1.Antimicrobial activities of the rhizome extract of Zingiber zerumbet Linn
Kader Golam ; Nikkon Farjana ; Rashid Abdur Mohammad ; Yeasmin Tanzima
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2011;(5):409-412
Objective: To investigate antimicrobial effects of ethanolic extract of Zingiber zerumbet (Z. zerumbet) (L.) Smith and its chloroform and petroleum ether soluble fractions against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Methods: The fresh rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet were extracted in cold with ethanol (4.0 L) after concentration. The crude ethanol extract was fractionated by petroleum ether and chloroform to form a suspension of ethanol extract (15.0 g), petroleum ether fraction (6.6 g) and chloroform soluble fraction (5.0 g). The crude ethanol extract and its petroleum ether and chloroform fractions were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activity against thirteen pathogenic bacteria and three fungi by the disc diffusion method. Commercially available kanamycin (30 μg/disc) was used as standard disc and blank discs impregnated with the respective solvents were used as negative control. Results: At a concentration of 400 μg/disc, all the samples showed mild to moderate antibacterial and antifungal activity and produced the zone of inhibition ranging from 6 mm to 10 mm. Among the tested samples, the crude ethanol extract showed the highest activity against Vibrio parahemolyticus (V. parahemolyticus). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the crude ethanol extract and its fractions were within the value of 128-256 μg/mL against two Gram positive and four Gram negative bacteria and all the samples showed the lowest MIC value against V. parahemolyticus (128 μg/mL). Conclusions: It can be concluded that, potent antibacterial and antifungal phytochemicals are present in ethanol extract of Z. zerumbet (L).
2.Phytoecological evaluation with detail floristic appraisal of the vegetation arround Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan.
Abdur RASHID ; Mohammad Farooq SWATI ; Hassan SHER ; Mohammad N AL-YEMENI
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2011;1(6):461-467
OBJECTIVETo determine the present status of plant communities and their possible association with the habitat in Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan.
METHODSA study on the phytoecology was conducted in various ecologically important sites of Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan from 2002 to 2004. The altitude of these sites ranged from 1 200 m to 3 200 m. Quadrat method was used for evaluation of plants communities and the data on these attributes was converted to relative values. The plant communities were named after 3 leading species with highest importance values. Biological spectrum of the flora based on the life form was prepared by following Raunkiar's life form classes.
RESULTSThe floristic composition and structure of the study area were found to be 200 species belonging to 75 families. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Poaceae were important families in the study area. The biological spectrum showed that therophytic and hemicrytophytic life form and micro-nonophyllous leaf sizes were dominant in the area. The air and soil temperatures were decreasing with increasing elevation. Both the air and soil temperatures were relatively higher in south slopes than on the northeast slopes. The vegetation analysis of the area indicated eleven plant communities around the area. The present vegetation is the relics of moist temperate coniferous forest in the area. The communities reflect highly deteriorated conditions. Both the structure and composition of the surrounding vegetation were associated with the types of habitats.
CONCLUSIONSThe conservation of the remaining populations of the reported communities will be best achieved by proper time of sustainable harvesting. It is only possible with the participation of local communities.
Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Pakistan ; Plants ; classification
3.Evaluation of the Safety and Adverse Effects of Goreisan/Wulingsan, a Traditional Japanese-Chinese Herbal Formulation (Kampo), in a Rat Model: a Toxicological Evaluation
Selim Ahmed ; Ryuichi Uchida ; Maleeha Hussain ; ARM Luthful Kabir ; Mohammed Zakiur Rahman ; Mohammad Sharifur Rahman ; Sumihisa Honda ; Mohammad Abdur Rashid
Tropical Medicine and Health 2014;42(3):127-132
Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death among children less than 5 years of age. Most of these deaths occur in developing countries in the tropical areas of Africa and South Asia. Goreisan/Wulingsan, a formula of Japanese-Chinese medicinal herbs (Kampo), has been used for the treatment of diarrhea and vomiting from ancient times in East Asia. Therefore, we planned a randomized controlled clinical trial of Goreisan/Wulingsan in Bangladeshi children. Although it is believed to be safe in East Asia, information regarding its toxicity on animals is scarce. Since Goreisan/Wulingsan has never been used in Bangladesh, it was necessary to ensure the safety of the formula in an animal experiment. Rats were assigned to a control group (normal saline, n = 4) or various Goreisan/Wulingsan groups (n = 26) receiving doses of 1 to 8 mg/g/day (7.7 to 61.5 times the recommended pediatric dose) over a period of 25 days. Their activities and health conditions were observed until they were sacrificed, after which blood samples were collected for biochemical liver function tests. The kidneys, liver and heart tissue were collected for histopathological study. No lethality was observed during the experiment. All of the rats consumed the doses completely and no constipation was observed, suggesting the absence of any inhibitory effect on intestinal motion. Also, no abnormal neurological activity was detected, nor any significant elevation of AST, ALT or ALP levels, except for AST and ALT at the highest dose of 8 mg/g/day. Histopathological studies of the kidneys, liver and heart tissues revealed no abnormalities.In conclusion, our results showed that Goreisan/Wulingsan is safe for rats, thereby justifying the use of the drug in a human trial.
4.Evaluation of the safety and adverse effects of Goreisan/Wulingsan, a traditional Japanese-Chinese herbal formulation (Kampo), in a rat model: a toxicological evaluation
Selim Ahmed ; Ryuichi Uchida ; Maleeha Hussain ; ARM Luthful Kabir ; Mohammed Zakiur Rahman ; Mohammad Sharifur Rahman ; Sumihisa Honda ; Mohammad Abdur Rashid
Tropical Medicine and Health 2014;():-
Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death among children less than 5 years of age. Most of these deaths occur in developing countries in the tropical areas of Africa and South Asia. Goreisan/Wulingsan, a formula of Japanese-Chinese medicinal herbs (Kampo), has been used for the treatment of diarrhea and vomiting from ancient times in East Asia. Therefore, we planned a randomized controlled clinical trial of Goreisan/Wulingsan in Bangladeshi children. Although it is believed to be safe in East Asia, information regarding its toxicity on animals is scarce. Since Goreisan/Wulingsan has never been used in Bangladesh, it was necessary to ensure the safety of the formula in an animal experiment. Rats were assigned to a control group (normal saline, n=4) or various Goreisan/Wulingsan groups (n=26) receiving doses of 1 to 8 mg/g/day (7.7 to 61.5 times the recommended pediatric dose) over a period of 25 days. Their activities and health conditions were observed until they were sacrificed, after which blood samples were collected for biochemical liver function tests. The kidneys, liver and heart tissue were collected for histopathological study. No lethality was observed during the experiment. All of the rats consumed the doses completely and no constipation was observed, suggesting the absence of any inhibitory effect on intestinal motion. Also, no abnormal neurological activity was detected, nor any significant elevation of AST, ALT or ALP levels, except for AST and ALT at the highest dose of 8 mg/g/day. Histopathological studies of the kidneys, liver and heart tissues revealed no abnormalities. In conclusion, our results showed that Goreisan/Wulingsan is safe for rats, thereby justifying the use of the drug in a human trial.
5.Antimicrobial activities of the rhizome extract of Zingiber zerumbet Linn.
Golam KADER ; Farjana NIKKON ; Mohammad Abdur RASHID ; Tanzima YEASMIN
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2011;1(5):409-412
OBJECTIVETo investigate antimicrobial effects of ethanolic extract of Zingiber zerumbet (Z. zerumbet) (L.) Smith and its chloroform and petroleum ether soluble fractions against pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
METHODSThe fresh rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet were extracted in cold with ethanol (4.0 L) after concentration. The crude ethanol extract was fractionated by petroleum ether and chloroform to form a suspension of ethanol extract (15.0 g), petroleum ether fraction (6.6 g) and chloroform soluble fraction (5.0 g). The crude ethanol extract and its petroleum ether and chloroform fractions were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activity against thirteen pathogenic bacteria and three fungi by the disc diffusion method. Commercially available kanamycin (30 µg/disc) was used as standard disc and blank discs impregnated with the respective solvents were used as negative control.
RESULTSAt a concentration of 400 µg/disc, all the samples showed mild to moderate antibacterial and antifungal activity and produced the zone of inhibition ranging from 6 mm to 10 mm. Among the tested samples, the crude ethanol extract showed the highest activity against Vibrio parahemolyticus (V. parahemolyticus). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the crude ethanol extract and its fractions were within the value of 128-256 µg/mL against two Gram positive and four Gram negative bacteria and all the samples showed the lowest MIC value against V. parahemolyticus (128 µg/mL).
CONCLUSIONSIt can be concluded that, potent antibacterial and antifungal phytochemicals are present in ethanol extract of Z. zerumbet (L).
Anti-Infective Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; Ethanol ; Fungi ; drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Zingiberaceae ; chemistry
6.Bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance patterns in children with urinary tract infection in a Malaysian tertiary hospital
Noor Shafina Mohd Nor ; Nor Azizah Abu ; Mohammad Abdur Rashid ; Faisal Mohd Fadzli ; Mohamad Ikhsan Selamat ; Hafizah Zainuddin ; Anis Siham Zainal Abidin ; Wan Jazilah Wan Ismail ; Raja Khuzaiah Raja Abdul Razak
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2015;70(3):153-157
SUMMARY
Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common
bacterial infection affecting children and therefore, prompt
recognition and accurate antimicrobial management are
vital to prevent kidney damage. This study aims to
determine the bacterial pathogens and their patterns of
antimicrobial resistance in children presenting with UTI.
Methods: A retrospective study of 721 cases, involving
children between the ages of 1-day old to 13 years old with
culture-proven UTI in Selayang Hospital, Malaysia between
January 2007 and December 2011. The bacterial pathogens
and antibiotic resistance patterns in the total population,
prophylaxis and no prophylaxis groups were studied.
Results: The 3 most common organisms isolated in the total
population were E.Coli (41.6%), Klebsiella spp. (21.2%) and
Enterococcus spp. (11.0%). With regards to the antibiotic
resistance, E.Coli resistance rates to ampicillin, cefuroxime
and gentamicin were 67.7%, 15.3% and 7.3% respectively.
Ampicillin-resistance was also highest in Klebsiella spp.
(84.3%), Enterococcus spp. (15.5%) and Proteus spp.
(55.5%).
Conclusion: E.coli remains to be the leading bacterial
pathogen causing UTI in children, with ampicillin-resistance
occurring in more than half of these cases. Therefore,
accurate choice of antibiotics is important to ensure optimal
outcome. In our study, cefuroxime and gentamicin have
lower antibiotic resistance rates and can be used in the
treatment of UTI in children.
Urinary Tract Infections