New Chromogenic Spray Reagent for TLC Detection and Identification of Organophosphrous Insecticide Monocrotophos in Biological Material.

Monocrotophos is a member of Organophosphate insecticide. It is an important insecticide and has a diversified role in agriculture in INDIA. The increasing numbers of human poisoning cases were found to be occurred by the consumption of organophosphate insecticide monocrotophos. So in this paper, we represent a novel Thin Layer Chromatographic spray reagent for the detection and identification of Monocrotophos

Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance among interns and nursing students in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Even though the role of spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is well established in pharmacovigilance, it is not followed in the practice and a large number of ADRs goes unreported. In our institute, almost all of the ADR reported to the department of pharmacology are through either the faculty members or the residents and very few by the nurses and interns.Methods: The current survey was thus conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of nursing students and interns. It is expected that the results should help us to designs specific activities to improve ADR reporting. The study was a questionnaire based survey to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of the interns (n=74) and nursing students (n=108) regarding ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance in this tertiary care centre.Results: More interns gave correct responses to knowledge based and attitude based questions of pharmacovigilance compared to the nursing students. On the other hand, more nursing students came across ADRs in the patients compared to interns. Even though 93.24% interns responded to have got training on “how to report ADRs”, only 6.76% ever reported ADR to pharmacovigilance centre.Conclusions: Proper training on pharmacovigilance, with easy way for reporting ADRs would be a useful step in improving pharmacovigilance status in nursing students and interns

Study of drug utilization pattern and adverse drug reactions of psychotropic drugs in psychiatric inpatient department of tertiary care hospital

Background: Mental disorders are now widely recognized as a major contributor to the global burden of disease. The drug use in psychiatric illness is a complex process and because of this the optimal benefits of drug therapy in patient care is not achieved. This often leads to increased cost of medical care, drug resistance, adverse effects and patient mortality. Hence, this study is undertaken to study the drug utilization pattern and adverse drug reactions of psychotropic drugs in psychiatric inpatient department of a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A prospective, observational study was undertaken from 1st February 2015 to 31st July 2016. A total of 250 prescriptions were analysed. Defined daily dose of the drugs were calculated. ADR’s were recorded in the format of the National Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI).Results: In 250 prescriptions most, common drug prescribed was antipsychotics (48.5%). Total drug utilization in terms of DDD/100 bed days was 669. The total number of adverse drug reactions observed was 8%. Antipsychotics were the most common class of psychotropic drugs causing ADR’s.Conclusions: In conclusion, it has been found that the psychotropic drugs used in our psychiatry department was rational and was based on clinical knowledge, expertise and the guidelines available in the field of psychiatric practice

Study to assess knowledge, attitude and practice regarding swine flu vaccine amongst medical students

Background: Due to recurrent outbreak and associated high mortality of swine flu there is panic amongst medical students also because of higher risk of getting infected. Vaccination for swine flu is the best preventive measure. So this study was undertaken. The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding swine flu vaccine amongst medical students of government medical college and provide data to improve awareness about swine flu vaccineMethods: This was a cross sectional observational study carried out amongst 250 medical students during period of April-June 2015. A pre designed and pre tested, multiple choice questionnaires was used to assess KAP regarding swine flu vaccine and descriptive analysis was done.Results: Knowledge of participants regarding Swine flu vaccine was high as the mean score of correct answers marked was 152.5. But Only 21.8% participants had knowledge about cost of vaccine and 33.2% about the adverse drug reactions to the vaccine. Internet was the most common source of information amongst participants. Attitude of participants toward vaccination was favourable (mean score -128.4) but attitude for vaccination during pregnancy (30.8%) and with other vaccines (32.8%) was unfavourable. Only 30(12%) candidates have taken the vaccine which shows very poor practice.Conclusions: This study shows high knowledge, favourable attitude but poor practice towards Swine flu vaccination amongst medical students. So there is need to increase awareness for vaccination of swine flu amongst medical students by continuous health education and also need to increase the availability of vaccine in government hospitals

Effect of Lagenaria siceraria fruit extract (Bottle gourd) on hepatotoxicity induced by antitubercular drugs in albino rats

Background: Anti TB drug induced hepatotoxicity has higher incidence in Indian population [11.5%] than western population [4.5%]. Antitubercular drug induced hepatotoxicity is mediated through oxidative and free radical damage to hepatocytes. Lagenaria siceraria [Bottle Gourd] is reported to have antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity. Hence in the present study we tested hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of fruit extract of L. Siceraria in anti tubercular drug induced hepatotoxicity.Methods: We administered antitubercular drugs alone and in combination with fruit extract of Lagenaria siceraria (EELS 100mg/kg and EELS 200mg/kg) in healthy albino rats by oral route for 15 days. On 16th day blood collection for biochemical analysis is done by cardiac puncture. Biochemical markers used are serum transaminases (SGPT/SGOT), serum alkaline phosphatase [ALP], total bilirubin, total protein, superoxide dismutase [SOD] and malondialdehyde [MDA]. Liver is dissected for histopathological examinations.Results: Groups that received EELS [100 mg/kg & 200 mg/kg], in combination with anti tubercular drugs, showed significant reduction [p value <0.001] in biochemical parameters for hepatotoxicity [SGOT, SGPT, ALP, Total bilirubin, Total protein] in comparison with group that received anti tubercular drugs alone. Combined treatment of EELS [100 mg/kg & 200 mg/kg] & Anti tubercular drugs showed significant reduction in oxidative stress [SOD & MDA, p<0.001] as compared to anti tubercular drug alone. Histopathological examination of liver showed grade I & grade 0 changes in combination group while grade IV changes in group receiving anti tubercular drugs alone.Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of Lagenaria siceraria fruit possesses significant hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity in antitubercular drugs induced hepatotoxicity

Bioactive components from Gynandropsis gynandra leaves for antinociceptive activity

Gynandropsis gynandra Linn. (Capparadiaceae) leaves are used in the treatment of pain traditionally. In order to evaluate its scientific validity, leaves were extracted successively to produce various extracts. These extracts were screened for antinociceptive activity using hot plate test and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice at the dose of 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally. Aqueous extract was found most active in both the tests. Further it was fractionated into four major fractions and were screened by the same tests at the dose of 25 mg/kg, i.p. Results showed that AQI fraction is most active and may responsible for the antinociceptive action. GC-MS analysis of AQI fraction showed that it is a mixture of benzene acetic acid ethyl ester, octaneoic acid, dodecanal, and cholest-4-en-26-al, 3-oxo-, cyclic 26-(ethylene acetate).Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Bioactive components from Gynandropsis gynandra leaves for antinociceptive activity

Gynandropsis gynandra Linn. (Capparadiaceae) leaves are used in the treatment of pain traditionally. In order to evaluate its scientific validity, leaves were extracted successively to produce various extracts. These extracts were screened for antinociceptive activity using hot plate test and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice at the dose of 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally. Aqueous extract was found most active in both the tests. Further it was fractionated into four major fractions and were screened by the same tests at the dose of 25 mg/kg, i.p. Results showed that AQI fraction is most active and may responsible for the antinociceptive action. GC-MS analysis of AQI fraction showed that it is a mixture of benzene acetic acid ethyl ester, octaneoic acid, dodecanal, and cholest-4-en-26-al, 3-oxo-, cyclic 26-(ethylene acetate).Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Wasps-Predators of Heliothis on Pigeonpea

Heliothis armigera. which is the major pest of pigeonpea in most areas of the Old World, has many natural enemies. At ICRISAT we are exploring the possibilities for increasing the effectiveness of these in reducing the losses caused by this pest

Evaluation of antidepressant activity of ondansetron alone and in combination with fluoxetine-an experimental study

Background: Direct antagonism at 5HT3 receptor site may be associated with antidepressant activity as conventional antidepressants also possess affinity for central 5HT3 binding site. So in this study, an effort is made to investigate the antidepressant effect of ondansetron (OND), a selective 5HT3 antagonist, alone and in combination with fluoxetine (FLX).Methods: Acute and chronic models of Forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), open field test (OFT) and mice brain serotonin estimation  by UV spectrophotometry were applied for the evaluation of antidepressant activity.Results: In FST and TST (acute and chronic models), ondansetron showed statistically significant antidepressant activity (p<0.05) as compared to control. The combination groups (OND 0.25 mg/kg + FLX 5mg/kg & OND 0.5 mg/kg + FLX 5 mg/kg) showed statistically significant antidepressant activity (p<0.05) as compared to fluoxetine (5 mg/kg) and ondansetron (0.25 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg) in FST and TST (acute and chronic models). Open field test in chronic study showed ondansetron (0.25 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg) increases number of central squares crossed as compared to control which is statistically significant (p<0.05). The combination group (OND 0.25 mg/kg + FLX 5 mg/kg) showed significantly increased (p<0.05) number of central squares crossed as compared to fluoxetine (5 mg/kg). The combination group (OND 0.5 mg/kg + FLX 5 mg/kg) showed significantly increased (p<0.05) brain serotonin compared to control, ondansetron (0.25 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (5 mg/kg).Conclusions: Our study concludes that ondansetron alone and in combination with fluoxetine possesses significant antidepressant activity in animal models of depression

Study of evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of macrolide antibiotics in rats: an experimental study

Background: Inflammation is a complex and dynamic condition in which many changes take place at the site of inflammation, as well as systemically. In general, inflammatory response acts to protect the host, but many times it goes unchecked with tissue destruction leading to a spectrum of inflammatory disorders. Anti-inflammatory drugs have long been used to treat spectrum of inflammatory conditions. Anti-inflammatory agents, in use today, though have efficacy, cause a variety of side effects causing major problems during their clinical use. Amongst newer approaches to treat inflammation, macrolides, the anti-bacterial agents, seem to be beneficial in decreasing the inflammation. Still there is much speculation about the anti-inflammatory activity of macrolide antibiotics. So, we planned this study to assess anti-inflammatory activity of macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, roxithromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin) and to compare their anti-inflammatory activity with control and indomethacin (standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).Methods: To assess anti-inflammatory activity of macrolides, we used acute (carrageenin-induced paw edema and turpentine oil-induced arthritis), as well as chronic model of inflammation (cotton pellet induced granuloma).Results: All the macrolides, i.e., erythromycin, roxithromycin, azithromycin and clarithromycin showed significant (p<0.05) anti-inflammatory activity in acute models of inflammation as compared to control group. However, macrolides showed insignificant activity as compared to indomethacin (acute and chronic models of inflammation) and as compared to control (chronic model of inflammation).Conclusions: This study shows macrolide antibiotics have anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of acute inflammation