Mohammed

Plants are potent biochemical factories and have been components of phytomedicine. Since time immemorial man is able to obtain from them a wondrous assortment of industrial chemicals. Plant-based natural constituents can be derived from any part of the plant like bark, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, seeds, etc., which may contain active components. Sudan with its uniquely variable climatic conditions possesses a huge wealth of flora. Capparis decidua Family (Capparidaceae), Cyperus rotundus Family (Cyperaceae) and Tribulus terrestris Family (Zygophyllaceae) were used successfully in Sudanese folkloric medicine for treatment of inflammatory disorders.  The present review described Botanical description, biological activites and phytochemical profile of these three plants.

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of mucilage on the material and physico-chemical properties of native and modified starches obtained from Ipomoea batatas. Ipomoea batatas starch were pregelatinized and acid modified, subsequently, dispersions of mucilage with native, pregelatinized and acid modified starches in a ratio of 1:20, 1:10, 2:10, 3:10 and 4:10 respectively were produced. The order of magnitude pregelatinized starch > acid modified starch > native starch were seen for parameters such as moisture sorption, hydration capacity and swelling capacity, while native starch > pregelatinized starch > acid modified starch for porosity and angle of repose. These orders were also observed respectively with the dispersion of the various starches in mucilage. Generally an increase in particle size, flow properties, moisture sorption capacity, true densities and a decrease in hydration capacity, swelling capacity and porosity were observed as the mucilage concentration increased.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is considered as one of the most common medical complications of pregnancy as it has implications on both the mother and the child. It is caused by reduced pancreatic β-cells function as they don’t produce enough insulin to meet the requirements of pregnancy. Internationally, it is recommended to screen all pregnant women by measuring their glucose between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. It can be managed either non-pharmacologically or pharmacologically depending on the severity of hyperglycemia. The present  study was intended to measure the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Oman and to explore the available treatment options in both governmental and private hospitals. Out of 1792 patients who attended the Gynecological department between the study period, a total of 219 patients visited gestational diabetes clinic at Sohar Hospital, Saham Polyclinic and a private hospital. Of the total number of participants from all the clinics, 103 had a family history of diabetes mellitus whereas 17 had no family history. 120 patients agreed to participate in questionnaire interview and were informed about the purpose of the study. A good response from patients is a good indication for a future national study.  

In this study, the crude methanol extract of whole plant of Vernonia cinerea Less. has been investigated for anti-diarrheal, anxiolytic, antimicrobial and membrane stabilizing activities. Test for anti-diarrheal activity was carried out by castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. The anxiolytic activity was examined in mice by using the hole-cross test and open field-tests (OFT). The preliminary antimicrobial activity was determined at 500 μg/disc by the disc diffusion method against a number of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and fungi. RBC membrane stabilization method was used for the evaluation of in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The crude methanol extract of V. cinerea showed significant and dose-dependent anti-diarrheal activity in castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. The results showed that the crude extract significantly increased the number of hole crossing as compared to control in hole cross tests. In open field test, the extract showed significant increase in number of square crossed. The efficacy of the extract (200-400 mg/kg b.w.) was compared with standard anxiolytic drug diazepam (1 mg/kg). Furthermore, the plant extract, at 500 µg/disc exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against Blastomyces dermatitidis (zone of inhibition = 17.7 mm) and Shigella dysenteriae (zone of inhibition = 14.0 mm). In red blood cell stability test,  the sample at 0.5 and 1 mg/ml  inhibited the heat-induced haemolysis of RBCs by 15.45% and 27.73%, respectively whereas standard acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) demonstrated 71.36% inhibition of haemolysis. The obtained results provide supports for the use of this plant in traditional medicine but further pharmacologic studies are required to isolate and identify the bioactive molecules.

Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic diseases of the nervous system. In recent years many plants have been tested for their Anti-epileptic properties. This study aims in evaluating the anti-epileptic activity of the Capsicum annuum and Sapindusemarginatus and a polyherbal formulation prepared by the combination of Capsicum annuum, Sapindus emarginatus, Withania somnifera, Hemidesmus indicus (Formepi-4). Study was carried out using albino mice (25 – 30 grams) 8-10 weeks old, of either sex. The animals were divided into five groups containing six animals in each group. The results for maximal electroshock induced seizures, pentylenetetrazole induced seizures and strychnine induced seizures were expressed as Mean ± Standard Error of Mean. Paired Student’s t-test was used to analyze the level of significance. Maximal electroshock induced seizures, Pentelenetetrazole induced seizures and strychnine induced seizures were significantly protected in mice by ethanolic extract of C.annuum, and Methanolic extract of S.emarginatus, with Formepi-4 showing a 100% protection. The alcoholic e xtract of fruits of Capsicum annuum and Sapindus emarginatus and polyherbal formulation (Formepi-4) possesses Anti-Epileptic activity against seizures induced by different mechanisms.

The present study was aimed at formulating and evaluating a herbal ointment comprising of Ethanolic extracts of the parts of morindacitrifolia, and rubiacordifolia. The parameters evaluated for wound healing were period of contraction and tensile strength using excision and incision models. The animals were divided into groups and were treated with herbal formulation, standard group and one served as control group.  Nitrofurazone (0.2% w/w) was used as reference standard. The period of epithelization in the excision wound mode was found to be 13.20 days, while in case of incision wound model the tensile strength was 540 when compared to the controls ,the results were  extremely significant. Different parameters like pH, viscosity, Spreadability and stability were evaluated. The formulation showed good spread ability, good consistency, homogeneity, there was no change in the appearance, pH, and no phase separation noticed at the end of the stability studies. There was no evidence of skin irritation. This study has revealed that the herbal ointment has shown the wound healing effect due to the synergistic activity of the phytoconstituents present in the extracts and may be used as potential herbal formulation for wound healing.

Quinolines are a class of heterocyclic compounds, widely present in nature as quinoline alkaloids. Compounds having 2-quinolone moiety are associated with interesting biological activities such as antimalarial, tuberculostatic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, antidiabetic, cardiotonic and bronchodilator activity etc. The present work deals with the synthesis, characterization of substituted 7-amino-4-methyl-2-quinolone. The synthesized compounds were characterized by the IR, 1H-NMR & Mass spectral studies. Out of 10 test compounds evaluated for their antibacterial activities, four test compounds 3,6,8 & 9 were found to be active against Bacillus subtilis while amoxycillin and gentamycin were used as standard.

The objective of this study was to formulate and evaluate dispersible tablets of diltiazem HCl using direct compression method for enhanced patient compliance. Oro dispersible tablets prepared by using super disintegrants such as croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, sodium starch glycolate. It was observed that all the formulations were acceptable with reasonable limits of standard required for oro dispersible tablets. It was concluded that dispersible tablets with enhanced dissolution rate can be made using selected super disintegrants.

Herbal medicine has occupied special place in the world of pharmaceuticals. Lavendula stoechus Linn, known as Ustukhuddoos is such a plant origin drug documented in Unani literature, which possesses many pharmacological actions, few are scientifically evaluated and many are yet to be evaluated.  The present review attempts to encompass the up to date comprehensive literature analysis on Lavendula stoechus Linn with respect to its phytochemistry, pharmacognostic characters and its various pharmacological activities.

This investigation is made upon the plant Artocarpus chaplasha, the bark of it, to find out its anti-oxidant property. The anti-oxidant property of this plant part was investigated using different solvent for extraction, such as ethanol, ethyl acetate, methanol and chloroform. Different types extract is used to see different extent of result as many phytochemicals are readily extracted in ethanol but not in methanol, and so on. In case of anti-oxidant the scavenging power (IC50) of DPPH radical was 55.15, 163.10, 166.94 and 407.875µg/ml for aforementioned extracts respectively. By the time IC50 ascorbic acid has 47.19µg/ml. There’s also test for total phenolic and flavonoid content was carried out and the ressult for each was 3.63, 61.97, 2.15 and 3.18mg/gm for each extracts respectively in terms of phenolic content. Total flavonoid content was 116.17, 121.51, 82.33 and 63.67mg/gm for each different extracts respectively.