Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Tariq

Publications and source records attributed to M Tariq.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

The induction of dominant lethal mutations upon chronic administration of khat (Catha edulis) in albino mice.

The mutagenicity of a methanolic extract of khat has been evaluated on male germ cells using the dominant lethal test in albino mice. An aqueous solution of khat extract was administered orally in doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body wt., respectively, to 3 different groups of male mice for a period of 6 weeks. At the end of treatment each male mouse was allowed to mate with 2 different groups of 3 females each, on 2 consecutive weeks. These females were necropsied on the 13th day of their presumptive mating, and the number of implants in each female and the ratio of live and dead embryos were determined. The results of this study showed that the treatment of male mice over a period of 6 weeks produced a dose-dependent reduction in the rate of fertility in the first week after mating, which was irreversible in the second week at the highest dose (200 mg/kg). Khat extract also induced post-implantation loss during the first week following treatment. However, a comparison of the results of the first and second weeks showed a reversible pattern of dominant lethality.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Preliminary toxicity studies on ethanol extracts of the aerial parts of Artemisia abyssinica and A. Inculta in mice.

Ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts of Artemisia abyssinica and A. inculta were subjected to acute toxicity observations in mice for 24 h and chronic toxicity evaluation for 3 months. External morphological changes, visceral toxicity, haematological changes, spermatogenic dysfunction and effect on body weight and vital organ weight were recorded. In both the chronically treated groups, no significant acute mortality was observed up to 3 g/kg p.o. There was no weight gain in A. abyssinica chronically-treated mice while the weight gain of A. inculta-treated animals matched that of the control group. Significant sperm damage was observed in A. abyssinica-treated mice while A. inculta failed to produce any significant spermatotoxic effect.

Alopecia↗
PubMed1990

Studies on Ruta chalepensis, an ancient medicinal herb still used in traditional medicine.

An ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Ruta chalepensis was studied for its anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and CNS depressant activities. The extract produced a significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma in rats. The studies on spontaneous motor activity in mice and conditioned avoidance responding (CAR) in rats showed a dose-dependent depression of the central nervous system in treated animals. Reduction of yeast-induced hyperthermia in mice confirmed its reputed antipyretic activity. The extract did not produce any significant changes in prothrombin time and fibrinogen level. It also failed to produce any analgesic activity in the hot plate reaction-time test in mice. Phytochemical screening of the aerial parts of the plant showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, volatile oil, sterols and/or triterpenes.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of turmeric (Curcuma longa) for gastric and duodenal antiulcer activity in rats.

An ethanol extract of turmeric was studied in rats for its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and to protect gastroduodenal mucosa against the injuries caused by pyloric ligation, hypothermic-restraint stress, indomethacin, reserpine and cysteamine administration and cystodestructive agents including 80% ethanol, 0.6 M HCl, 0.2 M NaOH and 25% NaCl. An oral dose of 500 mg/kg of the extract produced significant anti-ulcerogenic activity in rats subjected to hypothermic-restraint stress, pyloruic ligation and indomethacin and reserpine administration. The extract had a highly significant protective effect against cystodestructive agents. The reduction in the intensity of ulceration of cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcers was not found to be statistically significant. Turmeric extract not only increased the gastric wall mucus significantly but also restored the non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) content in the glandular stomachs of the rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effect of khatamines and their enantiomers on plasma triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels in normal Wistar rats.

The effect of cathinone and N-formylnorephedrine, two psychoactive amines of khat (Catha edulis Forsk.) and their enantiomers have been studied on plasma levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in male Wistar rats. The rats were injected with 5, 10 and 30 mg/kg, body weight of four khatamines and the blood samples were collected 2 h after their administration. In the separate set of experiments the effect of these khatamines at 1, 2 and 4 h after their administration was also examined. All the khatamines failed to produce a significant dose dependent increase in T3 and T4 levels in the dose of 5 mg/kg. However, all of these compounds produced a significant dose dependent increase in T3 and T4 levels at higher doses but only T4 levels were increased following the dose of 10 mg/kg. Our studies on the effect of khatamines in T3 and T4 levels at various times showed a significant increase in T4 levels in all the four groups treated with various khatamines and the peak effect was observed at 2 h in case of (-)- and (+)-cathinone and 4 h in case of (-) and (+)N-formylnorephedrine. This study suggests that the symptoms observed in khat chewers including hyperthermia, anorexia, and metabolic changes may to some extent be attributed to the thyroid stimulating effect of khatamines. However, further studies are needed to establish the mechanism of release of thyroid hormones by these compounds and their involvement in the pharmacological effects.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of intravenous and nasal bioavailability of clonidine in rodents.

The bioavailability and cardiac depressant activity of 3H-clonidine was studied following intravenous and nasal administration in rodents. The drug is rapidly absorbed by nasal route, and the peak blood concentration is reached within 10 minutes. The area under the blood concentration-time curve, following intravenous and nasal routes, was found to be 3.55 x 10(5) counts/g/min and 3.75 x 10(5) counts/g/min respectively. The drug was found to eliminate slowly from blood. The t1/2 beta, following intravenous and nasal administration, was found to be 8.8 hr and 8.0 hr respectively. Our electrocardiographic studies, to compare myocardial depression following intravenous and nasal administration of clonidine, revealed that a bolus intravenous clonidine in the dose of 10 micrograms, 30 micrograms, and 100 micrograms/kg body weight produced a significant and transient decrease in heart rate in a dose dependent manner. One rat developed arrhythmia after receiving a higher dose of 100 micrograms/kg body weight of clonidine by intravenous route. However, only a mild decrease in heart rate was observed following nasal administration of clonidine. The examination of the nasal cavity one hour after the single dose of 100 micrograms/kg body weight of clonidine in rats showed no sign of erythema, oedema or lesions. These findings suggest that the nasal route may be a good substitute for I.V. administration of clonidine.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1990

Gastric antiulcer and cytoprotective effects of dipyridamole in rats.

Dipyridamole has been studied for its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and to protect gastric mucosa against the injuries caused by hypothermic restraint stress, indomethacin and various necrotizing agents including 80% ethanol, 0.6 M HCl, 0.2 M NaOH and 25% NaCl in rats. The results of this study demonstrate that dipyridamole has both prophylactic and curative effects on various experimentally induced gastric ulcers. It produced inhibition of normal and histamine-stimulated gastric secretion in rats. The intensity of gastric lesions induced by indomethacin and hypothermic restraint stress was reduced significantly by dipyridamole. Our findings also showed that dipyridamole protect gastric wall against hypothermic restraint stress-induced mucus depletion. It produced marked cytoprotective effect against all the necrotizing agents used in this study. The cytoprotective effect of dipyridamole against 80% ethanol was reversed significantly by prior treatment with a dose of indomethacin that inhibits prostaglandin biosynthesis. These data indicate that dipyridamole inhibits the formation of gastric lesions by mucosal generation of prostaglandins. The concentration of nonprotein sulfhydryls were decreased significantly in gastric mucosa after administration of 80% ethanol. Treatment with dipyridamole replenish the reduced level of gastric mucosal nonprotein sulfhydryls, thus suggesting the mediation of its protective effect through sulfhydryls. Our findings show that dipyridamole possesses both antisecretory and antiulcer effects. Further studies are required to determine its role in the prophylaxis and or the treatment of gastric ulcer disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Comparative study of cathinone and amphetamine on brown adipose thermogenesis.

The effect of cathinone and amphetamine on brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and its modification with propranolol and timolol has been studied in rats. Both cathinone and amphetamine produced significant dose dependent increases in intracapsular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) and rectal temperatures. Amphetamine was found to be three times more potent as compared to cathinone, on a dose basis. Pretreatment of animals with propranolol and timolol individually inhibited cathinone and amphetamine induced hyperthermia. These findings suggest the involvement of beta adrenergic receptors in cathinone and amphetamine induced thermogenesis.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗
PubMed1989

Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum and Ammi majus on calcium oxalate urolithiasis in rats.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum seed and Ammi majus fruit on experimentally-induced kidney stones. Oxalate urolithiasis in male rats was produced by the addition of 3% glycolic acid to their diet. After 4 weeks, highly significant deposition in the kidneys was noticed and changes in water intake and body weight recorded. Daily oral treatment with T. foenum-graecum significantly decreased the quantity of calcium oxalate deposited in the kidneys thus supporting its use in Saudi folk medicine. The effects obtained by A. majus were, however, not significant.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Gastroprotective activity of ginger zingiber officinale rosc., in albino rats.

The cytoprotective and gastric anti-ulcer studies of ginger have been carried out in albino rats. Cytodestruction was produced by 80% ethanol, 0.6M HC1, 0.2M NaOH and 25% NaCl. Whereas gastric ulcers were produced by ulcerogenic agents including indomethacin, aspirin and reserpine, beside hypothermic restraint stress and by pylorus ligated Shay rat technique. The results of this study demonstrate that the extract in the dose of 500 mg/kg orally exert highly significant cytoprotection against 80% ethanol, 0.6M HC1, 0.2M NaOH and 25% NaCl induced gastric lesions. The extract also prevented the occurrence of gastric ulcers induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and hypothermic restraint stress. These observations suggest cytoprotective and anti-ulcerogenic effect of the ginger.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Studies on herbal aphrodisiacs used in Arab system of medicine.

Toxicity studies were conducted on Brassica rapa, Prunus amygdalus and Zingiber officinale, used as aphrodisiacs in Arab Medicine. During acute toxicity test observations were made for 24 h where all these plants showed no toxicity. The animals were treated for 3 months in chronic treatment. External morphological changes, visceral toxicity, haematological changes, effects on average body weight, vital organ weight, sperm contents, sperm motility and sperm abnormalities were recorded. The average body weight increase was significant in B. rapa and P. amygdalus treated animals. Haematological studies revealed reduction in WBC level in these groups. These changes were not significant in Z. officinale treated animals. In all three groups the visceral condition was normal and the percent lethality was insignificant as compared to the control. All these plant extracts significantly increased the sperm motility and sperm contents in the epididymides and vas deferens without producing any spermatotoxic effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Saudi folk medicine: phytochemical and antimicrobial screening.

Plants of 25 families, encompassing 30 species were selected on the basis of their folklore uses and literature data for the present screening. Besides phytochemical screening the plant extracts were prepared and tested for their antimicrobial activity. The result of the testing showed that about 77% of these plants exhibited some level of antibacterial activity. The most common chemical constituents found in these plants were sterols and/or triterpenes, falvonoids, alkaloids and tannins. Volatile oils, volatile bases, saponins, coumarins, anthraquinones and cardiac glycosides were also detected.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

Cyclopeptide alkaloids: further studies on mauritine-C and sativanine-C.

The 14-membered cyclopeptide alkaloid mauritine-C and the 13-membered cyclopeptide alkaloid sativanine-C were isolated from Zizyphus spinea-christi and Zizyphus sativa commonly used in the Saudi Folklor medicine. The N-formyl derivatives of these compounds were prepared and their corresponding spectral data was analyzed. Fundamental differences were observed in the mass spectrometric fragmentation of the newly formed derivatives as compared to the parent compounds mass spectrometry was found a useful tool to substantiate the fragmentation pattern proposed for these potential natural products.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

Experimental studies on antirheumatic crude drugs used in Saudi traditional medicine.

A large number of herbal drugs are used in the traditional medicine of Saudi Arabia for the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, gout and other forms of inflammation. In the present study seven of these crude drugs, namely Francoeuria crispa, Hammada elegans, Malus pumila, Ruta chalepensis, Smilax sarsaparilla, Achillea fragrantissima and Alpinia officinarum were tested against carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in rats. The plant materials were extracted with 96% ethanol. The dried extract was dissolved in water for pharmacological testing. The rats were administered an oral dose of 500 mg/kg body weight of each extract 1 h prior to production of inflammation by carrageenan injection (0.05 ml of 1% carrageenan suspension in the planter aponeurosis of the right hind foot). The paw volume was measured at 0,2,3 and 4 h after the injection. Four of the seven plants, namely Francoeuria crispa (24%), Malus pumila (23%), Ruta chalepensis (30%) and Smilax sarsaparilla (25%), produced significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced inflammation in rats. These plants also inhibited cotton pellet-induced exudation. Further studies are suggested to isolate the active principles and for the determination of the mechanism of action of these drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Anti-inflammatory activity of Teucrium polium.

Teucrium polium is widely used by the folk-medicine practitioners in Saudi Arabia for the treatment of inflammations, rheumatism, diabetes and ulcers. Scientific reports are lacking to confirm these activities. The present study reports the effect of ethanolic extract of T. polium on carrageenan-induced acute inflammation, cotton-pellet granuloma and some of the biochemical parameters. The ethanolic extract of Teucrium polium at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight produced significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced inflammation and cotton-pellet granuloma. Biochemical studies showed a significant decrease in glucose level. The presence of flavonoids and sterols might be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of this plant. Further studies on the fractionation of the phytoconstituents, and on their mechanism of action are in progress.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Gastric anti-ulcer and cytoprotective effect of selenium in rats.

Selenium, a trace element, in the form of sodium selenite has been studied for its ability to protect the gastric mucosa against the injuries caused by hypothermic restraint stress, aspirin, indomethacin, reserpine, dimaprit, and various other gastric mucosal-damaging (necrotizing) agents in rats. The results demonstrate that oral administration of sodium selenite produces a significant inhibition of the gastric mucosal damage induced by all the procedures used in this study. Selenium, in a nonantisecretory dose, produced a marked cytoprotective effect against all the necrotizing agents. The cytoprotective effect of selenium against the effects of 80% ethanol and 0.6 M HCl was significantly reversed by prior treatment with a dose of indomethacin that inhibits prostaglandin biosynthesis. These data indicate that sodium selenite inhibits the formation of these lesions by the mucosal generation of prostaglandins. The concentrations of nonprotein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) were significantly decreased in the gastric mucosa following the administration of necrotizing agents--80% ethanol and 0.6 M HCl. Treatment with sodium selenite, which significantly reduced the intensity of gastric lesions, did not replenish the reduced levels of gastric mucosal NP-SH, thus ruling out the mediation of its protective effect through sulfhydryls. The antisecretory effect of sodium selenite, which becomes evident only in the high dose of 20 mumol/kg, may be responsible for the inhibition of gastric lesions induced by aspirin, indomethacin, reserpine, and dimaprit. Our findings show that selenium possesses significant anti-ulcer and adaptive cytoprotective effects. However, further detailed studies are required to confirm these effects, to establish its mechanism(s) of action, and to determine its role in the prophylaxis and treatment of peptic ulcer disease.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Genetic effects of chronic treatment with cathinone in mice.

The mutagenicity of (-)-cathinone has been evaluated in the germ cells of male albino mice using a dominant lethal test. An aqueous solution of cathinone was administered orally at doses of 5, 20 or 40 mg/kg body wt, respectively to three different groups of male mice for a period of six weeks. After treatment, each male was allowed to mate with two different groups of three females each, on two consecutive weeks. These females were necropsied on the 17th day after mating. The number of implants in each female and the ratio of live and dead embryos was determined. The results of this study showed that treatment of male mice over a period of 6 weeks produced a dose-dependent reduction in fertility with total sterility at a dose of 40 mg/kg body wt. Cathinone also induced dose-dependent post-implantation loss during the first week following treatment. However, no dominant lethality was detected during the second week of mating.

Alkaloids↗