Phytochemical and antipyretic potential of ethanolic leaf extract of Heliotropium indicum l.

In the present study, the ethanolic leaf extract of Heliotropium indicum L (H. indicum L) was investigated for phytochemical screening and antipyretic activity in rats using Brewer's yeast induced Pyrexia. The leaves of H. indicum were collected from different part of Assam and cut into small pieces and shade dried. The dried powdered leaves (100 gm) were extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus by using 95% ethanol. Phytochemical screening has been done by standard procedure and showed the presence of alkaloids, glycoside, carbohydrate, phytosterol, flavonoids and saponins and absence of fixed oil and gums-mucilage. Albino rats weighing (200-250g) were taken for the experiment divided into four groups of six animals each. Group 1 received 3% aqueous suspension of gum Acacia (1ml/200g) as vehicle orally, group 2 and group 3 received ethanolic leaf extract of H. indicum 250 and 500 mg/kg with 3% aqueous suspension of gum Acacia orally and the group 4 served as standard received paracetamol 25 mg/kg with 3% aqueous suspension of gum Acacia orally. The subcutaneous injection of yeast suspension markedly elevated the rectal temperature after 18h of administration. Treatment with H. indicum extract at a dose of 250, 500 mg/kg decreased the rectal temperature of the rats in dose dependent manner. This effect was maximal at dose of 500 mg/kg and it caused significant lowering of body temperature (P< 0.01) up to 4 hour after its administration. The antipyretic effect started as early as 1h and the effect was maintained for 4h, after its administration. Both the standard drug paracetamol 25mg/kg and tested drug H. indicum extract were significantly reduced the yeast elevated rectal temperature, at 2nd, 3rd and 4th hour compared to control group

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF SPILANTHES PANICULATA

Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant potential of Spilanthes paniculata.Methods: The antioxidant activity of three different extracts (ethanol, methanol and chloroform extracts) of the whole plant was evaluated by determining total antioxidant capacity using phospho molybdenum method and total flavonoid content by Aluminum chloride colorimetric method.Results: Preliminary results from phytochemical screening showed that ethanol, methanol and chloroform extracts of S. paniculata contain flavonoids along with other phyto chemicals in moderate to high amounts. The extracts were then evaluated for total antioxidant capacity using ascorbic acid as the standard. The total antioxidant capacity of ethanol, methanol and chloroform extracts was found to be 153.54±1.343, 157.97±6.713 and 200.38±4.028 mg/g of plant extract which were expressed as Ascorbic Acid Equivalents (AAE). Also total flavonoid content was determined and was expressed as quercetin equivalents (QE). The content of flavonoid compounds in ethanol, methanol and chloroform extract was estimated to be 101.58±55.919, 121±74.318 and 51.07±19.121 mg/g dry weight of extract.Conclusion: Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the significant antioxidant potential of the extracts might be attributed to moderate to high amount of flavonoids present in the extract.Â

Autism: a curse on today’s society

Autism is a group of neurodevelopment disorders characterized by impaired communication, impaired social interaction and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviours or interests in the first 3 years of life. It shows a strong male bias and found four times more in males than in females. According to a study in the US, in 2014, overall 1.68% of victims were reported to have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), whereas the percentage was increased by 15% and 150% respectively over the year 2012 and 2000. Numerous genes have been discovered that have roles in ASD but still a good understanding of the pathophysiological process of ASD is not established. ASD costs are estimated to be approximately $250 billion annually in the U.S. Moreover, it is suggested that by 2025, ASD costs will rise to over$450 billion. Thus, the financial burden on families is increasing. There is no effective screening tool for proper diagnosis is available. Based on Infant Toddler Checklist (ITC) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) some tests like ADOS-G, ADI-R, CARS etc. are used for diagnosis. There are medications to cure symptoms but no single medication for ASD. However, some therapies (like ABA- Applied Behavioural Analysis, DTT- Discrete Trial Training, and Symptomatic treatments, etc.) are there that show positive responses towards improvement from a disease state. Some crucial advancement has been achieved in the last decades. Here in the work we have focused on the diagnostic methods and treatment available for the symptoms of Autism. So, it can be said that the day is not too far away when the remedy to cut the curse of autism will be in our hands

Liposome: a carrier for effective drug delivery

Liposomes are the spherical vesicles containing one or more phospholipid bilayer, which was first described in the middle of 60s by Bangham. The bilayer vesicles are considered as an efficient carrier for drug delivery, diagnostic agents, and also an effective tool for vaccine delivery.  Liposome has been used as a potential carrier for several diseases from cardiovascular disease to bacterial infection and also it has the ability to reducing the toxicity of highly potent drugs and simultaneously utilized to improve pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy. A liposome is a formulation which has the capacity to overcome with the limitation of conventional therapies. For the delivery of liposome ocular and inhalation route are some advanced technology. In poorly water soluble substance pulmonary delivery is very much useful. However liposome based vaccines have been demonstrated in clinical trials and further progress in human trails. This review discusses the mechanism of action, Method of preparation, evaluation, application of liposomal drug delivery system along with the recent developments some of the commercially available products

Floating drug delivery system: an outlook

Floating drug delivery is considered as the most effective amongst the several approaches of gastro retentive drug delivery systems. The short gastric residence times (GRT) and unpredictable gastric emptying times (GET) are the two most important parameters that play a vital role in improving the bioavailability of drugs those are having an absorption window at the stomach. The floating drug delivery approach is a low-density system that may be effervescent or Non-Effervescent type with sufficient buoyancy to flow over the gastric contents and remain buoyant in the stomach without affecting the stomachic emptying rate for a prolonged duration. Floating dosage forms include tablets, granules, capsules, microspheres, microparticle, etc. are few formulations available commercially. A comprehensive summary of different floating drug delivery and its present status has been highlighted in this review

Pomegranate and sweet lime juices along with green coconut water promote rapid restoration of haematological parameters in patient infected with dengue: A case report

We report a case of dengue fever in a 9-years old Indian child. She was given “anti-hyper thermic” drug paracetamol and anti-biotic amoxicillin for 5 days. The patient was detected with dengue infection (NS1 positive) with a 5 days history of high fever and headache. After scrutinizing the haematology data, the medications (paracetamol & amoxicillin) were stopped and only diet which was continued is fruit juices (pomegranate and sweet lime juices along with green coconut water) as nutritional supplement. After 48 hours of continuous administration of nutritional supplements, blood parameters showed immense change. From this case study it can be stated that, infection with dengue and subsequent decline in the platelet and leukocyte count can well be restored with pomegranate, sweet lime and green coconut water. Keywords: Dengue, Pomegranate, Sweet Lime, Green Coconut Wate

A RIPPLE EFFECT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON SHORTAGE OF MEDICINAL PRODUCTS AND ITS IMPACT ON PATIENT CARE

Objective: Shortages of medicinal products are complex global problems. Drug shortages remain a significant public health issue. Global shortages of medical products have a potential effect on patient health and total healthcare costs. Countries worldwide, especially those affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is experiencing a rapid increase in drug shortage, which causes several complications for physicians, health care provider, patients, health institutes and health regulatory bodies. Methods: To carry out the study of shortages, several efforts have been taken by the regulators and industries. Prominent amongst these include FDA's research the needs and the reforms made in the regulations about shortages. We also searched for electronic databases (PubMed, Science direct, Web of Science) using the terms (COVID-19 and shortage) or (medicine and COVID-19) for articles in periods of 2019 to 2021. Results: On assessment based on the report, the number of shortage drugs in 2020 is 835; Anesthesia drugs are highest during the COVID-19 outbreak data indicate the number of shortages is 143 in USA. It was found that generic products were mostly in short supply, with antimicrobial agents (63%) topping the list of therapeutic categories of medicines with interrupted supply, followed by oncology medicines (47%) and then anesthetic agents (38%) during COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Many steps have been taken to reduce the impact of a shortage of health care. Agencies like the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) has established guidelines and works with manufacturers and other partners to help prevent shortages. This article aims to the analysis the root cause of medicinal product shortages, their effects on the patient outcome, medication error, which occurs due to the substitution safe and effective therapies with alternative treatments, identify possible solutions and policies established to manage medicinal product shortages