The study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro thrombolytic activity, and in vivo analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic potentials of different hydrocarbon soluble extracts of Litsea glutinosa leaves for the first time widely used in the folkloric treatments in Bangladesh. This work aimed to create new insights on the fundamental mechanisms of the plant extracts involved in these activities. In thrombolytic activity assay, a significant clot disruption was observed at dose of 1 mg/mL for each of the extracts (volume 100 μL) when compared to the standard drug streptokinase. The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and crude methanolic extracts showed 32.23 ± 0.26, 37.67 ± 1.31, 43.13 ± 0.85, and 46.78 ± 0.9% clot lysis, respectively, whereas the positive control streptokinase showed 93.35 ± 0.35% disruption at the dose of 30,000 I.U. In hot plate method, the highest pain inhibitory activity was found at a dose of 500 mg/kg of crude extract (15.54 ± 0.37 sec) which differed significantly (P <0.01 and P <0.001) with that of the standard drug ketorolac (16.38 ± 0.27 sec). In acetic acid induced writhing test, the crude methanolic extract showed significant (P <0.01 and P <0.001) analgesic potential at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (45.98 and 56.32% inhibition, respectively), where ketorolac showed 64.36% inhibition. In anti-inflammatory activity test, the crude methanolic extract showed significant (P <0.001) potential at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (1.51 ± 0.04 and 1.47 ± 0.03 mm paw edema, respectively), where ketorolac showed 1.64 ± 0.05 mm edema after 3 h of carrageenan injection. In antipyretic activity assay, the crude extract showed notable reduction in body temperature (32.78 ± 0.46°C) at dose of 500 mg/kg-body weight, when the standard (at dose 150 mg/kg-body weight) exerted 33.32 ± 0.67°C temperature after 3 h of administration. Our results yield that the crude hydroalcoholic extract has better effects than the other in all trials. In the context, it can be said that the leaves of L. glutinosa possess remarkable pharmacological effects, and justify its traditional use as analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and thrombolytic agent.

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) is globally deemed a significant threat to human life. Researchers are searching for prevention strategies, mitigation interventions, and potential therapeutics that may reduce the infection’s severity. One such means that is highly being talked in online and in social media is vitamin C. Main text: Vitamin C is a robust antioxidant that boosts the immune system of the human body. It helps in normal neutrophil function, scavenging of oxidative species, regeneration of vitamin E, modulation of signaling pathways, activation of pro-inflammatory transcription factors, activation of the signaling cascade, regulation of inflammatory mediators, and phagocytosis and increases neutrophil motility to the site of infection. All of these immunological functions are required for the prevention of COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: Considering the role of vitamin C, it would be imperative to administrate vitamin C for the management of severe COVID-19. However, there is no specific clinical data available to confirm the use of vitamin C in the current pandemic.

Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that acts against a number of bacterial infections. The study was carried out to examine the in vitro quality control tests for ten leading brands of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride 500 mg tablet formulation, registered in Bangladesh by Directorate General of Drug Administration. The quality control parameters of ten different brands of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride 500 mg tablets were determined by weight variation, friability, hardness, disintegration, dissolution and assay tests. All the tablets were evaluated for conformity with United States Pharmacopoeia-National Formulary (USP-NF) and British Pharmacopoeia (BP) standards. Among ten brands of tablets Brand C had lower mean weight variation of 1.59% and Brand E had highest mean weight variation of 3.32%. For friability test Brand F had lowest mean friability (0.27%) and Brand G had highest mean friability (0.54%). Among ten brands mean lowest and highest hardness were founded in Brand G (4.49 kg/cm2) and Brand F (7.13 kg/cm2) respectively. The disintegration time for ten brands of ciprofloxacin tablet obtained were in the subsequent order: Brand G (8.19 min) < Brand C (9.25 min) < Brand E (9.61 min) < Brand D (10.11 min) < Brand B (11.07 min) < Brand A (12.15 min) < Brand H (13.68 min) < Brand I (14.59 min) < Brand J (16.32 min) < Brand F (17.49 min). Among ten brands for dissolution test mean percentages of drug release were not less than 80% in 45 min for four tablets (Brand E, 81.52%; Brand D, 86.44%; Brand G, 86.82% and Brand C, 94.12%), consequently they met BP standard and as per USP-NF standard six brands (Brand B, 75.62%; Brand A, 76.18%; Brand E, 81.52%; Brand D, 86.44%; Brand G, 86.82% and Brand C, 94.12%) had released not less than 75% drugs, so they also complied with the standard. The percentages of the drug content of the ten brands of ciprofloxacin tablet were obtained in the following sequence: Brand H (96.84%) < Brand J (97.34%) < Brand D (98.15%) < Brand I (98.47%) < Brand E (99.37%) < Brand F (100.28%) < Brand B (100.38%) < Brand A (100.54%) < Brand G (101.39%) < Brand C (101.46%). All of the brands met the BP and USP-NF specifications for assay. First-order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetics model fit for all of the mentioned ten brands. The present study revealed that all of the leading brands of this tablet met the quality control parameters as per pharmacopoeial specifications except dissolution test for four brands (Brand J, Brand H, Brand I, and Brand F).

Background and Aims: Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and MMP9 are associated with the degradation of type IV collagen, leading to invasion and metastasis. Polymorphisms in these genes could influence their biological activities and contribute to cancer development and progression. This study evaluated the relationship between MMP2 (rs2285053) and MMP9 (rs3787268) gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to breast cancer in Bangladeshi breast cancer patients.Methods: This case‐control study included 105 females diagnosed with breast cancer and 108 healthy controls. Following DNA extraction from the blood samples, genotyping was carried out by tetra‐primer amplification refractory mutation system‐polymerase chain (ARMS‐PCR) reaction and gel electrophoresis.Results: In the case of rs2285053 polymorphism, CT genotype (OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.03–4.36), dominant model (OR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.08–4.52), overdominant model (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.02–4.31), and alleles (OR = 2.13, CI = 1.08–4.18) were significantly associated with an increased breast cancer risk. For rs3787268 polymorphism, additive model 1 (OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.05–0.78), additive model 2 (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.06–0.86), and dominant model (OR = 0.22, CI = 0.06–0.81) significantly decreased breast cancer risk in this population.Conclusion: Our results conclude that MMP2 (rs2285053) is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, while MMP9 (rs3787268) polymorphisms may be correlated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in Bangladeshi females. Future studies are warranted to validate our findings in other populations.