Impact of Exposure of Chemical Fumes on Blood Pressure and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in Industrial Workers of Faisalabad

Objectives: 1. To determine the impact of duration of exposure to industrial chemical fumes on Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and blood pressure of the industrial workers. 2. To find out the association between changes in blood pressure and PEFR due to exposure to industrial chemical fumes in these subjects. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at Aziz Fatimah Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad. The study participants were 151 males working in the chemical industries. The study was approved by institutional ethical committee and informed consent was taken from the participants. Free camp was arranged for three days in September 2020 in the industrial area of Faisalabad. Thorough history of exposure to chemicals was taken using structured proforma. PEFR values were recorded using Wrights handheld peak flow meter. Blood pressure was taken by auscultatory method using mercury sphygmomanometer. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly raised with increase in duration of exposure.  PEFR levels were significantly declined with increase in duration of exposure to chemicals. Significant negative association was noted between diastolic blood pressure and PEFR (p value = 0.003). Negative correlation was observed between PEFR and systolic Blood pressure, however it was not statistically significant (p value = 0.92). Conclusions: PEFR decreased while Systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased significantly with increase in the duration of exposure to chemicals. There was a significant negative correlation between PEFR and diastolic blood pressure while there was no association between PEFR and systolic blood pressure.

Pharmacological Basis of Selected Medicinal Plants Used in Muslim Ethnobotanic Culture

Medicinal plants have been a major source of biologically active natural products and are used as medicines to cure disases in all cultures since ancient times. Cassia angustifolia (senna) and Trigonella foenum-graceum (fenugreek), are medicinal herbs, recommended by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), used in Muslim ethnobotanical culture. These herbs have traditionally been used against liver diseases, constipation, typhoid, cholera, cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, ulcer, and inflammations etc. The present study describes isolation and identification of biologically active compounds, selected based on their bioactivity, from C. angustifolia and T. foenum-graceum. The pharmacological activities; antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective and hepatoprotective effects of C. angustifolia and T. foenum-graceum were investigated from their aqueous and organic (methanol, ethanol, acetone and ethyl acetate) extracts. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, cardiac glycosides, saponins, anthraquinones, phenols and tannins in both plant extracts. Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of both plants possess antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective and hepatoprotective activities which led to the isolation and identification of active compounds. A novel compound (proposed name “Irizoflavan”) and three known flavonoids i.e. Quercimeritrin, Scutellarein, and Rutin were isolated from C. angustifolia. Two known flavonoids i.e. Amurensin and Cosmosiin were isolated from T. foenum-graecum. These compounds were isolated and reported for the first time from these plants. The present work provides basis for the in depth understanding of the molecular pathways associated with these isolated compounds and for the development of plant based drugs.