Time to reinvent the branch of medical pharmacology

Pharmacology is one of the most active branches of medicine with respect to the amount of research and innovation. The field of pharmacology is actively involved in new drug discovery and identification of new therapeutic targets. However, unfortunately, same cannot be said for the medical pharmacology departments in various medical colleges in India and abroad

A study to evaluate antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of roots of Valeriana wallichii in CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Background: Drugs for liver ailments have been important in research, but still the number of drugs acting on various hepatic diseases is very limited. This study, for the first time, evaluates the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of the roots of Valeriana Wallichii in albino rats.Methods: The hepatotoxicity was induced by CCl4. Animals were divided into 5 groups of 6 animals each. Group I (Normal control) was given only distilled water. Group II (Negative control)was administered CCl4 for 7 days while Group III (Positive control) was given silymarin and CCl4 for 7 days. The test groups (Group IV & V) were given an aqueous extract of roots of V. Wallichii in a dose of 300 mg and 500 mg/kg, respectively. The animals were sacrificed on 8 days and blood was collected for biochemical analysis (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase). Liver tissue was extracted for histopathological examination and in vivo antioxidant tests Catalase [CAT], glutathione and malondialdehyde. The extract was also subjected to in vitro antioxidant tests (Total reducing power and total phenolic content).Results: The test extracts in the dose of 500 mg/kg were shown a significant decrease in the levels of AST and ALT (p>0.05) and CAT activity. 300 mg/kg dose of extract showed minimal hepatoprotection. The findings were confirmatory to histopathology. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of roots of V. Wallichii in a dose of 500 mg/kg offers partial protection against hepatotoxicity produced by CCl4 in albino rats

IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND IN VIVO HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF LEAVE EXTRACT OF RAPHANUS SATIVUS IN RATS USING CCL4 MODEL

Background: Raphanus sativus is reported to have a variety of biological activities. This work screened the hepato-protective and antioxidant activity of ethanol (ERS), and aqueous (ARS), extracts of leaves of Raphanus sativus in Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), model in rats. Material and Methods: The extracts were subjected to antioxidant tests (Total reducing power and Total phenolic content), and preliminary phytochemical screening. A pilot study was done on 100 and 300 mg/kg extracts, form which 300 mg was chosen for further experiments. The albino rats (200-250 grams), were divided into 5 groups of 6 animals each (n=6). There were three control groups comprising of normal control (normal saline -1ml/kg), negative control group (CCl4 1ml/kg in olive oil in a ratio of 1:1 v/v), and positive control group (Silymarin 50mg/kg). The Test drugs were given in a dose of 300 mg/kg for both ERS and ARS extract for 7 days. Biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, Alkaline phosphatase, Total Bilirubin), histo-pathological examination of liver and in vivo antioxidant tests [CAT, GSH and MDA] were done. Results: The phytochemical study showed the presence of flavanoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins and sterols. A dose dependent increase in the oxidative potential was observed in both the extracts with total phenolic content 70.1 and 44.4 GAE/g extract for ERS and ARS respectively. ERS 300mg/kg showed a significant (

THE CURIOUS CASE OF LOMITAPIDE

Lomitapide is a new Microsomal transfer protein inhibitor. It has been approved as an orphan drug for treating homozygous familial hypercholetelemia. The drug went through various see-saw phases in its brief life. Understanding the life history of Lomitapide gives a unique opportunity to analyze diverse case scenarios during clinical trials and their rectification by using scientific methodology.Â

Effects of <i>M</i>. <i>philippensis</i> on MDA, CAT and GPx activities.

<p>Effects of <i>M</i>. <i>philippensis</i> on MDA, CAT and GPx activities.</p

Effect of <i>M</i>. <i>philippensis</i> on dry weight of cotton pellet granuloma.

<p>Values are expressed as Mean±S.E.M. *indicates p<0.05, ** indicates p <0.001 when compared to the control group Aspirin-100mg/kg, Normal Control- Normal saline 1ml/kg, ME300—Methanol extract 300mg/kg, ME500-Methanol extract 500mg/kg, EF300-Ethylacetate fraction 300 mg/kg, EF500-Ethylacetate fraction 500 mg/kg, A 4– Active compound of <i>M</i>. <i>philippensis</i> (50mg/kg),.</p

Effect of <i>M</i>. <i>philippensis</i> on Carrageenan induced paw edema.

<p>Effect of <i>M</i>. <i>philippensis</i> on Carrageenan induced paw edema.</p

Effect of <i>M</i>. <i>philippensis</i> leaves on neutrophil infiltration in rat paw after carrageenan injection.

<p>Values are expressed as Mean±S.E.M. *indicates p<0.05, ** indicates p <0.001 when compared to the control group Aspirin-100mg/kg, Normal Control- Normal saline 1ml/kg, ME-Methanol extract 500mg/kg, EF-Ethylacetate fraction 500 mg/kg, A 4– Active compound of <i>M</i>. <i>philippensis</i> (50mg/kg),.</p