميرة بمستوى 15 غم/بقرة/يوم. إلا ان قيم الأس الهيدروجيني في الكرش لم تتأثر بمستوى إضافة الخميرةThis study was conducted in Grand station of Diwania/ Taj Al-Nahrain company- Al-Qadisiya Province for 84 days to investigate the effect of level of addition of commercial baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae,0, 15 and 30 g/cow/day to concentrate diet on rumen fermentation characteristics  in German Holstein Friesian lactating cows.  Nine multiparous Holstein cows in their mid-lactation were used. Daily feeding program applied in that station included offering 1 kg of concentrate diet per 3-4 kg milk produced divided into morning and evening meals, 10 kg of green forage, 10 kg whole plant corn silage and free choice of rice straw. Silage was characterized with accepted quality and fermentation parameters, values of pH, concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) were, 3.5, 0.98% of total nitrogen and 2.55 mM/DM respectively. Results revealed that addition of yeast at level of 15 and 30 g/cow/day reduced (P<0.01) concentration of NH3-N from 18.14 to 13.92 and 14.21 mg/100 ml respectively. Significant (P<0.01) increase in concentration of TVFA from 7.32 to 9.39 mM /100 ml was also observed due to addition of yeast at level of 15 g/cow/day. However, ruminal pH values were not affected by addition of yeas

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF NIGELLA SATIVA OIL ON CHEMORADIATION-INDUCED ORAL MUCOSITIS IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCERS

Objective: Oral mucositis (OM) is a common treatment-induced toxicity in patients undergoing radiation or chemoradiation for head and neck cancers (HNC). The study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Nigella sativa (NS) oil in radiation-or chemoradiation-induced OM in HNC patients. Methods: From Forty HNC patients were randomized to two groups, each of 20 patients. The first group was treated with NS oil mouthwash five times daily, while the second group was treated with the Magic mouthwash and served as a control. All patients received radiotherapy (RT) (60-70 Gy) in 30-35 fractions over 6-7 w with or without chemotherapy. Patients were evaluated once per week to estimate the severity and duration of OM and the salivary levels of IL-6 and TNF-α. Results: 70% of patients were men and the commonest tumor locations were larynx (47.5%) and pharynx (22.5%) classified as stages III or IV. NS oil significantly reduces RTOG grade and OM severity after 3-4 w of RT, attenuates the elevation in salivary IL-6 and TNF-α production after 3-5 w. Conclusion: Nigella sativa oil mouthwash have a potential anti-inflammatory activity that may be beneficial in minimizing or preventing radiation-or chemoradiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer

PHARMACOKINETICS AND BIOAVAILABILITY OF ORTHOSIPHON STAMINEUS ETHANOLIC EXTRACT AND ITS-NANO LIPOSOMES IN SPRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS

Objective: This study aimed to perform pharmacokinetic profile of rosmarinic acid (RA), sinensitin (SIN), eupatorin (EUP) and 3΄-hydroxy-5,6,7,4΄-tetramethoxyflavone (TMF) in Orthosiphon stamineus ethanolic extract (OS-E) and its nanoliposomes (OS-EL) after oral and intravenous administration in Sprague-Dawley rat's plasma by developing and validating a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with ultraviolet (UV) detection.Methods: An isocratic elution program consisting of methanol: tetrahydrofuran: water (0.1% H3PO4) mixture in the volume ratio 55: 5: 40 on Nucleosil C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm internal diameter × 5 µm particles size) was applied. The current study followed a two-ways crossover study design. OS-E and OS-EL were administered orally at 1000 and 500 mg/kg, respectively. They were also administered intravenously at 250 mg/kg via the tail vein.Results: The HPLC-UV method was successfully developed and validated for simultaneous determination of major chemical constituent from OS-E and OS-EL in rat's plasma. The method recorded the mean recoveries from extraction were between 91.39 and 100.32%. With regards to the intravenous administration of OS-EL, all four marker compounds appeared to be poorly distributed and cleared slowly from the body compared to OS-E. Whilst in oral administration of OS-EL, the bioavailability of all marker compounds were higher than OS-E due to higher solubility of encapsulation in phospholipids.Conclusion: The higher solubility and bioavailability of OS-EL may contribute to encapsulation in phospholipids

Three-Year Outcomes of Cross-Linking PLUS (Combined Cross-Linking with Femtosecond Laser Intracorneal Ring Segments Implantation) for Management of Keratoconus

Purpose. To analyze the results of three-year outcomes of combined epithelium-on cross-linking with femtosecond laser ICRS (cross-linking PLUS) for keratoconus management. Design. A retrospective multicenter clinical study. Methods. 43 eyes of 38 patients were subjected to preoperative and postoperative UCVA, BCVA, refraction, Pentacam pachymetry, and keratometry examinations at 3-, 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-month follow-up period. Results. The preoperative and postoperative mean UCVA was 1.30 ± 0.48 (logMAR ± SD) and 0.82 ± 0.22 respectively. The preoperative and postoperative mean BCVA was 0.90 ± 0.40 and 0.60 ± 0.30, respectively. The preoperative and postoperative mean K average was 50.63 ± 0.87 (D ± SD) and 45.56 ± 0.98, respectively. The preoperative and postoperative mean pachymetry was 471 ± 92.36 (μm ± SD) and 423 ± 39.58, respectively. The preoperative and postoperative mean astigmatism was 7.55 ± 1.75 and 3.39 ± 1.26, respectively. One eye showed ICRS edge exposure while 6 eyes showed progression of keratoconus. Conclusion. CXL PLUS was proved to be a successful procedure to halt progression (mainly by CXL) and to correct the refractive status of the keratoconic eye (mainly by ICRS). CXL PLUS performed a synergistic action correcting and maintaining the correction of both myopic and astigmatic components of keratoconus

Effect of Water Harvesting Techniqueson Soil Properties in the South Omdurman Area- Sudan

Abstract%253A This study was conducted at Khartoum New International Airport, South Omdurman area, Khartoum State, Sudan. A complete randomized block design was followed to study the effect of Holes and Crescents water harvesting techniques on the soil moisture content soil sample were taken prior and immediately after rains and at three weeks intervals. The results indicated that the Holes and Crescents water harvesting techniques affected positively some soil physical properties especially at the upper soil layer (0 ndash%253B 30 cm) which was subjected to excavation by a loader. These soil properties included porosity, field capacity and infiltration rate as they have direct influence on the soil moisture content. The Holes water harvesting techniques showed an increase of 15%25 in soil moisture content resulting in better improvement of the soil physical properties as compared to the Crescents water harvesting techniques, hence the farmer techniques recommended for adoptio

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Program’s Residents in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) focuses on stimulating the body’s ability to heal itself through energy alignment, herbal supplementation, and other balancing techniques. AIM: The objective of the study was to investigate and compare the Knowledge Attitude Practice (KAP) of CAM among program’s residents in Tabuk region. METHODS: A cross-sectional CAP study was conducted among program’s residents in Tabuk region. All program’s residents of all specialties in Tabuk region were included in the study. Data were collected by predesigned electronic questionnaire covering the needed items. Collected data were coded and analyzed using SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA. The Chi-square test was used as a test of significance and p = 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Most (95.8%) of the participants have heard about CAM, 25% have used CAM in treatment before, and 72.3% of them reported beneficial outcome, 25.7% strongly agree and 48.6% agree that CAM is a useful complement to pharmacological medicine, 38.2% believed that the results of CAM are usually due to the placebo effect, and 52.1% recommended using CAM. On the other hand, 79.9% have knowledge about acupuncture, 54.9% spiritual healing and herbal medicine, 43.1% massage, 41% yoga, 70.8% bloodletting cupping, and 56.3% about cauterization. More than third (38.2%) of the participants agreed that the use of herbal products is a valid form of drugs which can be used for the treatment of variety of diseases, 48.6% agreed that CAM is a useful complement to pharmacological medicine, while 36.1% strongly agreed that CAM treatments are not tested in a scientifically recognized manner. CONCLUSION: In our study, the majority of program’s residents in Tabuk region agree that CAM is a useful complement to pharmacological medicine and recommended using CAM while reasonable percentage of them believed that the results of CAM are usually due to the placebo effect

Structural characteristics of camel-bone gelatin by demineralization and extraction

Camel bone was demineralized through HCl acidulation process at different concentrations (0.0%, 1.5%, 3.0%, and 6.0%) over 1–5 days. The level of demineralization was acid concentration and soaking time dependent. Highest demineralization (62.0%) was recorded in bone sample treated with 6.0% dilute acid for 5 days. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) elemental analysis revealed reduction in Ca and increase in N and H, while O remains unaffected. Particulate characteristics by scanning electron microscope showed an increased surface roughness of bone after demineralization. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis of ossein depicted the presence of functional group similar to that of bone protein (collagen). Statistical optimization by central composite design (CCD) revealed a significant quadratic model for optimum values of extraction temperature, pH, and extraction time. The highest gelatin yield from camel bone was 23.66% at optimum extraction condition (71.87°C, pH 5.26, and 2.58 h) and the bloom was 205.74 g. Camel bone is suitable for production of gelatin with good potentials in food and nonfood applications. © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Phyllanthus Niruri Standardized Extract Alleviates the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Decreases Atherosclerotic Risk in Sprague–Dawley Rats

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the major global health issues, strongly correlated with insulin resistance, obesity and oxidative stress. The current study aimed to evaluate anti-NAFLD effects of three different extracts of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri). NAFLD was induced in male Sprague–Dawley rats using a special high-fat diet (HFD). A 50% methanolic extract (50% ME) exhibited the highest inhibitory effect against NAFLD progression. It significantly reduced hepatomegaly (16%) and visceral fat weight (22%), decreased NAFLD score, prevented fibrosis, and reduced serum total cholesterol (TC) (48%), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (65%), free fatty acids (FFAs) (25%), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (45%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (38%), insulin concentration (67%), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (73%), serum atherogenic ratios TC/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (29%), LDL/HDL (66%) and (TC–HDL)/HDL (64%), hepatic content of cholesterol (43%), triglyceride (29%) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (40%) compared to a non-treated HFD group. In vitro, 50% ME of P. niruri inhibited �-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase enzymes and cholesterol micellization. It also had higher total phenolic and total flavonoid contents compared to other extracts. Ellagic acid and phyllanthin were identified as major compounds. These results suggest that P. niruri could be further developed as a novel natural hepatoprotective agent against NAFLD and atherosclerosis

Pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction reporting: a perspective of community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Sana’a, Yemen

open access journalObjective: The aim of this study was to compare the knowledge, attitude and barriers of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists toward pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and ADR reporting in community pharmacies in Yemen. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the capital of Yemen, Sana’a. A total of 289 community pharmacies were randomly selected. The validated and pilot-tested questionnaire consisted of six sections: demographic data, knowledge about pharmacovigilance, experience with ADR reporting, attitudes toward ADR reporting, and the facilitators to improve ADR reporting. Results: A total of 428 pharmacy technicians and pharmacists were contacted and 179 went on to complete a questionnaire (response rate: 41.8%). Of the 179 respondents, 21 (11.7%) were pharmacists and 158 (88.3%) were pharmacy technicians, of which, 176 (98.3%) were male and 3 (1.7%) were female. The mean age of the respondents was 25.87±2.63 years. There was a significant difference between the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in terms of knowledge scores (P,0.05). The mean knowledge scores for pharmacists was 3.33±2.852 compared to 0.15±0.666 for pharmacy technicians. With regard to attitudes toward ADR reporting, all pharmacists (100%) showed a positive attitude, while only 43% of pharmacy technicians showed a positive attitude. Conclusion: Pharmacists have a significantly better knowledge than pharmacy technicians with regard to pharmacovigilance. More than half of pharmacy technicians showed a negative attitude toward ADR reporting. Therefore, educational interventions and training is very important for community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Yemen to increase their awareness and participation in ADR reporting