Prasanta Kumar Choudhury

The main objective of this study was to perform pharmacological evaluation of Stay-On Power Capsules in Rats namely the aphrodisiac activity. The present investigation deals with Pharmacological Studies (Mating behaviour study, mating performance test, Hormonal analysis, Reproductive organ and spermal analysis) of Stay-On Power Capsules in Rats administered orally by gavage to rats in accordance with the schedule Y of drugs and Cosmetic Act (2005). The acute toxicity study of Stay-On Power Capsules was done by up and down method. After the completion of acute toxicity studies, three different doses were selected for aphrodisiac activity such as 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg. Volume of oral administration was 1 ml/100 g of animals. Animals were randomly divided into five groups with six animals per group. Group I represented the control animals treated with normal water only; Groups II, III, and IV were treated with oral suspension of Stay-On Power Capsules at 18:00 h, at doses of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg, respectively; and Group V served as a positive control treated with Sildenafil citrate of 5 mg/kg body weight. All the treatments were continued for 3 weeks only. Daily administration of Stay-On Power Capsules for 3 weeks to male rats resulted in a dose dependent increase in the mating performance as compared to the control group. The Stay-On Power Capsules at the dose of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg showed 52.66%, 63.83%, 71% mating performance, respectively, against 38.33% of the control group, whereas the standard showed 79.66% mating performance. The Stay-On Power Capsules had significantly increasing (**P < 0.01) effect on testosterone, LH, and FSH concentration in the serum in comparison to the control group. Oral administration of Stay-On Power Capsules for 3 weeks has been found to be relatively safe and effective in Mating behaviour study, mating performance test, Hormonal analysis, Reproductive organ and spermal analysis in rats.

  Toxic oxygen radicals play a role in the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the kidney. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of Pongamia pinnata (PP) leaves, a plant rich in flavonoids in I/R induced renal failure in rats. Antioxidant activity of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Pongamia pinnata was determined by DPPH free radical, and Hydroxyl radical scavenging assay. The protective effect of Pongamia pinnata leaves against the damage inflicted by reactive oxygen species (ROS) during renal I/R was investigated in Wistar albino rats using histopathological and biochemical parameters. Animals were subjected to occlusion of both the renal pedicles for 45min followed by 24h of reperfusion. Pongamia pinnata hydro-alcoholic leaf extract (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 8 weeks prior to ischemia. At the end of the reperfusion period, rats were sacrificed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined in renal tissue. Serum creatinine, Serum Cystatin C, serum oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations were measured for the evaluation of renal function. Ischemic control animals demonstrated severe deterioration of renal function, renal morphology and a significant renal oxidative stress. Pretreatment of animals with Pongamia pinnata hydro-alcoholic leaf extract markedly attenuated renal dysfunction, morphological alterations, reduced elevated malondialdehyde levels and restored the depleted renal antioxidant enzymes. The findings imply that ROS play a causal role in I/R induced renal injury and Pongamia pinnata leaves exert renoprotective effects probably by the radical scavenging and antioxidant activities. Key words: Pongamia pinnata, hydro-alcoholic leaf extract, antioxidant, renal ischemia

In the present investigation, pH-dependent and controlled drug release polymeric microspheres of Ornidazole were developed to deliver the active molecule to the colonic region. Microspheres were prepared by emulsion cross-linking method with some modifications, using different proportions of Ornidazole and Polymers (guar gum and gelatin). Gelatin microspheres were coated with Acrycoat L100 to achieve pH sensitive properties and specific biodegradability for colon targeted delivery of Ornidazole. Microspheres were evaluated for size, morphology, sphericity study, % yield, loose surface crystal study, drug content and entrapment efficiency. In vitro drug release study was conducted by buffer change method to mimic GIT environment using buffer solutions of varying pH. The investigations revealed that microspheres prepared with Ornidazole: guar gum ratio (1:2) shows only 10.003±0.885 % drug was released in first 5 hours and 38.849 ± 0.62 % in 12 hours, which proves the potentiality of guar gum for colonic delivery of drugs. While for microspheres prepared with Ornidazole: gelatin (1:2) and coated with Arycoat L100 shows 16.596 ± 3.18 % drug release in first 5 hours and 45.921 ± 3.07 % in 12 hours. Key Words: colon specific drug delivery, biodegradable polymers, pH-dependent release, In vitro drug release