- I happened to be a Pharmacologist holding the title of Distinguished National Professor at the Aga Khan University and working on Ethnopharmacology and Functional Foodedit
... Page 3. 152 AH Gilani, F. Shaheen and SA Saeed ... Pharmacological Rev., 38, 321-416 (1984). Hoffman, BB and Lefkowitz, RJ, Catecholamines and sympathomimetic drugs, In: AD Gilman, L. S. Goodman, TW Rail and F. Murad (Eds.). ...
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The present work was carried out to provide a pharmacological base for the medicinal use of Andropogon muricatus in airways disorders, such as asthma. In isolated guinea-pig tracheal strips, the crude extract of Andropogon muricatus... more
The present work was carried out to provide a pharmacological base for the medicinal use of Andropogon muricatus in airways disorders, such as asthma. In isolated guinea-pig tracheal strips, the crude extract of Andropogon muricatus exhibited a non-specific relaxant effect against carbachol (1 µM) and high K⁺ precontractions, with EC₅₀ values of 0.10 (0.07-0.11) and 0.15 mg/mL (0.11-0.18), respectively, similar to papaverine, while verapamil was more potent against high K⁺. This suggests the involvement of a non-specific relaxant effect, mediated possibly through Ca⁺⁺ channel blockade and phosphodiesterase inhibition. The functional nature of the relaxant effect was further confirmed through indirect evidence when pretreatment of the tissues with the plant extract caused potentiation of the isoprenaline inhibitory response curves, similar to papaverine, while the effect of verapamil remained unchanged. These data indicate that the crude extract of Andropogon muricatus contains const...
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Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is traditionally used in various gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neuronal disorders. To rationalize cardamom use in constipation, colic, diarrhea, hypertension and as diuretic. Cardamom crude extract... more
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is traditionally used in various gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neuronal disorders. To rationalize cardamom use in constipation, colic, diarrhea, hypertension and as diuretic. Cardamom crude extract (Ec.Cr) was studied using in vitro and in vivo techniques. Ec.Cr caused atropine-sensitive stimulatory effect in isolated guinea-pig ileum at 3-10mg/ml. In rabbit jejunum preparations, Ec.Cr relaxed spontaneous and K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions as well as shifted Ca++ curves to right, like verapamil. Ec.Cr (3-100mg/kg) induced fall in the arterial blood pressure (BP) of anaesthetized rats, partially blocked in atropinized animals. In endothelium-intact rat aorta, Ec.Cr relaxed phenylephrine (1 microM)-induced contractions, partially antagonized by atropine and also inhibited K+ (80 mM) contractions. In guinea-pig atria, Ec.Cr exhibited a cardio-depressant effect. Ec.Cr (1-10mg/kg) produced diuresis in rats, accompanied by a saluretic effect. It enh...
Research Interests: Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Plant Biology, Ethnopharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Motility, and 19 moreHemodynamics, Mice, Blood Pressure, Female, Animals, Male, Sleep, Fruit, Digestive System, Plant extracts, Rats, Parasympatholytics, Gastrointestinal motility, Muscle contraction, Rabbits, Diuresis, Calcium Channel Blockers, Cholinergic agents, and spasm
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Research Interests: Pharmacy, Calcium, Pharmacology and Clinical pharmacy, Animals, Acetylcholine, and 14 moreCholinesterase inhibitors, Plant extracts, Rats, Parasympatholytics, Catechols, Rhizome, Ginger, Fatty Alcohols, Atropine, Alzheimer Disease, Verapamil, Molecular Structure, Calcium Channel Blockers, and Butyrylcholinesterase
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Research Interests: Drug metabolism, Medicinal Plants, Prevention, Liver diseases, Toxicity, and 20 moreMice, Animals, Male, Sleep, Artemisia, Enzyme, Plant extracts, Rats, Carbon Tetrachloride, Rat, Wistar Rats, Acetaminophen, Plant Extract, Extract, Lethal Dose, Drug Induced Liver Injury, Aspartate Aminotransferases, Pentobarbital, Alanine Transaminase, and Strychnine
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Research Interests: Life Sciences, Phytotherapy, Smooth muscle, Blood Pressure, Curcumin, and 17 moreFemale, Animals, Male, Calcium Channel, Turmeric, Jejunum, Vasoconstriction, Plant extracts, Rats, Trachea, Guinea Pig, Muscle contraction, Curcuma, Rabbits, Vasodilation, Biochemistry and cell biology, and Gastrointestinal Diseases
Research Interests: Pharmacognosy, Biological Sciences, Phytotherapy, Hemodynamics, Mice, and 18 moreBlood Pressure, Female, Animals, Calcium channels, Male, Jejunum, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Plant extracts, Rats, Trachea, Parasympatholytics, Muscle contraction, Mechanism of action, Hypericum, Rabbits, Phenylephrine, Aorta, and Verapamil
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The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and provide a pharmacological base for the medicinal use of the essential oil of Perovskia abrotanoides (Pa.Oil) in gastrointestinal disorders, such as colic. The chemical... more
The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and provide a pharmacological base for the medicinal use of the essential oil of Perovskia abrotanoides (Pa.Oil) in gastrointestinal disorders, such as colic. The chemical investigation resulted in the identification of 26 compounds, of which tricyclene, beta-trans-ocimene, terpinene-4-acetate, terpinen-4-ol, caran-3beta-ol, linalyl acetate, beta-caryophyllene oxide and alpha-elemene had not previously been reported from P. abrotanoides. Major constituents were 1,8-cineol and delta-3-carene, which constituting 50% of the oil. In the isolated rabbit jejunum preparation Pa.Oil caused inhibition of spontaneous and high K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions, with respective EC50 values of 0.13 (0.08-0.20; n = 4) and 0.90 mg/mL (0.50-1.60; n = 5), thus showing that spasmolytic activity is mediated possibly through calcium channel blockade (CCB). The CCB activity was confirmed when pre-treatment of the tissue with Pa.Oil (0.03-0....
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Background. In Pakistan, there is no mechanism to monitor the drug promotional campaign by pharmaceutical industry despite the fact that there is enough evidence that irrational pharmacotherapy is increasingly encountered even in the... more
Background. In Pakistan, there is no mechanism to monitor the drug promotional campaign by pharmaceutical industry despite the fact that there is enough evidence that irrational pharmacotherapy is increasingly encountered even in the developed countries due to unethical practices of pharmaceutical promotion. Objectives. To audit the drug promotional claims made by the pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan. Methods. Drug promotional pamphlets
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Research Interests: Calcium, Blood Pressure, Nitric oxide, Female, Animals, and 16 moreMale, Anesthesia, Arterial Blood Pressure, Plant Roots, Phenols, Plant extracts, Rats, Guinea Pig, Catechols, Ginger, Cholinergic Systems, Vascular Pharmacology, Quntitative Thin Layer Chromatography, Fatty Alcohols, Muscarinic Receptor, and Aqueous Extract
Research Interests: Diet, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Antioxidants, Smooth muscle, Hypertension, and 19 moreBlood Pressure, Female, Animals, Male, Hypercholesterolemia, Calcium Channel, Acetylcholine, Endothelial dysfunction, Vasoconstriction, Vascular, Antioxidant Activity, Plant extracts, Rats, Indexation, Vascular Pharmacology, Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), Total Cholesterol, and High fat diet
From the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga, ethyl cinnamate (EC) was isolated and its vasorelaxant effect was examined on the rat aorta. EC inhibited the tonic contractions induced by high K+ and phenylephrine (PE) in a... more
From the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga, ethyl cinnamate (EC) was isolated and its vasorelaxant effect was examined on the rat aorta. EC inhibited the tonic contractions induced by high K+ and phenylephrine (PE) in a concentration-dependent manner, with respective IC50 values of 0.30 +/- 0.05 mM and 0.38 +/- 0.04 mM. The relaxant effect against PE-induced contractions was greater in the presence of endothelium. Pre-treatment of the aorta with methylene blue and indomethacin significantly reduced the relaxant effect. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of EC may involve inhibition of Ca2+ influx into vascular cells and release of nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin from the endothelial cells. Thus, the vasorelaxant effect of EC mediated through multiple pathways may explain the traditional use of the parent plant in treating hypertension.
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1. Planta Med. 1994 Aug;60(4):377-9. A new anticholinergic steroidal alkaloid from Fritillaria imperialis of Turkish origin. Atta-ur-Rahman, Farooq A, Choudhary MI, Gilani AH, Shaheen F, Ali RA, Noor-e-ain F, Sener B. PMID: 7938275... more
1. Planta Med. 1994 Aug;60(4):377-9. A new anticholinergic steroidal alkaloid from Fritillaria imperialis of Turkish origin. Atta-ur-Rahman, Farooq A, Choudhary MI, Gilani AH, Shaheen F, Ali RA, Noor-e-ain F, Sener B. PMID: 7938275 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]. ...
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The crude extract of Achillea millefolium (Am.Cr) was studied for its possible hepatoprotective effect against d-galactosamine (d-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced hepatitis in mice and antispasmodic effect in isolated gut... more
The crude extract of Achillea millefolium (Am.Cr) was studied for its possible hepatoprotective effect against d-galactosamine (d-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced hepatitis in mice and antispasmodic effect in isolated gut preparations to rationalize some of the folklore uses. Co-administration of d-GalN (700 mg/kg) and LPS (25 microg/kg) produced 100% mortality in mice. Pre-treatment of animals with Am.Cr (300 mg/kg) reduced the mortality to 40%. Co-administration of d-GalN (700 mg/kg) and LPS (1 microg/kg) significantly raised the plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels compared with values in the control group (p < 0.05). Pre-treatment of mice with Am.Cr (150-600 mg/kg) significantly prevented the toxins induced rise in plasma ALT and AST (p < 0.05). The hepatoprotective effect of Am.Cr was further verified by histopathology of the liver, which showed improved architecture, absence of parenchymal congestion, decreased cellular swelling and apoptotic cells, compared with the toxin group of animals. In isolated rabbit jejunum preparations, Am.Cr caused a concentration-dependent (0.3-10 mg/mL) relaxation of both spontaneous and K(+)-induced contractions as well as shifting the Ca(++) concentration-response curves (CRCs) to the right, similar to that caused by verapamil. These results indicate that the crude extract of Achillea millefolium exhibits a hepatoprotective effect, which may be partly attributed to its observed calcium channel blocking activity.
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Raphanus sativus, commonly known as radish, is a food plant known worldwide for its culinary and medicinal properties especially as a laxative and abortifacient. This study reports the gastrointestinal and uterine tone modulatory... more
Raphanus sativus, commonly known as radish, is a food plant known worldwide for its culinary and medicinal properties especially as a laxative and abortifacient. This study reports the gastrointestinal and uterine tone modulatory activities of the crude extract (Rl.Cr) of radish leaves. Rl.Cr, showing the presence of saponins and alkaloids, exhibited a spasmogenic effect (0.03-10 mg/mL) in isolated rabbit jejunum, rat stomach fundus and uterus which was partially blocked by atropine. In contrast, Rl.Cr was found to be devoid of any stimulatory effect in rat ileum, instead showed an inhibitory effect (0.1 mg/mL) on the ACh dose-response curves. A mild relaxant effect was also observed in rabbit jejunum at the lower doses (0.1-0.3 mg/mL) but not against K(+)-induced contractions, ruling out a calcium channel blocking effect. In guinea-pig ileum, Rl.Cr exhibited a stimulant effect resistant to atropine while sensitive to pyrilamine pretreatment. The aqueous fraction, showing a strong presence of saponins, was found to be more efficacious than the non-polar fractions in its spasmogenic effect. This study shows the presence of species-dependent gastrointestinal effects of radish mediated partially through cholinergic receptors in rabbit and rat tissues, but through histaminergic activation in the guinea-pig, providing a scientific basis for its use in gut and uterine affections while also giving a wider picture of the activity profile of radish by using different species of animals.
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The effect of a crude extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia vulgaris (Av.Cr) was investigated against D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced hepatitis in mice. Co-administration of D-GalN (700 mg[sol ]kg) and LPS... more
The effect of a crude extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia vulgaris (Av.Cr) was investigated against D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced hepatitis in mice. Co-administration of D-GalN (700 mg[sol ]kg) and LPS (1 microg[sol ]kg) significantly (p < 0.05) raised the plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in mice in the toxin group compared with the values in the control group. Pre-treatment of mice with different doses of Av.Cr (150-600 mg[sol ]kg) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the toxin-induced rise in plasma ALT and AST. The hepatoprotective effect was further verified by histopathology of the liver, which showed improved architecture, absence of parenchyma congestion, decreased cellular swelling and apoptotic cells, compared with the findings in the toxin group of animals. These findings scientifically validated the traditional use of Artemisia vulgaris for various liver disorders.
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Research Interests: Calcium, Pharmacognosy, Diarrhea, Biological Sciences, Phytotherapy, and 17 moreSmooth muscle, Mice, Animals, Calcium Channel, Potassium, Jejunum, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Digestive System, Plant extracts, Parasympatholytics, Muscle contraction, Rabbits, Castor Oil, Mentha, Cations, Verapamil, and Calcium Channel Blockers
Research Interests: Rhizomes, Biological Sciences, Phytotherapy, Mice, Female, and 9 moreAnimals, Male, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Plant extracts, Rats, Fever, Wistar Rats, Rhizome, and Seizures
This study describes the activity-guided isolation and purification of a novel antimicrobial protein from the seed of Croton tiglium Linn. Purification was carried out by (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitation, gel filtration and DEAE-cellulose... more
This study describes the activity-guided isolation and purification of a novel antimicrobial protein from the seed of Croton tiglium Linn. Purification was carried out by (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitation, gel filtration and DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography. Antifungal and antibacterial activities were determined after each purification step. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the purified protein was a monomer with molecular mass of 50 kDa. This is a first report on purification of a protein from Croton tiglium, which possesses a strong and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity.
Research Interests: China, Pharmacognosy, Biological Sciences, Phytotherapy, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, and 11 moreCHEMICAL SCIENCES, Chine, Antibacterial activity, Isolation, Croton, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Plant extracts, Seeds, Antifungal Agents, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, and Molecular weight
The present study was undertaken in normotensive anaesthetized male rats that received a continuous perfusion of a chrysin glucoside isolated from the flowers and leaves of Calycotome villosa subsp intermedia at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg, or... more
The present study was undertaken in normotensive anaesthetized male rats that received a continuous perfusion of a chrysin glucoside isolated from the flowers and leaves of Calycotome villosa subsp intermedia at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg, or furosemide (control diuretic) at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg. Compared with the control rats receiving NaCl (0.9%), the urine flow, glomerular filtration and electrolyte excretion (Na+, K+) increased significantly in rats treated with chrysin glucoside (p < 0.001). A similar effect was observed in the rats perfused with furosemide. Intravenous injections of bolus doses (1-3 mg/kg) of the chrysin glucoside to anaesthetized rats elicited an immediate and dose-dependent decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP). Pretreatment of the rats with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, l-NOArg (10 mg/kg), reduced partially, but significantly (p < 0.01), the maximal decrease in MABP elicited by chrysin glucoside. In the rat isolated aorta preparation, chrysin glucoside (10-100 microm) inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the noradrenaline (1 microm) induced contractions (IC(50) = 52 microm). This relaxant activity of chrysin glucoside was significantly reduced by incubation of the endothelium-intact rings with l-NOArg (100 microm), (80 +/- 4.7% vs 48 +/- 5.06% in the absence of L-NOArg). In conclusion, these results demonstrate a diuretic and hypotensive action of a chrysin glucoside from Calycotome villosa in anaesthetized rats and indicating an action on renal function, and an active vascular relaxation mediated partially through nitric oxide release.
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Research Interests: Calcium, China, Pharmacognosy, Biological Sciences, Phytotherapy, and 18 moreConstipation, Female, Animals, Male, Potassium, Jejunum, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Chine, Plant extracts, Muscle contraction, Cholinergic Systems, Rabbits, Atropine, Ileum, Calcium Channel Blockers, Cholinergic agents, spasm, and Saussurea
... Arif-ullah Khan 1,2,3 , Anwarul Hassan Gilani 1 1 Natural ... phytomedicine. Acknowledgements The authors are thankful to Dr. Fazal Subhan (Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Pakistan) for supply of the plant material.... more
... Arif-ullah Khan 1,2,3 , Anwarul Hassan Gilani 1 1 Natural ... phytomedicine. Acknowledgements The authors are thankful to Dr. Fazal Subhan (Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Pakistan) for supply of the plant material. Declaration ...
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... Anwar-ul Hassan GlLANl and Khalid AFTAB * Department of Pharmacology, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi-74800, Pakistan ... Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (convolvulaceae) and is found in Ceylon, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan... more
... Anwar-ul Hassan GlLANl and Khalid AFTAB * Department of Pharmacology, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi-74800, Pakistan ... Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (convolvulaceae) and is found in Ceylon, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan (Said, 1969; Nasir and Ali, 1972). ...
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Anwar-ul Hassan GILANI', Khalid AFTAB' and Syed Waseem-uddin AHMED2 ... I Department of Pharmacology, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan Department of Pharmacognosy,... more
Anwar-ul Hassan GILANI', Khalid AFTAB' and Syed Waseem-uddin AHMED2 ... I Department of Pharmacology, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan ... The effect of crude saponins ...