Protective effects of Majun Brahmi on aluminium-induced cognitive impairment in rats: Biochemical and behavioral changes

Background: The Unani formulation Majun Brahmi (MB), a combination of herbs, is used in India as a brain tonic and memory enhancer. Aluminium deposition in the brain is associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Aims and Objectives: The present study was designed to observe that the effects of MB have been evaluated on aluminium trichloride or aluminium chloride (AlCl3)-induced cognitive impairment in an experimental rat model. Materials and Methods: Twenty male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups of five rats each. AlCl3 was administered orally for 30 days to induce cognitive impairment. Group I received saline, Group II-AlCl3 (100 mg/kg b.wt), Group III-MB (1027.77 mg/kg b.wt), and Group IV-AlCl3 + MB (100 mg/kg b.wt+1027.77 mg/kg b.wt). At the end of the experiment, rats were subjected to behavioral and biochemical assessments. Results: Animals treated with AlCl3 showed a significant increase in time to reach the platform in the Morris water maze test (MWM), prolonged transfer latency (TL) in the elevated plus maze, and decreased step-down latency in the passive avoidance test, as compared to controls (P<0.01). Cotreatment with MB resulted in a reduced time to reach the platform in MWM, increased step-down latencies, and decreased TL. AlCl3 induction significantly increased malondialdehyde and decreased superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, and catalase levels. Concomitant administration of MB significantly attenuated the effects AlCl3 on lipid peroxidation and restored the reduced antioxidant parameters. Conclusion: The study provides strong evidence for the potential use of MB in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease

Diborane as a reducing agent: Part VIII–Reduction of trifluoroacetylindoles to trifluoroethyl- and hydroxytrifluoroethylindoles and novel dimeric 2-trifluoro-l[1'-(3'-alkylindolino)]ethylboranes

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Elderly population has higher prevalence of polypharmacy associated with poor quality of life and low compliance after recovery from COVID-19

Background: Long term effects of COVID are not fully understood yet. The geriatric population has been badly affected. The impact of COVID-19 on the health-related quality of life after recovery and patient compliance is a matter of concern especially in the geriatric population where polypharmacy is often prevalent. Aims and Objectives: This study intended to observe the occurrence of polypharmacy (PP) among COVID-19 recovered older patients with multimorbidity and explore its association with health-related quality of life and compliance in these patients. Materials and Methods: Total 90 patients, above 60 years of age having two or more co-morbidities and recovered from COVID-19 infection were included in this cross-sectional study. Number of pills taken daily by each patient was noted, to determine the occurrence of PP. WHO-QOL-BREF was used to assess the effect of PP on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Medication adherence was measured using a self-reported questionnaire. Results: PP was found in 94.4% while hyper polypharmacy was found in 45.56% of patients. The overall mean score of HRQOL in patients with PP was 187.91 ± 32.98, indicating poor quality of life with PP (p value 0.0014) whereas the overall mean score of HRQOL in patients with hyper polypharmacy was 177.41 ± 26.11, showing poor quality of life with hyper polypharmacy (p value 0.0005). Increased number of pills corelated with poor quality of life (r =0.49). The medication adherence was found to be poor in patients who received mean number of pills 10.44 ± 2.62 whereas the adherence was good if the mean number of pills was 8.20 ± 2.63, (p value of 0.0001). Conclusion: Polypharmacy is highly prevalent among COVID-19 recovered patients and is associated with poor quality of life as well as poor medication adherence

Anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antinociceptive activity of <i style="">Terminalia arjuna</i> Roxb bark powder in mice and rats

577-583Terminalia arjuna back powder (400 mg/kg,po) significantly reduced formalin-indued paw oedema at 24 h but not carrageenan-induced paw oedema. It significantly increased the anti-SRBC antibody titre in the secondary phase of immune response. The same dose significantly reduced the duration of licks and bites in both phases of formalin-induced pain response and showed significant increase in tail flick latency at higher dose (800mg/kg,po). These effects of T.arjuna were antagonised by pretreatment with naloxone (1mg/kg,ip). In another series of experiments, mice pretreated with morphine for three days in increasing doses (10, 15, 20 mg/kg, ip; twice daily) showed a decreased response in antinociceptive activity of morphine (5 mg/kg, ip). Further, cross tolerance was observed with T.arjuna (800mg/kg, po) in morphine tolerant animals. These findings support the hypothesis that T.arjuna has anti-inflammatory potential against some phlogistic agents along with some immunomodulatory activity and also has antinococeptive action probably mediated via central opioid receptors

Comparative effect of <i style="">Ocimum sanctum, Commiphora mukul</i>, folic acid and ramipril on lipid peroxidation in experimentally-induced hyperlipidemia

299-305Treatment with C. mukul and O. sanctum, showed a significant decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels respectively. O. sanctum also significantly increased serum HDL-cholesterol compared to control. Serum MDA levels were significantly reduced in all the treated groups compared to control suggesting that each of the drugs under study were effective in their free radical scavenging action. Erythrocyte SOD activity was increased in all the treatment groups with C. mukul showing the maximum effect followed by O. sanctum, folic acid and ramipril. The erythrocyte CAT activity was significantly increased in all the drug treated groups with maximum increase seen in O. sanctum and ramipril treated groups, whereas lesser effects were observed with C. mukul and folic acid groups. Thus, the indigenous drugs, C. mukul and O. sanctum had beneficial effect on hypercholesterolemic rabbit model, both in terms of lipid profile as well as antioxidant potential. Ocimum sanctum was found to be the most promising of all the drugs. Moreover, it could be hypothesized that these plant products along with folic acid and ramipril can be explored for synergistic effect for treatment for hypercholesterolemic conditions.</b