Evaluation of Antibacterial Potential of Artemisinin Extracts of Artemisia Annua In Vivo and In Vitro

To ensure universal health care, the World Health Organization recognized the significance of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and recommended the use of natural herbs and plants bearing therapeutic potential and fewer adverse effects. Therefore, Artemisia annua herb was evaluated for its antibacterial potential and therapeutic efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus and Escherichia coli both in vitro and in vivo. Artemisinin was extracted from Artemisia annua by chemical treatment. Subsequently, the culture sensitivity tests were performed on MHA by disk diffusion method to determine the antibacterial potential of the Artemisinin extracts against the test bacteria (in vitro phase). The results of this in vitro trial revealed that the test bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus were significantly sensitive to Artemisinin extracts and showed a diameter of 27.7 and 22.3 mm of the bacteriostatic zone, respectively, while the Escherichia coli was moderately sensitive to the Artemisinin extracts with the bacteriostatic zone of 12.9mm. During the 2nd phase of the study (in vivo trial), 20 rabbits were maintained which were infected with S. aureus and were successfully treated with varying concentrations of the Artemisinin extracts @ 1 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml in DMSO and were recovered. Similarly, rabbits infected with Streptococcus were also successfully treated and recovered. Thereafter, rabbits infected with E. coli were treated with Artemisinin, and out of 15 rabbits in three test groups, 03 rabbits died while the others were recovered. Hence, as per findings of this study, Artemisinin extracts were recommended against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus infections

Role of Stellate ganglion block in post CABG sympathetically mediated chest pain

Acute chest pain is a common presentation in emergency. After clinical assessment undiagnosed chest pain can become a difficult problem. Sympathetically mediated chest pain is a rare presentation, as it is similar to that of secondary hyperalgesia in the intact skin surrounding an injury site. We are reporting a case of a 62 years old man who presented with atypical chest pain four months after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). On investigation no new change was noticed than previous evaluation. On chronic pain assessment he was having hyperalgesia to light touch in addition to the spontaneous chest pain. He was treated as a case of sympathetically mediated chest pain, pain modulators, analgesics and Stellate ganglion block. Patient responded dramatically to Stellate ganglion block and returned to work within two weeks time. This case illustrated the importance of early diagnosis of sympathetically mediated chest pain and role of Stellate ganglion block