http://scialert.net Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology en-us Science Alert Fri, 24 May 2013 18:11:57 +0200 Fri, 24 May 2013 18:14:14 +0200 RssPublisher 0.2.0 beta http://scialert.net/images/logo.gif http://scialert.net 41 233 Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 1816-496xhttp://feedburner.google.com Cell Stress, Hypoxic Response and Apoptosis in Murine Adriamycin-induced Nephropathy -1; i.v.). Tubulointerstitial nephrosis was monitored by histopathological assessment and by biochemical determinations on 7, 15 and 30 days following drug exposure. These results were evaluated in conjunction with renal expression of iNOS, Hsp60 and HIF-1α. Cortical apoptosis was examined by TUNEL assay. The increment of renal apoptotic cells in tubulointerstitial areas was accompanied by the decrease in Bcl-x_L/Bax ratio and the enhancement of the active caspase-3 and Hsp60 expressions from day 7 onwards. iNOS and HIF-1α increased concomitant with the renal apoptosis and the tubule interstitial injury. Taking the previous information into account, data indicate that the over expression of renal HIF-1α, iNOS and Hsp60 are concurrent with the apoptotic events triggered by ADR. These results contribute to additional knowledge of the molecular complex events involved in the context of ADR-induced nephropathy progression.]]> http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jpt.2012.344.358 24 May, 2013 Antihypertensive Potency of Wild Cosmos (Cosmos caudatus Kunth, Asteraceae) Leaf Extract Cosmos caudatus Kunth, Asteraceae) is one of the vegetables mostly consumed by rural people of Central and East Java Provinces of Indonesia and those of the Malay Peninsula. Yet, it has not been widely used medicinally. The leaf has distinctive taste as well as odor and contains high level of flavonoid, especially flavonol and flavon glycosides which have potent antioxidant activity. In this study, in an attempt to explore the antihypertensive effect, wild cosmos leaf aqueous extract was tested in rats treated with adrenaline and sodium chloride. The frequency of heart rate and amplitude of stroke volume were measured using the non-invasive tail cuff method. The extract at doses of 500 and 1000 mg kg^-1 showed similar potency to that of 9 mg kg^-1 atenonol, in lowering both parameters, induced by adrenaline. However, after sodium chloride, the extract only suppressed the amplitude and this effect was comparable to that of 0.45 mg kg^-1 hydrochlorothiazide and 13.5 mg kg^-1 captopril. Besides cardiac effects, the extract also demonstrated diuretic activity which was comparable to that of 1.8 mg kg^-1 furosemide. Taken together, results of present study suggest that wild cosmos leaf extract have antihypertensive effect which may be related, at least in part, to the decreased cardiac output and induction of diuresis. The results may further indicate that consumption of wild cosmos leaf in diet is beneficial for hypertensive patients.]]> http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jpt.2012.359.368 24 May, 2013 Antifungal Potency of Turtle Eggshell Extract Chelonia mydas) as an antifungal against Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum and Aspergillus brasiliensis. Protein extraction was carried out with dialysis followed by lyophilization and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Antifungal activity assay was conducted by Dilution Plating method with nystatin as a standard drug. The possible mechanism of antifungal activity was assessed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Fungal growth was inhibited by 8% w/v or 8x10⁴ ppm extract, equivalent to 0.53 ppm nystatin against Candida albicans, 0.55 ppm against Microsporum gypseum, 0.36 ppm against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and 0.35 ppm against Aspergillus brasiliensis. The SDS-PAGE showed that the turtle eggshell extract had 6 proteins with molecular weight 20; 45, 50, 66, 80 and 116 kDa. This study showed that 8% w/v green turtle eggshell extract has inhibitory activity against Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum and Aspergillus brasiliensis, as also proven by SEM results. Taken together, the present results showed that turtle eggshell extract has antifungal potency that could be developed as antifungal drug.]]> http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jpt.2012.369.377 24 May, 2013 Acute and Sub Chronic Oral Toxicity Assessment of the Ethanolic Extract from the Rind of Nephelium lappaceum in Rats Nephelium lappaceum is a tropical fruit native to Malaysia. The rind of N. lappaceum, is having extremely high antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. The ethanol extract from the rind of Nephelium lappaceum was evaluated for acute and sub-chronic toxicity study in Sprague Dawley rats. In the acute study, a single oral administration of N. lappaceum rind extract (50, 200, 1000 and 2000 mg kg^-1) was administered to rats for 14 days. In the sub chronic toxicity study, the extract was administered to rats (500, 2000 mg kg^-1) for 28 days. There was no mortality, or adverse effects observed in rats. There was no significant difference observed in relative organ weights and the biochemical analysis (serum urea, creatinine, ALP, AST and total protein). Histological observation of liver and kidney also did not reveal any significant changes. In conclusion, present study showed that the lethal dose of ethanol extract of Nephelium lappaceum rind is more than 2000 mg kg^-1 and there is a huge margin of safety for the therapeutic use. No-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOEL) of the extract is considered to be up to 2000 mg kg^-1 day^-1 for 28 days in rats.]]> http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jpt.2012.378.385 24 May, 2013