Effect of IMT-03, an Herbal Formulation in Cyclophosphamide-induced Immunosuppression in Mice

Immumomodulatory actions of natural ingredients have been recognized from the time of early civilization. Though herbal medicines are equally used to treat deadly diseases, but till date there are lacks of evidences. In the present work, an herbal preparation IMT-03 was used to find out its immunostimulatory efficacy against chemotherapeutics. Although, most of the individual ingredients present in IMT-03 have been reported for their protective roles against chemotherapeutics, but there is no report in combination. Cyclophosphamide (300 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) induces immunosuppression through myelosuppression. Pretreatment with of IMT-03 at dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg in Cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppressive mice showed dose dependently and significantly (p<0.001) improvement in total WBC and absolute neutrophil counts. It also protects the general health of animals from chemotherapeutic induced serious adverse events like signs of sickness, lethargy, immobility, reducing food habit, infections in nostrils and pinna etc. Moreover, IMT-03 has the abilities to counter the macrophages surge during the LPS challenge. The test drug also showed safe up to the oral dose of 2 g/kg. In vitro studies revealed IMT-03 has polyphenols and also radical scavenging actions. There are several evidences that polyphenols can able to modulate cytokines and chemokines signaling pathways in immune cells. Therefore, it is assumed that polyphenols present in IMT-03 either modulate the inflammatory signaling pathways or protect from oxidative stress related DNA damage in myeloid tissues

Betahistine dihydrochloride or betahistine mesilate: two sides of the same coin or two different coins

The antivertigo drug betahistine exerts a histamine modulatory action in the vestibular system and the brain. It is marketed both as the dihydrochloride and the mesilate salt in India. We conducted a published literature based systematic review to ascertain differences, in any, between the salt and ester forms of the drug. Search of the Medline database was supplemented by searching through references in full text papers and retrieving summary of product characteristic literature. Although the weight of published evidence is greater for betahistine dihydrochloride, in the absence of head-to-head studies comparing the efficacy of the two formulations in Ménière's disease and other vertigo disorders of vestibular origin, it is not possible to conclude that there are definite differences in this regard. However, potentially relevant differences exist to suggest that the two forms are not interchangeable for the treatment of vestibular dysfunction. Molecular weight comparison indicates that the pill burden would be higher for betahistine mesilate for delivering equivalent doses. There could be ethnically influenced differences in pharmacokinetic behavior. There are concerns of potential long-term DNA toxicity due to mesilate ester contaminants during production of betahistine mesilate, which is not there for the hydrochloride form. Detailed post-marketing surveillance data exists only for the dihydrochloride salt. Otorhinolaryngologists and other physicians seeking to optimize treatment with betahistine should be aware of these differences

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy under spinal anesthesia in a 5-year-old child: A case report

Symptomatic cholelithiasis in pediatric patients should be dealt with cholecystectomy. Due to its minimally invasive nature, laparoscopic approach is better than conventional open approach. Although safety of spinal anesthesia (SA) in adult laparoscopic surgeries including cholecystectomy is well established, its use in pediatric laparoscopic surgeries is extremely limited with only a few studies being published till date. Here, we report a case of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in a 5-year-old child which was successfully managed with SA. This may be the very first case report of pediatric LC under SA

Efficacy and safety of a centrally acting analgesic flupirtine in primary knee osteoarthritis in comparison to tramadol: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, degenerative joint disorder responsible for considerable morbidity, particularly in old age. Flupirtine, a new centrally acting analgesic, is devoid of the adverse effects of NSAIDs and opioid analgesics. In this study author compared the effectiveness and safety of flupirtine with tramadol in knee OA.Methods: An open label, randomized, controlled trial was done with patients of primary knee OA of both sexes, age >50 years. Patients were recruited from Rheumatology OPD of SSKM Hospital. A minimum WOMAC score of 35 was essential for recruitment. Patients with serious comorbidities were excluded. They were treated orally with either flupirtine (100mg thrice daily) or tramadol (50mg thrice daily) for 12 weeks.Results: Ninety patients were recruited and data of 42 on flupirtine and 41 on tramadol were analysed. There was significant improvement in pain, stiffness and physical function compared to baseline in both the groups. However, there was no significant difference between groups at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Responder rate (50% reduction in pain score from baseline) was 66.67% with flupirtine and 48.78% with tramadol (p = 0.122). Flupirtine caused 4 adverse events compared to 16 with tramadol. However, both the drugs were well-tolerated.Conclusions: The effectiveness of flupirtine in knee OA is comparable to tramadol, while causing minimal adverse effects. Long-term benefits need to be explored

Efecto antirradical y antiulceroso de las hojas de Sonneratia apetala Buch-Ham contra la lesión de la mucosa gástrica inducida por el alcohol

Introducción: Sonneratia apetala Buch-Ham es un verdadero habitante de los manglares en Sunderban indio y se utiliza en la medicina popular para los trastornos digestivos. Método: El extracto hidrometanólico (20:80) de hojas de Sonneratia apetala (SA) se estandarizó químicamente por HPTLC y se evaluó por sus propiedades antirradicales y gastroprotectoras. Se determinaron los fenólicos y flavonoides presentes en SA y se evaluaron las actividades antirradicales mediante métodos in vitro como, DPPH (1,1-difenil-2-picrilhidrazilo), óxidos nítricos, superóxidos, hidroxilo y ABTS (2,2 / -azino-bis- Ácido 3-etilbenztiazolin-6-sulfónico). Además, se evaluó la eficacia gastroprotectora de SA en la ulceración oxidativa inducida por alcohol (50% v / v, 5 ml / kg) en ratas. Resultados: El SA químicamente estandarizado mostró presencia de compuestos polifenólicos. También mostró fuertes propiedades antirradicales. Las administraciones orales de SA (125 mg / kg y 250 mg / kg) protegieron significativamente la membrana mucosa gástrica del daño ulcerativo causado por el alcohol, similar al omeprazol (20 mg / kg) en ratas. Además, el tratamiento con SA redujo significativamente la elevación de los peróxidos de lípidos; mientras que aumentó la concentración de glutatión y catalasa en la mucosa gástrica con respecto a las ratas de control no tratadas inducidas por etanol. Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos de este estudio sugieren que la hoja de Sonneratia apetala tiene propiedades antioxidantes y tiene capacidad para proteger la lesión de la mucosa gástrica causada por la ingestión de alcohol.Introduction: Sonneratia apetala Buch-Ham is a true mangrove inhabitant in Indian Sunderban and it is used in folk medicine for digestive disorders. Method: Hydro-methanolic (20:80) extract of Sonneratia apetala leaves (SA) was chemically standardized by HPTLC and evaluated for its antiradical and gastro-protective properties. Phenolics and flavonoids present in SA were determined and antiradical activities were assessed by in vitro methods like, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), nitric oxides, superoxides, hydroxyl and ABTS (2,2/ -azino-bis-3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid). Further, gastro-protective efficacy of SA was assessed in alcohol (50% v/v, 5 ml/kg) induced oxidative ulceration in rats. Results: Chemically standardized SA exhibited presence of polyphenolic compounds. It also showed strong antiradical properties. Oral administrations of SA (125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg) significantly protected gastric mucosal membrane from ulcerative damage caused by alcohol, similar to Omeprazole (20 mg/kg) in rats. Moreover, SA treatment significantly reduced the elevation of lipid peroxides; while enhanced the concentration of glutathione and catalase in gastric mucosa in respect to ethanol induced untreated control rats. Conclusions The results obtained from this study suggest Sonneratia apetala leaf has antioxidant properties and has capabilities to protect gastric mucosal injury caused by alcohol ingestion.Project 537(sanc)/ST/P/S&T/5G-4/2009-11 of the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of West Bengal, Indi

Free fatty acids regulating action of Capparis decidua fruit on dyslipidemia in rats

Capparis decidua belongs to family Capparidaceae in wastelands of India. The study aim was to determine the role of C. decidua fruits on the free fatty acids (FFA) profile in fat-rich diet (FRD) dyslipidemic rats. The methanolic extract of edible fruit of C. decidua (CD) was given orally to obese dyslipidemic rats at the dose of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg for consecutive 28 days. CD treatment in FRD rats significantly restricts the body weight gains. Blood lipid profile was altered dose dependently and significantly after 4-week treatment with CD to FRD. rats. It significantly (p<0.05) enhanced serum FFA especially, g-linolinate, a-linolinate, arachidonate, ecosapentaenoate, docosapentaenoate and docosahexaenoate. Moreover, w3-PUFA content was also enhanced (50.3% and 78.8%) in the serum of CD treated animals, whereas MUFA was lowered (31.1% and 40%). Therefore, Capparis decidua fruit has a promising role on dyslipidemia and obesity and has the capabilities to regulate beneficial free fatty acids.

Gestation-wise Reference Ranges of Neutrophil Counts in Indian Newborns

Objectives: Blood counts are commonly performed tests in neonatal intensive care units with the results having various clinical ramifications. Interpreting blood counts as normal or abnormal requires reference ranges as per gestation. Studies on reference ranges for neonatal neutrophil counts are already scarce, and data is lacking in the Asian context. We sought to formulate gestation-wise reference ranges of neutrophil counts in an Indian setting. Methods: Healthy, newborn babies of either gender, aged between 30 to 41 weeks gestation were included in the study. Gestational age was corroborated through first trimester dating scan and postnatally by the New Ballard Score. Single venous blood samples were drawn on day three and day five for estimation of total leukocyte count, differential count (neutrophils, lymphocytes), and peripheral blood smear examination. Results: We evaluated the data of 420 newborns. The normative values were compiled week-wise for gestational ages of 30 to 41 weeks at birth. We observed a clustering of neutrophil count values below 8000 cells/μL on day three and below 5000 cells/μL on day five. No gender-based differences in counts were observed. We were able to generate reference range curves for neutrophil counts as per gestational age. Conclusions: The absolute neutrophil counts of term and preterm Indian newborns are higher than the values depicted in the standard reference chart used currently. This indicates that a different standard chart as per gestation should be used in Indo-Asian countries to differentiate ‘normal’ from ‘abnormal’

Development of quality standards of Triphala Kwatha churna with its ingredients through HPTLC and mass spectroscopy

113-119In recent years there has been rapid growth in the field of herbal medicine. Drugs belonging to Asian traditional systems of medicine are accepted universally only after standardisation. It is therefore, very important to develop essential techniques for standardisation of herbal drugs. The present study has focused on development of quality standards of Triphala Kwatha churna under WHO/API guidelines along with HPTLC and mass spectroscopy. This polyherbal Kwatha churna is used to treat constipation and other gastric disorders. In this study, an in-house prepared Triphala Kwatha churna was botanically and chemically standardised by HPTLC and mass spectroscopic studies with the reference standard gallic acid. The botanical standardisation of the above formulation was done by evaluation of macroscopic and microscopic studies of the powder formulation along with its ingredients. Physicochemical parameters like LOD, ash value, acid insoluble ash, water and alcohol extractives were determined. Safety parameters, viz., heavy metals, microbial content, specific pathogens, pesticide residue and aflatoxins detection have been also estimated. The results obtained in the present study defining quality control parameters help to develop the quality standards of Triphala Kwatha churna formulation. The HPTLC fingerprint profiling of the formulation along with its ingredients complies with the reference standards gallic acid. This observation is also found in Mass Spectroscopic study of the methanolic extract of the formulation with this reference standard. Preliminary phytochemical screening test revealed the presence of bioactive constituents including phenols, flavonoids, tannins and carbohydrate

Free fatty acids regulating action of Capparis decidua fruit on dyslipidemia in rats

Capparis decidua belongs to family Capparidaceae in wastelands of India. The study aim was to determine the role of C. decidua fruits on the free fatty acids (FFA) profile in fat-rich diet (FRD) dyslipidemic rats. The methanolic extract of edible fruit of C. decidua (CD) was given orally to obese dyslipidemic rats at the dose of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg for consecutive 28 days. CD treatment in FRD rats significantly restricts the body weight gains. Blood lipid profile was altered dose dependently and significantly after 4-week treatment with CD to FRD. rats. It significantly (p<0.05) enhanced serum FFA especially, -linolinate, -linolinate, arachidonate, ecosapentaenoate, docosapentaenoate and docosahexaenoate. Moreover, 3-PUFA content was also enhanced (50.3% and 78.8%) in the serum of CD treated animals, whereas MUFA was lowered (31.1% and 40%). Therefore, Capparis decidua fruit has a promising role on dyslipidemia and obesity and has the capabilities to regulate beneficial free fatty acids

Free fatty acids regulating action of Capparis decidua fruit on dyslipidemia in rats

Capparis decidua belongs to family Capparidaceae in wastelands of India. The study aim was to determine the role of C. decidua fruits on the free fatty acids (FFA) profile in fat-rich diet (FRD) dyslipidemic rats. The methanolic extract of edible fruit of C. decidua (CD) was given orally to obese dyslipidemic rats at the dose of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg for consecutive 28 days. CD treatment in FRD rats significantly restricts the body weight gains. Blood lipid profile was altered dose dependently and significantly after 4-week treatment with CD to FRD. rats. It significantly (p<0.05) enhanced serum FFA especially, -linolinate, -linolinate, arachidonate, ecosapentaenoate, docosapentaenoate and docosahexaenoate. Moreover, 3-PUFA content was also enhanced (50.3% and 78.8%) in the serum of CD treated animals, whereas MUFA was lowered (31.1% and 40%). Therefore, Capparis decidua fruit has a promising role on dyslipidemia and obesity and has the capabilities to regulate beneficial free fatty acids