Investigating library operational issues being faced by medical university librarians in Islamabad.

Medical libraries are continual sources of knowledge and information. Without this knowledge and information, there will be no researcher, teacher, and doctor. Libraries cannot share knowledge with knowledge seekers alone. In this scenario, the role of the librarian becomes very influential. A librarian is an information services provider. The providence of these services is dependent on the facilities which are required by librarians. Realizing the importance of this issue the researcher has carried out research to investigate issues faced by librarians while operating medical library services. This study was related to quantitative research methodology; therefore, the researcher adopted quantitative research methodology for this research work. The presented issue in this study was solved through collecting data, with the help of using different techniques associated with data collection techniques, description of collected data, analyzing collected data and then finding the solution to the problem after a detailed analysis of data. In this study, the university libraries located in Islamabad were the population of the study to collect data regarding library operational issues in medical university libraries in Islamabad. The findings of the study show that medical librarians are facing numerous issues. These issues are impending medical librarians to operate library services in effective and appropriate ways. So, this research work suggests that the budget of libraries should be increased, medical librarians should be trained to meet their challenges, and medical resources and digital resources ought to be augmented in the respective universities in Islamabad. The aforementioned strategies can be useful for medical libraries and can enable librarians to operate their library services in more influential and effective ways in terms of information providers

Neuro-pharmacological, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of crude extract of Cicuta virosa

Cicutavirosa is commonly known as Water Hemlock and traditionally known as poisonous plants. In the present research work central nervous system (CNS), analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects were assessed in mice and rats. The crude extract showed anxiolytic response at 100 mg/kg which was evaluated through open field, head dip, light and dark, cage cross and swimming test. In open field (73.33±3.28) and light and dark test (time spent in light 5.16±1.07 min.) the movements of mice were increased as compare to standard drugs, whereas in forced swimming test (FST) themean forced mobility was reduced to 1.16±0.02 seconds. At the dose of 500mg/kg of C. virosa, CNS inhibition was observed in cage cross test and dip cage activity. The results of locomotor and exploratory activity were also found reduced in comparison to control and standard Diazepam (2 mg/kg-1). Analgesic activity was evaluated by acetic acid and formalin method. The abdominal constrictions were observed. C. virosa at the dose of 50 mg/kg exhibited maximum inhibition of writhes, in first phase (57.67%) second (3.26%) and third phase (0%). The results of analgesic activity was compared with aspirin (orally administered, 300 mg/kg). C. virosaalso significantly inhibited formalin induced licking and biting response at the dose of 50mg/kg. Anti-inflammatory effect was observed by carrageenan induced edema at 300 and 500 mg/kg doses of C. virosa. Maximum inhibition of edema was observed at 500mg/kg (23.07%). The results of neuropharmacological, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of C. virosawere found significant at P ≤ 0.05.

Neuro-pharmacological, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of crude extract of Cicuta virosa

Cicutavirosa is commonly known as Water Hemlock and traditionally known as poisonous plants. In the present research work central nervous system (CNS), analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects were assessed in mice and rats. The crude extract showed anxiolytic response at 100 mg/kg which was evaluated through open field, head dip, light and dark, cage cross and swimming test. In open field (73.33±3.28) and light and dark test (time spent in light 5.16±1.07 min.) the movements of mice were increased as compare to standard drugs, whereas in forced swimming test (FST) themean forced mobility was reduced to 1.16±0.02 seconds. At the dose of 500mg/kg of C. virosa, CNS inhibition was observed in cage cross test and dip cage activity. The results of locomotor and exploratory activity were also found reduced in comparison to control and standard Diazepam (2 mg/kg-1). Analgesic activity was evaluated by acetic acid and formalin method. The abdominal constrictions were observed. C. virosa at the dose of 50 mg/kg exhibited maximum inhibition of writhes, in first phase (57.67%) second (3.26%) and third phase (0%). The results of analgesic activity was compared with aspirin (orally administered, 300 mg/kg). C. virosaalso significantly inhibited formalin induced licking and biting response at the dose of 50mg/kg. Anti-inflammatory effect was observed by carrageenan induced edema at 300 and 500 mg/kg doses of C. virosa. Maximum inhibition of edema was observed at 500mg/kg (23.07%). The results of neuropharmacological, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of C. virosawere found significant at P ≤ 0.05.

Evaluation of anti-microbial potential of some medicinal plants

The ethanolic extracts of the eight medicinal plants were tested to determine antibacterial activities against fourteen gram positive and twenty two gram negative bacteria. Five out of eight extracts revealed prominent antibacterial activity. Ampicillin was used as a standard for anti-bacterial activity. The significant zone of inhibition was exhibited by Digitalis purpurae (23±2) against Corynebacterium hofmanii. Sambucus nigra and Urtica urens exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (12 mg/ml) against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus fecalis. Saprophytes, dermatophytes and yeasts were used to screen antifungal activities of these selected medicinal plants. Griseofulvin was used as a standard anti-fungal drug. Four out of eight of the tested plant extracts had significant antifungal activity. Urtica uren produced the most significant zone of inhibition (32±1) against Rhizopus specie. Whereas the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration was exhibited by Urtica urens (20mg/ml) against Aspergillus flavus. The above results justify the use of medicinal plants and its extracts in the formulation of anti-microbial medicaments

Neuropharmacological and biological activities of Fumaria indica

Crude extract of Fumaria indica was assessed for neuro-pharmacological, analgesic antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. It decreases muscle tone as indicated by swimming induced depression test (2.41/6 min, 2.56/6 min; at the dose of 500 and 300 mg/kg respectively), it also produces dose dependant (200, 300, 500 mg/kg) increase in traction time and reduces exploratory behaviour therefore, has significant muscle relaxant and anxiolytic effect (p≤0.05) as compared to standard drugs diazepam and imipramine. The results of analgesic activity (writhing and hot plate test) were highly significant as the mean number of writhes for drug treated animals was reduced (62.7% at 500 mg/kg) as compared to the control group and reference drug aspirin. The present study also revealed that the extract of F. indica has potential to inhibit the growth against different pathogenic bacteria and fungi in vivo. Over all the F. indica has significant CNS depressant action with moderate analgesic and antifungal effects. 

Neuropharmacological and biological activities of Fumaria indica

Crude extract of Fumaria indica was assessed for neuro-pharmacological, analgesic antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. It decreases muscle tone as indicated by swimming induced depression test (2.41/6 min, 2.56/6 min; at the dose of 500 and 300 mg/kg respectively), it also produces dose dependant (200, 300, 500 mg/kg) increase in traction time and reduces exploratory behaviour therefore, has significant muscle relaxant and anxiolytic effect (p≤0.05) as compared to standard drugs diazepam and imipramine. The results of analgesic activity (writhing and hot plate test) were highly significant as the mean number of writhes for drug treated animals was reduced (62.7% at 500 mg/kg) as compared to the control group and reference drug aspirin. The present study also revealed that the extract of F. indica has potential to inhibit the growth against different pathogenic bacteria and fungi in vivo. Over all the F. indica has significant CNS depressant action with moderate analgesic and antifungal effects.