Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products
Volume:3 Issue: 1, Nov 2008

Infections cause significant mortality and morbidity in children. Although there are various antibiotics that can be used to combat bloodstream infection, resistant strains have subsequently emerged.A prospective study was carried out for one month period in 55 hospitals from 12 provinces representing different geographical areas in Iran. The aim was to determine the pattern of pathogens and their antimicrobial sensitivity among children. Of 1143 blood specimens tested from various hospitals, bacteria were isolated from 715 of children from one month to three years old age. The predominant isolated pathogens from blood specimens were Gram-positive bacteria in 301 (65.25%) patients, mainly 198 (65.78%) coagulase-negative Staphylococci. The Gram-negative bacteria were 140 (31.74%). About 66% of the Gram-positive bacteria were coagulase-negative Staphylococci, while the gram-negative bacteria were mainly (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas spp.). The majority of S. aureus were resistant to Oxacillin, Co-trimoxazole, Cephalotin, and Ampicillin. About two – third of the E. coli and K. pneumonia were resistant to Cephalotin.

The type and amount of binders decisively influence the characteristics of tablets prepared by wet granulation procedure. Commonly used binders like acacia, gelatin, starch and hydrolyzed starch have natural origin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new binder extracted from Hibiscus esculentus (Okra gum) in tabletting. Okra gum was extracted from the pods of Okra fruit by maceration in distilled water followed by filtration of viscous solution as well as precipitation of gum extract by using acetone. To evaluate the binder effectiveness, two models, including a placebo formulation (lactose) and a drug formulation (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and/or Calcium acetate) were evaluated. Granules were prepared by different concentrations (0.5-6 %w/w) of Okra gum and tabletted using a Kilian single punch press. Cornstarch (12.5 % w/w) and P.V.P (22 %w/w) were employed as the standard binders for comparison. The physical properties of the granulates and those of the tablets including disintegration time and dissolution rate were studied. The properties of placebo granulates (bulk and tapped density, granule strength, flowability) as well as those of tablets (hardness, friability, disintegration time) were generally good. Moreover, the physical properties of Ibuprofen and Calcium acetate tablets containing Okra gum showed sufficient hardness, desirable disintegration time and low friability. The percent of drug released after 45 minutes were 15 %, 44 % and 96 % for Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen and Calcium acetate tablets, respectively. Okra gum produces some tablet formulations with good hardness and friability. However, this binder prolongs the dissolution rate of some slightly soluble drugs and hence may be good candidate for sustained release formulations.

Zhumeria majdae Resh. f.& Wendelbo. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant which has long been used in traditional medicine as antispasmodic, antimicrobial, carminative especially in infants and for dysmenorrheal. The therapeutic benefits of medicinal plants are often attributed to their antioxidant properties. The present study was conducted to evaluate in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant properties of essential oil and various extracts of Zhumeria majdae Resh. f & Wendelbo. The GC and GC–MS analysis of the essential oil were resulted in the determination of 26 components representing 97.2% of the oil. Linalool (53.28%) and camphor (26.15%) were the main components. The essential oil has exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria. Antioxidant activities of the samples were determined DPPH and β-carotene/linoleic acid methods. The essential oil and methanol extract reduced the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with an IC50 of 20.5 ± 1.6 and 26.1 ± 1.5 respectively. In the latter method, the methanol extract and essential oil have shown the most activity with 25.8 and 19.2 mm mean zone of color retention respectively. The amount of the total phenolics was highest in methanol extract (50.1 ± 2.3μg/mg). A positive correlation was observed between the antioxidant activity potential and total phenolic level of the extracts. Results here show that the essential oil and methanol extract of Z. majdae possess antioxidant and antibacterial activity, and could be used as natural preservative in food and /or pharmaceutical industries. The other extracts have exhibited no activity.

Liver is the largest organ of the body, with several major functions. Increased consumption of chemicals (e.g. alcohol, bleach, preservatives, colorings, etc) and pharmaceuticals lead to a large number of liver diseases. Symptoms of liver malfunction include sudden exhaustion, bad taste in the mouth, loss of appetite, distaste foods, irritability or a general feeling of unhealthiness. There are a few herbal products from Fragaria vesca and Vitis vinifera as chewable tablets form in the market that are used as metabolic stimulator and as a treatment for all chronic inflammatory and degenerative liver conditions. The leaves of grape and wild strawberry were collected, identified and dried. The content of anthocyanins present in the powdered leaves was measured based on a spectrophotometric differential pH method. To prepare chewable tablet (HepatoHeal), the same amount of powdered leaves of two plants (40 mg) was mixed to filler (mannitol or lactose) and granulated using wet granulation method. The resultant tablets were evaluated for hardness, friability, disintegration time, drug content uniformity, drug release test and organoleptic properties.The assay showed that the content of anthocyanin in grape and strawberry leaves were 0.082(w/w) % and 0.039(w/w) %, respectively. The mean weight, friability, hardness, and disintegration time of selected formulation were 262 mg, 0.23%, 59.7 N and 22.6 min, respectively. The content of active ingredient (based on anthocyanin) was 44.8 mg and the content uniformity of the selected tablet was 42.8 mg. Percent of the drug released after 30 and 60 min was 76 % and 97 % respectively. The selected formulation of HepatoHeal tablet has acceptable physicochemical features and may be considered as a herbal medication for some chronic inflammatory and degenerative liver disorders.

The present in vitro investigation had two primary firstly to compare the responses of testicular capsule (TC) and cutaneous superficial fascia (SF) to hydrogen peroxide. Secondly to evaluate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) on these responses by use of bisindolylmaleimide1 chloride (BIM), a specific PKC inhibitor and phorbol-ester dibutyrate (PDBu), a specific PKC activator. Rat TC and SF samples (six for each experiment) were removed and suspended under 2 g tension in an organ bath and, after stabilization, the responses to 200 nM PDBu or to a cumulative concentrations (0.2 to 1.6 µM final bath concentration) of hydrogen peroxide, in the absence and presence of 2µM (BIM), were recorded. Both TC and SF produced contractions in response to PDBu and in a concentration-dependent manner to hydrogen peroxide. These contractions were inhibited by BIM. In conclusion, it seems that PDBu- and hydrogen peroxide-induced contraction in both SF and TC are mediated by activation of PKC. In addition, these findings suggest that macrophages, via release of hydrogen peroxide, may have an important role in mediating wound closure.

Tea is the most popular beverage in the world. In the recent decades therapeutic effects of various type of tea drinking has been revealed in many studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the black tea extract (BTE) and its major polyphenolic pigments thearubigins (TRs) on whole gut transit time in mice by use of carmine marker. BTE of Iranian tea was prepared and its polyphenolic pigment TRs extracted by Liquid- liquid partition method. BTE (1.5%, 3%, 4.5%, 6%, and 10%) and extracted TRs (30 mg/kg, 40mg/kg, 50mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 70mg/kg, and 100mg/kg) were gavaged to the fasted mice to measuring the whole gut transit time. Results showed BTE (3%, 4.5%, 6 %,) and TRs (40mg/kg, 50mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 70mg/kg) significantly decreased the whole gut transit time dose dependant manner. For determination of serotonergic system involvement as a major neurotransmitter system in transit time alteration caused by BTE and TRs, ondansetron (3mg/kg, i.p) was used. Acquired data showed that 5-HT3 antagonist blocked accelerating effects of BTE and TRs. Based on the results BTE and TRs could be regarded as gut accelerator movement dose dependant manner. Moreover, it was concluded that these effects at least partially involved with serotonergic system via 5-HT3 receptors.

Helicobacter pylori eradication has become the standard treatment for peptic ulcer disease. It is also indicated in cases with atrophic gastritis, and following gastric cancer resection. Many short-term (one week) triple therapy regimens suffer from the problem of resistance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety, patient compliance and tolerability of a 10 days triple therapy versus 2 week conventional therapy in patients with peptic ulcer disease or chronic gastritis in eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection. A total of 160 H. pylori-positive patients suffering from peptic ulcer disease or chronic gastritis without previous treatment were enrolled in the study and randomly allocated into the following two groups: group A (n = 85) received a 2 week quadruple therapy regimen using omeprazole, amoxicillin, bismuth subcitrate and metronidazole (BOMA); group B (n = 75) received a 10-d triple therapy 20 mg omeprazole b.i.d., 1000 mg amoxicillin b.i.d., 500 mg clarithromycin b.i.d. (OAC), (before breakfast and dinner). Eradication verified with UBT technique 8 weeks after completion of the therapy. Three cases were lost to follow-up one from group A (B-OAM) and two cases from group B (OAC). H. pylori eradication rates produced by B-OAM and OAC were 61% and 78% respectively based on an intention to treat analysis, and 63% versus 81% respectively based on a per-protocol analysis. The triple protocol yielded higher eradication rate by both per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses. 10 day triple therapy regimen achieves an H. pylori eradication rate superior to that of a 2-week quadruple therapy and is associated with comparable patient compliance and complications but we achieved relatively low eradication rates and further investigations are needed in Khuzestan area.