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)

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

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

Alternative treatment for iron deficiency anemia: Irocbin versus sherbat Faulad

Abstract: The widespread reason of anemia is Iron deficiency in Pakistan and even worldwide. A clinical trial wasundertaken to assess the efficacy of Irocbin formulation for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia as compared toSherbat Faulad. The curative evaluations of these medicines were recorded in clinically and biochemically identifiedcases of iron deficiency anemia. The therapeutic evaluation of the different drugs both test and control drug wereconducted on the bases of improvement in the subjective signs and symptoms, clinical observations and biochemicalinvestigations at periodic intervals during the course of therapy. This data was collected in the period November 2010 toNovember 2012 and completed the clinical trials. According to the statistical analysis comparison of data recorded bypatients concerning to different variables, showed significant results between test and control groups (

Concise review on the insight of hepatitis C

AbstractHepatitis C is the disease of liver caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). Due to its widespread impact on human population, there is continued surge for new therapeutic agents to treat and reduce HCV. Hence, nowadays HCV is considered as global burden throughout the world. Advancements in therapeutic invention and clinical outcomes are dependent on HCV genome and diversity in nature, pathogenesis, dietary factors, social, economic and environmental factors. In this review we have focused mainly on HCV genome, its history and clinical outcomes from its discovery to present day research.In this article the authors have reviewed the published data from year 1997 to 2014. The topics of main concerns were hepatitis C with diverse nature and recent advances in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. The authors used MeSH terms “Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)”, recent advances in the treatment of “HCV”, “HCV and Immunity”, “vaccination”, or “Interferon therapy” to search the PubMed database.All relevant studies identified were included and are described according to the subheadings. Recent advancement in molecular biology and experimental techniques has opened new insights into the pathophysiology of HCV which is helping in combating this life threatening disease.Although the response to current treatment regimen for HCV is improved however complete recovery from the disease is still a challenge which requires more extensive studies from basic science research to large multicenter clinical trials

QUALITY CONTROL TESTING OF VARIOUS SAMPLES OF PEPPERMINT OIL COLLECTED FROM LOCAL MARKET OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Menthol is the most commonly used substance in many cosmetics and pharmaceutical products either as an active ingredient or in the form of excipient. In the present study, different samples of commercially available peppermint oil were subjected to standardization by determination of physicochemical characteristics, acid value, and resinified oil content. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) has been used to confirm the presence of menthol. The result showed that the quality control test performed for the evaluation of the physicochemical parameters of peppermint oil can be considered useful in its standardization. The results of acid value and the resinified oil tests, carried out on the raw material, have found to be within the standard limits. The results indicated specified number of free fatty acids and absence of greasy impurities. The data obtained from the study would be useful in the authentication of the commercial peppermint oil samples. In TLC studies, the Rf value of the active constituent has been determined by comparison with its standard spot. This technique may be used as a tool for the correct identification of the active constituent which could help in the standardization of the peppermint oil samples