Evaluation of analgesic activity of Emblica officinalis in albino rats

Background: Amla is one of the most often used herbs in indigenous medicine, whose all parts including fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark, and flowers are used in various Ayurvedic/Unani medicines. However, studies to establish analgesic potential of amla were limited, so the purpose of the present study was to evaluate analgesic activity of amla, if it possesses any.Methods: Albino rats were divided randomly in three groups of six rats each. Group 1 (control) received distilled water orally, Group 2 (test) received Emblica officinalis extract in dose of 600 mg/kg orally and Group 3 (standard) received Pentazocine in dose 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally.Results: Emblica officinalis extract did not produced statistically significant (p>0.05) analgesia when compared with the control group in hot plate latency, but produced a statistically significant reduction in 6% NaCl induced abdominal writhing (p<0.05). Conclusions: Since the plant extract significantly reduced the number of writhes in abdominal writhing model, but do not increase hot plate latency, the commercially available crude extract of Emblica officinalis exhibit analgesic activity involving peripheral mechanisms

An experimental study of a novel combination of a herbal drug with an allopathic drug to evaluate the antihyperglycemic effect of irbesartan plus curcumin and comparison with glibenclamide

Background: Curcumin has been used as a traditional remedy for many diseases in Ayurveda. Many studies have proved antidiabetic and antihyperlipidimic effects of curcumin. The present study was conducted to evaluate antihyperglycemic actions of Irbesartan in combination with Curcumin.Methods: After baseline sampling, 18 rats of diabetic groups i.e. Group 1 to Group 3, were started with exclusive high fat diet and water ad libitum for next 4 weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, each rat was given Inj. Streptozotocin in a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight, dissolved in 0.2 ml of citrate buffer (pH 4.5) intraperitoneally. Drugs were given orally in normal saline by gastric gavage with the help of rat feeding cannula.Results: Rats of diabetic group 2, receiving combination of Irbesartan 20mg/kg and Curcumin 200mg/kg body weight for 6 weeks, have shown significant decrease is mean FPG level (FPG- 29.69% reduction, p<0.001). Irbesartan+Curcumin had no any hypoglycemic effect in normoglycemic rats as well as diabetic rats.Conclusions: Irbesartan in combination with Curcumin has significant antihyperglycemic effects. At the same time, Irbesartan combined with Curcumin, does not produce hypoglycemia in normal as well as diabetic rats

Prostate cancer: emerging pharmacotherapeutic modalities

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the world due to factors like old age, family history, ethnicity, diet and some elements exposure, with lot of controversies regarding prevention of prostate cancer. Though the exact pathogenesis is not clear, epidemiological evidence supports a relationship between prostate cancer and hormone levels. In this review article we are focusing on the advances in different pharmacotherapeutic modalities i.e. Chemoprevention, Prostate-Specific Antigen, Hormone Therapy, Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, SERM, Vaccines, Cryotherapy, Watchful Waiting, Radiotherapy and Androgen Deprivation Therapy etc. and new possibilities with strategies to provide maximal benefits while effectively balancing risks for the prostate cancer treatment

A case study to know the level of awareness about pharmacogenomics and its clinical application among doctors of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Presently knowledge of pharmacogenomics is important for therapeutic purposes as well as for the prevention of many ADRs (adverse drug reactions). So this study was planned to know the level of awareness about pharmacogenomics and its clinical application among doctors of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.Methods: The study was done through a survey among 400 doctors by a questionnaire method. The questions were formulated to know the awareness and extent of knowledge of doctor. The answers were in yes and no and the data collected was calculated in percentage.Results: 79.75% doctors were well aware about pharmacogenomics. 13.0% doctors were not aware but wanted to know about it, while 7.25% of doctors were neither aware nor interested about pharmacogenomics.Conclusions: Most of the doctors were aware about the pharmacogenomics theoretically and they need to be updated about its clinical application in their practice by seminars, presentation and workshops

PHYSICOCHEMICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY ANALYSIS OF THE ROOT BARKS OF ONOSMA ECHIOIDES

  Objective: Onosma echioides (OE) L., family Boraginaceae, is most recurrently used remedial herb, which is extensively dispersed all over India. It is used as purgative, bladder obstacle, liver chaos, kidney obstruction, sciatic pain, and gout. The study was meant to carry out the physicochemical, phytochemical, and high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis on root bark of OE. Methods: The physicochemical parameters were carried out as per the World Health Organization guideline. The preliminary chemical test was performed as per pharmacopeia and conventional methods. Camag HPTLC system equipped with TLC autosampler 4 applicator, TLC scanner 3 and win CATS 1.4.4. Software was used for HPTLC analysis of plant extract with standard, i.e., shikonin. The extracts were developed using toluene:ethyl acetate:formic acid (5:4:0.3) as a mobile phases using standard procedures and scanned under ultraviolet 254 nm and 366 nm.Results: OE is composed of sterols, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycoside, saponin, and carbohydrates. The plant was found to be free from adulteration and contamination. The fluorescence characteristics of leaf powder were studied both in visible light and ultraviolet light (254 nm and 365 nm) after treatment with various reagents. The TLC plate showed several spots at different Rf when viewed under 254 nm, 366 nm. The HPTLC profile showed several peaks that indicated the presence of various phytochemicals along with its active constituent, i.e., shikonin.Conclusion: The study provides referential information for the standardization of the plant. The HPTLC profile will help in authentication and standardization of the plant

Effect of Kasni seed preparations on serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase levels in newly diagnosed patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Kasni (Cichorium intybus L.) reported to play an important role in the effective management of serum liver enzymes SGPT & SGOT in various animal models and this study is extension to newly diagnosed patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: Newly diagnosed 90 patients of Type2 DM, age 35-65years, of either sex were divided into 3 groups. In group I only Metformin sustained release once a day and in group II/III 6 grams crude seed powder or 50 ml decoction of crude seed powder was given twice a day for 90 days in combination with Metformin sustained release orally once in a day. Serum liver enzyme levels of SGPT & SGOT were measured at zero, 30th, 60th and 90th day.Results: All the three groups showed a significant reduction in SGPT & SGOT across the four time periods. Post hoc Tukey HSD test shown that there was a significant difference between group I & II (p=0.011) and group I & III (p=0.000) for SGPT and group I & II (p=0.012) and group I & III (p=0.000) for SGOT.Conclusions: The add on  therapy with Kasni seed preparations is more effective for the management of altered SGPT and SGOT levels in Type2 diabetes mellitus patients than only oral hypoglycaemic agent in decreasing SGPT & SGOT of selected patients. Among Kasni seed preparation treated groups, decoction was found more effective than crude seed powder.

Restriction on animal experimentation for medical education and research: pros and cons

Recently, a lot have been written and discussed about animal experiments and ethics. Still there is too much confusion among academicians and researchers about the future of use of animals in biomedical research and up to what extent their use in laboratory, research institutions, and medical colleges. This article highlighted and discussed about various aspects of this burning issue along with several pros and cons

Cost comparison of commonly used antidepressant drugs with drug price control order in India

Background: Price of a drug is an important factor for compliance to the treatment. So, to overcome the high prices of drugs, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under government of India has issued Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) list containing commonly used drugs. Pharmaceutical companies can be punished if they keep their prices higher than the ceiling price mentioned in the DPCO. To find out the price variations of commonly used antidepressant drugs included in DPCO list of 29th April 2019.Methods: A list of all oral antidepressant drugs included in DPCO of 29th April 2019 and available in Indian market was procured from medguide India. Analysis of number of total brands following as well as not following DPCO ceiling price was done.Results: Author found 17 formulations of four antidepressant drugs included in DPCO. Total 556 brands found out of which 84.6% were following the DPCO and 15.4% of brands prices were higher than the ceiling price of DPCO.Conclusions: Though large number of companies are following the DPCO but still strict regulation is needed to further increase the compliance of guidelines

The extent of price variation amongst branded antihypertensive drugs and its association with number of pharmaceutical companies

Background: The study was performed to analyze the extent of price variation amongst branded antihypertensive drugs in India and the relation of this price variation to number of pharmaceutical companies manufacturing/marketing these drugs.Methods: Price of different brands of antihypertensive drugs was collected from authentic sources. The data were segregated and the percentage price variation was calculated applying suitable statistical tools.Results: A total of 116 formulations from different companies representing 38 antihypertensive drugs were analyzed. Maximum price variation (3233.33%) was seen with 10 mg dose of propranolol. In general the price variations are proportionally correlated to the number of pharmaceutical companies.Conclusions: Price variation of great extent was found among many formulations. Physicians should be aware of these variations for choosing the appropriate brand for rational therapeutics. This will reduce the burden on patients and family

A retrospective analytical study of treatment outcomes among multi drug resistant tuberculosis patients

Background: India is amongst one of the high multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) burden countries globally with a huge contribution given by the state of Uttar Pradesh. Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis, initiated in 2007 has taken over the disorganized and unsupervised treatment practice in India. However, regular scrutiny is required which points out both its success and failure. Aim &amp; Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate final treatment outcomes among MDR-TB patients on standard Category IV regimen Settings and Design: Retrospective analysis was done using secondary data from medical records of all patients. Methods and Material: Data of all MDR-TB patients registered under RNTCP at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow from 2013 to 2016 was collected. Demographic details along with pre-defined treatment outcomes were recorded (cured, treatment completed, death, treatment failure, treatment default and transfer to higher centre). Statistical analysis used: Descriptive statistics using numbers and percentage. Results: The records of 3580 MDR tuberculosis patients registered at drug resistant tuberculosis centre in King George’s Medical University from January 2013 to December 2016 were included which consisted of 67%males and 33%female. Mean age of presentation was 31.17 years (95% CI 30.75-31.59). Mean weight of patients was 40.16 kg (95% CI 39.89-40.43). Year wise distribution of registered cases from 2013 to 2016 was 611, 799, 984 and 1186 patients respectively. Amongst 3580 patients, 30.39% were declared cured, 25.50% completed treatment, 21.39% died, 0.84% showed treatment failure, 12.54% were defaulters, 2.35% were transferred out to higher centre, 6.5% were shifted to regimen for Extensive drug resistant (EDR) TB, 0.16% patients needed to stop treatment due to ADR and 0.33% patient were still on treatment. Conclusion: The treatment success rate of MDR?TB patients is still low. Measures to improve treatment adherence as in National tuberculosis elimination programme (NTEP) attempts to further improve the success rate