In vitro and In vivo Validation of Folk Lore Claims of Thymus serpyllum

Traditional medicinal plants have a long history of therapeutic use. The beneficial health effects of medicinal plants is often attributed to their potent antioxidant activities due to the presence of secondary metabolites like the polyphenols, since diets rich in antioxidants are epidemiologically associated with a decreased incidence of age-related diseases in humans. Thymus serpyllum commonly known as Jawand in Kashmir is used as a culinary herb, as well as for aromatizing and traditional medicinal purposes. In the present study, the hexane, ethyl-acetate, ethanol, methanol and the aqueous extracts of Thymus serpyllum were studied for the antioxidant, antimicrobial and the anti inflammatory activities. The antioxidant activity was checked by four different methods- DPPH assay, lipid peroxidation assay of liver microsomes, lipid peroxidation assay and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay. The ethyl-acetate, butanol, ethanol, methnol and the aqueous extracts of Thymus serpyllum showed good antioxidant activities, but the methanolic extract being the most active one causing 89.84%, 57.32%, 66.8% and 77.14% inhibition of the radical activity in DPPH assay, lipid peroxidation assay of liver microsomes, lipid peroxidation assay and the hydroxyl radical scavenging assay respectively. The antimicrobial activity was checked by broth micro dilution method. The ethyl-acetate and the methanolic extract were found to be active against bacteria (both gram positive and gram negative) and fungi with MIC values ranging from 2000 to 4000μg/ml. The anti inflammatory activity was assessed by using the model of carregeenen induced edema in rats. The butanolic extract was found to beneficial against inflammation, causing a reduction of 25.23% and 56.07% of edema at doses 250mg/Kg body weight and 500mg/Kg body weight respectively

Rectal diclofenac reduces the risk and severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis: a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled study.

Background: Pancreatitis is the most common and feared complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and its frequency is generally about 1 to 10%. A number of drugs have been used to reduce the frequency of post-ERCP pancreatitis but with conflicting results. We assessed the whether the use of diclofenac administered as rectal suppository would reduce the frequency of post-ERCP pancreatitis. Methods: A total of 925 patients were randomly assigned in a double blind fashion to receive diclofenac given as rectal suppository of100mg (467 patients) or inert placebo (458 patients) 15 min before ERCP. Serum amylase levels and patient and procedure related risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis were prospectively evaluated for all patients. Results The overall frequency of post-ERCP pancreatitis was 3.56%, compared to placebo, diclofenac significantly reduced the frequency (5.02% vs 2.1%; p = 0.01) as well as severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis (placebo, 19 mild, 2 moderate, 2 severe; diclofenac, 9 mild, 1 moderate, 0 severe; p = 0.02). Conclusions: Prophylactic administration of rectal diclofenac reduces the frequency and severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis

Prospective, randomized and controlled study of the efficacy of rabeprozole and placebo in the treatment of nonerosive reflux disease.

Background: Nonerosive reflux disease is defined as the presence of typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in absence of visible esophageal mucosal injury at endoscopy. 24 hour ph study is needed to define the sub group. Treatment with the acid inhibitory agents is effective, proton pump inhibitors are most effective form of therapy. Clinical results to date suggest that anti-secretory therapy may be less effective in providing symptom relief for the patients nonerosive reflux disease than the patients with erosive disease. Objective: To assess prospectively effectiveness of proton pump inhibitors in nonerosive reflux disease Methods: A total of 200 patients with nonerosive reflux disease were randomized to receive placebo (98) or rabeprozole (102) for 6 months, with consultations at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 6 months. The primary end points were change in the severity of heart burn and regurgitation at the above mention periods. Results: Demographics of the randomized in each group were comparable except that placebo group included more males. The baseline characteristics between two groups were similar. After 6 month of treatment, reduction of visual analogue scale (VAS) of heartburn was prominent in treatment group (63% vs. 15%). At 3 weeks and six weeks, treatment group showed greater reduction of VAS for heart burn (p<0.01). Patients of the treatment group had lower frequency of heartburn (p<0.01) and regurgitation (p<0.01) at the end of the 6 month treatment. For the adverse effects, there was no difference in the both groups. Conclusions: Rabeprozole was more effective than placebo of the treatment of symptoms presented by the patients with nonerosive reflux disease, who had positive 24 hour ph study