Extracts of Neptunia prostrata Linn. ameliorates progression of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia in animal models

Background: The herb Neptunia prostrata Linn. belonging to the family Mimosaceae has been used in folkloric medicine in the North-eastern states of India of Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya by indigenous herbal healers since time immemorial but there is a scarcity of any background study documenting its use as an antimicrobial herb. For the same, plants were collected and authenticated. Methods: Following identification of these herbs methanolic, ethanolic, pet ether and chloroform extracts were prepared using soxhlation. Acute toxicity study as per OECD guidelines 420 was assessed in wistar albino rats and in swiss albino mice (n=5) of both sexes at doses of 2000 mg/kg body weight and did not reveal any morbidity or mortality in the animals within the stipulated period. Phytochemical screening was performed on all four extracts of Neptunia prostrata. Results: Phytochemical constituents depicted presence of glycoside, flavonoids in only ethanolic, methanolic and chloroform extracts. Alkaloids were present in the chloroform extract. The antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity was performed by HFD-STZ models in rats. The herbs showed antioxidant activity comparable to standard antioxidants in-vitro such as Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) with comparable IC50 values. Conclusions: Results of the antidiabetic shows immense potential in animal models and therapeutics and the antibacterial screening suggests conspicuous and potent putative role in the therapeutics of a vast plethora bacterial infections that need to be corroborated for the expansion of future prospective in vivo studies with larger sample size

Assessment on antinociceptive actions of soluble fractions derived from edible mollusc (Bellamya bengalensis Lam.)

Background: Bellamya bengalensis, an edible bivalve mollusc is traditionally used in the treatment of joint pain, bone fracture, jaundice and eye infections. Present study was designed to find out the most potent analgesic fractions derived from the body mass of Bellamya bengalensis.Methods: The test specimen was collected, identified and fractionated with solvent medium like, phosphate buffer saline (PB), ethyl acetate (EB), methanol (MB) and chloroform (CB). Protein concentration of each fraction was determined. The antinociceptive activities were measured either by thermal models like, hot plate and tail immersion (central analgesic action) or by chemical model like acetic acid induced writhing (peripheral analgesic action) in mice. Diclofenac sodium was used as analgesic standard.Results: Significant peripheral and central analgesic activity showed by phosphate buffer saline fraction at 100mg/kg, even better than diclofenac standard at 10mg/kg. In hot plate and tail immersion tests, phosphate buffer saline showed the highest activity followed by methanol, chloroform and ethyl acetate fraction respectively. However, in case of peripheral analgesic experiment, phosphate buffer fraction exhibited maximum writhing inhibitory properties and that was followed by chloroform, methanol and ethyl acetate fraction respectively.Conclusions: Phosphate buffer saline fraction of Bellamya bengalensis showed maximum potential central and peripheral analgesic activity than any other fractions

CP Violation and Sterile Neutrino

Neutrinos are the most mysterious and interesting among all elementary particles. It does not have charge and it is massless according to S.M. Recent experiments indicate that neutrinos can oscillate from one avor to another avor which indicates the fact that neutrinos have tiny mass. The determination of mixing parameter and mass of neutrino is an interesting question in high energy physics. Furthermore, neutrinos could also be related to the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe, understanding of which requires determination of CP violation in neutrino sector. In this project, I have discussed about CP violation in neutrino oscillation in 3+1 scheme and compared it with ordinary three avour oscillation. The difference between oscillation probabilities of neutrinos and anti-neutrinos leads to CP violation. I investigated CP violation in neutrino sector in vacuum and matter using 1. three ordinary neutrinos(Ve; Vp and Vr) and with 2. one sterile neutrino withthree ordinary neutrinos ( 3+1 scheme)

Perception of medical teachers towards undergraduate medical theoretical assessment system in a medical college of West Bengal

Background: With change of disease pattern and complexities of therapy globally, medical education become challenging. Problem based learning and self-directed learning became more relevant and occupied its space in medical education. Assessment is very crucial with the change in curriculum for appropriate feedback and learning in the system. Present study evaluated the perception of medical teachers on this issue of theory examination. Assessment or evaluation plays a pivotal role in effectivity of the system. Assessors always guide any system to achieve its objectives.Methods: This is an observational study, done with a questionnaire. It was done by interviewing the faculties of R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal who were examiners at University level.Results: Present study comprised faculty of fifteen undergraduate Departments of R. G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata 29.68% faculty supported semester system. 70.32% faculty participated as the study population. 48.4% agreed and 35.93% strongly agreed on the concept of model answers. A majority of the faculties (31.25%) strongly agreed on the issue that answers should be checked by two or more examiners. Regarding the threshold of pass marks, 48.4% strongly agreed and 43.75% agreed that students need to get 50% marks separately in theory examination to get through the examination.Conclusions: Present study evaluated importance of theory assessment system in medical education. It also necessitates further research to improve the objectivity of theory assessment system in medical curriculum at University level, in India

Comparative evaluation of anti-diabetic activity of fresh juice and ethanolic extract of Sunderban mangrove Rhizophora mucronata Lam. leaves in animal model

Background: Mangrove flora possess compounds with potential medicinal values with unique bioactive components. Traditionally Rhizophora mucronata, a mangrove has been used extensively for the treatment of diabetes. Studies revealed that, the leaves of Rhizophora (Bhora) had promising anti-diabetic action in rat model.Methods: A comparative analysis of the anti-diabetic action of fresh juice and ethanolic extract of Rhizophora mucronata leaves was carried out in Streptozotocin induced diabetic model and the different biochemical parameters were evaluated.Results: Present research explored a comparative analysis of the anti-diabetic action of fresh juice and ethanolic extract of leaves of Rhizophora mucronata Lam. in Streptozotocin induced diabetic model. The ethanolic extract showed more potent effect in lowering the elevated blood sugar in the diabetic rats, 200mg/kg was the most effective dose for both the extracts. The ethanol extract was more beneficial having potent lipid lowering action along with anti-hyperglycemic property.Conclusions: This supports the scientific validation for using Rhizophora mucronata leaves in the treatment of diabetes as traditional folk medicine. Identification of the bioactive molecule is under process

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory effect of beetroot extract in animal models

Background: Inflammation is complex biological response of body tissues to foreign particles or pathogens. However, adverse effects of anti-inflammatory drugs, necessitate the search for a novel compound from herbal origin. Beta vulgaris rubra or red beetroot, a vegetable plant, is known to possess various beneficial effects. Present study aimed to evaluate the anti inflammatory effect of beet roots in animal models.Methods: Carrageenan-induced and Complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced rat paw edema model were used to assess the acute and chronic anti- inflammatory potential of the Beetroot as compared to standard drug, Diclofenac Sodium.Results: Oral administration of Beetroot extract showed carrageenan-induced rat paw edema inhibition by 26.9%, 34.6% and 50% for beetroot 100mg/Kg, 200mg/Kg and 400mg/Kg, respectively, at the end of four hours. In vivo results noted that percentage inhibition of paw volume and ankle diameter of the Complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced rats were significantly higher for the groups consuming 100 and 200mg/Kg Beetroot extracts. Paw volume of the rats in these two groups reduced by 35% and 30% respectively as compared to the control.Conclusions: Thus, beetroot was found to possess anti-inflammatory property in animals. Further investigations are essential to validate the bioactive components responsible for this property

A comparative study of drug prescribing indicators in various hospitals of West Bengal, India

Background: Rational use of drugs is essential to ensure safety and welfare of patients. Thus, prescription audits are conducted to monitor the practice of writing prescriptions. Various standard parameters have been rationalized by World Health Organization (WHO) in order to regulate drug utilization, globally. Present study aimed to compare the pattern of prescriptions generated in different healthcare centres of West Bengal.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the inpatient and outpatient departments of RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, in order to evaluate the prescriptions. Literature was also surveyed with the keywords “prescription audit”, “West Bengal”, to extract data on prescription audits conducted in various other hospitals of West Bengal. The WHO prescribing indicators of all these health facilities were then compared to estimate the rationality of drug prescribed by different physicians.Results: Seven published reports of prescription audits were published from the period of 2013 to 2017, the distribution being- 2 health facilities from Kolkata, 2 from Burdwan, 1 each from Bankura, Murshidabad and North Bengal. WHO standards were not strictly followed by any of the hospitals. Polypharmacy level were higher in all the hospitals. Drugs were mostly prescribed from the essential medicine list (EML).Conclusions: Present study clearly indicated that it is essential to improve these parameters for most of the healthcare centres in order to prevent irrational use of drugs. Prescription audits should also be implemented regularly so that the patients can receive better treatment at minimum cost with suitable rational therapy

Histologic and morphometric study of human placenta in gestational diabetes mellitus

Aims: The aim was to study morphometry, site of umbilical cord insertion and histological changes in placentae of women with gestational diabetes mellitus and compare the results with those of normal pregnancies and observe the perinatal outcome. Methods: It was an observational, correlational study of 130 placenta specimens collected from labour room and operation theatre of Department of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata. The subjects were mothers who attended antenatal clinic of the hospital regularly and delivered their babies in the same hospital. Cases were selected randomly, and divided in two groups: group A consisted of mothers having normal, uncomplicated pregnancy, group B consisted of mothers whose pregnancies were complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus. Morphometry, site of umbilical cord insertion and histological changes in placentae of all women were recorded. Perinatal outcome of the cases were also registered. The statistical methods used were chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test.Results: It was observed that the placentae of diabetic mothers were significantly bigger in size, weight, volume, area, thickness, diameter and circumference than those of normal mothers. Also, in diabetic mothers, there was significant increase in villous oedema, fibrin deposition, calcification and congestion of blood vessels. These placental changes were significantly correlated with birth weights of babies. Out of 70 mothers in Group B, 65 had live births, 5 had still-born babies.Conclusions: Placentae of women with GDM showed several changes that may be associated with impaired functioning, leading to bad perinatal outcome

Phenomenology of Pseudo Dirac Neutrinos

We formulate general conditions on $3\times 3$ neutrino mass matrices under which a degenerate pair of neutrinos at a high scale would split at low scale by radiative corrections involving only the standard model fields. This generalizes the original observations of Wolfenstein on pseudo Dirac neutrinos to three generations. A specific model involving partially broken discrete symmetry and solving the solar and atmospheric anomalies is proposed. The symmetry pattern of the model naturally generates two large angles one of which can account for the large angle MSW solution to the solar neutrino problem.Comment: 15 pages LATE