Pharmacology articles list

Lycium schweinfurthii is a shrub belonging to the Solanaceae family which widely grows in North Africa and Mediterranean regions. The plant leaves have traditionally been used for gastrointestinal diseases as peptic ulcer in Libya. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Lycium schweinfurthii extract on the central nervous system in mice including anticonvulsant, antidepressant and muscle relaxant activities. The methanolic extract was prepared by fractionation technique. Albino male mice weighing 22 ± 2.0 gm were used and equally divided into equal number and weight for each experiment (n = 6). The best effective pharmacologically dose of 400 mg/kg, i.p. of the methanolic extract was selected to explore the anticonvulsant activity for picrotoxin-induced convulsion in mice (5.0 mg/kg), antidepressant activity of forced swimming test of depression and muscle relaxant action by motor coordination test of hanging wire. Fluoxetine (10.0 mg/kg), imipramine (15.0 mg/kg) and diazepam (5.0 mg/kg) were used as reference compounds. Lycium schweinfurthii extract exhibited a significant prolonged delay in the onset time of induced convulsion and significant decrease in the frequency of convulsion as well as a significant decrease in the duration time of attacks. Pretreatment with flumazenil (2.0 mg/kg) was found to increase the frequency and duration of convulsions without profound change in the onset time produced by Lycium schweinfurthii. For antidepressant activity, the plant leave extract significantly decreased immobility time duration without a muscle relaxant effect. The results suggest that the methanolic extract of Lycium schweinfurthii leave has anticonvulsant and antidepressant-like activities without any muscle relaxant effect in mice. Thus, Lycium schweinfurthii may have a neuropharmacological potential use in human.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Chronic kidney disease is a public health problem affecting people worldwide. This study was aimed to examine the characteristics of patients with chronic kidney disease and to identify prevalence of drug-related problems among Libyan patients. This is a descriptive retrospective study carried out in Southern-west part of Libya, Sebha City. Information abstraction forms were used for collection of data. The investigators reviewed the medications, medical records and laboratory data to identify drug-related problems.1 000 patients' files during 2019-2020 were examined and only 120 files were selected for this study. The majority of the participants were male (73, 61.0%) and the mean age was 56.1 years. 576 comorbidities among the selected patients were identified (73.61%) and the average number per patients was 4.8 concurrent diseases. There were 1 350 medications prescribed and the average of prescribed drugs per patient was 11.25. The majority of patients use more than 10 drugs (64, 53.3%) and the average length of staying in the hospital was 5.58 days. 502 drug-related problems were identified with an average of 4.18 per patient. Untreated conditions such as Hyponatremia and anemia were the highest rate of drug-related problems identified (199, 39.6%) followed by improper drug selection (82, 16.3%) such as cefotaxime, vancomycin and aminoglycoside for chronic kidney disease and drug use without indications such as antibiotics (68, 13.5%) and over-therapeutic dose such as metoclopramide(63, 12.5%). In conclusion, all the patients have polypharmacy and the majority have comorbid conditions and chronic kidney disease with frequent drug-related problems, thus, to lower the incidence rate of drug-related problems, therapeutic interventions are needed. Subsequently, it is a crucial to involve clinical pharmacist in hospital to improve the care of patient with chronic kidney disease.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Self-medication of antibiotics is an irrational use of drugs, contributing to microbial resistance, increasing health care cost and higher mortality and morbidity. This study was aimed to assess self-medication with antibiotics without a medical prescription in the community of Libya. This is a cross-sectional study conducted from June to December, 2022 and the total number of participants was 200. The design of the study and sample size were modified according to the proficiency of pharmacists and the medical and non-medical population of Libya. The questionnaire was developed in English and Arabic language and was distributed through social media platforms. The questions were used after a thorough literature search and assessing the validity and reliability. The significant signs regarding reasons for the treatment by self-medication drugs of antibiotics, because of its various drugs of antibiotic by pharmacist (n = 80, 40.0%) and family (n = 90, 45.0%) compare with experience and physicians by used prescription was 13 (06.50%) and significant sings regarding by nasal congestion self-medication of various antibiotics (n = 100, 50.0%). This sign must be practiced based on a previous physician’s prescription. The antibiotics are often self-administered as patient feel that they will save money and time but this can lead to substantial adverse drug reaction, antibiotic resistance, treatment failure and drug-related toxicity. This study respondent's medical and non-medical public of Libya who should be relatively informed and educated about the risk of treatment by self-medication of antibiotics with the development of resistance.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Multiple choice questions (MCQs) and short essay questions (SEQs) are common methods of the assessment of medical students in courses of pharmacology. Poorly constructed test items (questions) are a widespread problem resulting in failure to assess learning objectives. It has been reported that there are 36.0% to 65.0% flawed test items in medical education assessment tools. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate MCQs by determining the item writing flaws (IWFs) and to evaluate the SEQs by determining the cognitive level of each item. Four pharmacology tests were administered to third-year pharmacy students at Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Bayda, Libya. These were evaluated by determining the IWFs and the level of the cognitive domains. Based on Buckwalter’s modification of Bloom’s taxonomy cognitive level, for the SEQs, 30.0% of the questions were attempted to check recall of information, 26.0% were attempted to evaluate understanding and interpretation of data and 43.0% of the questions were attempted to check the application of knowledge for solving a particular problem. For the MCQs, 94.6% of the questions were attempted to evaluate the understanding and interpretation of data. For the IWFs, there were more than 40.0% of flawed questions. The most common writing flaws were the negative stem (47.4%), unfocused item (16.0%), non-homogenous in grammar and contents (10.0%), all the above (10.0%) and clang association (05.0%). In a short essay, the SEQs were of excellent quality because they were equally distributed among the three levels of cognitive (level I, II and III). On the other hand, the most common mistakes IWFs of the MCQs were the negative stem (47.0%) and the idea was not clearly and concisely stated in the stem (16.0%). This study concludes that questions in SEQs are valid to measure the learning objective but MCQs were not in pharmacology courses in Libya.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading reason of death among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Individuals with DM have a two to five time's greater risk of developing CVD than non-DM. Unfortunately, little data exists on Libya's prevalence and characteristics of cardiovascular risk factors. This study aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular risk factors and to assess their control among patients with type 2 DM (T2DM). All the patients with T2DM who attended the outpatient clinic at National Diabetes Hospital from September 2013 to April 2022 were interviewed and examined and included in this study. Demographical data age, smoking habit, body mass index measure, drug intake, history of previous cardiovascular events, blood pressure and fasting lipid profile were all recorded. 1049 patients have completed the study with a mean age of 54.06 ± 14.5 years old (females represented 68.0% of the studied sample size), there were different duration of diabetes between the studied sample, varying from newly diagnosed patients (n = 265, 25.2%) and above ten years of diabetes duration patients (n = 488, 46.5%). Active smoking in 129 patients (12.3%), the bodyweight of studied patients ranged from 44.0 Kg to 186 Kg (85.65 ± 1.73), 820 of the patients had uncontrolled body weight (78.85%). Uncontrolled blood pressure, even with treatment, was found in 304 patients (29.0%), uncontrolled dyslipidaemia in 45 patients (04.3%), and uncontrolled hyperglycaemia in 816 patients (77.9%). Established CVD was positive in 295 patients (28.2%), maximum age group was in 54 - 74 years (n = 516, 49.3%). The most typical age group with multiple (more than three) CVD risk factors was 54 - 74 years of age, were female patients with more than ten years of history of diabetes, uncontrolled hyperglycemia (HBA1c > 10%), uncontrolled body weight, uncontrolled blood pressure and dyslipidemia. Thus, the present data indicated that Libyan patients with diabetes mellitus have high CVD risk factors. Even in patients with previous events, these uncontrolled risk factors elevate the likelihood of repeated cardiovascular events. Patients with diabetes mellitus necessitate a more aggressive approach to control the modified risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and smoking.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Febrile convulsions have been defined as any convulsion associated with a fever of more than 38 oC without central nervous system infection in a child aged six months to five years. Febrile convulsion can be divided into two groups of simple and complex seizures. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of febrile convulsions in Libyan children and to investigate the associated risk factors related to this type of seizure in children. 120 cases of febrile convulsions with one day - 12 years old were collected during from April to August 2022. A study has conducted in the Pediatrics Hospital in Bayda City, Libya about the prevalence of febrile convulsions in children, the data collection tool was a self-designed pre-tested validated questionnaire including general information such as age, gender, family history, and admission to the hospital. In addition, data such as body temperature, recurrent convulsion attacks, the condition of hospital admission, discharge status, the treatment in-hospital and out-hospital. The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive methods. Among the 120 children, the majority of the cases were aged between two years and five years old. The gender prevalence rate in this study was 55.0% in males and 97 of the children were hospitalized due to simple febrile seizure (80.8%), 92 of the cases with no family history of febrile convulsions (75.0%) and respiratory tract infections is the main cause of febrile convulsions. In conclusion, this study indicated that respiratory tract infections is the most common cause of febrile convulsions among Libyan children, however, a large sample study is needed to support this issue in Libya.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Pain according to WHO has been one of the greatest issues to plague man, in the bid to handle this issue of pain, man has sought to look for other means to reduce pain to its bare minimum. This study is aimed at investigating the analgesic activity of the methanolic extract of the African weaver ant using acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate method, and formalin-induced pain models in Swiss mice. In the acetic acid test, the methanolic extract of Oecophylla longinoda (OL) was administered orally at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight while aspirin was administered at 100 mg/kg and tween 80 served as standards. In the hot plate and formalin models, the extract was administered orally at two doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg while pentazocine at 10 mg/kg and tween 80 at 10 mg/kg served as standards. The methanolic extract of OL exhibited significant analgesic activity in all the models, with none less than the standard significant difference (p < 0.05) by increasing the reaction time of the mice after treatment in comparison to the control. The 400 mg/kg extract in the acetic acid-induced writhing response has a percentage inhibition of 52.7%, which shows how well the extract inhibits pain in mice. The methanolic extract significantly reduced pain response in mice, with a p-value of 0.03, 0.02, and 0.001 in all the test models, respectively. OL increased the pain threshold over time and significantly reduced the writhing response that mice experience from acetic acid. Furthermore, pretreatment with OL significantly and dose-dependently decreased the early and late phases of formalin-induced pain in mice. Thus, these findings suggest that the methanolic extract of OL acts on central and peripheral pain pathways.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex and chronic illness requiring continuous medical care. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is commonly associated with obesity, hypertension, and a tendency to develop thrombosis, and an increase risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Diabesity is a term used to indicate the coexistence of obesity and DM. Diabesity increases as obesity is an emerging epidemic in modern societies, the co-incidence with DM is also rising, so a joint plan of anti-obesity and anti-hyperglycemia for the management approaches. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on body weight and glycemic response in obese Libyan patients with T2D at the National Diabetes Centre in Tripoli, between July 2013 and May 2022. This prospective study included obese adults with T2D who were newly prescribed GLP-1RA therapy for six months with dulaglutide once weekly or liraglutide once daily. The study included 170 diabetic patients who were started on GLP1-RA as add on therapy to their treatment, with a regular follow-up with dietitian and their physicians to adjust their glucose-lowering medications, then comparing the effect of these agents on body weight and the level of glycated hemoglobin before and after 24 weeks of treatment. Most of the patients (n = 99, 58.23%) were in the age period from 54 to 74 years old and 101 of whom were female subjects (59.4%), with a mean duration of DM equal to 8.8 ± 7.3 years. The patients were divided randomly into two groups, the first group included 110 patients who received liraglutide pens showed a significant reduction in HbA1c from 9.6% (± 1.54) to 7.4% (± 1.03) by p < 0.001 and a significant weight loss from 88.3 kg (± 10.68) to 80.8 kg (± 11.83) by p < 0.001. The reported adverse events were in 23 cases of minor hypoglycemia due to gastrointestinal upset. The other group included 60 patients for dulaglutide pens and showed significant decrease in HbA1c = 9.6% (± 1.54) to 7.1% (± 1.2) by p < 0.05 and a significant reduction of bodyweight from 88.3 kg (± 10.68) to 83.8 kg (± 16.3) by p < 0.05. The reported adverse events were mild transient gastrointestinal distress for the initial week of a start and then subside with regular intake. Whereas, 115 patients (67.6%) with HbA1c above 10.0% before starting therapy, no patient with HbA1c above 10.0% after six months of both GLP-RA agents therapy. Thus, the uses of GLP-RA as add-on therapy for obese patients with T2D significantly improved glycaemic control with less hypoglycaemia, accordingly, reduce insulin requirement for blood glucose control and loss in body weight. It can thus be concluded that GLP-1RA therapy is an effective treatment option when used in obese patients with DM.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Inhalation of a gas anesthetic produces rapid induction of anesthesia without the need for intravenous drugs. Although it is specifically useful for patients who are afraid of injections or if their intravenous access is difficult, single-breath induction may also allow patients to wake up more quickly than intravenous induction drugs. The object of this study is to compare isoflurane and sevoflurane during inhalation in Libyan patients undergoing surgery in terms of side effects like blood pressure and heart rate changes and complications. Seventy- five patients were recruited in this study from different hospitals in Benghazi City, Libya (January to March, 2022) including Aljalaa Hospital and Alatfal Hospital, and data including side effects and complications were collected through data collection. Surgeries that used isoflurane, or sevoflurane or both inhalation gases for anesthesia were included in our data. While the surgeries which did not use any of these inhalation gases were excluded from our data. When we compared the side effects of using isoflurane with sevoflurane according to the age group, we found that hypotension is the most occurring side effect companies to the use of isoflurane in our adult population (28.6%) and in pediatrics (14.3%) but there was a low incidence of other side effects related to sevoflurane administration. Regarding to side effects related to the use of sevoflurane according to the age groups, 16 adult Libyan patients experienced no side effects (61.5%) compared to 10 children (38.5%). It can be concluded that both isoflurane and sevoflurane are suitable for daycare anesthesia. Sevoflurane might be an ideal drug for single-breath inhaled induction of anesthesia due to it has fewer side effects and complications.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Ecbalium elaterium has a very violent effect on the body and has little use in modern herbalism. Little is known about the acute and chronic toxicities of ecbalium elaterium in human. This study aims to determine the acute toxicity (LD50) of fruit extract and another aerial part extract of the ecballium elaterium in experimental animals. Thus, male albino mice were divided into different groups each group consists of six mice receiving 40, 46, 52, 61, and 69 mg/kg of fruit extract of ecballium elaterium, respectively. Other groups were given 1000, 1412, 1995, 2818, and 3981 mg/kg of the areal part of ecballium elaterium extract, respectively. The LD50 in both treatments was determined by using the Spearman-Karber method. The LD50 of the fruit and aerial parts of ecballium were 55 mg/kg and 2112.5 mg/kg, respectively. The present findings showed significant weight loss after one month of treatment with 1400 mg/kg and 40 mg/Kg of fruit and aerial part extracts, respectively. The results indicated that the fruit extract is highly toxic as compared to the extract of the aerial parts.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

The incidence of diabetes mellitus has increased globally making it a major public health concern. Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder that causes an imbalance in the electrolytes which regulate essential metabolic mechanisms of the body. This study aimed to estimate the electrolyte levels in Libyan patients with type II diabetes mellitus and to investigate their relations to glycemic control and body mass index. A total of 122 Libyan subjects whose ages ranged between 35 years and 60 years for both sexes were included in this study, 77 patients were type II diabetic patients (37 males and 40 females) and 45 subjects were healthy individuals (23 males and 22 females) live in Tripoli area, Libya. The levels of blood glucose, HbA1c, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and calcium were estimated in this study along with the measurement of body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. All the findings were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA test. Significant increases in glucose, HbA1c, potassium, chloride, calcium, blood pressure and BMI among diabetic patients were observed as compared to the healthy individuals. On the other hand, significant decreases in sodium and magnesium levels among the diabetic patients were observed as compared to the control group. In addition, significant alterations in all the biochemical parameters in uncontrolled diabetic patients as compared to the controlled diabetic patients, and in unhealthy weight diabetic patients as compared to the healthy weight patients. It is concluded that diabetes mellitus results in an imbalance of electrolytes. Poor glycemic control and obesity have adverse effects on electrolyte balance among diabetic Libyan patients. Good glycemic control, maintaining a healthy weight and regular evaluation of electrolytes among diabetics can reduce the fatalities associated with electrolyte rearrangements.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Beetroot is vegetable containing phytochemical ingredients with potent antioxidant, hypoglycaemic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is key drivers in the pathophysiology of some metabolic syndromes. Its effect on the progress of induced metabolic syndrome has, however, hardly been investigated. Thus, this study aims to determine the effect of beetroot extract on various biophysical components of metabolic syndrome in rat. Following ethical approval, 50 Wister albino rats were used in this study and divided into three groups: Group A: rats were put on a high-fat-high-fructose (HFHF) diet; Group B: rats were put on an HFHF + fresh beetroot extract while group C: rats were the control group and were given a normal diet. The animals’ body weights and fasting blood sugar were taken fortnightly. Five rats from each group were then sacrificed at weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16 and the following parameters were measured: liver volume, fasting lipid profile, hepatic transaminases and blood platelet level. Compared to the HFHF group, beetroot supplementation resulted in a significant attenuation of overall weight gain (56.91% vs. 34.51%; p < 0> 0.05). Beetroot supplementation further ameliorated the thrombocytopenia caused by an HFHF. Beetroot juice supplementation attenuated the attendant effects of induced metabolic syndrome which might contribute towards averting the consequential cardiovascular sequel. Thus, lifestyle modification comprising beetroot intake as a dietary supplementation may alleviate metabolic syndrome and may offer a potential non-medical adjunct in the routine management of metabolic syndrome.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Bone resorption is created by different etiological factors, such as tumors, infections, and trauma. When defects are too large and healing is not possible in a spontaneous way, the defect is called a critical size defect, which is defined as the smallest size of an intra-osseous wound that will not heal spontaneously during the lifetime of the individual. This study was conducted to evaluate the use of a mineralized plasmatic matrix versus bone graft alone or in the augmentation of bony cavities in animals. Ten adult male dogs ranging in age from 12 months to 18 months with a mean weight of ten kilograms were used in this study. Bone cavities were made in the tibia of each animal. The upper holes were implanted with a bovine bone material substitute the medial holes were implanted with a mineralized plasmatic matrix and the lower holes were left free from any implant material acting as control. The dogs were euthanized at 2, 4, and 6 weeks and prepared for H and E stain and trichrome stain. The healing process of bone cavities implanted with mineralized plasmatic matrix was better compared to cavities filled with bone grafts and those left to heal spontaneously. Mineralized plasmatic matrix facilitates graft application, in its stabilization, and improves cell penetration into the graft.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Patients’ knowledge of hypertension and treatment has been found to affect health outcomes of hypertension. This study aimed to assess the impact of therapeutic patients’ education on knowledge of hypertension and lifestyle/dietary modification among hypertensive patients in Nigeria. The study was conducted among 317 hypertensive patients randomized into controlled and intervention groups (158 vs 159, respectively) between March 2021 and February 2022. Baseline knowledge of the patients was assessed and intervention was provided for the intervention group with a structured educational program at a baseline and six months. Descriptive data were presented with a frequency table in percentage while the chi-square test and univariate logistic regression were used to determine the association between categorical variables. Out of the total number of 318 patients, 275 completed the study (response rate: 86.8%) with 136 in the control group and 139 in the intervention group. The mean age of the patients was 59.5 (±12.5) and patients > 60 years (49.5%) were the most frequent age category. The baseline knowledge score of hypertension was 9.8 (±2.6) and 9.3 (±2.6) on a scale of 16 points in the control group and intervention group, respectively (P = 0.060) while at six months 11.9 (±2.3) vs 10.8 (±2.4) (P < 0.001) and 12 months 12.6 (±2.5) vs 9.5 (±2.0) (P < 0.001), respectively. Knowledge of lifestyle/dietary modification in the control group and intervention group at baseline was 7.0 (±2.1) and 6.6 (±2.0), respectively, while at six months 7.5 (±1.5) vs 9.9 (±1.3) (P < 0.001) and at 12 months 7.2 (±1.5) vs 10.4 (±1.2), respectively. Marital status, body mass index, and family history of hypertension were associated with knowledge of hypertension and lifestyle/dietary modification (P < 0.001). The educational intervention provided was found to be associated with a significant improvement in knowledge of hypertension and lifestyle/dietary modification. The marital status of the patients, body mass index and family history of hypertension influenced patients’ level of knowledge.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

The significance of fermentation is gaining more relevance due to the need for better preparation of plants, the desire for better plant constituents, and the aim for the preservation of medicinal plants. Hence, this study sets out to determine and compare the pH, proximate composition, chemical constituents, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects of 3-day and 7-day fermented seeds of Nigella sativa. The fermentation of the seed was done for 3 and 7 days using 2.5% sugar. The pH of the sample declined from 3.5 to 3.45 during the fermentation. The proximate composition (moisture, ash, lipid, protein, and carbohydrates) was higher for the 3-day fermented sample while fiber was higher for the 7-day sample. The phytochemical constituents (tannins, saponins, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, phytates, oxalates, terpenoids, steroids, and glycosides) were higher for the 3-day than the 7-day sample. The Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry technique showed peaks that were characterized as 17 and 20 constituents on days 3 and 7 of the sample, respectively. The antioxidant capacity (ranging from 35.50% to 82.69% for the 3-day and from 37.50% to 84.99% for the 7-day sample) varies by the increasing concentration (7.81 mg/mL to 1000 mg/mL) of the sample. The diameter of zones of inhibition tested at different concentrations (25 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, and 100 mg/mL) showed varying degrees of activity against Proteus vulgaris and Staphylococcus aureus. The zones obtained were higher 8-10 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and 10-12 mg/mL against Proteus vulgaris for the 7-day fermented sample while 8.0 to 9.0 mg/mL was obtained for the 3-day fermented against Staphylococcus aureus and 8.0 to 10.0 mg/mL against Proteus vulgaris. Overall, the results of this study indicated that fermentation contributed to enhancing the bioactive components and antioxidant capacity of the fermented seeds of N. sativa thereby supporting the use of fermentation in the production of value-added functional foods.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Elevated arterial blood pressure is the most important public health problem in developed countries. It often leads to lethal complications if left untreated. Brewer's yeast is celebrated for its various beneficial effects, including a possible hypotensive effect. Thus, the anti-hypertensive effects of brewer’s yeast were investigated. The hypertensive model was done by a once-weekly intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone at a dose of 25 mg/kg combined with drinking a 1.0% sodium chloride solution containing 0.2% KCl and 2.0% glucose for six weeks. The blood pressure was measured by the rat carotid artery cannulation preparation. Different doses of brewer's yeast dissolved in distilled water were injected into the internal jugular vein, with measurement of blood pressure at each time. To explore the mechanism of the hypotensive effect of yeast, the yeast cardiac effect was verified by the use of isolated perfused rabbit heart preparations using different antagonists. It was found that dexamethasone elevated systolic blood pressure to 178.3±11.6 and diastolic blood pressure to 133.3±16.6 from normal levels of 115.0±9.1 for systolic and 74.0±4.1 for diastolic. The gradual increase in intravenous yeast doses ranging from 0.05 to 0.40 effectively lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure in rats with normal pressure, bringing them to approximately 80.0±05.6 mmHg for systolic and 40.0±3.5 mmHg for diastolic. While doses exceeding 0.04 resulted in a drop in systolic pressure to 60.0±3.9 mmHg, diastolic pressure became unrecordable. The administration of the 0.20 dose resulted in unrecordable blood pressure. In hypertensive rats, a decrease in blood pressure was observed with doses ranging from 0.60-1.0 mg, leading to a reduction to 110.0±2.8 mmHg for systolic and 52.0±9.9 mmHg for diastolic pressures. Doses exceeding 1.0 mg further lowered systolic and diastolic pressures to 20.0±3.9 mmHg. There was a mild increase in heart rate with no change in cardiac force of contraction. This effect was not mediated through beta, calcium receptors, or the histamine effect. The findings show that the yeast has a dose-dependent blood pressure-lowering effect. The mechanism of the chronotropic effect is possibly due to its direct action.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

There is an upsurge in gestational diabetes mellitus with many devastating consequences for the mother and developing fetus. Insulin therapy remains a mainstay. However, insulin is expensive and comes with the pain of multiple injections. Therefore, there is a need to explore commonly administered oral hypoglycemic agents to cater for the increasing gestational diabetes mellitus-associated neurological complications. This study assesses the effects of glibenclamide, metformin and insulin on the pups’ prefrontal cortex in diabetic pregnant rats. 35 sexually matured adult female rats weighing between 120 g and 160 g were used and assigned into five groups (A to E) of seven rats each group. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (45 mg/kg and 35 mg/kg; ip). Hyperglycemic rats were treated with insulin (1.0 UI daily), metformin (200 mg/kg/day) and glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg/day). Body weight and blood glucose levels were evaluated. Rats were sacrificed at 18-day gestation, the pups were harvested, and their brains were processed for tissue oxidative stress markers and various histological examinations. Glibenclamide and metformin caused a significant blood glucose reduction at 37.9% and 40.7%, respectively, compared to the insulin group (33.09%). There was no significant difference in the body-organ ratio in rats treated with metformin when compared to rats treated with insulin. Metformin and glibenclamide had a significant increase in tissue glutathione reductase and a decrease in malondialdehyde compared with insulin and diabetic control groups. The pups’ prefrontal cortex showed degenerated neuronal cells in the diabetic control animals. The diabetic rats treated with metformin and glibenclamide showed improved pyramidal neurons compared with diabetic and insulin groups. This study suggests that metformin and glibenclamide glycemic control may prevent and improve antioxidant enzymes and reverse some neurotoxic effects caused by streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

In this review work, we have extracted the essential details from prior patents about the synthesis of popular drug Lamotrigine. This initiative will provide a platform for the global researchers to invent new or innovate over the existing synthetic routes to isolate Lamotrigine with good yield and purity. The details of patents were sourced from “Google patents” search tool and the process specific details were elaborated with reaction schemes. In this context, twenty-four reactions schemes were tabulated for the better understanding of the disclosed ventures. The entire chronological exfoliation of details on the synthesis of Lamotrigine provides a clear evolutional vision of its synthetic flourish towards drug commercialization.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

The research into plant is used to search for new agents with pharmacological activities. This study seeks to evaluate the effects of the palm leaf methanolic extract against nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and weight loss induced by chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin in a rat’s model. Five groups of rats (n= 4 in each group) were treated with or without doxorubicin (3.0 mg/kg/day, ip) and with palm leaf methanolic extract (400 mg/kg/day or 1200 mg/kg/day, po), followed by evaluation of renal and hepatic biochemical markers. The findings obtained indicated that palm leaf methanolic extract exerts protective effects against doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. Doxorubicin significantly elevated renal function markers, namely creatinine, uric acid and urea, however, these biomarkers remained within normal levels after treatment with palm leaf methanolic extract (400 mg/kg/day) as compared to the control group. Treating the rats with doxorubicin and palm leaf methanolic extract at doses 400 mg/kg/day and 1200 mg/kg/day, counteracts the doxorubicin-induced elevation of serum creatinine and uric acid compared to the doxorubicin group. Doxorubicin also significantly increased hepatic function tests namely alanine and aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and bilirubin as compared to the control group. In addition, treating the rats with palm leaf methanolic extract doses and doxorubicin caused a significant decrease in the serum levels of hepatic markers compared to the doxorubicin group. Doxorubicin treatment resulted in a weight loss of 34.1%, the weight loss caused by doxorubicin was prevented by treating the rats with the extract at 1200 mg/kg/day as compared to their baseline body weight. Thus, the results of the current study suggest that the active constituents present in the palm leaf methanolic extract have a protective effect against hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and weight loss-induced by doxorubicin.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Jobelyn® is a multi-functional natural dietary supplement made from Sorghum bicolour with very high anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities. The study investigated the role of Jobelyn® in the attenuation of oxido-inflammatory markers induced by tramadol use, abuse and discontinuation over 17 days in rats. The experimental observational study was carried out using male adult albino rats weighing between 100 and 170 g. The experimental design involved five groups. Rats were randomly divided into groups of five, consisting of group 1 (normal control rats), and group 2 (rats treated with tramadol at 40 mg/kg/day) were administered for 10 days and discontinued for seven days. Group 3 administered incremental doses of tramadol from 40 mg/kg/day to 100 mg/kg/day over 10 days and discontinued for seven days. A similar treatment protocol was administered for group 4 and group 5 but were treated with Jobelyn® at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day at the discontinuation phases for seven days. Behavioral assessments (elevated plus maze model of anxiety and open field model of locomotor activity) and biomarkers of oxido-inflammatory stress were assessed. Tramadol-treated groups had significant anxiety responses and locomotory deficits in comparison to the control group. Tramadol-treated groups had significant elevations of nitrites and malondehyde and reduced enzymatic markers such as catalase, glutathione, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, G-s-transferase, glutamic acid decarboxylase and increased activity of acetylcholinesterase when compared to control group. Administration of Jobelyn® attenuated the responses and ameliorated the oxido-inflammatory biomarkers similar to levels in control group. Tramadol induces oxido-inflammatory stress markers in the prefrontal, striatum and hippocampus in rats. Anxiety and locomotory behavioral actions on tramadol treatment were elevated despite discontinuation for seven days. Thus, Jobelyn® at 200 mg/kg/day ameliorated oxido-inflammatory markers induced by tramadol and decreased anxiety responses in albino rats.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences