Metal II complexes of ethambutol as good enzyme inhibitor and promising antioxidant

Ethambutoldihydrogenchloride (EMB) with chemical formula C10H24N2O2.2HCl is ethane-1,2-diamine in which one hydrogen attached to each of the nitrogen is substituted by a 1-hydroxybutan-2-yl group (S,S-configuration). It is an FDA approved drug and has been used for treatment of tuberculosis since 1960's. Prolong use of EMB has a side effect of visual impairment and in literature it is related with the depletion of Zn metal from the body. As it is a good chelating agent, many metal II complexes have been synthesized with anti-tubercular activity. The purpose of this work was to synthesize metal II complexes of EMB and to evaluate their antioxidant activity along with enzyme inhibition activity (acetylcholine esterase and protease). The metals used for complex formation were Co, Zn, Fe, Cu and Ni. IR spectral data and physical parameters supported the complex formation. The obtained results showed the synthesized complexes as notable antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors.

Potent AChE enzyme inhibition activity of Zizyphus oxyphylla: A new source of antioxidant compounds

The purpose of this study was to assess the antioxidant potential and enzyme inhibition of various fractions of Zizyphus oxyphylla. The plant metabolites were extracted in methanol and partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol successively. Phytochemical screening showed presence of alkaloids, terpenoids and flavonoids in ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions. The antioxidant potential and acetylcholine esterase assay of all these fractions and remaining aqueous fraction was evaluated by using reported methods. The results revealed that chloroform soluble fraction exhibited highest percent inhibition of DPPH radical as compared to other fractions. It showed 95.01 ± 0.37% inhibition of DPPH radical at a concentration of 120 μg/mL. The IC₅₀ of this fraction was 13.20 ± 0.27 μg/mL, relative to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, a reference standard), having IC₅₀ of 12.10 ± 0.29 μg/mL. It also showed highest total antioxidant activity i.e. 1.723 ± 0.34 as well as highest FRAP value (339.5 ± 0.57 TE μm/mL) and highest total phenolic contents (142.65 ± 1.20 GAE mg/g) as compared to the other studied fractions. The fractions were also studied for Acetylcholine esterase enzyme (AChE) enzyme inhibition activity and n-butanol soluble fraction exhibited maximum inhibition (95.5 ± 0.13 mg/mL with IC50 =9.58 ± 0.08 mg/mL relative to galanthamine (13.26 ± 0.73 mg/mL), while n- hexane soluble fraction (165.15 ± 0.94 mg/mL) showed non-significant. We are still working to isolate pure compounds for active fractions targeting potent inhibition responsible for some activities.

Age- and gender-based studies of trace metal levels and various enzymes associated with myocardial infarction

The present investigation deals with the determination of various serum enzymes known to be elevated during myocardial infarction (MI) and estimation of selected metals like Cu, Cr, Co, Fe, Pb, and Mg by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The data obtained thereby were processed for the determination of correlation coefficient matrix among the cardiac enzymes and the serum metals. The study evidenced the accumulation of Pb during MI and reduction in the level of Fe. A significant negative correlation was observed between Cu and creatine kinase-MB. The data were also segregated into various groups to study the influence of age and gender on the levels of selected parameters. In both the genders, the age of the patients was found to be correlated significantly with various cardiac enzymes. In case of male patients, the most significant correlation was observed between age and blood sugar at random. The other significant correlations among the male patients included Cr-CPK, Cr-creatine kinase-MB, Fe-age, and others. In female patients, the pairs of studied parameters that exhibited significant correlations included age-lactic dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme-aspartate aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase-creatine phosphokinase isoenzymes, Pb-Fe, and Cu-Co in addition to others.

Health status and renal function evaluation of kidney vendors: a report from Pakistan

Unrelated kidney transplants have lead to commerce and kidney vending in Pakistan. This study on 104 vendors reports demographics, history, physical and systemic examination, ultrasound findings, renal and liver function and GFR by Cockcroft-Gault. Results were compared with 184 age, sex and nephrectomy duration matched living-related donors controls. Comparison of vendors versus controls showed mean age of 30.55 +/- 8.1 versus 30.65 +/- 7.85 (p = 0.91) years, M:F of 4.5:1 versus 4.2:1 and nephrectomy period of 33.89 +/- 30 versus 32.01 +/- 29.71 (p = 0.60) months respectively. Of the vendors 67% were bonded laborers earning <50 $/month as compared to controls where 68% were skilled laborers and self-employed earning >100 $/month. History of vendors revealed jaundice in 8%, stone disease in 2% and urinary tract symptoms in 4.8%. Postnephrectomy findings between vendors versus donors showed BMI of 21.02 +/- 2.8 versus 23.02 +/- 4.2 (p = 0.0001), hypertension in 17% versus 9.2% (p = 0.04), serum creatinine (mg/dL) of 1.17+/-0.21 versus 1.02 +/- 0.27 (p = 0.0001), GFR (mL/min) of 70.94 +/- 14.2 versus 95.4 +/- 20.44 (p = 0.0001), urine protein/creatinine of 0.150 +/- 0.109 versus 0.10 +/- 0.10 (p = 0.0001), hepatitis C positivity in 27% versus 1.0% (p = 0.0001) and hepatitis B positive 5.7% versus 0.5% (p = 0.04), respectively. In conclusion, vendors had compromised renal function suggesting inferior selection and high risk for developing chronic kidney disease in long term.

Oral zinc supplementation in pregnant women and its effect on birth weight: a randomised controlled trial

Pakistan lies in a zinc deficient area where oral zinc supplementation has been advocated for various reasons. A double blind, randomised case-control study was carried out on pregnant women to evaluate the effects of oral zinc supplementation on the weights of newborns. No significant difference was found in the birth weights between the cases supplemented with 20 mg elemental zinc and controls receiving oral placebos (p=0.57).

Comparative studies on nicotinic acid derivatives as hypolipoproteinemic agents

Nicotinic acid and its related compounds are well known lipid lowering agents but the use of nicotinic acid in clinical practice is limited because of its side effects. To reduce the unwanted effects, new derivatives of nicotinic acid have been synthesized and tested in control and pathological animals for their antilipoproteinemic effects. Two newly synthesized derivatives of nicotinic acid i.e. 3-methoxy phenacyl nicotinium bromide (T1) and 2-methoxy phenacyl nicotinium bromide (T2) have been screened for their hypolipoproteinemic effects in white male rabbits. The compounds were administered in the doses of 30 mg/day and the results were compared with aspirin taken as the reference drug. The present work revealed that both of these synthesize compounds exhibited marked effects on plasma lipoproteins assuming that these compounds exerted their action by inhibiting hepatic production of very low density lipoprotins (VLDL), ultimately leading to reduction in low density lipoprotein. Clofibrate and aspirin are taken as standards to evaluate the potentials of these agents for their effects on lipid.