Nucleic acid drugs: a novel approach

Nucleic acid base sequence of proteins plays a crucial role in the expression of gene. The gene is responsible for the synthesis of proteins and these proteins, which are synthesized, are responsible for the biological process and also for dreadful diseases as well. Once if the nucleic acid sequence is altered, we would be able to block or transfer the message for protein synthesis, there by preventing the particular protein, which is responsible for the disease. These nucleic acids act as drugs by different mechanisms, they may bind with the synthesized proteins, and they can hybridize to a messenger RNA leading to translation arrest or may induce degradation to target RNA. In this way the nucleic acids act as drug for inhibiting gene expression or protein synthesis. This article examines about the different types of nucleic acid drugs, their mechanisms, advantages, drawbacks and their future prospects. Key Words: Aptamers, ribozymes, antisense oligonucleotides. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(12) 2004: 662-66

Anti-diarrhoeal, anti ulcer and antimicrobial activities of leaves of Bougainvillea glabra Choisy

Con el fin de evaluar científicamente algunos de los usos tradicionales de la buganvilla (Bougainvillea glabra Choisy), se realizó el presente estudio para examinar los efectos antidiarreicos, antiulcerosos y antimicrobianos del extracto acuoso, etanólico y acetónico de sus hojas. Se probó la actividad antidiarreica en un modelo de diarrea inducida con aceite de ricino en ratas y se utilizó loperamida (3 mg/kg) como estándar de referencia. Se determinó la acción antiulcerosa mediante un modelo de úlcera inducida con alcohol y se utilizó omeprazol (10 mg/kg) como estándar. Ambos estudios se realizaron con dos niveles de dosis, 200 mg/kg y 400 mg/kg, respectivamente. La actividad antimicrobiana se estudió mediante un método de difusión en disco con una concentración de 500 μg/disco de extracto, utilizando ofl oxacina (5 μg/disco) como estándar. Los organismos utilizados fueron Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus y Proteus vulgaris, y se determinó la zona de inhibición. Los extractos de plantas mostraron una significativa acción antidiarreica, antiulcerosa y antimicrobiana en el presente estudio. Los resultados obtenidos corroboran lo sostenido por los profesionales de la medicina locales.In order to scientifically appraise some of the folkloric uses of Bougainvillea glabra Choisy, the present study was undertaken to examine the anti-diarrhoeal, antiulcer and antimicrobial activities of acetone, ethanolic and aqueous extract of leaves. Anti-diarrhoeal activity was tested in Castor oil induced diarrhea model using rats and Loperamide (3 mg/kg) was used as reference standard. The antiulcer activity was determined using alcohol induced ulcer model and Omeprazole 10 mg/ kg was used as the standard. Both the studies were carried out at two dose level, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg respectively. Antimicrobial activity was done by disc diffusion method at a concentration of 500 μg/disc of the extract, using ofl oxacin (5 μg/disc) as the standard. The organisms used were Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus vulgaris and the zone of inhibition was determined. The plant extracts showed significant anti-diarrhoeal, antiulcer and antimicrobial activities in the present study. The results obtained support the claim of local medical practitioners

Review- Nucleic acid drugs: a novel approach

Nucleic acid base sequence of proteins plays a crucial role in the expression of gene. The gene is responsible for the synthesis of proteins and these proteins, which are synthesized, are responsible for the biological process and also for dreadful diseases as well. Once if the nucleic acid sequence is altered, we would be able to block or transfer the message for protein synthesis, there by preventing the particular protein, which is responsible for the disease. These nucleic acids act as drugs by different mechanisms, they may bind with the synthesized proteins, and they can hybridize to a messenger RNA leading to translation arrest or may induce degradation to target RNA. In this way the nucleic acids act as drug for inhibiting gene expression or protein synthesis. This article examines about the different types of nucleic acid drugs, their mechanisms, advantages, drawbacks and their future prospects

Effect of Unex on ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in rats

This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Unex capsule on albino rats as a preventive agent against the development of kidney stones. The Unex capsule is a marketed product of Unijules Life Sciences, Nagpur, containing the extracts of Boerhaavia diffusa and Tribulus terrestris. Activity of Unex was studied using the ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis model. Standard drug used was Cystone. Several parameters were used including urinary volume, urine pH, urine analysis, and serum analysis to assess the activity. The results indicated that the administration of Unex to rats with ethylene glycol-induced lithiasis significantly reduced and prevented the growth of urinary stones (P < 0.01). Also, the treatment of lithiasis-induced rats by Unex restored all the elevated biochemical parameters (creatinine, uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen), restored the urine pH to normal, and increased the urine volume significantly (P < 0.01) when compared to the model control drug. This study supports the usage of Unex in urolithiasis and the utility could further be confirmed in other animal models