An Integrated Approach to Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency is a common nutritional disorder in developing countries and contributes significantly to reduced work productivity and economic output as well as to increased morbidity and mortality. There are well-established biochemical tests for assessing iron status in developed countries. However, cost and interference from infectious conditions make it difficult to assess iron status in many developing country settings. Examination of the hemoglobin distribution in the population and assessment of the hemoglobin response to supplementation are alternative approaches to define iron status and the nature of anemia. Prevention and control of iron deficiency requires the combined approach of dietary improvement, fortification of a common staple food when feasible, and appropriate iron supplementation for infants and pregnant women. In all these intervention activities, operational research is needed to improve effectiveness. In addition, controlling iron deficiency requires coordination with other nutrition and primary health care programs as part of an integrated approach to improved health and nutrition of the population. A randomized, controlled double-blind clinical trial was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of herbal medicinal treatment syrup Sharbat-a-Folad versus syrup Ferplex for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA)

Fatty acid composition of three species of Hypnea (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from Karachi coast

Hypnea musciformis (Wulf.) Lamour., H. pannosa J. Ag. and H. valentiae (Turn.) Mont., collected from the northern Arabian Sea coast of Pakistan, have been investigated for their fatty acid compositions through GC-MS. Palmitic acid was present in largest quantity (55-57%) and oleic was the major (7.6-8.4%) unsaturated fatty acid. Pentacosanoic and hexacosenoic acids are being reported for the first time from any species of Hypnea. The three species differed remarkably due to their habitat ecology

Acyclic diterpene alcohols isolated from four algae of Bryopsidophyceae and their toxicity

Three new acylic diterpenoids belonging to the class of phytol series have been isolated. They were obtained from the ethyl acetate soluble fractions of four siphonaceous green seaweeds, Bryopsis pennata Lamour., Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Ag., Codium decorticatum (Woodw.) Howe and Valoniopsis pachynema (Mart.) Børg., collected from Karachi coast of Pakistan. Structures of these compounds were elucidated with the help of spectroscopic methods and confirmed by comparison with the known compounds. Even the known compounds are being reported for the first time from a green algal source. All the compounds were found to display a strong toxicity at all the three concentrations tested in the brine shrimp bioassay

Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Strategies of Herbal Medicine for Acute Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common gastrointestinal problem characterized by loose watery stool and mild to severe dehydration. Annually, about 1.7–5 billion new cases of diarrhea were reported. In developing countries, it is more common, where young kids have diarrhea approximately three times/year. In 2013, 1.26 million deaths occurred due to diarrhea, whereas in 1990, the figure was slightly higher (2.58 million). In 2012, diarrhea was the second most common reason of death (11%, n = 0.76 million) in children less than 5 years. Although various synthetic drugs are being prescribed as standard therapy for diarrhea, they have side effects. It is possible to prescribe the herbal medicine for diarrhea, which is safe and effective. In this study, medicinal plants discussed are proven to be scientifically active in diarrheal diseases. This study reviews about current medicinal plants used in the treatment of diarrhea. The use of medicinal plants for diarrhea results in improvement of the symptom. Moreover, studies on large scale are needed to characterize the beneficial role of medicinal plants in the treatment of diarrhea

A novel HPTLC method for quantitative estimation of biomarkers in polyherbal formulation

AbstractObjectiveTo explore the quantitative estimation of biomarkers gallic acid and berberine in polyherbal formulation Entoban syrup.MethodsHigh performance thin layer chromatography was performed to evaluate the presence of gallic acid and berberine employing toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid: methanol 12:9:4:0.5 (v/v/v/v) and ethanol: water: formic acid 90:9:1 (v/v/v), as a mobile phase respectively.ResultsThe Rf values (0.58) for gallic acid and (0.76) for berberine in both sample and reference standard were found comparable under UV light at 273 nm and 366 nm respectively. The high performance thin layer chromatography method developed for quantization was simple, accurate and specific.ConclusionsThe present standardization provides specific and accurate tool to develop qualifications for identity, transparency and reproducibility of biomarkers in Entoban syrup

Anti-nociceptive activities of medicinal plants: A Review

Medicinal plants are traditionally used in worldwide as analgesic and for treatment of inflammatory disorders. In the present review, the antinociceptive effects of plants have been discussed. Medicinal plants are gaining popularity among population due to low cost and best efficacy. Pain is symptom of various illnesses and drugs that relive pain is a subject of pharmaceutical research. Objective of this article is to document the plants having anti-nociceptive activities. Material for this review was taken mostly from textbooks & electronic journal Up to date. To collect publication PubMed, google scholars and the Cochrane database of systematic reviews was used. Some other relevant references were collected from personal database of papers on antinociceptive. A total of 76 reports on plants have been found to report such activities. While 7 reports were explained in detail, 69 plants were mentioned having activities. This review will summarize medicinal plants or their constituents with analgesic-like activity from the chemical and pharmacological perspectives. The data show that these medicinal plants have potential to treat pain and may be helpful for therapeutic purposes

Monograph of Holarrhena antidysenterica (linn.) Wall

Holarrhena Antidysenterica is a very significant herbal drug in Unani system of medicine and Ayurvedic system of medicine. This meticulous herb was used to treat a variety of infectious diseases especially in Staphylococcus aureus, Entamoeba histolytica and Escherichia coli. It is a large tree of 30 to 40 feet in height grows widely on the mountains. A large number of pharmacological studies have been done on the bark and seed of the tree.Keywords: Holarrhena Antidysenterica, Conessine, amoebic dysenter

Antihypertensive, antidyslipidemic and endothelial modulating activities of Orchis mascula

The objective of this study was to investigate the possible mode(s) of action for the medicinal use of Orchis mascula (OM) (family Orchidaceae) in hypertension and dyslipidemia. In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), OM significantly (

EFFICACY AND TOXICITY STUDIES OF LINKUS AND INSTY ANTIPYRETIC POLYHERBAL MEDICINES

Linkus and insty are polyherbal medicines that are known to possess a variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, expectorant, bronchodilator, antispasmodic, antipyretic, mucolytic, etc. In this study, preclinical efficacy and toxicity of linkus and insty antipyretic extracts have been determined on animal models with yeast induced pyrexia. It has been found that linkus and instypolyherbal products possess significant antipyretic activity and exhibited no toxicity. They were found to have antipyretic activity similar to paracetamol, which was used as a control in this study. This work has provided genuine in-house generated information reflecting efficacy and toxicity of linkus and insty antipyretics, which will facilitate the registration process of these agents