Ethanolic extract of bark of Azadirachta indica showed potent spermicidal activity when tested on rat spermatozoa in vitro. When the extract was applied in 1:1 and 1:2 ratio at tree different concentration using wet drop method, cent percent mortality of spermatozoa was observed within 10 seconds. 10% concentration of the extract was considered as an effective dose.
Background: Pharmacology, being both basic and applied science, forms the backbone of rational therapeutics in medical field. Understanding of current perceptions and opinions of medical students is important for the betterment of teaching-learning methodologies in pharmacology subject. This study done with the objective to determine the perception and feedback of teaching learning pharmacology.Methods: Descriptive cross sectional questionnaire based study was conducted in Nepalgunj Medical College Chisapani, Banke Nepal, among second year MBBS students in September 2017. A questionnaire distributed in class and then collected. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).Results: Total 119 students, 78 male and 41 females participated in this study. The percentage average of agreed responses for 15 questions (58.92±19.53) was significant (p <0.05) when compared with the percentage average of the disagreed (5.42± 5.17). Seventy three (61.3%) students agreed that pharmacology is a favourite subject but the preferences for pharmacology as a subject in post-graduation was low (18.5%). High proportion of students wanted the faculty members to make more use of Audio-Visual aids 93.3%, case based learning 96.6%, more clinical pharmacology, 97.5%, group discussions, 88.2%, integration to clinical sciences 92.4% and 82.4% prefer MCQs to be introduced in the curriculum for effective learning.Conclusions: Introduction of integrated teaching, MCQs, case based, and group based discussion with clinical pharmacology and audio-visual aids was favoured by majority of the students. Regular reviewing perception and feedback of the students help teachers to plan the curriculum and improve the teaching methodologies.
Kinnow juice produces a marked and variable increase in carbamazepine bioavailability. The pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine was studied after drug administration with 300 ml water or kinnow juice in a randomized cross over trial on nine healthy male volunteers. With kinnow juice peak serum concentration (Cmax) and area under the serum concentration time curve (AUC) was significantly (P < 0.05) increased and time to reach peak serum concentration (tmax) was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) as compared with water. No change was observed in the elimination half life (t1/2) of drug. The mechanism by which kinnow juice enhances carbamazepine bioavailability could be due to inhibition of cytochrome P-450 enzyme, since kinnow juice contains naringin which is considered to be inhibitor of liver microsomal dihydropyridine oxidation.
The effect of nitrendipine (NTP) alone and in combination with phenytoin (PHT) and valproate (VPA) against maximal electroshock seizures (MES) was studied in rats. In addition, the psychomotor effects of NTP alone and in combination with PHT and VPA were evaluated using the following tests: a) rotarod performance; b) spontaneous motor activity; c) despair behavior; d) righting reflex; e) hole board test; and f) passive avoidance test. ED50 values of PHT, VPA and NTP were 13,255 and 3.6 mg/kg, respectively. When NTP was combined with PHT or VPA, the ED50 values decreased to 0.9 and 226 mg/kg, respectively. In the psychomotor function tests, for the same degree of protection (50%) afforded against MES, PHT or VPA produced a greater impairment in all the parameters compared to NTP alone or a combination of NTP with PHT or VPA. Furthermore, NTP reversed the depression and long-term memory loss induced by PHT and VPA. Thus, NTP was effective against MES in rats, potentiating the anti-electroshock activity of PHT and VPA and producing less impairment of psychomotor activity. Thus, the agent can be considered a potential antiepileptic warranting further studies.