Hypolipidaemic efficacy of <i>Capparis decidua </i>fruit and shoot extracts in cholesterol fed rabbits

863-866High fat diet caused significant (8-fold) increase in serum total cholesterol in rabbits. Administration of C.decidua fruit extract (50% ethanolic) at the dose of 500mg/kg body weight significantly reduced serum total cholesterol (61%), LDL cholesterol (71%), triglycerides(32%) and phospholipids(25% ). Similarly C. decidua shoot extract lowered serum total cholesterol (48%), LDL cholesterol (57%), triglycerides (38%) and phospholipids (36%).The cholesterol content of aorta was decreased by 44 and 28% in fruit and shoot extract treatment respectively. The HDL to total cholesterol ratio and atherogenic index was significantly decreased in plant extract treated groups suggesting antiatherosclerotic nature of these plant extract. These results reveal the hypolipidaemic potential of C. decidua fruit and shoot

A Critical Edition of the Candrārkī of Dinakara

A set of tables devoted to solar and lunar phenomena entitled the Candrārkī  was prepared in Sanskrit by the sixteenth-century Indian astronomer Dinakara.  Along with the tables, Dinakara composed a short accompanying text which instructed the user how to extract and manipulate the tabular data to construct their own calendar for any desired year and geographical circumstances.  The work proved to be popular.  Based on a small fraction of the extant manuscripts, we present a critical edition of the text together with a discussion of the challenges raised while preparing the edition