Efficient microwave synthesis of flurbiprofen derivatives and their enhancement of efficacy in chronic inflammatory pain models and gastro-protective potential in post-operative model

Present research was designed to synthesize and characterize the flurbiprofen derivatives and to evaluate their analgesic, anti-inflammatory and gastro-protective activities in post-operative and chronic inflammatory pain models. Flurbiprofen derivatives were produced by using three-step processes involving esterification, hydrazide production, and schiff base, each of which modified a different carboxyl group. All the newly synthesized flurbiprofen derivatives (NS5-NS8) were characterized by 1H NMR,13C NMR,19F NMR and HR-ESI-MS, and the post-operative, inflammatory pain and ulcerogenic activities were determined in well-established in-vivo animal models. To evaluate post-operative and inflammatory pain, various doses of compounds [1, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg (bwt)] were used, while their ulcerogenic potential was assessed at doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg (bwt). The incisional damage linked pain was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced by derivatives at different doses in both the acute and repeated tests with decreased response of phologistic agent-induced inflammation. The stomach histology and biochemical features demonstrate that the synthesized derivatives have no potential to cause ulcerogenicity as compared to aspirin and flurbiprofen. Furthermore, docking shows that the hydrazide moiety of these compounds is crucial in interacting within COX-2 binding site. Therefore, the synthesized compounds exhibit strong analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and a low risk of causing ulcers. These attributes render them potentially valuable therapeutic agents for the treatment of pathological disorders associated with inflammation and pain.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Primary amenorrhea in females attending gynaecological outpatient of a tertiary care hospital at Peshawar

OBJECTIVE

To determine the aetiological factors of amenorrhea.

METHODS

The pilot cross-sectional study was conducted in Government Naserullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from January 2015 to December 2017, and comprised amenorrhea cases. Cases were analysed according to their clinical profile, ultrasound findings and biochemical tests. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.

RESULTS

There were 100 patients with a mean age of 22.17±5.52 years (range: 14-36 years). Anatomical defects were the most common cause in 60(60%) patients. Imperforate hymen and transverse vaginal septum were found in 7(7%), 7(7%) patients each, while mullerian abnormalities were found in 46(46%) patients. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and polycystic ovarian syndrome were found in 17(17%) patients each.

CONCLUSIONS

Anatomical defects were found to be the most common cause among amenorrhea patients.

Chemotherapeutic Potential of Carthamus Oxycantha Root Extract as Antidiarrheal and In Vitro Antibacterial Activities

Our research work was designed to investigate the curative and preventive effects of Carthamus oxycantha root extract against diarrhea and microorganisms. For the antibacterial experiment, the agar well diffusion method was used against standard bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, and Salmonella typhi, while for the assessment of antidiarrheal activity, castor oil and the magnesium sulfate-induced diarrhea method was used on albino, laboratory-bred (BALB/c) mice at a dose rate of 200 and 400 mg/kg (body weight, b.w) orally. The methanol extract of C. oxycantha significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the frequency of defecation, and wet stools in a dose depended on the manner of after receiving magnesium sulfate (2 g/kg (b.w)) and castor oil (1.0 mL/mice). Furthermore, the extract of C. oxycantha showed concentration-dependent antimicrobial properties against S. aureus followed by S. typhi, E. coli, and P. aeroginosa bacterial strains, with inhibitions ranging from 10.5–15 mm. These findings show significant results that C. oxycantha is effective as an antidiarrheal and antibacterial agent. However, further works are needed to establish its mode of action.

Simultaneous Determination of Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen in Pharmaceutical Preparations by Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

A simple, rapid, and specific method for simultaneous determination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen in pharmaceutical preparations by 1H Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was developed using methyl and aromatic proton signal areas against ferf-butyl alcohol as internal standard. Average recoveries of ibuprofen and acetaminophen were 99.2 and 98.6%, with standard deviations of ± 0.76 and ± 0.81, respectively. The results were compared with those obtained using the procedure recommended by the British Pharmacopoeia and were in close agreement.

Steroidal alkaloids efficient aromatase inhibitors with potential for the treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer

Plant-derived natural products are of great interest due to their diversity in modern drug discovery. Sarcococca saligna has been used for the treatment of different diseases. The present study was aimed at isolating phytochemical constituents including Alkaloid-C (a), Dictyophlebine (b), Sarcovagine-D (c) and Saracodine (d) Holaphylline (e) from Sarcococca saligna to investigate the anticancer effect of these compounds. These compounds were evaluated for inhibition of aromatase enzyme of breast cancer in assistance by molecular docking simulations to understand molecular interaction between the enzyme and ligands. The IC₅₀ values of compound 1 and 5 were found 138.27 ± 0.01 µl and 12.91 ± 0.01 µl, respectively, and both were found active due to their bulky structures in comparison to the active site of aromatase enzyme. The standard drug exemestane showed potent activity in comparison with the test compounds, having IC₅₀ values of 0.052 ± 0.01 µl. Both compounds showed favorable electrostatic interactions with the active site of aromatase enzyme but the shape and steric bulk of the compounds was the limiting factor in their inhibitory effects. New lead compounds could be generated after extensive modifications guided by computational and experimental tools as a possible anticancer agents by targeting aromatase enzyme.

Effect of <i>Pericampylus glaucus</i> on plasma glucose concentration and lipid profile in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

<p class="Abstract">The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of <em>Pericampylus glaucus</em> extract on plasma glucose concentration and lipid profile in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The ethanolic extract were administered orally at three different doses (400, 600 and 800 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (20 mg/kg p.o.) for 21 days after 72 hours of streptozotocin injection. During the short- and long-term studies, the extract was found to possess significant (p&lt;0.01, p&lt;0.001) anti-diabetic activity in normal and diabetic rats compared with untreated normal and untreated diabetic group. It also caused reduction in the level of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL etc. and improvement in the HDL level compared with untreated diabetic rats. Reduction in the fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea, LDL, creatinine levels and improvement in the HDL by<em> P. glaucus</em> indicates that plant has anti-diabetic activity along with anti hyperlipidemic efficacy and provides a scientific rationale for the use.</p><p> </p>

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic method for determination of phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone in tablets

A simple, specific, and rapid 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic method for the assay of phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone is described. Spectra are recorded in CDCI3 containing 1,3-dichloro-5-nitrobenzene as an internal standard. The aromatic proton resonances for the standard, at delta 7.7 and 8.2, are well separated from those of phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone, which are in the region of delta 6.5-7.3 ppm. Average percent recoveries of phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone were 98.9 and 98.6 with standard deviations of 0.6 and 0.7, respectively. Commercial formulations were analyzed and the results obtained by the proposed method closely agreed with those found by the British Pharmacopoeia method.

Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Method for Determination of Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenbutazone in Tablets

A simple, specific, and rapid 'H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic method for the assay of phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone is described. Spectra are recorded in CDC13 containing 1,3- dichloro-5-nitrobenzene as an internal standard. The aromatic proton resonances for the standard, at 57.7 and 8.2, are well separated from those of phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone, which are in the region of 56.5-7.3 ppm. Average percent recoveries of phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone were 98.9 and 98.6 with standard deviations of 0.6 and 0.7, respectively. Commercial formulations were analyzed and the results obtained by the proposed method closely agreed with those found by the British Pharmacopoeia method