Antimicrobial and Radical Scavenging Activity of Memecylon malabaricum

The present study was conducted to determine antimicrobial and radical scavenging potential of extract of two species of the genus Memecylon (Melastomataceae) viz., M. malabaricum (C.B. Clarke) Cogn. and M. talboltianum Brandis. The shade dried leaf materials of both Memecylon species were extracted using methanol. Antibacterial activity of leaf extracts was evaluated against five drug resistant uropathogenic bacteria by Agar well diffusion assay. Antifungal activity of leaf extracts was tested on the basis of mycelial growth inhibition of Colletotrichum capsici (isolated from anthracnose of chilli). Radical scavenging activity of extracts was determined by performing DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Total phenolic content of extracts was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent method. The extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis to detect the presence of phytoconstituents. Among extracts, extract of M. malabaricum inhibited all test bacteria and inhibitory potential was marked against Gram positive bacteria than Gram negative bacteria. C. capsici was highly susceptible to extract of M. malabaricum when compared to extract of M. talboltianum. Overall, extract of M. malabaricum displayed marked antimicrobial activity than extract of M. talboltianum. Extract of M. malabaricum scavenged DPPH radicals more efficiently (IC50 6.26μg/ml) when compared to extract of M. talboltianum (IC50 43.80μg/ml). The content of total phenolics was also high in leaf extract of M. malabaricum (112μg GAE/mg) than that of M. talboltianum (28μg GAE/mg). Preliminary phytochemical analysis of leaf extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins and glycosides in both extracts. The antimicrobial and radical scavenging activity of leaf extracts could be ascribed to the presence of phytochemicals mainly phenolic compounds. These plants appear to be potential candidates for control of anthracnose disease of chilli and for development of agents active against drug resistant uropathogens and oxidative damage.Keywords: Memecylon; Antimicrobial; Agar well diffusion; Poisoned food technique; Antioxidant; DPP

A possible case of exfoliative dermatitis due to ibuprofen in an Eleven-month-old infant

Ibuprofen is a NSAID belonging to the class of propionic acid derivatives which is widely used for its analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory action. Well-known adverse effects of ibuprofen include gastric irritability leading to nausea and vomiting as well as allergic manifestations such as urticaria and skin rashes. Severe ADRs include renal papillary necrosis, SJS/TEN, and thrombotic events leading to myocardial infarction and stroke. Authors present a case of exfoliative dermatitis in an 11-month-old infant possibly due to ibuprofen. An 11-month-old infant was prescribed syrup ibuprofen by a local medical practitioner for unclear reasons. Three days after ibuprofen therapy, the infant developed erythematous, crusting exfoliative lesions predominantly over the face with a few lesions over the lower abdomen. Subsequently, the infant was admitted to Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center Hospital, Bangalore. A diagnosis of drug-induced exfoliative dermatitis was made after ruling out other causes. Treatment was initiated with intravenous and topical dexamethasone along with saline compressions and amoxicillin + clavulanic acid for secondary bacterial infection as well as topical emollient cream applied over the affected areas. The lesions improved significantly with the above management and the infant recovered enough to be discharged from the hospital after 3 days. The reaction was assessed to be “possible” as per Naranjo and WHO-UMC causality assessment scales, “moderately severe” on modified Hartwig’s severity assessment scale and “not preventable” according to Schumock and Thornton criteria. Severe and serious reactions such as exfoliative dermatitis can be caused by commonly used drugs like ibuprofen

Inhibitory Effect of Some Plants of Western Ghats of Karnataka against Colletotrichum capsici

Anthracnose is a serious disease of chilli which results in major crop loss. Species of Colletotrichum are the causative agents of chilli anthracnose. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of a total of 50 extracts from 35 plants (belonging to 23 botanical families) of Western Ghats of Shivamogga district, Karnataka, India. The powdered plant materials were extracted using methanol. The methanol extracts were screened for antifungal activity by Poisoned food technique against Colletotrichum capsici isolated from anthracnose of chilli. All extracts were effective in inhibiting the growth of C. capsici but to a varied extent (16 to 74% inhibition). The mycelial growth of fungus was found to be reduced on poisoned plates when compared to control plate. Marked inhibitory efficacy was observed in case of leaf extract of Maesa indica (74.19%) followed by leaf extract of Pimenta dioica (70.96%). Least inhibition of the fungus was shown by leaf extract of Persea macrantha (16.13%). The extent of inhibition of the fungus by other extracts ranged between 20 to 70%. In conclusion, the plants selected in this study appear promising as natural antifungal agents. Further field studies are to be conducted to determine the possible application of these plants in the control of chilli anthracnose.Keywords: Western Ghats; Antifungal activity; Poisoned food technique; Colletotrichum capsici; Anthracnose of chill

Subjective memory measures: metamemory questionnaires currently in use

Subjective memory evaluation is important for assessing memory abilities and complaints alongside objective measures. In research and clinical settings, questionnaires are used to examine perceived memory ability, memory complaints, and memory beliefs/knowledge. Although they provide a structured measure of self-reported memory, there is some debate as to whether subjective evaluation accurately reflects memory abilities. Specifically, the disconnect between subjective and objective memory measures remains a long-standing issue within the field. Thus, it is essential to evaluate the benefits and limitations of questionnaires that are currently in use. This review encompasses three categories of metamemory questionnaires: self-efficacy, complaints, and multidimensional questionnaires. Factors influencing self-evaluation of memory including knowledge and beliefs about memory, ability to evaluate memory, recent metamemory experiences, and affect are examined. The relationship between subjective and objective memory measures is explored, and considerations for future development and use of metamemory questionnaires are provided

Evaluation of the anti-depressant potential of metformin in conditioned defeat model in golden Syrian hamsters

Background: Depression is a prevalent mood condition that has an impact on daily functioning. Globally, depression affects 264 million people. The current pharmacotherapy of depression has a lot of shortcomings. Therefore, there is a need to explore newer therapy that alleviate the symptoms of depression. Metformin was found to possess antioxidant potential and hypothesized to decrease the levels of branched-chain amino-acids essential for tryptophan uptake (precursor for serotonin synthesis). The study was designed to validate the efficacy of metformin as an anti-depressant in conditioned defeat model in male golden Syrian hamsters using open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST) and Serum serotonin levels. Methods: After obtaining IAEC approval, the study was carried out using 8 golden Syrian hamsters each that were randomly assigned to four groups. The disease control group received 1mL normal saline, positive control was given fluoxetine 12 mg/kg, two groups of metformin 240 mg/kg given pre-insult and post-insult. The variables assessed on every third day included OFT and FST. Following the behavioral tests, serotonin-ELISA was done. To analyse the outcomes, appropriate statistical tests were applied. Results: On standardization, the model was established to a 16-day model. Further, results highlighted a significant difference in OFT, FST and serotonin levels with the metformin group and fluoxetine compared to disease control (p<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the fluoxetine and metformin groups (p>0.05), signifying the comparable results. Conclusions: Metformin (240 mg/kg) alleviated the depressive symptoms by modulating both behavioral and serotonin levels

Pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy

Pulmonary hypertension is defined as an increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) ≥25 mmHg at rest as assessed by right heart catheterisation. Pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy is known to be associated with significantly high morbidity and mortality rate which ranges between 30% and 56%. So during pregnancy, efforts to be made to diagnose common medical ailments that can be complicated by pulmonary hypertension. Bedside 2D Echo and thoracic ultrasound are the strongly recommended in these patients to diagnose early and prevent the devastating complications. Relevant blood investigations need to be sent to diagnose the underlying etiology and to assess the prognosis. Cardiac catheterization is the gold standard investigation of choice for pulmonary hypertension. But it is 1 performed in very few cardiac centres in developing countries. In India diagnosis largely depends on echocardiography. It should be made clear to women at the time of their PAH diagnosis that pregnancy is not recommended due to the high maternal and fetal risks. If a woman with known PHT become pregnant, counselling should be given for therapeutic abortion. If they are willing for therapeutic abortion, it should be done before 22 weeks of gestation. All women with PHT should be initiated on PAH specific therapies (prostanoids, ccbs, phosphodiesterase inhibitors) except endothelin receptor blockers as it is teratogenic. Pregnancy in PAH is difficult to manage and needs mutidisciplanary team. Pregnancy is not recommended in women with PAH and appropriate counselling to be done to the mother and their relatives.

Cure from the rhizomes: the medicine behind the Indian saffron Curcumin

Indian system of medicine has always focused on cure from the nature. Plant products from the Indian household have been used as medicine to cure myriad of ailments since ancestral times. Curcumin is a polyphenol, an active ingredient found in turmeric. In Southeast Asia, turmeric has been used as a coloring, flavoring and as a therapeutic agent. The use of turmeric to treat ailments dates back to the times of Charaka and Shushrutha. It has been widely used as an antiseptic for cuts, burns, and bruises, and as an antibacterial agent. Modern medicine has begun to understand its importance in recent times. Unfortunately its poor solubility, limited absorption and enhanced metabolism limits its bioavailability for its extended therapeutic use. Integration of nanotechnology in drug design and development has led the way to development of nanocurcumin with improved pharmacological properties. A precise understanding of effective dose, safety, and mechanism of action is required for the rational use of turmeric in the treatment of human diseases. This review focuses on the molecular actions of curcumin and its possibility to be used as a therapeutic agent in conditions affecting oral mucosa

Memory rehabilitation: restorative, specific knowledge acquisition, compensatory, and holistic approaches

Memory impairment following an acquired brain injury can negatively impact daily living and quality of life—but can be reduced by memory rehabilitation. Here, we review the literature on four approaches for memory rehabilitation and their associated strategies: (1) the restorative approach, aimed at a return to pre-morbid functioning, (2) the knowledge acquisition approach, involving training on specific information relevant to daily life, (3) the compensatory approach, targeted at improving daily functioning, and (4) the holistic approach, in which social, emotional, and behavioral deficits are addressed alongside cognitive consequences of acquired brain injury. Each memory rehabilitation approach includes specific strategies such as drill and practice (restorative), spaced retrieval (knowledge acquisition), memory aids (compensatory), or a combination of psychotherapy and cognitive strategies (holistic). Past research has demonstrated mixed support for the use of restorative strategies to improve memory function, whereas knowledge acquisition strategies show promising results on trained tasks but little generalization to untrained tasks and activities of daily living. Compensatory strategies remain widely used but require intensive training to be effectively employed. Finally, the holistic approach is becoming more widespread due to improvements in psychosocial wellbeing, yet there are considerable resource and cost requirements. Several factors can influence rehabilitation outcomes including metacognition and emotional disturbances. Considerations for future research to improve the applicability of strategies for memory rehabilitation include assessing memory impairment severity, examining memory needs in daily life, and exploring the long-term effects of memory rehabilitation

An analgesic to bridge the gap between Narcotics and NSAIDs: opiorphin

Pain management is an all-time challenge in dentistry. Discontent to pain management is a concern among patients and professionals. Unrelieved pain affects physical and mental well-being contributing to delayed recovery, psychological distress and anxiety. Studies have revealed that chronic pain interferes with normal daily chores of the individual like exercise, sleep, social life and lifestyle. At one end of pain management spectrum are Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) while at the other end are the opioids. These drugs are not without constituent side effects. The quest is for new analgesics with potent and long term analgesia with minimal or no side effects. An analgesic that is intermediate in this spectrum is the need of the hour. Opiorphin is an endogenous peptide isolated from human saliva. Opiorphin produces analgesia, by inhibiting enkephalin (ENK) metabolizing enzymes, thus increasing the half-life of circulating ENKs. Apart from being a potent analgesic it can also be a potential biomarker for various systemic and psychosocial disorders. This review focuses on the pharmacological effects of opiorphin and its potential role as a biomarker in various disease conditions