Protective effect of Arque-Ajeeb on acute experimental diarrhoea in rats

BACKGROUND: Diarrhoea is a major health problem for children worldwide, accounting for 5–8 million deaths each year. Arque-Ajeeb (AA) is a compound formulation of Unani medicine. It is reputed for its beneficial effects in the treatment of diarrhoea and cholera, but the claim of its efficacy is yet to be tested. Therefore the present study has been planned to investigate the real efficacy of this drug in rats. METHODS: The effect of Arque-Ajeeb was investigated for antidiarrhoeal activity against charcoal-induced gut transit, serotonin-induced diarrhoea and PGE(2)-induced small intestine enteropooling in rats. The control, standard and test groups of experimental animals were administered with normal saline (p.o.), diphenoxylate hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, p.o.) and Arque-Ajeeb (0.07 ml and 0.14 ml/kg, p.o.) respectively except the control group of PGE(2)-induced small intestine enteropooling which received only 5% ethanol in normal saline (i.p.). Charcoal (10 ml/kg, p.o.) and serotonin (600 μg/kg, i.p.) were administered after 30 min, while PGE(2 )(100 μg/kg, p.o.) was administered immediately afterwards. The distance traveled by charcoal in small intestine was measured after 15 and 30 min of charcoal administration, diarrhoea was observed every 30-min for six hour after serotonin administration and the volume of intestinal fluid was measured after 30 min of PGE(2 )administration. RESULTS: Arque-Ajeeb (0.07 ml and 0.14 ml/kg) significantly inhibited the frequency of defaecation and decreased the propulsion of charcoal meal through the gastrointestinal tract, reduced the wetness of faecal droppings in serotonin-induced diarrhoea and also reduced the PGE(2)-induced small intestine enteropooling. CONCLUSION: Arque-Ajeeb may have potential to reduce the diarrhoea in rats. Thus the drug may prove to be an alternate remedy in diarrhoea

Effect of Kohl-Chikni Dawa – a compound ophthalmic formulation of Unani medicine on naphthalene-induced cataracts in rats

BACKGROUND: Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, accounting for 13-27% of cases. Kohl-Chikni Dawa (KCD) is reputed for its beneficial effects in the treatment of premature cataracts. However, its efficacy is yet to be tested. To investigate the rationality of the therapeutic use of Kohl-Chikni Dawa (KCD) in Unani medicine. METHODS: The effect of Kohl-Chikni Dawa eye drops on naphthalene-induced cataracts in rats was investigated by slit-lamp biomicroscopic analysis. The normal group of experimental animals was administered with mineral oil (orally), while other groups were given naphthalene (orally) along with local application of KCD eye drops (once and twice daily), placebo and distilled water (twice daily). Initial morphological changes of the lenses were observed twice a week for two weeks, and thereafter once a week for four weeks. RESULTS: Local application of KCD (twice daily) caused significant reduction in the lens opacification after 2 to 4 weeks of naphthalene administration. CONCLUSION: KCD eye drops may have the potential to delay progression of naphthalene-induced cataracts in rats

Novel 16-membered [N₆] macrocycles bearing hexaamide functions and their metal-encapsulated compounds

2274-2280Cyclocondensation reaction between phthalic anhydride or phthalic acid and semicarbazide hydrochloride in DMF-methanol under reflux affords colourless crystalline solid (L1) characterized as a [2+2] macrocycle possessing hexaamide functions, with succinic anhydride or succinic acid the reaction is feasible in presence of excess HCl giving the salt (L 2·2HCl) of the macrocycle. Reactions of the macrocycles with MCl2 or [M(PPh3)2Cl2] (M = Zn, Cd or Hg), result in complexes having M:L=1:1 stoichiometry with MLCl2 composition. Physico-chemical and spectroscopic investigations of complexes reveal that proton at aza group (NH) of the amide/peptide function does not deprotonate prior to coordination and hexacoordination around metal ions is maintained

A comprehensive review of surface modification techniques for carbon fibers for enhanced performance of resulting composites

Carbon fiber (CF) is being used as reinforcements in structural composites due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, chemical and abrasion resistance. However, due to the inert surface of the fiber, the resulting CFRPs provide limited damage resistance. The CFRPs are prone to delamination and offer poor interfacial strength. Secondly, recycled carbon fiber (RCF) cannot be used for strength applications in electric vehicles and aerospace applications due to the limited strength offered by the CFRPs made from RCFs. So, in order to use recycled and virgin CF in the field of electric vehicles and aerospace, the modification to the surface of the CF is required for enhanced interfacial properties in the resulting composite. This is a comprehensive review on surface modification techniques used to induce physical and chemical changes on the CF surface. The modified surface of CF can lead to enhanced performance of the structural composites. The review article discusses the various surface modification techniques categorized as plasma, chemical, nano-particle growth, coating, and microwave irradiation in detail, with suitable illustrations that have been used to ameliorate the compatibility of the CF with the matrix

Evaluation of the central depressant activity of Jadwar (<i>Delphinium denudatum </i>Wall.) in<b> </b>mice

59-64In Unani medicine, Jadwar (Delphinium denudatum Wall.) is reputed for its beneficial effects in various neurological disorders. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the central depressant activity of the aqueous extract of Delphinium denudatum (Dd) in mice, using various experimental paradigms of depression viz. pentobarbitone sodium induced hypnosis (PSH), spontaneous motor activity (SMA) and open- field behaviour (OFB) tests. Pilot studies indicated that single dose (2000 mg/kg) administration of Dd had little to no acute behavioural effects, hence the extract of Dd was administered orally at different dose levels. Dd extract (200-1600 mg/kg, orally) showed significant depressant effects on all the paradigms of depression. The results indicate that Dd induced a significant increase in sleeping time of pantobarbitone sodium induced hypnosis. In SMA test, significant decrease was observed in activity counts on photoactometer readings. In OFB test, there was significant decrease in openfield ambulation, sniffing, defecation and slight decrease in preening whereas rearing remained unchanged. The Dd extract showed consistent and significant depressant activity in all the tests. The effects induced by aqueous extract of Dd were less marked at lower dose than at higher dose

Synthesis and characterization of transition metal encapsulated derivatives of 16- and 18- membered [N₄] macrocycles modified with four carbonyl functions bearing cyclic tetrapeptide features

277-285Condensation reactions of 1,2-diaminoethane or 1 ,3-diaminopropane with cyclic dicarboxylic acid anhydrides (succinic anhydride or phthalic anhydride) as well as their corresponding acids in 1:1 mole ratio in dioxane have afforded 16- or 18- membered macrocycles (L1- L4). Physico-chemical and spectroscopic data reveal the presence of cyclic tetraamide/tetrapeptide functions. The macrocycles behave as strong chelating agents forming stable solid complexes with the stoichiometries [MLX 2] (L = L1- L4 ; M = Fe, Co or Cu; X = Cl or ClO4) and [MLX2]X (M = Fe or Cr). Spectral data indicate coordination through amide/peptide nitrogen without its deprotonation and suggest that metal ions lie in the basal plane of the macrocyclic cavity. The coordination geometry has been ascertained from magnetic moment measurements, ligand field spectra and EPR studies. The anisotropic EPR signals observed for Cu (II) complexes with g║ ˃g┴ > 2.0 confirm tetragonality in the geometry. However, the corresponding orbital reduction parameter k┴>k║ and the magnitude of G<4.0 suggest a significant contribution of the exchange coupling in the distortion of the Oh geometry of Cu (II) complex

Antidiarrhoeal activity of antidiarrhoeal <i style="">Unani</i> formulation in rats

271-274Aqueous extract of antidiarrhoeal formulation (ADF) containing Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall, Aegle marmelos Correa ex Koen and Punica granatum Linn. was investigated for antidiarrhoeal activity against charcoal induced gut motility and serotonin induced diarrhoea in experimental rats. The control, standard and test groups of experimental animals were administered with distilled water, Lomotil and ADF (150 mg and 300 mg/kg) orally. Charcoal and serotonin were administered after 30 min in each group of first and second experiment. The distance traveled by charcoal in small intestine was measured after 30 and 60 min of charcoal administration and diarrhoea was observed every 30 min for six hours after serotonin administration. ADF causing significant reduction in the distance traveled by charcoal and serotonin induced diarrhoea. Thus ADF may have the potential to reduce the diarrhoea in rats

Prevalence of mycotic endometritis in buffaloes and mares maintained under different managemental conditions in District Faisalabad

In the present study, the prevalence of mycotic endometritis (ME) in buffaloes and mares in district Faisalabad, Pakistan was investigated. Uterine flush samples were aseptically collected from 144 buffaloes and 75 mares and incubated on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar for two weeks. The overall prevalence of ME was 3.5% in buffaloes and 2.7% in mares. Ultrasonographically, buffaloes with ME had thicker endometrium (P<0.05) than that of buffaloes without ME (9.66±0.9460 mm vs 8.97 ± 0.0816 mm). Buffaloes bred through artificial insemination showed lower (P<0.05) incidence of ME than those bred through natural mating (2.3% vs 12.5%). In mares, stocking density (1.44% for 1-5 animals/paddock vs 33.3% for >10 animals/paddock), history of abortion and retained fetal membranes were significant risk factors (P<0.05) for the prevalence of ME. Management condition, body condition score and parity were not associated with the prevalence of ME in either species. In addition, herd size and reproductive problems had no effect on the prevalence of this problem in buffaloes. Antifungal susceptibility testing for buffalo isolates showed that all three isolated genera (Penicillium, Aspergillus and Rhizopus) were susceptible to itraconazole, Penicillium being the most susceptible. Penicillium and Aspergillus were resistant to fluconazole; however, Rhizopus was susceptible to fluconazole. In mares, out of the two isolates (Penicillium and Candida), Penicillium was susceptible to itraconazole and resistant to fluconazole, while Candida was resistant to both drugs. It is concluded that the prevalence of ME is not threatening in either species. However, buffaloes bred through natural mating; mares reared under high stocking density or those with history of abortion and retained fetal membranes have high risk of developing the disease