PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF KADUKKAI MAATHIRAI (TERMINALIA CHEBULA-BASED POLYHERBAL SIDDHA FORMULATION) IN ETHANOL-INDUCED LIVER DISEASE IN RATS

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prophylactic effect of Kadukkai maathirai (KM) against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.Methods: Four groups (n=6) of adult female Sprague–Dawley rats were used. Ethanol was administered in the dose of 45% v/v 15 mL/kg/body weight twice a day for 8 weeks in the study. The four groups were treated orally for 8 weeks with 2% gum acacia (control), ethanol (toxic control), ethanol + KM 72 mg/kg, and ethanol + KM 400 mg/kg, respectively. At the end of 8 weeks, blood was collected by a retro-orbital puncture for the estimation of liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]). The liver was dissected out for histopathology. Using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test, the data were analyzed.Results: There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the serum AST and ALT level in rats treated with KM 72 mg/kg as compared to toxic control. Liver parenchyma showed near normal architecture in KM 72 mg/kg-treated group as compared to ethanol-treated group which showed extensive ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes and microvesicular steatosis.Conclusion: KM, in the dose of 72 mg/kg, which is the therapeutic dosage described in Siddha additional literature, exerted hepatoprotective effect against ethanol-induced liver damage in rats

A retrospective study of serious adverse drug reactions and associated risk factors in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) cause physical, psychological and economic harm to patients and society. This study was undertaken to understand serious ADRs in a tertiary care hospital and risk factors associated with it.Methods: The serious adverse reactions that occurred over a one-year period were assessed. The serious adverse drug reactions, action taken, outcome, predictability, suspect drug, causality, patient demographics and risk factors for the reaction was collected. Chi-square test was applied for observing relationships of predisposing factors for serious ADRs.Results: Out of a total of 984 reported adverse drug reactions, 94 (9.55%) were serious. Hematological disorders (41.05%) were the common serious ADRs followed by electrolyte disturbances (18.94%). Anticancer agents were the suspect drugs for majority of serious ADRs. Serious ADRs contributed to 39 (0.05%) admissions in the hospital. Recovery occurred in 97.87% of the patients. The causality was possible in 91.48% (n=86) and probable in 8.51% (n=8) of the serious adverse drug reactions. Males, patients even with a single concomitant disease and those with more than 2 concomitant medications were at increased risk (p<0.05) for developing serious ADRs.Conclusions: Serious ADRs are a significant problem in health care. Measures should be taken to detect and treat them at the earliest to reduce suffering of the patient

Drug prescribing pattern in ulcerative colitis in a tertiary care hospital: an observational study

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of colon and rectum of uncertain etiology. The clinical course of UC is marked by exacerbations and remissions. Furthermore there is limited data available on the management of ulcerative colitis from India. Hence, the present study was undertaken to study the drug prescribing pattern in ulcerative colitis.Methods: A retrospective case record based observational study was done at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, India from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2010. Patients diagnosed to have UC during our study period based on clinical, endoscopic and histopathological evidence were included in the study. SPSS 17 software package was used for statistical calculations. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data.Results: The total number of patients diagnosed to have UC during our study period was 83.The peak incidence of disease was in the age group of 30-39 years and it was more common in males. The prescription rate of aminosalicylates, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants were 96.3, 54.3, and 18.5% respectively. Mesalamine, prednisolone, and azathioprine were the commonly prescribed drugs in each class. The commonly prescribed treatment regimen was combination of aminosalicylates with glucocorticoids (43.2%).Conclusions: Ulcerative colitis was more common in males. Aminosalicylates were the commonly prescribed drugs and a combination of aminosalicylate and steroid was frequently used regimen in our study

Evaluation of effect of aqueous extract of leaves of Calotropis procera in pentylenetetrazole induced seizures in rats

Background: The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of leaves of Calotropis procera in wistar rats.Methods: An aqueous extract of leaves of Calotropis procera was prepared. The effect of acute and chronic administration of the extract was tested in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in wistar rats. Four groups, each containing 6 rats, were used to evaluate acute and chronic effects of the extract. The four groups were treated with distilled water 10 mL/kg (control group), Valproic acid 200 mg/kg (standard), aqueous extract of C. procera 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg respectively. In acute study, PTZ (60 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was given 1 h after drugs were administered. In chronic study, all drugs were given for 6 weeks following which PTZ was given 1 h after last dose of each drug. The time taken for the onset of myoclonic jerk, seizures and duration of seizures was recorded. GABA levels were estimated in the brain homogenate. Data was analysed by one way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s test.Results: Acute and chronic administration of the extract significantly increased the time to onset of first clonus and seizures and decreased the total duration of seizures. There was no significant change in GABA levels.Conclusions: Both acute and chronic administration of aqueous extract of leaves of Calotropis procera in Wistar rats inhibited pentylenetetrazole induced seizures in rats

Students’ attitude toward didactic lecture versus problem-based learning in pharmacology: a questionnaire based study

Background: The study was conducted to assess student attitude toward learning by didactic lectures versus problem-based learning (PBL).Methods: A questionnaire containing 11 statements was distributed to the students. Statements ranged from general information on lectures and PBL to benefits of lecture-based learning (LBL) over PBL and vice versa. The students were asked to score each individual statement. The median total scores and median with inter-quartile range of individual statements was calculated. A comparison between questions that support LBL or PBL was performed. Student t-test was employed to compare the mean scores of different groups.Results: Two hundred and seven students participated in this questionnaire study. The individual median total score was 42 when compared with possible total score of 55. There was a statistically significant (p<0.05) difference between the total score (mean±standard deviation) for the questions related to LBL (3.2391±0.05120) and those related to PBL (4.0640±0.05688).Conclusion: The score for PBL was significantly higher than LBL showing that students liked PBL more than LBL

The wound healing property of ethanolic extract of Michelia champaca flowers in diabetic rats

Background: The plant Michelia champaca (MC) is widely used in the treatment of inflammation, constipation, dysmenorrhea, ulcers, wounds, fever, and cough. The aim was to evaluate the wound healing property of ethanolic extract of MCflowers in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.Methods: Wound healing activity was assessed by incision and excision wound models. Five groups of n=6 rats and n=14 rats were used for incision and excision wound models, respectively. Group I rats, non-diabetic control and Group II rats diabetic control, received 1 ml of 0.5% caboxymethylcellolose, which was used to prepare a suspension of ethanolic extracts of MC. Group III, IV and V rats were given MC extract the suspension of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg respectively. Parameters observed were breaking strength of incision wound and wound contraction, epithelialization, hydroxyproline content of excision wound respectively. Results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test.Results: Breaking strength, rate of wound contraction and hydroxyproline content were significantly increased, and the period of epithelialization was significantly reduced in Group IV and V rats respectively.Conclusion: Oral administration of ethanolic extract of MC promotes wound healing in diabetic rats. Hence, further study in humans is suggested

A study of effect of acute and chronic administration of aqueous extract of Calotropis procera leaves on maximal electroshock induced seizures in rats

Background: The effect of acute and chronic administration of aqueous extract of leaves of Calotropis procera on maximal electroshock (MES) induced seizures in rats was evaluated.Methods: Four groups of wistar rats were treated with distilled water 10 mL/kg (oral), phenytoin 25 mg/kg (intraperitoneal), 250mg/kg (oral) and 500mg/kg (oral) of aqueous extract of leaves of C procera, respectively in both acute and chronic studies. For producing maximal electroshock seizures, an electroconvulsiometer was used to deliver an electric stimulus of 150mA for 0.2 sec. The duration of hind limb extension (HLE) and seizures were noted in seconds (sec). In the acute study, the shock was given 1 h after administration of drugs. For the chronic study, all drugs were administered for 6 weeks. One hour after the last dose of drugs, the shock was administered. Data was analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test.Results: There was a significant decrease in the duration of hind limb extension, and convulsions as compared to control following acute (p<0.01 vs control) and chronic (p<0.05 vs control) administration of aqueous extract of leaves of Calotropis procera in rats.Conclusions: The study demonstrated that aqueous extract of C procera leaves resulted in significant protection against maximal electroshock induced seizures in rats

EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CYANOTIS CRISTATA LEAVES APPLIED TOPICALLY ON WOUND HEALING IN WISTAR RATS

  Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of ethanolic extract of Cyanotis cristata leaves when applied topically on healing of wound in Wistar rats.Methods: C. cristata leaves were evaluated for its effect on healing of wound in three models, namely, incision, excision, and burn wound. Each model included five groups, each consisting of 6 rats. The five groups were as follows: Group I rats (control and ointment base), Group II rats (standard and silver sulfadiazine), and Group III, Group IV, Group V (treated with C. cristata extract ointment of 0.5%, 1%, and 2%, respectively). Variables evaluated included breaking strength in incision wound while it was contraction rate and epithelialization in excision and burn wound. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test was used to analyze data.Result: In incision wound, breaking strength in test group was significantly increased (p&lt;0.001) as compared to control. In excision and burn wound of test group, time to epithelialization and contraction rate was significantly decreased (p&lt;0.001). The granulation tissue from excision and burn wound showed increased collagen and less inflammatory cells in test groups in comparison to the control.Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of leaves of C. cristata, when applied topically, enhanced wound strength and accelerated healing of incision, excision, and burn wounds in rats

Anticonvulsant activity of gap-junctional blocker carbenoxolone in albino rats

Background: Gap junctions (GJs) are clusters of channels that connect the interiors of adjoining neurons and mediate electrical/electrotonic coupling by transfer of ions and small molecules. Electrotonic coupling between principal neurons via GJs is increasingly recognized as one of the mechanisms in the pathogenesis of the abnormal neuronal synchrony that occurs during seizures. Carbenoxolone the succinyl ester of glycyrrhetinic acid obtained from liquorice has been shown to have the property of blocking gap junctional intercellular communication. The objectives were to study if carbenoxolone has in-vivo anticonvulsive activity in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES) seizure models and to probe the functional role of GJs in seizures.Methods: Carbenoxolone was tested for anticonvulsive effect in albino rats subjected to seizures by the PTZ and MES at three doses 100 m/kg, 200 m/kg, 300 m/kg. In the PTZ model parameters observed were seizure protection, seizure latency and seizure duration. In the MES model parameters observed were seizure protection and seizure duration.Results: The results showed that the carbenoxolone has anticonvulsant activity in both PTZ and MES induced seizures with better protection in the PTZ induced seizures. In the PTZ model carbenoxolone produced a statistically significant increase in seizure latency, decrease in seizure duration and seizure protection. In the MES model carbenoxolone produced a statistically significant decrease in seizure duration.Conclusions: Carbenoxolone has in-vivo anticonvulsive effect and could be useful in both petitmal (absence) seizures and grand mal (generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy) seizures. The protective effect of carbenoxolone could be due to blockade of GJ channels that mediate electro tonic coupling and thereby prevent the neural synchronization that is characteristic of seizures. The study also supports the view that GJs have a functional role in the electrophysiology of seizures and GJ blockers have potential as a new class of antiepileptic drugs

Antiretroviral therapy outcome in human immuno-deficiency virus infected patients in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presently accounts for the highest number of deaths due to any infective agent in the world. The present study assessed the one year treatment outcome following antiretroviral therapy in HIV positive, treatment naïve patients in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: Adult HIV positive, antiretroviral treatment naive patients who were started on antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 1st January 2011 and 31st May 2013 were included in the study. Data was collected from their case records. CD4+cell count, haemoglobin level, weight, occurrence of opportunistic infections (OIs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were analysed at baseline, 6 and 12 months following start of antiretroviral therapy. Data was analysed using parametric and nonparametric tests.Results: Data of 325 patients was analysed. Overall, the median increase in CD4+ count at 1 year after initiation of treatment was observed to be clinically significant. Patients on tenofovir based regimen showed a significantly greater increase in the median CD4+ count (P = 1.12×10-05) and haemoglobin (P = 0.002) as compared to those on non-tenofovir based regimen. A total of 151 ADRs were recorded in the study, of which the most common were skin rash 24%, anaemia and gastrointestinal side effects 17% each. Frequency of opportunistic infections gradually declined after ART. At the end of 1 year of treatment, the cumulative loss to follow up was 7.4%.Conclusions: By following the current national guidelines, the desired immunological and clinical response following initiation of ART can be achieved while minimizing drug toxicity