Anil Bhandari

The present study investigated the hepatoprotective activity of methanolic rhizome extract of Curculigo orchioides (MECO) in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity model in rats. The hepatoprotective activity of methanolic rhizome extract of Curculigo orchioides were evaluated against CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats. The three doses of MECO (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) were administered orally once daily for seven days. Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin were estimated along with the estimation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver tissues. Further histopathological examination of the liver sections was carried out to support the induction of hepatotoxicity and hepatoprotective efficacy. The extract revealed significant activities and substantially elevated serum enzymatic levels of AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin were found to be normalized significantly by the MECO in a dose dependent manner with maximum hepatoprotection observed at 400 mg/kg dose level. The histopathological observations also indicated the biochemical evidences of hepatoprotection. Elevated level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decreased level of malondialdehyde (MDA) further affirmed the hepatoprotective observations. The results of the present study demonstrated that MECO have potent hepatoprotective activity against CCl4-induced hepatic damage in experimental animals.

A simple, precise, accurate and stability-indicating reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method is developed for estimation of Levosalbutamol sulphate and Budesonide in bulk and suspension for inhalation dosage form. The method employed, with reverse phase Inertsil® 5μ C18 (250 × 4.0 mm) column in an isocratic mode, with mobile phase of acetonitrile: buffer in the ratio 40:60 (%v/v). The flow rate was 0.8 ml/min and effluent was monitored at 266 nm. Retention time was found to be 3.16 min., 17.94 min. and 20.90 min. The method was validated in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ) etc. in accordance with ICH guidelines. Linear regression analysis data for the calibration plot showed that there was good linear relationship between response and concentration in the range of 25 – 150% of the working concentration (r2 > 0.999) respectively. The LOD and LOQ values for were found to be 0.43, 0.72, 0.97 and 1.24 µg/ml respectively. No chromatographic interference from placebo and degradants were found. The proposed method was successfully used for estimation of Levosalbutamol sulphate and Budesonide in bulk and suspension for inhalation dosage forms.

Salvadora persica L. (family- Salvadoraceae) is an evergreen small tree commonly known as Pilu, Jal and toothbrush tree. It is used in the treatment of pain, low fever, toothache, nose trouble, piles, scabies, inflammation, scurvy, gonorrhoea, chest disease and boils.  The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of the successive extracts (chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous extracts) of powdered leaves of Salvadora persica L. at the dose of 500 mg/kg b. w. using eddy’s hot plate method. The results of the statistical analysis showed that chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts have significant antinociceptive activity. From the results of antinociceptive effects it can be concluded that the chloroform extract of the powdered leaves of Salvadora persica has shown significant activity (P < 0.05) at 30 min and significant activity (P < 0.01) at 60 and 120 minutes. The ethyl acetate extract has shown significant activity (P < 0.01) at 30, 60 and 120 minutes when compared to the control group. While the standard drug (Morphine Sulphate) shown significant activity (P < 0.01) at 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. Other successive extracts (ethanol and aqueous extracts) could not produce the significance of the difference from the control as antinociceptives. Hence present investigation reveals the antinociceptive activity of chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of leaves of Salvadora persica L Key Words: Salvadora persica L. antinociceptive activity, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts

The aim of present study was to estimate the in vitro antioxidant activity of alcoholic extract of Cucumis callosus (Rottl.) Cogn (Cucurbitaceae) seeds which is commonly known as “Kachri” in Rajasthan (India) evaluated by using DPPH radical scavenging activity and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity assay. The antioxidant activity was compared with ascorbic acid as standard. The IC50 values of Cucumis callosus and ascorbic acid were found 41.99 μg/ml and 24.27 μg/ml respectively for the DPPH radical scavenging activity while 95.27 μg/ml and 153.35 μg/ml respectively for hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity. Thus, alcoholic extract of Cucumis callosus seeds possess potent antioxidant activity in hydrogen peroxide model and may be useful for preparation of neutraceuticals as potent antioxidant to treat various human diseases. Key words: Cucumis callosus, Seeds, Antioxidant, Free radical scavenging, DPPH  

  Beta-blockers are the first line drugs in lowering the elevated and normal intraocular pressure associated with neuropathy of glaucoma, but for many reasons the use of this group of drugs requires supportive medications. The systemic side effects due to overdose of these drugs leads to pathetic complications in patients suffering with cardiac and pulmonary diseases. This article provides necessary information for the safe use of beta-blockers with detailed information about the disease glaucoma. Recent advances in the glaucoma therapy with beta-blockers and novel drug delivery systems developed are reviewed in this study.   Key words: Glaucoma, beta-blockers, intraocular pressure, Timolol, Levobunolol