Phytochemistry and medicinal values of Mahonia bealei: A review

Purpose: To review the medicinal uses of Mahonia bealei, an important member of the genus Mahonia, with a focus on its various applications in Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as published scientific evidence on its effectiveness. Methods: Information in all available literature was retrieved using different search engines including NCBI, ISI Web of Knowledge and Google. Results: Several compounds have been extracted from M. bealei. These include alkaloids, triterpenes, flavonoids, phytosterols and lignans. Traditionally, the plant is used to treat dysentery, diarrhea and inflammation. Globally, scientists have used in vitro and in vivo techniques to evaluate the usefulness of compounds extracted from M. bealei with respect to their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant as well as anti-gastrin properties. Conclusion: Different parts of this plant still remain underexplored. Moreover, comparison of the properties of the isolated compounds has not been carried out, nor are there reports on the synergistic effects of extracts of the plant. Therefore, future research to address these areas may be useful in the discovery of new therapeutic agents

Evaluation of drug-drug interactions in the prescription dispensed at retail pharmacies

ABSTRACT Drug Interactions is main issue of Health care system. This study was conducted to identify the nature and rate of occurrence of drug-drug interaction in prescriptions dispensed at retail pharmacies in Hyderabad, Pakistan. In this study the total 723 handwritten prescriptions were collected and from that only 630 clearly written prescription containing two or more than two medications were selected for analysis. Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were detected by using the specially designed drug interaction checkers and detected interactions further confirmed by the Thomson Micromedex Health Care Series 2, British national formulary 63, Stockleys Drug Interaction checker. Out of total 630 prescriptions, 164 prescriptions (i-e 26%) of all the prescriptions contained 233 drug-drug interactions. Interactions then categorized on the basis of severity. On the basis of severity from the total 233 interaction, 26 (11%) of total interactions were of major type, 134 (58%) of total interactions were of moderate type and remaining 73 (31%) interactions were of minor type. Our study resulted that the prescriptions dispensed at retail pharmacies contained a high rate of drug-drug interactions. So an appropriate surveillance system must be implemented, physician and pharmacist must remain vigilant in investigation of drug-drug interactions to prevent adverse drug reaction