ASSESSMENT OF ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF NELUMBO NUCIFERA FRUIT ETHANOL EXTRACT: Analgesic Activity of Nelumbo nucifera Fruit

Objective: Utilization of herbal remedies rich in flavonoids and vitamins have increased significantly these days to treat various disorders, thus existing research work encircled to appraise the analgesic effect of Nelumbo nucifera fruit (NNF) for evaluating its traditional use pharmacologically in disorders which are associated with pain and inflammation. Methods: Central analgesic activity in mice was assessed by tail flick test and the latency time i.e. the removal of tail from the stimulus was recorded. Similarly acetic acid induced writhing test was also conducted for the assessment of peripheral analgesic effect in mice and number of writhes was counted along with percent inhibition of writhes. Results: In tail flick test the peek anti-nociceptive effect at all doses of fruit was observed at 90 min. However, the percentage of tail elongation time was highest at a dose of 200 mg/kg i.e. 82% at 90 min. Number of writhes was highly significantly reduced at all doses of NNF but maximum effects were observed at dose 200 mg/kg as compared to control, indicating 48.41 % inhibition of writhes. Conclusion: NNF have exhibited strong analgesic effect in both animal models, which may be connected with the synergistic actions of flavonoids, saponins and tannins on arachidonic acid pathway inhibition. Hence NNF seems to have a great potential in disorders associated with pain but more experimental trials in this field are required to confirm these findings

Natural history of Crohn's disease in a population-based cohort from Cardiff (1986-2003): a study of changes in medical treatment and surgical resection rates

INTRODUCTION: Benefits of immunosuppressive therapy in Crohn's disease have been demonstrated in controlled trials; however, it is unclear whether these drugs alter the longer-term natural history of this condition. AIMS AND METHODS: To assess changes in disease outcomes in a population-based cohort of patients diagnosed in Cardiff from 1986 to 2003. Case notes from Crohn's disease incidence studies in Cardiff were reviewed retrospectively for disease characteristics and follow-up information on drug therapy, and the need for surgery for Crohn's disease. The study population was divided into three groups by year of diagnosis (Group A=1986-1991, Group B=1992-1997 and Group C=1998-2003). RESULTS: 341 patients were included. Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis showed increasing use of immunosuppressants over time. At 5 years after diagnosis this was 11% in Group A, 28% in Group B, and 45% in Group C (p=0.001) and the median time to start of thiopurines was 77, 21 and 11 months in Group A, B and C respectively. There was a significant reduction in long-term steroid use at 5 years post diagnosis: 45 (44%), 31 (31%) and 24 (19%) patients in Group A, B and C respectively (p=0.001). KM analysis showed a significant reduction in the cumulative probability of intestinal surgery: At 5 years this was 59% (Group A), 37% (Group B) and 25% (Group C) (p=0.001). In a multivariate Cox analysis, year of diagnosis, disease location, oral corticosteroids within 3 months of diagnosis and early thiopurine use (within the first year of diagnosis) were all independent factors affecting likelihood of intestinal surgery. CONCLUSION: This population-based cohort shows marked changes in rates of surgery, and the reduction is independently associated with year of diagnosis, and associated temporally with increased and earlier thiopurine use