Abstract Benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed as anxiolytics, sedatives hypnotics, and muscle relaxants as well as anticonvulsants. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also the most widely used for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities. Because of the chronic nature of epilepsy, NSAIDs may be used with benzodiazepines in patients with epilepsy. Therefore, there’s a probability of an interaction of NSAIDs and benzodiazepines in clinical practice. In order to study such interactions experimentally, an animal model was used. Thus, this thesis was aimed to explore pharmacological interactions between selective and non selective NSAIDs and diazepam anticonvulsant effect. Convulsion was induced in male albino mice by picrotoxin in two different doses (6 and 8 mg/kg), NSAIDs were used according to selectivity to cyclooxygenase enzyme (COX): Aspirin at 10 mg/kg (COX-1 selective inhibitor) and Aspirin at 100 and 200 mg/kg, diclofenac 10 and 20 mg/kg (non selective COX inhibitors) and celecoxib 20 mg/kg (COX-2 selective inhibitor). Diazepam at 1 and 2 mg/kg were chosen as low doses and parameters of convulsive behavior of picrotoxin deviation. psy, NSAIDs may be used with benzodiazepines in patients with epilepsy. Therefore, there’s a probability of an interaction of NSAIDs and benzodiazepines in clinical practice. In order to study such interactions experimentally, an animal model was used. Thus, this thesis was aimed to explore pharmacological interactions between selective and non selective NSAIDs and diazepam anticonvulsant effect. Convulsion was induced in male albino mice by picrotoxin in two different doses (6 and 8 mg/kg), NSAIDs were used according to selectivity to cyclooxygenase enzyme (COX): Aspirin at 10 mg/kg (COX-1 selective inhibitor) and Aspirin at 100 and 200 mg/kg, diclofenac 10 and 20 mg/kg (non selective COX inhibitors) and celecoxib 20 mg/kg (COX-2 selective inhibitor). Diazepam at 1 and 2 mg/kg were chosen as low doses and parameters of convulsive behavior of picrotoxin were observed in this thesis: onset time, episode frequency and death occurrence within post-injection of picrotoxin for 24 hrs. Aspirin in low dose (10 mg/kg) showed protection against death to about 50%. This protection which seems to be partially effective as anticonvulsant agent, however, higher dose of Aspirin (100 mg/kg) did not produce any significant change against convulsing in mice, Aspirin 200 mg/kg showed highly significant reduction of episode frequency (P < 0.001) and decreased percent of death. Furthermore, Aspirin 200 mg/kg in combination with diazepam has potentiated the effect of diazepam to complete protection against convulsion induced by picrotoxin. With respect to diclofenac, diclofenac pretreated-mice did not show any significant effect at 10 and 20 mg/kg with picrotoxin but in combination with diazepam showed significant potentiated effect of diazepam. Moreover, COX-2 inhibitor (celecoxib) alone delayed onset of convulsion without significant influence against the control but significantly decreased episodes and percent of death. Also in combination of celecoxib and diazepam, a highly potentiation of the effect and almost complete protection against convulsion behavior were noted (P < 0.001). Thus, it can be concluded that the studied NSAIDs have anticonvulsant behavior-like activity alone and in combination with diazepam. The most profound effect of anticonvulsant activity was showed in low episodes and mortality rate. In combination with diazepam, NSAIDs have more positive potential role in diazepam anticonvulsant effect. The present findings may also suggest that NSAIDs most likely COX-2 selective inhibitor is more potentiated diazepam’s anticonvulsant activity than COX-1 selective and non-selective inhibitors and such interaction could be more likely to be pharmacodynmic type.
نجمية محمد الزواوي (2014)

The antibacterial activity of peppermint oil and different extracts of Mentha piperita against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains was evaluated in the present research work by agar well diffusion method. It was found that the distilled concentrations of essential oil inhibited the growth of microorganisms and the results were comparable with those of antibiotic gentamycin. Essential oils showed a wider spectrum of activity but less strong inhibition as compared to the investigated commercial antibiotic. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the bacterial species ranged from 0.4% to 0.7% v/v. The oil and extracts also exhibited significant antioxidant activity and the oil showed about half potency when compared to the standard BHT. These results indicated the strong antibacterial and antioxidant activities of peppermint oil but additional investigations need to be performed in order to confirm the safety of these concentrations (MIC) for human consumption. Peppermint oil could be used as a good conservation agent by inhibiting some food borne pathogens. arabic 8 English 54
Rajinder Singh, Muftah A. Shushni, Asma Belkheir(5-2015)

virus infection continues to be an important public health concern with regard to blood transfusion in Libya and in Africa. This concern is related to the screening test. Objectives: The main aim of this study to investigate the blood donors samples for HIV, HBV and HCV infections in Tripoli-Libya, North Africa during the first five months of 2015. Methods: The total of 686 blood samples obtained from healthy blood donors who attended Tripoli’s central blood bank, were tested for HBsAg, HCV and HIV using the VITROS® 3600 Immunodiagnostic System. Results: From the 686 samples examined, the frequency of HBsAg positive cases was 0.8%, the number of anti-HBc positive samples was found to be particularly high in the age group 29 and 36 years (p= 0.0001). The number of anti-HBc positive samples was found to be particularly high in the age group 30-39 years (p= 0.01). Most occupation that had positivity with anti-HBc and HBV-DNA were free workers and was less in students. Most positive cases were from east of Tripoli the capital (Tagora, Soq-Aljomaha). Conclusion: The frequency of HBsAg positive blood donors and anti-HBc among this sample was 0.8% and 0.7% respectively, which is low compared with the international findings. The current study estimated the expected exclusion rate of anti-HBc and HBsAg positive donated blood, as this would be an important factor to consider before donation. arabic 16 English 63
Basma Mohamed K Doro(9-2015)