Md Rashedul Islam | Cukurova University (original) (raw)

Papers by Md Rashedul Islam

Research paper thumbnail of Ethnomedicinal practices of a folk medicinal practitioner in Pabna district, Bangladesh

World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3(12): 73-85, Dec 1, 2014

Background: Folk medicine forms the primary tier of health-care practices in Bangladesh. The obje... more Background: Folk medicine forms the primary tier of health-care practices in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to document the medicinal uses of plants by a folk medicinal practitioner (Kaviraj) of Pabna district, Bangladesh. Methods: Interviews of the Kaviraj were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. Results: The Kaviraj used 29 plants distributed into 22 families in his formulations. The formulations were used to treat diverse diseases like respiratory tract disorders, leucorrhea, depression, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders, pain, fever, burns, infertility, and cuts and wounds. Conclusion: The study suggests that the medicinal plants used by the Kaviraj of Pabna district needs to be scientifically studied towards discovery of useful drugs.

Research paper thumbnail of Folk medicinal uses of some plants in Tangail district, Bangladesh

Background Folk medicine is an important feature of traditional medicinal practices in Bangladesh... more Background Folk medicine is an important feature of traditional medicinal practices in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to document the medicinal uses of plants by a folk medicinal practitioner (Kaviraj) of Tangail district, Bangladesh. Methods Interviews of the Kaviraj were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. Results The Kaviraj used 12 plants distributed into 12 families in his formulations. Available ethnomedicinal and scientific reports show that the plants used by the Kaviraj can be validated in their uses on the basis of either ethnomedicinal consensus or pharmacological activity studies. Conclusion The study suggests that the medicinal plants used by the Kaviraj of Tangail district merit scientific attention towards new drug discoveries.

Research paper thumbnail of Antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity evaluation of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes anguina fruits in Swiss Albino mice

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 8(8): 70-74, Jun 27, 2014

The methanolic extract of Trichosanthes anguina fruits was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic an... more The methanolic extract of Trichosanthes anguina fruits was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive potentials in Swiss albino mice. Antihyperglycemic activity was evaluated through oral glucose tolerance tests in glucose-loaded mice, while antinociceptive potential was evaluated in pain model mice, where pain was induced through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid, resulting in pain and concomitant abdominal constrictions (writhings). In antihyperglycemic activity tests conducted with glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice, methanolic extract of fruits significantly and dose-dependently reduced blood glucose concentrations. At extract doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight mice, the percent lowering of blood sugar by the extract was, respectively, 18.9, 27.6, 35.0, and 51.4. The results were both dose-dependent and statistically significant. A standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered to glucose-loaded mice at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, reduced blood sugar levels by 55.2%. The results demonstrate that the methanolic extract possesses antihyperglycemic potential. In antinociceptive activity tests conducted with intraperitoneally administered acetic acidinduced pain model in mice, the extract at the afore-mentioned four doses dosedependently and significantly reduced the number of abdominal constrictions in mice caused by pain, respectively, by 35.3, 38.2, 41.2, and 44.1%. A standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 47.1 and 61.8%, respectively. The results thus demonstrate also significant antinociceptive potential of fruits of the plant. The results suggest that phytochemicals present in fruits deserve further scientific attention towards possible discovery of antihyperglycemic and pain-alleviating drugs.

Research paper thumbnail of Antinociceptive activity evaluation of leaves of Centella asiatica and Zizyphus mauritiana

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 8(2): 96-102, Apr 10, 2014

The antinociceptive effects of methanolic extracts of Zizyphus mauritiana and Centella asiatica l... more The antinociceptive effects of methanolic extracts of Zizyphus mauritiana and Centella asiatica leaves were studied through the intraperitoneally administered acetic acidinduced pain model in Swiss albino mice. At doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg methanolic extract of Zizyphus mauritiana leaves (MEZM) per kg body weight, MEZM caused dose-dependent and significant reductions in the number of abdominal constrictions induced in mice by intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. At the afore-mentioned four doses, the number of abdominal constrictions (writhings) was reduced, respectively, by 31.2, 46.9, 56.2, and 62.5%. A standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 34.4 and 46.9%, respectively. Thus MEZM produced antinociceptive effects and caused alleviation of pain, which was greater than that of the pain-alleviating drug, aspirin, even when the latter was used at a high dose of 400 mg per kg body weight. Methanolic extract of Centella asiatica leaves (MECA), at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg per kg body weight, caused reductions in the number of writhings, respectively, by 46.9, 50.0, 53.1, and 71.9%. Dose for dose, MECA was more effective than MEZM in alleviating pain, and both extracts demonstrated stronger potency than aspirin. Since pain is a universal problem afflicting human beings of all age groups throughout the world, the extracts even in the crude form can serve as a readily available and cheaper alternative in alleviating pain. The extracts deserve further studies for isolation and identification of the responsible bioactive components responsible for the observed antinociceptive effects.

Research paper thumbnail of Antihyperglycemic activity of methanolic extract of Litsea monopetala (Roxb.) Pers. leaves

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 8(1): 51-55, Apr 1, 2014

The antihyperglycemic activity of methanolic extract of Litsea monopetala leaves was evaluated th... more The antihyperglycemic activity of methanolic extract of Litsea monopetala leaves was evaluated through oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) in glucose-loaded mice. Administration of crude extract to mice at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg per kg body weight led to dose-dependent and statistically significant reductions in the levels of blood sugar in mice. At these four doses, the percent reductions in blood sugar levels were, respectively, 42.1, 46.5, 50.1, and 52.7. In comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight led to 61.0% reductions in blood sugar levels in glucose-loaded mice. The results demonstrate that the crude extract of Litsea monopetala leaves have antihyperglycemic potential and can be considered to be potential sources of drugs to control blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity of methanolic extract of Luffa acutangula fruits

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 7(5): 435 - 441, Feb 15, 2014

The methanolic extract of Luffa acutangula fruits was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic and ant... more The methanolic extract of Luffa acutangula fruits was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive potentials in Swiss albino mice. Antihyperglycemic activity was evaluated through oral glucose tolerance tests in glucose-loaded mice, while antinociceptive potential was evaluated in gastric pain model mice, where pain was induced through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid, resulting in pain and concomitant abdominal constrictions. In antihyperglycemic activity tests conducted with glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice, methanolic extract of fruits significantly and dose-dependently reduced blood sugar concentrations. At extract doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight mice, the percent lowering of blood sugar by the extract was, respectively, 38.5, 39.6, and 41.8. The results were both dose-dependent and statistically significant. At a lower extract dose of 50 mg per kg body weight, the extract reduced blood sugar concentrations by 13.1%, but the results were not statistically significant. A standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered to glucose-loaded mice at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, reduced blood sugar levels by 41.3%. The results demonstrate that the methanolic extract possesses antihyperglycemic potential. In antinociceptive activity tests conducted with intraperitoneally administered acetic acid-induced gastric pain model in mice, the extract at the afore-mentioned four doses dose-dependently reduced the number of abdominal constrictions in mice caused by the gastric pain, respectively, by 46.7, 50.0, 53.3, and 63.3%. The results were statistically significant at all doses of the extract. A standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 36.7 and 56.7%, respectively. The results thus demonstrate also significant antinociceptive potential of fruits of the plant, which was greater than the standard drug, aspirin (200 mg per kg body weight), at all the doses of the extract tested. The results suggest that phytochemicals present in fruits deserve further scientific attention towards possible discovery of antihyperglycemic and pain-alleviating drugs.

Research paper thumbnail of A review on a Mangrove species from the Sunderbans, Bangladesh: Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Roxb.

American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 7(5): 356-372, Dec 15, 2013

Barringtonia racemosa is considered a mangrove associated species and found in various regions of... more Barringtonia racemosa is considered a mangrove associated species and found in various regions of Southeast and East Asia, as well as Micronesian and Polynesian islands and northern Australia. Important chemicals that have been found in the plant include betulinic acid, ellagic acid, gallic acid, germanicol, germanicone, lupeol, stigmasterol and taraxerol. Antibacterial, antifungal and antinociceptive activities have been reported for extracts from the plant. Traditional medicine practices include the whole plant as a remedy for itch; the roots are considered to be antimalarial, the bark and/or leaves are used in case of boils, snake bites, rat poisonings, gastric ulcer, high blood pressure, chicken pox and as a depurative, the fruits are used as remedy for cough, asthma and diarrhea, while the seeds are used for cancer like diseases and for eye inflammation.

Research paper thumbnail of A review on a mangrove species from the Sunderbans, Bangladesh: Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam. (Rhizophoraceae)

American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 7(5): 340-355, Dec 15, 2013

Bruguiera gymnorrhiza is widely distributed around the world, being found in tropical south and e... more Bruguiera gymnorrhiza is widely distributed around the world, being found in tropical south and east Africa, southeastern Asia, Micronesia, Polynesia, Australia and Ryuku Islands. The bark is used as an abortifacient and for treating burns in the Solomon Islands and is used for malaria and diarrhea in Cambodia and in Indonesia and China respectively, and cure fish poisoning (Marshall Islands). Elsewhere the fruit is used to treat eye problems, and scrapped skin of the fruit to stop bleeding. Important chemicals found in the plant include bruguierin A, brugierol and isobrugierol, lupeol, beta-sitosterol, as well as ent-kaurane diterpenoids, gibberelins, steviol, apiculol and beta-amyrin.

Research paper thumbnail of Antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity evaluation of ‘Khoyer’ prepared from boiling the wood of Acacia catechu in water

African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 10(4): 1‐5, May 16, 2013

'Khoyer' is prepared by boiling the wood of Acacia catechu in water and then evaporating the resu... more 'Khoyer' is prepared by boiling the wood of Acacia catechu in water and then evaporating the resultant brew. The resultant hard material is powdered and chewed with betel leaves and lime with or without tobacco by a large number of the people of Bangladesh as an addictive psycho-stimulating and euphoria-inducing formulation. There are folk medicinal claims that khoyer helps in the relief of pain and is also useful to diabetic patients to maintain normal sugar levels. Thus far no scientific studies have evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive effects of khoyer. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible glucose tolerance efficacy of methanolic extracts of khoyer using glucose-induced hyperglycemic mice, and antinociceptive effects with acetic acid-induced gastric pain models in mice. In antihyperglycemic activity tests, the extract at different doses was administered one hour prior to glucose administration and blood glucose level was measured after two hours of glucose administration (p.o.) using glucose oxidase method. The statistical data indicated the significant oral hypoglycemic activity on glucose-loaded mice at all doses of the extracts tested. Maximum anti-hyperglycemic activity was shown at 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was less than that of a standard drug, glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight). In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract also demonstrated a dose-dependent significant reduction in the number of writhing induced in mice through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. Maximum antinociceptive activity was observed at a dose of 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was greater than that of a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at a dose of 400 mg per kg body weight. The results validate the folk medicinal use of the plant for reduction of blood sugar in diabetic patients, as well as the folk medicinal use for alleviation of pain.

Research paper thumbnail of  Antinociceptive activity studies with methanol extract of  Annona reticulata  L. (Annonaceae) and Carissa carandas  L. (Apocynaceae) leaves in Swiss albino mice

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(8): 1313-1318, Feb 15, 2012

The antinociceptive effect of methanolic extract of Annona reticulata and Carissa carandas leaves... more The antinociceptive effect of methanolic extract of Annona reticulata and Carissa carandas leaves were studied in acetic acid-induced gastric pain model in Swiss albino mice. Extract of leaves of both plants exhibited dose-dependent and significant antinociceptive activity and decreased the number of writhings induced by intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid in mice. At doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg extract per kg body weight, methanolic extract of leaves of Carissa carandas reduced the number of writhings by 40.9, 42.8, 59.2 and 61.2%, respectively. These results compare favorably with that of the standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, which when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 51.0 and 73.4%, respectively. Methanolic extract of leaves of Annona reticulata, when administered at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg extract per kg body weight reduced the number of writhings, respectively, by 47.0, 55.1, 67.3, and 69.4%. The results suggest that leaves of both plants contain constituent(s) with strong antinociceptive activity and as such leaves of both plants merit further scientific studies for isolation of antinociceptive components leading to discovery of possibly novel and more efficacious pain-killing drugs. Pain is a common affliction of human beings and can arise from many causes. Standard pain-killing drugs like aspirin and paracetamol suffer from the problem of inducing gastric ulceration or hepatotoxicity from overdose or prolonged use. As such, newer and more efficacious painkillers can prove to be highly beneficial to human beings.

Research paper thumbnail of Antihyperglycemic studies with methanol extract of Annona reticulata L. (Annonaceae) and Carissa carandas L. (Apocynaceae) leaves in Swiss Albino mice

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(2): 218-222, Aug 15, 2011

Annona reticulata L. (Annonaceae) and Carissa carandas L. (Apocynaceae) are two fruit trees commo... more Annona reticulata L. (Annonaceae) and Carissa carandas L. (Apocynaceae) are two fruit trees commonly found throughout Bangladesh. Plant parts of Annona reticulata are used in the folk medicinal system of Bangladesh for treatment of epilepsy, toothache, tumor, fever and dysentery, while plant parts of Carissa carandas are used for treatment of epilepsy, malaria, fever, dysentery and diabetes. As part of our ongoing studies on antihyperglycemic activity evaluation in medicinal plants of Bangladesh, the objective of the present study was to determine whether leaves of these two plants have antihyperglycemic activity as determined through oral glucose tolerance tests in glucose-loaded mice. The methanol extract of leaves of Carissa carandas, when administered at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg per kg body weight to glucose-loaded mice demonstrated dose-dependent weak antihyperglycemic activity. The percent reductions in serum glucose concentrations at these three doses were, respectively, 15.6, 17.8 and 20.0%; the results were statistically significant only at doses of 100 and 200 mg extract per kg body weight. However, at a dose of 400 mg extract per kg body weight, serum glucose concentration fell by 47.8%. This reduction compares favorably with serum glucose level reduction (43.5%) obtained following administration of the standard antihyperglycemic drug,glibenclamide at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight. On the contrary, the methanol extract of leaves of Annona reticulata, when administered to glucose-loaded mice exhibited dose-dependent and statistically significant strong antihyperglycemic activity when administered at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight. At these concentrations, serum glucose levels were reduced, respectively, by 34.8, 37.0, 49.6 and 56.1%. From the results obtained in the present study, it can be concluded that leaves of both plants possess phytochemical(s), which can prove useful in lowering blood sugar and so can be beneficial in the treatment of diabetic patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Folk medicinal practices in Vasu Bihar village, Bogra district, Bangladesh

American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 4(1): 86-93, Jun 15, 2010

Bangladesh has over 86,000 villages spread throughout the country. The primary health-care provid... more Bangladesh has over 86,000 villages spread throughout the country. The primary health-care providers of the village inhabitants are usually folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) since the villagers either lack access to modern medical facilities or cannot afford the price of modern medicines. Kavirajes rely on simple preparations of medicinal plants for treatment; the use of medicinal plants can vary widely between Kavirajes of different villages. We conducted an ethnomedicinal survey among the Kavirajes of Vasu Bihar village located within Bogra district, Bangladesh to know about the folk medicinal practices of the village Kavirajes. Following obtaining informed consent from the Kavirajes, interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. All medicinal plants as pointed out by the Kavirajes were collected and identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium. It was observed that the Kavirajes of Vasu Bihar village utilized 53 plant species distributed into 31 families for treatment of various ailments. The Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, and the Fabaceae families contributed four plants per family followed by the Rutaceae family with three plant species. 11 plants were used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, 6 for pain, and 5 plants for skin disorders, indicating that these are possibly the most common ailments prevalent within the village. Interestingly, the Kavirajes used 3 plants for treatment of cancers or tumors and 3 plants for treatment of diabetes, which are either incurable diseases or not completely cured with modern allopathic medicine. Leaves constituted 45.1% of total uses, followed by fruits (14.1%). Other plant parts used by the Kavirajes included whole plant, stem, shoot, root, flower, fruit, seed, bark, and rhizome. The folk medicinal use of plants offers tremendous potential for scientists to conduct further research on these plants to discover lead compounds and more efficacious drugs.

Conference Presentations by Md Rashedul Islam

Research paper thumbnail of Ethnomedicinal survey of Vasu Bihar area in Shibganj upazilla, Bogra district, Bangladesh

Book of Proceedings and Abstracts: ISBT 2008, Dec 28, 2008

The rural population of Bangladesh primarily relies on traditional medicinal practitioners known ... more The rural population of Bangladesh primarily relies on traditional medicinal practitioners known as Kavirajes for treatment of various ailments. Each Kaviraj possess considerable knowledge of medicinal plants as well as mixture of several plants are used to prepare formulations for treatment of diverse ailments. Since the formulations can differ between Kavirajes, we conducted an ethnomedicinal survey of Vasu Bihar area of Shibganj Upazilla in Bogra district, Bangladesh to collect information on medicinal plants used for treatment of different ailments. Interviews of Kavirajes were conduct using a semi-structured questionnaire and plants as pointed out by the Kavirajes were photographed and herbarium specimens identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium. The names of 53 plants distributed into 31 families were obtained from the local Kavirajes. These plants included Justicia gendarussa, Amaranthus spinosus, Polyalthia longifolia, Centella asiatica, Calotropis gigantea, Hemidesmus indicus, Blumea lacera, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium, Enydra fluctuans, Wedelia chinensis, Basella alba, Bombax ceiba, Cuscuta reflexa, Kalanchoe pinnata, Diospyros peregrina, Croton bonplandianum, Emblica officinalis, Phyllanthus reticulatus, Ricinus communis, Dolichos lablab, Saraca indica, Senna tora, Tamarindus indica, Curculingo orchioides, Leucas aspera, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Lagestroemia spectosa, Punica granatum, Abelmoschus esculentus, Hibiscus rosa sinensis, Azadirachta indica, Swietenia mahagoni, Ficus benghalensis, Moringa oleifera, Musa sapientum, Olea europaea, Jasminum sambac, Piper longum, Bambusa bambos, Cynodon dactylon, Polygonum hydropiper, Anthocephalus chinensis, Randia dumetorum, Aegle marmelos, Citrus aurantium, Glycosmis pentaphylla, Abroma augusta, Datura stramonium, Solanum surattense, Grewia subinaequalis, Clerodendrum viscosum, Vitex negundo and Curcuma longa. The various ailments treated included debility, gastrointestinal disorders, gout, hepatitis, skin diseases, asthma and other respiratory disorders, diabetes, hypertension, helminthiasis, paralysis, tumor, cancer, eye infections, wounds, malaria, headache, and tooth pain. A number of plants were also used as sex stimulants, for blackening of hair, and as antidote to poison.

Research paper thumbnail of Ethnomedicinal practices of a folk medicinal practitioner in Pabna district, Bangladesh

World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3(12): 73-85, Dec 1, 2014

Background: Folk medicine forms the primary tier of health-care practices in Bangladesh. The obje... more Background: Folk medicine forms the primary tier of health-care practices in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to document the medicinal uses of plants by a folk medicinal practitioner (Kaviraj) of Pabna district, Bangladesh. Methods: Interviews of the Kaviraj were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. Results: The Kaviraj used 29 plants distributed into 22 families in his formulations. The formulations were used to treat diverse diseases like respiratory tract disorders, leucorrhea, depression, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders, pain, fever, burns, infertility, and cuts and wounds. Conclusion: The study suggests that the medicinal plants used by the Kaviraj of Pabna district needs to be scientifically studied towards discovery of useful drugs.

Research paper thumbnail of Folk medicinal uses of some plants in Tangail district, Bangladesh

Background Folk medicine is an important feature of traditional medicinal practices in Bangladesh... more Background Folk medicine is an important feature of traditional medicinal practices in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to document the medicinal uses of plants by a folk medicinal practitioner (Kaviraj) of Tangail district, Bangladesh. Methods Interviews of the Kaviraj were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. Results The Kaviraj used 12 plants distributed into 12 families in his formulations. Available ethnomedicinal and scientific reports show that the plants used by the Kaviraj can be validated in their uses on the basis of either ethnomedicinal consensus or pharmacological activity studies. Conclusion The study suggests that the medicinal plants used by the Kaviraj of Tangail district merit scientific attention towards new drug discoveries.

Research paper thumbnail of Antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity evaluation of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes anguina fruits in Swiss Albino mice

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 8(8): 70-74, Jun 27, 2014

The methanolic extract of Trichosanthes anguina fruits was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic an... more The methanolic extract of Trichosanthes anguina fruits was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive potentials in Swiss albino mice. Antihyperglycemic activity was evaluated through oral glucose tolerance tests in glucose-loaded mice, while antinociceptive potential was evaluated in pain model mice, where pain was induced through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid, resulting in pain and concomitant abdominal constrictions (writhings). In antihyperglycemic activity tests conducted with glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice, methanolic extract of fruits significantly and dose-dependently reduced blood glucose concentrations. At extract doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight mice, the percent lowering of blood sugar by the extract was, respectively, 18.9, 27.6, 35.0, and 51.4. The results were both dose-dependent and statistically significant. A standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered to glucose-loaded mice at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, reduced blood sugar levels by 55.2%. The results demonstrate that the methanolic extract possesses antihyperglycemic potential. In antinociceptive activity tests conducted with intraperitoneally administered acetic acidinduced pain model in mice, the extract at the afore-mentioned four doses dosedependently and significantly reduced the number of abdominal constrictions in mice caused by pain, respectively, by 35.3, 38.2, 41.2, and 44.1%. A standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 47.1 and 61.8%, respectively. The results thus demonstrate also significant antinociceptive potential of fruits of the plant. The results suggest that phytochemicals present in fruits deserve further scientific attention towards possible discovery of antihyperglycemic and pain-alleviating drugs.

Research paper thumbnail of Antinociceptive activity evaluation of leaves of Centella asiatica and Zizyphus mauritiana

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 8(2): 96-102, Apr 10, 2014

The antinociceptive effects of methanolic extracts of Zizyphus mauritiana and Centella asiatica l... more The antinociceptive effects of methanolic extracts of Zizyphus mauritiana and Centella asiatica leaves were studied through the intraperitoneally administered acetic acidinduced pain model in Swiss albino mice. At doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg methanolic extract of Zizyphus mauritiana leaves (MEZM) per kg body weight, MEZM caused dose-dependent and significant reductions in the number of abdominal constrictions induced in mice by intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. At the afore-mentioned four doses, the number of abdominal constrictions (writhings) was reduced, respectively, by 31.2, 46.9, 56.2, and 62.5%. A standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 34.4 and 46.9%, respectively. Thus MEZM produced antinociceptive effects and caused alleviation of pain, which was greater than that of the pain-alleviating drug, aspirin, even when the latter was used at a high dose of 400 mg per kg body weight. Methanolic extract of Centella asiatica leaves (MECA), at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg per kg body weight, caused reductions in the number of writhings, respectively, by 46.9, 50.0, 53.1, and 71.9%. Dose for dose, MECA was more effective than MEZM in alleviating pain, and both extracts demonstrated stronger potency than aspirin. Since pain is a universal problem afflicting human beings of all age groups throughout the world, the extracts even in the crude form can serve as a readily available and cheaper alternative in alleviating pain. The extracts deserve further studies for isolation and identification of the responsible bioactive components responsible for the observed antinociceptive effects.

Research paper thumbnail of Antihyperglycemic activity of methanolic extract of Litsea monopetala (Roxb.) Pers. leaves

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 8(1): 51-55, Apr 1, 2014

The antihyperglycemic activity of methanolic extract of Litsea monopetala leaves was evaluated th... more The antihyperglycemic activity of methanolic extract of Litsea monopetala leaves was evaluated through oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) in glucose-loaded mice. Administration of crude extract to mice at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg per kg body weight led to dose-dependent and statistically significant reductions in the levels of blood sugar in mice. At these four doses, the percent reductions in blood sugar levels were, respectively, 42.1, 46.5, 50.1, and 52.7. In comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight led to 61.0% reductions in blood sugar levels in glucose-loaded mice. The results demonstrate that the crude extract of Litsea monopetala leaves have antihyperglycemic potential and can be considered to be potential sources of drugs to control blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity of methanolic extract of Luffa acutangula fruits

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 7(5): 435 - 441, Feb 15, 2014

The methanolic extract of Luffa acutangula fruits was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic and ant... more The methanolic extract of Luffa acutangula fruits was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive potentials in Swiss albino mice. Antihyperglycemic activity was evaluated through oral glucose tolerance tests in glucose-loaded mice, while antinociceptive potential was evaluated in gastric pain model mice, where pain was induced through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid, resulting in pain and concomitant abdominal constrictions. In antihyperglycemic activity tests conducted with glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice, methanolic extract of fruits significantly and dose-dependently reduced blood sugar concentrations. At extract doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight mice, the percent lowering of blood sugar by the extract was, respectively, 38.5, 39.6, and 41.8. The results were both dose-dependent and statistically significant. At a lower extract dose of 50 mg per kg body weight, the extract reduced blood sugar concentrations by 13.1%, but the results were not statistically significant. A standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered to glucose-loaded mice at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, reduced blood sugar levels by 41.3%. The results demonstrate that the methanolic extract possesses antihyperglycemic potential. In antinociceptive activity tests conducted with intraperitoneally administered acetic acid-induced gastric pain model in mice, the extract at the afore-mentioned four doses dose-dependently reduced the number of abdominal constrictions in mice caused by the gastric pain, respectively, by 46.7, 50.0, 53.3, and 63.3%. The results were statistically significant at all doses of the extract. A standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 36.7 and 56.7%, respectively. The results thus demonstrate also significant antinociceptive potential of fruits of the plant, which was greater than the standard drug, aspirin (200 mg per kg body weight), at all the doses of the extract tested. The results suggest that phytochemicals present in fruits deserve further scientific attention towards possible discovery of antihyperglycemic and pain-alleviating drugs.

Research paper thumbnail of A review on a Mangrove species from the Sunderbans, Bangladesh: Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Roxb.

American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 7(5): 356-372, Dec 15, 2013

Barringtonia racemosa is considered a mangrove associated species and found in various regions of... more Barringtonia racemosa is considered a mangrove associated species and found in various regions of Southeast and East Asia, as well as Micronesian and Polynesian islands and northern Australia. Important chemicals that have been found in the plant include betulinic acid, ellagic acid, gallic acid, germanicol, germanicone, lupeol, stigmasterol and taraxerol. Antibacterial, antifungal and antinociceptive activities have been reported for extracts from the plant. Traditional medicine practices include the whole plant as a remedy for itch; the roots are considered to be antimalarial, the bark and/or leaves are used in case of boils, snake bites, rat poisonings, gastric ulcer, high blood pressure, chicken pox and as a depurative, the fruits are used as remedy for cough, asthma and diarrhea, while the seeds are used for cancer like diseases and for eye inflammation.

Research paper thumbnail of A review on a mangrove species from the Sunderbans, Bangladesh: Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam. (Rhizophoraceae)

American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 7(5): 340-355, Dec 15, 2013

Bruguiera gymnorrhiza is widely distributed around the world, being found in tropical south and e... more Bruguiera gymnorrhiza is widely distributed around the world, being found in tropical south and east Africa, southeastern Asia, Micronesia, Polynesia, Australia and Ryuku Islands. The bark is used as an abortifacient and for treating burns in the Solomon Islands and is used for malaria and diarrhea in Cambodia and in Indonesia and China respectively, and cure fish poisoning (Marshall Islands). Elsewhere the fruit is used to treat eye problems, and scrapped skin of the fruit to stop bleeding. Important chemicals found in the plant include bruguierin A, brugierol and isobrugierol, lupeol, beta-sitosterol, as well as ent-kaurane diterpenoids, gibberelins, steviol, apiculol and beta-amyrin.

Research paper thumbnail of Antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity evaluation of ‘Khoyer’ prepared from boiling the wood of Acacia catechu in water

African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 10(4): 1‐5, May 16, 2013

'Khoyer' is prepared by boiling the wood of Acacia catechu in water and then evaporating the resu... more 'Khoyer' is prepared by boiling the wood of Acacia catechu in water and then evaporating the resultant brew. The resultant hard material is powdered and chewed with betel leaves and lime with or without tobacco by a large number of the people of Bangladesh as an addictive psycho-stimulating and euphoria-inducing formulation. There are folk medicinal claims that khoyer helps in the relief of pain and is also useful to diabetic patients to maintain normal sugar levels. Thus far no scientific studies have evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive effects of khoyer. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible glucose tolerance efficacy of methanolic extracts of khoyer using glucose-induced hyperglycemic mice, and antinociceptive effects with acetic acid-induced gastric pain models in mice. In antihyperglycemic activity tests, the extract at different doses was administered one hour prior to glucose administration and blood glucose level was measured after two hours of glucose administration (p.o.) using glucose oxidase method. The statistical data indicated the significant oral hypoglycemic activity on glucose-loaded mice at all doses of the extracts tested. Maximum anti-hyperglycemic activity was shown at 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was less than that of a standard drug, glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight). In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract also demonstrated a dose-dependent significant reduction in the number of writhing induced in mice through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. Maximum antinociceptive activity was observed at a dose of 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was greater than that of a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at a dose of 400 mg per kg body weight. The results validate the folk medicinal use of the plant for reduction of blood sugar in diabetic patients, as well as the folk medicinal use for alleviation of pain.

Research paper thumbnail of  Antinociceptive activity studies with methanol extract of  Annona reticulata  L. (Annonaceae) and Carissa carandas  L. (Apocynaceae) leaves in Swiss albino mice

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(8): 1313-1318, Feb 15, 2012

The antinociceptive effect of methanolic extract of Annona reticulata and Carissa carandas leaves... more The antinociceptive effect of methanolic extract of Annona reticulata and Carissa carandas leaves were studied in acetic acid-induced gastric pain model in Swiss albino mice. Extract of leaves of both plants exhibited dose-dependent and significant antinociceptive activity and decreased the number of writhings induced by intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid in mice. At doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg extract per kg body weight, methanolic extract of leaves of Carissa carandas reduced the number of writhings by 40.9, 42.8, 59.2 and 61.2%, respectively. These results compare favorably with that of the standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, which when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 51.0 and 73.4%, respectively. Methanolic extract of leaves of Annona reticulata, when administered at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg extract per kg body weight reduced the number of writhings, respectively, by 47.0, 55.1, 67.3, and 69.4%. The results suggest that leaves of both plants contain constituent(s) with strong antinociceptive activity and as such leaves of both plants merit further scientific studies for isolation of antinociceptive components leading to discovery of possibly novel and more efficacious pain-killing drugs. Pain is a common affliction of human beings and can arise from many causes. Standard pain-killing drugs like aspirin and paracetamol suffer from the problem of inducing gastric ulceration or hepatotoxicity from overdose or prolonged use. As such, newer and more efficacious painkillers can prove to be highly beneficial to human beings.

Research paper thumbnail of Antihyperglycemic studies with methanol extract of Annona reticulata L. (Annonaceae) and Carissa carandas L. (Apocynaceae) leaves in Swiss Albino mice

Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(2): 218-222, Aug 15, 2011

Annona reticulata L. (Annonaceae) and Carissa carandas L. (Apocynaceae) are two fruit trees commo... more Annona reticulata L. (Annonaceae) and Carissa carandas L. (Apocynaceae) are two fruit trees commonly found throughout Bangladesh. Plant parts of Annona reticulata are used in the folk medicinal system of Bangladesh for treatment of epilepsy, toothache, tumor, fever and dysentery, while plant parts of Carissa carandas are used for treatment of epilepsy, malaria, fever, dysentery and diabetes. As part of our ongoing studies on antihyperglycemic activity evaluation in medicinal plants of Bangladesh, the objective of the present study was to determine whether leaves of these two plants have antihyperglycemic activity as determined through oral glucose tolerance tests in glucose-loaded mice. The methanol extract of leaves of Carissa carandas, when administered at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg per kg body weight to glucose-loaded mice demonstrated dose-dependent weak antihyperglycemic activity. The percent reductions in serum glucose concentrations at these three doses were, respectively, 15.6, 17.8 and 20.0%; the results were statistically significant only at doses of 100 and 200 mg extract per kg body weight. However, at a dose of 400 mg extract per kg body weight, serum glucose concentration fell by 47.8%. This reduction compares favorably with serum glucose level reduction (43.5%) obtained following administration of the standard antihyperglycemic drug,glibenclamide at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight. On the contrary, the methanol extract of leaves of Annona reticulata, when administered to glucose-loaded mice exhibited dose-dependent and statistically significant strong antihyperglycemic activity when administered at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight. At these concentrations, serum glucose levels were reduced, respectively, by 34.8, 37.0, 49.6 and 56.1%. From the results obtained in the present study, it can be concluded that leaves of both plants possess phytochemical(s), which can prove useful in lowering blood sugar and so can be beneficial in the treatment of diabetic patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Folk medicinal practices in Vasu Bihar village, Bogra district, Bangladesh

American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 4(1): 86-93, Jun 15, 2010

Bangladesh has over 86,000 villages spread throughout the country. The primary health-care provid... more Bangladesh has over 86,000 villages spread throughout the country. The primary health-care providers of the village inhabitants are usually folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) since the villagers either lack access to modern medical facilities or cannot afford the price of modern medicines. Kavirajes rely on simple preparations of medicinal plants for treatment; the use of medicinal plants can vary widely between Kavirajes of different villages. We conducted an ethnomedicinal survey among the Kavirajes of Vasu Bihar village located within Bogra district, Bangladesh to know about the folk medicinal practices of the village Kavirajes. Following obtaining informed consent from the Kavirajes, interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. All medicinal plants as pointed out by the Kavirajes were collected and identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium. It was observed that the Kavirajes of Vasu Bihar village utilized 53 plant species distributed into 31 families for treatment of various ailments. The Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, and the Fabaceae families contributed four plants per family followed by the Rutaceae family with three plant species. 11 plants were used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, 6 for pain, and 5 plants for skin disorders, indicating that these are possibly the most common ailments prevalent within the village. Interestingly, the Kavirajes used 3 plants for treatment of cancers or tumors and 3 plants for treatment of diabetes, which are either incurable diseases or not completely cured with modern allopathic medicine. Leaves constituted 45.1% of total uses, followed by fruits (14.1%). Other plant parts used by the Kavirajes included whole plant, stem, shoot, root, flower, fruit, seed, bark, and rhizome. The folk medicinal use of plants offers tremendous potential for scientists to conduct further research on these plants to discover lead compounds and more efficacious drugs.

Research paper thumbnail of Ethnomedicinal survey of Vasu Bihar area in Shibganj upazilla, Bogra district, Bangladesh

Book of Proceedings and Abstracts: ISBT 2008, Dec 28, 2008

The rural population of Bangladesh primarily relies on traditional medicinal practitioners known ... more The rural population of Bangladesh primarily relies on traditional medicinal practitioners known as Kavirajes for treatment of various ailments. Each Kaviraj possess considerable knowledge of medicinal plants as well as mixture of several plants are used to prepare formulations for treatment of diverse ailments. Since the formulations can differ between Kavirajes, we conducted an ethnomedicinal survey of Vasu Bihar area of Shibganj Upazilla in Bogra district, Bangladesh to collect information on medicinal plants used for treatment of different ailments. Interviews of Kavirajes were conduct using a semi-structured questionnaire and plants as pointed out by the Kavirajes were photographed and herbarium specimens identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium. The names of 53 plants distributed into 31 families were obtained from the local Kavirajes. These plants included Justicia gendarussa, Amaranthus spinosus, Polyalthia longifolia, Centella asiatica, Calotropis gigantea, Hemidesmus indicus, Blumea lacera, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium, Enydra fluctuans, Wedelia chinensis, Basella alba, Bombax ceiba, Cuscuta reflexa, Kalanchoe pinnata, Diospyros peregrina, Croton bonplandianum, Emblica officinalis, Phyllanthus reticulatus, Ricinus communis, Dolichos lablab, Saraca indica, Senna tora, Tamarindus indica, Curculingo orchioides, Leucas aspera, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Lagestroemia spectosa, Punica granatum, Abelmoschus esculentus, Hibiscus rosa sinensis, Azadirachta indica, Swietenia mahagoni, Ficus benghalensis, Moringa oleifera, Musa sapientum, Olea europaea, Jasminum sambac, Piper longum, Bambusa bambos, Cynodon dactylon, Polygonum hydropiper, Anthocephalus chinensis, Randia dumetorum, Aegle marmelos, Citrus aurantium, Glycosmis pentaphylla, Abroma augusta, Datura stramonium, Solanum surattense, Grewia subinaequalis, Clerodendrum viscosum, Vitex negundo and Curcuma longa. The various ailments treated included debility, gastrointestinal disorders, gout, hepatitis, skin diseases, asthma and other respiratory disorders, diabetes, hypertension, helminthiasis, paralysis, tumor, cancer, eye infections, wounds, malaria, headache, and tooth pain. A number of plants were also used as sex stimulants, for blackening of hair, and as antidote to poison.