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Background: Melilotus officinalis Linn. (Fabaceae) historically has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes. Despite the popular medicinal utilization, still no conclusive study has been reported so far regarding the pharmacognostical standardization. Aim: Thus, the present study was focused to scientifically establish a standard monograph of M. officinalis on the basis of pharmacognostical parameters. Material and methods: The detailed macroscopic and qualitative as well as quantitative microscopic characters of M. officinalis were analyzed. Results: The morphological characters of M. officinalis were established. The transverse section of leaf shows lamina with single layered epidermis, anomocytic stomata, mesophyll, midrib with single layered epidermis and vascular strands were present in lamina. Stem contains single layered epidermis, cortex with several layers, phloem, xylem and starch grains. Root shows the presence of cork, phloem, xylem and starch grains. The powder characteristics of M. officinalis revels the presence of Epidermis, stomata, cork, parenchyma, mesophyll, fibers, spiral and pitted xylem vessels. The quantitative microscopy of leaf of M. officinalis reveals Stomatal number Upper surface

A new, simple, specific, accurate and precise reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed for the determination of levofloxacin in rat plasma and saliva was developed. An HPLC system based on a Phenomenex Luna C 18 Column (250 × 4.6 mm) and a UV detector ( = 296 nm) were used. A mixture of Acetonitrile: water (80:20 v/v) adjusted to pH 3.5 by orthophosphoric acid at a flow rate of 1.4 ml/min was used as mobile phase. The proteins were precipitated with methanol. The average recovery was 94.79 and 92.66%, respectively in plasma and saliva. The detection limit for levofloxacin in plasma and saliva was 1 µg/ml. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 1 to 16 µ µ µ µg/ml for plasma and saliva. The inter-day and intra-day assay coefficients of variation were found to be less than 5%. The present validated method was successfully used for pharmacokinetic studies of levofloxacin in plasma and saliva.

Present study deals with the investigation of beneficial effects of different fraction of Melilotus officinalis (M. officinalis) on the toxic effects of iron on different blood parameters in iron overloaded sprague dawley rats. The six IP injections of iron dextran (12.5 mg/100g) were administered uniformly over a period of 30 days to induce iron overload. Different fractions of M. officinalis were given orally and Deferoxamine (DFO) subcutaneously for 30 days. The blood parameters were estimated on 15th and 30th day of treatment. Rats exposed to iron showed significant (p < 0.01) decrease in RBC counts, Total and Differential WBC counts and Platelet counts. This indicates that excess of iron in iron overloaded disease can leads to bone marrow suppression. The animals treated with methanolic fraction of methanolic extract (MFME) and methanolic fraction of aqueous extract (MFAE) of M. officinalis shows significant (P<0.01) improvement in haematological parameters as compared to disease control (DC) rats. Greater beneficial effects were observed on 30th day and at higher dose (300 mg/kg) as compared to 15th day and at lower dose (150 mg/kg). These results suggested that M. officinalis have beneficial effects on blood parameters in iron intoxicated rats.

Background: Epilobium hirsutum Linn. (Onagraceae) is used widely as traditional medicine for its various medicinal values. Despite the popular utilization of this plant, still no conclusive study has been reported so far regarding the pharmacognostical standardization. Aim: Thus, the present study was aimed to scientifically establish a standard monograph of E. hirsutum on the basis of pharmacognostical aspects. Material and methods: Macroscopic, qualitative and quantitative microscopic characters of E. hirsutum were analyzed. Results: The diagnostic characters of the E. hirsutum were evaluated based on the macroscopical and microscopical characters. Conclusion: The obtained qualitative and quantitative standards will provide referential information for correct identification, purity, standardization and preparation of monograph of E. hirsutum.